First Meeting (Aristocrats)

Rebecca was glad that she decided to call a meeting of all the aristocrat vampires, during the time in which she had relaxed last night she had begun to get less panicked and more clear headed about what to do on this situation.

Reaching her throne in the council room Rebecca took off her sword and rested it at the side of her chair, looking at the empty seats soon to be filled.

A small part of her knew what the outcome of this meeting would be and it would not be the one she wanted, however it may be the one that she needed and that her people needed to show the weres that they werent the only leaders around here.

Rebecca sighed, steepled her fingers and waited patiently.

Sterling sighed walking down the corridors towards the Imperial court for the meeting. He'd found the other aristocrats and he brought them to the meeting just as the Queen asked. He entered the room and stood aside for the others to lead in.

"The Aristocrats my lady just as asked." He said giving her a bow before shutting the doors behind them.

Nerissa giggled her same manic sort of laugh and prances into the meeting room shortly after Sterling, when he had come to get her she hardly believed her ears, she didn't understand what was happening with him these days, too emotional...change needed to happen.

Smirking softly she nodded at her Queen and took her seat with another giggle on get chair that seemed to flow and change when she sat on it.

"Greetings my Queen."

Nerissa muttered as she respectfully bowed to her Queen while sat on the chair, she waited for Arthur to arrive, it was only he holding them up.

Arthur marched up to the locked doors of the council room. One of the two guards held up a hand to stop him,

"Sir, you cannot go in there..." he began but was silenced when Arthur punched him in the face, breaking the vampires nose,

"My name is Arthur Turrill." he glared at the last standing guard, "I am an aristocrat... so open the door."

The door was opened and Arthur stormed into the courtroom with growl,

"Greetings Court Members." he growled out before swallowing his earlier anger and bowing respectfully to Rebecca, "Greetings my Queen."

He sat down in his chair with a heavy sigh, the chair seeming to drink in the light around it to put him in shadows as he sat,

"I apologise for my lateness my Queen..." he sighed again, "Research ran over on a pet project of mine."

Rebecca nodded at the entrance of all of the council members and she stood up from her throne taking up her stance of leaning against the wall, while she thought of what best to say to her peers. She didn't know how best to begin so she decided just to begin anyway.

"Greetings my Council."

Looking at each person Rebecca sighed and began to pace up and down the centre of the room, where she had walked in. She could still be seen by all of the members and was more central than she was when she sat at her throne.

"Right, I presume you all understand why you have been summoned here, if not please let me explain. There has been a confrontation shall we say between Sterling and I and the wolf Queen, today after this meeting we will be returning to council to come to some sort of conclusion upon it."

Threading her fingers through her hair Rebecca sighed.

"I want to know your opinions on what we should do about this insolent pup."

He took his seat and rested his hand on the handle of his sword. It had become a bit of a habit recently. He sighed and just watched as the Queen moved, he'd become pretty familiar with the way she moved now. It was part of his job to understand her better.

"My lady, the blame lies only with me, it is the wolfs fault but i should never have fallen for their bait. You only put a stop to the argument which probably saved my head." He said bowing his head respectfully.

He glanced at Arthur and waited for him to suggest their idea since it was he who came up with it.

Arthur leant forwards from his shadowy chair so that his face was visible,

"The bitch queen has been overstepping her boundaries my Queen." he told her respectfully, "She tries to maintain the image of a peace-loving ruler but she prepares for war and actively discriminates against us. My Queen..."

He glanced at Sterling before turning back to Rebecca,

"I think it's time we considered assassination of the lycan royalty."

Rebecca looked at Sterling with a cold stare, at least she was glad that he realised it was his fault, if he didn't that would have made her reconsider who her warrior was but relaxing her stare at him Rebecca nodded swiftly at him.

"Yes Sterling, it was rather your fault. However. This has proved an invaluable look into the Queens mind it shows that she is just as prejudice as all the other wolves against us..."

Suddenly she stopped pacing when Arthur spoke and when she looked up at him her eyes flashed dangerously.

"I am not pleased at the seeming formulation of a plot behind my back, tell me Narissa, did you know of this?"

Rebecca took up her pacing again and every so often shook her head softly as if thinking through the whole situation and she did not like what she was predicting, putting a hand to her face she groaned into it not only at the deviousness of her council but because she didn't agree with them.

"Very well tell me your plan to assassinate King Killian. Presumably you wouldn't be so foolish as to evoke his wrath by killing his soon to be bride? Hm?"

Arthur raised his hands in a plascating manner, quick to assure Rebecca that he hadn't been doing anything wrong,

"My queen I apologise if it seems like it was planned without your knowledge..." he apologise quietly, "But I thought it wise to have the basis of a plan before I took up some of your time with an idea that might not have gone anywhere. I assure you that all I have done so far is work through some of the basics..."

He waited patiently, and a little bit nervously, as Rebecca paced a little and thought to herself. He had a feeling that she was eventually come round to his idea however, it was a plan of action that would limit the number of deaths on both sides. When she spoke, Arthur paused a second to organise his thoughts,

"It would depend on the timing of the attacks of course my queen. If we could take out the queen before Killian could be informed of it we could catch them both by surprise." he paused again, "However the most logical course of action is to kill Killian first because, as you have so wisely pointed our my queen, his wrath is legendary even amongst we vampires. Based on what my people have discovered about his schedule, and his fortress, it would be easier to strike at him as he travels to a council meeting. We'd have to work thoroughly though and completely wipe out his escort force so that a greater response force could not be mustered. As you are no doubt aware my queen, the lycans prefer to travel during the day as they know that our mobility is severely hampered during the light hours. However I have had some trusted servants working to perfect several sneaking suits that bloke sunlight completely. Using these we would attack King Killian's escort when they were least expecting it. The Lycan Queen will then be much easier to dispatch. With King Killian's tribe in turmoil there will be civil strife and the lycans will most likely damage their own numbers. During this chaos we can infiltrate the Queen's quarters. They are much less defended than Killian's and we should be able to kill her and escape without the same need for numbers or excessive force."

He paused and bowed his head to Rebecca,

"But all of this will only go ahead with your approval of course, my queen."

Rebecca didn't like this one bit...she didn't like this at all and she continued to pace but faster now, a lot more angry wide strides instead of the normal walk she used, shaking her head a's he spoke she remained silent, waiting for the plan to be told to her before she either became calmer or more enraged than she already was.

"Go. Tell me this plan."

Was all she said as she stood still, looking at the floor and remaining silent again while she listened at several points her eyes flashed and as soon as Arthur had finished she looked up from the floor and directly into his eyes.

"All of you. Get out now."

Rebecca clentched her fists so much the nails dug into her skin so it bled.

"You...this is not a basic plan this is a very detailed plan! This plan has been in the works for some time I can tell! Why did none of you come to me when this was just an idea?! What are these suits?! Why didn't you tell me about these either?! Just get out of my sight now!!! LEAVE!"

Arthur observed his Queen's pacing and knew that she was getting more and more wound up but he was bound to her commands so when she asked for the plan he told her the plan. The way she looked down at the floor told him immediately that he was heading for something rather bad in terms of punishment. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and stood up from his chair in preparation to leave but stopped when she spoke again. He paused,

"My Queen... I regret causing you distress with this plan." he paused before closing his eyes, "But I did it for you and for our people. I did it to give you fully formed options. For making the plan I am not sorry."

He bowed low before leaving the room.

He frowned getting up from his seat. "My lady, we had to plan it out. We couldn't come to you with half a plan and no idea where we could go from there, if my men did that to me i'd laugh them out of the room. It's better to be prepared." He explained deciding it best not to invade her space just yet.

He took a deep breath and turned as the others left the room. "My lady please, it pains me to see you like this." He frowned.

Rebecca just looked at the floor as she made her way to sit on their throne, placing her head in her hands she didn't let anyone come into her field of vision, ignoring anyone who spoke to her while she tried to think of what to do. However much she tried she couldn't think about plans, or punishments or anything like that.

With a sniff she pulled at her hair and bit her lip so hard that she couldn't think of anyone else she would rather not cry in front of.

"Go away."

Rebecca got up, sat behind her chair and curled up into a ball and couldn't hold it in any more, biting her lip still so that her fang dug right through her lip. Blood tears started to trickle down her face and Rebecca clenched her fists together.

He frowned and turned away, sensing how she felt. "My lady please, we never meant to offend you. We just wanted to be prepared incase we did go to war. I do this kind of thing all the time. I know of nothing but war." He frowned. "I've never told anyone this but i was turned to join a war." He frowned trying to explain.

He sighed and slid down the war so he was sat down. He couldn't leave her but he could at least turn away so she had some privacy.

Rebecca looked up at Sterling and shook her head her lip healing instantly as she withdrew her fang, hugging her knees to her chest she rested her head on her knees and continued to cry silently for she wouldn't speak for fear of her voice cracking.

Taking a deep breath she muttered:

"I want not war. We have just finished a war! Should we rush so hastily into another?"

Rebecca let a few of her tears drop onto her hands staining them with splatters of red.

"I see."

He frowned rubbing his forehead as he thought for the correct words to say. "My lady it seems i have failed you as a warrior." He frowned taking a deep breath. "When i took my vows i had every intention to keep you safe and happy but i looks as if i've ended up doing the exact opposite." He turned his head so he could glance at the wall beside him.

"I've caused you nothing by misery and now i fear i have brought danger to us all. I should never have returned, it seems my fear has come true. I cannot live without wars and battles." He said glancing down at his crystal.

"My lady let me sort this. I will find the wolf Queen and appologise and accept any punishment aimed my way. Then once i've made sure everything is fine i shall take my leave. I will return to the war at hand to join my men where i belong. There i can cause you no more trouble." He said glancing down the the floor. Katerina was right, he was nothing more than a war hungry human.

Rebecca sniffed and wiped her tears away, standing up she walked over to Sterling and tilted his chin-up with her finger. True it was not that long since meeting properly but Rebecca didn't think that she could live without Sterling, she missed him more than anything since her punishment was given out.

"Thats not true Sterling, that's definately not true, and the two tes you have upset me it has been worth it for the wonderful other times we have had."

Without much effort Rebecca pulled Sterling to his feet and wrapped her arms around his waist resting her head on his chest, hoping that he would still hug her back Rebecca waited for Sterlings arms to enfold her once more.

"No Sterling...I don't want you to go...I want you to stay, please, this comes not from the Queen but the woman who is in love with you, so please, don't go."

True to herself she sounded like a fool but it was so true, she was beginning to develop feelings for Sterling, and if he left Rebecca wouldn't know what to do with herself.

"You will cause me trouble there, my heart will become sick without you near Sterling and I need the support of my people to sustain ne, but I fear even that wouldn't make up for the loss...."

He frowned and looked into her eyes as he was made to look up. "My lady for years i've spent thinking about the day where i would finally meet you. I wished all the time that you would feel the same way about me as i do you but i can't just stay here and watch you in this state. It's not good for either of us." He muttered barely louder than a whisper.

He allowed her to pull him to his feet, he didn't feel like putting up much of a fight because the truth was the thought of leaving her hurt more than anything. He took a deep breath to calm himself and wrapped his arms protectively around her just as a single blood tear ran down his face.

"I don't want to go either my lady, just the thought of leaving your side tears me apart. I don't think i'd last very long without you, not now i've seen what we could be." He said more tears beginning to fall down his face as she mentioned her love for him. "You have no idea how long i've waited for you to say those words." He frowned holding her tighter.

"Then order me to stay, i cannot disobey a direct order from you." He frowned taking a deep breath to stop his crying. He was tougher than this, he needed to show the Queen how strong he really was because she needed someone to cry on not the other way around. He nodded. "I know my lady we all miss her but you are our Queen now and although she will not be forgotten we are happy to have you ruling our kingdom." He said wiping away her tears.

As Sterling spoke Rebecca shook her head and thought that he was not going to leave, he wouldn't leave her and it was just another reason why she needed to be strong, she needed to show Sterling that she could handle him being around her.

"I know that it's not good for you to see me like this. I'm sorry that you have but I just got overwhelmed today I promise it won't happen again."

Even though her head was buried in his chest Rebecca could smell the blood coming from his eyes and Rebecca looked up and wiped them away with her finger, a soft smile on her face as she did so. Biting her lip Rebecca tried to hold back more tears.

"Hey you, you don't need me to be with you you will be okay without me. It is I that cannot cope without you, look what's become of me in less than a week, you must stay for me...please."

Holding herself together she stepped up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his in a kiss that he had missed so much since she had forbidden him to kiss her. Rebecca broke off and leant her forehead against Sterlings.

"I was talking about the loss of you..."

He shook his head. "That's not what i meant. I mean i can't just stand here and watch you cry tears i brought on. I think i'm doing the right thing but i'm clearly not. I'm as new to this life as any apprentice it seems, i don't know how to live a normal life anymore." He frowned.

"You should be free to cry, it's a natural reaction but those tears shouldn't be cause by your warrior. I'm meant to stop that, i'm meant to protect you and keep you happy." He frowned. "I will always feel how you feel now, so please don't cry and hide your true emotions from me."

He shook his head. "You've done more for me than you realise. I hated this life, i never wanted it. All i wanted to do was live to an old age and die like everyone else with a wife and loving children, hell and grandchildren if i lived long enough. But all that was taken from me and i lost everything. My family, my future wife and the life i loved so much." He frowned taking a deep breath so he could carry on. "I became reckless, i fought with everyone because i truly didn't care whether i lived or died. My creator died and i was left alone. I had to figure life out on my own. Then i saw you." He smiled remembering that day.

"You're were like an angel, sent from above. I couldn't believe it i had to meet you but the Queen refused, in time was all i got whenever i asked for you so i returned back to the war. But i'd changed everyone sensed it. After all these years of not caring if i died i found myself fighting to stay alive." He explained. "Rebecca you gave me a reason to live."

"You are my life now, without you my world is a dark and scary place. It's not worth living and i don't want to go back to that. I can't." He frowned. "I need you more than you need me, i'm not afraid to admit that."

He leant forward to kiss her in return the big empty hole he'd had since his punishment seemed to vanish in an instant. He reluctantly pulled away, silently wishing for the kiss to have never ended. If he died kissing her then he'd be happy.

"Oh!" He laughed a little out of happiness. He definitely couldn't let her go now, she had him in too deep to leave.

Rebecca smiled softly and reached up to peck Sterling on the lips again, she knew that he loved her and now that she had began to love him back she knew that she never wanted him to leave and wished that she could have spent more time with him earlier.

"Regardless of age, you are still a man and a man never knows how to act around women, they often make mistakes and as you yourself say your life was created for war and you're just getting used to me, soon you will know what to do."

It was an odd feeling that Sterling would know that she was upset whether she wanted him to or not. Although it was a good thing he would know when she needed a hug or needed to be kept away from.

"You do indeed know how I feel...it's a strange thing but then again it's just something that will develop our feelings together isn't it?"

Rebecca listened to the story that Sterling told her and she hugged him together to her as she found out that he had lost the best part of his life, he was turned against his will and then she heard that it was her that had given his life some meaning, that she was an angel.

"Sterling...that's such a shame that you had to abandon your life but I would hope that you would like to carve out a new one with me...if you would like that..."

Giggling a little at his laugh Rebecca kissed his lips again and tapped his nose with a finger.

"Silly Sterling."

He smiled and kissed her back, pleased that she had forgiven him. The past few days had been horrible without her, he just craved to feel her touch but he knew it wasn't allowed. He nodded. "I know but i can't help but fear that it's too late for me to change. I've lived over 500 years like this, it won't be easy to change i'm gonna need your help to point me in the right direction. If i go wrong let me know please."

He nodded, it would definitely develop their feelings. The bond between them would grow stronger either as friends or as lovers it was going to happen, it always did. The thought of them becoming closer please him more than anything. "Soon my lady we will be unbreakable. We will soon know what the other is thinking without even having to read each others minds. The bond between the warrior and his Queen is a rare but magnificent bond." He said holding her closer to him. "I hope to understand it better, you hear tales out on the field but no one but a real warrior and a Queen really knows how it feels. Words just don't even begin to comprehend how it feels."

He nodded, he thought Katerina had loved him. He made a mistake in trusting her. "I would like nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you my lady." He smiled, finally after all this time he could get his only wish in life, to have a family.

He laughed again now that he had started he couldn't bring himself to stop. He'd never been so happy in life not even in his human years. Life now began to make sense again.

Rebecca placed her hand on Sterlings cheek and stroked her thumb across it carefully and in a loving way so that she may comfort him, she was sure that he would be able to adapt not quite right away but it would happen, she knew it would, and Rebecca wouldn't force that change.

"I have every faith in you Sterling, even if you dont change there is very little that can change the way I feel about you now, so, just be yourself Sterling but try to reign it in at council okay?"

Giving him a cheeky wink Rebecca nodded her head, indeed the bond between her Sire and her Warrior had been a string friendship but she didn't think that this relationship would end like this she thought that it would be a loving relationship...or that's what she wanted it to be.

"Yes I too hope to understand...I really want to be able to explore this bond and I really can't think of anyone else I'd rather do that with."

Rebecca smiled softly and kissed Sterling passionately again letting her tongue slip into his mouth before drawing away and kissing him softly.

"We will have to see about a child in a few years won't we?"

Unable to stop herself laughing with Sterling and she doubled over with the force of it.

He closed his eyes and covered her hand with with his. He'd forgotten how great the sensation was of her skin on his. He smiled slightly her words acting as a stimulant to want him to change more for her sake. She could could wait for him to change then he could change, he'd make sure he did not matter how long it took. "Thank you." He smiled. "I promise to keep my mouth shut in those meetings." He said bowing his head.

He smiled. "There is no one else i'd rather be bonded too. No one could do what you have for me, you saved my life without even trying. It's time i repaid the favour." He smiled brushing her hair back behind her ear. "I hope this bond keeps us strong together, because together we will be invincible... apart? I dont even want to think about it." He shuddered he couldn't bare to think of her alone without him by her side to keep her safe.

He smiled the smiled now stuck on his face as he kissed her. He just couldn't believe his luck. If he'd said to his past self that this would happen he'd laugh at himself but here he was witnessing it with his own eyes.

He raised his eyebrows in shock. "Children?" He laughed could this night get any better? He laughed sliding back down the wall as he took off his sword belt. He was truly the happiest he had ever been and just seeing her laugh like that made him even more happier if that was possible. This care free happiness had been wiped out of his mind. He'd forgotten what it had felt like to be happy about everything in your life without having to worry about something else.

Rebecca loved the fact that even her simply touching Sterling made him happy, she knew that if she did nothing else but hold hands with him until the ends of their days then they would be contented in this simple action alone.

"It is no problem Sterling, I would gladly do anything for you...so waiting for you to change into a man that you think yourself is better...is a simple matter."

With a small shudder thinking about what her life would be like without Sterling Rebecca shook her head, placing a finger on his lips to signal for him to stop talking about them being apart she didn't think that she could take it.

"We will never be apart, I order as of this day that Rebecca Holloway, and Sterling Bates, will never part ways and always have each others company."

Rebecca looked at the happiness on Sterlings face as she mentioned children, of course she herself could never get pregnant but she would hopefully choose a student in a few years. Happiness seemed infectious in the room and she too couldn't stop smiling.

"Yes. Children if you should desire it my love..."