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Courtesan	By : Shelindrea Category: Twilight Series > Het > Jacob/Renesmee Views: 4787 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or make any money from this story.

Chapter List
- 31
- 32
- 33
Chapter 33
Leah POV
Come the dawn I awoke to find Renesmee seated by the window. Again the light lit her hair as if it was a halo, and I began to understand some of the appeal she held for Jacob. There was a quiet serenity about the girl. Even through our long night of talking, discussing what was best for those she obviously loved, she never became harsh or accusatory. No, she was gentle, patient, and for some unknown reason, kind.
She had insisted that I deserved freedom from persecution, and said that I would receive her blessing for a life after all of this. I wanted to hate her, for her goodness, to take it as weakness, but then we had reached the conclusion of our conversation, and I realized just how much she was willing to sacrifice for those she loved.
"So what will you offer him to gain all this?" I asked looking over the document.
"I will offer to take the punishment meant for Alice."
"He will not accept that, there is no gain for him in that."
She sighed and nodded. "I know. I am going to offer to take it in silence. That will be the wager. Should I cry out, then I agree to submit to him entirely." She said her eyes on her knotted fingers.
"There is no way you will be able to endure twenty lashes in silence, Renesmee."
"I must. But even if I fail, I will ensure all of your freedom. I will get him to sign the contract that absolves you all of guilt or persecution. Then it will only be myself at risk."
"You are willing to risk your person for them?" I asked astounded.
"And you," she nodded. "I will not see anyone injured because the Duke has taken a fancy to me. It is not right. I will see you all safely away."
"Why do you not simply submit?"
"Because I will not dishonor Jacob so, I would rather die than live without him."
"You realize that you may face that alternative, should the Duke fail in his aim?"
"I do."
Now, looking at her in the light of dawn she looked small, and fragile. This was bound to be a fiasco, and somehow it all rested upon those slender shoulders. She raised her eyes to mine and smiled wanly.
"When all this plays out, I beg you would explain my thinking to the ladies. They are likely to find fault with you for it, but I have written a missive to them, which I beg you give them as you leave the city. I tell them how helpful you have been, and how you are not to be blamed for any of what has transpired. They will forgive, I know it. Only give them time, for if things go badly they will grieve me, and that requires time."
It was another kindness that she did not owe me, but I took the scroll and nodded. "When will you speak with Caius?"
"I have sent word that I would like an audience, I expect to be summoned soon."
"They will hate me, you know, no matter what you tell them." I opined.
"I believe I have thwarted that. I have given instructions that you are to be considered my friend that you have instructed and advised me in a manner which you did not have to, and that should they not respect that I shall not forgive them. I believe they will honor it as a final request."
"I would that there was another way," I confessed.
"I agree, but we both know there is not. So promise me that you will see to their safety and security."
I nodded. There was a knock on the door and a soldier announced that Caius wished to see Renesmee. She stood and walked to the door, then as she was about to depart she turned and rushed into my arms. "If I fail, promise me you will tell Jacob how very much I love him."
"I swear," I vowed.
"And should he find himself in want of a wife, be a good one to him." I gasped. "He deserves to be loved, and if you can love him, I shall be well pleased."
Then the soldier took her by the arm and led her away.
How could she say such a thing? I had wished to marry Jacob, but I never claimed to love him. Marriage was not a matter of love, but one of security and wealth. Yet all she seemed to care about was the happiness and stability of those for whom she genuinely cared. Perhaps Emily was right perhaps she was as remarkable as everyone said.
NPOV
I walked to the throne room still dressed in the night rail I had been abducted in. I might have found it mortifying had I not thought it might help me plead my case. Caius was seated in his raised seat, staring down at me with clear enjoyment.
"Leave us," he snapped at the guards and suddenly we were alone. I stood straight and walked up to his throne. I used the dancer's walk that I had learned as a pleasure slave, pointed toe, ball of foot, and then heal. It was a stalking walk and it made the body look sinewy and lank. I swayed my hips and held his gaze with my own. A small feral smile graced his lips. "Good day, Renesmee. Has your evening allowed you to rethink your position?"
"It has certainly allowed me time to think." I answered. "In fact I believe I have a few things to discuss with you."
His smile was more like a leer. Yes, I could win this if I played it right.
"I thought we might come to a compromise, your grace."
"I am not a fan of compromise; it generally means that all parties lose something in the bargaining," he observed.
"That is true, but they also stand to gain a great deal should the deal be struck. I propose a little wager. You give a little, I risk… everything." I barely breathed the last word. The offer Leah and I had come up with meant that they would go free and I would pray that they could get to the king in time, but the truth was, I was about to put myself into the hands of a man I knew to be determined to possess me.
"Go on," he said with quiet interest.
"You allow the women to have safe passage from the city, and I shall grace you with a dance."
"A dance?"
"Yes. I am known for dancing. I will dance for you, in full silks demonstrate to you exactly what skills I possess. I shall whet your appetite and entice your senses."
I saw his nostrils flare at the prospect. "And I would be satisfied with a mere dance, why?"
"You said you want my submission, not simply my acceptance. If all you wanted was my body, you would have simply taken me. I know you require more. Otherwise you would have forced me already. So let us play this game, if that is what you desire."
"Ah but if the ladies are away from my reach, what guarantee have I that you will continue to play?"
"You have my word, and my challenge. I understand that you love a game of chance. Is this true?"
"It is indeed."
"Then I will allow you three days to convince me of the superiority of your life, if you can convince me I will acquiesce."
"And if not?" he said peering at me.
"You will satisfy yourself with allowing me to serve Alice's sentence."
"No. Although the thought of punishing you excites me it offers me little satisfaction. I gain too little in this bargain. Where is the risk? Where is the danger?"
I felt a cold spread throughout my limbs as he began to circle me in thought. I knew he was about to propose a wager I would have a difficult time winning. I only hoped it was something I could endure. I swallowed and he stopped before me, a sneering smile upon his lips. "You will agree because I agree to endure it in silence. If I utter a sound, cry out, scream, cry, then you have my word that I will bow to your will and be yours, until you tire of me."
"The moment you cry out, or even whimper you will accept defeat and submit to me?" I nodded. "You will then accompany me to the Royal Palace and present yourself by my side, before my uncle, my cousin, and Mr. Black."
I felt my face fall and bit the inside of my cheek so as not to gasp. Could I bear it? Would it buy me enough time? Could the ladies fetch help in merely a few days' time?
Seeing his delight at the prospect, I knew it was my best chance of negotiating terms. Alistair had taught me well, and I knew that I needed to be careful.
"Very well," I agreed, "however, I have a few conditions of my own."
"Why don't we sit and discuss this civilly," the Duke offered leading me to a large mahogany table and pulled a chair out for me. I slid in and he brushed my shoulder with his hand. His touch was so very cold, it surprised me and I shivered to my very toes. "Now my dear, what concessions do you seek?"
"I want a signed document absolving all of the ladies and their families of responsibility for the alleged crime. I want them given safe passage from the city, and a promise that you will not pursue them for any retribution should I best you in this wager."
"You will not best me," he said cockily.
"Perhaps not, but I want the document none-the-less."
"Alright, Mrs. Uley, Mrs. Whitlock, and Mrs. Cullen will all be free to go."
"I want Miss Clearwater added to that list."
"Really, even though you have by now deduced that it was she who arranged for the trinket to make its way into Mrs. Whitlock's things?"
"Yes."
"Interesting…" he said trying to gauge my motive. "But far be it from me to deny you anything."
I sneered. "You mean anything but my liberty."
"Well, yes, there is that."
"I also want some time to bid them farewell."
"I shall allow you until noon today."
"Then there is the matter of the judge for the wager. We need an impartial party to determine if I have endured in silence."
"Who would you trust with such an office?"
"Not someone in your employ. Is there a house of worship near?"
"There is the nunnery of St. Marco at the center of town," he offered.
"Then seek out the Mother Superior and have her be your judge."
"Very well, I shall have her summoned."
Caius' edict meant I had barely an hour to say my goodbyes. I bade farewell to those I loved as best I could. Bella was distraught, wiping her eyes, and squeezing my hands.
"How can you do this? There must be another way," she pleaded.
"I must know that you are away and safe. That is all that matters now. Promise me you will away to Volterra City and allow Carlisle and Edward to care for you."
"How can I go, knowing that I am leaving you to such a man?"
"You can go because I insist. Remember that I love you, and tell Jacob that no matter the outcome of all this, my heart is forever his."
Next came Emily. She was looking pale and repentant. "He will hate me, you know. This will end any affection he has left for me. I should have protected you."
"You tell him that I did what I did for my family and that as my sister you are a member. He will understand. I swear to you."
Finally Alice came to say goodbye. "What have you agreed to, Ness. Tell me."
"I have made a wager with him," I confessed.
"What kind of wager?"
"I must accept your lashing, twenty strokes, in utter silence. If I do we are all free. If not, I agree to be his."
Alice blanched. "No. Nessie you mustn't."
"I will not see you harmed. I am strong enough to endure in silence. I know it."
"We will find our men and they will come for you. It will not stand. Can you postpone him?"
"I will try. No matter what happens…" I could not say it instead a choked whimper escaped my lips.
"I will tell him how much you love him."
The ladies and the children were packed up and sent out of the city. At sunset I was summoned to the throne room.
Caius was sitting in his gaudy chair lording it over his servants when I arrived. A sinister sneer lit his face at seeing me. I had been bathed and dressed in whisper thin silks. They hung from my frame as I walked toward him. My hair had been coiled into a long braid that hung over my left shoulder and my feet were bare. I stood before him in the silks which barely covered my frame, they consisted of a tied drape of fabric about each of my upper arms, a bandeau which came across my back, crossed over my breasts and tied at the nape of my neck. It too had drapes that hung down my back. The "skirt" consisted of a tied strip of cloth with seven veils cascading to the floor from my waist, and beneath that was a small tied bottom which was two triangles of cloth small enough to leave nothing to the imagination. I felt naked, and vulnerable, still I stood tall and straight. My eyes met his in utter defiance; he would get no deference from me.
"Why Renesmee, how lovely you look," he said in an oily voice.
"Thank you."
"I am assured that your friends have left the borders of my little province, so you will be relieved to know they are no longer in my grasp."
"I am gratified to hear that," I said.
"When the enticement is so delectable a morsel as yourself, how could I not indulge you in your desire? After all, I gain the pleasure of seeing you dance, and watching those filmy silks float to the floor as they expose every inch of your delectable skin." He licked his lips lasciviously then dismissed the few guards that remained. "I did not think you would wish the audience to be too broad. Besides, I shall enjoy the discomfort you will likely feel performing solely for me."
"It will be difficult to dance for you, sir, with no accompaniment," I pointed out.
"I have arranged for that," he said and pulled a bell pull. From a balcony out of view an instrument began to play a sultry tune. "They are out of sightlines. Now, my dear, delight me."
I walked to the center of the room and began to feel the music. I had not danced in a very long time, and then it had been for Jacob's eyes. I knew what was expected of me, but I had no heart for it. Displaying myself for this man was abhorrent and I found myself awkward and ungainly. Finally I closed my eyes and imagined Jacob's eyes watching me.
I began to spin and undulate in a seductive manner. I felt my muscles stretch and lengthen as I bent and moved. It was an escape from the circumstances that oppressed me and I gave myself to the moment. After several minutes I heard Caius shout above the instrument for me to stop.
"You move divinely, but such a chaste dance is not to my liking. I would that you shed this finery as you have been trained to do. Show me the treasures hidden beneath," he commanded.
"I offered you a dance, and a dance I have given you."
"Will you really force me to mar this beautiful skin with the marks of a lash? Will you endure in silence? Or will you cry out at the first bite of the whip against your sweet flesh?" he said lifting the trailing silk at my neck. He ran a finger across my shoulder blades and I shivered at the contact. "Now allow me to make myself clear, you will divest yourself of these clothes in the next few minutes, or I shall send my guards out to fetch the ladies back. We had a bargain, and I expect you to fulfill it."
"We bargained for a dance, and a dance I have given you," I said deciding to attempt defiance.
His hand jutted out and grabbed my chin in an iron grip. He pulled me close to him and looked me dead in the eye. "Do not toy with me, Lady Dawn. You forget, I own the day, and I can burn you with my flame."
I turned my chin out of his grip and took a step back. "I am no goddess, sir, and you are no god."
"I am god in this castle, and you would do well to remember it. Now if you will not grace me with a dance, I will demonstrate my power." With that he grabbed me round my waist and tore the streaming material from my body. In almost no time at all I stood almost naked before him as his hands roamed my exposed body.
"Stop!" I cried, attempting to break free.
I heard him chuckle lightly. "Such beauty, it is a sin to cover it at all. Now, you may go, but remember, I will not be toyed with, my dear. I expect you at my table to break your fast."
I grabbed my fallen garments and fled the room in haste.
CPOV
Watching her depart I laughed to myself. She cried out at my mere touch. She would never withstand the bite of the lash. She would be mine in no time at all. That thought made me smile.
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Courtesan