It wasn't hard to get Aisling to play D&D. They simply sent a message on the group chat, asking if the session was still on. After an anxious moment, Aisling replied with a simple 'thumbs up'. Unfortunately, she didn't reply to any messages after that.
Nash waved Pavla away as Sandro came by to pick her up after work, and then he pedalled his way up Cheddar road, excited for the next day.
The following morning was the most he'd seen of Aisling in a good while. Nash tried to be upbeat and casual as he helped her set up in the game room attic.
In truth, Nash had been worried that Aisling would decline and wouldn't be taking care of herself, but she seemed to be cleaned up well. She wore her thick glasses, hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She had opted for a dark blue pair of jeans and a red sweater with sleeves so long they covered her entire hands.
Nash tried to talk about anything but the kiss. Games, TV shows. But Aisling wasn't too keen to engage. So he put on some music and they waited.
"Oh yes, I love this track!" Sandro did a little dance as he walked in with Pavla.
"You should, it's the playlist I stole from you." Nash laughed. The two guests quickly settled around the coffee table they used as a gamespace and made themselves comfortable on the cushions. Nash was glad they were here, already the mood seemed a bit lighter, and that would be crucial in getting Aisling to open up.
Before long, Aisling's eyes became unfocused as her mind was in another world entirely, and then she opened her mouth to speak, and let them in.
***
"It's late by the time you reach the castle. The sky is dark as pitch and the town is slumber. Before you can consider what to do next, you are approached by a handful of royal guards. They tell you that the queen is eager to have an audience with you, and to hear your report."
The party was led to a private chamber just off the throne room, where Queen Ieysa and King Samson waited for them.
"Mission success," Petra said. The bandits have been defeated and the hostage saved.
"Your highness, we've been eagerly serving you. May we please have the location of the jewel?" Sylvian bowed.
"No. Not till you've given me what I want." Queen Ieysa was beautiful in an evening gown.
Sylvian threw his hands up in disgust. "What are we missing here?"
"You see my dear, this is what happens when you trust thieves and paupers," King Samson spoke for the first time. "You aren't cut out for leading. I told you to leave all duties to me. Enough of these games." There was disgust in Aisling's voice as she voiced the king, and suddenly Nash knew what he was supposed to do.
"I'd like to attack the king with my crossbow."
The group all stopped and stared at him.
"Give me your attack roll." Aisling's face was stoic, neutral.
"Twenty!"
"Now damage."
"Another twenty!"
Aisling sighed. "You shoot the king right in the head, the bolt comes out the other side and pins him to a wall. All twenty guards in the room raise their weapons."
Sylvian and Petra raised their swords. "What have you done!?" They cried out in unison. "We'll never be able to fight off these guards!" Sylvian moaned.
"Halt!" Queen Ieysa called out.
"They killed the King!" The captain of the guard shouted. "We take orders from the KIng, not you," he snarled.
"Then Nikolai the assassin is the new king." The Queen said. "Right, Nikolai? Do you accept this proposal?"
"Yes." Nikolai stepped forth, bowed, and took the queen's hand in his. "As my first and only order as king, I hereby declare that Queen Ieysa has supreme power over the kingdom. I will remain her husband, and king. But anything she says, that she decrees, is law."
Aisling smiled. Queen Ieysa hated living under the cruel King'scomfy-looking rule, but women were forbidden supreme power. Only a King could rule over Aufhym. All the quests Queen Ieysa sent them on were meant to show them the corruption of the Kingdom, how far it had fallen. She could never order the assassination of the King, she had to subtly imply it.
She was afraid of losing control. She wanted to keep, to elevate her position, her leverage.
"I get it now," Nash said. He was talking to Aisling now, not the queen. "You were afraid of what would happen to us, how it would change our lives. You liked that we were siblings, you liked our dynamic. But you also had other feelings."
Nash reached over and took his sister's hand. He squeezed it gently. "You'll always be my sister, first and foremost. And the rest of it, we'll figure it out together. No long term commitments, just a brother and sister who sometimes enjoy each other's company in a way the world won't accept." Nash watched Aisling's eyes swell with tears as he spoke.
"And the world won't accept us," Nash continued. "So we'll hide if we have to. We're lucky to have two good friends who have accepted us for what we are." He turned to see Pavla holding onto Sandro with tears in her eyes. They both nodded. "In public, we'll continue to be siblings. That's our one and only rule. Never outside the house."
Aisling had tears running down her face. Happy tears. She spoke in the dainty voice of Queen Ieysa. "The first order you Queen gives you, is to consummate this marriage."
Nash climbed over the table and attacked his sister with his lust.