forum Royal Dilemma (o/o Closed)

Started March 04, 2022 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at him with amusement behind her gaze. “You usually are,” she remarked quietly, placing her own hand lightly on his knee. “Give yourself more credit.”

Thomas blushed at both the assurance and the touch but did nothing to stop her. “I’ll try. But you should as well.” he pointed out. “You are an amazing, wonderful woman. And you deserve so much more than what you have been given.”

Eleanor was barely able to realize that tears had formed in her eyes before one was rolling down her cheek. She quickly lifted her hands to cover her face and wipe them away quickly. Stop crying, she told herself.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered quietly. “Those are the kindest words anyone has ever said to me.”

Thomas rubbed his thumb across her cheek, brushing away another tear. “It's ok.” he whispered.

“You don't deserve that either, Eleanor.” he shook his head. “You deserve to hear good things all the time. Everyday.”

Eleanor wept quietly. She moved closer to Thomas and buried her face in his neck. Her shoulders shook with held-back sobs, and she clung to his clothing.

Without hesitation, Thomas wrapped his arms around her and held her close, wanting nothing more than to comfort his Queen and the woman he loved. He didn't care what happened to him at this point as he gently stroked her hair in the same way he used to when his younger sister had been upset.

Eleanor hadn't meant to break down so quickly. But it was the combination of her anxiety to meet Queen Irene and his words that struck a chord in her heart as she heard them. His hand stroking her hair was the gentlest thing she'd ever felt, and she didn't want him to stop. Ever.

"I love you," she whispered.

“I love you too.” he whispered, placing a soft kiss to her temple. He didn't want to let go of her yet. But he knew time was running out and something told him that Queen Irene was not the kind of person you kept waiting… “You'll be alright. I’m here.”

Eleanor kept her visit with the other monarch in the back of her mind, but she didn't want to leave Thomas. Not again. She savored his words and placed a chaste kiss where her lips rested on his neck. "I should change," she finally whispered, but to her own dismay.

Thomas swallowed thickly at her last kiss as she unintentionally found one of his weak points, but he nodded when her words finally caught up with him. “Y-… You should.” he agreed, though his arms refused to move and continued to hold her.

Eleanor drew back to study his face briefly. She looked confused at the combination of his stammer and expression. "Are you alright?" she asked worriedly. "I didn't do something wrong, did I? Did I say something?"

“No… No. I’m alright.” he assured her as he caught his breath. “You didn't do anything wrong, Eleanor. I just… My neck is…” he stammered again unsure how to phrase the feeling. “It felt… very good.”

Eleanor's soft lips parted with realization, and her cheeks turned bright pink. "Oh," she whispered. "I didn't realize…" The queen bit her lip gently and noted that he was still trying to catch his breath. Was that because of her? Did she really have that kind of effect on him?

“Neither did I.” he admitted softly. No one had ever kissed him there before and so he was unprepared for it to be such a wonderful sensation. But he was exceedingly thankful that he hadn't embarrassed himself by moaning. “It's alright.”

Eleanor nodded briefly and rose from the edge of the bed, collecting her dress in her arms as she stood. "I'll only be a moment," she said quietly, making her way over behind her changing partition and slipping out of her current dress.

Thomas was relieved when his arms went slack as she stood. “Alright.” he nodded, turning slightly so he wouldn't be tempted to… He shook his head to push away such a thought only for another to take its place.

The two of them, alone on his family farm. Happy and together. With simple bands on their fingers. Him working as a farmer and she as the most talented seamstress around. No one to stop them from expressing how they felt. No one to stop them from being together…

(Omg that's the cutest thing I've ever read 🥺😭)

Eleanor slipped her arms through the sleeves and was about to reemerge when she felt a small breeze curl up her back. She realized with wide eyes that the dress she'd chosen had buttons that began at the small of her back and went all the way up to her neck. The queen bit her lip softly before calling out in a quiet voice. "Um… Thomas?"

(😁😁 Just Thomas discovering his romantic side.)

Thomas was jolted back to reality by the soft call and shook his head to further clear away the fantasy. “Uhh… Yes?” he asked, still far to casually for what they were used to.

Eleanor bit her lip. “I-I need your help.” She slowly came around from behind the partition and gestured to the back of her dress. “There a lot of buttons. I can’t reach them.”

Thomas looked over his shoulder as she spoke. “Oh! Al… Alright.” he nodded, standing up and walking over to her.

Eleanor moved her hair aside and held her breath, waiting for his fingers to begin the work. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Thomas nodded again, standing behind her and carefully began doing up the small buttons. Though he couldn't help how his larger hands brushed against her skin.

Eleanor counted the agonizing seconds from when he disappeared from view to when she felt his fingers begin their work. She arched her back a bit when his weathered fingertips brushed over her soft, sensitive skin. “Sorry,” she whispered, straightening and turning bright pink.

Thomas paused at the whisper before trying to finish sooner. “No. I’m sorry.” he whispered, both having meant to make her uncomfortable.

Eleanor shook her head while keeping her mane of dark brown hair tucked over her shoulder. “Don’t be. I just…“ She blushed deeper and recalled his words from earlier. “It felt… very good.”

“Oh!” Thomas flushed brightly, knowing her meaning. “I… I’m nearly done.” he stammered, trying to be assuring as he continued to button up her dress.

Eleanor smiled to herself. She heard the emotion behind his exclamation. She knew that he understood what she meant. "Alright," she murmured back, sucking in a shallow breath.

Thomas let out a shaky breath and moved on to fasten the last few buttons near her neck before sliding a hand down the back of her dress to make sure he hadn't missed any. “There.” he sighed as he took a couple of steps backwards, moving away from his Queen.

"Thank you." Eleanor was both glad and upset when he finished with the buttons on her dress. She made to step away, but his hand slid down her back, over the buttons, and it took every ounce of self-control she possessed not to moan with delight. Instead, she fanned her face lightly in hopes of dispelling some of her blush and turned to him. "How do I look?" she asked quietly, tugging at the sleeves and inspecting her stitching of the ribbons for the hundredth time.

Thomas blushed when he realized his action and took another step back before looking at Eleanor. “You look beautiful.” he smiled softly. “But I believe I may be biased, my Queen.”