Chereads / In the Arms of Blood / Chapter 2 - Start of a Pact

Chapter 2 - Start of a Pact

No love making was made the night of their wedding. No, simple actions of flesh becoming one, which neither gained satisfaction from as their respective elders watched. It wasn't about perversion though, they had to consummate their marriage and attempt to have an heir as soon as possible. And while Eldon didn't do anything to make her more uncomfortable, he didn't do anything to make her less either. And the same could be said for Catreena towards him. No, the acts taken the day before were just to ensure that the two were now one.

Catreena still found herself slightly aching as her ladies dressed her the next day. Family would stay a few days longer, Eldon's mother, Queen Irina, would be staying for a bit longer. This was to make sure that both kingdoms were running rather smoothly during this fragile moment of history. Catreena found it somewhat unnerving how they could go about as if nothing had happened, as though a war hadn't ripped apart their countries. But then again, she assumed what else were they to do? The war is over and won, and now they had to put the pieces back together for everyone.

"Your majesty, please let us know if you ever have need for anything." Kira Bagshaw says to her, her head lowered with shame, though her eyes glint with resolve.

"Thank you Kira, you and Hana have always been two of my most trusted and valued friends." Catreena replies with a gentle smile, looking at both Kira, and Hana Borović. They have been raised alongside her and were always her ladies in waiting. They came from two separate count houses, with a slight rivalry between the two houses and them being the respective Counts' daughters. Sadly, Count Henrik Bradshaw was lost during the last large battle of the war.

"I worry your highness, the new ladies to wait on you won't be loyal to you." Hana chimes in bitterly, a face of disdain as she speaks of the newly appointed ladies in waiting. She has gained two vampiric ladies, and one half-bred lady. She can instantly feel the somber, angry and agitated energy rolling from her ladies and servants.

"Calm yourselves, it won't be too much of a problem should we need to deal with them. A King cannot interfere in such Queenly affairs." Catreena tells them with a soothing smile, gaining hesitant ones in reply. She wouldn't tell them, but she did worry about this too. Her own third lady in waiting was ripped apart at the hands of vampiric generals. Of course, Earl Hershal Kenwyl's only daughter was a feisty one and didn't go quietly. Roselynn Kenwyl was a beauty that was ravished, publicly humiliated, then literally ripped to shreds and drained by a number of the vampiric generals. The same ones she's supposed to accept now…

"Your Majesty, her highness Queen Irina Oblivion urges your presence with the royal doctors!" A very noble woman announces after knocking and being granted entry. She bowed perfectly at the waist and didn't move until she was given her leave to. Catreena finds her ladies sizing the girl up immediately with annoyance and displeasure.

"Thank you Lady Nohina Splatters, I shall be there shortly." Catreena replies, not showing an ounce of her feelings as Queen Irina's lady in waiting glances at her before bowing deeper and taking her leave.

"How dare they expect you to just follow their commands?!" Hana gets out between gritted teeth as she glares at the now closed doors.

"Hana, calm yourself! We shalln't make anything more difficult for our majesty by stirring trouble with the vampires." Kira snaps, a bit more harsh than usual as they all appeared rather upset.

"A physician checking on me doesn't differ from what we should expect. It's only natural that the kingdom would like to be rest assured that their queen is healthy and ready to bear their kingdom's heir." Catreena states as she gracefully rises, then starts to the door. "Shall we?" She tosses over her shoulder, causing her ladies to fall into place quickly while her servants clustered closer to her, opening the doors and bringing her to the physician's offices quickly.

"Your Majesty! I am pleased to see his majesty didn't get too...enthusiastic upon your wedding night." Dr. Thadeus Clover announced upon her arrival. The jolly elder man took notes about her health almost instantly, but no doubt her blush and easy demeanor spoke volumes that their new King didn't see fit to use and abuse their Queen at least.

"None of his treatment was outside of the norm." Catreena easily replies with a slight smile as she's lead further in. Soon, she's seated on a table with the women surrounding them and watching the doctor's every move.

"You are as healthy as we could have ever hoped for. I will not be surprised to see her Majesty begetting an heir very soon!" The good dr. announces after a full check up. Excited and worried chatter fills the air after this. Catreena hersellf wonders how she should feel. Ultimately, birthing an heir as soon as possible would solidify their ruling over her kingdom.

"This is wonderful news!" Queen Irina announces, a brilliant smile lighting up her face as she lets her gaze roam over Catreena's frame. "We must do all we can to encourage the two to produce lovely children."

Catreena pauses as she looks at the timeless beauty. She recalls that Eldon is the only child that is married and can produce them healthy heirs. She remembers her mother speaking on how much she longed to see her grandchildren grow with each prospect of marriage Catreena gained. "May the Gods will it, we shall have an heir soon, your Majesty."

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Minutes later, and Catreena finds herself led to a secluded dining area that is meant for the Royal Couple and their attendees. Queen Irina holds no qualms about perching herself beside her son, motioning for Catreena to sit across from her on his other side. "Great news! You're both given clean bills of health, and so we can rest easily with the prospect of your heirs arriving soon." She states idly before pausing for a taste of food. "Of course to ensure this, we request that you both make an active effort in conceiving at least every three days."

"Mother, such things need not to be discussed. We are all eager for the future of the kingdoms." King Eldon replies without missing a beat, as though he was prepared for this.

"My son, please promise me you'll try to keep to the schedule. You are our only one to bring such a joyous occasion to the realms." Queen Irina beseeches her middle child with glistening eyes, causing the new King to sigh and concede.

"Of course mother, we wouldn't wish to prolong something so important." Eldon says, his shielded eyes slowly moving from his happy mother to his wife. Their eyes meet, but neither could decipher a thing from the other. "After dinner, I wish to spend time with my Queen." He announces in a tone that expected to be heeded.

Queen Irina frowns and clicks her tongue at this. "I suppose we can push back some of her trainings and meetings for the day." She mutters, not looking very pleased.

Eldon nods as he turns his attention back to his food, his and Queen Irina's glasses getting topped off with blood fresh from a wrist. "Thank you mother, I promise to ensure her schedule will be fixed for a suitable one."

This piques the older Queen's interest, causing her to study her son, than daughter in law before replying. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

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Catreena finds herself seated across from Eldon, both on either side of a large desk. Said desk belonged to the Kings of her bloodline, a fact she swallows back as they both study one another. The study was one of magnificence, but definitely was a well used area. She remembers times of years ago where she'd come in and sit upon her father's lap. He would indulge her, sometimes staying quiet and working for hours with her eagerly hanging onto his every move. Other times he would do scenarios and work things out with her, finding adequate scenarios before looking for a better solution.

She was one to always watch her elders, learning from them.

"Catreena, how are you feeling?" Eldon asks her suddenly, bringing her back to the present as she meets his gaze again.

"If I were to try and decipher all of my emotions now, I fear I wouldn't last long." She replies, looking away from him as tears prick her eyes. It was expected of her to be a queen, but had she a choice would she still choose such a route?

"I understand that none of this was ideal, and the war was something brought into being from forces outside of our control." Eldon starts, speaking low and slow as he carefully chose his words. He waits to get her gaze back to him before continuing. "We are one another's closest and most needed allies now though, and as such I can promise you that what's in your best interest is in my best interest. I would like for us to work in tendon from now on, play this course as true allies and partners in moving not only ourselves, but Tedian forward into a stronger, more promising future. Like it or not, we need one another from here on out."

Catreena search his eyes as he spoke, noticing the amount of earnesty there that she could barely hope for. She releases a breath as she looks away from him once more. "If… I do agree that us working together is ideal…" She starts, flicking her gaze to him with hesitation. "I need you to swear that you won't begat any bastards, and should such a thing happen the child will be killed immediately." She demands, steel in her voice as she locks gazes again.

Eldon mules over her words, understanding why she would demand such a thing. "Shall we make a blood pact then? No bastards allowed to live. Stay as one another's strongest ally. Agreement to work together for the greater interest of the Kingdom." As he says each line, a flick of his finger causes a plume of smoke and light that swirl and create a new ruin.

"And we shall respect one another's thoughts, ideas and wishes." Catreena adds, her heart racing in her ears as the words tumble out from her.

A new ruin is made as his lips curls and he cuts his palm open easily. "And so, I seal this pact." He states, bringing his palm out face up halfway across the desk.

Catreena feels her nerves dance a bit, knowing just how binding these contracts were gives her both a sense of security and trepidation. Still she finds herself sliding a blade over her palm, staring at the blood well then tumble over her hand and fingers. She meets his gaze one last time as she places her hand palm down on his. "And so, I seal this pact." She replies, instantly feeling stinging warmth invade her as their bleeding stops. Their spilt blood swirl together with the runes, soon creating new ones that heals their palms and the seal of their pact settles on hidden places on their bodies.

"Now that that's over, go rest my Queen, we shall spend more time together later." Eldon says smoothly as he rises, escorting her out of the den. Leading her further through his rooms, he hands her off to her ladies awaiting her. "Please take her to rest in her rooms." He asks of them absently as he turns back to his rooms, shutting the doors behind himself.

"How dare he direct where you go." Hisses Hana under her breath, gaining glares from some of the vampiric guards and servants near them.

"Hana, it's fine as that's where I'd like to go." Catreena reassures her with a gentle smile. As they make their way to her rooms closeby, she feels rather pleased with their meeting and hope blooms in her chest from it.