| Subject: Medieval DCU |
Author:
Cat Price
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 14:27:10 10/08/02 Tue
Medieval DCU
By Cat Price
Disclaimers: No, I don't own DC, and no, I'm not making any money off of my fanfic...darn it!
History: The DCU (predominately Wonder Woman and Batman) set in medieval times (Arthurian).
Chapter 1
Lady Diana of Themiscira, feeling uncomfortable in the social situation, stood in a corner, trying to be unnoticed by everyone. Her mother was in deep conversation with the currently reigning King of Atlantis. Orin, that was his name. She knew for a fact that her mother was trying to arrange for her to marry him. She also knew that he was very supportive of that idea. An alliance between Atlantis and Themiscira would be good for both. Still, just because something was good for Themiscira did not mean that she had to like it.
It wasn’t that the King was good looking. Twelve years older than her at thirty-five, he was tall, blond, bearded, and stunningly handsome. Still, she felt little or no real personal attraction towards him. She wished that her mother would realize this and stop steering her towards him, continuously. She didn’t think that Queen Hippolyta would pressure her into an unwanted marriage. Well…she didn’t…think that she would, in any case.
Lost in thought, she did not hear Duke Bruce of Wayne, come up behind her.
As he tapped her shoulder she jumped, startled, and turned, swiftly. He bowed, and before she could say anything, quickly stated his reason for seeking her out.
“Forgive me for startling you, Lady Diana,” he told her. “I beg the favor of a dance.” He offered her his arm.
She hesitated just a moment but then placed her arm over his and smiled.
“I would be honored, Your Grace,” she said, deliberately. Her voice, while diplomatic, held just a touch of somewhat-unintentional flirtation.
He smiled.
As they danced she had a chance to measure this man. His inner warrior-like spirit was disguised well. At first glance, he honestly seemed quite…well, quite vapid. But there was a spark of intelligence and an almost predatory cleverness in his deep brown eyes. He was a dangerous man. Handsome, but dangerous.
He had a chance to measure her, as well, while they whirled gracefully among the other dancing couples. He watched the way the torchlight flickered along her perfect body, her long, jet-black hair, her smooth skin and her beautiful, sea-deep blue eyes. She was gorgeous, but there was an undercurrent of deliberate strength in her, a strength that marked her as a warrior.
The princess had a warrior’s spirit, coupled with a gentle, almost innocent nature. A warrior who fought for peace. A paradox within herself. She intrigued him. Not only was she easily the most beautiful woman in the room, perhaps even in the kingdom, she was also clever, skilled, sharp-eyed, intelligent. He also knew that she suspected who he was. Yet…somehow, he trusted in the fact that, with her, the knowledge would be safe.
After the music had stopped, Diana graciously took her leave of him. She needed a quiet place to think.
She navigated her way out onto one of the palace balconies, unaware that the Duke of Wayne followed her. Once there, she wrapped both hands around the railing and sighed. The Duke could not offer her or her nation nearly as good an alliance as King Orin. So why was she infinitely more attracted to the former than to the latter? She shook her head. This was so confusing.
Suddenly, she heard a discreet cough from behind her, and whirled, startled. The Duke himself was standing there; a half-smile planted on his handsome face.
“My Lady.”
“Your Grace.”
He took a few steps in her direction. “Is the celebration not to your liking?” he questioned.
She sighed. “Not this celebration in particular. I feel uncomfortable at all social functions.”
“I see. And why is that?”
She afforded him a piercing look, trying to see if he was mocking her. His expression was merely interested and attentive.
“I dislike the rules and etiquette. I dislike being on display. I dislike being paraded about on the arms of men who are just interested in my royal station or my wealth or my appearance.” Her voice was bitterer than she had meant it to be, so she stopped talking.
He frowned. “I did not mean to make you feel…on display…” he began, wondering if she was speaking of their earlier dance, but she cut him off, her voice apologetic.
“No! No, it was not like that with you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to infer that it was. Actually, I...” She hesitated, then forged ahead, determined to say what she felt should be said. “I actually enjoyed our dance. Very much.”
He smiled at her, his look somewhat challenging. “Really, princess? And why would that be?”
Diana stared at the floor, trying to form at least a semi-diplomatic response. She looked up at him and met his eyes once she began to speak. “It feels like you appreciate more than just the fact that I’m a princess. You think of me as a person, not as merely a…an object.”
He stared at her for a moment, his handsome face thoughtful, considering the words of the raven-haired beauty that was being surprisingly open with him. “You are a very intriguing person, Diana.”
She glanced up at him, both at his comment and at the uncommon use of her first name. Then, she saw something in his eyes. Something passionate. A spark of desire that was infectious. Her breath caught in her throat.
Seeing her reaction to his unintentional advance, he took a slow step towards her, then another. She’s the god damn princess of Themiscira, a distant part of his mind screamed. What do you think you’re doing? He ignored the voice, quickly closing the distance between himself and the princess.
Diana trembled as he walked toward her. A part of her wanted to push him away, to run, to stop him. But deep down she knew that this was right.
She wanted this. She wanted him. She wanted his strong arms around her; she could almost feel her lips pressed against his. Such thoughts frightened her. She stood paralyzed, unable, unwilling to move.
The look on the face of The Duke of Wayne…no, not The Duke of Wayne, Bruce was so loving…not rough or glaring as she had seen him. Or empty and clueless as they did sometimes when he was carefully guarded.
He carefully placed his arms around her waist. His touch was gentle and warm as he pulled her close to him. She hesitantly clasped her hands behind his neck.
“Diana…” he whispered, just before he pressed his lips against hers.
Shaking, she let him kiss her, feeling the strangeness of it stirring something deep in her body…
Suddenly, she was afraid again. The knowledge of what this could lead to terrified her.
And yet the knowledge that he wanted her and she, him was racing through her veins. Her lips parted to his and he moved one hand up her back, entangling it in her hair.
She lost herself in the sweetness of his kiss, the warmth and tenderness of his embrace.
He pulled her closer to him and she did not resist, but reached up to touch his face, her hand resting on the line of his jaw.
The two kissed passionately for a long moment until at last they reluctantly pulled away.
Reality overtook her. Oh, great goddess, she couln’t do this, no matter how much she wanted to. She had responsibilities to Themiscira…damn it.
“Bruce…” she whispered.
He pulled her close to him and she lay her head in the curve of his shoulder.
Tears formed in her eyes until she blinked, then they traversed their way gently down her cheek, finally dropping to his shoulder and moistening the cloth of his shirt.
“Shhh,” he told her.
She bit her lip and looked up at him. That was a mistake. His gaze, burning with intense love and desire, swept over her and he pulled her face to his.
Her lips opened voluntarily to his. She pressed her body against his, moving her hands to clasp the back of his neck.
Suddenly, the noise of footsteps approaching was heard by both of them.
Diana pulled back, startled. The Duke quickly let her go.
The King of Atlantis walked out onto the terrace.
“Diana,” he began, then saw them together.
He glared at Bruce, then said to Diana, without taking his eyes from the Duke; “You are needed inside. Your mother is looking for you.”
Diana, fearing to show any hesitation and give him a clue as to what they were doing, nodded cordially to him. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” she told him. Then she went inside, wishing she could stay.
Orin glared at Bruce for a long moment before speaking. “Stay away from her, Wayne. She is mine.”
The Duke of Wayne’s eyes narrowed. “You speak as if she is your property, your Majesty.” The last two words were mocking and scornful, but only slightly, so that the statement could not be construed as an insult. “Permit me to remind you that she has a large part in the choosing of her future…partner. All you could offer her would be a largely ornamental role where she could have no real power. As your inferior. I offer her a position as a Duchess and my equal. ”
Orin took a threatening step towards him. “Do you truly think that she’d turn down a kingdom for a duchy? That she would turn down me for you? You have no chance, Wayne,”
The Duke smiled and leaned against the high balcony railing. He sincerely doubted that she was that shallow.
“We shall see, Majesty,” he said. “We shall see.”
Time passed. The princess continued to be confused, the two men vying for her hand continued their bitter rivalry.
Of course, her mother would prefer that she choose Orin. Still, she was a bit distrustful of the man. He was power-hungry and ambitious, and she was a little afraid that her daughter would be little more than a figurehead for him. A symbolic queen with no power. She didn’t want her daughter to live that kind of life, but she had to put the welfare of Themiscira before her daughter, weather she wished to or not. Besides, she wasn’t entirely sure she liked the way that the Duke of Wayne looked at Diana, either.
But as far as Diana was concerned, the choice was already made. She was Bruce’s; there was no doubt. There were, however, many reservations; angering the King of Atlantis would not be a wise decision. Nor would angering her mother be. Only her devotion to Bruce stood in the way of her submission to a marriage contract. Her inner torment went on for weeks, until the Feast of Mabon, the next great gathering of nobles.
***
She avoided him. What else could she do? The endless torrent of passion and anguish was too much. She could not bear to see him.
Finally, as the last of the feasting and dancing and reverie ended, he cornered her on their way out of the hall. He waited quietly until they were alone, then turned to her. His gaze was deep and unreadable. She met it as levelly as she could bring herself to.
“You’ve been avoiding me.” He stated, touching her cheek. “Why?”
She stared up at him, struggling to keep all emotion out of her face as she answered; “I…I’m confused. I don’t know what to do.” Her eyes met his with a resolute gleam. “I…I won’t have Orin. I want only you.” She stated.
There. She’d said it.
He suppressed a surge of elation. “Diana, why are you so worried?” He asked. She bit her lip, cursing herself for acting like a child. “My mother wishes me to wed Orin…” she began, but was interrupted when, suddenly, he kissed her, hard. She gasped into his mouth, then surrendered to the kiss, returning it with something akin to desparation.
He pulled awy, breathing hard. “And will you do as Queen Hippolyta wishes?” He whispered in her ear.
“No,” she murmured just before he kissed her again. She let herself be swept away in pleasure. She wrapped her arms around him, returning his kisses with newfound passion. But when he began unlacing her bodice, she gasped and tore away.
“Don’t…” she whispered, softly, more worried than afraid. He stared at her for a moment, then embraced her. “Shh.” He said. “Shh, I’m sorry.” He kissed her, gently. Diana just leaned against him and shuddered. This was so complicated….
***
((Well? You like? You hate? Questions, comments, & concerns should be e-mailed to SuperherogirlCat@aol.com I’d appreciate feedback, but this is one of my first fanfic attempts so please be kind. This is a continuing effort.))
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 