Long Live the King

Lightning flashes and thunder roars.People scatter like livestock.It’s hard to forget who rules the sky. || Arthur Wymond || 31 || King of Albion, Valancia ||

[beyoncebeytwice]

[mistress-reina-durante]

i’m chained to your side // arthur & reina

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

mistress-reina-durante:

“I am tired of talking, Arthur, I am sick of being drawn back to your side when you have wronged me. If want me to stay true to you, I can damn well expect the same thing from you.” She told nothing but the truth. If he wanted them to talk, it could not be done on a foundation of lies. Whenever he slept with others, it felt as if he killed her and then sewed her heart back together, but such a ritual left scars upon her soul and her trust. It put cracks in her love, but it never diminished what she felt for him. Arthur was still the only man she wanted, the only one that she wanted by her side for the rest of her life. She was cold to others despite feeling deeply about many things, she let no one see the weak side of her – no one but Arthur had seen that. It made her vulnerable and they both knew it perfectly well.

When he started talking about the women and how he felt, she did understand that they were nothing but mere distractions. They were only meant to give him pleasure, but the thought of other getting to touch him still drove her mad. She wanted the intimacy to be reserved only her; she had no quarrels with being only his as long as she was the only one. Despite having been heartbroken about the prospect of him marrying once again, she would probably have gone to his chambers if he had asked her. She could see his anger rise and she jumped slightly when he hammered his fist down. “It might mean nothing to you, but it does mean something to me.” Her voice was softer, more vulnerable than before. Anger did not seem to be the way with him, so she would try something else to make him understand. “Imagine if I was with another man. Can you honestly say that you would be able to ignore it even if I told you it meant nothing? Can you say that it would not tear at your soul with jealousy?” She thought the question was more than fair. Reina wondered often what his reaction would be if she did what he did. If she just found someone else when she felt an urge that only physical company could fulfill.

She was surprised by the sudden change in him. It was rare for Arthur to beg, she could barely remember if had done so before. She observed him for a while before taking a step closer, finally allowing herself to touch him when she raised a hand to rest on his cheek. “Lady Jane is there. I am not certain there is room for me now.” The last thing Reina wanted was to share her home with his fiancée. She knew Lord Jane would not be pleased by her return – and no matter what they like to admit, he had the love of the people. She was a taint on the perfect portrait of the royal family they wanted to see. She moved her thumb over his cheek in a soft caress. “You could stay with me here – screw what the court or council has to say. They refused you happiness once before, do not let them do it again.” She knew that he could never stay here, he had duties to attend to. The King belonged in the palace, not in an estate just outside town.

“Stay with me tonight, Arthur – and I will consider your request.”

Arthur’s lips pulled back into an ugly snarl and a harsh whoosh of air left his lips when she mentioned her being with another man. The thought of that nearly sent him into a rage, and he couldn’t handle it. “You wouldn’t dare sleep with another man.” He snapped, not really realizing the hypocrisy in the statement he had just spewed out. His mind couldn’t fathom her sharing a bed with anyone else; she was to share a bed with him and only him. There would be no other man if he had anything to do with it; his head would be mounted on a spike outside the castle gates before the individual had a moment to beg for mercy. Then why was it alright to do that with other women? A small voice echoed in his head before he pushed it away. Perhaps it was his conscious he didn’t pay much mind to very often and had come to forget was there and often ignored. Shaking his head, Arthur ran a hand through his hair and tried to calm the raging emotions happening inside of him. 

He felt tired now. Tired of everything and all that was happening outside the castle gates, and slightly tired of these arguments they were having. Was this how she felt on a daily basis with him? Tired and exasperated? It was a feeling he didn’t like, and a part of him felt sorry for putting the woman he loved through this. He sighed and glanced at her from over his shoulder when he heard her voice soften and her feet echo on the wooden floor as she stepped closer to him. “There is always room for you, Reina.” He explained, staring at her through the lashes of his half closed eyes. “No one will fill the place you’ve left vacant.” He told her, turning his head and kissing the palm of her hand before wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her body closer to his own. 

Blinking, Arthur opened his eyes and stared down at her. “I cannot stay for long; I’m afraid I left in a rather big rush and didn’t inform anyone of where I was going. They’ll expect me back by the latest tomorrow.” He hummed, fingers tracing patterns up and along her back. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to stay with her, in fact, he would give everything to stay with her here for the rest of their lives or at least for quite a while, but he had to go back to the castle. He was expected to be there and in a crisis that the city was in, the idea of him being anywhere else was something unheard of by the council. 

“Of course,  my love...” He mumbled, moving his head closer to hers and placing a quick kiss on the corner of her mouth. “There’s no place I’d rather be with you.”

[harvestersdot-blog]

Dorothy nodded as he spoke, mentally noting to herself to meet the woman sooner rather than later. “No,I can’t say I have, sadly. How is Reina doing? I am sure this is not easy on both of you.”

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

"I'm sure you'll meet her soon enough." He mused. The Lady Jane’s presence was becoming more and more noticed around the castle grounds, and he was surprised Dot hadn’t met her yet. “Reina has not taken the news of me marrying again very well. It was a low blow to her and I can’t exactly blame her for handling it the way she is..”

[harleyqquinn]

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

@mistress-reina-durante

[lacortigiana]

The seducer, must arm him - or herself with a protean personality, charming language, honest praise, an element of enchantment, and customized charisma.

Aspasia, elite courtesan of Greece and teacher of Socrates  (via coquettish-courtesan)

[mistress-reina-durante]

i’m chained to your side // arthur & reina

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

mistress-reina-durante:

“It wasn’t meant to solve anything!” She was quick to shoot back to his accusation. Reina finally arose from her seat and moved towards him. She felt the anger roar in her veins, but being close to him once again also made her heart beat faster than usual. It was so long since they had talked, so long since she had even been in the same room with him. “I am tired of always being the one who has to forgive your mistakes. I won’t apologize for what I did, you destroy me so it is only fair I get to destroy what I can of yours.” She was sick and tired of feeling hurt. She knew the marriage was beyond his control, but it did not mean the hurt of seeing him with yet another woman would simply fade. She had already grown jealous of Lady Jane. Reina had been there for Arthur, she was the one who loved him through everything even despite this. She hated herself for knowing that in the end she would return to his side as she always did.

“Don’t even try and lie to me, Arthur. I know there have been others, I have no patience for you to screw me over again. Just tell the truth and act like a man.” She spat out the words, still trapped in her hurt and anger. “Maybe the council forced marriage upon you, but they did not force you to let other women in your bed!” She could feel the same dangerous anger rise in her as she had felt when she had left his room in chaos and destruction. “How am I ever going to believe you actually love me? I was locked away in my room full of hurt because I am about to lose you once more. What do you do? You sleep with others simply because I was not available.” Reina let out the words in a hiss, wanting him to understand what had caused her to react as she did. She wanted to believe Arthur loved her as she loved him, but with every lie and every deceit, it got harder and harder to see how that could be possible. She knew women were his weakness and that he did not bother with others than her. She could yell and scream at him but he would never turn her away or kick her out of his castle. Reina knew that had to be love, she desperately wished for it to be.

“What does it matter that I am here instead of hiding in my room?” she demanded to know. “Did you plan to come visit my chambers for the night? If you had not allowed others in your bed, I might have let you in, but right now I would rather go sleep with the stable boy than you.” The words were harsh and she did not mean them, but she wanted him to understand the hurt and jealously that she felt. Reina knew that he never could because she would not betray him, but she still wanted the words to sting and burn.

“It was obviously meant to do something.” He snapped, running a hand along his face. Arthur knew for a fact she only did things like what she had done with the purpose of sending a message or something along those lines, and he knew that, that was what she had intended to do back in his chambers in the castle; her message was plain and clear, but he wasn’t really willing to back down from this fight just yet. “Talking about the situation would have sufficed, Reina.” He snapped, eyes narrowing at her. Though, they never really did talk to one another. There was always quite a bit of yelling and arguing, screaming, idle threats and all those things, but never actual talking. Maybe that’s what they lacked? Maybe that’s why they did all those things. Lie to one another, argue and fight. Maybe they didn’t speak to one another like other lovers did, but Arthur wouldn’t trade the heated arguments for the world. 

“But no other would take your place, Reina.” He argued back. “Do you think that with the possibility of a new wife, that it will change how I feel about you? That Lady Jane will replace you? Or that when I marry again, considering I have a new wife, I find myself someone different who can love me the way you do?” He shouted at her, slamming his fists on the wood of a table that sat in the middle of the library. “There is only one woman for me, Reina, and you are that woman. No one will replace you.” His chest heaved and he glared at her. “I’ve told you over and over again, Reina; I love you and no one else. The others have meant nothing. Do you think that if I didn’t love you, I would have sent you away years ago? Tired of you quickly?” He asked her, actually meaning the question and wanting her opinion on that. He didn’t know why she didn’t understand that; didn’t know why she couldn’t see where he was coming from, but his pride was slightly wounded and anger was high; they had gone from zero to one hundred quite quickly and if they didn’t calm down soon, Arthur knew for a fact it was going to end quickly. Swallowing his wounded pride, Arthur’s eyes softened and his harsh demeanor faltered slightly. 

“Reina.” He began, stepping towards her again. His face twisted and he refrained from flinching at her harsh words. “Reina, I wish for you to come back to the castle.” He told her, voice low and calm almost as if he were talking to a child or a skittish animal. “Come back with me, love; I’ve been lost without you there.” It wasn’t a lie. He had felt disoriented while she had been away, almost as if walking in a daze or dream. Perhaps it was just in his mind, but he felt miserable while she had been away and he didn’t like that feeling and wished to correct it. 

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

harvestersdot:

“I am all the same, all the time.” Dot dismissed it with a wave of her hand as she turned to Arthur, with a gentle expression on her face. “Tell me about the girl, that lady Jane. What are your thoughts on her?”

"I'm glad you're doing well, though." Arthur hummed, offering her a smile. His mouth pressed into a firm line at the mention of the Lady Jane and a sigh escaped his mouth. “My thoughts?” He echoed. “She’s not the woman I wish to marry, but she is obedient. She listens and quite amiable.Have you met her?”

[hyades-blog]

[clarkent]

[harvestersdot-blog]

“I wouldn’t trade being a cook for anything else, I must say.” Dot admitted softly, a small and friendly smile tugging at her lips. “How have you been, Arthur? Considering all that’s happened and that happens still.”

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

"I know you wouldn't.” Arthur grinned leaning backwards in the chair slightly. He sighed. “An impending marriage, chaos in the city? I suppose with all that happening I’m doing alright. And what about you, Dot?” He asked, tilting his head to the side. “How are you?”

[viktorfrankensteins]

they eat away at each other, self destructive and corrosive but without each other the flame doesn’t burn as bright and when they burn, they want flames to lick upon their skin until they feel they can finally breathe. the fire should scare them but there isn’t anything out there like burning for the one that burns you.

kat (doctorfollowill)

[mistress-reina-durante]

i’m chained to your side // arthur & reina

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

The door slam made her jump slightly in her position but she refused to show any emotions. Arthur was used to her anger, he was used to seeing her upset. He knew how to deal with her when she was caught in her emotions, he would have no advantage now. Reina remained in her seat and refused to take her eyes off the book. She was pretending to still read despite her inner nervousness making the letters dance around on the page. She would give him no satisfaction of seeing her vulnerable. In her mind, they were playing an exhausting game and she was done with it. She was done with strategies and schemes. If she could not be his in eyes of others, maybe it was not worth the fight. If he did not love her as she did him, was there really any reason to stay?

“Apparently no one of importance to you since I am so easy to replace.” She remained staggering cold and calm despite the beating of her heart in her chest. Reina wanted to think she did not care, she wanted Arthur to feel the hurt of what it felt like to be replaceable and betrayed by the one who was never supposed to make you feel that way. She was far more hurt than angry, she simply did not understand how he could do such a thing to her. She realised she might have overreacted, but she was allowed to feel hurt since he was the one who was promised to someone else. 

She finally moved her gaze up to his face. She swallowed discreetly when she saw the anger reflected in his expression. Reina found her composure and raised an eyebrow before slamming the book shut. “Why are you here, Arthur? Did the whores not do the job as well as I?” She was the one he had chosen for his mistress, she was in no doubt that she could give him more than they could. In some sick and twisted way, she understood the King well because they were much the same. The only difference was that she saw sex as something exclusive, she saw it as a part of love. It angered her that he could so easily share such intimacy with women from a brothel. She wanted to be the only one, she was no prize to simply be ignored. She was worth more than what Arthur had offered her. 

A muscle in his face twitched and his lips pulled back to expose his teeth almost like a snarl. He felt primal; like a wild animal and all she was doing was provoking him, but he just couldn’t find it in himself to walk away from her.  Maybe this was all becoming too tiring now. Maybe he should just let her go and never have to think about her again. A sudden wave of panic washed over him among the anger, and he couldn’t bring himself to do it. To mummer those ugly words, turn his back on her and never see her again. They were toxic with one another, but it was something he wanted more than anything. Though, right now, he was livid with her. 

Taking a threatening stance towards her, Arthur rested his palms down on the arms of the chair in which she sat on. “Do you think me that low, Reina? That I’ve been entertaining others in my bed since you’ve been gone?” He hissed, eyes never leaving her own. It was the truth. He hadn’t bedded many woman since she had decided to leave and have a temper tantrum. There had been a few, but none of them had made him feel the way he felt with Reina. The had meant nothing while she had meant everything. Though, he could hardly blame her for her melt down. With everything that had happened between being engaged again and having the city in more chaos than it normal was, her anger towards him was understandable, but Arthur wasn’t going to admit that to her any time soon; he was too proud and his pride tended to get in the way of things more often than not, and now was one of those times. 

“You left.” He accused, eyes narrowing. “And left a trail of destruction on your way out of the castle doors.” He accused, offering her a smile with no hint of happiness or warmth. It was a forced smile and one that was meant to send a message that he wasn’t here to mess around and meant business. 

“Did you think running away and causing destruction was going to solve this problem, Reina?” He asked, tilting his head to the side. “Did you think it would solve all these problems that have arisen?” He asked her again, pushing himself away from the chair and the spot where she sat before taking a step back. 

[gunsounds-deactivated20170824]

[harvestersdot-blog]

Dorothy observed her friend, the king, before rolling her eyes, an amused smirk taking place instead of an irritated one. “I know just how chilled you were, Arthur, but I am not your nurse maid.” Her smirk grew and she leaned her elbows on the table, her smile growing. “It has been a while.”

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

"No." Arthur agreed with a slight tilt of his head. “You are not my nurse maid.” He told her, before offering her another smile and moving from where he stood to the table and sat across from her. “It has been.”

[freya-vadas]

“Even if it can’t offer guidance, I find it offers comfort. It’s nice to know that you aren’t alone in difficult times.”

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

“Do you go often then, Lady Vadas? I find that I haven’t had enough time to visit the house of God with everything that has been happening.”

[palabrashermositas]

Do I Wanna Know // Arctic Monkeys

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

@mistress-reina-durante

[kingofvalencia-arthur]

cleveryoungpatricia:

Patricia looked up at Arthur, standing slowly. She wanted to say something like ‘well of course you like to keep information from the public’ but decided it was in her best interest to keep her head on her shoulders. “I was hoping for something newer. Something I haven’t read yet, something not as well known.”

Arthur watched his sister-in-law as she stood up from her crouched position. Ever since the situation with Tasmin, he had watched the younger Delacroix quite closely. “I have work by Erasmus; In Praise in Folly. Printed a few years ago, but not seen by many.” Arthur offered, a slight tilt of his head.