North vs. South

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He was surprised by the king's willingness to accept their togetherness so quickly, but he would not question it. He clearly wanted to see his daughter happy, so there was no denying his character. Willem leaned in and whispered slyly into her ear. "Then we better get started quickly before it is too late," he teased. He clenched her hand tightly as people began to exit the court. Willem led his new fiancee arm in arm out of the large building until they were upon the caravan escort that had brought him and his father. "I assume you shall be riding with us then. I expect your father will follow us with his own men."
 
Amira watched as her father walked away. She knew she was going to miss her father very much. But before she could get too sad Willem made her blush with his comment that they should start quickly. "Do you only have one thing on your mind, Prince Willem," she teased as she exited the court with him. She looked at the caravan and her heart beat fast. This was to become her new norm. She was to have a new palace, new servants, and new everything. "Where are we going tonight? she asked nervously.
 
Willem laughed at her accusation. "Only when I find myself in the presence of such a charming lady." He helped her onto his horse before mounting up behind her. "We'll be stopping in Farsendel for the night. Tomorrow we should reach Golding to a royal welcome, one worthy of a new wedding." He kicked his heals in and the destrier moved forward at a slow trot as the line of knights began to move along as well. They sat at the very front of the line, ready to show all who gazed upon them the future of what was soon to be one kingdom again. He slid an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek tenderly. "Forgive me, but it is difficult to resist the lure of your beauty."
 
Amira smiled as he kissed her, "I just wish we could kiss properly." With one hand holding the reigns and the other hand hold her she placed both hands one the hand hold her close to him. It took awhile for them to finally reach Farsendel and Amira was tired as she was helped off the horse. She kept a tight hold on to Willem fearing she would lose him if she let go.
 
Upon reaching the city, Willem dismounted and assisted her off of the horse. Seeing how tired she was, he lifted Amira into his arms and carried her to the inn they would be staying at. "You look exhausted. Let me help with that." It was probably a bit premature considering they had only just been betrothed, but as far as he was concerned they were already married. It was just a matter of waiting until the actual ceremony. It would also be improper for them to sleep in the same room tonight, but what the others did not know would not hurt them, right?
 
Amira giggled softly when he picked her up and carried her into the inn. She knew she wasn't acting herself, but she felt like she wasn't herself at the moment. When he set her down in their room she knew that it was inappropriate and she knew that Willem knew it too. But she could see on Willem's face that he didn't care about propriety and neither did she. As soon as the door was closed she quickly grabbed his face, pressed her body next to his, and gave him a deep kiss. She knew normally she wouldn't have done this, but she had missed him so much over that past month. Slowly she drew back and looked at his surprised face, "I'm sorry. I couldn't help it." Her face became cherry red as she gave him a sheepish grin.
 
He was only a little surprised by the suddenness of it, but he accepted it without question. It was a warm feeling he had dearly missed, and the closeness of her body was enough to excite him to extremes. "I know. But do not be sorry. Your lips are like a gift from God himself." He pulled her back towards him and touched his forehead against her's. "And I would not trade them for the world." He teased her lips playfully and wrapped his arms delicately around her waist. He felt the heat of her body against him, and the sensation was almost too wonderful to be true. He lost himself in her smile and thought he might fall to his knees in pure admiration.
 
She laughed as he pulled her back into a gentle embrace. Her arms wrapped around his neck again and she pressed her body towards his. She wanted to do everything in her power to please him and to make him happy. And right now she wanted to do so much more! She pulled him in for another kiss. This one being deeper then the last. Her tongue began to toy with his as it shyly entered his mouth. Her hands reached up to his head and she ran her hands through his hair. She knew that this was going to be a wonderful night.
 
Their kiss lasted longer than he had anticipated, and every moment was more precious to him than gold. But alas, he separated once more and held her tightly in his arms. "Careful. If you keep tempting me than we may accidentally go farther than we wish tonight. There are some rules we can break, but that one must remain unbroken until we are wedded." He slid a finger down her cheek. Her skin was softer than silk, and yearned to make sweet love to her here and now. But he could not, for there was honor in marriage, and to break it even before it happened would be a burden he simply could not bare.
 
Slightly disappointed she pulled away. "Again sorry," she said as she sat down on the bed. Five days wasn't as long as a month, but now she could wait for her wedding night. "So tell me, Willem. What are your people's wedding traditions?" She wanted know in case she had to prepare for anything. "Do you have any weird or odd customs that I need to know?"
 
He felt guilty for not showing his love for her the way he wanted to, but there would be plenty of time to do so once they were married. He smiled at the question and sat down with her on the bed. He never found any of the customs odd, though he guessed some might seem odd to a southerner. "Well, on the eve of the wedding you will be taken by the women of the family to pray for great fertility and many healthy children. On the morning of the wedding we must both be cleansed of our childhood by bathing in holy water. Finally, the ceremony begins in midafternoon and lasts until dusk. That is when my father gives you his blessing, and your mother gives me her's. Then the feasts, drinking, and dancing begin, some of which does not end until the morning. And late at night, when most of the festivities are over... well I am sure you can guess what happens then."
 
It was a strange to hear that she had to pray for fertility, but she did hope that she would be fertile so she wouldn't mind pray for it. But the bathing part intrigued her. "When we bath. Do we do it in front of everyone? And will we-" she paused know that what she was saying was strange, "Will we be naked? If front of everyone?" She couldn't help but feel a little nervous about it. But at the mention of her mother she lowered her eyes, "My mother can't do that, Willem. She died when I was little. So what then?"
 
He chuckled lightly. "No, of course not. The bathing takes place at the alter with only family present. But we do not watch each other's baths. We are to remain apart on the day of the wedding until the ceremonies begin." His smile fell at the news of her mother and he instantly placed his hand over her's. "I am so sorry, Amira. Had I known..." His words failed him at that point. He placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Do not worry. We will find another way. I am dreadfully sorry for her passing."
 
She smiled as he went to comfort her. "It's ok. Really. I don't really have very many memories of her. I guess you can't miss what you never really had." She leaned her head onto his chest. "At least I don't have to worry about anyone seeing me naked. Well except you that is," she laughed. She wanted to change the subject from her mother. True she didn't miss the woman that she call mother, but she missed having a mother at all. "You know I would bathe in front of a crowd if it meant I could be with you," she chuckled at her own joke.
 
Willem sensed that she did not wish to discuss her mother's passing, so he went along with the change in subject. He squeezed her tightly and laughed, resting his head against her's. "I would never turn down the opportunity to bathe with you, regardless of who was watching." He once again felt the urge to take her right there, but resisted the temptation and stifled a yawn. If he continued to spend this much time with her he was not sure if he would be able to keep his lust in check for five more days. "It is getting late, and we have ways to ride in the morning. It is best we get some sleep now."
 
She had to agree. He did carry into the room because she was so tired after all. Before she could lay down she had to take off her outer garment. Thankfully it tied from the front so she began to untie it and let it fall to the ground. She was still dressed in her pettigarment so she wasn't naked, but her figure was less hidden when the dress was gone. Had she slept in her dress she would have a hard time sleeping since it wasn't meant for comfort to begin with. She bent down to pick up her dress and laid it across the chair that was in the room. Then she went to lay down in the bed. She knew she was tired, but she didn't realize how tired she was till she closed her eyes. It wasn't long before she was asleep.
 
He had wanted to sleep next to her, and was sure she wished for the same. But if someone were to chance upon them in the middle of their sleep then they would immediately assume they had dishonored themselves. He bent over and kissed her forehead softly. "I'll see you in the morning," he whispered. When he found his room, he immediately collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep without much issue. He had missed a lot of sleep during the battles, but all of that was gone... at least for now.

The next morning was met with light rain, but there would be no delay in the journey. Willem woke jut before sunrise and went straight to the inn's tavern where he found men of both the north and the south consuming their breakfast and attempting to flirt with passing serving wenches. There was still some noticeable separation among them, and both kings were sitting on opposite sides of the tavern. It was going to take some time for old rivalries to dampen.
 
When she woke up she noticed that Willem wasn't there with her. She couldn't blame him and she silently thanked him for not sleeping with her that night. She needed to get her act together. She only had four more days till she and Willem were married and they could do what ever they wanted together. Quickly she got up and got dressed. When she walked down stairs she saw that there wasn't much mingling between her people and Willem's people. Some of the soldiers on her side bowed their head to her acknowledging her presents. She smiled as she went to sit with her father briefly. She talked to him for a while and made him smile. She then got up and walked over to Willem. The soldiers were respective, but they didn't great her like they would royalty. Reaching the table where her soon to be father in law she curtsied to him, "Morning," she smiled.
 
King Barkwer nodded his head in acknowledgement but said nothing more. Willem had been so caught up in how excited he was to marrying Amira that he had forgotten how little most of the others actually wished for this outcome. But there had been no conflicts between the two camps as of yet, so there was still some hope that they would warm up to each other eventually. He beckoned for a Amira to sit next to him and handed her a mug of wine. "It's not the best, I admit. But it's better than the stale water they have as an alternative."
 
Amira gave him a friendly if not disappointed nod as she went to sit with Willem. She drank the wine slowly. It tasted wonderful since she woke up parched. "I only wish that our people would accept that they will become as one once we are married. I want all of this to end." She glanced at her father and then his. "I also wish that our fathers would try to get to know each other."
 
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