by Andromeda
"They say she is a princess from the Far Lands," they whisper.
"They say that she has the speed of a deer and the heart of a lion," another says.
"I want her as queen, she has made our king so happy."
So far the commoners love her, even though they have never truly seen her. It is just the nobles who cause problems.
Zenobia is Queen of Sparta virtually in all but name. People bow when she passes, she is served on bended knee and honestly, it does make her a bit uncomfortable, but she lets them do as they will. However, the nobles, mainly the ones that were in power until Alexander seized full control, all grumble against her. She sees a glance here, a whisper there, but she always holds her head high. Her father taught her that while you must always pacify the nobles, it's the commoners that truly matter. They are the building blocks of kingdoms and they need the best taking care of.
She does fear for her children, worried for that poison drop in their cups, or that pillow over their faces. She has protection, she can help herself, but her children have no such thing. They are so small, so defenseless. Alexander tells her that he has given them the best protection, but that is not enough for her. She will burn this city to the ground if anything happens to them and the first one to die will be the nobles.
*************
"He truly loves them," Anthea says to Zenobia, interrupting her from her thoughts.
"Yes, he does," Zenobia sighs softly with a smile. "He truly does..."
"Have you given thought to his proposal?" Anthea asks.
"I... I have..." Zenobia confesses. "And want to say yes... I want so badly to, but some part is holding me back."
"Well, do you love him?"
"Of course."
"Do your children love him?"
"Most definitely."
"Is he there for them?"
"Yes."
"Makes them want for naught?"
"Yes."
"Then you have your answer then," Anthea says. "Look, Zen, you can't look back in the past. If you keep looking back, then your future will be lost. You have a man who loves you, who wants you and treats you like a queen. You have your answer."
She is so right, Zenobia thinks to herself with a smile. Like always. "True...but wait," she says. "You are telling me this...but when are you and Titus going to marry?"
Anthea scoffs and tosses her head. "When he becomes King of Sparta," she says. "I'm not the marrying type."
Zenobia laughs and loops their arms together. "That is true, you will have to be dragged kicking and screaming to that altar."
Anthea laughs as they continue their walk. Later that night, after Alexander and she put the twins to bed, he walks her to her rooms. When he goes to leave, she stops him.
"Would you like to sleep with me?" she asks. "Not...sex or anything, but I mean just sleep in my bed?"
Alexander’s eyes widen and then brighten with joy. He smiles, "Of course." He waves away the guards and steps inside. He looks around, "It's been forever since I've been here," he says.
"Would you...like to come here more often?" Zenobia asks gently.
"Well, of course, I would," he says. "But I am taking things slow like you said."
She walks over and cups his face in her hands. "Do you promise to always be there for the twins?" I ask. "To love them no matter what?"
"Of course," he says. "Zenobia, why do you ask such a thing?"
"I have seen how much you have changed," she whispers. "And I see how much the twins love you. I want you to be in their lives, to be in all three of our lives."
He arches an eyebrow, confused. "What are you..."
She pulls him close, kissing him deeply and then whisper softly. "Yes..."
"Yes?" he asks in confusion.
"Yes..." she repeats.
Alexander frowns a moment, his mind working over what she means and then his eyes widen. She’s accepted his marriage proposal. He sweeps her into his arms, peppering kisses on her neck and cheeks, as tears slide down his cheeks. Zenobia’s never seen him cry before and it makes him seem so much more...human. So much more normal than before.
He kisses her again and again, spinning her around and around as he shouts to joy. "You won't regret this," he says. "I promise you won't ever regret this. You will be my wife, my queen, my goddess. I swear it to you."
He takes her in his arms, leading her to the bed and that night, she gives herself to him fully, both in her heart and soul. She makes love to the only man that she will ever love, the man that she wants to spend the rest of her life with.
*************
Chapter Twenty
Alexander watches as the servants hang the golden beads from the ceiling, the long beads swaying in the breeze, filling the air with beautiful music. His heart has never felt so full, so happy. Four months ago, Zenobia finally said yes to his marriage proposal and the moment she did, he sent out the invitations to all the kingdoms to celebrate the happiest day of his life. He then consulted the Sages for the right day for the wedding to take place and they told him that four months from the day that she said yes was the right day. It also marks the four-year anniversary of the day he first saw her in that gilded cage.
He spares no expense for their wedding, hiring merchants from all over the world to present their best products and items for her. He told her that whatever she wanted, she could have. She blushed and stammered her instructions, but in the end, she got all she wanted. This wedding will be talked about for years to come.
Standing in the courtyard of her old home, Zenobia watches with wide eyes as a bull is sacrificed before her. Undressed and nervously naked, the young woman glances at Anthea, who stands at her side, her head held high.
At the bull, the priest gathers some of the blood in a bowl and approaches her, chanting in Greek, asking for the goddesses Hera and Artemis to bless this young woman, to bless her womb and her marriage. He dips his hand into the blood and then smears it in sacred patterns on her face, throat, palms of her hands and stomach.
He then turns to Anthea and bows his head before nodding. "You may lead her to the pool."
Taking Zenobia's hand, Anthea leads her to a large golden tub of hot water. Scented with jasmine, lavender and orange blossoms, priestesses surround it, chanting to the goddesses and Anthea pushes Zenobia to the pool.
Taking a deep breath, the woman walks slowly into it, the scalding water makes her wince, but she does not falter. She doesn't stop until she is in the middle of it, the water reaching the tops of her breasts. She looks at Anthea and then slowly submerges herself.
The blood begins to wash away, and under the water, she considers how far she has come. How much pain she has had, but also how much joy she has had; her children, the man she loves with her whole heart. Today she is going to be bound to him for all eternity and she wouldn't change it for the world.
Slowly, she breaks to the surface, the priestesses chanting at the top of their lungs as a towel is wrapped around Zenobia's waist. Taking her hand, Anthea leads her to the chamber so that she might be ready for her big day.
*************
In the Temple of Hera, Alexander stands at the front of the altar, holding his breath. Dressed in a white and gold chiton with a red cloak, pinned at his shoulder with a large golden and pearl broach, his glittering crown rests on the top of his head.
Hundreds of his subjects stand in front of him, whispering amongst themselves as they get ready for the appearance of the woman who will be their queen. Most of them have never seen this dark beauty, but they have heard things about her and seen how she makes their king feel. A man is nothing without a woman beside him and Alexander needs Zenobia at his side.
Behind the group surrounded by minor priestesses, Zenobia stands heavily veiled, her heart pounding in her chest. Her children are in the main chamber with Kila, waiting for the appearance of their mother.
"Are you ready?" Anthea asks her.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Zenobia whispers bac
k.
"You look very beautiful," Anthea says, looking over her dress.
Made of ivory silk, it is embroidered with gold and silver, jewels glittering in all the right places. Her long black locks are piled on top her head, but a couple curls escape from her golden diadem. Around her neck rests her mother's lioness claw and teeth necklace, accented with gold and amber. She truly looks like the queen she was born to be and she is going to marry her king.
Anthea nods to the priestesses, who all begin to chant, invoking the goddess Hera with their voices. Zenobia walks in pace with them; the people turn their heads when they hear the chants and all bow their heads as the figure clad in silver and ivory silk passes them. Alexander turns when he hears them, the figure getting closer and closer makes his heart thud in his chest.
With each step she takes, the closer she gets to being joined to him forever. She walks up the dais and he holds out his hand to her. She takes it gently and he pulls her to stand at his side. Turning as one, they look to the Head Priestess who holds up her hand for all to fall silent.
"Welcome, my king," she says. "Who is this you have brought before me?"
"This is Zenobia of Ethiopia," Alexander says proudly. "And the love of my life. I ask that you bind us together as husband and wife."
"I must hear from the woman," the Priestess says. "Do you accept him as a husband, my child?"
Zenobia takes a deep breath and nods. "I do," she says clearly in unaccented Greek.
"Well, then, who am I to stop what the gods have brought together?" the Priestess asks. "My Lord, do you have the rings?"
Leonidas nods and holds up a silver ring, beaten in the shape of a crown, it has white diamonds in the middle while he knows that his own, the one that she carries, has black.
"In the sight of the Great gods," the Priestess says. "I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity. Look upon one another and say the words in union. 'I am yours and you are mine, from this day, until the end of my days'."
Alexander and Zenobia look at each other, the whole room seeming to hold its breath and they smile to each other. Sliding on the rings they speak as one, pouring all the love they have for each other into their words.
"I am yours and you are mine, from this day, until the end of my days."
"You may unveil the bride, and kiss her," the Priestess says.
Alexander gladly reaches over and pushes her veil back and looks into the shinning silver eyes that he loves so much. Into the face of the woman that has always been in his dreams, in his soul. Gently, he cups the back of her head and presses his lips to hers. She sighs softly and kisses him passionately and when they part, they are both flushed and panting softly.
He smiles and then turns to a waiting servant who holds a pillow with a waiting crown. Turning to gently grasp the golden crown, he holds it high in the air. "I, King Alexander of Sparta, crown you, Zenobia of Ethiopia, as my queen. You are my consort and my equal; your word will carry as much weight as mine does. Do you accept this crown?"
"I do, my king," Zenobia says solemnly as she bows her head.
A servant removes her wedding diadem and veil and Alexander places the crown on her head.
He turns to all watching, holding her hand tightly and high and a crier announces at the top of his lungs. "Allow me to introduce to you for the first time: Lord Alexander and Lady Zenobia, King and Queen of Sparta! All hail the king and queen!"
"ALL HAIL THE KING AND QUEEN!" those gathered chant. "ALL HAIL THE KING AND QUEEN! ALL HAIL THE KING AND QUEEN!"
*************
Chapter Twenty-One
Sunlight shines through the royal bedroom window, warming the skin of Zenobia and glowing behind her eyelids. With a soft groan, she slowly cracks them open and tries to sit up, only to be weighed down by a super heavy arm.
"Alex," she whispers. "Let me up."
Alexander mutters under his breath and instead pulls her closer. "I don't want to wake up."
She laughs. "Alex, we have been married almost four weeks; the honeymoon stage ended a long time ago."
He chuckles and pulls her under him, smiling down at her. "It will never end for me, Little Wolf. Besides...I want to spend every second of my free time with you, trying to get you with child again."
She stiffens. Since the last time that Alexander and she had slept together, she has begun taking her Stoneseed tea. She still continues it to this day, taking it once every month with her morning meal. The only problem is that she hasn’t told Alexander, though she honestly doesn’t see why it's any of his business.
"But we already have two children," Zenobia protests, biting her lip to keep from moaning when she feels his hardness pressing against her thigh.
"A kingdom needs more than two," he says, kissing her neck. "And that means we need more sons."
"Is having a girl as an heir such a bad thing?" she grumbles lightly, shifting so that his hardness isn't poking her anymore.
Alexander looks down at her, "Of course, it's not. But Sparta's never had just a queen before."
"Well, then, maybe they should," she snaps, rolling away.
Alexander sighs and grabs her before she can move away and pulls her back to him. "Look, Zen, I didn't mean to offend you. It's just not something we've done before. Spartan women have a lot more rights than Athenian women, but..."
"We are still viewed as weak,” she finishes for him. “Is that it?”
"No..." he says. "Not really...look, Zen, it's more complicated than you think. But listen...I will raise our daughter to see herself as equal to her brother. Will that make you happy?"
Slowly, she nods and he pulls her close, kissing her deeply and then he grins with a look in his eye that lets Zenobia know they aren’t leaving their room any time soon.
*************
Members of the court part as Alexander and Zenobia walk down the halls, bowing their heads in respect. Walking hand in hand to the Council room, the pair sweeps up the dais and takes their seats. No longer in just a chair, Zenobia now sits in a throne as lavish and glittering as Alexander’s own.
Alexander looks to those assembled and then clears his throat. "Thank you all for attending our first court meeting," he says, his voice booming. "I want to thank you all for attending our wedding. I hope you all know that the queen has equal right as me seeing as she is of royal blood. Anyone who disrespects her will be Wheel Broken, understood?"
The nobles around them all nod, but Zenobia can see some of them are looking at her with slight anger in their eyes. She has married Leonidas of Sparta. How many of them wished for their daughters to have that right? Or a sister? She, a foreigner, has usurped what some might claim as their rightful place in their kingdom. All the more reason for her to keep their children close.
However, she also sees a couple of men who look at her with approval; she has done what no woman has done before: tamed their wild stallion of a king and bore two of his heirs. And, they must think, she might be carrying another as of this second as much time as they have spent in bed together.
But she knows that she is not; she’s just not ready for another child. She almost lost the twins twice when she was carrying them, and her body ached for months after having borne them. If Alexander loves her the way he says, then he should respect her wishes; and what she wishes it to not have another child for some time.
"The Persians are our primary focus, My Lord and lady," one Councilor says. "They have been on the move. Our spies within their kingdom says that their king is speaking of war, that he is asking for some of his allies to go against him. What say you?"
Alexander turns to her. "Zenobia, what do you think?"
Everyone looks to her, and she bites her lip before exhaling and lifting her chin. I am a princess, and now Queen of Sparta, I need not be afraid. "I believe," she says in a loud and clear voice, "that we need to continue to watch the Persians. We also...if it pleases my husband...we should also think about calling some of our own allies and
maybe seek to talk to the Persian King to avoid bloodshed."
"You would invite Xerxes here?" a Councilor asks incredulously. "To Sparta?"
"I never said to Sparta," she says. "But maybe we could meet at a neutral location and talk. See why he is pushes so far into our land."
Alexander nods and squeezes her hand in agreement before turning back to the Council. "My wife speaks with wisdom that only one of the royal blood would know. I agree with her. We will send a messenger to Xerxes and ask him to meet us within a neutral location to talk of peace. If he disagrees, then we know what we must do."
He stands to his feet and she follows his lead. The Councilors all bow their heads as Alexander leads her from the council room and then pulls her into an empty one. She is slammed against a wall with his lips on her neck, kissing and sucking. "That was so amazing, my love," he whispers.
"T... Thank you," she stammers in surprise. This man does have a great sexual appetite…
Alexander’s hands slide up her dress, parting her legs and cupping her womanhood, sliding a finger inside her, earning a moan that pours from her lips.
"A…Alex," she whispers in bliss. "Y... You can't keep doing this..."
"I can do whatever I want," he says huskily. "And what I want is my wife."
Any protest that was on her lips died the second he slides himself inside her. Zenobia moans deeply as he wraps her legs around his waist and beings to thrust within her. Each stroke slow and tender, but so full of love.
"Another child, Little Wolf," he murmurs against her neck. "Give me another child."
"A… Alexander..." she pants. "W... We need to talk about this..."
"Later, Little Wolf," he groans, his thrusts deepening, his pace increasing. "We shall talk later."
With every new stroke, her argument leaves her mind and she decides to stop trying to talk and smashes her lips to his, kissing him passionately. He thrusts deep and hard into her, his hand finding her love pearl and rubbing furiously. It doesn’t take her long before she screams in release against his lips and he loudly groans, filling her with his seed. Panting heavily, he kisses her deeply and smiles before going in again, and this time, there isn’t a mutter of complaint from her.