Game Of Seduction

Chapter 5

Everyone in the room stood still, unable to speak, the confession from Seline, stunning even Reana. It wasn't the fact that she was sleeping with Loghain, of course she knew that, it was the blasé way Seline had said it.

Seline stood in the room, torn between fleeing and just fronting it out. She knew she had to do something. There was just no way in Thedas, would she see her sister, debase herself by sleeping with Vanderson.

Bryce stared at his daughter in disbelief, "Excuse me, young lady."

"You heard!" She replied, confidently.

"Outside, now!" He ordered, stomping out of the room, into the grounds, waiting for Seline to follow. She followed after a few minutes, preparing for the mental onslaught, "Right, young lady. Explain yourself."

"What's to explain?" She said, crossing her arms across her chest, "I love Loghain. I plan to marry him. And before you say it, I pursued him, I did all the seducing."

Bryce sighed, placing his hands on his hips, "You are due to marry to marry Nathaniel in 3 weeks. You'll have to end it."

"Cancel the wedding. You already made Reana marry that pig. So, I'll marry who I want and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it," She flicked her hair before storming back inside to grab Reana. She wanted to be far away from her father, possibly for the next year or two.

Bryce walked back inside, almost defeated. Then he saw Loghain, watching him from across the room, "I hope you're happy with yourself," He shouted loud enough for people in the room to hear.

Loghain stood up and moved arrogantly towards Bryce. Although Loghain easily stood over Bryce, he knew Bryce was a capable fighter, more then adept in fist fights, so he wouldnt have been surprised to end up with a bloodied nose. But it was to defend Seline and Reana, so it'd be worth it, "Say again," He said, his voice low.

Bryce squared up to the taller man, "I said, I hope you're happy with yourself."

"Most men in my position would be," Loghain smirked slightly, enjoying antagonising Bryce.

"You are going to end this sordid little thing. I will not have it." He said through gritted teeth.

"I will not," He said indignantly, "I love Seline. I also don't fancy incurring her wrath."

"You should be more worried about mine, Loghain," Bryce sneered.

Loghain scoffed, almost laughing, "It is much safer to ones well being to incur your wrath. Seline looks all pretty and gentle, but she most certainly is not," All the men in the room murmured in agreement. They had all witnessed Seline's acid tongue at work. She wasn't afraid to use should the occasion call for it. It was her secret weapon. She could fool anyone into thinking she was all sweetness and light, but there was a whole different side to her, ready to strike when necessary.

Loghain eventually escaped from Bryce's death glares. Not that he was scared of the man, just being stared at as if they trying to work out how they'd like to kill you, was rather uncomfortable. He found Seline in the stables, tending to her horse, a pure black Nevarran mare, aptly named Ebony, "Are you ok?" He asked gently.

Seline smiled, hearing her lover's soft tone, turning to face him, "I thought you'd be angry."

He approached her, caressing her delicate face, twirling her silky brown hair around his fingers, "I'm not angry. Your father would like to kill me though."

"He'll get over it," She chuckled, "In a year or two."

"Hopefully, it will get him off Reana's back for a while. I was less than impressed with his little speech. Maximus was close to punching your father."

"Reana hates being married to that bastard. Having to sleep with him...well it would break her."

Loghain placed a kiss on her forehead, "Hopefully it will not come to that."

"What happens now?"

"Well we can continue with our relationship. Now we don't have to hide it."

"If you decide to ask for my hand, it'd be wise to approach my mother for permission."

"I agree. Your mother is more likely to agree and less likely to stab me in my sleep."

Seline smiled, a little flutter in her heart to know Loghain was open to marriage. She turned back to Ebony, stroking her side, "Race me?"

"What do I get if I win," He asked, crossing his arms across his chest.

"You get to be on top," Seline winked before mounting her horse and racing off.

"That's cheating!" Loghain shouted after her, as he mounted his own horse to give chase.

They raced out of Denerim towards the Drakon River. Seline jumped off of her horse, stepping into the cool, clear water, bending down to dip her hands in. As she stood up, strong arms embraced her, pulling her back against a warm, solid body, "It's a beautiful view, isn't it?" Seline said peacefully, enjoying a moment of quiet with Loghain.

He kissed the back on her neck, taking in the sweet scent of her skin, "I know of a more beautiful view," He whispered in her ear.

She smiled at his compliment. Not many would have Loghain down as a romantic, but deep down, past that cold, stern façade, beat a passionate heart. A heart reserved for very few. Anora naturally felt the warmth of his fatherly love. Seline quickly felt the kind of passionate and emotion he was truly capable of. Yes people would judge and sneer, largely due to that fact he was enough to be her father, but as she so eloquently said to Reana about, "Not having a single f**k to give," she just didn't care. She loved Loghain and maybe he loved her, that was all that mattered. She turned into his arms, her emerald eyes meeting his icy blue ones, "I love you," The words slipped out of her mouth with so much emotion that saying it once didn't quite feel like it was enough.

Loghain looked down at his lover, her eyes looking up at him expectedly, no doubt waiting for a response. He let her words melt into his heart, warming him from within. It had been so long since he felt so strongly about another. Sure, he loved Rowan and Celia, but Seline woke something within him that had been long in slumber. He cupped her face, pressing his lips against hers, savouring the ever sweet taste, "I love you, Seline," He whispered, before he pulled her body eagerly to his, hungrily claiming her mouth, teasing it open with a slight brush of his tongue against her lower lip.

Seline whined quietly when he pulled away, looking at him questioningly, "What is it?" She asked, worried.

He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, admiring her beautiful face. The question swirled around his head, a question that could change his life, "Seline.." He begun, trying to form the right words in his mind, "I have been alone for so long...I know I'm a lot older than you, but I truly love you. Will you be my wife?"

Tears welled in her eyes, gulping hard as struggled to form her reply. Of course it was a yes, it would always be yes, but how could she answer when her mouth was drier than the sands in the Western Approach. She nodded as she whimpered, the tears flowing freely.

"Is that a yes?" He asked, wiping away her tears with his thumbs.

"Yes," She choked out, "I love you."

"I love you," The kissed gently, falling into each other.

Seline pulled away quickly, "I need to tell, Reana," She quickly mounted her horse, racing away, back to Denerim. Loghain chuckled to himself, he wouldnt expect less, Reana would always be the first to know. He got on his own horse, racing to catch up with her, wondering what he was getting himself into.

Reana found herself a quiet, secluded area of the castle grounds, far away from the palace. Stretched out on the soft grass, basking in the midday sun. She heard him approach, but she didn't move, disguising her threatening smirk with a cough. He moved close to her, so close she could feel his warmth. Tingles spread across her skin when he ran his hand up her thigh "Well hello, your majesty," She said with a smirk, not opening her eyes.

"Hello lady Cornwall. Enjoying the weather?" He propped his head his hand, looking down at her.

"Mmm, I am. Enjoying the view?"

He chuckled, taking in her scantily clad form and the glow of her sun kissed skin, "I am. How did you know the guards don't come down here?" He asked curiously.

She opened her eyes, looking up at him, "I didn't..." She sat up to remove the thin shift she was wearing, "Since my privacy is assured..." She winked at him before turning away from him.

He admired her flawless body, every curve, every freckle, he wanted to memorise it all. He removed his own clothes and laid on his back, "I could lay here all day with you."

She turned back to him, laying against his body, "Mmm, it's like a paradise here," She traced the line of a deep scar on his lower stomach, "How did you get that?"

"Battle of River Dane. I was battling some Orlesian soldiers, was doing well too, then someone hit me in the head, dazed me. Then another swung his sword so hard, he broke my armour, took a slice out of me. Hurt like a b***h too."

"How brave you are. I only have one war wound. Seline's bloody work."

"Show me," He moved when Reana lifted her leg, pointing at a white scar, about five inches long, on her inner thigh, "We were about 12 at the time, sparing as we usually did. Only, Seline was in a foul mood as father trotted out yet another potential husband. I bested her, she threw her sword down so forcefully, it flipped up towards me and well...that was the result. Even that little foray until the woods didn't scar me."

"How did Seline react?"

"She apologised about 5 times. She didn't really need too, it was accident. It taught me not to fight her when she's in a bad mood though."

He turned to her, kissing her forehead, "I wish I could take you away somewhere. Your absence would be noticed."

"Maybe when I'm free from Vanderson. Right now, I'm stuck with him."

"Has he tried anything with you?"

"No, he wouldnt dare. I'd kick his arse," Reana sighed as she rested her head against Maximus's bare chest, "Besides, I just keep out his way."

"We should go inside before we start to burn. Lets go to my cabin," Together they walked to the cabin, hoping to spend a few more peaceful hours together. They barely had the cabin door shut when a pounding on the wooden door, echoed through the small space. A female voice called out, urging them to open the door. Maximus unlocked it, nearly falling backwards as Seline barged in past him, jumping onto her sister. Loghain walked in a couple of minutes later, both men watching the squealing sisters. Maximus turned to his old friend, patting him on the arm, "Congratulation, my friend," He said, trying to keep the hint of jealousy out of his voice.

"Thank you," Loghain paused for a moment, wincing at the loud noises coming from the twins, "Shall we wait outside until they've calmed down"

"Ermmm, yes. I fear I'll go deaf if I stay any longer."

Neither woman realised they left the room, still excited at the news, "Oh Rai, I'm so happy."

Reana smiled, holding back the little bit of sadness she felt. Naturally, she was delighted for Seline, after all, her beloved sister was marrying the man she loved, but still, it saddened her to know she would unlikely get to do the same any time soon. It would be over a year before she could do that, a whole year of hiding her love for Maximus as if it were some dirty little secret. But she buried those feelings, it was about Seline now, "Teyrna Seline Mac Tir. That has a nice ring to it."

"I know," Seline, almost as she read her sister's mind, sensed some sadness, "Rai, are you ok?"

"I'm fine, sis. I'm so happy that you get to marry someone you love."

Seline hugged her sister tight, "You will too someday Reana. Even if I have to bump off that pile of nug s**t myself," She smiled as she felt Reana's body shake with laughter, "You love my witty insults."

"I do. Quite fond of you as well," The sisters embraced for a bit longer, before telling Loghain and Maximus to come back in. All of them celebrated together, looking forward to the planning of the wedding. Seline made a decision to not tell Bryce until the wedding day, just in case he tried to stop it. Reana offered to confess her affair with Maximus so the news wouldnt seem so bad, an idea that had Maximus slightly worried for his own safety.