Firebrand

Firebrand
FaTaLfURy

Chapter Eighteen, Part I - Out Of The Pan And Into The Fire

Just as he predicted, their arrival did cause quite a stir in the royal court.

They arrived earlier than expected, with the midday meal underway. It was both a blessing and a curse, for although almost everyone in court knew of their arrival and gossipped avidly about it, they were otherwise too occupied to gape and gawk at the Windshire couple. They will have to wait until later to do that.

The moment Inuyasha stepped out of the carriage to assist Kagome down, one of the King's guard approached him immediately.

"Good day, Your Grace. I trust your journey was pleasant. His Highness insists that you join him and the queen immediately upon your arrival,"

Scratch that. Substitute 'insists' with 'commands'.

"Thank you. We'll be sure to do that once we've changed out of our dusty clothes. Please inform the King and Queen we'll join them shortly,"

The guard bowed and smartly turned on his heel to do the duke's bidding. Inuyasha focused all of his attention on his wife then. He held her close as she alighted from the carriage.

"Are you alright, sweet? You're looking a little pale. Maybe you should rest["

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. We need to hurry; the King and Queen are waiting for us,"

Inuyasha reluctantly agreed and let her go, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm as they were escorted to their quarters.

================================================

Some time later, they stood in front of the royal couple's suite.

"Are you ready?"

Kagome squared her shoulders determinedly.

"As ready as I'll ever be. Let's go,"

Inuyasha nodded at the guard to let them in.

"The Duke and Duchess of Windshire,"

The King and Queen looked up when they heard the announcement. Inuyasha and Kagome stopped directly in front of them and offered a deep bow and a curtsy.

"Enough of that. Straighten up so I may have a good look at you,"

King Sesshomaru commanded them imperiously, with the Queen giving him a thoroughly disgruntled look.

"Don't you mean 'we', husband? I am here with you, am I not?"

"Now, now, Elizabeth Rin. Let's not get into that, shall we?"

Inuyasha and Kagome were already finished paying their respects and were now amusedly watching the royal couple's antics. The King caught Inuyasha's smirk and frowned at him fiercely.

"Just what do you think is so amusing, Lord Grey?"

Kagome's breath caught in her throat in fear for her husband. Lesser men have been hanged for laughing at the king. But before she could apologize on her husband's behalf, Inuyasha was already answering in appalling fashion.

"You and your wife is what's amusing. I swear you sound like an old, married couple bickering like that,"

Kagome wanted to faint dead away at that. The King never lost his thunderous frown, and worse, the Queen was now wearing an identical frown on her pretty face. They stayed that way for what seemed like an eternity to her before all three burst out laughing. Kagome thought they've all lost their minds.

"That's just what I needed; a good laugh. Here, make sure your wife sits down, Inuyasha. She looks like she's ready to faint any minute now,"

"Quit teasing Kagome, husband. I'm so sorry dear, I forgot you're still not used to us,"

The Queen patted her hand symphatetically as Inuyasha helped her to a seat.

"She's going to have to get used to a lot before we're finished,"

Inuyasha said as he winked shamelessly at the Queen. The Queen laughed melodiously as she moved to her husband's side to squelch his jealousy.

"Now, now. I need you boys to behave, do you hear? Inuyasha, no more flirting with me, understand? You have Kagome now for that. And do quit your infernal growling, Sesshomaru. It's grating on my nerves,"

The King stopped the moment his wife mentioned it. He was unaware he was doing it. He shifted his attention to Kagome.

"So how has Inuyasha been treating you, Kagome?"

"I can see he's been treating her quite well, husband. She looks a little pale, but I daresay she looks positively blooming. Don't you agree?"

The Queen intrjected before she could answer. Both men nodded in agreement just to be polite, but neither gave a whit to the term 'blooming'. Leave it to a woman to think of something like that.

Kagome was now blushing furiously under their close scrutiny but she held her ground.

"My husband has been nothing but kind, Your Majesties. Thank you for your concern,"

King Sesshomaru lifted an eyebrow intriguingly as he peered at his friend.

"Is she always this proper now? What happened to the feisty lady that was my ward? Don't tell me you've actually tamed her then,"

Before Inuyasha could muster a reply, his wayward wife answered for him, the light of battle in her eyes.

"She's still here, Your Highness. Not to worry. I will never be tamed. Not by him or anyone,"

Kagome fiercely declared, earning a smile from the King and a frown from her husband.