Game Of Seduction

Chapter 9

Leilana waited in Denerim's chantry, pacing as she watched the door. She expected Lady Cornwall and the King to arrive, seeking the information she had about their missing baby boy. Coming by this information had been an accident, when she was tending to the chantry gardens. Two peasants talked, unaware of her presence. But, it was their accents that struck odd at first as not many Farland peasants had Orlesian accents. Then they spoke of a child being delivered to Lydes in Orlais. She knew that this must have been the child, the royal guards had searching for, the child she helped arrive into the world.

The door opened, Reana and Maximus stepping in, shaking off the rain. "Reana!" Leliana approached her, arms open.

"Leli." Reana hugged her friend. "You said you had information for us."

"Yes. I thought it best to tell you directly." She gestured to them both to sit down on the pews. "I heard two peasants talking about taking a child to Lydes, where a handover would take place. They were most certainly, Orlesian."

"Are you sure they were talking about, Oliver?" Asked Maximus.

"They didn't speak his name, but the guards had been searching all night and day. It must have been, Oliver."

Reana breathed in deeply, closing her eyes, thinking about her baby. She turned to Maximus, fear shared between them. "So to Lydes we go?"

"To Lydes."

The two women hugged before Leliana walked them to the chantry doors. "Give him a kiss from his Aunty Leli for me."

"I will. Thank you." Maximus and Reana left, heading back to the palace, needing to prepare for a long journey.

Reana laid on her bed roll, staring up at the stars above. She tried to sleep, but she couldn't, not when her baby was still so far away. The journey to Lydes had been a long one, with a few fights along the way; between both Maximus and Reana, and various enemies. Thanks to those enemies, they now had a lead on where to head in Lydes. Reana sighed, turning on her side towards Maximus, who clearly was unable to sleep too.

Maximus sighed, wishing for his brain to shut down so he could actually sleep. He could feel Reana's eyes on him, trying to resist the urge to look back at her. He ached to talk to her, to tell her he was sorry, but he knew she wouldn't be interested, so he left it.

"I can hear you thinking from here." Said Reana, heaving a big sigh as she flopped back down on to her back.

"Well, I certainly cant sleep."

"Nor me. I'm surprised I haven't started to hallucinate."

Maximus got up from his roll, walking over to her, extending his hand, "Take a walk with me?"

She hesitated briefly before taking his hand, allowing him to pull her up. "I guess we do have things to discuss."

Together, they walked into the forest near camp, keeping a respectful distance apart, even though the spark that they once shared, threatened to re-ignite. "I owe you the truth."

"Yes, you do. Maximus, you wanted me to be your Queen, what changed?"

He laughed lightly, knowing the that fact was still true. "That is still my wish."

"So, why?"

"My enemies," He started. "They threatened you, I couldn't allow them to hurt you, even more so knowing you were carrying our child."

Reana shook her head as she kicked at a small rock. She wanted to believe him, after all he did have a lot of enemies. "Why not just tell me that?"

"The more you knew, the more danger it put you in." He barked out a humourless laughed. "You were in danger any way. If I kept you close, maybe Oliver would be with us and you'd be my Queen."

"They took our son to hurt you. They would have found a way to get to him."

"Maybe. Still, the guilt will always eat at me."

They continued their walk together, when the heavens opened, unleashing the torrential rain upon them. Maximus grabbed her hand, leading her to a small shack among the trees. "In here." He pushed her inside, following, shutting the rickety door behind them.

Reana walked up to the crumbling fire place, picking up a lump of wood, "I think we can light this." Once the fire was lit, they settled down on an old, but somehow still sturdy bed. They shed their sodden armour, leaving only the dry clothes underneath, pulling a worn, slightly musty smelling, fur blanket over them.

Maximus could feel her shivering, realising he was just as cold. He made an "ahem" noise from the back of his throat, pressing his chest into her back.

Her instant reaction was to tense up, but he was warm and willing to share that warmth, so she wasn't in the position to be picky. Against her better judgement, she allowed herself to enjoy being wrapped up in his arms again. His hot breath tickled against her neck, his hand moving to her hip. She tried to stop it, but in her head, she willed him to touch her the way he used to, his gentle but so very firm hands, in the places he knew she liked.

He tried to stay as still as possible, which became increasingly harder, when he felt the awakening in his breeches. He moved his hand away from her hip, accidentally stroking her bare skin, making her gasp.

She held her breath in anticipation of what was come, his hand just hovering above her bare skin, waiting for it to make contact again. "Oh maker," She breathed out as his hand slipped underneath her tunic, cupping a breast, his teeth nipping at the skin just underneath her ear.

"Tell me to stop," He breathed out.

"No." She moved swiftly, moving to straddle him as he lay on his back. "Was this your intention when you asked me to walk with you?

"Truthfully, it wasn't." He tugged at her tunic, pulling it over her head. "If any one asks, I'll say you seduced me."

She smirked at him as she moved to undo the laces on his breeches. "As if any one would believe you."

"Why is that?" He asked, as he allowed her to remove his own tunic.

She pressed her breasts into his bare chest, her lips just barely touching his. "Do I look like the kind of woman who needs to seduce to get her own way?"

"Good point, but…." He flipped them over, pinning her beneath his body. "That means that you wanted this before I even touched you."

"So what if I did. Are you planning to stop?" She raised an eyebrow, knowing he couldn't stop, even if he wanted to.

"The day I stop wanting you, will be a day I wouldn't want to be alive." That raining night, they made slow, sensual love, reconnecting on same deeper level they had before, all memory of the past slipping away.

Val Firmin was a bloody god awful place! Reana had taken mere seconds to come to that conclusion. Under the cover of darkness they had slipped into the city, wary of attracting attention to themselves. The place had an overwhelming smell of perfume. It was so strong that it felt like Reana couldn't breathe. People flitted around the city, heads up as they were superior, wearing an expression of one smelling something nasty, laughing at each others terrible jokes.

They found a back alley Inn, the type of place no one cares who you are and the posh locals pretend that it doesn't exist. Maximus found a table in the corner, while Reana went up to the Inn keep to order drinks and food. "Two Ales and two bowls of stew." The Inn keep grunted at her, moving to get the drinks. Reana looked around noticing a man leering at her. He moved to her side, his hand groping her backside. "Take it off!" She sneered.

"Oh, a Fereldan." He purred in his Orlesian accent. "I have a room. Let us get to know each other."

She slammed a royal down on the bar. "Bring it to the table in the corner." She snapped at the Inn keep, shoving the leering man with her shoulder before storming off to join Maximus.

"I see you made a new friend." Maximus teased as she sat down.

"Piss off, smart arse." She fired back as she kicked him under the table.

He moved closer to her, his lips tickling the skin of her ear. "I love it when you talk dirty." He whispered.

She chuckled, leaning into him. "You are a bad man." The Inn keep dumped two bowls of stew and two tankards on the table, glaring at them before he left. "Friendly bunch." Reana remarked, taking a sip of ale.

"Shall we get a room?" Maximus pulled a comical face when he tasted the stew. "Vile but I'm too hungry to care."

They sat eating and chatting for a couple of hours, when the door to the Inn opened, two men entered, dressed in light, but expensive, well crafted armour. When the looked around, both Maximus and Reana ducked their heads to avoid catching their eye, appearing to be just two common folk sharing drinks.

The two men, took a table away from everyone else, but within earshot of them, both eagerly listening to their conversation. "How did the change over go?" The taller man asked his twitchy companion.

"It went fine. Brat was screaming his head off. Typical royal bastard." Maximus grabbed Reana swiftly as he could tell she was a mere second away from leaping out her seat.

"What does he want with a Fereldan bastard, anyway?"

The twitchy man sniffed and snorted, like he was trying to clear his throat, dumping a bag of coin on the table. "Apparently, his son has a thing for some noble b***h. Story is, she f****d the King and ended up with his bastard."

"Sounds like a w***e. Speaking of w****s, lets go to brothel and spend this money."

"Sounds like a plan."

They waited for both men to leave, giving them a few minutes before following deeper down the dark alley. From a distance, they watched the men walk into the brothel. "How do we do this?" Asked Maximus.

"How much coin do you have?" Reana asked, formulating a plan in her head.

"More than needed. Why?"

"I'm going to pay off the madam. I'll ask her to introduce me and then I get them to follow me to a room."

Maximus at looked at her, incredulous. "You're going to pretend to be a courtesan?"

"Yes. You'll be waiting in the room, once they are settled, we strike."

"Wait, so…." Maximus looked off into the distance, engaged in some deep thinking. "You are going to dress up in those barely decent outfits?"

"I'll steal it and wear it for you, if it'll shut you up." She huffed in annoyance, rolling her eyes.

"Right, let's go."

Reana walked into the brothel, overwhelmed by the strong scents and melodious music. She had to admit, it was decorated quite tastefully for a brothel; not that she had been in any others.

An aged woman approached, moving gracefully, almost fluid in movement. "Well, well, what do we have here." She purred, caressing Reana's face. "Mmmmm, such a beautiful face."

"Might we have a moment to talk? I have a proposition for you."

The woman c****d an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm intrigued. Follow me." She led Reana into a back room, gesturing her to sit. "So, my lovely. What is your name?"

"Seline. Yours?" She accepted a hot cup of tea from the woman.

"You can call me, Fleur." She sat down opposite Reana, eyeing her curiously. "So how can I help."

Reana took a sip of tea, letting the warmth spread throughout her body. "You have two men in your establishment. They happened to know the location of my baby son. He was taken from me and I will stop at nothing to get him back."

"Ahhh, I see. Well then I know your name isn't Seline, it's Reana. Our mutual friend bade me to listen out for such information."

"Leliana?"

"Indeed. I am a mother myself and I know what it is like to lose a child." Fleur set her cup down before standing up. "How shall we proceed?"

"My love is waiting outside. Can you get him into a room unseen. I'll draw the men in."

"Of course. I have some spare outfits for you to change into." Fleur caressed Reana's hair, smiling at her as if she were a proud mother. "You remind me of my daughter. Wear your hair up, it hides that beautiful face."

Maximus waited down a narrow alley at the back of the brothel, worried about what was taking Reana so long. He hoped she hadn't fallen foul of the shady patrons. He turned when the door opened, revealing a woman ushering him in. "Where is she?"

"She is getting ready. This way, I need to get you into the room. Leliana told me everything."

"You know how I am?" He asked as followed her up a narrow flight of stairs.

"I do, but walls have ears so forgive my lack of formalities."

"You are discretion personified." He chuckled.

"In my business, you have to be, my dear." She led him into room, directing him to a large wooden screen. "Hide behind there."

Reana walked out into the main meeting area of the brothel, feeling very self concious of her clothing or lack off. She had picked the least revealing outfit of a black lace bodice, matching underwear, stockings and heeled slippers. She pinned her hair up and fixed her make up, eager to attract the two mercenaries attention.

She paced the room, scanning all the patrons, pasting the most seductive smile she could muster under the circumstances. She found the two men surrounded by a throng of women. Strolling over to them, she cast a look to the other girls. "Piss off." She ordered, the girls meekly walking away. She sat down next to the tall man, draping a long leg lazily over his lap. "Why have pennies, when you can have a royal."

"Mmmm, what is your name?" The tall man asked.

She giggled, running a hand down his armoured chest. "Call me Violetta. What can I call you?"

"Call me, Michel. This is Claude." He ran his hand up her thigh, disappearing into the fabric of her underwear. "Can you handle both of us?"

She laughed, climbing on his lap. "Question is, can you handle me?"

Claude pulled her onto his lap, kissing her bare shoulder, fondling her breasts. "I'll handle you all night."

Reana got up from his lap, tugging at his hand. "So let us take this somewhere private. Prove to me that Orlesians are as good with their tongues as you claim."

Maximus looked through the small gap in the screen as the door opened, Reana pulling the two men into the room. He watched her carefully with a mix of lust and possessiveness. She was dressed devilishly and the men had their paws all over her. He smirked, watching as she hopped on the bed, ordering both men to strip.

"Now you are in a more suitable state of dress, on the bed." She ordered, moving to make way for them. "No I have a special treat for you. Close your eyes." Both men complied as she took two lengths of rope and tied both to the bed.

Michel laughed, struggling slightly against the restraints. "You are a bad girl."

"I know. Remember to keep them closed." She looked around the room to any place Maximus was hiding. He stepped out gently, careful to keep noise to a minimum. Reana smirked as Maximus crept towards the bed where the two men lay bound and naked, her "special surprise" for them just sticking out from under the bed. Maximus picked up the twin daggers and rather than holding them both at knife point himself, he tossed one to Reana, who caught it by the hilt and quickly joined him. He motioned to the left while he went right and together they moved to their respective captives, when they were close enough they placed the sharp edge of their daggers against their captive's throat. "You can open your eyes now." She laughed, pressing the knife against Michel's throat.

"What the f**k is this?" He spat, struggling against the restraints.

"Oliver Cornwall, where did you take him?" Maximus asked, calmly but still with a vice like grip on the dagger.

"Who?" Claude thrashed about on the bed, trying to free himself.

"The typical royal bastard."

"And who the f**k are you two?" Asked Michel, gulping in fear as the dagger bit at his throat.

"His parents." Reana sliced the weapon across his skin slightly, just enough to draw blood but nothing life threatening. "Now where did you take our son?"

"Now listen…" Michel spluttered. "We were paid to bring him to Lydes and give him to the other soldiers."

"So where were they going?" Reana asked, losing her already fragile patience.

"Monfort. North of here."

"Is he well?"

"Yes. We took care of him."

"Good." Reana leant down, her face just inches from theirs. "We wont kill you now, since you have been so helpful. But if you so much as breath a word to any one, that we are searching for him, I will chop of your bollocks, have the cooks turn them into stew, then I'll have the guards force feed it to you. Understand?"

"Yes." Both men said in unison.

"Excellent. We'll be going now." Maximus took Reana's hand and led her out of the room to Madam Fleur waiting outside. "Thank you for helping."

"It was no bother." She waved to her girls who gathered by the door. "Ladies entertain our two guests in there." The girls nodded, before disappearing into the room. "Now as it is late, I've had the girls prepare a room for you. Two tired parents wont help your son."

"Thank you, Fleur." Reana hugged the older woman. "What was your daughter's name?"

"Her name was Rosa. She was lost to me three winters ago." She stroked Reana's face, a tear slipping down her cheek. "She had the most beautiful face, much like you." She turned to Maximus, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Now you, take good care of this precious woman."

He pulled Reana close to him, kissing her forehead. "Don't worry. I'm never letting her go again."

They left Val Firmin before the sun had truly risen, hoping to leave before the bustle of a working city began. Reana had plenty of time to think as they journeyed north. The name "Monfort" sparked a memory in her, but she couldn't quite understand why. It wasn't until they had stopped to rest and Maximus had fallen into slumber, she figured it out. "Monfort!" She shouted, startling Maximus awake.

"Reana, what is it?" He asked, sleepily.

"I know who took, Oliver." She replied, quickly.

"Who?"

"Do you remember Cailan and Anora's wedding? Duke de Monfort arrived with his two sons. One was just about bearable. The other was a snivelling little s**t. His father has asked my father, for my hand, twenty times, all rejected."

Maximus nodded his head. "The soldiers said that someone's son was obsessed with a Fereldan noble. They took him for revenge against you." Maximus thought back to man who warned him to stay away from Reana. "The man who threatened you was, Orlesian."

"Then they'll be expecting at least one of us."

He kissed her gently, pressing his forehead to hers. "We'll get our son back. Then I'll rip that little bastard into to pieces."

"Let's get going. I want to end this."

They made it to Monfort the following night, asking a city guard where the Monfort estate was. The were directed to a narrow road, covered with blossom trees. The walked up the path, coming up to a set of gates, two soldiers standing guard outside. "We are here to see the Duke." Reana stated.

One guard looked at the other. "They must be here for the kid."

"So our son is here?" Maximus asked.

"Follow me." The other guard said gruffly. He lead them inside to the meeting hall where the Duke and his sons were waiting. "King Maximus and Lady Cornwall."

The Duke smirked, turning to him son, Thierry. "See my boy. I told you she would come."

"Where is he?" She asked, angrily.

"Being looked after. We will return him to you on one condition."

"What is that?"

"Lady Cornwall, you are to spend one night with my son. You will do anything he wishes. Do this and you will be allowed to leave with your son."

Reana looked at Maximus with sad eyes, sighing. "One night?"

"Just one night."

She nodded. "I accept."

"Excellent." The Duke clapped his hands together, turning his attention to the guards. "Escort this man to the cells and strip him of all his weapons. He will be allowed out in the morning."

Reana found herself in the guest bedroom, stripped of all her armour and weapons, wearing just a thin robe, a collar and chain around her neck. She felt like she could throw up, just the idea of that man having his hands anywhere near her, made her retch.

The door opened, Thierry walking in with a smug grin on his face. "My, my. Lady Cornwall you look delectable, but you are still overdressed." He roughly ripped her robe open, pushing it to the floor. He caressed her face, almost lovingly, until a sneer crossed his lips. He smack her across her face, spitting at her. "That is for denying me for so long. Little whore." He yanked her by the chain to the bed, pushing her down, flipping her over to her stomach.

She winced as he forced something solid inside of her, tears falling down her cheeks. Blocking out the pain, she formulated a plan in her head of how she could get away. If she could get on to her back, she might be able to use the chain somehow. She panicked when he secured the chain to the bed, effectively trapping her on the bed. What he planned for her was obvious. He planned to r**e her and part of her wanted to just let him do it so she could get her baby and leave..

Reana cried out in pain as he forcefully entered her, after removing the object. Her face was pushed into the bed, cutting off her air. She thought she was going to die, die without ever getting to hold her baby ever again. She didn't deserve this, she didn't nothing to warrant this. It lit a fire in her heart, she wasn't dying today, not here, being debased by the scum that held her. Moving her head slightly, she managed to breath again, taking in a few breaths as she set about trying to unlatched the collar, clawing, yanking, anything that got in loose. Just as she was victorious, she looked to her left seeing the heavy object that Thierry used on her earlier. Grabbing it, she swung it as far back as her arm would go, connecting with a solid mass. Thierry fell on to the bed next to her, clutching his head, swearing in Orlesian. She jumped up from the bed with the object still in hand, swinging it once again as she could. "I'm going to make you pay." She screamed, grabbing the chain. She wrapped it around his neck pulling tight. The Duke and some guards rush into the room, drawing their swords. "I wouldn't." She sneered. "I will choke the life out of him. Get Maximus and my baby here, now!"

Eventually, they made it outside to the stables, the guards watching them as Maximus had hold of Thierry. "Open the gates." He demanded, the guards doing as they were told.

"Now let's be reasonable." The duke pleaded.

Maximus yanked the chain, choking Thierry even more. "Reasonable! You kidnap my son and let him r**e my Queen and you expect reasonable."

Reana secured Oliver to her chest and she mounted one of the horses. She chucked Maximus a dagger and he caught it, one hand with a vice like grip on the chain. "My love? Kill him!" She spat through bared teeth.

"Gladly." Maximus plunged the knife into his spine, throwing him towards his father. Before they could really react, Maximus and Reana were already in motion, racing out of the gates, going as first as the horses could go. They rode for what seemed like hours, only slowing when they knew it was safe. They made it to a small village, running to seek safety in the chantry. The sisters inside offered them food and other supplies needed for Oliver. Once left alone, Reana held her son, letting out a painful sob. Maximus held them both, shedding his own tears. They had been through hell but for their son, it was worth it. The sisters had kindly organised a bath for all of them, after Reana explained what had happened. She needed to feel clean again, grateful that, although he had penetrated her, he didn't finish, so it lessened how dirty she felt. They fell asleep quickly, the baby safely nestled between his parents, seeming completely unaffected by the events he was centre of.

Seline sat in the gardens of the palace with Anora, feeding baby Logan. Every day she wait for news of her sister and nephew, but every day brought her bitter disappointment. "Seline!" She heard her husband call as ran to her. "They're back." Was all he needed to say, she knew what he meant.

She handed the now sleeping baby to Anora before running inside. There she saw her exhausted sister. "Reana!" She called out, running to her, both sisters embracing, tears flowing. She looked at Oliver in Maximus's arms, noting that he was still the smiling, happy baby. "Hi Oliver. Remember me?" Oliver reached out of his father's arms in a bid to get to his beloved auntie. She took him, giving him several kisses.

Loghain embraced Maximus, happy to see him again. "Good to see you again, old friend."

"And you. Where is Cailan and Alistair?" He looked past Loghain to see Cailan rushing towards him, pulling him into a crushing hug. With one arm around his eldest son, he looked towards his second son, holding an arm out. He took Alistair into his arm, holding both men to him. "I love you both, so very much." He whispered. It may have taken him years to do it, but he finally had Alistair home, where he should be.

Maximus stood at the altar with his bride, holding a crown in his hands. He placed the crown on her head, blooming with pride as he made Reana his Queen. "Lady Reana Evelyn Cornwall of Highland, I bestow you the title, Queen consort Reana Evelyn Tolland of Farland" The guests applauded as they sealed the royal union with a long, loving kiss. Unseen by the room, Maximus gently stroked her slightly rounded belly, to touch a new life blooming within her.