The Jester
jester!ringo starr x queen!fem!reader
warnings: mentions of smut, reader has a uterus, king paul, mentions of executions. a/n: first multi chapter story for ringo! these stories will be cross-posted onto ao3 as well!
part 2
1571
When it was announced you were to marry king Paul McCartney your heart dropped to your feet. He was known for his charming personality but also his cruelty towards his wives when they couldn’t give him what he desired. His last wife had been executed after failing to produce an heir after three years of marriage. You had just turned twenty which in the eyes of kings was the perfect age for fertility.
The trip to the kingdom was treacherous and tiring but your mother promised it would be worth it. You would be dishonest if you were to say you weren’t nervous. You had picked your nails bloody and the skirt of your dress had wrinkled from how much you squeezed it. When you eventually got there your mother scolded you as you hesitated to leave the comforts of the carriage you had traveled in.
The marriage happened the following day. That was the first time you had met king Paul. He was handsome, no doubt and had a smile that screamed ladies man. He kissed you like he meant it and for a moment you thought maybe everything people said about him wasn’t the truth, maybe he was just misunderstood.
The attention you got from the guests was overwhelming but also greatly appreciated. Everybody wanted to get a glimpse of the new queen. At the end of the night your mother gave you a heartfelt kiss to your forehead and you both said your goodbyes. Knowing it would likely be the last time you would see your mom you let a few tears escape but you were quickly guided to the bedroom you and Paul would be sharing.
He bed you the same night eager for an heir. You couldn’t help but feel disappointed by how lackluster it felt but gave a content smile as you saw his satisfied face. After it was done he blew out the light and went to bed.
You stared up at the ceiling for a few hours, tears pricking your eyes. Eventually sleep did take you but it wasn’t an escape.
Within a week you were mentally drained. Paul showed you little love, you knew not to expect it but the version of Paul you met at the wedding and the Paul you knew now felt entirely different. You only saw him at breakfast and dinner and at night. At breakfast and dinner he looked exhausted and at night it was lackluster sex.
Your doctors had you drink this nasty concoction of liquid swearing it would help you get pregnant. It tasted bitter and had a sickly sweet aftertaste that remained in your mouth for hours after.
Nowhere you went were you free. Whether you were in your room, outside, roaming the halls, someone always accompanied you. You were grateful for your ladies in waiting, they were a sweet but shy group. It was a bit awkward as some of them were also the ladies in waiting for the queen before you but none of them spoke of her as if she was something horrid.
The guards you never spoke to, not truly anyways, only thank yous and goodnights. John and George were the only two you knew by name, they accompanied you the most. Despite the seriousness of the job you swore you saw John crack a smile at you once or twice which in a way made you feel human.
Paul noticed your melancholy attitude by the third month and worried it would possibly harm your fertility in some way so he hired a jester to cheer you up.
A slight dread filled you as you laid in bed that night. The jester was to arrive the following afternoon. Paul told you he hired the best of the best. You weren't exactly sure why you felt so scared of the thought of having a personal jester, maybe it was the fear that if this didn’t work that you would be executed.
The following morning was calm. Paul and you ate breakfast in silence like normal. A part of you worried for the jester that was only hours away from arriving. Paul had patience with you, the most he could muster of course but the patience he had with others was thin. You felt awful for dragging another person into this situation but at the same time if it could save you from execution for not being able to conceive it was worth it.
When the jester arrived you were peeking out from one of the many windows. He was already in his outfit and carried a potato sack as a bag. It was hard to make out what he looked like but you could tell he was definitely shorter than most men you were around. The moment he stepped out he carried himself in a carefree manner.
When you heard the guards rounding the corner you scurry off as if you were not watching the arrival of the jester the king had hired solely for you. John and George caught up with you as you tried to act casual as you made your way down the elegant hallway.
“Your Majesty the king requests you.” George, the kindest guard you had tells you.
With a curt nod you let your guards lead you to the ballroom where you would be meeting the jester. The two men opened the doors and you walked in. Paul was sat at his throne in the empty room as he waited for your arrival.
The two guards you half considered friends shut the door and stood in front of it, guarding that entrance. As you made your way to Paul he stood and extended a hand taking yours into his own. He guided you to sit in your throne before sitting into his own.
No words were exchanged and Paul’s expression screamed boredom. He had seen hundreds of jesters in his time but you had only seen one from afar as a girl. You remember being memorized
The nerves you had the night prior had melted into a mild excitement. You wondered if he would truly be as funny as rumors said. Paul had bought him from another kingdom and agreed to pay the loyal jester double his previous salary.
The efforts Paul was making for your happiness made you feel uneasy knowing the true meaning behind it. He wasn’t genuinely wanting you to be happy, he just wanted an heir. Growing up you read books, books that were filled with love stories and happy endings. Your mother always told you not to expect what you read, it was fiction in order to bring you momentary joy but that was not what existed outside the pages. Deep down you knew she was right but you couldn’t help but wish Paul was like what you read.
Your thoughts were interrupted when you heard the double doors open and a deep but joyous voice speak loudly, loud enough to echo throughout the room.
“Hear ye, hear ye! I arrived to steal the throne and the beautiful queen. Do not fret your majesty, you shall still reside in the castle, just as staff. Perhaps you could become a fool as I am!” The jester spoke in a jokester tone you had never heard before, he was now standing in front of you looking straight at you as the bells on his costume jingled. “My my, I have heard of your beauty in the tale but never did I expect you to be as beautiful as the moon and stars. Puts people like King Paul and I to shame!”
A small, nervous laugh escapes you which cues the jester to keep going. He makes remarks to Paul who gives a few unbothered smiles but as his introduction performance went on you couldn’t help but lean forward a bit and allow the smile on your face to grow. Your eyes widened as he juggled and cracked jokes while he did so. It was all unlike anything you had seen before.
After the performance the jester bowed before taking your hand and giving the top of it a lingering kiss. As he retreats from the ballroom to get settled in, the smile on your face lingered longer than the kiss. Paul gave you a look.
“Did he satisfy you?” He asked referring to if he brought you enough joy to keep around.
“Absolotely!” You nod in return.
With a nod Paul stood up and left the ballroom to attend to his duties. George and John led you back to your room where you sat in awe as you replayed his performance over and over. You couldn’t wait to meet him once more for tomorrow's dinner.
