forum Royal Dilemma (o/o Closed)

Started March 04, 2022 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

Eleanor exhaled slowly before looking him in the eye. "Irene," she explained quietly. "She knows about us."

Thomas let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging as his eyes closed as she confirmed his suspicion. “Oh, gods.” he groaned. “What is she going to do?” he made himself ask.

"Nothing," Eleanor murmured, reaching for Thomas's hands and taking them in her own. "She isn't going to say a word. And she's happy for us." She paused a moment. "Though she did tell me not to look at you in public anymore. She said it's obvious in my eyes."

Thomas sighed as Eleanor took his hands and nodded. “That's a relief.” he said gratefully. Though he chuckled softly at the suggestion. “Then I suppose I should do the same in public.”

Eleanor laughed quietly. "Yes, I suppose you should," she agreed. "I also told her what happened with Sirus. She was positively vengeful. If I wasn't there to stop her from such a foolish act, she would have marched right to his room and skinned him alive. She was furious, Thomas."

Thomas chuckled again and nodded. “I’ll do my best.” he promised. “I don't blame her. If I could have, without getting into trouble, I would have run him through right then and there.” he admitted.

Eleanor's eyes widened. "You would?" she asked with soft surprise, reaching up to cup his cheek in her gentle hand.

Thomas nodded, leaning into her touch. “Of course, I would.” he said softly. “If anyone else attacked you in such a way, they would be sentenced to death. But because he is visiting royalty… There’s not much that can be done.”

"It's a shame," Eleanor muttered before leaning closer and resting her forehead on his chest. "Irene instructed me to arrange a meeting with Génévieve tomorrow as well. It will be the three of us together, so Génévieve doesn't claw my eyes out for the dress I wore tonight."

Thomas chuckled softly and nodded, holding her close. “That's a good idea. Queen Irene and Queen Génévieve know each other so having them together should make the meeting go smoother.” he agreed. “And Queen Génévieve’s feelings towards you could affect how the meeting with her husband would go.”

"Yes," she agreed quietly. "Those were Irene's thoughts as well." Her eyes looked up into his and softened. "When I told Irene I was in love with you, she called it romantic," she murmured. "I believe she was right."

Thomas smiled as their eyes met. “Romantic?” he asked thoughtfully. “I suppose so. I hadn't thought much of it beyond how much I love you.” he admitted.

Eleanor couldn't stop the smile on her lips if she wanted to. "Neither have I," she agreed, reaching up to smooth his hair gently. "But thinking it over… Thomas, I'm so in love with you." Her eyes softened. "I'm so in love with you," she repeated quietly.

Thomas sighed at her touch and relaxed happily. “I love you too, Eleanor. So much.” he smiled affectionately.

Eleanor grinned happily. "I love you," she whispered before smoothing his hair again and gently placing her lips on his.

Thomas smiled as he happily, gently, kissed her back. His arms still holding her and pulled her against him.

Eleanor let out a gasp that was muffled by his lips. The feeling of her body flush with him was so incredibly comforting. It was no longer the two of them separate. It was like they had come together perfectly as one co-joined entity. Like the gods had willed their love to be.

Thomas chuckled a little as he felt more than heard the sound she made and let his eyes close in bliss at the moment. But he didn't push Eleanor any further. Considering all she had been through, he would let her choose the pace of their relationship.

Eleanor cupped his face with her hands and gently ran her thumbs over his cheekbones. He was so strong and firm beneath her touch, grounding her from all the world's problems. Slowly, she drew back with her eyes still closed. "I didn't know it was possible to love someone this much," she whispered, relaxing in his grip and savoring the feeling of his arms keeping her steady.

“Nor did I.” Thomas breathed as she pulled away, though he kept his arms around her. He wanted this moment to last forever. The mental image of them being alone in his family's home on the farm crept into his mind again and he wished it could be that way.

Eleanor's eyes opened, and she looked at him with shining tears behind her gaze. Her lip trembled, despite her attempts to keep it from doing so. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I don't know what's come over me."

“Eleanor.” he said softly as his eyes opened when he felt her look up. Thomas gently put his hands on the sides of her face and brushed away her tears with his thumbs. “You don't have to be sorry for anything,” he assured her. “And you don't have to hold anything back either. Not in front of me.”

Eleanor smiled weakly as he spoke. "I know that. I just… I want to be with you, Thomas. And not in hiding or with any kind of secrecy. I want to be yours, only yours, without having to worry about Marcellus or Sirus or anyone. I long for nothing more than to be away from this palace and your wife."

Thomas felt his heart swell at her words and he couldn't help the way his voice trembled. “Do you mean that?” he asked softly. “Do you really mean that, Eleanor? Because if you do… I feel the same way.”

"Of course I do," Eleanor whispered. "I wouldn't lie about such things." Her eyes trailed down to the beautiful diamond on her finger. "Oh, this cursed ring…" she hissed. "If only it could all go away… if I had never married Marcellus…"

Thomas sighed, his eyes starting to go misty as he held her hand. “Don't worry about that right now. I’m just so glad that we met.” he admitted softly. “I am surprised by how fast I have fallen in love with you but just being with you is the best feeling I've ever…”

Eleanor felt herself begin to tear up at his words, and once she pried her eyes away from the beautiful anchor on her finger, she found that Thomas's eyes were glistening too.

"Me too. All of it," she whispered, pressing a light, soft kiss to his lips. It was short but meaningful, and as she drew back slightly, her eyes studied his face and the way it looked with the setting sun illuminating him from behind her. "I should be getting changed into my nightgown," she whispered without moving.

Thomas smiled softly as he returned the sweet kiss, glad that she felt the same way and that she had been able to understand what he had been trying to say. “Yes.” he whispered. “You should get your rest for tomorrow.” he agreed.

Eleanor sighed reluctantly. "Yes. Meeting both Génévieve and Lionel… stars help me." She hesitated a moment, like she wanted to say something more, but she didn't. "Goodnight, Thomas."

“I’ll be there for you.” he assured. “And so will Queen Irene.” Thomas added with a slight smile. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Good night, my Queen.”