As the waves of delight ebbed, she gasped for air. Sensing his gaze on her, she forced her eyes open. The smug satisfaction in his smile drew a weary laugh. He moved up her body, reaching for her hands.
"You obeyed very well, wife."
Her fingers were stiff and aching from gripping the rail so tightly. She ignored the numbness in her shoulders and wrapped her arms around his neck, finding his mouth with hers. The taste of herself on his lips sent her desire soaring once more, and she opened her legs. The feel of his cocksliding against her flesh, slick with her juices, nearly had her on the edge of release once more.
"Now, Royce. Now!"
He obliged her with one hard stroke, seating himself deeply within her. For several moments, he remained motionless, studying her. He brushed the hair from her face and finally began a slow thrusting that refired the inferno of moments ago.
She met each of his strokes, until he grabbed her hips, holding her still so he could drive harder into her. This was what she wanted, the full measure of his desire, knowing it was for her alone and that she returned it, likely tenfold. She clung to him as if he were the lifeline in a raging sea, until she was exploding once more, tumbled in the wild waves. She cried his name, reveling in the way he answered with a shout of his own, his cock pulsing wildly within her. It was several minutes before they quieted, their harsh breathing making a strange music that rang in the chamber.
The motion of him rolling to his back drew a surprised squeal. He said nothing as he settled her atop him, his softening cock still inside her. She basked in the way he gently stroked her back and snuggled closer. If only they could stay thus forever. Thoughts of the morrow weighed heavily upon her.
"What troubles you?" Royce's question broke the suddenly uneasy silence.
"Nothing."
"You've gone as hard as a plank. Something is bothering you."
She hesitated. "The trial and the ... I... "
He gave a nod. "I understand, but you must be there. I will be beside you, and as we'll be beside the king, it will tell everyone Edward trusts you."
"I know, but... 'Tis brutal to watch another put to death."
He said nothing, leaving her to wonder just what was going to happen in the coming days.
Chapter Nineteen
The sun had not yet completely risen when Royce escorted Gillian to the meadow behind the abbey. Throngs of people had already gathered, all eager to watch the execution of the Welsh prince. The scaffold faced the covered dais where most of the court waited.
Parliament had not taken long to convict Dafydd for his crimes. The sentence of death was to be carried out immediately. Gillian prayed this would be quick.
She was glad she'd not broken her fast this morn. When she'd awoken, with a terrible rolling in her stomach, she had refused any food, sipping only some ale to try to settle herself. It had helped for a while, but now, sitting here near the king's seat waiting to watch a man be put to death had started the rolling anew.
The excited murmurs in the crowd grew louder. Edward and Eleanor rode up to the dais amidst the cheers of their subjects. Edward took a stance before his chair and held up his hands to silence the cheers of the people. It took several minutes for the crowd to quiet enough for the king to speak.
"Today is a glorious day for England, for she stands victorious against those who seek to destroy her. The tongue of man can scarcely recount the evil deeds committed by the Welsh against our progenitors, but God has, after the prince had been slain, destined Dafydd as the last survivor of the family of traitors, to be the king's prisoner after he had been captured by men of his own race."
With those words, the crowd once more burst into wild cheers and hollers.
Almost instantly, the crowd parted and several horses rode into view. At the center of the corps, a riderless horse was led. To her horror, Gillian saw the horse pulled a smallload, a man, tied by his hands to the horse's harness. Prince Dafydd of Wales.
The horse was held still for several moments. A knight stepped forward and mounted the beast, spurring it to a trot toward the scaffold, dragging Dafydd behind him. Jeers and curses filled the square, and a member of the crowd below threw something at the prince, yelling obscenities so all could hear. Soon, the throng pelted him with rotten food and refuse until the horse stopped at the scaffold steps. The animal, clearly spooked by the chaos, pranced nervously under the hands of the knight.
The executioner stepped forward and raised his hand for silence. The crowd quieted. The horse calmed somewhat as the executioner began to speak.
"Prince Dafydd, in a trial by Parliament, you have been judged guilty for the crimes of murder, for profaning the week of our Lord's passion, and for plotting against the life of our sovereign, His Majesty, King Edward. You will be held as an example to all those who would stand in your place."
The crowd erupted into cheers and shouts of encouragement. Shuddering, Gillian wondered how the crowd would react if they knew of her mixed blood. She wrapped her arms around herself and pushed the thought aside. She glanced at her husband. His face bore no expression as he watched the scene below.
Dafydd was cut loose, hauled to his feet and dragged up the steps to the platform. Despite the dirt and streaks of blood and refuse covering him, he held himself defiantly, watching the crowd. Gillian saw no fear in him as he stood tall, facing his punishment with regal bearing and grace. She could not help admiring his bravery in the face of death. When the time came, she feared she would not meet her own demise so well.
The prisoner turned his gaze toward the dais, his lips curved ever so slightly in a mocking smile and nodded to Edward. Royce's sharp intake of breath at the blatant disrespect in Dafydd's gesture vibrated through her.Against her side, his hand curled into a fist. Keeping her eyes focused on the prisoner, she reached out and took her husband's hand in hers, loosening his fingers and twining them with her own. He closed his eyes briefly then bestowed a small but concerned smile.
"Are you unwell?"
Startled, she shook her head. "Why?"
