Time off (meret)

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret pulled together three outfits. All were slightly romantic; one was practical--tight pants and a gypsy blouse. Another was a ballerina length blue crepe cocktail dress. And last a red suit trimmed in black suede. Meret laid the outfits on the bed next to Lucien. "Which one do you want me to try on first?" She removed her boots, and started unbuttoning her blouse.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien held up the dress smiling "They would all work but the dress is the most appropriate" He handed it to her. Then lent back again "I will give you a little hint as to where we are going" He said with a smile Then projected two images to Meret, one was of the door handle of the restaurant he planned to take her to and the second of the oar of the boat he had booked for after.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret laughed as he avoided seeing her remove her clothing. She buttoned her blouse and hung the outfits back in her closet. "Boat? how exciting and maybe we could go skinny dipping? too cold..." Emma knocked on Meret's door..."M'lady, your mother is on the comlink and wants to talk to you, just so you know, she had a dream about you, prepare yourself." The fashion show was over. Meret ran down the stairs to her library. She turned on the vid screen and had the call was on the screen. Her mother's faced was scowling. "Mom, I am so glad you call..." "No Meret something is going on you have been avoiding me..." "Mom" "I have this dream you were in danger." Meret shook her head no. "Mom, I was elected to the High Council and" Checca Blush had no love for the Sith. "I spit on the Sith..." "Mom, not all are Sith and I am getting married on Naboo mid summer." "OHHHHH that is what the dream was about, you come home to Kiffu and we'll talk..." "OK Mom I will make some arrangements... I love you..." The vid screen went dark.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"Definitely too cold " He smiled sitting up he followed Meret down stairs but waited outside, from how Emma had sounded Meret's mother was unhappy. He listened as Meret spoke with her Mother. He stepped in after her conversation was finished closing the door lightly behind him. He came to stand beside her "Wj]hen do you want to go?" He asked reaching out to hold her hand "Tell me when and I will make sure I'm free"

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret enjoyed Lucien holding her hand. She did not enjoy confrontation and her mother certainly will rake Lucien over the proverbial coals. "I will make plans for a trip. But first we have tonight."
hours later
Meret enjoyed dressing in a sweet dress. She rubbed her arms and shoulders and legs with iridescent body make up. Her hair cascaded over her bare shoulders. Sunny was fed, bathed and put to bed. He had a long day and was sound asleep. Now she waited in the library for Lucien.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien smiled "Indeed we do, so stop worrying Im sure your parents aren't that bad" He smiled.

Lucien was dressed in a light grey waist coat and trousers, His valet was tieing Luciens cravat whilst Lucien put his cuff links in. Both tasks now complete Lucien stood up "I will be back in a few hours" He said as he stepped outside the room. He checked on sunny on the way down stairs, the boy was sleeping soundly. Lucien slowly eased the door shut and went downstairs. He stepped into the Library "You look radiant darling " He smiled offering his arm as the soft sound of reins could be heard outside. Lucien had neglected to mention he had also booked a carriage, When in Coruscant do as coruscantie's do.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret took Lucien's arm and they walked to the entrance of her cabin. A royal carriage was waiting for them. A footman open the door, Lucien held Meret's hand as she graceful entered the carriage. Lucien got in and sat close to her. The footman closed the door and waited for the order to go.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien shuffled up next to his fiance and put his arm around her. With his right hand he gestured for the driver to move off. The night sky was clear and bright with stars, A perfect night by all accounts. Lucien rubbed Meret's hand "I love you darling" He smiled. The moved at a comfortable speed through the forests of endor.

The carriage eventually pulled up outside the little lake side restaurant and a footman opened the door for the pair to leave Lucien got out first in order to help Meret down. Then he offered her his arm again.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

The location was enchanted as the inn was magical. Meret stepped out of the carriage and took Lucien's. The maitre 'd welcomed them and showed them to the main dining room which had a panoramic view of the lake. The room was illuminated by alabaster candles. The warm lightening did not challenge the evening star and the moon's reflection in the indigo blue of the lake. Meret touched Lucien's hand. "This is just lovely...so un Sith"

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"I thought you would like it" He smiled. A waiter walked over with their menus and a centre piece of glass roses, this had been an important demand in Luciens booking. He set it down and handed out the menus. Then he gave a quick bow of his head then went away again. Lucien opened up his menu, His eyes running down the menu he selected a cream of tomato soup to start "Shall we just order a half bottle of each house wine darling?" He asked.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

The waiter looked at Meret for her choice. "The crab chowder with lemon on the side" She looked all around and it was just beautiful. She felt like a princess, royalty. She had learned from Sargon's military life was 90 percent preparation and 10 percent action. She would only be a princess 10 percent of the time. She looked deep into Lucien's eyes."We need to talk...are you happy? what are we doing? I have tried my best to give you joy, to seduce you, to stir up passion and bring it up from your soul..." The waiter pour a glass of wine for the couple. She waited until that were alone. Meret sipped her wine thinking about her next statement. "Is this just a political marriage? Do you have a mistress? Are you going to be a slave to your job? what ever or how ever answer is important because I want to know what role you expect me to play. Lady Cordel perfect politician's wife or loving mate of Lucien?"

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"Yes of course I'm happy, the only problem is that the passion is deep I'm not passionate like you, My love" The waiter came over and took their order "No darling this isn't a political marriage, I would have married a Dormant queen if it was political. I am marrying you a goddess, My darling I won't have sleep with you until we are married I am most certainly not entertaining a mistress. I would like you to play both roles Loving politician's wife in public and loving mate outside of work and I will try to do the same" He smiled to her "Now it occurred to me that I never gave you a ring when I proposed so ...." He stopped "Theres somthing wrong with the centre piece ..." He complained lifting the central rose out of the vase "Oh look somebody but a ring on it. He passed it over to meret. The ring was a mix of half gold half silver and atop it rested a single red diamond. The ring was engraved with both their names

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

In the handcrafted rose, a gorgeous blood red ring was resting. The facets of the crimson gem sparkled in the candlelight. Meret had never seen any piece of jewelry so fine in its artisanship. "Yes, someone left their ring in the floral arrangement...It's amazing." Meret handed it to Lucien and stuck out her hand so her could put it on her finger. "What if your goddess is not so godly? I have secrets just as you do. I am not perfect, and can be a royal pain in ass at time..." He slip the ring on her finger. Tears filled the outside corners of her eyes. "Now you have me; what are you going to do with me?"

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien smiled and put the ring on her finger. "We all have secrets darling, so long as your don't involve other lovers then I don't really mind." The first course was brought out so Lucien kept quiet for the moment, once the waiter had gone Lucien continued "Well now I have you I'm ... going to lock you in a tower so no man can ever have you ... " He giggled "Perhaps that's a little excessive, I will charm your mother, marry you , start a family and make sure that I keep you, but first I will give you the most romantic night of your life" Lucien was saving their first real kiss for the lake, it seemed a more romantic place to have a first kiss.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret started going on diplomatic, humanitarian expeditions was she was twelve years old. She had traveled through out the galaxy consorting with soldiers, pirates, civilians, and medical personnel. These diverse assortment of beings made her street wise in more than one way. Meret was now twenty-eight years of age though she looked younger. Lord Cordel was naive to think that she was a virgin or never had a lover. At the age of sixteen she had her first sexual experience and that doctor was shot by a sniper. She told him about the doctor. Her true love was a young soldier who went on deployment but never returned. She told him about the soldier. Did he not listen to her? Lucien loves her but does not know her. To have her virginity stolen and her true love lost jaded Meret about the practicalities of love versus sex. "You know I am not a virgin, I have had lovers and will probably have more, I do not want to be locked in a tower...I am passionate, and so far your concerns are not about me. It's all about the show, how others perceive us? Look at the reality...right now, you have rejected all my advances. You kill someone on a whim but refuse me. This will not stand." His words made Meret feel like a caged animal. She held up her hand and pointed to her ring finger. "This is not a ring a symbol of love. This is a link in a chain that makes me a slave."

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien smile fell from his face "No I didn't really mean that I would lock you in a tower, It was a joke ... I won't stop you seeing or doing anything" He said "Meant other currant lovers, I have no qualm with those who have loved you in the past" reached out to touch her hand "I love you and that is why I reject your advances, I put the boy in danger because he didn't matter to me you do ... I'm old fashioned, I won't have sex with you until we are married, Im sorry that it appears I don't care about you" He smiled weakly. He wouldn't have sex outside of marriage for fear of others that was true, If he had a child outside of marriage, when he died that child would be unprotected, There may be no threat to its inheritance but if their was it could lead to the babies death, People killed for titles and who would stand up to defend a child born out of wedlock. People could be fickle. "I will do anything but no sex before we are married, Your special to me let me fix this, tell me how to fix this" He was lost courting was not one of his strengths but he loved Meret and he didn't want to lose her.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret was trying to be open and not judge Lucien. She heard his words. She heard his joke. A joke is always based on some truth. Her gut was telling her this was so wrong. She might end up dead. She thought he loves me that is why he rejects me so if I reject him he will think I love him? The wedding was four months away. What was the point of no return? "Lucien, my darling, we are very different, I am attracted to you. I want you. You have two months, sixty days to show me why we should be married. Until then I will do as I please." She handed Lucien back the ring and walked out of the restaurant. The carriage was there waiting. "Driver, take me to my cabin, then you can return to pick up Lord Cordel"

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien watched as Meret walked off. He drank down his wine and watched from the window as the carriage pulled away. He would need to do some thinking. The ring sat on the table and he pulled the ring to him placing it in his pocket. The second course arrived and Lucien ate then, finished desert just in time for the carriage to arrive. As he was walking out he passed an elderly couple they looked like they had saved for months to eat the value deal from this place. He walked over "Order something nice then go on a romantic boat trip" He smiled placing down a significant amount of credits and the two tickets. Then he walked out climbing onto the carriage, "Put the roof up please" He said, the driver nodded, put the roof up then got onto the drivers seat and pulled away.

 

[Meret Blackmoon]

Meret questioned her actions over and over again. She was drawn to Lucien for many reasons but were they the right reasons? He was attractive, powerful and dangerous. Deep down she feared that he might kill her one day. Was he worth the risk? Could his love for her be her protection. She knew he was trying to express his love. She laid in her bed looking at the blanket of stars that filled the night sky. She wished for a sign, something from him that screamed affirmation that she was going down the right path.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien mulled over his options. How could he prove his love to his wife. The wine wasn't helping and now his head hurt, He rubbed his temples and lent back resting his head on the chairs top. He needed something spectacular something big. The carriage pulled up outside the door was pulled open, lucien climbed out tossing some credits at the driver "Go and enjoy yourself" He turned and stumbled into the cabin. It was dark people were all in bed, he made his slow ascent up to his room undoing his tie as he went. He slowly walked to Merets room ... this was stupid. He lightly tapped on the door.