"Jake," he uttered, breaking the enchantment. The Queen Elizabeth eyes blinked in bewilderment.
"Huh?" was the only response she managed to utter. Had anyone overheard, she would have been mortified by her breach of decorum.
"My name is Jake, my Lady," he reiterated, yet received no response from the fair lady before him. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly before he continued.
"If you persist in gazing at me so, I might misconstrue your intentions, my Lady," he jested. This remark roused her from her stupor. She realized she had been caught in the act of shamelessly admiring a stranger and felt an acute sense of mortification for her indiscreet behavior.
"I care not who you are," she retorted, striving to conceal her embarrassment with an air of dignity. Jake, however, found amusement in the lady's defiance.
When he had decided to bathe in the river, he had never imagined encountering the most captivating woman he had ever laid eyes upon. Initially, his attention was drawn to the sight of her legs entering the water; soon, he was captivated by her entire form.
The attraction was palpable, and he felt it keenly. She, too, sensed it, and for once, she could not misinterpret the electric charge between them—a phenomenon not unlike those depicted in fairy tales.
She felt exposed beneath his intense scrutiny, her cheeks flushing with an unfamiliar warmth.
What was happening to her? Could he be a warlock who had cast a spell upon her?
As if mere staring were insufficient, he advanced toward her with deliberate slowness, compelling her to retreat until she could feel the soft pebbles beneath her feet. Utilizing the proximity to the shore, she stumbled, nearly losing her balance, but strong arms encircled her waist, sending jolts of electricity through her entire being.
With a soft gasp, she glanced up at the handsome man who loomed over her. Jake sought to witness once more the fiery spirit he had observed whenever she was vexed. Though Queen Elizabeth might not have recognized him, he was intimately familiar with her.
From the moment he had first laid eyes upon her, his desire for her had been profound—not merely in a lascivious manner but with a yearning to love and protect her. Yet she was already claimed and thus seemed beyond his reach, leaving him with nothing but dreams. Now, having secured the chance to touch her, he was resolved not to let it slip away.
Her eyes widened as she saw him lean in. If it were possible, she was certain her heart's frantic beating could be heard for miles.
"But I care who you are, my queen," he murmured softly into her ear, causing an involuntary shiver to race down her spine.
"You dare to disrespect me, knowing I am your queen?" she demanded, her voice trembling more than she had intended. Jake's lips curled into a smirk, reveling in the effect he had upon her.
"Do I make you nervous, my queen?" he teased.
'Yes, you do,' was what she wished to articulate, but instead, a whimper escaped her lips when she felt his warm breath on her shoulder.
Amidst the overwhelming bliss she experienced, the only thought that lingered was that this audacious man must either be incredibly bold or possessed of a death wish, daring to seduce his queen in such a manner.
She gasped when he lifted her to stand. Her emotions were in disarray. Being so close to a man, especially one so breathtaking, coupled with her prolonged deprivation of affection, made her yearn to succumb to his charms. Yet, she was resolute.
She was not that kind of woman; she could not betray her insatiable husband, regardless of his flaws. Despite her predicament, she clung to her last vestige of courage and attempted to push him away. Yet, Jake was immovable, steadfast as a rock.
Frustration mounted as she realized the effect he had on her. She attempted to retreat, but Jake was not prepared to release her so easily. Call him sly or what you will, but he had loved Elizabeth for so long, and it pained him to witness the sorrow and loneliness in her eyes.
King Mansa did not deserve Elizabeth; perhaps Jake did not either, but he knew he could love her as no other could.
"Do not come clooser!" she commanded, raising her hand as he took a step closer. Though she knew he would not harm her, she feared the powerful emotions he evoked within her. She was vulnerable and sought to resist temptation.
"I am your queen; I command you to cease!" her trembling voice declared as she turned to leave, but her body betrayed her, betraying her resolve.
When one speaks of the 'fear of the unknown,' one is defining fear itself; fear is the unknown, fear is what we do not comprehend, and it is ingrained in our very nature to ensure our safety. We recoil from unfamiliar sensations precisely because they elude our understanding, serving as a primal mechanism to shield us.
Ignoring her evident trepidation, he approached, his presence so close that she could feel the warmth of his body through the fabric of her garments, his hands languidly hanging at his sides. He discerned her breath quicken, her stance shift, yet she remained close. Starting from her knees, he allowed his hands to touch her with a feather-light caress, ascending slowly to her waist and pausing to gauge her reaction.
Each touch was like searing fire upon her skin, igniting a longing within her. As she turned to face him, her eyes, now glassy and reflective, met his hooded gaze. His right hand rose to her hair, tenderly tucking the ebony strands behind her ear.
Then...
She made the first move.
She had pondered this moment until her very thoughts seemed to ache. She had dreamt of experiencing those magical sparks, and now, in the midst of contemplating the end of her existence, the opportunity had presented itself. As the saying goes, 'In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity.' This was hers—a chance to savor what it felt like to be loved, even if it was entwined with lust.
And she yearned to seize the moment.
Jake required no further encouragement. He drew her to him with a forceful yet gentle embrace, pulling her close against his chest. His hand caressed her hair with a reverence he had not bestowed upon any woman before. Her eyes flared with an intense passion... an undeniable desire.
Goosebumps traced her skin, not from the chill of the air, but from the overwhelming sensation that, at that very instant, nothing else mattered. They kissed, relishing each moment, ensnared in a fervent trance of passion. Within that simple kiss lay myriad promises.
Both were acutely aware of the peril in their actions, yet instead of feeling it was wrong, it felt overwhelmingly right. She chose to dismiss the consequences of her choices, surrendering to the exquisite bliss that Jake offered her.
He, previously a bastion of logic and feigned composure, was utterly transformed upon touching her skin. What stirred within him was not mere emotion but an overpowering force that eclipsed all else. The world beyond their embrace became an inconsequential blur, relegated to the distant recesses of his mind. The sole focus became the desire to touch her more, to kiss her, to envelop her in his love.
For the first time, she found solace and contentment in surrendering. What she had presumed was merely lust on Jake's part unfolded into a profound affection. Their days of passionate encounters soon morphed into an affair.
They both recognized the risk inherent in their actions, yet love proved to be blind, and a life devoid of challenge, hardship, and purpose seemed insipid and devoid of meaning. Challenges foster perseverance and daring. Hardships cultivate resilience and resolve. Purpose imparts strength and understanding.
Before they were fully aware, Queen Elizabeth found herself with child. Jake, undeterred by her status as the consort to the most formidable king ever to reign, cared only for the happiness of his beloved.
Queen Elizabeth devised a cunning ruse to deceive her husband into believing the child was his own. The king's relentless pursuits of chaos and discord within the realm rendered him blissfully oblivious to the subterfuge.
Yet, chaos ensued when a radiant baby girl was born. She was the epitome of beauty, a delicate angel whose presence seemed to illuminate the very air around her. Jake, by virtue of his position as a knight, found it within his means to clandestinely visit her chambers and cherish their daughter.
"Candice," he murmured, holding the infant tenderly.
"Her name is Candice," he continued, "meaning 'whiteness,' a testament to our pure love." He bestowed a gentle kiss upon the baby's forehead, his gaze filled with an adoration that spoke volumes.
Queen Elizabeth, with a tenderness that transcended her regal demeanor, cradled her daughter with profound affection. Though she had a son whom she cherished deeply, this daughter was something entirely different. The joy was palpable, perhaps because she was the embodiment of their love.
"She is a precious gem," Elizabeth whispered, "her second name is Sapphira, after the sapphire."
"Candice Sapphira," Jake repeated, the name resonating with the beauty of their brief, yet profoundly cherished, moments. Their happiness, however, was destined to be fleeting. Their plans to elope and forge a new life in a distant kingdom were thwarted by fate itself. The king, in a twist of cruel irony, discovered their betrayal.
Oh, the wrath that consumed King Mansa upon learning of his queen's treachery was beyond imagination. His rage was not merely for the man who had stolen his wife but for the very honor and esteem he held sacred.
"Till the end of time, my love," were Jake's final words, spoken with a tragic resignation before the king's blade severed his life. His fate had been sealed from the moment he beheld the queen, and the demise of King Mansa had begun with the betrayal of his queen.