There I stood on the cobblestone path that led up to the palace's front entrance. It had been three years since I'd been here with then prince Eric. Three years since our last love encounter. Now he was married to queen Ariel of Alantica. People of the court had gossiped about her abnormal past as a mermaid. None of which I believed to be true, then again I'd never heard of Atlantica. Nonetheless I was back in Denmark for only one reason, to produce an heir. 

It was less than a weeks passing ago when I recieved a letter from her lady Queen Abelone of Denmark requesting my assistance. It had been two years since King Eric was bethrothed to Queen Ariel with no heir to show for it. Rumors leaked through court that her lady Queen Ariel was barren due to her supernatural past. And I Adella a bastard child to the king of Norway was most obliged to produce an heir to succeed a greater title than I. However it wasn't all just for the queen, I did love Eric and was prepared to win him back.

"My lady shall we go in?" My guard, Edvin, requested.

I nodded my head and lifted my sky blue skirts before taking steps up into the castle entrance. Once inside the echoes of beautiful danish music rang throughout the stone walls. The hall was filled with white and yellow flowers from the bottom of the walls to the top of the ceiling. If there wasn't a ball today I would of assumed King Eric had gone mad for flowers. 

"Lady Adella?" A high pitch voice spoke from further down the grand hall.

My shoes didn't permit me to rise on my toes to look above all the castle guest so I made my way through them as politely as I could before I found the source of the voice. It was a small child not only but ten years of age with raven black hair. She was immediately recognizable as Eric's sister princess of Denmark.

"Princess Karina, what a pleasure." I approached her with a bow.

The girl raced toward me wrapping her arms around my thin waist. The years I''d spent with her in court came flooding back to my mind. She had been but eight, yet she was smart beyond her years and had attached herself to me during both our studies. Eric had been there as well, we had shared our first kiss in court.

"Lady Adella I have not expected to see you. I believed you would never return to Denmark after the war." Karina spoke as if she was afraid.

It was true Norway had denied Denmark help in the last war making our nations hostile towards one another, but should I succeed in winning Eric's heart it would form an alliance.

"Indeed, but I so miss the Danish food I thought must come and indulge any chance I should get." I joked heartily.

Princess Karina looked skeptical but dropped the subject. She took my hand and led me to the ballroom with excited chatter of all the foods that would be served. We spoke of politics and childish games as the ballroom filled with foreign guest. After awhile of walking about the ballroom we had finally gotten close enough to the throne so I could see Queen Ariel. She was quite a spectacle no doubt. Her long hair looked as a bright red rose and her skin transparently pale even though her castle lay under the sun year round. It was no surprise Eric had chosen her over any other lady. My hand reached for my deep brown hair wrapped up high, it was in no way unique. Then my fingers trailed down my arm tanned by the constant heat of the sun. The only thing that stood out were my teal eyes, aIways always told they lit the sky on a clouded day.

"She's angry," Karina suddenly announced.

"Who?"I questioned not realizing I hadn't been paying attention.

"Her Majesty Queen Ariel." Karina answered.

"Why?" I queried, more interested now.

"Another festivity and it is not to celebrate the birth of a child. She feels the pressure to present an heir and its straining her relationship to Eric." Karina explained.

My head nodded automatically as I watched queen Ariel on her throne, her face sour. Suddenly horns erupted and the court guest took to the middle of the room to preform a royal dance.

"My lady Adella. May I have this dance." A boy spoke, it was the dauphin of Sweden.

I held my hand out to his and he took it with gentleness as he led me to the center of the floor, directly in front of the King and Queen's throne. The first glimpse I had of King Eric. His head shaved with only pricks of his black hairs. He hadn't yet looked my way as we all bowed and then presumed to dance. I found it hard to concentrate on the dance, while trying to take in every look at King Eric. Thats when he looked my way. He had been laughing I could tell from the lines in his cheeks, but now his face was surprised. Immediately I could feel my cheeks redden and I looked straight at the Dauphin, who had been looking at me with longing. I twirled in my skirts and began to laugh as the Dauphin pulled me by my waist. I tried to spare a quick glance towards Eric, but surprisingly found him looking infiriated.

Immediately I was worried he would take my presence in a political way and want me gone. My heart began to pound in my chest and my head began to dizzy. The corset around my waist seemed to tighten more and more until I dismissed myself from the dance and made my way through the crowds and out of the ballroom. 

Had my coming here threatened my existence? What if Eric wasn't the same as before. Had he become politcally based like his father? This was surely a bad idea.

My heels clicked against the stone floor as I made my way to the grand entrance until a hand grabbed mine pulling me away into a greenery garden on a balcony. I was then pushed against a wall, thats when I saw him up close. King Eric. His eyes a beautiful sky blue and his breath smelled the same as always, of danish sweats.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in a harsh tone I've only ever heard when he was mad.

"I-I came." I stammered unsure what to say.

"You tempt me so Adella you know this," Eric whispered.

His breath was now hot on my neck as he held my upper arms tightly.

"You are married my sir," I spoke softly.

"Yes. And Norway is not our ally anymore. You are not welcome on Denmark soil yet here you are." Eric looked up into my eyes before releasing me.

"Forgive me." Eric spoke.

"I came to be your mistress." I quickly responded seeing the fire leave his eyes.

I reached for his hands placing them on my waist and reaching to place my hands upon his cheeks. Memories of our intimate moments rushed back to me. I had to get him to want me again.

"This is adultery." He gasped shrugging me away.

"You have no heir. You could die at any day and Denmark will fall. I can provide you an heir, a son. Regain your ally in Norway." I struggled to meet his gaze.

He pressed me back against the wall his forehead pressed to mine. It was night out, I hadn't realized. The echoes from the ball inside seemed nations away. King Erics breath was unsteady, he was thinking. Then his lips met mine, electric like lightning. I responded hot with passion. I'd missed him, missed this and his touch as his hand lingered up the small of my back.

"The queen never allows such intimate moments as these anymore. I long for them. I've longed for you and your touch." King Eric spoke as his lips led down my neck.

"Allow me to stay and I'll provide you with such luxuries," I gasped out.

Voices came from the main hall and our bodies separated quickly, yet the yearning for passion was still plastered on our faces.