Full of Good Intent {John}

[isabel]

Isabel sat on her bed in one of her finest dresses – the green one with the lace trim, the square neck that went low enough to show the top of her breasts, one of her husband’s favorites; though she supposed there had been little point in putting it on if it was going to be taken off soon. She had her hands demurely folded in her lap as she waited. She was alone in her quarters, reflecting; she had dismissed her servants for a little while, in a surprising show of magnamity, even though, of course, it was for her own benefit.

She had really started to think that she was with child. Up until a week ago, anyway. Now that the feminine affliction which had dashed all her hopes in its coming had once more subsided, she knew that it was time to try again. She had been irritable and moody and cold to her husband during the last week, and she was going to make up for it, by calling for him in the middle of his meetings. She knew he loved getting out of those boring council sessions to have an hour alone with her. Or two or three hours.

Though there had been many benefits to her husband thinking that he was going to be king, it put even more pressure on her to have a baby, something that they had been trying to do for three years without success. It would have been bad enough to miscarry, but she couldn’t even fall pregnant, and she was beginning to honestly think something was wrong with her. But she was not giving up hope. Perhaps this would be the day that she finally conceived. So she sat there and waited for her husband.

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[cole]

A sigh escaped his lips, "Robin of Locksley is a pest, I do not doubt that. Raise the price of his head." The voice remained calm, but the tone could freeze hell over. "I do not care." The tired gaze focused on the same face he'd been staring at for the last hour. Oh the joys of these blasted meetings. How had Richard ever managed to sit through these pointless, and rather dull meetings, listening, commenting and putting the words of other men in to affect? It never failed to faze the young prince, but once he was crowned king, none of this nonsense would take place.

The hallow cerulean eyes focused on the bleak gray walls that protected him from the outside world, it was this cage that kept him safe from that world. A world of lies, treachery and treason. A world he kept far away from Isabel. Without these barriers nothing would protect her, and nothing could help him get through the day except the one thing he could always depend on in this life. His wife. Isabel was the only woman that could put him to ease, only temporarily though. The stress that had been thrown onto their shoulders was quickly holding him back. A son, the one thing he needed more than anything. A child would secure him a right to the thrown, and for three years, the wave disappointment began drowning him. The thought alone caused fire to run through his veins. Why did conceiving a child prove to be so difficult? John's patience was running thin, his annoyance increased with each passing day and the only way to relief the anger was to take it out on Isabel or sleep with another Lady in the court.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Isabel's maid entered into the room, looking shy and embarrassed as she slowly approached him. All heads turned in the young girls direction, all thinking the same thing. John watched, her lips parted and moved to his ear, whispering gentle words to him. Instantly, the prince took a stand, nodding his head as a smirk crawled onto his lips. "Unfortunately, I have important matters to deal with, but please continue. We shall discuss another time." With his words, all the men at the table took a stand, bowing in courtesy as he strided out of the room.

Isabel had been more than aware of the discontent John had faced when forced into a meeting with witless men. If there was one thing John couldn't bare, was men trying to make this kingdom a 'better' place. All would change, John was more than confident of his impending coronation. Even the thought helped maintain his smirk as he pushed open the door of his wife's chambers. Stepping into the room, his eyes fell of the familiar face, "Please tell me you have good news." A small flame of hope ignited inside him.

(i'll make it pretty later (: )

[isabel]

Isabel’s dark eyes darted upwards at the sound of the door banging open to see the confident smile on her husband’s face. Even though she stiffened and sat at alert, eyes watching his face carefully, she relaxed minutely as she realized that she seemed to have caught her husband in a good mood. That was a nice surprise, since such a thing was becoming increasingly rare. She dared to return his smile as best as she could, though she was still on edge and felt a little nervous. But her heart sank, even if her expression was unchanged, as he spoke. So, perhaps that was the only reason he had come, and not to see her.

She hesitated for a second, thoughts racing. She could lie to him and tell him that she was pregnant, and hope for the best today if he chose to lie with her; but what if he wanted to be careful about the baby and decided not to lie with her? Then she would have to lie with another man in hopes of conceiving, a thought which she found rather disgusting since most of the men around were old, fat lords, or she would have to lie again and say she miscarried later. No; she could not lie, even if she wanted to. So she kept a brave face as she said with forced cheer, “The good news is, I’ve wanted you all day, and now you’re here.”

Rising from the bed gracefully, she put an extra sway into her hips as she meandered towards him, taking her sweet time, and then twined her arms around his strong neck and tilted her face up to his for a kiss. As her lips moved against his, her fingers worked at the tie of his shirt at the nape of his neck, undoing it with experienced hands. She broke apart from him gently and smiled up at him seductively. “So, do you want to tell me about your boring meeting now, or after we do something more exciting?” Of course she enjoyed their spousal activities, but at this point, she would do anything, even listen to him complain, to keep his mind off the fact that he did not yet have a legitimate heir.

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[cole]

To see a man such as himself in a mood so divine was a rare sight. Most would expect a callous, formidable and a rather dangerous looking man stalking the hallways of the castle, on the prowl for some innocent being who'd suffer at the expense of his amusement. That had been the original plan if it hadn't been for his spouse, who clearly had other intentions of spending the day. Not that John had minded, actually, he welcomed whatever Isabel had to offer. The only reason being that she was the only one who understood him, who accepted him for who he was. Why? Because she was just like him, arrogant, power-hungry and willing to fight for what she wanted.

John kept his eyes on her, his gaze hardening with every moment that passed. Even by then, with no words spoken, all his hopes faded. He was beginning to feel idiotic and he was more than aware that his reputation was falling through. Three years of marriage yet no heir had been produced. Talk within the courts managed to make it's way to him like a wild fire and the more he heard, the more his pride got the best of him. It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried, many nights he’d make way to their chambers in hope that it would result in Isabel becoming pregnant. Could anyone blame John for slowly giving up hope? He’d questioned every possibility, was something wrong with him? However, he quickly dismissed that thought and focused on his wife, was it down to her that she wasn’t with child?

He watched, registering her every move, noting the extra sway in her hips and within the first sentence that escaped her luscious, full lips, he already knew what she wanted. A smirk returned to his lips as Isabel snaked her arms over his broad shoulder and around his neck, bringing her lips to lock with his, something John immediately responded to. Although his lips moved in sync with hers, his focus remained on her small hands that began their quest to remove his clothing. John felt his own hands flex before reaching up and taking his wife’s hands in his own, pulling them away. “Just stop, Isabel.” Unfortunately the voice that was smooth and calm only moments ago faced a drastic change. Coldness and annoyance washed over him, reflecting in his voice. “It amuses me that you still find this ‘exciting’. After three years the excitement has…disappeared should I say?” Taking a step away from her, he arched his brow, “How many times should we do something ‘exciting’ before you are with child? Quite frankly, Isabel, I’m becoming bored of this dull routine and I'm beginning to wonder if this is your fault.” The blue eyes froze over, his jaw clenched as he spoke the words to her.

[isabel]

Isabel blinked with disbelief, looking at her husband with confusion in her dark eyes in response to the frigidity in his tone and in his manner. Never before had he denied her, denied himself. She recoiled in hurt, turning away at the same time he did, knowing that it was not polite to do so, not respectful, but she didn’t care. He didn’t love her anymore, did he? Every word that left his mouth stunned and stung her, and she knew not how to answer. Sometimes their fighting was as passionate as their lovemaking, and sometimes it actually resulted in it, but this did not appear to be one of those times.

“It is not as if you needed my permission to go see one of your whores,” she snapped. “If I am no longer good enough for you, then I need only wish you luck in producing a bastard.” She was so embittered by his lack of faith in her that she would suggest something that would break her own heart, since she was quite sure that it was already happening. Oh, she had seen the way that women looked at her husband around court, and she suspected that even if he was not a prince, women would have been attracted to him based on his appearance alone.

She could have kept trying to seduce him, and she had felt him return her kiss, in that moment before he had pulled away so unexpectedly. But given his words, she could no longer muster up her own desirous feelings. She, too, had been trying too hard; sometimes their coupling was lackluster and routine, and for the purpose of procreation rather than recreation. It was no wonder that he found things less exciting. “It isn’t all my fault,” she insisted angrily. “Or else you would have gotten the court sluts pregnant by now. Do you think I am too stupid to notice?”

Too suddenly, her anger left her; Lord, but she had been moody lately. It was probably, once again, her husband’s fault. He had been so moody himself, what with his brother being gone and Robin on the loose. It did not help that she was always tired and sickly the past few days, just a result of her delicate constitution and the change in a weather. She needed a vacation. Defeated, she sank down onto the bed. Two weeks ago she had lost hope, but a week after that, they had made love again; she was still ready. Perhaps instead of him finding another woman, she ought to find another man, in secret. She sighed, eyes lowering in subservience; she considered his question: how many more times? “Just one,” she whispered, begging. “Please, John, give me one more chance.” The herb… she had to find the herb… Tomorrow… but first they had to do this tonight. “I can feel it; it’s going to happen tonight.” Her eyes met his, pleadingly.

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[cole]

John examined carefully as the disbelief washed over his wife’s flawless features. It wasn’t an expression that crossed her features often, it was never necessary. He had always handed Isabel everything her little heart desired on a silver platter, no matter what the cost. Her happiness always came first, and he fooled himself into believing that it was only her happiness that mattered. Of course that was true, but what about his happiness? Isabel could only give him so much, but couldn’t give him the only thing that he wanted. A son. Even a daughter wouldn’t be frowned upon. At least then he’d have a glimpse of hope. The only glimpse that was recognized now, was the glimpse of annoyance he shot at his wife who turned away in hurt, “Don’t turn your back on me.”

Rolling his eyes, John bit his tongue, refraining from saying anything he might regret. “You’re over reacting.” His cold words could have frozen hell over. “This has nothing to do with other women. This involves you and me.” Gritting his teeth, he took a step closer to her, leaning down to eye level with her. “I think you’ve forgotten who you’re talking to, Isabel. Disrespecting me will get you nowhere.” Lifting his hand, John smirked and cupped his chin, his grip tighter than usual.

Letting go of her chin, he arched an eyebrow, moving away from her. John listened to Isabel, and the guilt began to eat away at him. If only his wife had known just how many bastard children he had roaming around, would she ever look at him the same? Would she even still consider trying for a child of their own? He stared for a few moments before breaking their gaze and shaking his head, “You are so oblivious to the obvious.” Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose, “Do you realize how many ladies in the court fell pregnant over the last few years? Have you noticed how most of them had been sent out of court? No of course you wouldn’t. If you did, you would’ve put the pieces together.”

It wasn’t like John didn’t love his wife, she came close to becoming his everything. Not only was it her beauty that entranced him, but also everything about her. Isabel wasn’t like any other woman he’d crossed paths with, she knew what she wanted and went to whatever measure it took to get it, just like he did. Perhaps that was why they argued so much, they were just too similar. Despite their arguments, true and genuine feeling rested between them, something they just couldn’t push away. The reason why upon hearing Isabel’s plea, a sigh released from his lips and he reached out, resting a hand on her waist. “And then what after it doesn’t happen? You’re not stupid enough not to realize that this straining out marriage, Isabel.” He knew she was very aware of the situation at hand, he was positive everyone in court knew the underlying problem of their marriage, it was no secret, but nothing ever was nowadays.
(Bleh, it's 3am and i'm exhausted, i know it isn't great. The next one will be better! (: )

[isabel]

Isabel tried to turn her face away, her dark eyes flashing, but she was held in place by his grip, too tight along her jaw, his fingers pressing into the soft unblemished flesh of her face with a cruel force, a strength which she admired about her husband but at this moment in time hated and feared. She glared at him, daring him to bring his other hand to her face, but he did not do it. The punishment for her disrespect should have been a slap; she should have relished in the pain in it, and been glad that at least her body could feel something, even hurt, instead of this intangible betrayal, and the emptiness of her womb. At least then she’d have an excuse for her pain.

She hated being patronized; she was a princess. She hated the way he talked to her, as if she was nothing. As if she had not been his wife for the past three years, sacrificing her previous life and giving up everything to please him, exhausting herself trying to make him happy and hoping to conceive, endlessly wishing and praying for something that wasn’t going to happen from the way things appeared. Of course she couldn’t lie and say that her life had been perfect before this, back when she’d dreamed of being a princess. But was it worth it? Was the power worth the pain? Of course she ought to say yes, but at times like this, she didn’t know.

Each word to him about other women and their bastard children hit her just as a slap would have. “Maybe if you had spent more time with me and less with those whores, we would have a son by now,” she bit out, face contorted in anger and hurt, hoping to lash out at him to make him feel the pain that he was currently giving her. This wasn’t all her fault; how dare he suggest it! He didn’t even regret his affairs, because they had produced children, she supposed, something that she couldn’t do. The only thing that gave her any hope was that they’d been sent away. He could have made a law to declare his bastards legitimate, he could have claimed them; but he hadn’t.

And why hadn’t he? Maybe, like her, he still held out some hope for a child between the two of them. She let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding when he sighed and reached for her, his hand hot against the hip that guarded her womb. She looked up at him through her thick lashes. “What’s straining our marriage is the fact that you don’t trust me with this, and I don’t feel like I can trust you,” she murmured, blinking. “It will happen.” And for someone who had committed plenty of sins, someone who had reached their lowest point and was willing to try anything, as well as someone who just wanted their husband to themselves, she added, “What if God is punishing us for your affairs? What if you were just faithful to me, and I did a better job of trusting you to be so?”

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