By: The Rainbow Writers

"Suzanna!"

The harsh call of her name called the handmaid to open her eyes. She looked around surprised when it was not in the Princess’ chambers that she stood and not even her own room. She studied the ornate walls covered with embossed tapestries. A large scene of the crucifixion hung over the gold ornate desk at one end of the long room.

"Yes Governess?" She finally found the words to question as she turned to the feeble woman in the chair next to where she stood.

"Do all that he instructs promptly, no matter how harsh this punishment may seem the Princess must learn." The woman sat up a bit straighter as the side door into the room was opened by one of the guards.

The Bishop entered first, dressed in flowing gowns of the purest white. His clean-shaven face a stone mask.

"But the block here." He pointed to the centre of the room and the young priest who followed him lowered the chair-like object onto the floor. The heavy weight of making him strain in the effort.

Suzanna watched it all wide-eyed. Her mind staggering to figure out why they were here and what was going on.

"Princess Bethany please come in." He commanded in an icy tone towards the doorway. "My hand will be swift."

As the Princess entered the room, Suzanna breath caught in her throat. The woman seemed to struggle under the weight of a heavy black dress that the handmaiden had never seen before. Her voice begged to call to her Lady but she knew such an outburst was unacceptable.

"Suzanna, come bind the ties." The Bishop looked up and pointed at her with an unwavering finger. Motioning with his hand for her to come to him. She knew she didn’t take the steps, as her feet seemed to float across the thick carpet until she was standing next to the block.

"Bind the ties?" She questioned her voice broken. She looked at the Princess but could not see her face as the woman’s hair was down and hung forward as her head. She could hear the soft sound of crying, though it seemed to far in the distance to be the Princess herself.

"The ties!" The Bishop’s voice boomed as he pointed down at the block between them. "Bind her arms so that the devil inside her might be caught and God’s work done."

She looked down at the thick leather ropes that were tired to the wooden poles that came out of each side of the block. Looking up from the horrible contraption, she stared into the Bishop’s face. Her stomach turned as his face contorted to bear horns and fangs. She blinked hard and his face came back to normal.

"Suzanna, would you go against the will of God?" He questioned her harshly. "Princess Bethany present yourself to the block." He moved back and the woman moved into his place.

Her fingers closed tight around the leather tie that snaked up into her hands on their own as she studied the woman in front of her.

Slim arms pushed themselves out towards her and the poles. Before the handmaiden could protest the leather leaped from her grasp and snaked their way around the wrists of the Princess pulling her down to her knees tethered to the block.

"Benevolent Bishop, are the crimes as we feared?" The cackling voice of the Governess came from somewhere behind Suzanna as she too dropped to her knees.

"She has freely admitted to the most heinous of crimes!" His voice boomed loud. "She has let the devil put her feet on the path of want, desire and passion. But most of all…" He turned to his desk and picked up the thick leather strap. "She has fallen to the devil’s most notorious temptation… love!" He slapped the strap across the desk and the room was filled with the echoing noise.

"Love?" Suzanna whispered as she brushed the reddish locks away to try and see the face that they hid.

"She will not dare share with whom she has had this temptation, but her crime is obvious and her punishment set." The Bishop answered slapping the strap again off the table. "Suzanna, undo her dress so that God’s work might be done."

The handmaid watched horrified as the laces to the Princess’ dress snaked loose and open so that the white flesh of her soft back was exposed.

"Suzanna?" Bethany’s face looked up at her for the first time. Her tears streaked with tears and her eyes swollen.

"Yes my Lady, I’m right here." She moved as close as she could, the woman’s breath falling in short gasps on her face.

"Why didn’t you warn me?" The Princess asked in a small voice as the sound of the strap whistle as it cut the air sounded and made her body shake from the blow. "You knew, why didn’t you tell me?" A voice thick with pain asked again as the strap came down. "I love you Suzanna, why did you betray me?"

"I tried to tell you, I didn’t know how to explain." Suzanna felt the hot tears streaming down her face. "It was just a kiss, just a kiss." She tried to plead with the Bishop not caring what would happen to her.

"A kiss from the devil!" His voice boomed as he snapped the leather down.

"But I loved you Suzanna, why did you betray me?" The voice was broken by the fall of the strap again and again.

"It’s my fault!" The handmaid screamed trying to put her hands in the way of the strap’s path, but each time the pristine flesh broke open despite her attempt. "Beat me, please spare my Lady."

Suzanna opened her eyes up sharply as she screamed. Her breath was ragged and her arms were failing around the air in front of her. It was a slight comfort to not be in the Bishop’s office but that comfort soon faded as she realised just where she was. Here in her own chambers the reality of the night before slapped her hard.

She should be with the Princess right now, asleep and happy after a fine banquet. But all of that was ruined now, as she was to start a new position soon. One far away from the woman she loved and was devoted too.

"Oh why did you do it Suzanna!" She cried to herself as the tears she’d awoken with got stronger. "You could have stopped it all and spared you both."

She sat up in bed wiping the tears from her eyes. She could not sleep now, not after the nightmare. Pulling on her over robe, she slipped out of her room blinded in her grief.

* * * *

"Who goes there?" The guard’s low voice called to her as Suzanna entered the large hallway.

"It is I Suzanna." She wiped her tears away trying to compose herself long enough to slip past the guards.

"Is there disturbance with the Princess?" The guard queried.

"No, no." She finally approached him. "All is quiet. I just wanted to go to the library and get a book." She motioned to the door a ways down from his post.

"All’s well then." He smiled at her, squinting in the low light to see her. "Do you require assistance my Lady?"

"No, thank you." She slid by him on unsteady feet. Her eyes fixed on the library door, if she could just get there and get inside before the next wave of sorrow hit her.

"My Lady you are quite pale, are you all right?" He leaned his spear against the wall and followed her into the better-lit area near the doorway.

"I…" Suzanna raised a shaking hand to her mouth. Forced to turn by his words she felt all of her control slipping. "Please I…" Her head began to pound so hard that she feared her ears would burst. She closed her eyes trying to still the spinning in the world as she began to cry again.

"My Lady!" The tall guard moved to catch her as he watched her knees buckle and the handmaiden begin to tumble to the ground. "Pierre, summon a healer!" He called to the next posted guard some length down the hall.

Suzanna fought to open her eyes one last time. The sight of the ornate royal seal embroidered on the guard’s tunic filled her vision.

"Bethany." She mumbled the name to incoherently for the man to understand as her eyes closed again and she dropped unconscious.

* * * *

Acrid smoke filled Bethany’s lungs each time she tried to take a breath. She glanced up at the cloudless blue sky its perfection mocking her misery. She looked at the circle of guards that were tightly formed around the centre of the courtyard. Behind them, on a makeshift stage stood the Bishop and her father side by side. Their heads were drawn together deep in conversation. Her father nodded in convinced agreement to everything that the Bishop said.

Bethany tried to make a way forward from where she stood, but found herself unable to move. The eyes of four guards fell on her, pinning her to the spot. She glanced down at her hands, surprised to see them bound at the wrist with thick course twine. The cording bit into her pale flesh as unbidden she tried to free them.

"Father!" She called from her place, her eyes gazing to where the King stood. His eyes never moved from the Bishop. Tears of frustration welled up in her eyes’, as the smoke grew thicker. The fire catching hold of the dry wood on the large fire behind the ring of guards.

Suddenly the Bishop moved away from the King and stepped to the front of the stage. His eyes cast downwards as a slight figure was brought from the palace to the steps of the stage. Dressed in black from head to foot in a one piece flowing hooded cape, the figure had no distinguishing features. They stood silently before the man of God.

"You are charged with the crime of being a Witch." The Bishop’s voice rang out true and clear. Behind him the King nodded. "Since the beginning of your occult activity a child in the court has died, the winter has grown without noticeable change into spring, and Mistral the Princess’ own hawk was just this morning found dead in the avery."

"What!" Bethany shouted throwing herself forward against what she now saw was a wooden fence that enclosed her in a small square. The Bishop stopped his rant and turned to Bethany, with a nod to a young guard the man produced the corpse of her hunting hawk. Holding it upside down by it tether, its feathers blown haphazardly by the stiff cool breeze that invaded the air.

"No." Bethany dropped her head and allowed the tears to beginning. The guard lowered the dead bird as the Bishop continued.

"But it is for you actions to the Princess herself that you will burn in the fires of eternal hell." The Bishop looked up to the large crowd in the court that Bethany had not been aware of before now. "People while we rested easy in our bed at night. This foul creature and her minions have been planning the downfall of the realm. They have not done this by forming armies to raid our lands and kill our men folk. Nor have they cursed the crops and the animals. Worse than this, she has plotted against our King and slowly she had been poisoning our Beloved Princess. Twisting her mind within her body until she is unable to see the white from the black."

A gasp of horror spread over the crowd as she felt a thousand eyes turn to her.

"See we have to have her bound before you now. It is with hope and faith that our healers treat her, and I pray with her daily. We can hope her soul is redeemable." His voice turned to a sympathetic purr as he turned to the King. "Behold the father of our Realm, so broken and dismayed."

Bethany’s father looked up weakly.

"Never before in the Kingdom have we been faced with such evil. She an atrocity to nature and to GOD!" The Bishop shouted.

A slow chant of "Burn her, Burn her, Burn her." began in the crowd.

The thick smoke stung Bethany’s eyes and choked in her throat as the wind caught the fire and made it burn with added vigour.

"Your crimes speak for themselves." The Bishop turned to address the figure stood before him. Contempt filled his voice. "Would you wish to say anything to repent. It is never too late to look to God for forgiveness and he will claim your damned soul as your life on earth ceases."

"Hear my children how it remains silent, even in the face of redemption." The figure’s silence gave him further fuel.

The chants became louder and more forceful. People began pushing the guards that surrounded the fire and the accused.

"Kill the witch. Burn her." The jeering and whistling increased.

"Children, Children." The Bishop waved his hands down in an effort to calm the crowd. "It is fitting and right that you call for this demons death and spare no prayer for her soul." The Bishop turned to the King who as always had to give the final command.

"Reveal her!" A voice called out. "Show us the Witch!"

Several others joined the chant as some began throwing rotten fruit and other things towards the robed figure.

"My Lord." The Bishop enquired of her father. The King lowered his head into his hand and waved his right in a gesture of permission. The Bishop turned with a flourish.

"Behold the Witch." He flung his hand wide as the guard turned to the left of the accused pulled the capes hood back. Revealing the severely beaten face of Suzanna.

"ZANA NO!!!!!!!!!!" Bethany screamed pulling hard at the ropes and pressing her legs against the small wooden fence. Two guards crossed their lances in front of her

"Hear even now our beloved Princess calls to her." The Bishop’s voice was full of hatred.

Suzanna turned her head slightly towards Bethany and shook it slowly.

"This is a mockery. I demand this show ceases." Bethany screamed. The Bishop shook his head slowly and looked back at Suzanna motioning to the guards to move her to the fire.

"Such is your crime, that you will be tossed into the open flames. And we will watch until your earthly body has been returned to the fires of hell from whence you did crawl. The ashes will then be gathered and I will bless them once again consecrating this ground." The Bishop growled much to the delight of the crowd, who cheered and clapped whilst still calling for her death.

"Father stop this." Bethany cried. Her father did not even move his head in her direction.

"Take the Princess from this place." The Bishop ordered with another growl. Bethany struggled as two guards took her arm, lifting her slightly off the floor.

"Zana!" She screamed as she was pulled backwards. The last thing she saw was an ornate arm guard embroidered in gold with the royal crest and an embossed Z before her handmaiden’s form was engulfed in the roaring flames.

"ZANA!!!!!!!" Bethany’s eyes snapped open and she sat bolt upright in her bed. Sweat covered her body and yet she trembled. Eyes blind with panic tried to take in her surroundings.

‘A dream. It had been a dream. At least....’ Her mind struggled to calm itself. ‘If it was a dream, where was Suzanna? She should have come the moment she heard me scream.’ The horrible thought came to Bethany.

"ZANA!!!" She shouted again, this time louder than the last.

"Yes Princess?" Charlotte entered the bedchamber hesitantly. She had been awoken early to cover for Suzanna and with her usual duty being mostly to help with the wash, this was quite the step up for her. She straightened out the fabric of the uncomfortable fancy dress she wore.

"Zana? Zana?" Bethany asked confused. "Where is she?"

"Oh Suzanna my Lady." The name clarified in Charlotte’s head.

The Princess blinked her eyes slowly looking at the woman in her room.

"I’m sorry my Lady." Charlotte curtsied. "Suzanna is ill and I was sent to fill in for her if you please."

"Ill? When? How?" Bethany struggled to sit upright

"Yes ill." Charlotte came further into the room. "Late last night, she collapsed in the hallway by the library and a sentry found her. Let me help you my Lady." The maid came hesitantly over to offer a hand, unsure just how much she was supposed to just do and how much she was supposed to be told to do.

"No, no." Bethany waved her away. "What is wrong with her?" She threw the blankets back suddenly remembering she only wore her slip from the night before

"The healer is not sure." Charlotte froze in her spot looking away from what the woman wore. This was a Princess and she could wear whatever she liked. "He thinks she may have eaten something bad at the banquet, though no one else in the house has fallen ill. I have set out clothes for you my Lady and a bath has been drawn." She curtsied again.

"Good, good. Thank you." Bethany paused looked at the young girl trying hard to think if she should know her name. In a flash the girl’s identity came to her. She was called Charlotte, a wash hand. Bethany tried not to frown, nothing was making much sense to her and her heart was still racing from the nightmare

"I also have word that your Governess wishes to see you this morning." Charlotte looked up briefly and then down again trying to remember her place. She’d always been envious of the upper house handmaidens and Suzanna especially but now she realised there job was not all it seemed to be. "You look flush my Lady." She looked worried. "Shall I call the healer?" The sudden fear that both the handmaiden and Princess had fallen ill made her worry. She didn’t need anyone blaming her for the Princess being sick.

"I feel a little strange Charlotte. But I am sure that I will be fine." She waved off the young woman’s concern.

"Then please my Lady I will fetch the healer as you rest." She motioned to the bed.

"No, it is probably too much mead." Bethany smiled.

"Yes my Lady." The maid’s head bobbed in compliance.

"You say my Governess wants to see me?" Bethany got out of the bed and walked over to the window gazing skyward. She was somewhat glad to see the sky filled with grey clouds.

"Yes my Lady. I was asked to advise you to see her when you have prepared yourself." Charlotte moved to stoke the dying fire.

"Charlotte, as I know you have had no training do you feel able to take on all of Suzanna’s duties?" Bethany asked as she watched the young woman stoke the fire.

"My Lady I must most honestly say this position is currently beyond my stature." Charlotte lowered the poker into its place. "But I will do my best while Suzanna is ill if you see so fit."

"That is all I ask of you Charlotte. I would ask that you be with me at all times in public and that you would prepare the fires in my chambers. I will wash and dress myself."

"Yes my Lady." Charlotte breathed a silent sigh of relief.

"And I will cut down our public appearances. So we will only be on show during meals and they are easy Charlotte, just be sure to taste everything before me and sit to my left." The Princess moved to leave the bedchamber.

"For everyone’s benefit the healer is confident that Suzanna will be able to resume her duty within two nights." Charlotte informed whilst listening intently to her instruction. ‘To the left and taste everything."

Bethany was half way through the door when she heard Charlotte and stopped.

"Charlotte?" She paused and turned back to the young woman.

"Yes my Lady." Charlotte dropped her eyes nervously.

"Would you consider training? To take such a position of this for yourself?" Bethany asked her mind racing slightly.

"However you see fit my Lady." Charlotte nodded confused.

"Charlotte, I would not ask anyone to do anything they did not feel drawn towards." She spoke softly, memories of the previous night rang through her head.

"My Lady please do not fear, the healer himself told me that Suzanna is in no danger."

"That pleases me." Bethany said honestly. "But if her position was to become vacant would you consider training for it?"

"It would be an honour to serve you my Lady." Charlotte didn’t really understand what was going on. First off why would Suzanna’s position become vacant unless she died and secondly why would what she wanted mean anything? The questions stuck in the young woman’s head.

Bethany nodded to herself again and moved further out of the door.

"Oh Charlotte." Bethany appeared back at the doorway.

"Yes Princess?" Charlotte was called out of her thoughts.

"Do not leave my chamber without me."

"Yes my Lady." She nodded.

"It is not seen fit for you to do so. Without direct instruction from me."

"Yes my Lady, thank you my Lady." Charlotte was happy to be getting such instruction. To be whipped for errors she didn’t know she was making seemed like harsh payment.

With a gentle sigh Bethany moved through to take her bath. Charlotte wasn’t exactly what she had imagined as a replacement, but she was young and perhaps she could learn quickly and be as flexible as Suzanna was.

‘No one could be like Suzanna was!’ Her mind berated her severely.

*******

(I could fill in a ‘remembering Zana’s hands scene!) (Maybe for her to get a clue that Zana was doing her duty but with extreme care sorta thing)

(Love this idea… smile… we had a DIY in the bath scene going in didn’t we???… he he he… just kidding (maybe)… but I do like the idea of at least a small scene to show her waking up to what was going on with her handmaiden and to figure out her own feelings a bit more… kiss kiss)

********

Bethany wiped her hands on the side of her dress, she was still feeling hot from her bath. It didn’t feel right making this journey to see her Governess with out Suzanna by her side. They would walk laughing, commenting on the guards, or on the weather, or planning their next hunt.

‘Oh God, the trials, hawking partners.’ Suddenly the reality hit her once more.

Bethany knocked lightly on the large door in front of her, her mind cartwheeling.

"Enter!" The stanch firm voice called back and then coughed for a moment.

Hearing the voice helped Bethany organise her mind a little. She opened the door and stepped inside in one movement, closing the door behind her silently. Charlotte hung back in the hallway waiting patiently for her.

"Princess Bethany." The older aged woman sat in a high-backed chair nodded to her coughing lightly again. "Please have a seat."

Bethany nodded and took a seat on the lower chair.

"As you are aware…" The older woman sat as upright as she could her hands folded in her lap carefully. "I was well enough to attend the banquet last evening and I am afraid I have heard the most horrendous rumour that I feel I must address with you promptly."

"Rumour?" Bethany coughed and took a breath, looking up into the older woman’s face.

"Yes, first off we shall establish if it is true." She moved her hands slightly. "So that I might advise the King on punishment and so that I might advise you on how to correctly deal with the matter."

"What is the nature of this rumour?" Bethany asked feeling her palms sweating she placed her hands flat on her knees.

"Well it has come to my attention that an attempt at the virtue of the throne has been quite brashly made by one in the court." The older woman studied her with a firm eye. Bethany swallowed hard. "In the stable, is this true?" She added looking for more of a confirmation.

"The stable." Bethany sighed. "Phillipe." She added breathing quite hard still as her heart still raced.

"So it is true." The Governess nodded.

"He kissed me Governess." Bethany said quietly her heart threatening to burst.

"Princess, he made an attempt at the virtue of the throne." Her voice was stern. "He was well aware of his misjudgement and shall be punished properly."

"Properly?" Bethany asked.

"Yes." She nodded unflinching. "It is an embarrassment for a man of his name to act so brashly."

"What would such a punishment be?" Bethany asked her hands gripping the fabric beneath them.

"His back will bare the strap for his infraction if he is lucky or banishment perhaps." She looked off. "Your Father is not pleased by such vulgar acts. His name in the court might hold him some lenience, but he is forever tarnished in honour."

"How had this become known?" Bethany asked with a frown her mind racing again.

"I am your Governess my Lady, it is my job to find out such things." She looked at her sternly. "Don’t be afraid, this does not fall on you. Though I do question where your handmaid was to not halt such an error in its infancy."

"It was my fault." Bethany shook her head lightly.

"Don’t be absurd Princess, how could it be your fault?" The Governess asked quite curious as to what the young woman thought her infraction.

"I went to the stables alone." The Princess stated simply.

"Well now you might know why escort policy is not to be broken, as not even the gentle men of the court can be trusted." The woman stated bluntly.

"I went to check the horses for the hunt. I had no idea." Bethany began stumbling over her words.

"Princess, that is the job of the servants. You must stop worrying yourself with such petty tasks." She snapped as harshly as she might. "You must be well aware of what lurks in each shadow of seeming honourable deeds. You might one day rule this land."

"And I would rule it far differently." Bethany spoke without thinking and she looked to her Governess hoping against hope she hadn’t said the words she had thought.

"You would, would you?" The Governess immediately caught her on the slip. "And how would you seek to better the rule of your father the King? Indulge me young Lady. Would you let young men have there way with the heir to the throne at whim?"

"No, no." Bethany shook her head.

"Would you let your daughter tramp the stables by herself knowing that men unlike Phillipe would want far more than a kiss?" She looked at her sternly.

"I did not mean that I would alter the escort rule." The Princess tried to explain.

"Then how and what would you alter?"

"I spoke out of turn Governess, forgive me." Bethany looked down admonishing herself severely. "Indeed if I was honest Phillipe scared me by what he did."

"I’m quite sure his actions did Princess. At your fathers request you have been sheltered from such carnal intrusions." She reached a shaking hand out for Bethany’s. "You must always have what you wish to say perplexed my Lady you cannot speak out of turn like that it could do great danger to the throne"

"I know." Bethany let her head drop even further.

"Now that I have cleared up the rumours validity." She moved her hand back. "I must ask if you have any questions about this event." Bethany looked up her eyes a little misty. "I have quite waited for you to approach me with questions but as you have not I now ask you if you have harboured any."

"Oh Governess." Bethany began not really knowing how to start.

"Yes Princess?" She waited staunchly for the questions.

"Sera…" Bethany began, though using the Governess name was almost unheard of for her. "Have you ever been in love?"

"Yes I was once in love." The woman was caught a bit off guard. Her usual armour a bit breached momentarily. Bethany dared to look up at the older woman.

"A true gentleman who died in defence of this very castle." She blessed herself.

"But you were not married?" Bethany questioned.

"No, Charles was killed before our wedding day." She coughed again.

"So you were betrothed." Bethany asked.

"After his death, your grandmother charged me to the role of the thrones Governess. A duty I have happily performed ever since." She nodded her response while she spoke.

"Sera, could I ask you of your relationship with him?" Bethany asked a nervous edge entered her tone.

"My relationship with him?" She asked a bit confused.

"Did you engage in kissing?" Bethany asked feeling somewhat foolish, she slipped her hands under her thighs.

"Charles and I kissed once." The older woman smiled. "My own Governess was quite lack in her duty one night. Kissing is an odd activity young Bethany, I’m sure Phillipe must have caught you quite off guard." She added hoping to draw the conversation back to the Princess.

"It was most unwelcome." Bethany admitted wanting to bring little attention to herself. "Was your kiss enjoyable?" She added quickly her mind forgetting whom she was talking to.

"Yes, when the act has been agreed upon by both parties it can be quite enjoyable." The Governess studied her. "Though ones enjoyment must be watched as it can lead to sinful acts. But as Charles was my betrothed the sin was minimal."

"Sinful acts?" Bethany pushed titling her head slightly.

"To let one’s virtue be taken by someone other than your husband on your wedding night." The woman stated bluntly. "To engage in carnal acts without purpose of procreation and outside of wedlock. To engage in any of the wanton acts of a common street whore." She snarled the hated acts.

"Kissing leads to this?" Bethany asked.

"It can." She nodded. "Some would say a kiss is innocent but I have seen too much in my years of the innocent kisses of men."

"And so all relationships outside of wedlock are wrong?"

"Princess, do you not hear any that the Bishop teaches you?" The Governess frowned. "Of course it is wrong."

"But how do you know who to marry? If you do not know someone before marriage?" She asked frowning.

"Why your Father will choose him for you on his acts of valour and statesmanship." The woman responded firmly. "I am quite sure Phillipe was a possible choice till he made this unforgivable error."

"And what of love?" Bethany asked directly.

"Love?" The feeble woman stopped her thoughts to look at the Princess. "Dear Bethany this has nothing to do with love. It is duty and honour and the continuation of the Royal line in purity.

"But what is marriage without love?" Bethany demanded her voice becoming harsh.

"You will grow to love who you marry." The woman smiled at her. "It is the illusion of youth that love is what one should seek. You need a good man with fine breeding my Lady."

"But what about passion?" She asked remembering Suzanna’s words. "Wants, desires?"

"Passion!" The woman choked on the word, coughing as she continued. "Young Lady you are to have no passion." Her eyes were cold.

"What if I want passion!" Bethany shot back.

"You are a Princess and will act accordingly. You will not be pulled by the devil’s wants like some lowly farm girl."

"I am the Princess. I should be able to have anything in the Kingdom." Her voice was even stronger.

"You my Lady, will know nothing of passion." The Governess shook her head to Bethany’s strong stance. "You will know of duty and of affairs of the state."

"Tell me why not. What is so wrong with passion? Why is it not for me." She questioned again softer, unable to believe that her life would be already forged into such emptiness.

"Passion is the tool of the devil, it leads good men and women to abandon their post and duty." The woman met her harshness with an icy voice. "Would the Kingdom survive if your Father or the Bishop spent there hours engaged in the pursuit of useless passion and not the state? And you young Lady have been breed for higher things than passion!"

"My father has laid with most of the court, both you and I know that." Bethany snarled back. "Why am I to be above that?"

"BECAUSE YOU YOUNG BETHANY ARE A LADY!" The woman’s voice boomed back. "And young ladies do not seek passion. It is a man’s flaw that he must sometimes seek relief from the devil’s influence."

"So if I were a Prince you would be here encouraging me to woo the world." Bethany bit back furiously.

"If you were a Prince your virtue would not be an issue." The Governess barked back. "And the shame on your Father that your bridal sheets not bear blood would be too much for him. Would you hurt him so?" The old woman breathed deeply. "You are a Lady and you must know your place."

"I wish my Mother had not died." Bethany snapped, stopping her tirade as the sadness behind her tone grew and tears stung her eyes.

"We all wish that the Queen had not been called to God so early Princess." The woman’s words softened. "But she would only be telling you as I tell you. Your place as Princess included virtue not passion."

"There is too much I do not know, that I do not understand. Sera who am I suppose to learn such things from?" Tears spilled down Bethany’s face.

"Your husband will show you on your wedding night." She folded her hands in her lap, seemingly impervious to the woman’s tears. She knew the young Princess must learn and a soft hand would not teach her properly.

"And what if I want no husband?" Bethany whispered.

"Pardon?" The woman looked at her shocked and Bethany held the look "You shall have a husband dear Bethany that is a given."

"So I may not know passion but I may know the touch of an unwanted man, a stranger?" She asked growing anger again. "Forgive me if I do not understand the difference between what my Father has planned for me and what Phillipe tried in the stable."

"He will be your Father’s choice and properly suited to be your husband." Sera shook her head at the seemingly confused words. "You are young Princess, you do not see. When your Father names your suitor it shall be the solidification of the state’s continued line. What Phillipe tried was treason to the state and a blasphemy to God."

"But if we had waited until father asked him. It would have been acceptable to god and the realm?" Bethany’s mind whirled as the thick coarse line that state and church was marking across her life because a little clearer to her.

"Once you were married yes." Sera nodded. "Your Father would choose and honourable gentlemen to take your hand Princess." She tried to calm the young woman’s fear. "It is a simple act with a man, there will not be much for you to suffer."

"Have you and father spoken of this?" Bethany asked suddenly.

"Of course." The Governess nodded again. "From the beginning."

"And was he planning on talking to me?" Bethany stood up and marched to the window.

"Of course not Princess, you would be advised when he had made his choice. You did not need to be burdened with such worries. Your Father is quite generous to let you engage in all the activities that he does."

"Yes, yes." Bethany sighed, she had heard enough.

"Find solace Princess that with your blood you will have much more power than most women." She added thinking it was a positive comment. "Though you will still have the duties of a wife to perform and to act as the exhibit for the Bishop in womanly virtue."

"Please I wish to end this talk." Bethany moved to the fireplace.

"As you wish Princess." The older woman began coughing again. "But please come to me if there is any other questions."

"I will." Bethany made the hollow statement easily.

"And do not worry of Phillipe, he has chosen his path to betray the throne."

"Phillipe, I am sure was aware of his actions." Bethany’s voice was laced with venom.

"You look tired Princess, have Suzanna take you back to your chambers and rest. A nice honey tea would help but a blush in your cheeks." The older woman suggested with a slight smile.

"Suzanna is ill." Bethany stated as she moved to the door. "But I will retire now."

"Fair well Princess." The woman blessed herself and waved the lower servant that tended to her to come from the corner.

********

Suzanna pulled the sticky cloth from off her forehead and dropped it onto the small stool beside the bed. She was happy the healer had finally left her alone for a bit. The annoying man had poked and prodded her to no end and all she really wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. Which if she did anymore in his presence she feared he’d call the Bishop in to anoint her.

She looked around the small room, warmed slightly by the small fire in the corner stove.

‘Still chilly.’ She thought to herself. The lower rooms weren’t like the Royal chambers. Pulling herself up to sit the cold stones at her back made her realise this was nothing like the Royal chambers and here in the likes of this place she would have to content herself from now on.

She brushed her fingers through her hair cursing again that her heartbreak had made her faint the night before. If she’d only been alone and not dragged here then maybe she would be able to think and make better sense of what she was going to do. The sunlight though the overhead small window made her think of the Princess.

‘I wonder who was sent to help her.’ She thought to herself, remembering all the little details of her duties in the morning. She doubted they’d known to place out the green dress or to scent the bath just a little as too much bothered the Princess’ skin. The thought of it all made her want to cry again as she pulled the scratchy wool blanket up around herself.

********

"Charlotte, you can wait outside." Bethany turned to the young woman who walked a little too close behind her.

"Yes my Lady." Charlotte moved to stay by the door.

Bethany stepped inside and glanced around the gloomy room, shivering against the damp chill.

"Princess!" Suzanna blinked in disbelief at the sight at the doorway. Out of habit she moved to stand up immediately.

"Suzanna, lie back." Bethany motioned with her hand. As the night caught up with her Suzanna had no option, her head swam and she was soon sitting again.

"I’m sorry my Lady." Her voice was soft as she watched Bethany move over to the bed.

"How do you fair?" Bethany asked as she looked around for something other than the small stool to sit on. Finding nothing she moved the damp rag off it and sat down.

"I fair..." Zana tried to find the right answer watching her every move. To say she faired well and thus lie to the status of her heart or say she faired horrible and risk hurting the Princess again. She found herself lost as to what to answer. "The healer is confident I will be better by the dawn." She took his words as her shield.

"That pleases me." Bethany admitted honestly.

"The arrangements of my new duty are set then my Lady?" Her voice was almost silent as she asked. The Princess nodded distractedly.

"Zana." She barely drew a breath she reached out a hand to rest on the thick blanket.

"Yes Princess?" Suzanna looked up briefly being directly addressed.

"I need to ask of you something and I beg of you an honest answer." Her fingers toyed with the rough wool.

"Then honest I shall give my Lady." Zana nodded.

"Have you heard talk of my betrothal?" Bethany asked looked at the handmaiden.

"Your betrothal?" Suzanna’s heart sunk having been in desperate hope for something more. "I have heard that your Father looks but not in earnest for such."

"And you swear this to be the truth." Bethany stated bluntly.

"I swear." She put her hand to her heart. "All that I have heard is this."

Bethany breathed heavy and then moved her hand gently over the blanket. She shivered as she was caught by a chilled draft.

"By all that is holy Zana, how are you supposed to get well down here?" She questioned as she looked to the open window above them.

"My Lady it is cold here, I fear you will catch chill." Zana spoke at the same time and cut her voice off quick when she realised to let the woman finish. "I have asked the healer to move me to my quarters but he feared disturbing your Highness, as they are so close to your own."

"You shall be moved there forthwith." Bethany turned her head to see if she could see the healer.

"But your Highness..." She could barely say the words.

"But nothing Zana. Unless?" Bethany stopped waiting to hear Suzanna’s statement.

"My quarters must be free for your new..." She swallowed hard. "Handmaid."

"I have taken no new maid." Bethany’s answer was short. "I have a lower servant who is doing her best. With you ill no decision can be made. You are not well enough to begin any new duties. They would not have you near the dogs if you are ailing." She looked around still not able to locate the healer or his assistants.

"Yes my Lady." She spoke blankly as the words gave her no hope. "As you wish to have arranged."

"Princess, I was unaware you had arrived." The healer came in ringing his hands and bowed to her.

"Then may I suggest you train your assistants harder." Bethany snapped she was tired of infidels and idiots today.

"Of course your Majesty." He backed up a little. Suzanna stole a quick look at the Princess, this was not like her, she didn’t snap at anyone normally.

"Suzanna needs to be moved to her quarters. Is she well enough?"

"Quite well enough to be moved." He nodded. "She will require more rest I fear till she is fit for service." He added the last part hesitantly. If it were he or the handmaiden to be punished, she’d be back to work as soon as the Princess wanted.

"Then get on of you minions to carry her. She will accompany me now." Bethany stood up.

"Darrel!" The healer called one of his helper. A large thick young man appeared to fill the doorway.

"Yes sir?" He wiped his hands on his apron.

"Carry the Princess’ handmaiden to her quarters to rest." The healer snapped him to his duty.

"And for the sake of the Lord in his heaven, do something about this place. I would not want to have to see my Father about this. Surely the infirmary needs to be a warm wholesome place." Bethany continued her rant as she moved away from the bed.

"Of course Princess, we will make amends immediately." The healer cowered under her orders.

"Um." The young man approached the woman in the bed hesitantly.

"Darrel, just pick me up and carry me carefully and don’t speak." Suzanna whispered to him trying to offer the poor man guidance. He smiled at her and gently picked her up, blanket and all turning with the easy weight to wait for orders.

"And have some chairs brought down here. How are relatives supposed to visit those ailing if all they can sit on is stools?" Bethany spoke stiffly as she waited.

"Chairs of course Princess." The man nodded and bowed again. He was going to have to talk to one of the Lords, this was not at all usual if the servants were ailing they had no visitors.

"Let us be gone." Bethany moved to the door.

"Yes Princess." The healer backed out of the door to let her pass.

"Follow her two steps behind." Suzanna whispered to Darrel, knowing the poor boy needed guidance.

"Charlotte!" Bethany barked.

"Yes my Lady." The young servant came running. She’d wandered off to see someone she knew form the laundry.

"Go to the kitchens has some broth and hot mead brought to my chambers." The Princess’ instructions were direct.

"Yes my Lady." She curtsied and hurried off. This was one task she could do.

Bethany marched down the corridor and up the stairs towards her chambers. Darrel followed carrying Suzanna carefully, still having not made a sound himself

Suzanna made hand gestures to the guards as they walked to open doors as necessary. She felt foolish being carried but she had never before seen the Princess in such a mood. Bethany paid no attention to anything, her eyes still flooded with red from her talk with her Governess.

"She’ll stop before her door Darrel." Suzanna whispered to the young man. "You’ll have to open the door, use the hand around my back I’ll hold your neck." He nodded that he understood, slightly awed by the sight of the upper chambers.

Bethany strutted all the way to her chamber door standing before it tapping her foot impatiently. Darrel moved as best as he could to open it without disturbing the woman in his arms. He backed out of her way again

"Do I take you to your chambers..." Darrel began but Suzanna shook her head to stop his words.

"Only follow." She whispered the words of wisdom to him silently.

"Place her on my bed." Bethany casually went to the windows. Zana nodded to him to follow the command in a hurry. Darrel rushed through the chambers and into the bedchamber to place Suzanna gently on the bed. He was awed by the decadence in the room.

"Wait and she will dismiss you Darrel." Suzanna whispered as she was placed down. She knew he’d never had to deal with this level of instruction.

"Darrel?" Bethany walked into the bedchamber.

"Yes my Lady." He bowed awkwardly.

"You have served well and with care." Bethany’s voice was still short but somewhat more tolerant. "I will advise the healer such. You may go now."

"Thank you my Lady." He nodded and hurried to get out of the room, disappearing into the hall in record speed.

On the bed Suzanna sat awkwardly, leaned slightly against the pillows in her frailty. Though chilled she could not move the blankets, as she knew here is not where she should be

"Are you cold Zana?" Bethany asked as she moved a little closer.

"Just a bit chilly." She whispered as she hugged her arms to herself without thought.

"Lay back." Bethany moved closer still. Zana wanted to question but she could not and just let herself rest back a bit.

Bethany moved her hands to the bed drawing the blankets up and draped them over her handmaiden. Suzanna wanted to question the abnormal manual type moves but she couldn’t bring herself. If these were the last moments she was to have, was it wrong for her to enjoy what was offered.

"I will have Charlotte stoke the fire." Bethany smoothed down the top blanket. Her hand rested on the royal crest. In a sudden unbidden flash an image from her nightmare hit her she drew her hand off the blanket with a wince.

"My Lady are you all right?" Suzanna saw the flash of pain as it went across Bethany’s face. The Princess looked at Suzanna unable to hide the ghost behind her eyes. "My Lady, if you are troubled I pray you might let me listen and be assured your trust I would never breech." The handmaid tried to find some ground for them even after the night before.

Bethany looked at Zana as she lay in her bed. Her heart began to beat hard as thoughts of the night before began to whirl again. This had been what she had wanted, how had things gone so very wrong?

"Zana, how I want to talk to you? But how can I?" She questioned in a lost voice.

"As you always have my Lady." Suzanna tried to reason.

"But you are ill." Bethany stood up and walked to the fire glancing down at the embers.

"Your Highness I am merely weak from a sleepless night." She tried to downplay her state. "And a light head would never negate my ability to listen my Lady."

"My dear Zana, I saw you in the infirmary. You could barely stand. Why do you think I had you carried up here?" Bethany was interrupted by a knock on the door. She strode over to it and pulled it open.

"Your Highness, I have the broth." Charlotte called not sure if she should enter. She’d gone to Suzanna’s room first, surprised when the guard told them she’d been brought to the Princess’ room directly.

"Very good, put it over there." Bethany motioned to the low table near the fire.

"Yes my Lady." The young woman moved to lay it on the table as instructed.

"Go to my handmaidens room and bring her a clean night shift." The Princess instructed. "And other personal things, a hair brush and some combs."

"Yes my Lady." Charlotte nodded and half bowed.

"And Charlotte." Bethany called the servant out of her retreat to the door. "Put them in the main chamber and then leave us. Then go directly to the stables. My horse will need checking as will Mistral my hawk. The stable and Avery hand will advise you on what to do."

"Yes your Highness." She nodded as she waited for any more instructions while she slowly pulled the door open.

"And Charlotte." Bethany gave the young girl a slight smile.

"Yes Princess?" She halted in the doorway.

"Thank you. I shall see that you actions and service go rewarded."

"At your leisure your Majesty." Charlotte smiled awkwardly and slipped out.

"Do you want broth?" She asked moving to the small bowl on the table after the door had swung closed leaving them alone in private.

"Yes my Lady." Suzanna smiled softly. Her empty stomach wouldn’t let her answer any other way. "But please let me." She slowly began to judge getting up.

"Zana." Bethany glanced at her. "Please you are not well. Perhaps you would rather me get you a nurse. I am sure the healer has one he could spare."

"Oh no." Suzanna had the small protest out before she could edit it. "A nurse is not necessarily my Lady. I’m sure I will be well again soon."

"With a little care and attention I am sure of it too." Bethany picked up the bowl and brought it over to the bed. She placed it on the small bedside table.

"Always the best medicine." Suzanna added the words she’d heard from her mother so many years ago without thought.

"Indeed. Here let me help you to sit up." Bethany moved forward to help her handmaiden without a thought.

"Your Highness this is not your duty." Zana protested in a whisper, feeling ashamed of her selfish mind that wanted to let this happen.

"Oh, of course." Bethany moved away a little, her heart sinking as she thought it was the night before that must be the cause of her handmaiden’s reaction. "I think perhaps a nurse would be in order."

"My Lady if it please you." Suzanna watched her back off.

"I do not want to make you uncomfortable Zana." Bethany turned back her voice soft.

"Your Highness you could never do that." She spoke back just as soft.

"Then here." Bethany came back to sit on the bed. Leaning forward she placed her hands on Suzanna’s waist. As the Princess took a deep breath she missed Zana’s hard swallow as she laid her hand on the arms that moved to help her. "Gently." She eased the other woman forward. Suzanna followed the direction as she took a slow breath.

‘Your bath was definitely over scented.’ Suzanna thought to herself as she got closer to the Princess. ‘Poor Charlotte, what a horrible job you have done.’

Bethany settled Suzanna into a more upright position but held on enjoying the feeling of the body in her arms. She remembered the way she had felt the night before and found herself breathing in deeply. The Princess moved her hands a little on Suzanna’s waist sliding them a little round the woman’s back as she shifted herself a little further up on the side of the bed.

Suzanna’s hand lingered on the arms that held her as each of the moves filled her with wondered fascination. Without thinking, her hands slid slowly up the woman’s arms to rest on her shoulders. Only the fingertips of her index fingers resting lightly on the soft white flesh past the arms of the Princess’ dress.

"Zana." Bethany breathed.

"Yes my Lady?" She breathed back.

"This morning, when I woke and you were not here." Bethany stopped unsure of what she was going to say. "I..." She stumbled over her words.

"I wish I had been." Zana whispered the wish ever so softly. Not sure where she’d found the courage as her fingers rested on the shoulders beneath them a little heavier.

"I missed you." Bethany blurted out.

"As I missed you my Lady."

"Zana." She realised she could not move her hands. "I am sorry."

"Why sorry my Lady?" Zana whispered back a little confused and fearful the Princess was sorry for their current position.

"For what happened last night." Bethany admitted unconsciously her hands began stroking Suzanna’s back.

"A lot of things occurred last night my Lady, for which do you feel sorry?" Suzanna asked the question softly. Hoping the gentle movement of the hands at her back might be the answer.

"The fact that you left." The Princess’ breath grew shorter as the movement of her hand became stronger.

"I am sorry for that as well my Lady, I did not want to leave." Suzanna whispered as she fingers moved lightly over the flesh they rested on. She prayed beyond hope she was not saying too much. The movement at her back edged her on though her heart begged for careful steps.

"Kiss me." Bethany suddenly pulling Suzanna a little closer.

Suzanna eyes flicked down to look at luscious red lips for a moment before she moved to gap the distance between them quick to fulfil the command. Closing her eyes she tilted her head as their mouths met.

Bethany closed her eyes, moving her hands higher on the other woman’s back as she leaned heavily forward. Her feet lifted off the floor to rest her weight on the bed. She felt the anger that the morning had instilled within her seeping out as the kiss became deeper. She moved her tongue to Suzanna’s mouth increasing the pressure from her hands. The handmaid opened to her instantly, her own hands moved full to sit on the bare soft flesh of the Princess’ shoulder and throat.

Bethany let their tongues dance for a time before breaking the kiss she moved off the bed, her eyes never leaving Suzanna. The handmaid watched her every move stuck between curiosity at what Bethany was doing and dread that again something had gone horribly wrong.

The Princess moved to the large wooden door and pushed it closed. She slid the heavy bolt across before moving slowly back across the room.

"Zana." Bethany moved back towards the bed.

"Yes my Lady?" She questioned her voice a thick from the kiss and the ever increasing proximity of the Princess.

"Do you think I deserve passion?" Bethany’s hand moved to the front of her dress, playing with the thick cords that laced it closed.

"Without question." She answered knowing the question had a heavy weight.

"Do you think I deserve love?" She asked as she pulled the bow out and began to loosen the cord. She stopped by the side of the bed.

"With all my heart I know that you do." Suzanna spoke in a soft confident voice to answer.

"Could you give me both?" Bethany asked fixing eyes on Suzanna.

"My love I give you already." The handmaid answered honestly holding the Princess’ eyes. "Passion I would seek to give you, if that is what you would desire from me. I would impose nothing on you my Lady."

"Zana stop. Do not treat me as a child." Bethany spoke firmly as she finished undoing the cords. She pushed the heavy material from her shoulders and let her dress fall form her body standing before Zana as she had the night before in only a slip.

"How am I treating you as a child my Lady?" Suzanna asked her eyes glued to the woman’s body as the garment left it. "Because you are no child and I do not wish to treat you as one."

"Then touch me. Hold me." Bethany was unsure of what move to make next.

"My Lady is it not to treat you like a child that I ask if this is what you want." Suzanna’s voice was husky. "It is to know that you want this as much as I."

"I want it." She responded hurriedly. "I want you."

"Come lay with me then my Lady." Suzanna held out her hand unsure of her steady legs would be if she attempted to stand. The light feeling still there, though now from her quickly beating heart.

Bethany raised her hand, it trembled slightly as she reached out and took Zana’s.

"You are so beautiful." Suzanna pulled the hand to her gently and brushed her lips over the back of it as she held it.

"No Zana. Truly it is you who shines like a star in the night sky." She moved up onto the bed her skin feeling the texture of the embroidered blanket as she knelt up on it.

"I am only then a mere faded star to the beauty of your glowing sun." Zana kissed the hand again, letting her lips linger.

"I fear I know not how to make you happy." Bethany whispered as she moved higher up the bed coming close to Suzanna’s mouth with her own.

"My Lady your sweet kiss makes me happy." Suzanna whispered back.

"Then I would kiss you again." Her voice was barely audible.

"And I would know happiness eternal." Suzanna murmured back ever so softly.

Bethany moved her lips over Suzanna’s, her mouth open. She controlled her mind’s reaction as her body, as it had the night before, began to grow hotter, her heart beat hard and an aching grew inside. Suzanna wrapped her arms around the woman, drawing her even closer. All tiredness and fatigue fell away as the fire in her body ignited to an inferno. Bethany moaned slightly as she leaned into the embrace, her tongue seeking the mouth it had longed to taste. Suzanna pulled her closer still as she leaned backwards knowing somewhere behind her were pillows ready to catch them.

Bethany pressed her mouth down harder following the other woman backwards. Suzanna’s hand moved unrestrained across the Princess’ soft back trickling up and down over the thin material of her slip. Sparks flew all over Bethany’s body at the touch of Suzanna’s hand. She pressed harder into their kiss, breathing hard behind it. She brought her hands up to Zana’s cheeks sliding her fingers up into the other woman’s hair.

Suzanna lost in the deep kiss let her hands stray lower over the slight curve of the Princess’ hip. The push of the other woman hips in response against her caused sparks of light to go off in the handmaiden’s head. Suzanna let them travel down further still over the gentle swell of the Princess’ backside. The touch of her hand grew stronger as she urged them to push against her again.

"May I come beneath the blankets with you?" Bethany gasped fighting for breath as she pulled her head back a bit from the searing kiss.

"Please do my Lady." Suzanna panted having been just poised to ask the question herself. With hasty movements the Princess pushed at the blankets. Suzanna tried to help with the heavy coverings, pushing pillows off the bed to offer them more room. With a final effort Bethany cleared the way and dropped into the bed beside Suzanna, turning on her side to look at her handmaiden. Suzanna turned on her side towards her as well, snaking one hand upwards to play with a curl of silky red.

"Is this a good position?" Bethany asked honestly wanting to know the answer. "Are there better ones?"

"Is it my Lady." Suzanna shifted closer to her so that they were close together. She moved one arm around to her back, again moving it over soft flesh. "There are others, but this one has its advantages." She dropped her head to lightly kiss the Princess’ chin and then her collarbone.

"Those being?" Bethany shivered under the kisses, her temperature soaring the aching stronger than ever.

"A kiss my sun." She kissed her again wetly about the neck. "Does not need be on the lips to be enjoyed."

"As it would seem." Bethany breathed thoroughly enjoying the kisses to the throat. "Oh Zana." She breathed as she watched the other woman.

"Yes my Lady?" The handmaiden moved a bit closer as a hand slid over her waist.

"I cannot believe this is wrong." She gasped as she tilted her head back exposing more of her neck.

"Do not believe it dear Princess." Suzanna whispered softly.

"Zana, I have a desire." She closed her eyes as the kisses continued to move down towards the swell of her breasts. "To press our bodies tight together. Would this be good?"

"Yes my Lady it would and I desire the same." Suzanna moved closer to her, her hand returning down over hip again to rest open palmed on bare thigh.

"Oh Zana." The Princess’ voice was high as Suzanna kissed even lower. The handmaiden’s hand returned higher for a moment to carefully pull the thin strap of the slip down over the woman’s shoulder.

Bethany squeezed her hand lightly on the hip beneath it in response to the returned touch to her side. The handmaiden’s fingers skipped lower over the rise of her hip to trace curves. Bethany moved her leg unsure exactly where to put it. She drew it up and over her handmaiden’s leg, causing her slip to ride high up her leg as the flesh of her calf brush over Suzanna’s. Suzanna moaned at the pressure pressed down on her hip and shifted closer still her own leg guiding up to slide softly under the Princess’.

Bethany swore her heart stopped as she felt the movement of Suzanna’s leg beneath her own. The handmaiden danced wet kisses lower, reaching the swell of Bethany’s breast above the slip. Waves of heat and pleasure travelled through her body as Bethany pushed her hips forward slightly and she closed her eyes. Suzanna became lost as the Princess moved her hips in and caused flares of hot pleasure to bounce inside her she shifter herself closer still.

"I want to touch you Zana, to feel skin not silk." She whispered her voice a deep husky growl.

"As do I my Lady." Her hand came to play with the strap of the slip.

"Rid me of it." Bethany begged her.

"With pleasure my sun." Zana kept their lower bodies pressed hard together as she moved her head back, replacing it with quick caressing hands that moved to undo the laces at the front of the slip. The Princess’ chest heaved behind the ties. Zana completely pulled the lacing open before gently pushing the sheer material back. Her hands grazed over heated heaving flesh and the sheer brief feel of it made her moan.

"May I?" She tried to regain some composure s as she moved her trembling hands towards Suzanna’s slip.

"Please my Lady." Suzanna bit her lip, feeling far to hot in the material.

The Princess’ suddenly clumsy fingers did a worse job of loosening Suzanna’s slip. She pulled a little roughly when the silken cords became tangled, apologising softly before continuing.

Zana smiled at her and ran an anxious hand down the naked flesh of the woman’s side. She hoped the Princess would know no apology was necessary.

Brashly when the slip was loose Bethany dipped her head down and kissed the top of one ivory mound. Zana took a deep hurried breath as she pushed herself forward into the touch..

The Princess was about to pull her head back, an apology in her mind already until she felt Zana push forward. Instead she kissed again, lingering, letting her tongue slip out between her lips to taste the soft flesh. As the tongue hit her flesh, Suzanna’s hips shifted in ecstasy moving her leg upward between those of the Princess. Bethany took a deep breath as the soft flesh of thigh suddenly striking wet hot flesh

"Sweet heaven is this." Suzanna whispered lost in the feel of it all. Her mind focused on the feel of heat on her thigh and the mouth at her chest. Her hands moved on their own, brushing lightly through silky hair and down naked back just wanting to touch and feel in pleasure and not for one instant in duty

Bethany opened her mouth wider and lowered it again onto Suzanna’s breast. This time drawing some of the soft pliant flesh into her mouth and sucking gently. She pushed her body forward on Suzanna’s thigh, moving her hands up to cup the breast she held in her mouth. Her finger tips pressing into the flesh. The movement of the mouth on her flesh caused Suzanna’s hips to move and she guided her thigh further onto the hot flesh upon it. The pleasure causing a needy motion to build between them.

With some reluctance Bethany released her prize and took a breath. The heat between her legs was becoming more and more fiery especially as Suzanna began to gently rock her hips and with them her thigh into the Princess.

"Zana!" Bethany gasped between breaths. "What is this I feel?" She moved her hand to her stomach to let the other woman know where the feelings were.

"It is passion my Lady, it is love." Zana moved her hand to caress the Princess stomach, the touch causing the woman to shiver. "It makes you hot and wet in the places where passion reside most."

"The aching is lower." Bethany pushed her stomach into Suzanna’s hand.

"Lower here?" She questioned in a desperate whisper as her shaking fingers went lower resting lightly in the start of damp curls.

"By all that is holy!" The Princess gasped and startled Suzanna enough that she drew her hand back up to the woman’s shivering stomach.

"If it is too soon my Lady." She chastised herself for the bold move.

"Zana, oh Zana." Bethany suddenly drew her handmaiden close in the tightest embrace possible. Suzanna held her back tightly her hand wedged between them. "I have been a fool." She said suddenly.

"No fool my Lady, please do not speak such words."

"I have, I have." Bethany began to wept softly with the words, though her hips continued to move against Suzanna even in the tight embrace.

"My Lady, I don’t understand." She tried to suppress a moan that welled up from the movement. She drew her hand out and brushing away tears. Bethany raised a hand to Suzanna’s cheek.

"I have felt this before." Bethany explained her fingers brushing back stray hairs from Zana’s face.

"When your Highness?" Suzanna asked her hand trailing down the woman’s back again softly over rounded backside to rest open on the thigh that held her where she most wanted to be.

"Some nights when you bathe me." Bethany admitted. "And most recently." She looked at Suzanna through her long dark lashes.

"Most recently?" Suzanna swallowed hard willing her to continue speaking. To know that the Princess had felt like this before, had wanted this touch from her, drove her mad.

"In the hunting field when you shot your game." She rocked a little more forcefully. "When I held you then. I felt this fire. Though I believed it to be the rush of the hunt."

"I almost wished I’d missed the shot the second time." Suzanna’s admitted huskily. "So that you might have held me again."

"Zana?" Bethany asked her voice a deep whisper. "What would happen if you touch me there?"

"It will feel even more like fire than it does now." She answered softly caressing the thigh under her hand. "But it is a wonderful fire my Lady."

"Have you touched yourself like this?" Bethany asked her eyes open and honest, wanting and needing to know.

"Yes my Lady, on occasion." Suzanna words caught a bit at the admission but here in the embrace, naked and meshed together, could she not feel freer than ever to admit such a thing.

"Touch me my Zana." Bethany asked her voice full of trust.

"It is my pleasure my Lady." She leaned in to brush their lips together as she moved their bodies apart slightly to guide her hand down between them again.

Bethany felt her breath quicken in anticipation and her heart felt as if it might burst as the other woman’s hand again hit dampened curls.

"You must tell me my Lady." Suzanna spoke in a whisper as her hand pushed full against the Princess.

"Tell you?" Bethany gasped as she focused on the feel of the hand in a place where no one had ever touched before.

"If you feel you would want my touch faster or slower." She ran her hand back, letting one finger enter slightly into slick wet. Bethany tried to give her an acknowledgement but failed to make a verbal one her only managing a feeble nod. "Harder or softer." She held the woman’s wavering eye. "As I want to know these things so that I can bring you as much passion as possible."

"I cannot imagine more than I have now." Bethany’s voice sounded strange.

"So much more my Lady." Zana slid two fingers it to caress softly. Gently rubbing back and forth against the woman’s virgin centre.

"Oh Zana." She groaned and pressed her hips forward, amazed as her whole lower body took on a new life at Suzanna’s touch.

Suzanna made the movement a little harder, going in opposition to the rock of the Princess’ hips as she dipped her head down again kissing milky white flesh. She knew now how it felt to be kissed here but she desperate to know what it felt to be the one tasting.

"Faster Zana." The Princess instructed in a wanton voice, though she didn’t know from where the words came. Zana sped up the motion of her hand, happy for the direction as her mouth reached the ample flesh of the woman’s breast. She trailed wet kisses down towards erect flesh, eager to taste as she drew the flesh into her mouth. In combination with the motion of her hand she rocked her hips into the other woman’s hard. The feel of the leg over her hip built the fire inside her even higher.

"Oh yes!" Bethany cooed her pleasure. She truly felt on fire and she felt a great trembling inside her as she put more force into the push of her hips.

Though caught in passions tight grip the handmaiden was careful with her hand. She knew one thing must always remain off limits to her. So with her firm fast strokes she brushed past the Princess’ wet opening but did not enter.

Bethany began to feel tight vibrations beginning between her legs and flashes behind her eyes.

"Zana…" With a look of alarm she looked at her lover. "I..." Her words failed her as her body began to quiver.

"It is passion’s sweet release my Lady." Suzanna whispered softly watching the play across her face. "Please trust me, there is nothing to fear. Embrace it my Lady."

"I feel I want to let go." Bethany described it as best she could, her breathing nothing more than ragged gasps.

"I have you my Lady, I swear with all that I am you are safe to let go." She whispered softly as she worked her hand a bit faster.

"OH ZANA!" She cried out loudly as she pushed hard against the other woman’s hand.

"Yes my Lady, yes." Suzanna encouraged, her own breath ragged as she urged her hand to go faster and pushed harder with her own hips.

Keeping her hips rigid and stretched Bethany pumped forward a few times before releasing her breathed in a long shuddering motion. Willing her muscles to relax first before they tensed painfully hard on her and released in a sudden fluid moment. The handmaiden’s hand kept its pace for a moment as the peak hit the body under it. She began to slow it slightly to coax the last of the release out of her lover.

Bethany clung weakly to Suzanna as her body shook and finally stilled against the other woman’s hand. As the Princess stilled, she drew her hand from within its wet surroundings and up to hold the other woman tightly.

"You are the most beautiful creature on earth or in the heavens." Zana cooed as she placed soft kisses across a heated sweaty brow. Bethany shook her head trying to control her ragged breathing. "Lie still for a moment." She guided gently seeing the woman’s chest heave and feeling the slight jerks of movements as her hips flared against the fading pleasure. Willing Bethany just held on, stilling her body and breathing. Zana ran light fingers over her hair and placed light kisses on the woman’s cheeks and forehead.

"That is no sin." Bethany’s voice was strong, though still low and quiet. She began to draw small circles with her hand on the handmaiden’s stomach.

"I do not know how it could be." The handmaid whispered back her agreement. Her eyes closed against the feel of the fingers playing on her stomach.

"Only God himself could create something that precious." Bethany watched in wonder the reaction her simple touch could cause Suzanna.

"Indeed by his hands were our bodies formed from the earth. How could he not be the maker of all that they can do?" She added absently, her body focused on the heady passion that was foaming through all of her.

Bethany smiled softly and let a light laugh escape he lips. Her hand travelled unbidden lower, tracing over Suzanna’s hipbones. The handmaiden looked at her, questioning the sweet laugh. Though the sound of it made her heart soar. Her look of enquiry ended as she took a sharp breath in as her hips pushing uninstructed into the hand that explored them.

"And I thought al this time I had a handmaid. When really I have a wise woman and a studier of God." She smoothed her other hand through Suzanna’s hair. She suddenly became aware of Suzanna’s rhythmic pushing into her other hand. Her sweet laughter stopped as she her fingers more strongly against her lover’s hip.

"Not wise…" Zana breathed out trying to concentrate. "I seek to listen and contemplate for myself when others speak."

"Zana." Bethany was suddenly serious. "We must release your passion." She looked for Suzanna’s eyes.

"Please sweet Princess." Susanna whispered as she held the woman’s eyes.

"I am unskilled but feel that if you could guide me I may be of some use to you." Bethany said the muddled words by way of apology.

"My Princess." Suzanna brought her hands up to cradle the woman’s face. "You have the skill of no other to touch my heart and soul."

"But to touch your body..." Bethany began to argue.

"It is the same my Lady." Her voice was breathy. "There is no wrong or unskilled hand."

"I love you my Zana." The Princess whispered as she lowered the hand that rested on Suzanna’s hips to the top of her already damp curls.

"I love you." Suzanna whispered back, her breath stilling as her mind and body registered the movement of the Princess’ hand.

With a direct yet gentle movement Bethany slipped her hand flat, palm up between Suzanna’s legs. She rested her thumb on the other woman’s thigh and resting her four fingers up tight against the hot wet place she found there. Keeping the rest oh her hand flat, she raised her middle finger slightly and rubbed it gently along the length of wetness. She stopped as the heat and moisture did, before drawing back along the wet line.

"Oh my Lady." She moaned at the slight touch. "The skills you think you do not have..." She took a deep breath, her legs opening to the touch as a shiver went down them. "Beg trust that your love gives you this skill already."

Bethany let her thumb begin pressing on Suzanna’s thigh in an added and yet completely automatic motion. The handmaid moaned again her hands still gently holding the Princess’s face.

"This pleases?" Bethany whispered as she repeated the action when Suzanna managed a hurried nod. "Pray you direct me as I did you." She moved her first finger to join the stroking motion.

"I will my Lady." Zana managed to find a voice to whisper. She rocked forward into the new exploration.

Bethany senses began reeling at the feel of the thick, warm moisture on her fingers. She caressed in long light strokes. She pressed her fingers in slightly, gently exploring the area as she drew her fingers again over Suzanna’s centre. Bethany noticed how they dipped in a little at a certain point.

"Oh my Lady." Zana moaned again as she felt the fingers inside her gaining confidence.

"Is this still pleasurable?" Bethany asked stilling her hand somewhat alarmed.

"Yes my Lady, most pleasurable." She reassured desperate for the motion to begin again.

"You feel wondrous." Bethany breathed as she kissed Suzanna briefly and her fingers began again. Zana kissed her back hotly, wanting to convince that the motion of her hand was indeed infinitely pleasurable. As Suzanna returned the kiss the Princess remember how their kisses had felt and she threw herself into kissing her hotly and passionately. Her hand continued unchecked as she lost herself in the kiss.

The handmaid met her kiss lips and tongue eager and yearning as her hips moved on there own biding from the pleasure of the Princess’ hand. Bethany pressed her tongue deeply into Suzanna’s mouth as her hand movements quickened there pace in reaction too the woman’s hip movements. Suzanna feverishly sucked and licked at the tongue in her mouth. Three of her fingers now stroked the length of Suzanna’s wetness. In a move almost incomprehensible to Bethany the form of her lover allowed for her middle finger to bend up just slightly. She pressed a little way further into the area that dipped as she plunged her tongue deeper into Suzanna’s mouth.

Suzanna moaned loudly, lost in the pleasure. This felt like nothing she’d ever known before. Not thought or self-deed had ever brought this feeling, this heat and passion.

Bethany pressed further with both her mouth and her finger. Her tongue explored Suzanna’s warm mouth and tongue, where her finger met with some resistance. She pulled back slightly not wanting to press hard for fear that her lacking experience would result in her hurting her beloved friend. She just pressed gently, slipping her finger forward a little to find small hard nub of flesh. She pressed down lightly on this, surprised when Suzanna’s hips jerked at the high touch and drove her fingers deeper. The flush-faced handmaiden kissed the Princess hard as her hands clung desperately to the woman’s shoulders and back.

"This is wondrous." Bethany breathed in a voice broken by ragged heaves as her hand began to tire.

"It is so..." Suzanna tried to encourage her.

"Direct me to release your passion." She purred as she watched her lover’s reactions.

"Do as you already do." Zana tried to give guidance her world centred on the feel of it as passion’s roots furled into her every inch of flesh.

"But I would go deeper." She admitted in a small voice as she kept up her hand’s movement.

"Then deeper go my Lady, I give myself to you." Suzanna voice was a deep whisper. Her eyes closed as she tried to slow the pounding of her hips.

Bethany wondered at her handmaid’s words as she returned her middle finger to the point where it met resistance. Using the rest of her hand to still rub and caress she drew her knee up to rest behind her hand for support.

"Make me yours for eternity." She whispered feeling a slight twinge of pain inside her mixed with the passion.

Drawing her finger back and forth, Bethany pressed slightly with each new rub as she locked her mouth over Suzanna’s. She pushed a little harder as she felt the resistance give and her finger slide a little way further inside the other woman’s body.

The handmaid moaned into the kiss as her body locked for a moment as the shot of pain went through her. She gasped in the kiss holding the Princess tight as fingers pushed further still.

Bethany’s heart stopped as Suzanna gasped into her mouth but she was unable to stop the upward motion of her finger, which was ever eager to explore. The handmaiden’s hips stilled as the pain momentarily over took passion. Noticing the change in her lover’s breathing, the Princess fought for control and moved her hand a little to ready to draw her finger out.

"Please my Lady." Suzanna pulled out of the kiss whispering hotly. "Move through it." Her hips rocked a little as the pain eased.

"Through it." She echoed the request sliding her finger back inside and returning the other fingers to their stroking action. "Like this?" She questioned her voice heavy and thick.

"Yes my Lady." Zana nodded as her body slowly began to attune to the pleasure at the Princess’ touch again.

Bethany marvelled at ribs of muscle her finger travelled over inside her handmaiden as the movement of the rest of her hand drew her finger in and out. The dull ache inside Suzanna was pushed to the background as loving fingers explored uncharted territory within her. Her hips rocked with a more intense fury meeting the movement inside her. Slightly with each stroke Bethany was completely overwhelmed, as she pressed higher into Suzanna’s tight tunnel, her whole hand becoming suddenly slicker.

"Oh my..." She felt her insides begin to shudder and dance around the finger that filled her. Bethany matched the woman’s internal fury as she began panting hard.

"I love you sweet Bethany." She whispered in a light clear voice as her climax hit her. Her voice did not matching the hard rock of her hips against the woman’s hand as she shivered and shuddered, her breath short and raspy.

Bethany concentrated on working with Suzanna and it was with surprise and delight that she felt the warm flood over her finger and hand. She too was gasping, feeling the fire within her groin flair again as she watched her lover’s release.

Suzanna moaned and gasped one last time before her body slowed and went lax. The Princess stopped her motion as the body she held relaxed.

"Bethany, I love you." She spoke feebly as her head swelled and ebbed with the passion of the moment.

"And I you my Zana." Bethany brushed her hand over brown hair. "Let me hold you." She pulled her hand that rested lower away from its place slowly.

"Please, I need to feel your arms." Zana whispered lost and weak as she felt herself gathered up.

Bethany drew her hand up and wrapped it round Suzanna’s back, resting it high up near the other woman’s shoulder. She pulled Suzanna close as she drew her head down to rest on the spent woman’s shoulder. Suzanna wrapped weak arms around her in turn, holding as tightly as she could.

"My Zana." She closed her eyes and breathed in as she rocked the other woman just slightly, her chin resting on the other woman’s shoulder.

"Forever yours." Suzanna breathed back.

Bethany ran the hand whose arm she leaned on through soft brown hair soothingly as she held the handmaiden in a tight embrace with the other. Suzanna took deep breath to regain herself as the hum of pleasure in her body gave way to the slightly hazed ache of pain. Feeling hot and sticky the Princess began to feel the need for a bath. After some moments of embrace, she opened her eyes turning her head to kiss her handmaiden’s. Her head stopped mid turn.

"By all that is holy!" Her panic filled voice broke the silence.

"What?" Suzanna pulled back to question, afraid when she heard the tone that someone was in the room.

Bethany drew her hand forward from its resting place on Suzanna’s back. The colour drained from her face as she stared at her own hand in horror and began to shake.

"It is all right my Lady." Suzanna froze but spoke quickly sparked out of immobility to grab the lower sheet and pull it up to wipe her Lady’s hand.

"What have I done?" Bethany gasped as she looked at the handmaiden. She struggled to breathe as darkness danced into the edge of her vision.

"My Lady it is it is all right." Zana pleaded for understanding. "It is not unholy my Lady." She tried to reason. "It is the blood of my virtue’s passing, nothing is more natural." She quickly wiped the Princess’ hand clean. "Please my Lady, please." She saw the panicked woman’s consciousness fade.

"But Zana... Oh Zana!" Bethany fell lightly forward onto Suzanna’s body still conscious but completely drained of energy and filled instead by fear.

"Do not leave me, it is all right I swear. Please my Lady listen." She held Bethany firmly and safely. "You have done me no harm, I swear to you."

"When you gasped…" The Princess berated herself almost silently. "I should have stopped."

"It is the slightest pain my Lady." Zana whispered back softly. "But it is well worth to have you be the first." She placed soft kisses in her Lady’s hair.

"I should have known then I was hurting you." Bethany felt her eyes fill with tears. To have hurt her Zana was an unthinkable transgression.

"No, my Lady. No." She shook her head. "You did not hurt me, you could never hurt me."

"I love you." Bethany whispered.

"I love you." Suzanna whispered back. "And I am yours for eternity."

"Does it hurt now?" She asked gaining a little strength.

"It is a slight vague ache." Zana admitted softly. "But it is masked by the other feelings, like those you carry."

"I should ask the healer for a brew." She was desperate to end the pain she had caused.

"No, no." Suzanna shook her head and she was glad when the Princess finally looked her in the eye.

"Will you stay with me Zana?" She asked her voice soft.

"Forever my Lady."

"And I with you." She added hearing Suzanna response.

"Yes my Lady, nothing shall part us." Zana held her tighter.

‘Now they will have to burn us both!’ Bethany thought with a twinge of anger. ‘For I could no more deny the events of this last day, than I could deny my Royal birth rite.’

"Oh Suzanna." Bethany smiled slightly as she studied the face of her spent and satisfied lover. "I have just remembered you are sick and should be resting."

"I must honestly admit my Lady." She smiled brighter. "I feel not one bit sick."

"Then how do you feel?" Bethany kissed Suzanna’s neck lightly.

"I feel loved my Lady." She closed her eyes to the gorgeous feeling.

"You are Zana. You are and forever shall be." Bethany vowed as moved to kiss the woman’s sweet lips again.