Let's Talk Alliances

In the days to come King Tae-Han and Queen Asora, they would walk through the villages and introduce each other's people and officials to each other. On other days, the King and Queen would sit at the round war table in the other palace where the Advisors, Wisemen, and Generals lived. There they began to talk about their allies and enemies, coming to a common consensus of who would remain allies or not, and which countries they would have to be careful of because either the King or Queen were not on good terms with the country. 

But one day the King wished to switch up the Queen and his schedule, she had been here for almost a month now, and she had yet to meet his family. Before meeting the Queen he had sent them away just in case things went bad, but in just a few days of Asoras arrival he knew his mother and sister would adore them, so he sent for them to come back and any day now they would be here. 

In the meantime, he wished to have her explore more the kingdom with her. King Tae-Han and Queen Asora found themselves in a serene garden, surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant flowers. The setting provided a tranquil backdrop for their private conversation about the alliance between their kingdoms to continue.

Tae-Han, dressed in traditional attire that reflected his native heritage, looked at Asora with a mixture of admiration and curiosity. He appreciated her grace and intelligence, recognizing the significance of their union beyond political boundaries.

Asora, unaware of his staring remained intrigued by the cultural richness of Tae-Han's kingdom and looked around the garden with wonder. She found herself drawn to the vibrant colors and the intricate symbolism displayed in the natural elements surrounding them.

"Your kingdom holds so much beauty, King Tae-Han," Asora said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. "The customs and traditions of your people are fascinating."

Tae-Han smiled warmly, appreciating Asora's interest. "Thank you, Queen Asora. And to your people and culture as well, while our ways may be different at times, there is much we can learn from one another. It is an opportunity for cultural exchange and mutual growth."

Asora nodded, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I couldn't agree more, King Tae-," Asora stopped in her tracts. "Do you mind if I call you by your name, and you can call me by name? I don't think we need to be so formal by ourselves, do you?"

King Tae-Han chuckled and shook his head, "I do not, Asora."

The Queen felt her blush start to warm up so she looked straight ahead and began to walk ahead and continue talking, "Our kingdoms have distinct histories and traditions, and through this alliance, we can celebrate our differences while finding common ground..."

The King couldn't help but smirk at the Queen, while she could be brave and courageous, in moments like these her innocence was amusing to him.

As they spoke, they encountered their Advisors and Wisemen, who were also their chaperones, engaged in lively conversations of their own.

They smiled at the entourage before continuing their conversation which further talked about the challenges they anticipated in merging their cultures and forging a strong alliance. They discussed the importance of understanding each other's customs, beliefs, and societal structures to foster harmony and respect.

"Asora," Tae-Han began, Asora did her best not to shudder. "I've actually learned a lot from you being here already, how crucial it is that I listen to the voices of my people, better yet, both yours and mine, to ensure that their needs and aspirations are met."

Asora nodded in agreement. "And I hope I can learn much from you as well, despite being new to this life as your, well, future Queen."

Tae-Han extended his hand toward Asora, a gesture of solidarity, unity, and support. "Asora, you will always be a Queen to me. And I promise to bridge the gaps between our cultures, foster understanding, and build a future of prosperity for our kingdoms and our people."

Asora placed her hand in Tae-Han's with a wide grin, "I am confident we will overcome any obstacles together as a couple and a nation."

At that moment, the sun's gentle rays illuminated the garden, casting a warm glow over the King and Queen. As they continued their walk side by side, the whispers of the wind seemed to carry their shared vision of a harmonious future. The alliance between the Native Kingdom and Asora's foreign realm held the potential to rewrite history, intertwining their destinies and shaping a legacy of unity and understanding for generations to come.

Hand in hand, they walked back to the palace, their steps filled with purpose and hope. As they approached the grand entrance of the palace, and walked to the Queen's Chamber, right before they turned the corner to her chamber doors, the King's steps grew slightly hesitant. He glanced at the Queen, a mixture of longing and uncertainty in his eyes.

"Asora," he began, his voice softer but deeper than the Queen had ever heard. "I know I was bold in asking for a kiss a few days ago, and you gracefully declined. But now, as we part ways for the evening, may I have the honor of a simple kiss goodnight?"

Asora's heart skipped a beat, conflicted emotions swirling within her. A part of her yearned for that closeness, but she also wanted to proceed with caution, mindful of the expectations placed upon her as a Queen.

"Tae-Han," she replied, her voice gentle yet resolute. "I appreciate your desire, but our alliance and relationship are still new, and I believe it is important to tread carefully. Now I am saying I do not want to kiss you because I do, but I'm not ready yet. But when the moment feels right and I am ready, I promise you that I will gladly initiate our first kiss with you."

The king's face softened, understanding and respect shining in his eyes. He reached out and took Asora's hand in his own, bringing it to his lips for a tender kiss.

"Always with words of wisdom, my Queen Asora," His voice laced with sincerity. "I will honor your request and patiently await that special moment when our connection deepens even further."

They stood there for a brief moment, their hands intertwined, savoring the warmth of their shared understanding. With a gentle squeeze, Tae-Han released Asora's hand and took a step back.

"Rest well, Queen Asora," he said, his voice filled with a mix of fondness and longing. "May your dreams be filled with visions of a prosperous future for our united kingdoms, and thoughts of me." He smirked.

Asora watched as Tae-Han turned and began to walk away, his confident stride returning. She couldn't help but feel a sense of longing deep within her own heart.

Her eyes followed the King as he walked down the hallway towards the courtyard doors, he slid them open, turned around, and began to close them not before smiling at her, in which she waved until the doors finally closed.

 At that moment, she released a deep breath, I was this close to allowing him to, allowing him to do sooo much more to me. A blush came to her cheeks, quickly she spun around and walked a few more steps down the hallway before sliding her doors open and stepping into her chamber. 

Her mind replayed the events and conversations of the day, the alliance they were forging, the people they would impact, and whatever was blossoming between them. The night held endless possibilities, and she couldn't go to sleep.

As she slipped on her nightgown and crawled into bed she sighed with contentment at how comfortable her bed was, it was like a cloud. She also was happy because she convinced the keepers to help her dress for the morning and not the night. So her room was quiet, and she could hear the crickets and wind, a sound she now become slightly accustomed to.

On fluffing her pillows and covering herself with the sheets she brought from home, since the blankets she was given here were too hot for her, she felts something hard underneath her head. 

Her hand reach behind the pillow and felt a book, the one Lydia had given her, as stayed laying down she began to browse through the book until she shot straight up and close the book, which sounded a loud clap.

"What did you give me Lydia?" Asora asked with a red face. 

The Queen looked around her like someone was watching her and carefully peeked into the book again. She gasped, slammed the book shut again before placing it underneath her pillow, quickly placed the sheets over her abnormally warm body, and closed her eyes. 

She felt sweat begin to form against her nose, and she began to rise even more in temperature as she remembered the book's details again. Like a child she kicked the sheets off, and groaned, there was no point in going back to bed.

The Queen stood and began to pace the large room, after a few minutes she froze and looked into a mirror she had brought from home. Her eyes dropped to her lower region and then her bosom and she shook her head trying to get images out of her head. 

There was no way they could do that, or at least would she be able to? Right? She thought.

She turned around and looked at her pillow, she closed her eyes for a few seconds and then they shot open with determination. Quickly she sped walk back to her bed and slid underneath the sheets. 

Like she was stealing she carefully took the book from underneath her pillow, and before she opened it, she threw the sheets over her head and opened the book wide.

That night marked the beginning of the Queens defensive wall (which wasn't very high or strong) against the Native King began to crumble.

She gulped as she continued to read and look at the pictures, "I'm not that flexible though."