Selene knew the Queen to be powerful, knew the Queen to be kind and trustworthy. Perhaps it was due to the nature of their jobs, being servants to the royal families, that they were less likely to gossip outside the walls of the home. She smiled, “That is reassuring. While I know our servants to be as loyal, it would seem that Taengea and gossip can go hand in hand. My sister tends to favor it. I, on the other hand, find it to be useful but mostly just lies.” Then again, the sum of the gossip she was privy to was in regards to marriages and sexual rendezvous.
The offer had been made for two reasons. One— she thought it would be nice to have a quiet moment together, one where the comfortable silence gave their minds a moment to enjoy the simple act of resting.
But she’d also suggested it because he’d just spent far longer on his leg than he had in weeks. There was no question as to why his leg gave out, nor why he had a thin layer of sweat on his brow. And while Taengean doctors believes in movement to aid healing, she was certain that this would have been too far even for them. Her suggestion had been to allow him a few more moments of recovery before he was to return to his room.
Pride and responsibility strikes again, she thought.
She made a point to focus on sitting up herself, dusting off some debris from her dress. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the awkward way in which his body shifts, relying on his good side to do most of the work, only turning her head to him once he had regained his footing. Selene allowed him to help her up, although she made an effort to put as little of her weight into him as she did. Once upright, she giggled again. “You probably don’t want to do so looking like you’ve rolled in a pig pen.” She said with a laugh.
This time, she was the one who quickly and efficiently brushed off the good side of his body, moving around the back to brush off his back as he did his limp side. The coil in her stomach was unwinding again, but less with heat and more with desire. Desire for him. Desire for what he personified for her. Vangelis was safety. He was security. There was not a moment in his presence where she felt concerned for her life, even with half of his body out of commission. She was going to miss that feeling.
But, instead of telling him, she allowed her face to clear, coming back around the front of him. “Wait, hold on.” She reached up, carefully discarding the leaves that had end up in his hair. Ignoring how… intimate the action felt, she nodded. “Alright Prince Vangelis, that should be good enough for you to go conquer the world a bit.” It was then that the servants returned, and her focus was back on the horse. “Do remember, he’s to be kept from the fillies. Take him into the stable through the back entrance and into the last stall. Keep the treats to a minimum, unless you wish to lose a hand.” She smiled to them, dipping her head in thanks. Perhaps it was not as firm as his had been, but there certainly was no questioning her in the matter.
Not after they’d seen her take off bareback a few days prior.
Her eyes focused on Vangelis, her lips upturned a bit in amusement. “I think I’m going to have to spend far more time with your stablemaster to explain the proper manner in which to handle him until you have had a chance to break him.” She smiled brighter. “Would you permit me leave to do so? That you may limp back to your duties without my insistence on aid?” Her teasing was far more obvious than his, especially when her eyes were so bright with mirth.
The offer had been made for two reasons. One— she thought it would be nice to have a quiet moment together, one where the comfortable silence gave their minds a moment to enjoy the simple act of resting.
But she’d also suggested it because he’d just spent far longer on his leg than he had in weeks. There was no question as to why his leg gave out, nor why he had a thin layer of sweat on his brow. And while Taengean doctors believes in movement to aid healing, she was certain that this would have been too far even for them. Her suggestion had been to allow him a few more moments of recovery before he was to return to his room.
Pride and responsibility strikes again, she thought.
She made a point to focus on sitting up herself, dusting off some debris from her dress. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the awkward way in which his body shifts, relying on his good side to do most of the work, only turning her head to him once he had regained his footing. Selene allowed him to help her up, although she made an effort to put as little of her weight into him as she did. Once upright, she giggled again. “You probably don’t want to do so looking like you’ve rolled in a pig pen.” She said with a laugh.
This time, she was the one who quickly and efficiently brushed off the good side of his body, moving around the back to brush off his back as he did his limp side. The coil in her stomach was unwinding again, but less with heat and more with desire. Desire for him. Desire for what he personified for her. Vangelis was safety. He was security. There was not a moment in his presence where she felt concerned for her life, even with half of his body out of commission. She was going to miss that feeling.
But, instead of telling him, she allowed her face to clear, coming back around the front of him. “Wait, hold on.” She reached up, carefully discarding the leaves that had end up in his hair. Ignoring how… intimate the action felt, she nodded. “Alright Prince Vangelis, that should be good enough for you to go conquer the world a bit.” It was then that the servants returned, and her focus was back on the horse. “Do remember, he’s to be kept from the fillies. Take him into the stable through the back entrance and into the last stall. Keep the treats to a minimum, unless you wish to lose a hand.” She smiled to them, dipping her head in thanks. Perhaps it was not as firm as his had been, but there certainly was no questioning her in the matter.
Not after they’d seen her take off bareback a few days prior.
Her eyes focused on Vangelis, her lips upturned a bit in amusement. “I think I’m going to have to spend far more time with your stablemaster to explain the proper manner in which to handle him until you have had a chance to break him.” She smiled brighter. “Would you permit me leave to do so? That you may limp back to your duties without my insistence on aid?” Her teasing was far more obvious than his, especially when her eyes were so bright with mirth.