Incentives
By Donna and Abby

Like many at the castle, Lady Jane of Camelot had drunk of the cup the rider brought from Edan. A virgin, she knew she was safe from pregnancy for now because her beau, Leopold Montbatten, was a perfect gentleman! She and a few of the women of the castle - Lady Jewel and her fae sister, Faline - were discussing the current state of affairs while taking a stroll outside the walls. Jane felt safe with these two, even though they were all women, because Faline was never out of the sight of a certain hawk. 

Of course, their favorite subject to chat about was the men in their lives. Lady Jewel had been the companion of the immortal, Ramirez for some time now, and they were planning a spring wedding. Faline and the rather stern but handsome Captain Navarre were definitely an item, and now, it was well known that the Count had his eye on a certain redhead.

"There are a lot of women green with envy over your good fortune," Jewel chuckled. 

Jane smiled modestly. "I count myself the luckiest of women!" she said. "Leopold is not only handsome and courtly, he is a very sweet person, as well!" 

"Yes he is," replied Faline with a soft smile. "When he comes to the stables, he never fails to stop and talk to the animals there. He still doesn't know that his favorite ginger cat there is actually me!" 

"Should I be jealous?" Jane grinned. Just then she thought she heard something, and turned to look, hoping it was just the hawk in the trees. But for some reason she didn't think it was. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck were warning her otherwise. 

The other two women seemed to sense trouble as well. "Let's go back," Jewel said in a whisper. "It may be nothing, but I've alerted my sisters to send out some one to meet us." With a nod, the others turned to head
back to the main gate, the hawk flying over their heads, crying out in what they now interpreted as alarm. 

But as they went, trying to go quickly without breaking into a run, two men came out of the woods ahead of them. It was still far enough from Camelot
to be in the dense growth, and they hadn't seen them until they were right there in front of them!  

The men were ecstatic! They had come for one woman in particular, and here she was with two more, including a pretty little red head! Montoya was still angry that Jewel had preferred another's attentions, and he wanted to add her to his little harem to teach her a lesson she would never forget. They immediately taunted the girls, telling them not only what was in
store for them but who they would be going to! With wicked grins on their faces, they then told the girls that if they went peacefully, none of them would be hurt.

"Run!" yelled Faline to the others, fury in her golden eyes. "I'll slow them down!" With a wave of her hand, she signaled the hawk, who immediately dove at one of the men, her talons outstretched. 

The men were Juniper and Spool, sent to fill in for Ted and Tom while they were on R & R. Neither of these two had the sly ways of the others, though, and were immediately terrified by the large bird descending on them! The only thing that kept them from running in fear was the worse fear of being
punished, not only by Montoya, but by Grisham, as well. He was the one with a taste for redheads. And from the looks of this one, she would be doubly
desirable, since she just had to be a virgin!

Juniper waved his rifle at the bird, but its muzzle just missed hitting home. Spool turned on Faline, hoping she would be easier to fight. 

She wasn't though. As soon as he put his hands on her, he found that he was now holding one very angry cat who was doing her best to scratch his face to ribbons!! It was debatable who was screaming louder, the cat or Spool! He wasn't trying to hold on to her any more, instead he was trying to push her off his face, but she had all four paws and a mouth full of sharp teeth firmly attached. 

Spool wasn't able to help him either. Undeterred by the rifle that was being waved at her, the hawk had continued her attack, and was now delving out her own form of punishment on him!

With both men thus *entertained*, it gave Jewel and Jane time to run towards the horsemen that were galloping their direction, swords at ready. Two of them immediately swooped the ladies up onto their horses, while the others continued on to take care of the men that had wanted to kidnap them. 

Needless to say, the two were goners! And also needless to say, the women were upset when they made the safety of the castle. Leopold had only just
gotten word and was already astride his steed when he saw her delivered safe. Although he wanted to help fight off the intruders, his first priority was to see that Jane was well. Vaulting out of the saddle, he ran to her, and she threw herself into his arms, weeping wildly. 

"Oh, Jane," he gasped, wrapping his arms around the sobbing girl. "I've got you. You are safe now! I'm never going to let you go either!" He glanced up to make sure that there was no danger from the two men that had dared invade the territory of the Castle. 

Navarre was doing his best to remove a growling and hissing cat from a prone figure, and the other one was trying to run, the hawk beating at the back of his head with her wings while the guards galloped up to him. "Try not to kill him!" Navarre called out, hoping to have a least one live prisoner to interrogate. But it was too late. Juniper dropped like a rock when a cross bolt went through his back.

"It appears I am not needed," Leopold went on. "At least not by them. I am needed by you, I assume?" 

"Oh Leopold, please don't let me go! I thought I was safe, because I drank the water, but they didn't care! They said that horrid man, Grisham, wanted redheads!" She hiccupped. "And virgins mostly!" 

Leopold smiled down at her. "I can't do anything about your lovely red hair, my dear," he said, his eyes bright. "But if you wish, we could take care of that other matter in my chambers tonight. That is, if you are willing to stand up with me in front of the priest before then." 

She was giddy. From the depths of despair and terror to the height of ecstasy! "Do you mean it, Leopold?  Would you have me as your wife?" 

"I would have no other but you," he said, kissing the top of her head. "Come. Let us be wed. Unless you would rather wait until a proper ceremony can be
arranged?"

She blushed. "I-I am rather anxious to join you . . . in your chambers, Milord. But only to make myself finally secure from such evil personages as the ones who threatened me earlier?" 

Leopold chuckled. "Then you will be safe before a new day begins," he told her as he placed her on his horse. "Come, let us go."

As the now incredibly happy Jane was taken to safety, Navarre finally managed to disentangle Faline from what was left of Spool's face. Backing away from the carnage his fierce little fae woman had wreaked on the
unconscious villain, the Captain held the ginger cat in his arms, crooning softly at her until at last, she turned back into her human form. She was naked, and still trembling, but rewarded his efforts by wrapping her arms around his neck as he drew his cape around her so that she would not get cold. "Damn!" she suddenly growled. "I broke just about every fingernail
I have on that bastard!" 

Faline kicked the limp body, which amazingly still had some life in it. Spool tried to crawl away, but he did not make it far. Ramirez had recently made sure that Juniper was indeed dead, and now he came to finish off his partner. It wasn’t necessary though. Spool gasped his last breath as his lifeblood continued to flow out of deep cuts caused by the claws on Faline’s back feet on the sides of his neck. Of course, they did not know that Bub would only call them back again. 

The Immortal smiled at Faline, whose eyes still had a dangerous glow to them. "Remind me never to get you angry, m'lady," he said, taking off his hat and bowing at the waist. Ever the gentleman, he then offered her his fancy cape for her to wear until she could get back to the castle and dress in her own clothes. Leaving the bodies where they lay, the rescue party made their way through the front gate of Camelot. Word was already spreading fast that there was going to be at least one wedding that afternoon as a result of the attack! 

And what a flurry the place was in! Jane had plenty of lovely dresses she could use as a wedding gown, but which one should it be? She was very nervous - in a few hours she would not only be a duchess, but she would also be a mother to be! 

The Queen solved the problem by sending one of hers to Jane. It consisted of a wondrously soft chiffon gown with a dark green velvet bodice. It even had a velvet cape to match it! Of course, some of the seamstresses had to do some last minute adjustments on it to make the fit perfect. Some of the other ladies offered various pieces of jewelry, but Jane decided that the
only one she wanted to wear was the amber necklace that Leopold had made for her. As the time neared, a soft knock on the door announced that her escort was there. 

To Jane's surprise, it was King Arthur himself! "It is time, my dear," he said with a kind, fatherly smile as he offered Jane his arm. "Your Duke is waiting for you in the chapel. Shall we go?"

She was, of course, overwhelmed. But as she took his arm she asked, "Are Jewel and Faline well? I did not stop to see what has befallen them, especially Faline."

"They are well," the King told her. "Lady Jewel has agreed to move up her wedding date, perhaps to next week, so that she will have the protection of her husband. And as for our courageous Faline, the good Captain is still trying to calm her down!"  

"I did so wish for her to be my lady in waiting! Those two good sisters are my dearest friends."

"She will be there," he said with a wink. "Even if the Captain has to dress her himself." 

"Oh, I am so glad to hear it!" She blushed again. "Though, nothing could dampen my happiness today."

"I am delighted that this day did indeed turn into a day of celebration.” He held out his arm, and together, they made their way to the chapel. Outside
the door, they found Jewel and Ramirez waiting, as well as Faline and Navarre. The cat fae was sitting on the Captain's lap, almost purring as he stroked her hair. 

"I am so happy you are safe," said Jane, running to embrace them. "You *must* stand up for me. Both of you!"

"We will be delighted," Jewel said with a smile. "I'm so happy for you!" She turned and grinned at her sister, who unfolded herself from Navarre's lap. 

"You two owe me a manicure," she said with a sassy grin. "Congratulations, Jane dearest. It was worth a few broken nails to see you this happy." 

"As I heard it, they were after all of you," said Alexander Hartegan, coming out of the chapel. "Now please, the groom is most anxious to marry this
beautiful woman!" Hartegan was, of course, Leopold's best man.

As Jane entered the chapel, she was surprised once more. It was filled from wall to wall! And at front, standing next to Darius, was her soon to be husband, dressed in his absolute finest. 

Her breath caught in her throat. He was the handsomest man she had ever seen. And soon he would be hers.  But also, she would be his! How happy she was, that she had not been taken by those horrible men, to lose her virtue to the even more horrible Grisham!

For a spur of the moment wedding, it was amazing what the people of Camelot had thrown together for their sweet Lady Jane. Everyone loved her, and was happy that she was marrying very well. The next thing she
knew, she was repeating her vows! 

Leopold was beaming, obviously happy with his choice of a bride, and she took this to heart. As they left, man and wife, she had the biggest smile anyone had ever seen on her face!

But instead of to his chambers as he had said, they were going to the specially decorated bridal bower, the specially decorated room reserved for any couple that married at Camelot. She had not seen it, but rumors were it rivaled the Royals' own bedchambers! 

Hands to her mouth, she gasped in wonder at the beautiful room. "It's too good for your humble wife!" she said.

"Nothing is too good for you," he said, motioning to a stool, on which was spread a pure white nightgown. "Looks like they thought of everything, doesn't it?" 

For the millionth time today, it seemed, she was blushing again. She was excited and curious - being a redhead, she had a rebellious streak - but she was also modest. "Milord husband will have to be patient with me," she said. Then, grabbing the nightgown quickly, she scurried off to the changing room to get ready for him.

Once she had changed, she took a deep breath and went back into the warmth of the bedchambers, where she found Leopold now dressed in a brocade robe and pouring two glasses of wine. "This is from the King's
own cellar," he explained. "And not used just for any occasion!" 

"This is not just any occasion," she agreed, taking it. She looked breathtakingly beautiful in it, her hair down around her shoulders and her eyes bright with wonder over the whole experience. "This has been the worst, and the best day of my life!"

Leo placed a wineglass in her hand. "To even better days in the future," he said. "All spent with my lovely wife." 

The words thrilled her more than the wine. She sipped some, then put it aside. "Oh, Leopold, hold me," she said. "I do want to be safe in your arms."

"Now and always," he breathed into her ear as he drew her into his arms. 

They had held each other before, and even kissed. But he always knew where to stop himself. There would be no stopping tonight! And, almost because of it, she could feel his excitement as the heavy robe fell open
and his body now pressed near to hers.

But even as excited as he was, he continued to touch her gently, his kisses causing a fire as hot as the one in the fireplace to start to build up inside of
her. "Oh Jane," he whispered. "My lovely wife." 

"My handsome husband!" she breathed. "I belong to you, now and forever. Fill me with your love, and with our child!"

His laughter made his chest rumble as it was pressed up against hers. "Have no fear, my lady wife. As you wish, it will be done!" He then swooped her up in his arms and carried her to the huge four-poster bed, its covers already pulled back invitingly. 

Her eyes grew large. It was about to happen at last! She was frightened and anxious for it to happen, all at the same time!

Leopold was in no hurry though. With gentle hands, he opened the front of her gown, showering each inch of newly exposed skin with hot, tender kisses. 

She was young and beautiful, with skin any woman would envy. He was indeed a lucky man. And though she seemed modest and shy, her body responded to him easily, showing she possessed a redhead's passion! He
could feel her warming up, and not just warm! Moist, too.

Using his fingers and mouth, he slowly built the embers inside of her into a raging fire. If she tensed up at all, he backed up and slowly made his way back to that spot, letting her get used to his touch. 

Her nervousness left her slowly, but surely as she did get used to it. And to hunger for it! She was not being disappointed by her wedding night.

Using all of his patience and skills as a lover, Leopold took her to the pinnacle of pleasure, and then with a hot sucking kiss applied in just the right
spot, sent her tumbling over.  

She had never felt anything like it! "Milord husband," she panted as she recovered, "is this what love is?"

He laughed. "Only part of it," he whispered as he positioned himself. "This is the other part." And with that, he gently but firmly entered his wife for the
very first time. 

It did hurt, but only a little. She was well ready for him by now, so it was just the gentle breaking of her barrier that she felt. And soon she was not
thinking of it, and could never again remember that there had been any pain! He was a large man, and she petite, but he did fill her, rather than stretching her, so that it was a good fit!

He moved slow and easy at first, getting her used to it, using his large hands to guide her hips into the motions that would add to her pleasure. Once he was sure she was comfortable, then and only then did he start to speed up. "This is lovemaking," he breathed heavily into her ear. 

"And I do love you!" she panted. "Oh, Leopold, this is absolutely lovely!"

"It gets better," he chuckled, upping the tempo a bit. From her moans, he could tell the fire was building fast inside of her. 

It certainly was building in him! He had had women, but of course none of any substance. Gentlemen did not do that with good girls. It was a bit of a
surprise to him that this shy flower held such passion! He would be a happy man, for the rest of his days!