Teel sat up and flinched at the soreness between her legs. Her memory provided a frame by frame play back of what had happened the night before. She scanned the bed with her eyes searching for the culprit of her discomfort. He had reduced her to a sniveling bag of nerves that was ready to say or do anything to get him to stop. And all the good that had done her. He hadn't stopped short of punishing her to the fullness of his abilities, reducing her to a pulsing mass of pleasure. It had proved to be even more humiliating than him taking her in front of her people. Self respect lost, whether in public or private, was the worst punishment of all.
Dragging herself from the bed, Teel let her anger wash over her. She needed to act quickly and end this before it escalated. She washed quickly and pulled on a clean shift, not bothering to do anything with her hair, other than scrape it off her face with a ribbon. He had stripped her of her self-respect but he had also provided the means for her to carry through her plans. A public apology. She would apologize to him for her defiance in grand style and betray him in the same breath.
Until then she would play the submissive duly chastened fool until his heart was content.
"Rogue," she called softly, making her way into his private chambers. "Rogue," she called again when she received no response to her first gentle call.
He appeared suddenly to her left and Teel just managed to stifle the angry tirade on her lips when she caught her first glimpse of him. Instead she put a gentle and somewhat shy smile on her face. "Rogue," she greeted, dipping her head slightly in his direction.
"Teel," he returned, his eyes indicating nothing of his mood.
"I'm sorry about yesterday," she apologized quickly, certain that if she didn't get the words out right away she would choke on them. "I'm sorry for..." she trailed off letting him decide for himself what she was apologizing for. She quickly dropped her eyes to the floor lest he read anything she didn't want him to.
His eyes scanned her down turned face in a suspicious manner. "That doesn't sound like the Teel I know."
"Perhaps you never knew me," she bit out. Then, realizing she sounded antagonistic she changed the tone of her words. "And perhaps I never knew you. Perhaps we are just two strangers who need to get to know each other better. I am genuinely sorry I upset you yesterday."
"Think nothing of it," he excused her behavior with an outstretched hand, inviting her into his good graces again. Noting a less than spirited Teel entering his arms, Rogue dismissed her reticence in the certainty that her fierce nature would burn to the surface again before the day was out. He decided, almost with a sadistic sort of glee that he would rile her into it himself.
Teel stayed by his side for the better part of the morning working hard not to wince as her muscles protested her slightest motion. Careful to hang on his every word and demure to him regardless of how much he riled her. At times she felt it was deliberate.
On one occasion he dared to suggest he liked her better this way. That she was normally too emotional and that an emotional person was not fit to rule. He went on to expound on how surprised he was that any culture would allow a woman to rule on her own. Teel quickly clasped her hands behind her back before one arced up and hit him in his self serving face as he so rightly deserved.
"It is hardly surprising that you feel that way, seeing as to how your culture is based entirely on male leadership, not shared power as mine is." But even that non-confrontational remark was misinterpreted and a rousing response thrown back at her.
"This is your culture now. These are your people. This is your home. And I am your master." His brutal rejection of her culture and individuality reaffirmed anew her determination to offer her people some freedom. To escape from this mentality any sacrifice would be worthwhile.
"Yes, it would seem that you have mastered me," she agreed, her eyes and head downcast as she continued walking at his side. Her physical distance from him increased a little bit more after this seeming acquiescent statement.
Rogue noticed her displeasure with some wry amusement, and mentally congratulated her self control. She must have learned her lesson better than he had thought because the Teel he knew would have slid a blade to his throat and made him retract his words, rather than agree to being owned.
Teel excused herself shortly after lunch, indicating she needed to spend some time with her mother. Rogue released her without further comment knowing she needed space from him before he made her do something she would regret. He also didn't press her to fulfill his sexual desires as he did every afternoon, knowing she would be too sore to engage him as he preferred. His throbbing flesh told him what a fool he was to exercise restraint.
As soon as Teel appeared within her mother's sight, she was engulfed in a warm embrace. "Everyone knows that he took you from the gardens yesterday," were the first words from her mouth after she released her daughter. "It is said that he abused you and now there is even more unrest. I have heard whispers of mutiny. We are in a better place to do it now. Staff in the kitchen, servants in his home. It would be a simple matter to slide a blade into his heart."
Teel gasped in shock, realizing not for the first time how very alike she and her mother were, but still she protested even though she could have wished for nothing more. "It must not be allowed to happen."
Everything in her shuddered at the very idea of a revolt in Rogue's homeland. Her people would have every disadvantage and likely die, every last one of them. "I'm fine. All is well," she rushed to add on, anxious to convey to her mother, and through her, to her people, that she was ok.
"You think to lie to your own mother," Lanië chided, her hand raising her daughter's face so that her eyes were on a level with hers.
"No," Teel immediately denied. She had never lied to her mother. "No, I'm not lying. I speak only the truth." Teel reluctantly pulled her face away from her mother's gentle grasp pacing the room in her agitation. "The truth is that our people will live no matter what the cost to myself. This is all that matters to me. I stand before you well. Show me the marks he has left upon me if he has abused me sorely," Teel challenged, certain there was no such mark save the darkness in her soul. "It is as I say. I am well."
"Then I won't press the issue," Lanië relented, letting Teel stew in her unrest.
"There has been a change of plans," Teel informed, turning back to her mother with the passion for her people burning in her eyes anew. "You must be ready to leave tomorrow night. Everyone of you who is going. I will finish the solution and we will proceed as planned. Say your goodbyes to Tazian tonight, for tomorrow it ends."
"As you wish."
A tear cascaded down Teel's cheek before being swiftly wiped away. "My wishes have nothing to do with this," she bit out between her trembling lips before turning on her heel to prepare the rest of the plants. Time was growing short.
The tears Teel held at bay slid quietly down her cheeks as she worked in the garden pulling up the plants she needed in copious amounts. This is the price I pay for love. This is the price I pay for leadership. More tears trembled on her lashes and she angrily wiped her hand across her eyes refusing to let another one fall.
