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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 8.6, Thaddius

It took a few moments for the haze to clear from Thaddius' mind and in that time more than half of it was spent realizing that the moan he was hearing was his own. He felt the cold bite of metal against his wrists and ankles and, even before his vision returned to him he could tell he was in Brother Maynard's private 'prayer chamber'. More than that, however, he felt the pulsing warmth of flesh surrounding his member as his seed erupted from him and into... who?

His hearing came back to him much faster than his eyesight and while he was still busy blinking away the blurriness he clearly and distinctly heard Brother Maynard's voice along with that of a female. A FEMALE in the PRAYER CHAMBER?!?! It seemed almost inconceivable, especially considering the compromising nature of the Prince Regent's castigation. For what strange and incomprehensible reason would the Dog have for bringing this mystery lady into such a private and sacred location?

The Wolf attempted to speak but all he could manage was a mumbling jumble of words that made no sense even to him. He tried again, forcing his unresponsive and renegade brain to obey him but once more it was to no avail. Thaddius chose instead to put forth his will into ordering his eyes to be more acute and, thankfully, THEY at least chose to follow his directions. What he saw surprised him in no small way.

Brother Maynard was there dressed in his usual priestly garb. He had his paws folded together in front of himself in a casual manner as he conversed with the white furred female. She had a beauty to her, her silvery-white fur creating its own holy corona as it reflected the faint torch light that shone through the metal-barred wooden door. Thaddius had always worshipped women of white fur; they were pristine... divine... hallowed. The woman speaking with Brother Maynard could have been a nun, perhaps? Yes, he realized... she had to have been a nun. When his mentor referred to her as "sister" the Prince Regent was immediately that much more at ease.

What really confused the Wolf however was the parting the Priest gave to the woman. "I will see you in the morning, your Highness... sleep well."

Thaddius, in his confusion, finally managed some words. "You're... leaving me here?"

The Priest turned, motioning the female Dog to the door as he did so. "No, Prince Regent, I was addressing your wife."

The Wolf realized that his ears must have been less accommodating than he had originally assumed. He issued out a nervous chuckle before speaking again. "It sounded as though you said you were speaking with my wife."

The Dog nodded. "That is correct, your Highness-- your wife."

Wife? That couldn't be. Thaddius was sure he would remember being married... and women of white fur were not wives; they were too perfect... too incorruptible. Wives required laying with their husbands and there was no way he would be able to consummate their union. No... he needed clarification. "The last thing I recall was joining you for evening tea."

The Dog smiled, moving over as he nodded in agreement. "Correct. That was last night."

The Prince Regent paused in thought. Evening tea was after nightfall. He spoke to the most obvious issue. "Wedding ceremonies are done at dusk."

Brother Maynard nodded, slowly unlatching the Wolf's restraints. "Correct. You have been at rest for nearly a day now; considering your mental and emotional discomfort I felt it was best to keep you calmed during the proceedings."

Once Thaddius had his first arm free he grunted, reaching across his body to unlatch his other wrist while Brother Maynard worked on one of his legs. He was still feeling combative and didn't mind arguing against something that made no sense to him. "If I was unconscious I could hardly have been married."

The Priest had his first leg undone and moved to the second, chuckling as he did so. "You most certainly WERE married, your Highness.. In fact, I conducted the wedding ceremony myself scarcely a half hour ago."

The Wolf snorted, still holding his ground. "If I was unconscious I would not have been able to say 'I do', Brother. There is no way I could be married."

The Labrador extended a paw and helped the Prince Regent off and away from the immobilization table. "You most certainly could have, your Highness. As your guardian I was able to confirm your willingness to marry your bride in your stead."

Something about the matter-of-fact way in which the Priest explained it immediately answered far too many of his questions. He was married? "Brother Maynard... I have not met my wife, have I? You would not have married me to one of the women I--"

The Priest held up a paw to stop him, a benevolent and patient smile on his muzzle. "Be at peace, your Highness. No, I would never act against your wishes in this regard. You were not married to a woman you have previously declined."

Thaddius felt a sense of instant relief, but only for a second until the most problematic question came to his mind... and then his muzzle. "Brother Maynard... I pray that I will not disappoint you or she, but what of my.... condition? I fear I may not be able to fulfill my duties as a husband. After all this trouble you've gone through to--"

Brother Maynard's intervening paw never moved and the old Dog's smile only widened. "The union was JUST consummated, your Highness... your marriage is official."

Thaddius' muzzle opened and he remained standing where he was for several seconds, jaw hanging limply as he attempted to understand what he had just heard. His wife was the woman who had just left? She had white fur! There was no way he-- "Her? THAT woman? The one with white fur?!?!"

Brother Maynard stepped forward, resting his extended paw down on the Wolf's shoulder. "Your Highness, I understand you have certain... preferences, but--"

The Prince Regent growled threateningly, reaching up one paw to latch onto the Dog's wrist, the other lashing out to grab the old Priest by his throat and hoisting him off the ground. He snarled into his mentor's face. "SHE HAS WHITE FUR!

The Dog twisted his neck in the tight grip and Thaddius could feel him draw breath around the hold. "You must get your humors under control, Thaddius. Focus. Think. Her fur color does NOT matter... she is your WIFE."

The Wolf released the Priest immediately, letting him drop to the ground. Turning his back, the Prince Regent stalked to the door. "This is unacceptable, Brother Maynard... having a wife is one thing, but this demand of me is too much. She has WHITE fur... WHITE!"

The Dog, still wheezing faintly approached him from behind. The moment the Priest's paw rested on his shoulder Thaddius felt immediately remorseful for having assaulted him. Brother Maynard's voice was calm, smooth, and comforting. "I know, your Highness... I understand completely, please believe that. The road set forth for the ruler of a nation is not an easy one and it means often being forced into actions that are not always ones we would choose for ourselves."

The Wolf wilted from the touch and the words. "I... I understand, Brother Maynard... but she has WHITE fur... I CANNOT believe that you would have me defile something so pure."

The Dog slowly turned the Prince Regent to face him and Thaddius immediately felt his heart melt when the compassionate eyes of the Priest met his own. Brother Maynard leaned forward and gently pressed his muzzle to the Wolf's, licking his whiskers and inviting the Prince Regent's out to meet his. A moment later the intimate gesture ended and what his mentor said next pushed his concerns away to arm's length. "You are seeking purity in yourself, your Highness... what better way to find it than to join in union with one who exemplifies it."

"But then SHE will become unclean by joining with ME."

The Priest held the Prince Regent at arm's length, meeting his gaze with comforting surety. "Thaddius... my friend... my ward... she, like I, serves as a martyr for the sake of you... your nation... and your people. Together the three of us will heal you and serve Lehsunia at the same time. All will be made right and, one day your wife will bear you an Heir. This will secure a future for your blood line."

The Wolf wilted slightly; the Priest was right... he always was. "I... I am sorry, Brother. You are only doing what's best for me. I should not have lashed out."

The Dog embraced him again. "No, you should not have, your Highness."

Thaddius sighed. "You are too good to me, Brother Maynard. You do not deserve the trouble I bring to you... I'm not deserving of you."

The Dog's eyes held a conviction that was so stalwart the Prince Regent found it immediately comforting. "I will take whatever challenges come my way my son because I know I will be rewarded for my service in the end. As will you, Thaddius."

The Wolf smiled; the Priest always knew how to calm him, and the Dog's paw rubbing him between the ears helped all the more. He found himself lowering down to his knees before Brother Maynard. "Mmmm... I do live for my rewards..."

The Priest's paws went to the sides of his head even as the Wolf pushed past the Dog's robes and went to work. The Lab gently kneaded the tips of his ears, speaking even as Thaddius worked eagerly to please him. "I will keep you safe, your Highness. One day your heir will be of age and then you may abdicate... all of your servitude will be at an end. You will be free."