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blueinkedfrostHistorical Sexual Violence Warning: This story could have been written as a dark exploration of the psychological trauma of being enslaved by multiple bloodthirsty warlords, but is actually written more like a bodice ripper that provides the heroine with an excuse to have a lot of hot sex with lots of sexy pirates and warlords. I've chosen to follow the second interpretation.
Cautionary Note to Readers: If you kidnap a woman in real life, she will probably not want to have sex with you.
—
Once upon a time, there lived the Princess Alatiel of Babylon, who was beautiful, intelligent, resourceful, and engaged to marry the King of Algave, a man she had never met. Alatiel's father sent her to her bridal on board a ship. Sadly, the ship was overwhelmed by a storm. Alatiel lived through the tempest, and was found washed up on the beach by Pericone, a landed gentleman.
Not a word of language did Alatiel and Pericone have in common between them. But he was an extraordinarily handsome and pleasing man, as was Alatiel a lovely woman, and sign language was well enough for them. Warmed by hot wine after her ordeal, Alatiel treated Pericone as if he were one of her ladies' maids, undressing in front of him.
And then, through a mixture of liquid courage and body language, Alatiel enjoyed the first of many long nights of delight with Pericone. If I had sufficient words to describe their creativity, endurance, and acrobatic talent, dear reader, then I would be a famous dictionary publisher.
Pericone had a brother, Marato, who was younger than he and still more handsome. Marato looked upon Alatiel and found that she, too, was taken with him. Marato ordered a ship, gathered trusty companions, and one night abducted the lady to the ship. Sad at the loss of Pericone, Alatiel soon consoled herself with Marato's substitution.
Little did Marato know that two of his trusted sailors had also fallen under Alatiel's spell. In the night, he was thrown overboard by the twain. The two then fought each other to determine which should woo Alatiel, ending with one dead and the other wounded. To Alatiel's relief, the wounded man soon ordered the ship to be brought ashore and she tended to him in his convalescence.
The Prince of Morea, staying at the same inn as Alatiel and her lover, discovered that the lady was still more beautiful than rumour credited her. While he did not know Alatiel's true identity or speak her tongue, he recognised her royal bearing, and she too appreciated a man of similar rank to her. She left her previous lover and soon waxed in joy with the Prince, who treated her as a wife rather than a mistress.
The Duke of Athens, kinsman to the Prince, visited his cousin and teased him that his lady could not be so charming as claimed. The Prince brought them together, and when their eyes met another fatal attraction was born. The Duke killed the Prince, abducted Alatiel, and started a war. The Emperor of Constantinople sent his son Constantine to fight at the Duke's side, while the Prince's kinsmen arrayed themselves against Athens.
The Duke of Athens was married to a clever Duchess, who wished to avert war. She visited Alatiel and Constantine, brokered an alliance between them, and sent them away together to quell the rising tensions.
Alas for Constantine! While he and Alatiel dallied upon Chios, a well known pleasure island, enjoying themselves in every way, his enemy Osbech caught up to him. Osbech set the island on fire, killed Constantine, and took Alatiel with him. Osbech was a well-favoured and highly attractive young man, so Alatiel was soon consoled for Constantine's loss. In addition, one of Osbech's trusted attendants, Antioco, spoke Alatiel's language, so she no longer felt like a deaf-mute.
Osbech left Alatiel to go to war, and was mourned by her until Antioco succeeded him in the lady's bed. Although he was an older man, he was skilled and sensitive in many tongues. Osbech never returned from his warfare, and thus Antioco and Alatiel were obliged to flee to Rhodes. There Antioco caught a fatal illness, but ensured that Alatiel was well provided for after his death. She grieved for a few days then booked passage on a ship to return to Babylon and her father.
"I was shipwrecked and landed in an isolated convent of nuns on an island," Alatiel explained. "We did a lot of praying and nunlike devotions. I was all alone on the island of nuns, and never saw any men. It was very boring. I am glad to be back."
Alatiel's father sent her with all pomp and ceremony to the King of Algave, as she was originally betrothed. Either luckily or unluckily depending on one's point of view, this voyage saw no further shipwrecks or accidents. The King of Algave was a handsome, kind, and generous man who was not overly burdened with brains. Many of his courtiers were also very good looking. Queen Alatiel lived happily ever after.
Cautionary Note to Readers: If you kidnap a woman in real life, she will probably not want to have sex with you.
—
Once upon a time, there lived the Princess Alatiel of Babylon, who was beautiful, intelligent, resourceful, and engaged to marry the King of Algave, a man she had never met. Alatiel's father sent her to her bridal on board a ship. Sadly, the ship was overwhelmed by a storm. Alatiel lived through the tempest, and was found washed up on the beach by Pericone, a landed gentleman.
Not a word of language did Alatiel and Pericone have in common between them. But he was an extraordinarily handsome and pleasing man, as was Alatiel a lovely woman, and sign language was well enough for them. Warmed by hot wine after her ordeal, Alatiel treated Pericone as if he were one of her ladies' maids, undressing in front of him.
And then, through a mixture of liquid courage and body language, Alatiel enjoyed the first of many long nights of delight with Pericone. If I had sufficient words to describe their creativity, endurance, and acrobatic talent, dear reader, then I would be a famous dictionary publisher.
Pericone had a brother, Marato, who was younger than he and still more handsome. Marato looked upon Alatiel and found that she, too, was taken with him. Marato ordered a ship, gathered trusty companions, and one night abducted the lady to the ship. Sad at the loss of Pericone, Alatiel soon consoled herself with Marato's substitution.
Little did Marato know that two of his trusted sailors had also fallen under Alatiel's spell. In the night, he was thrown overboard by the twain. The two then fought each other to determine which should woo Alatiel, ending with one dead and the other wounded. To Alatiel's relief, the wounded man soon ordered the ship to be brought ashore and she tended to him in his convalescence.
The Prince of Morea, staying at the same inn as Alatiel and her lover, discovered that the lady was still more beautiful than rumour credited her. While he did not know Alatiel's true identity or speak her tongue, he recognised her royal bearing, and she too appreciated a man of similar rank to her. She left her previous lover and soon waxed in joy with the Prince, who treated her as a wife rather than a mistress.
The Duke of Athens, kinsman to the Prince, visited his cousin and teased him that his lady could not be so charming as claimed. The Prince brought them together, and when their eyes met another fatal attraction was born. The Duke killed the Prince, abducted Alatiel, and started a war. The Emperor of Constantinople sent his son Constantine to fight at the Duke's side, while the Prince's kinsmen arrayed themselves against Athens.
The Duke of Athens was married to a clever Duchess, who wished to avert war. She visited Alatiel and Constantine, brokered an alliance between them, and sent them away together to quell the rising tensions.
Alas for Constantine! While he and Alatiel dallied upon Chios, a well known pleasure island, enjoying themselves in every way, his enemy Osbech caught up to him. Osbech set the island on fire, killed Constantine, and took Alatiel with him. Osbech was a well-favoured and highly attractive young man, so Alatiel was soon consoled for Constantine's loss. In addition, one of Osbech's trusted attendants, Antioco, spoke Alatiel's language, so she no longer felt like a deaf-mute.
Osbech left Alatiel to go to war, and was mourned by her until Antioco succeeded him in the lady's bed. Although he was an older man, he was skilled and sensitive in many tongues. Osbech never returned from his warfare, and thus Antioco and Alatiel were obliged to flee to Rhodes. There Antioco caught a fatal illness, but ensured that Alatiel was well provided for after his death. She grieved for a few days then booked passage on a ship to return to Babylon and her father.
"I was shipwrecked and landed in an isolated convent of nuns on an island," Alatiel explained. "We did a lot of praying and nunlike devotions. I was all alone on the island of nuns, and never saw any men. It was very boring. I am glad to be back."
Alatiel's father sent her with all pomp and ceremony to the King of Algave, as she was originally betrothed. Either luckily or unluckily depending on one's point of view, this voyage saw no further shipwrecks or accidents. The King of Algave was a handsome, kind, and generous man who was not overly burdened with brains. Many of his courtiers were also very good looking. Queen Alatiel lived happily ever after.
