Everything stopped.

His body froze, his mind stopped thinking, the air evaporated from the room and his eyes refused to believe. Everything inside him literally screamed; Get out. Turn around, and get the hell out.

Yet he did not move.

Why was he brought here? A part of him refused to believe the obvious, because it could not be.

No, there has to be another reason, he thought and swallowed. A logical reasonable reason of some sort.

But to be in private with his Queen crossed every imaginable line there existed. This was wrong. So wrong.

Just as that thought passed through his head, a door across the room swung open and a vision in red walked out.

Caydrick quickly got on his knees and knelt as if that would make the situation any less uncomfortable. He averted his gaze to the floor and promised himself a naked roll in thorns if he were to cast as much as one glance at her.

"Sir Caydrick," Her melodious voice spoke softly through the silence and her heels clicked gently on the marble floor as she approached.

"Your Majesty," Caydrick replied, not realizing before now how dry his throat was.

Her feet appeared in his vision, and much more of her leg than what he wanted to see. Her hand hovered before him and he automatically kissed it in obedience.

"Arise, Sir Caydrick. There is no need for formality when no one is around to be entertained," She mused as her heels turned and disappeared from his vision.

Then why the hell did you want me to kiss your hand, he bitterly thought, even though he was certain he knew the answer. Nonetheless, he obeyed his Queen and rose to his feet, but continued keeping his gaze lowered to the floor.

The Queen noticed; "I hope I do not embarrass you with my choice of fashion," She spoke, and heard how wine was being poured into a goblet.

Yes you are. "Of course not, your Grace."

In the corner of his eye, Caydrick could see red. She was wearing a robe of some sort. A red oriental-looking robe with big sleeves and a belt around the waist, it seemed. The opening slit went all the way from her chest to her toes, only bound together by the belt, exposing the bare skin on her legs whenever she walked.

A muscle in Caydricks jaw worked. He wanted to get out of there, but how did you kindly ask your Queen permission to be excused when she was the one who invited you?

"Sir Caydrick..." She slowly repeated, emphasizing the Sir, as if she did not quite believe her own words. He could sense her eyes burning into his skin. "I could honestly not believe it was you when I saw you," A short chuckle escaped her lips as she continued, "But those emerald eyes are unmistakable anywhere. I must say you have grown in my abscense."

She wanted to talk his measurements? He fought the urge to roll his eyes.

The Queen then suddenly started circling him; Watched him like he was an interesting piece of art. An uncomfortable chill went down Caydrick's back when he noticed a change in her steps as well. They turned lighter. Seductive.

"It is unbelievable," She continued unperturbed, "You have grown into a man," She almost sounded impressed, as if she did not expect it to eventually happen, "How old are you now?"

"I am one and twenty, your Majesty," Caydrick calmly replied, even though he felt anything but calm. Where was she going with this useless chatter?

"And you have been with the Royal Army all this time?" She asked, still circling him.

"Three years, your Majesty."

"And you like it there?"

No. "Yes, your Majesty."

She stopped in front of him; "Your answers are designed to please me, soldier," She remarked. "You do not speak truthfully."

Of course they were designed for her. If he truly spoke his mind, he would have been beheaded by now.

Caydrick bowed his head apologetically, but remained quiet. His spoken confirmation was needless at this point.

The Queen resolutely resumed her walking with a new passion in her steps, "So what is it that you dislike about my Army? Please, I encourage you to speak your mind, soldier."

Well, since they were just here talking anyways...

"I believe the means the Army turns to in order to train a soldier have their purposes. As unpleasant as they may be," Caydrick replied, hoping she could read in between the lines of his answer. Knowing her cleverness, she probably did.

"I read the report that General Dane made on you," She noted, cocking a thin brow at him, "I see you have excelled in several skills; Amongst them horseback riding, swordsmanship, bow and arrow, as well as close combat."

"That is correct, your Majesty. "

"I watched you train, yesterday."

"Thank you, your Majesty."

"Why do you thank me?" The Queen interjected. "I have yet to compliment you?"

"You compliment me by merely observing me," Caydrick praised her, but yes; It was but an attempt to distract her from their current conversation.

She smirked seductively and paused for a moment before continuing, "Your method in the field is rather aggressive. It took you less than three minuts to disadvantage Sir Ronan, let alone immobilize him."

"Curtesy of your army's training," Caydrick provocatively replied when he was getting tired of their prattling. She was still walking around him, like a panther circling its prey; Him currently a sitting duck, waiting for the hit.

"You impress me, Sir Caydrick," She chuckled from somewhere behind him, where he could not see her, "I still remember that scrawny little slave that stumbled into my throne room years ago. So nervous, so weak; so pathetic. Today you stand before me as a man; Proud, well-spoken, strong. A warrior," She came around him again and appeared before him.

He could no longer fight the urge to look at her. His eyes met hers, and that same moment he regretted it.

She was stunningly beautiful with red painted lips and black obsidian hair hanging in nothing but a thin braid over her shoulder. Her pallid skin and iron gray eyes glowed mysterious in the shadows from the candlelight. She was the definition of beauty.

- And yet she made every single hair on his back stand up.

"Did you enjoy my feast?"

The abrupt change of subject threw him off his horse for a second, but he quickly bounced back, "Yes, your Majesty. It was marvelous."

"It was, was it not? Your fellow soldiers certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves," She commented with a slight amusement.

"They did, your Majesty," Caydrick involuntarily grimaced from the memory of their behavior.

"You look appalled," She sharply noticed and crooked a brow. "Why?"

He could not in any sort of situation picture the Queen of Venice being interested in the silly brawls between soldiers. She was asking him useless questions, stalling time. But why?

"They show disgrace to the Army, your Majesty," Caydrick replied and chewed on his tongue to stop more words from escaping. This needed to end. And soon.

"In what way?" The Queen asked, feigning an interest. When Caydrick hesitated his reply, she chuckled. "Come now, Sir Caydrick. Speak your mind, I am intrigued."

Sure she was. He bet she was dying to know why the other soldiers annoyed him. When you are Queen, that is all you care about.

He exhaled heavily and met her eyes fiercely, "I think it improper for a man to seek out a woman that is not his by marriage. I believe a man should only share his bed with his wife. And vice-versa," He added and raised a pointed brow, hoping she would catch the hint.

She most certainly did. "Oh, Caydrick," She let out a small chuckle. "Your beliefs are old-fashioned. It has become more than normal for a man to bed a woman to whom he is not wed," She told while swirling her goblet of wine in her hand, "A man may seek out an unwed woman and bed her if he so pleases. And vice-versa," She smirked challengingly.

"True," Caydrick replied, "But I stand in my beliefs, however old fashioned they may be."

After that, silence fell. He had spoken back, which, needless to say, was not something you did to the Queen.

He kept his eyes on hers, however, hoping she did not find it offensive. At this point, how much damage could it do?

The Queen slowly quirked a wry smirk onto her lips and started to circle him again. She disappeared out of his vision and left him with a cold sensation running down his back.

"I overheard your soldier friends talk..." She then begun. "They talked about you," She continued, deliberately making pauses to test his patience. "You were there too. I heard them say that you have yet to take a woman to your bed."

Aah, finally. They were getting close now.

Caydrick kept silent. He could play this game too. He noticed a flicker of irritation in the Queens eyes when he did not confirm or deny her accusation.

"So?" She impatiently quipped when he forced her to ask the question. "Is it true? Are you yet a virgin?"

He had always hated that name. Virgin. In today's society, it practically meant the same as being weak or spineless. Like you did not have the moxie to go after a lady and have her spread her legs for you. You were considered dumb or foolish if you did not want to do that, but instead wait for love. Caydrick knew his chances of finding love had never been big, but he still remained hopeful. Or well; He used to, but his work in the army had, day by day, taken more and more of his hope of finding someone to share his life with. He was beginning to fear it would never happen, but still; He stayed out of temptation.

No part of him wanted to answer her question. By law he was required to, not to mention the oath he took when he was first knighted. So reply he did, however humiliating it might be.

"Yes, your Majesty. I remain a virgin."

A satisfied smile slid onto the Queen's cold lips. She resumed her walking, and for what seemed like hours, there was nothing but silence between them.

"Remove your tunic."

The words echoed like a thunderstorm in the quiet room and in his head.

"What?" He asked, genuinely shocked. He had caught on that she was fascinated by him, that much was obvious, but this?

"I noticed something on the training field and I wish to closer inspect it. Now take it off," She came around him again and stopped right in front of him. Her eyes met his and bore into his soul like a lightning bolt.

Within them he saw dominance, power and something so dark, he had no word for it. Not even the men he had faced on the battlefield had ever had this particular look in their eyes. No. This look was so vivid and yet so opaque that he could not describe it.

Frozen as he was, he stared right back. For what seemed like forever, they stood there in silence, an unspoken fight between them. Struggling for the dominance, they stared each other out, until one of them caved.

- Caydrick caved first. His slave instinct betrayed him.

He blew out a harsh breath he did not realize he had been holding, before slowly reaching to the collar of his jacket and unbuttoning it. If he granted her wish, maybe he could get out of there faster.

The Queen crooked her head, pleased with his surrender. Caydrick ignored it and continued unbuttoning.

Slowly, he discarted the jacket and let it fall to the floor. His wounded arm was painfully throbbing, but the pain was overruled by the immense wish to have her inspection over with as soon as possible.

He undid the threads of his tunic and hoisted it up and off his body, now standing before her in nothing but his breeches and boots.

The Queen's eyes were unreadable as she loomed at his body. Caydrick waited patiently for her to finish her oggling, only she did not, but started circling around him once more. He tensed automatically when she disappeared out of his vision, behind his back. He could not see what she was doing, and it was nervewrecking.

"You have an impressive figure. These scars..." She spoke. He jerked when a single finger suddenly tickled down his spine. Her finger. "How did you get these?"

"From my years in slavery," He curtly replied. There was no point in bringing up the fact how most of them were from her beloved General Dane.

"Mmmm..." She hummed and the clicks of her shoes began again as she appeared before him. "And what about your arm?"

Caydrick automatically looked at his injured upper arm. It was currently blue, purple and slightly swollen, as a result of no treatment. "From the joust earlier today," He replied.

The Queen nodded briefly and looked at him, "You have endured a lot of pain on my behalf."

"I work until my commander is pleased," Caydrick reminded her.

A glint of something lit up in her eyes. "Oh yes, I remember," She sang and looked into her goblet, "May I interest you in a glass?" She then asked and turned to her jug of wine by her nightstand. "Since we are just enjoying each other's company, we might as well enjoy a drink too."

"If you wish," Caydrick flatly replied and approached when she gestured for him to come along like an obedient dog. He closed his eyes and collected himself while she poured their glasses.

None of this was making sense. Not knowing what she wanted was driving him mad. She kept playing with him. Flirting, then chatting, then flirting again. What did she want?

The Queen turned and handed him a goblet with a playful smirk on her lips. He politely accepted it and looked into the goblet. The pure red wine was floating neatly in the well of the goblet, making a strong contrast against the gold.

The Queen cheered his glass and they both drank. She held a pause before speaking. "I admire your dedication, Sir Caydrick. You live up to every challenge that is put before you. True?"

Caydrick nodded, feeling slightly dizzy. He had had more to drink this night than he thought. The heavy wine was getting to his head.

The Queen sipped her wine again and Caydrick automatically did too, but instantly regretted it when another wave of dizziness attacked him.

- It was too much. He knew the effects of wine and this was not it.

He blinked rapidly when his vision suddenly started to blur. His entire body was failing him, his limbs growing numb. His lids were getting heavy, his thoughts became unclear, and that was when it hit him.

He dropped his goblet, the metal making a loud clatter as it hit the marbled floor, but he did not care. He looked at the Queen, and even though he saw double, he could still see the cold smile on her lips.

"You poisoned me," He growled furiously and struggled on his feet to stay arisen. Every nerve in his body was on high alert, but with his fatiguing mind, all he could do was try and fight the effect of the poison.

He heard the Queen's light giggle, then the softness of her palm connected with his chest, and he felt himself get pushed backwards. "Easy, soldier. It will only last momentarily."

He fell backwards, landing on the soft cushions of her bed. He sagged and continued struggling to find up and down. Black spots started dotting his vision and numbness was overtaking his body. He was passing out.

No, damn you, stay awake! He demanded from himself. Fight it, fight the poison, fight her!

But even his strength could not overpower the effects of the poison. His body was attenuated and felt weaker than he had felt in a long time. Whatever it was, it was draining his energy and leaving him defenseless.

Everything was hazy and blurred lines, but he could sense some movement and scrattling around. Either the world was moving or he was. Most likely the latter.

Someone tugged at his limbs and he felt an unfamiliar coolness around his ankles and wrists.

He was semi-conscious, but yet his body refused to do his commandings. His tongue felt dry and prickly. He had a sour taste of wine in his mouth and all he could see was blinking stars. Someone might as well have clocked him out.

But then, all of a sudden a foul, salty smell reached his nose, so strong it had him coughing. Then, the stars disappeared and was replace by shapes and figures. His vision gradually came back and the dullness in his head cleared. He blinked a couple of times until his vision became all clear.

- But then wish it had not.

His head snapped up from the pillows, of which he was lying on. The Queen stood by the edge of the bed, putting a cork into a container that likely contained smelling salt. She met his eyes. "See, that was not so bad, now was it?"

Struggling to get his mind together, he shook his head and automatically tugged at his hands for support. Only he could not.

The skin of his wrists was met by a sharp cold metal that restrained his hands. Looking down at his feet, it was the same. His mouth became dry again, but this time it was not the poison. He clenched his teeth harshly together and pulled as hard as he could on the shackles; They did not cave.

"Why are you doing this?!" Caydrick boomed and whipped his head in her direction. This was far worse than he had even imagined. The true intentions of all the Queen's strange actions finally made sense. But he would never have believed this would be the end result.

"Because I am the Queen and I may do as I wish," She smiled cooly and ran a hand across his tensed muscles.

"Bullshite," Caydrick spat.

She laughed and climbed onto the bed, standing on top of the mattress, looking down at him. "You are right. I am doing this simply because I cannot resist you. You have turned into a very fine man, Caydrick..." She purred and ran her foot across his chest.

He growled at her touch and jerked his body as far away from her as he could. Which unfortunately was not much. "You will achieve nothing from this. Except you might become a head shorter, once I get free of these." He growled and pulled at the shackles.

"Be careful, Sir Caydrick, you are threatening your Queen," She warned.

"Be careful of what? Death does not scare me. You do not scare me. Nothing does." Caydrick replied and stared up at her figure. "Kill me for all I care, I will never give you what you want."

The Queen laughed loudly and jumped off the mattress. "I do not need your permission to take what I want. And I will not kill you, soldier. I need you."

"Need me for what?" He glared and watched as she searched through a cabinet.

She emerged from the cabinet with a small bottle. She smiled and walked back to him. "For my pleasure, and my pleasure alone."

"Sexslaves are outlawed!" He roared. The wrath was building up inside him, ready to explode at any moment. "The law clearly states-"

"The law is whatever I say it is!" She snapped. Then the smile returned. "What happened to the polite and modest Sir Caydrick? Did I scare him off?"

"That Caydrick is just for show, you just pissed me off," Caydrick growled at her. "You have no idea what you are doing," His voice was shaking with anger, "I will squeeze the life right out of you with my bare hands if you touch me."