Yours to Command

Transcript

Ah! Hello, my dear. I must say you're looking rather radiant tonight.

Why, thank you. I must admit I took what some may call a bit of a gamble on my outfit tonight, all in the hopes that it might be enough to catch your eye. But I claim success on my enterprise and have a dance with you.

Wonderful! You do look truly ravishing tonight, my dear. That color is just so enticing on you, though I imagine it should look better decorating my bedchamber.

I jest, I jest, though I have heard some rumors that you are no stranger to the activities that tend to happen behind closed doors. Oh, don't play coy with me. Everyone's heard about your trip to the soldiers' camp.

You expect us to believe that you accompanied your uncle merely as a spectator? Very well. If you're insistent continuing this little farce, I'm more than willing to act alongside.

That being said, you should be flattered that someone of my station would deign to offer his hand for a dance at all. Considering that you are, how do you say, tarnished goods? Why, at this point I'd be surprised if you felt all that much different from some of the whores the soldiers are used to getting their entertainment from.

I suppose your mouth still works the same as it did. Lieutenant Kincaid, you must forgive me. I was under the impression that you were still out on campaign in Yesua.

I'd heard that there was a major victory, but I thought you'd still be out at the front. You will be forgiven your impressions, Lord Feathering. While the campaign has indeed been a long, arduous, and tedious one, I am pleased to report that His Majesty's army, thanks in no small part to my company, has won the day.

And ultimately, we believe, the war itself. Yesua is moving to sign the treaty as we speak. As a show of gratitude for my actions in the deciding conflict, His Lordship, the High Marshal, saw fit to have me invited to this ball, and I'd be brought to the city post-haste.

I have not been in the city for half a day, I'm afraid. I see. Well, congratulations.

That medal certainly sits well upon your chest. And is that a new uniform, I see? Yes.

My previous one was rather sullied. His Lordship saw fit to have a new one made for my promotion. It's captain now.

How illustrious. Well, if we are quite done basking in your accomplishments, I'd like to return to my dance. Actually, if I may, I would like to borrow the lady's attention for a moment.

Whatever for? It is. ..

of a private matter. Ah, I see. Listen, man, I understand that your time on the front has been.

.. chased. But surely there are other holds your spear could find purchasing tonight? That's not what I meant.

Of course not. My apologies for the obvious misunderstanding. Regardless, I have already, uh, staked my claim.

She belongs to me tonight. I intend to see what she's learned in her dalliances with the High Marshal's men. Perhaps I'll be so kind as to let her sleep in my bed once I'm finished.

Surely, Lord Feathering, I misheard you. Surely the music is too loud, or the wine has loosened your grip on your tongue, just enough for you to have misspoken. Surely you would not have done something so egregiously brash and uncouth as to imply that this lady's virtue is anything other than pristine.

Surely that isn't the case, for if it were, I would have no recourse than to strike you and demand a duel in defense of her honor. Surely you would not have done something so asinine as that. You'd be executed? Dueling? No.

The murder of a member of the court by a commoner is grounds for immediate execution. That medal's not going to protect you. You'd be hanged.

And you'd be dead. Are you truly willing to die for this woman? Are you? Yes, of course.

You misheard me. That would have been imprudent of me. Well, I must be away.

I believe I have an appointment with Lords. Goodbye. Apologies, my lady.

I do not believe I have acted in a manner befitting of my station. I must ask that you forgive my lapse in propriety. It's just that that cretin makes my skin crawl.

His words, they do not sit well with me. Yes, well. While I am glad to hear that you hold some similar feeling within your heart for Lord Feathering, we do have to take some care.

He does outrank you by some margin, and myself by several orders of magnitude. I worry this may not be the last time we must avoid his presence, but. ..

Nevertheless, I'm glad I could scare him off for now. Yes, of course. I know you can handle yourself.

I was not trying to imply otherwise. I have full faith in your ability to deal with him. I.

.. I just found myself unable to restrain myself watching him leer at you. I let my emotions get the better of me.

Failing, I thought the army had relieved me of that. Besides, I aim to blame for those horrid rumors. I never should have let you wander the camp when your uncle came to visit.

No, I don't suppose I could have stopped you, even if I wanted to. Regardless, it was that visit that stoked the embers of rumor into the flame of gossip, and I cannot help but feel that some of the responsibility rests on my shoulders. No, I don't regret what we did for a moment.

Just that it has led to your suffering for it. Yes, of course. I.

.. I have learned by now that you're made of stronger steel than these other courtly women. My apologies.

I just don't like the thought that my actions may have caused you harm in some way. I appreciate you assuaging my concern. My lady, I do not think it would be seen as proper for a soldier to dance with a woman of your station, especially in such a visible place as this.

Your uncle awarding me a medal hardly equates to a title. Don't you worry, dancing with me would damage your reputation. You truly don't care, do you? Very well.

My lady, would you do me the honor of giving me this dance? Wonderful. What was that? My lady, that is hardly proper speech for a woman of your station at a festival of this caliber.

Of course I enjoy it when you say such things. I merely feel this may not be the best environment for such a scandalous topic to be discussed. What if someone were to hear? Are you sure we should take the risk? I am not cute when I'm flustered, and I'm not flustered.

I am not cute when I'm flustered, and I'm not flustered. I simply wish to maintain a proper level of decency for the circumstance. No, that is not what I would call properly decent.

I believe most would find that speaking of tying me up and enumerating the things you would do to me to be quite the opposite of properly decent. Very funny. No, this flush isn't from the wine that your uncle arranged a chamber for tonight in case I over-imbibe on wine.

A man seems intent on failing to grasp my dislike for the stuff. No, you're the only intoxicating thing I can handle tonight. Oh, it's abundantly clear that you are enjoying it.

I do. Lord forgive me, I do. Hearing you speak of such things quickens my pulse more than the sight of any enemy.

You fill me with desire the likes of which I've never known. You do? Now? Here? In the ballroom? Surely you jest.

I mean, we can't. .. Oh.

Yes. Yes, of course. I was so caught up in your words I was unable to think straight.

Apologies, but where would we go? We can't leave the manor and I think your bedchamber would be entirely too obvious, don't you think? Oh, well, I don't know if using that chamber would be the best idea.

What if someone came by? I can't imagine your uncle taking too kindly to me using his gifted chamber for that. Well, it is probably unlikely, yes, but what if someone hears us and comes to check? Yes, I am aware that locks exist, and I was not planning on being loud, but you have the tendency to elicit noise from me despite my best efforts.

My lady, I am not now, nor have I ever been, adorable. I'll have you know that I am a new captain of the Imperial Army of Dewin. I have even heard it said that the men have dubbed me the Borespear for my skill in breaking a charge.

I am a warrior of the highest esteem, awarded for my valour and tactical prowess. I am not adorable. I can't say that here.

There's too many ears. Fine, fine, fine. And? And I am your good boy.

Fine, all right, fine, fine, fine. Gods help me, I am powerless against your charms. On the third floor in the eastern wing, the room with the blackwood door, second on the left.

Um, thirty minutes? Yes, yes, I should be able to make it. I will not be late, my lady.

I will not be late, Master. Ah, I see you've found the chamber well enough. True to my word, my clock still reads I have another minute and a half until your deadline.

I did have to make a rather hasty retreat from a talk with Lord Winterwind. That man can bloviate for hours, I swear. And I've had logistics discussions that are far more interesting than his small talk.

Though I actually find logistics rather fascinating. You can't have an army without feeding them, and then there's the stewards, and not to mention the horses. Do you know how hard it is to find good grazing spots in Yesua? I'm rambling again, aren't I? Gods, you truly are beautiful.

And when you look at me like that, well, I feel more exposed than if I was atop a hill in my skivvies. And yet somehow I feel safer than if I was in full plate. You truly are a wonder.

My lady, I did take a moment to step out onto the balcony for some air and to clear my thoughts. I just wanted to ensure that you've taken the time to think this through. Our time together is wonderful, and I wouldn't surrender it for the world, but surely it will have to come to an end eventually.

You're of a marrying age, and I imagine it won't be too much longer before your uncle finds an appropriate suitor for you. When that happens, we'll have to abandon these dalliances. I just want to assure you that when that happens, I will harbour no ill will towards you or your future husband.

Though I admit, I know I will find it rather hard to look him in the eye. I've never been one with an abundance of skill in hiding my thoughts from my face. My lady, surely you jest.

You are of a noble house. You cannot marry a commoner like me. What would the court think? You could become a pariah.

And, oh, Lord, your uncle! Gods, he would have me strung up if he knew what we were doing here. No, no, I cannot allow you to entertain such fantasies.

I understand that you enjoy our time here, but living in a lie is no good for either of us. Besides, we both know that you are, you know, this is for you to have some fun. It doesn't mean anything to you, right? No, you've never said that, but surely you cannot tell me that it extends deeper than an opportunity to indulge your more depraved fantasies.

Of course, this is just for me to engage in activities I would not be able to otherwise. It's rather difficult to find a woman who's willing to do the things you do. I appreciate your doing so, but that's the extent of it.

Yes, Mother always told me I was too honest for my own good. Fine, you want the truth. While this may have begun as a simple attraction in the rush of being able to surrender myself to these desires I've always tried to distance myself from, that has changed.

I have. .. I have developed rather intense feelings for you, my lady.

I find myself losing focus in tactical meetings, thinking of our times together. While at first it was about our more intense sessions, lately those memories have been about what few times we could be together outside the space of those. Like that walk in the garden when I was stationed as your guard, or the night after our session in the camp when you held me to your breast and toyed with my hair.

Those are the scenes that I play with in my mind's eye when I should be focused on the task at hand. Before this last battle, one of my peers asked me how I could fight like I do. I told him it was simply a matter of practice and discipline, but the truth is.

.. I fight because I know that my doing so is in some way protecting you. And because I know that if I should fall, I would never be able to see your face again.

And that is an option I simply cannot abide. You have become more than just the noblewoman who binds my arms and drives me to madness. You have become.

.. my heart. For though this ruddy thing that beats within my simple chest may give me life, you are what lights the flame within my soul that I may live it.

I. .. I love you.

That is the truth. Tsk, tsk. Was that kiss just to end my verbal torrent? You mean that? Genuinely? There is no game, no farce, no trick of my mind that is convincing me that you have said these words.

You truly feel the same way. God's smile upon me! You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that.

Oh Lord, I will admit that I have found myself far more tightly wound in the last few weeks once I had realized the depths of my feelings, but I had not realized just how heavy the weight I had carried was until you lifted it from my shoulders. Oh, you truly are a wonderful person. I will be honored to stand by your side, no matter what may come.

I have faced armies that have outnumbered me, five to one. I believe I can face the chagrin of the court. If you would have me, my lady, I would go to the ends of this earth and further still to make you happy.

Yes, including what we are about to do now. I am, of course, yours to command. Now and forever, Master.

What would you have me do first, Master? Master, of course, shall I start with my shirt and move down, or my shoes and move up? Yes, Master.

No, no, no, I'm fine. Just a small wound from the battle. I had forgotten it in the excitement.

There. Naked as the day of my birth. Careful, the head surgeon was working on those more grievously injured.

I had to stitch myself, so it's not the prettiest work. Yes, I'm fine. It's hardly the worst wound I've earned.

Hell, you've given me marks that have hurt worse than this. Oh, no, no, no, my lady, you've not actually hurt me like this. I only jest.

You've not given me anything I could not handle. Besides, that's why we have the word. I swear I would not hesitate to use it if I feel I cannot handle what you've thrust upon me, or within me.

Plus, I rather enjoy the marks you give me. Cannot say the same of the poor fool who managed to give me this one. He's, um, well, he's not as fortunate as I am.

But enough of that. I can't help but feel a tad underdressed in relation to you. May I undress you, Master? Thank you.

I have yet to aid you out of attire this formal. Um, I had not realized how intensive these things got. Good lords, I've spent three years as a squire, and I've yet to encounter plate mail with this many laces and straps.

I'd even breathe in this thing. Better? I thought you'd say so.

There we go, and this is good. Good lord, woman, have you been wearing this for a long time? Have you been wearing this for a long time?