When Escaflowne Rescued Trilladen Chapter 13

Chapter thirteen: Allen's claim
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 	Allen woke up holding Edwina in his arms, truly content for 
the first time in his life.  She was sleeping soundly and peacefully, 
a slight smile still on her face. He gently nuzzled into her 
backside, spooning her naked body to his while he cradled her as if 
he wasn't completely sure she was real.  He buried his face in her 
jet-black hair and breathed in deeply recalling every sweet perfect 
moment of last night.
	   This mere slip of a girl stole my heart through subterfuge 
and deception. It is only fitting that I made her my bride in like 
fashion. Allen smiled to himself knowing he would have much 
explaining to do.  Carefully he removed the Schezar family signet 
ring from his smallest finger of his left hand and ever so slowly, so 
as not to disturb his wife, he slipped it onto her ring finger of her 
right hand.
	Edwina stirred from the sensation, blinking sleep from her 
eyes. She awoke to the safe loving feel of Allen's warm skin and 
closed her eyes to savor it.  Seeing that she was now awake he felt 
elated and completely possessive.  Kissing her neck he whispered into 
her ear, "Good morning my new bride.  How does it feel to start the 
day as Edwina Schezar?"   
	Edwina thought he was joking and giggled, deciding to go 
along with his ploy. "I could get used to it, I guess.  I'll need to 
think it over, um... Yep, I like it just fine."  She giggled and 
turned around to face him.  She looked at him in the morning sunlight 
smiling shyly, unable to tear her eyes from him.  "I love you, 
Allen."  She stately simply. She waited for his response.
	He didn't know what to say first.  His palms cupped her face 
gently, his thumbs caressing her mouth.  His expression was serious, 
but happy too.  "I mean it, Edwina.  You are my bride.  Don't you 
remember?  As a Knight of Heaven I claimed you as mine forever. I did 
not speak those words lightly.  Through the ancient laws of the order 
you are bound to me now.  We consummated this last night.  You are 
mine now.  I am truly your husband. Do you understand?"
	Edwina's eyes slowly grew wide with shock. That was my 
wedding?  You are mine and I shall remain by your side?  I am a 
princess of Trilladen!  What is he thinking?  There was no marriage! 
I didn't consent to anything!  He's gone daft!  I have a mission to 
accomplish! He can't just claim me like a wench from some tavern!
	"I did not give you hand, Allen.  My heart and body yes, but 
not my hand.  That's still mine last time I checked!  You don't just 
claim someone and take their virginity!"  She reasoned.
	"I did.  Last night, and as far as I can recall, you didn't 
object at all!  Look upon your hand and see the ring placed there.  I 
know it is a bit lacking pomp and circumstance, but considering our 
unique situation I felt it best to take matters into my own hands.  I 
am and have been protecting you, after all."  He responded.
	He's positively smug about it, like he duped me! Almost 
without breath, Edwina replied, "I don't think it would stand. It's 
not as if there was a ceremony or witnesses or consent from family, 
let alone an entire nation such as mine."  She said quite distressed 
and put out. "You can't just fool me into being your wife. There has 
to be, I don't know, a formal request made, or arrangements between 
families, or something. "  She ended all befuddled.
	He found her to be utterly adorable.  Chuckling he pulled her 
close and held her. "So you'll make love with me, but not be mine. Is 
that what you are saying.  I don't anyone will believe that the union 
is not valid when your belly starts to swell."  With that he kissed 
softly many times following her jaw line to her lips.  
	All the while she tried to keep her ability to think and 
reason with him.  But her breathing came more rapidly and harder, 
just as he intended.  Trying to keep her train of thought she pulled 
away from him to look him squarely in the eyes.  What she saw was her 
husband deeply in love with her.  His eyes, not his words, showed how 
vulnerable he was because of her. She couldn't say anything to 
contradict his claim.  She was indeed his.  
	Kissing her cheeks, eyebrows, and forehead with sweet 
tenderness, his heart swelled with an urgent need to reveal itself 
completely to her.  He stopped and waited for her to look up at him.  
When she did he spoke quietly, as if each word he said stripped away 
layers of protective covering around his soul. 
	 "I claimed you as mine, because I know I can never be 
without you. I learned to be without my father and mother.  I learned 
to live without knowing if my sister was alive or dead for years.  I 
learned to live with the knowledge that I must be estranged from her 
after I found her.  But I can't..."  
	He stopped as if the trying to say the words pained him.  "I 
won't ever be without you and live.  You are my soul, somehow.  I 
don't know how or when it happened, but when I saw the griffin swoop 
down to attack you, I knew in that instant that I would rather die 
first then let that happen."  Allen's eyes watered over and he hid 
his face in her bosom.  His voice was tight from emotion and he moved 
up to her neck and pressed his lips to her ear and softly 
whispered, "I love you." 
	Edwina moved her body to urgently couple with him.  A riot of 
sensations streamed through his manhood as his heart spilled over to 
fill her with his love.  Edwina completely surrendered to him her 
heart and body and hand.