forum Royal Dilemma (o/o Closed)

Started March 04, 2022 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

“Of course.” he bowed, understanding. “I am your guard. Unless you say so, I will not breathe a word of anything we say. I know how everyone gossips when they think no one is listening.” Thomas admitted.

Eleanor nodded. "Indeed. I think several of my past guards thought me to be deaf. They spoke gossip and blasphemies around me with complete disregard for my status." Her expression turned more serious. "So when I tell you that my royal title has as little meaning as a single flower in a wide meadow, I mean it."

Thomas scowled, clenching his jaw at that. “I swear to you, Queen Eleanor, it won't be that way with me.” he proclaimed fervently. “Your title may mean little to them but I will follow you. No one deserves to be treated that way.”

A shiver ran down Eleanor's spine with the determination and urgency he said her name and pledged himself to her. She sat up straighter and lifted her chin a bit. "Your dedication means more to me than you truly know, Thomas," she murmured.

Thomas smiled softly back with a hint of pride at her reaction to his oath. He had meant it too. Every word. If anyone dared to say or do anything disrespectful to her or about her again, he would deal with them. “I suppose I've always been this way. Dedicated to something, I mean. First, it was my family and the farm. Then it was my training as a guard… Now, it's you.”

(I wish you could've seen my reaction to reading that lmaoooo It's so cuteeeee!)

Eleanor's face softened instantly. Without thinking, her eyes darted down to his lips, then back up again to meet his eyes. No, Eleanor, you can't do this. You can't be… falling in love with your guard. She nodded briefly. "Thank you," she breathed.

(I wish I could have too!)

“My pleasure.” Thomas smiled again, matching the gentle look on her face. He wouldn't deny that he admired the woman in front of him, and respected her… But it was too early for him to know if there was more to it. He would protect her. There was no doubt of that in his mind… Despite there being one exception he could not touch.

Eleanor couldn't tell if it was desperation to be with someone other than the king or if it was because she finally found a person who was treating her the way she deserved to be treated her entire life, but she was quickly falling for Thomas. She knew she had to put a stop to it. It was a silly notion. Still… she wanted to spend more time with him. "Thomas, do you ride?" she asked lightly.

Thomas raised a brow slightly, a little caught off guard by the change in topic, but nodded. “Yes, I can ride. It was part of my training.” he answered. “Do you enjoy riding?”

Of course, it made sense that riding was part of his training to be a guard… and Eleanor's eyes lit up against her own better judgment. "Yes, I adore it! Would you like to go for a ride around the castle grounds with me?" she asked.

Thomas smiled, glad to see his Queen come alive about something. Especially after how this morning had started. “I would be honored to.” he said sincerely.

Eleanor rose to her feet, wincing slightly and turning her face away to hide it. "Lovely. I'll have our horses prepared immediately then." She looked down at her flowing dress and pressed the fine, silky fabric between her fingers. "I need to change into more suitable clothes, though."

Thomas instinctively moved closer when she moved, hoping that she was alright, but nodded at her comments. “Of course. I can wait for you in the hall.” he offered, already moving towards the door.

Eleanor nodded once. "Yes, thank you," she said softly. She closed the door behind him and sighed with a smile as a blush painted her face. As quickly as she could, she headed over to her wardrobe and slipped into something a bit more practice for riding.

(Something like this?? https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bf/f8/89/bff889c82e2425b6a512df2f7ff4674b.jpg)

(Very nice!)

Once the door was closed, Thomas let out a deep breath to try and steady his heart. It had been racing almost all morning and he didn't fully understand why. At first, he assumed it had to do with encountering Eleanor in the hall. But then he remembered being angry at the King and how he treated her… Now? He wasn't sure why it was still pounding.

(Thank you. I found it all by myself with Google curtsy)

Eleanor emerged and shut the door to her room behind her. "Let's go," she said eagerly. Of all the things to do, she had to choose to ride horses on the day her legs were the sorest they'd ever been. But you're riding horses with Thomas, she told herself.

Thomas gave a soft smile and nodded, offering his arm as he did every time he escorted her somewhere. Though the thought of her needing a little help because of last night briefly crossed his mind. Not that he would ever mention it.

Eleanor slipped her slender arm through his and paced down the hall with her chin slightly lifted. She was gaining more confidence despite the ache between her thighs. Surprisingly, it wasn't as noticeable anymore.

Thomas smiled again, briefly, at her more assured posture before forcing himself to resume a neutral expression that was typical of any guard.

Eleanor approached the gate that lead out to the stables. "I've asked for my horse to be prepared," she said quietly to the guard at the door.

He essentially ignored her, quiet and meek by her guard's side, and the man looked to Thomas for confirmation to proceed.

The Queen couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

“Get moving.” Thomas said firmly, giving the other guard a stern look and a sharp nod to get on with it. He wasn't going to waste his time with this since the other man wasn't worth it. Though he wished he could reassure the Queen.

Eleanor's eyes shone briefly, but it was quickly gone. The guard was already moving to give orders to the stable boy to prepare the horses for the queen and her guard. Once that was done, he returned to his original post, gave a nod to Thomas, then gave the queen a very quick up-and-down. It was so quick, it was almost indistinguishable.

Thomas’s scowl at the guard deepened at the guard's disrespectful action. But decided not to say anything about it at the moment. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he nodded more politely at Eleanor and walked with her toward the stables.

Eleanor stiffened uncomfortably as they walked. She didn't say a word until the stable boy rounded the corner, leading a caramel-colored horse behind him. Her face broke into an uncontrollable grin, and she reached for the reins. "Hello," she murmured excitedly while stroking her horse's mane.

Thomas raised a concerned brow at how tense Eleanor was but let himself relax, for now, when their horses were brought out. He was barely able to hold back a chuckle at how she lit up as she saw the animal as he took the reins of his own dappled-grey stallion. “Are you ready, my Queen?” he asked, offering to help her into the saddle.

"Yes," Eleanor replied, placing her small hand in his and appreciating his help getting up onto her horse. Once she was in the saddle and ready, she sighed with relief. Thank the gods she hadn't embarrassed herself by falling off or being incompetent with even getting on. "Shall we be off?" she asked, looking over to see if Thomas had mounted his steed yet.

Once he was sure that she was safely on her horse, he quickly mounted his in a practiced fluid motion and nodded at her question. “Lead the way, your Majesty.” he said, giving her a brief warm smile. Fortunately, everyone else seemed to miss it.

Everyone except Eleanor, who had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from giving him a similar response in return. The space in between her legs ached, but she ignored it as she spurred her horse out of the stables and toward the path that horses took. It looped around the scenic castle grounds, which was just the distraction the queen needed for the day.

Thomas didn't wait for more than a second after Eleanor took off before following. It had been a while since he's ridden for enjoyment and not as part of his job. But this… This was sure to be fun.

Eleanor couldn't resist the grin that spread on her face as the wind took her hair off her shoulders and blew it back as she rode. The air smelled sweet and fresh, much more enjoyable compared to the dingy, musty smell that most of the castle's hallways emanated. She even let out a small laugh as she urged her horse around a bend in the trail, glancing over her shoulder just briefly to see if her guard was keeping up.