Garenthal was more like a city, than a town, it's buildings rising higher than any Serena had ever seen and all its streets paved with cobbled stones. The streets were crowded with people, clamoring together, in a mass of moving flesh, that wound through city. There were open stalls, selling everything from exotic herbs and spices and gaudy trinkets to exquisitely crafted furniture and other household items. Children and livestock ran unrestrained through the streets, crawling under stalls and ducking into doorways as the adults chased after them, shouting, their voices blending together in a deafening cacophony of unrelenting noise.
Serena, wide-eyed with wonder, strained her neck, trying to look everywhere at once while Ivar watched her with amusement, his lips curved up in a small smile. He was pleased with her reaction and thought that bringing her here would not be so bad after all, despite the obvious dangers.
The filthy, crowded streets gradually gave way to quieter, more orderly shops and restaurants, with cleanly swept cobblestones filled with well-dressed pedestrians. The women wore dresses made from the finest fabrics while the men were dressed in suits with hats, covering their heads. They glanced surreptitiously at the three travelers, trying not to appear rude, but unable to resist looking at the Vampire King and his intimidating Commander General, and the disheveled young woman who rode with the King.
Serena, self-consciously, tugged at her cloak, pulling it tighter around her, remembering that she still wore her nightgown underneath. The eyes of the women were harsh and judgemental, while the men looked with obvious fascination at the dark-haired beauty riding in the lap of the Vampire King.
"Even in all their finery, none of them could compare with you", Ivar murmured softly in her ear.
"You are too kind, Your Majesty, but no decent woman, married or otherwise, would be seen in public dressed so inappropriately", she responded with her eyes downcast.
"But you are not just any woman, you are my Queen"
Turning her head slightly, she gave him a small, tight smile before lowering her eyes once again, a slight blush rising to her cheeks.
"Rathgar is not bothered by the constant stares and he is not as beautiful as you", Ivar joked, reaching for her hand and clasping it in his own.
This time, her smile reached her eyes and she glanced at Rathgar before looking back at Ivar.
"What do all his tattoos mean?"
"Perhaps he will tell you one day"
Serena was beginning to learn that Ivar repeated these words when he declined to answer questions about Rathgar, which only served to further increase her curiosity concerning the silver-haired vampire. She could see the fear in people's eyes when they looked at him and although his face was as impassive as always, she wondered how much he hid behind his cold indifference.
The road had been gradually winding upwards and Serena realized that they were now high above the city, as the road curved around a mountain which eventually leveled out on to a plateau, upon which sat a citadel. Large, decorated spires loomed above the citadel, reaching for the sky above high granite walls. Guards stood on the gatehouse, watching the entrance and upon seeing Rathgar, riding ahead, immediately called for the gates to be raised for the King.
Serena looked around as they entered the gates, the sound of the horses hooves, ringing loudly in the quiet of the courtyard. In here, there was a sense of calm and peace, without the frantic bustle of the city outside the walls. Stable hands appeared from out of nowhere, helping them to dismount as they took the horses, leading them away to the stables.
Ivar took her hand and led her through the courtyard and into a large door that led into the vestibule of the Royal Palace. The entire room was decorated in gold furnishings that shone brightly in the sunlight streaming in through the windows. From the silk damask curtains to the rich brocade upholstery, the luxurious opulence of the Royal Palace left Serena in awe. Several doors led from the vestibule to the Grand Hall, library and apartments that were used, largely, as offices. A grand staircase in the center of the room, led upstairs to the first and subsequent floors, which contained the solar and other private rooms meant only for the Royal Family, their guests and staff. The topmost floor was restricted only to the King and Queen and their most trusted knights and servants.
The Royal apartments were large and sumptuous, decorated in a beautiful shade of royal blue and gold. The entire floor was surrounded by French windows that opened onto a private balcony overlooking the palace gardens to the south and the central courtyard to the north.
Leading her to the lavish bath chamber, where the bath had already been prepared, Ivar dismissed the maids and began to undress her himself.
"Why does His Majesty, wish to perform the job of a maid?", she inquired curiously.
"I don't, rather I wish to perform the job of a husband for his wife", he said from behind her, as he removed her cloak and nightgown, letting them fall to the floor.
She shivered at the sudden chill as she felt him remove her undergarment, sliding it down her legs as she stepped out of them. He stood behind her and kissed her between her neck and shoulder, resting his hands on her hips where his fingers delicately stroked her skin. His fingers traced circles across her hips and stomach, taking his time while gradually moving up to cup her breasts, pinching her erect nipples between his fingers.
Serena moaned softly, leaning back against him, lifting her arms up to grasp his neck and head as he continued kissing and sucking her neck. She could already feel the moisture building between her legs and she silently wished for him to touch her there. As if reading her thoughts, he snaked one hand down between her thighs, cupping her mound as he slid his fingers inside her, exploring her inner sex.
She arched against him, spreading her legs as she searched for his mouth and finding it kissed him with all the passion that was burning inside her. Finding her engorged nub, he stroked gently at first, gradually increasing the pressure of his fingers as her moans grew louder and she gyrated her hips against his hand. With his other hand, he wet his fingers with her saliva and continued rubbing her nipples.
"Serena", he called her name in a husky whisper.
"Yes", she moaned against his lips.
"I'm going to take you like this"
Before she had time to register what he meant, he bent her over the side of the large bathtub and lifting her leg, placed it on the steps leading up to the tub. She heard the sounds of him removing his trousers and then he reached around her and continued stroking her wet sex as he entered her from behind.
She gasped and reached out, holding onto the sides of the bathtub as he drove his throbbing member deep inside her, filling her up completely and stretching her from the inside out. One hand fingered her swollen nub while the other still teased her nipples as he moved inside her with smooth, powerful strokes that massaged every inch of her. She cried out each time he entered her as he sank his fangs into her neck, her body quivering with pleasure as she reached her orgasm, gripping the sides of the tub until her knuckles turned white.
Behind her, Ivar retracted his fangs and she heard his breathing growing louder as he grunted with each stroke until groaning loudly, he shot his seed deep into her womb.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and lifting her up against him, his manhood still buried inside her, carried her up the steps and into the bathtub. Using a sponge and scented oils, he gently scrubbed her clean, even washing her delicately between her legs and washing her hair. Serena then helped him to bathe, scrubbing his back and shampooing his hair before she lathered his member with soap, gently cleaning it until she felt it harden and grow in her hands.
Ivar made love to her again, wrapping her legs around his waist as he took her against the side of the tub but slower than he had earlier. He used slow, deep strokes, savoring the soft wetness of being inside her as she squeezed him and thrust back against him. He loved watching her respond to him and he stared intently at her face as she came, and he followed soon after, sinking his erection so deep inside her, she thought he might split her in two.
Cleaning themselves again, they eventually left the bath chamber and returned to the bedroom, where Serena fell asleep in his arms in the four-poster, king-sized bed that filled one side of the room.