The King's Mistress

3

Dahlia felt the sun rays beaming down on her skin, the smell of strawberries engulfing her senses, the summer day celebrations were in full swing. Dahlia had yet to show any signs of pregnancy, even after a month of Hayden and herself having s*x at least twice a day, admittedly, Dahlia started to wonder if one of them had an issue, she wonder if her previous pregnancy had ruined her chances of conceiving any more children, she thought she would be pregnant by now and worried that she might be replaced as his mistress.

She heard soft footsteps coming in her direction, she knew instantly who they belonged to, she kept her eyes closed, sneakily pulling her shift higher up her legs, the sun rays were blocked out by a solid form hovering over her, "I wondered where you'd got too," She said, her eyes still closed.

"Oh, I've been itching to get out of the that meeting with the nobles. I say meeting, more a drink and complain get together," Hayden lowered his body down into hers, "Are you ready for the summer day ball? I know you've been shopping."

"I have been, but it's for me to know and for the King to wait until later to see."

Hayden pressed his lips to hers, "I have a present for you, for being my beautiful lady," He whispered against her lips.

"I heard Empress Celene will be here soon," Dahlia opened her eyes, looking straight into Hayden's eyes, "Is there any particular reason?"

"No, we have people coming from the Free Marches as well. Is my little Lady, jealous?" Hayden nudged her thighs apart with his knees, he hips resting against hers.

"Do not flatter yourself, your Majesty," Dahlia flipped them over, straddling Hayden's hips, "I guess I should go and get ready for the ball," Dahlia tried to get up, but Hayden held her in place.

"You aren't going anywhere yet, Arlessa Dahlia," Hayden gripped her thighs, his fingers leaving marks in her soft skin.

"Oh fine," Dahlia untied his breeches, pulling his erection free, lower herself down on his length, she threw her head back groaning, she rolled her hips back and forth slowly.

Hayden growled turning them over, still seated inside of her, "I haven't the time to play and we have a baby to make," He whispered hurriedly.

Dahlia immediately tried to push him off, "Get off of me now!" Dahlia pushed Hayden away and struggled to her feet, "How dare you speak to me like that," Dahlia quickly dressed before rushing away.

Hayden could have kicked himself for saying that to her, he was stressed out and taking it out on Dahlia, she didn't deserve to be made his emotional punch bag. Hayden walked back to the palace, immediately accosted by Eamon, "What do you want, Eamon?"

"We need to talk, in your study now," Eamon walked off, Hayden begrudgingly followed.

Both men entered the study, "What is it, Eamon?" Hayden asked as he sat down.

Eamon paced around the study with his hands behind his back, "Hayden, it has come to my attention that you have been spending a lot of time with Arlessa Dahlia. People are beginning to talk."

Hayden stared at his Uncle, bemused, "Do you want an Heir or not? You wanted me to get a mistress, so I need to spend time with her to get this child."

"The nobles are also worried about that, it has been a month and Dahlia hasn't shown any signs of pregnancy, we fear you might need to find another mistress."

Hayden stood up fast, clenching his fists, "Why don't you just get all the suitable females in the Kingdom and line them up, I can screw each one and see if we get lucky."

"don't be so vile, Hayden," Eamon scolded.

Hayden walked over to his Uncle, towering over him, "Now listen to me, Eamon, I am not giving up Lia up for any one, do you understand me?"

"What about about, Empress Celene, we need her," Eamon looked straight into Hayden's eyes, not scared of his Nephew.

"I don't give a s**t about her, I need her troops against the Darkspawn, that's all. I already have a Queen I want, Dahlia will be Queen one day and you will have to like it, understand?"

"You've fallen in love with her? Are you sure she would be a good Queen?"

"Yes, people like her, she treats them with respect, even the elves, so yes, she'll be an excellent Queen."

"I will trust your judgement on this, Hayden," Eamon bowed his head to Hayden before leaving the room.

Dahlia arrived at the palace for the Summer day ball, to find Bann Teagan waiting for her, she approached the handsome Bann, "Teagan, you look handsome."

"Thank you, my Lady, May I say, you look stunning this evening, I trust the effort is the King?" Teagan watched as her face fell, "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, no, I am not happy with him right now. I assume you are to be my escort for the evening?"

Teagan offered Dahlia his arm, "That is correct, my Lady. Shall we go in, Empress Celene is inside already, although, I'm sure you aren't eager to meet her."

Dahlia glad took his arm, glad for the company of a man who didn't place demands on her "No, I am not, I know she is to be Hayden's next Queen."

"That makes you sad doesn't it?" Teagan felt sorry Dahlia, she was treated nothing like how she deserved and the way the nobles talked about her was sickening to him, like she was an object or foreign lands to conquer.

Dahlia managed to control her emotions and remained indifferent, "No, I know my role, have a child and that's it, love is a game for fools as is marriage."

"That saddens me to hear someone so young say that," Teagan walked her into the ballroom, he immediately noticed Hayden and Empress Celene looking cosy, he decided to distract Dahlia from it to spare her feelings.

"It is harsh lesson, Teagan, but I understand my role, it is to please men and give myself to them, even if I wish not too," Dahlia glanced over a Hayden, "Sometimes, it's just best to harden your heart to everything, then you cant get hurt."

"Who turned someone so beautiful and intelligent into a cynic," Teagan saw the painful look in her eyes, "I think I understand now, but don't let one person who abused you, stop you from wanting to love, at 19, you should be enjoying the possibilities.

Dahlia looked away from Teagan, "How did you guess?"

"I see the look in your eyes, pain and fear mark those soulful eyes. How many people know what happened, Dahlia?"

"Just 2 others, I couldn't bare to tell anyone else, it makes me sick to think about it," Dahlia rubbed her eyes furiously.

"Remember, you are still here, you survived, don't let it ruin your life, you deserve to have a good one," Teagan touched her hand, she clutched it, grateful for the comfort, she was glad Teagan was her unfaltering ally, he was also good to her, like the Uncle she never had.

"Thank you, Teagan," Teagan smiled at Dahlia, leading her to the dance floor.

Later in the evening, Dahlia realised Hayden hadn't glanced in her direction all evening, she knew she should have just trusted her instincts and kept him out of her heart, she walked out of the ball room and into the grounds, she sat by the river, tears falling from her eyes. She heard footsteps behind her, she turned and instantly froze in fear.

Hayden tried to pull himself away from Celene, but she kept finding excuses to keep him with her, eventually her managed to pull away. He planned to seek out Dahlia, he hadn't been able to spot her all evening, he find Teagan talking to Bryce, "Teagan, have you seen Dahlia?"

"She left 10 minutes ago, she wasnt enjoying the party," Teagan emphasized the last part to mean Hayden had ignored her all night.

"Just say it, Teagan," Hayden grunted in annoyance at his Uncle.

"You've ignored the poor girl all night, she made all that effort for you and didn't even glance up at her once. You know what happened to her, Hayden, do not be another let down," Hayden understood his warning, Hayden was turning out to be a let down and he couldn't bear the though of being, just another user to Dahlia, he loved her too much to do that to her.

"Look, its Urien Kendalls, I wonder what brings him back," Bryce said, pointing to the former Arl of Denerim.

A sense of panic washed over Hayden, he walked over to Urien, "Urien, where is your Son?"

"He is out in the grounds with Lady Cousland," He said dismissively.

Hayden felt his blood boil, "I'm gonna kill him," Hayden rushed out to the grounds, Bryce, Teagan, Leonas and Eamon followed him, immediately he heard the muffled screams of Dahlia near the rose garden, he raced to her. Hayden barely had time to think barely to think before he kicked Vaughan hard in the ribs, he grabbed the boy throwing him to the floor, punching him over and over again, Teagan and Bryce tried to pry Hayden off of Vaughan to no avail.

"Hayden, stop, what are you doing?" Teagan asked, trying to get Hayden to look at him.

Hayden wore a crazed look, like he was planning to kill Vaughan, "He hurt her again, how dare you," He muttered over and over, eventually they managed to pry Hayden away, "You raped her, I'm gonna kill you," Hayden voice was deep with anger and venom.

Dahlia crawled away from the men clutching her stomach, the pain was almost unbearable, she managed to get to the palace steps before passing out.

"What?" Bryce asked, raging building inside of him.

"That bastard raped Lia when she was 13 and he just tried to do it again, just let me kill him," Hayden tried to break free from Teagan, Bryce approached the man and kicked him hard in the ribs, Vaughan cried as Eamon held Bryce back, fearing even Hayden or Bryce would kill Vaughan.

Teagan grabbed Bryce, while keeping hold of Hayden, "See to Dahlia, she's more important right now, we can deal with him later.

Hayden grunted in anger ripped himself away from Teagan, he approached Vaughan, "I will make you regret your whole life and your Father wont be able to protect you," Hayden walked off to search for Dahlia.

Fergus found his sister writhing in pain on the steps in the garden, "Dahlia, what happened," He asked desperately as he picked her up taking her back in to the palace.

Fergus, called his Mother over, "Mother, help me," Fergus couldn't hide the distress in his voice.

"Maker, what happened?" Eleanor asked as she helped Fergus take Dahlia upstairs.

"I'll tell you later, Mother, lets just concentrate on Dahlia first," Fergus and Eleanor got Dahlia into bed, Eleanor peeled her clothes off and moved her into bed.

Dahlia continued writhe around in pain, "It hurts, Mother," Eleanor's heart broke, her baby looked so vulnerable and she couldn't do a thing about.

Fergus returned with a healer, who ushered them both out of the room, Fergus paced the hallway outside the door, "What is taking so long?"

"Calm down, Fergus, this will take time," Eleanor knew instinctively what the issue was.

After half and hour, the healer left the room, "I'm sorry, the Arlessa has suffered a miscarriage, I've healed her the best I can, she should be healed properly in about a fortnight," The healer left, giving both Fergus and Eleanor a sympathetic look.

Eleanor turned to Fergus, "Son, go and find Hayden and your Father," Fergus hugged his Mother before he went to find them.

Eleanor entered the room, Dahlia laid on the bed sobbing her heart out, "Oh Darling, it'll be ok," Eleanor got on to the bed, cradling her baby in her arms, letting Dahlia grieve for her baby.

Fergus found Hayden and Bryce embroiled in a row with Eamon, Teagan, Leonas and Urien, he was sure it would come to blows, "Excuse me," He said with a cough.

Bryce turned to him, annoyed, "What is it, Fergus."

Fergus put his down in sadness, "Dahlia is in bed, a healer has checked her over," Fergus stopped, thinking about the loss of his Niece or Nephew, "Healer has confirmed it, Dahlia had a miscarriage."

Hayden's face displayed a range of emotions, anger, grief, sadness, his anger ultimately won the first round, "Where is that Child of yours, Urien."

"Now, your Majesty, please don't do anything stupid," Urien backed away from an advancing Hayden, until Bryce intervened.

"Hayden, go and see to Dahlia, you need to be with her now, I can deal with Vaughan," Hayden smashed a lawn ornament in a fit of grief.

Hayden got to Dahlia's bedroom, he climbed into bed next to her, "Lots, I'm sorry," Hayden tried to touch her but she flinched.

"Go away, Hayden. I'm sure Empress Celene is very lonely."

"Screw her."

"I'm sure you will," Dahlia moved away from him.

"Dahlia, I'm sorry, I tried to get away," Hayden tried to touch her again and she flinched.

"Go away, your Majesty. I'm no longer your w***e, I failed, so I'm sure, I'm surplus to requirements," Dahlia started to cry again, life had never felt so s**t as it did before.

"Dahlia, I'm not leaving this bed, you may not feel you need me, but I need to be here with you, so just get used to it," Hayden turned away from Dahlia, he cried his own tears, not just for their lost baby, but because he was slowly losing her due to the mistakes he repeatedly made with her and that felt like a stab in the heart.