The King's Mistress

1

Lord Tak Houston closed the door to the meeting room after the higher nobles had taken their seats, "We have an issue and it needs to be addressed."

"It has been 5 years since Hayden and Anora married and we are still without an Heir," Bryce added as Eamon sat down.

"I propose, we compel Hayden to take a mistress, a young, healthy woman to birth Devon's monarch. Would any one like to suggest a candidate?" Eamon looked around the room, satisfied his proposal was successful, he sat back.

"I propose Teyrn Cousland's Daughter, Dahlia," Arl Bryland said, nodding to Bryce.

Eamon listened to murmurs of agreement, "Bryce, do you think Lady Cousland will be happy to be his mistress?"

"I'm not sure, Dahlia is a free spirit, but she will do it for duty."

"Good, I will inform Hayden of the decision, Bryce, you will speak to Dahlia. We are adjourned until next time," Eamon left the room with Teagan and Bryce, "Bryce, we need this, Dahlia is perfect for this."

"I will talk to her. Out of duty she will do it."

Bryce found Dahlia in her room in the palace, as usual she had her head stuck in a book, "Pup, we need to talk," He said as he sat down in the chair next to his Daughter.

Dahlia groaned, not even bothering to look up from her book, "It's not about marriage again, is it? I'm only 19."

"No, it's not about marriage, it's about duty to Devon," Bryce took a deep breath, "The Nobles and I have agreed that Hayden needs a mistress to birth his Heir. The Nobles want you to be the mistress."

Dahlia dropped the book she was holding, her turquoise eyes snapping up to meet her Father's dark blue eyes, "Say that again."

"It would be for the good of Devon."

Dahlia scoffed, "And for you, but not so much for me. I won't be able to get married and what if Anora decided to take my children as her own, would I have to just merely accept it."

"I know it doesn't sound great, Pup, but it will put you in good standing for the future."

"Yes, I'll be forever known as the King's whore."

Bryce sighed, "Is there anything that we can do to sweeten this deal for you?"

Dahlia thought about it, "Actually, yes, there are things."

"Tell me."

"Ok," Dahlia stood up and walked over to the window, "Firstly, if I'm not pregnant within a year, I'm freed from my status as mistress. Secondly, any children I have are mine, Anora will have no say in how I raise them. Thirdly, after I have produced an Heir, I will lay with any man of my choosing, so if I want to screw Bann Teagan I will, I'm sacrificing my future here, there better be benefits to it and lastly, I want the Arling of Denerim, the King can visit me at the estate, I'm not living here with Anora shooting daggers at me."

Bryce stood up, placing a hand on her shoulder, "I'll talk with the Nobles about your conditions," Bryce left the room, Dahlia took it better than he expected.

Eamon walked into Hayden's study, finding Hayden writing something, Hayden immediately shoved the paper into his desk draw and looked up his Uncle, "Uncle Eamon, What did the Nobles say?"

Eamon sat down in a chair on other side of Hayden's desk, "You are to take a mistress, we have picked one for you."

Hayden rubbed his temples, "Who is it?"

"Lady Cousland."

Hayden's eyes widened in amazement, "That snippy little brunette with the come f**k me eyes?"

Eamon snorted, "Yeah, that's the one. Bryce is talking to her now."

Bryce entered the study, taking a seat next Eamon, "Well, she's agreed on 4 conditions."

Eamon sighed, "What are they?" He knew Dahlia well enough to know that girl could ask for the world and she'd probably get it.

"If she is not pregnant within a year, then she stops being his mistress. Any children she has are hers, so Anora has to keep her distance. After she has produced an Heir, she wants the freedom to have any man she chooses," Bryce stopped and sighed.

"What is it?" Eamon asked.

"She wants the Arling of Denerim."

"What!" Eamon and Hayden said together.

"She wants something to secure her future, if she produces Heirs, its unlikely she be able to marry."

Hayden sat back in his chair, "Fine, she can have the Arling, I have no idea when the Kendalls plan to return, if ever."

"That girl of yours, Bryce, she could make armies kneel down to her wishes," It was true, Eamon knew most men would sell everything they owned to be with a woman like Dahlia, only Dahlia wasnt interested in any one, so much so rumours had started.

"I know, she cringes every time I mention marriage, she says she's waiting for the right man."

"Teagan is still unmarried and he wouldn't object to her having children already."

Bryce pondered briefly what Eamon said, "She did mention Teagan, although it could have been to annoy me."

Eamon and Hayden laughed, "Her refusal of marriage is probably another way to rebel," Hayden said, any children he had with her would be fearsome Monarchs.

"So who wants to tell Loghain about the plan?" Bryce asked both men.

Hayden snorted, "I'm not, Eamon can do it."

Eamon scowled at Hayden, "Thanks for that."

"Your most very welcome."

"Go and see Lady Cousland later, no point waiting for this Heir."

"Wait, before I do, is she a virgin?" Hayden asked Bryce.

"I'd like to say yes, but I suspect she isn't."

"Wait, what about the rumours?" Eamon asked.

"What rumours?"

Eamon cast a look towards Hayden before turning back to Bryce, "The rumours she isn't into men."

"Oh that. No, I did ask her about that, she just looked at me like I'd grown another head and ask if I was going mad in my old age."

Hayden and Eamon laughed, "So I guess it really is about finding the right man," Eamon said.

"I suspect, many of the castle Knights are familiar with Dahlia, at least she hasn't produced any bastards from it."

Arl Bryland entered followed Bann Teagan, both men looking concerned, "Teyrn Loghain has learned of the plan and he's yelling the odds at Lady Cousland," Arl Bryland said in a quick breath.

"Strange thing is, Lady Cousland is holding her own," Teagan added quite bemused.

The men left the study, the shouting getting louder and louder, when they finally got to the commotion, Loghain had Dahlia against the wall by her throat, Bryce stormed up to them, "Put my Daughter down before I strike you down," Bryce yelled.

"Just you try it, Bryce and I snap the little w***e's neck."

Dahlia struggled in Loghain's grasp, looking around for anything she could use to defend herself, next to her was a vase, it looked expensive and a useful weapon, she reached out to it, her fingertips barely touched it, but she was determined, finally she grabbed the vase, smashing it over Loghain's head, instantly he let go of her and she fell to the floor as did Loghain.

Dahlia woke up in bed, her throat felt sore, she sat up and noticed Hayden sitting near the bed, "Oh, your Majesty," Dahlia said in her raspy voice.

Hayden smirked at the pretty little brunette, "Feeling better?"

"My throat hurts, how is Teyrn Loghain?"

Hayden struggled to suppress a snigger, "Slightly concussed, you are a scrappy little thing aren't you."

"My Lordship, I think many men agree, I'm anything but little," Dahlia motioned towards her breasts.

Hayden sat down on the bed, facing Dahlia, "Ah yes, how many marriage proposals is it now?"

Dahlia sighed, "74, I think."

"Did none of them interest you?"

"No, see I'm waiting for the affections of a certain man."

Hayden's interest was captured by that sentence, "Oh and who would that be? Teagan?"

"No, but I would like to bed him, the man in question is much more unobtainable."

"Oh, you're a tease, Lady Cousland," Hayden shifted his position to be closer to her, "Why are you a tease?"

Dahlia sat up, her nose lightly touching his, "Because you are a cocky bastard, so I don't intend to take it easy on you," She tugged on his bottom lip with her teeth before laying back against head board, a smirk danced across her pretty features.

Hayden lifted up the bed covers, slipping in under the sheets next to Dahlia, his hands moving up her body, "Mmm, nothing but a shift, makes it easier work for me."

"I never said I intended to take it off."

"I don't need you to take it off," Hayden moved himself between her legs, he kissed her thighs, pushing the shift higher. He groaned as he heard his name being called, he groaned and got up, "You're mine later."

"I look forward to it," Dahlia felt a little disappointed, she was enjoying teasing him, she watched as Hayden winked at her before he left the room.

Hayden didn't return to Dahlia that night much to her disappointment, then the cold stark reality of what she had agreed to had started to sink in. She realised men used her for any thing they need, she remembered the first man who had used her, she couldn't stand to think back on that night.

Dahlia ran out of the palace, chasing after the Mabari puppy she got for her 13 th  name day, she loved that puppy, they connected instantly. She enjoyed the rain on her face and the mud under her feet, Poppy certainly enjoyed rolling around in the mud.

Dahlia and Poppy sat down by the stream, basking in the rain, Poppy heard the squelching of soggy grass under booted feet, Dahlia turned to see Vaughan Kendalls approaching, "Hello Vaughan," Dahlia said brightly.

"Hello Dahlia, can I join you?"

"Certainly," Dahlia shifted over to allow Vaughan to sit down.

"Not enjoying the party, everyone is asking your Father about marriage now you've turned 13."

"It's kind of boring, I'm only 13."

"Dahlia, have you ever kissed a boy?"

"Yes," Dahlia blushed, "Fergus dared me to kiss one of the stable boys."

"Are you still a virgin?" Vaughan shifted closer to Dahlia.

Dahlia shifted away from him, "That is none of your business."

"So you are, I can take it from you," Dahlia started to worry, the look in his eyes told her what he was planning to do.

Dahlia try to get up but a powerful hand pulled her back down, "Get off of me," Dahlia tried to struggle out of his grip.

Vaughan held her down, ripping at her clothes, Poppy launched herself at him, Vaughan snarled, throwing the puppy to the ground, satisfied Poppy wouldn't get back up, he turned his attention back to Dahlia, "You'll enjoy this, you little w***e," Vaughan smacked her around the face, his ring cutting her delicate cheek open.

Dahlia tried to scream, the wind was knocked out of her by Vaughan kneeing her in the stomach, his hand gripped her neck, squeezing the air out of her lungs.

Vaughan undid his breeches with his free hand, he brutally entered Dahlia, who had passed out shortly after. Vaughan continued his brutal assault on Dahlia, he spent himself within her, withdrawing he got up and simply walked away leaving her there, unconscious and battered.

Fergus went to find his sister, spotting a form lying in the grass he ran towards, "Sis, sis, wake up."

Dahlia gasped for air, trying to sit up, she saw Fergus next to her, "Don't touch me," Dahlia tried to scramble away from him.

Fergus sat next to her, careful not to touch her, "What happened?" He asked softly.

"He forced me," Dahlia burst into tears, falling into her Brother's waiting arms.

"Come on lets get you back to the castle, Father will be furious."

"NO, please don't tell anyone, please."

Fergus hugged his sister tighter, "Ok, I wont tell anyone, I promise," Fergus helped her up, scooping up a whimpering Poppy, he snuck them both into the castle and up to bed.

Dahlia decided that night, she would never marry, she would not become property of another man.

It would be cold irony that she would living in his old house, she couldn't wait to get in and destroy everything that he ever own, she would burn it all. She decided to treat Hayden like all the other men, an object and a means to get what she wants.