A Dance of Fire & Ice

[Syren de Winter]

Syren's foot tapped anxiously under the table, and she picked at the remnants of her meal... of her feast, actually. Her wedding feast, to be precise. The banquet hall was filled with anyone who had wanted to come and celebrate their union, just as the ceremony earlier had been open to any who dwelt in the castle to come if they wished, and a great many had. There was food and music and dancing, and Syren watched it with a gleeful smile that hid her nervousness, aware that many people were watching her in her high-backed chair next to the kingdom, although their eyes were not the reason she was anxious. She was used to being a spectacle.

The ceremony itself had been a short affair, much less pomp and frills than any such event would have been in Summer Land, but that hadn't bothered her. She wore a new dress, although it differed little from the other dresses she had worn since her arrival here; made of the same thick material to keep her warm, but it was embellished with some embroidery at the neck and sleeves, which was more than could be said for anything else she'd worn since her arrival here. There were no flowers to wear in her hair, but instead there were gemstones, tiny jewels of every color twinkling in her hair, draped on delicate silver chains. It might be far less elaborate than anything she would have worn in the South, but if she was to be the Winter Queen, it suited her far better.

Since the end of the wedding itself, her hand had been bound to Viktor's with a thick cord, which was not to be removed until the morning. It had made eating something of a challenge, and she imagined that wouldn't be the only thing it made more difficult tonight. Putting down her fork as the bards struck up a new tune, she turned towards her husband with a playful, if slightly hesitant smile. "Would you dance with your queen?"

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[Viktor de Winter]

Viktor sat beside his wife; and eat his supper while forbidding his second in command from talking about politics for one day. The dinning hall was filled with people; and some dancing. The wedding between he and Syren had been a grand wedding. Larger then he had seen in his life time; and much larger then any fisherman's son would have had. He didn't know how weddings worked in her noble world; but she did not seem displeased; and that was all that mattered.

However; everything came to a halt when his wife asked him to dance. He would have agreed right away had he knew how. "I know not the steps; but if I did then I would dance with you." Unless she knew of a way to dance without knowing the steps; that did not involve her leading the dance. Viktor was not about to be lead by her; not before all his men. Even on her wedding day. Thought; this was her wedding day and he did want it to be perfect. After a moment of watching the dance he looked back at her; and held out his hand. "Just watch your toes." He would have to make sure not to step too hard; or to get her to stand on his feet so that when he moved; he did not break her. He had plans for her; and tonight was not starting off with a broken anything; unless it was her dress.

[Syren de Winter]

Syren's face fell slightly, but she tried to conceal her disappointment when Viktor told her that he couldn't dance. "Oh," she said with some surprise, leaning back in her chair. She supposed she would just have to content herself with watching the others dance tonight. Reaching out, she picked up her wine goblet and drank deeply. It had been a good feast, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the festivities, so she couldn't be too disappointed.

She looked back towards Viktor when he turned towards her, looking down at his offered hand with some surprise. When he spoke, her face broke into an ecstatic smile and she set aside her wine to take his hand excitedly, glad that he was willing to make the effort. She didn't even care if they tripped all over the floor; they were royalty, and it was their wedding day, so no one had better say a damn thing about it.

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[Viktor de Winter]

Viktor made sure to not look at any of his men; while escorting his wife to the floor. With one of their hands bound together it would make this a bit awkward; but he was sure that if he could do it laying down; how hard could it be standing up? He watched the feet of the dancers; but nothing seemed to give rhyme or reason to their moves. Bloody hell.

Turning to take her in his arms; he took a step forward; and made sure to only come down on his heel; leaving a small amount of air between the sole of his boot; and whatever was under the toe--be it her foot or the ground. As he knew not the steps; he just moved them in the same directions everyone else moved into. Viktor was not sure if he fooled anyone; but as long as she enjoyed this night; he cared not.

[Syren de Winter]

Syren, on the other hand, made sure to make eye contact with his second in command, giving him a slightly threatening look that said that if he laughed, she would see him suffer for it. And he could keep the others from doing the same. She was not going to let her wedding be ruined. At least if they were terrible, they could always blame it on the hand binding; it could have thrown off their balance, or something. She'd come up with something plausible.

Viktor might not know how to dance, but Syren was very good at following. So even when his movements made so little sense as to make her giggle, she was able to move with him, so even if they failed miserably, at least they were doing it with such authority as to make all the other dancers wonder if they weren't the ones doing something wrong, and to to move out of the way for them. And Syren was light footed enough to make sure that her husband did not trod upon her feet. "Are you having fun?" She looked up at him, smiling happily.

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[Viktor de Winter]

So far; he had managed to not crush her feet; or push anyone down. Not bad for a fisherman's son. He still kept his feet from falling on anymore then his heel; in order to prevent his wife from feeling his weight down upon her--in this manner at least. Later he would take pleasure in another form of weight over her. Soon.

"I find that I am full of anticipation." He admitted; but he knew this wasn't his idea of fun. It was her's and this was why he gave it too her. He would take pleasure in seeing her enjoying the moment; rather then from the moment. It was enough for now; "I enjoy the sight of you having fun; and that makes my foolish attempt worth the effort." He was teasing her; and he knew she would know it.

[Syren de Winter]

Syren giggled softly, and hid her blush by leaning her head against his shoulder when he said he was full of anticipation. She could just guess what he had in mind when he said that, and she doubted it involved dancing. She could hear the teasing tone in his voice when he teased her about his foolish effort, and she looked up at him, smiling. "Well I do appreciate the effort." She replied, before she leaned up to press a brief, chaste kiss to his lips.

She didn't expect this simple gesture to result in the room slowly erupting in cheers, a not-so-subtle reminder that today, they were the spectacle. She giggled at the attention, she knew Viktor might not like dancing, but she was having fun. They didn't have many big celebrations, so she was glad that the people were supportive of their marriage. She was sure many of them just felt that this would bring them closer to being able to live in the sunny lands down south, but as long as they weren't trying to oppose her marriage, she didn't care. "Have I mentioned yet how handsome you look today?" She asked as the cheers died down.

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[Viktor de Winter]

Her simple kiss seemed to humor his friends; and men. Viktor would have turned to give them a (self)mocking glare; but he would not darken this day for her. Instead he ignored her comment on his handsomeness; which clearly was meant to soften him up since he was 10 years older then her; and not what was ideally seen as handsome by young girls.

Putting his hands on either side of her face; he gave him men something to really cheer for; as this kiss was anything but her little chaste peck. When he lifted his head; he muttered "On the next day when there is no snow on the ground; I am going to behead everyone of them." It was a humored repsonce to their sounds of amusement; but a pointless comment as well. The snow never melted; so the day he spoke of would never come. "we should retire to bed; before they drunk on themselves enough to demand more."

[Syren de Winter]

Still bound to his hand, Syren intertwined her fingers with his while he kissed her, and blushed when she heard how the men hooted and hollered over his less-than-innocent kiss. She stood up on her toes to bring him closer, reaching her free hand around his shoulders to brace herself. She did think he looked handsome today; he was more formally dressed than usual, and she did like it when he went to an effort to look good for her.

She giggled at his empty threat. "I'll let the executioner know to sharpen his ax," which was also pointless because they had no executioner in Winter Land. She knew the day would never come when the snow here would melt, so his men ought to be safe from that particular threat. When he suggested they go to bed, her eyes widened slightly, and she bit her lip a little bit nervously, before she nodded, and smiled. "All right."

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[Viktor de Winter]

Viktor gave her a bow of his head; before turning to escort her from the floor. They said they quick good nights; and then left the room to take the stairs up to his chambers; in which her things had been moved to earlier that day. Artemis did not normally share his rooms; and he had made it clear that her man eater; was not allow there either.

"Is this the way of things in Summer Land?" He had no idea how royals went about wedding nights; or even living together. He's heard mocking jest in his youth about separate rooms; and men watching as proof the bride was untouched. He had not given them thought before; and nor did he care to enact any of them.

[Syren de Winter]

Syren thanked everyone they bid farewell for their presence, before they swept out of the room. Her chambers had now become her dragon's room, since Viktor wouldn't allow the thing to sleep in the same room as he and she wouldn't allow him to put it in a cage or a cell. She would share Viktor's bed now, a thought that was already making her heart thud in her chest from both excitement and nervousness.

When he asked about the way of things in Summer Land, she wasn't quite sure how to answer... or what he was really asking. There were many traditions in Summer Land in regards to weddings, very few of which were observed here. Getting married at all seemed to be rare here, with most people sharing Viktor's approach of grasping pleasure, comfort and warmth where they could find it. "Well... in Summer Land, it is traditional for the man to carry his wife across the threshold for the first time."

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[Viktor de Winter]

They did what? What threshold? "I can be traditional." He said; while stopping; and turning her so what the hand that bound them was around her shoulders/back; and his other arm was under her knees. There; now he could walk at his faster pace; as when he walked with her; he often shortened or slowed his step so she did not have to work hard to keep up with him.

Just because he did not understand what a gesture meant; did not mean he was unwilling to give her such things. "One would think you would rebel against such displays of ownership." He teased her; as he turned down the last hallway. "Or is there another meaning behind such displays of my strength?"

[Syren de Winter]

Syren made a soft sound of surprise as Viktor lifted her off her feet, then smiled. She liked how he had gone to so much trouble to try to please her today, and while it might just be little things, she appreciated his efforts. She leaned in to kiss him on the cheek while he carried her, but she smacked him lightly on the chest when he spoke of owning her. "Well it does make a kind of sense, given how you stole me in the first place." She pointed out.

"It's to prevent bad luck! They say that if the bride trips over the threshold on her wedding day, it means the marriage will be unlucky. So the groom carries the bride so she can't trip." She explained, it might be a silly tradition, but she liked having Viktor carry her anyway; she liked the display of his strength. Technically, they didn't even have a threshold since they weren't going outside to get to their room, but she would take what she could get. "You better not trip, or I think it means our marriage is doomed." She teased.

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[Viktor de Winter]

What an bloody odd thing to believe in; that the whole fate of two people's lives rested on a woman's ability to walk through a door unscathed. No wonder they thought it wise to send people to Winter Land; they were a land of odd people; clearly in need of him to come set them aright! "You need not fear my ability to walk." He would not trip or fall on such an important night.

When they arrived to their chambers; he lowered he feet to the ground and grinned proudly at his skilled; of getting here without even a false tripping to startle her. Lifting their bound hands; he placed a kiss on her skin; and then looked down to her face. "You have arrived safely to your marriage bed; but I cannot promise that you will remind so." He teased her; knowing he full well expected that her temper would mean he could not control her in any aspect; and while she might be new to this; sooner to later she would learn to be just as uncontrollable in bed as she was out of it.

[Syren de Winter]

Syren smiled as he lowered her to her feet and kissed her hand, looking up at him from under her eyelashes, she looked away sheepishly, a slight blush creeping to her cheeks at his teasing. They were married now, and while she was excited... she was also very nervous, and unsure of what to expect. She had heard only gossip about what to expect; no one spoke to a young princess about sex before she'd even had her coming out ball. Some of the Winter Land women had teased her about her wedding night, but she'd been too embarrassed to talk about it.

Biting her lip, she looked back up to him curiously. "So... what now?" She might be new to this, but she knew that he wasn't, and that he'd been looking forward to this night for some time now... if not since the first day they'd met. He'd been talking about getting her into his bed at least that long, although it had sometimes been in jest, and other times a threat. Now it had finally come to pass, she wondered how he would react.

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[Viktor de Winter]

What now? Now they made the beast with two backs; consummated the marriage. Did . . . married things. "Syren; how much to you know about what happens between a husband and his wife?" He assumed she knew nothing first hand; but if she had known anything by hearing other she could have known what the bloody hell came next.

Did maids not gossip; wasn't that how all the girls said they learned? From hearing others talk? Did they not hear their friends; or their mothers not tell them something?He wasn't about to push her to the bed until he knew what to expect from her; but nor was he going to explain things in detail when his actions could do it for him.

[Syren de Winter]

Syren blushed and looked away when he asked what she knew about what husbands and wives did, blinking uncomfortably. Didn't he know that she didn't know anything? The Summer Princess had been allowed to flirt and tease men, but if her insistence on waiting until they were wed wasn't enough indication of how sheltered she had been, she didn't know what would be. What gossip she had overheard wasn't intended for her ears, and was quickly hushed when they realized she was listening.

Her mother would have told her what she needed to know after her coming of age ball, except that she had instead been captured and brought here. Now she was married and her mother had no idea, and could not tell her anything of what to expect, or what to do. Shyly, she looked up at him from underneath her lashes to answer his question with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Nothing."

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[Viktor de Winter]

Nothing. Bloody fucking hell; she knew nothing. "Not true;" He began; trying to think of what he knew she did knew. Bending his head; he claimed her mouth in a deep kiss. He let it linger then lifted his head. "You know how it begins." With a kiss; and passion. He had had her pressed to a wall before; she knew of passion.

"It only grows stronger; better." He did not know what princesses were taught of passion; and what was proper; but he knew what he liked. The advantage of having her know nothing; was there was nothing she knew as wrong; or dirty. She would be open to learning what he knew. "What do you know of men?" From her experiences with him; or anything she might have seen.

[Syren de Winter]

She blinked at him when he spoke, wondering what he meant, until he leaned down to kiss her. She reached out her free hand to hold he back of his neck, returning the kiss. When he pulled back to speak again, she smiled, realizing he was right. She did know how it started... just not where it went from there. He promised it would get better, and she bit her lip softly in anticipation.

He asked what she knew of men, and she blushed again, but did not look away. She had never seen a man naked from the waist down, another thing she had been sheltered from. "That they are...easily inflamed to desire, and often think with a head not on their shoulders." She knew the first from her own experience with flirting and teasing men, including him, and the second from the jokes the Northern women had told.

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[Viktor de Winter]

Viktor chuckled at her words; knowing that he was damn well easily turned toward her; and made no move to hide it; or not bring her attention to it. Hell; even his first thought upon seeing her had been to notice her physical form. Though had she been weak; or annoying rather then amusing; he would not have continued to tempt her to his bed. "I think it is time you learned more of men."

Viktor stepped back; removing everything but his pants. He had had the fire built up in this room; so it was warm enough he did grow cold; and by the time the fire went down; he would not need it's warmth. Moving back to her; he took her hands and lead them to the ties that kept his pants on and closed. "You once ask me; what I had said to you when I found you in the snow. I would not speak of it then." He had walked out of the conversation; and ever since if she would ask; he'd side step the question or end the conversation. He wanted to use his words to help ease any unwanted female emotions that might come to her now. "If you want to know; I will answer."