The Yummy Princess Loses Her Innocence, Part 4

by Aunt Molly

The fact that Heppi had already revealed her face was not what shocked her though. The fact Heppi was sitting on Alfred's lap with their arms wrapped around each other Kissing passionately.

All the girls stood with their mouths hung open. It was Blossom who broke the silence.

"The Goddess is powerful, and her ways mysterious."

Starshine giggled and whispered in Rue's ear, "It's a good thing your mom made us make that promise or else who knows what kinds of perversion would be afoot!"

***

The two lovebirds kissed for the longest time before they acknowledged all the gawking girls.

Leah had assumed Heppi would be ugly - why else cover herself up. Maybe deformed in some way - Like one eye or an ear on top of her head.

But she wasn't *ugly* - the soft downy fur, the big yellow eyes and the erect fox-like ears kind of made the goblin look cute. Only the small needle like teeth that went to work nibbling on the side of Alfred's neck gave her a somewhat predatory appearance.

She noticed Melissa stared at Heppi intently, the way you might if you came across a large predator by accident.

Morgan had the same expression, but Barbara seemed more curious.

Rue was unconcerned - but Rue had to have known.

The Princess cleared her throat, "Alfred - baron Talos's room is free - you will have to avoid captain Blake, but I hear that you can be very sneaky if you want to be."

Alfred and Heppi smiled to each other and kissed on the lips. The quickly took up Rue on her offer.

Then Rue sucked air through her teeth, "ooh - I should have asked then to see doctor Forest first."

Blossom folded her hands behind her back, "There is nothing to worry about - Heppi is only in her first stage of puberty."

Melissa's eyes stayed focused on the doorway through which Alfred and Heppi exited, "Why is there a goblin here?"

Rue nodded solemnly. "Well, why don't we have some more tea, and I will tell you."

Melissa felt tense, she saw the pot of tea and thought that is might calm her, Starshine flew in between her hand and the pot. "Wait! Don't drink that!"

Melissa started, "But Rue said we could."

"Yes but its -uh - *cold* - yep its cold out side can't drink cold tea - no ma'am!"

Rue folded her arms, "Did you put something in the tea Starshine?" the princess started to tap her foot.

"Mmmmaybe?"

"Melissa smell the tea - but don't drink it."

Melissa sniffed, "Apples."

Morgan sniffed the tea, "pears - hey just like your missy juice!"

Leah scratched her head, "Her what?"

Blossom was matter of fact, "Her vaginal fluid. Possibly as a base of some kind of love potion. According to what I have been taught, the fluid of a virgin is especially potent."

Morgan could not help but giggle.

Blossom added, "But it's not absolutely necessary."

Rue just shook her head and gave Starshine a cross look, "That was not very nice, you cannot add love potions to the tea. You are supposed to get their permission first."

Starshine stared at the floor, "Well I remembered you telling Alfred you were going to marry him. I couldn't let that happen!"

"Starshine what you did was not nice at all - how do you think they will feel when it wears off?"

Starshine's voice was almost inaudible, "I dunno."

Barbara broke in, "My guess is that it won't be a big deal - it will be like when my mother wakes up with some *thing* she just slept with after a night of heavy drinking."

Blossom sighed, "Trying to separate them will not work - so long as they are under its effect they will be completely convinced they are madly in love."

Rue's cross stare seemed to become more intense somehow, "Starshine, we are still friends - but I am very *disappointed* with you. I need you to leave the palace."

"When - when can I come back?"

"One week."

Starshine did not argue, she just dove into the floor and disappeared.

*****

It was not unusual for the nobles during the Witan meetings to take little trips during the lulls in activity, so no one thought it the least bit odd that Ariel took her carriage out from the palace for a little day trip..

The City of Thol, near the palace, inside the inner walls, was a place of clean, orderly roads and neat, clean, marble buildings and nice, quaint little shops, and nice, clean, well mannered people.

Pass outside the inner wall and you still saw a nice, clean, street, and clean shops and so forth - so long as you stayed on the Queen's Way, the east west road that cut through the city.

But she did not stay on the Queen's Way. The land outside the inner wall is for the most part very hilly, the city core was built on a flat area surrounded by hills forming a kind of natural wall. And although the land across the Queen's Way was carefully leveled, the area beyond was not.

Houses built by successive generations of refugees and immigrants had lead to some very eccentric construction on the tops, on the slopes, and sometimes right inside the hills. Sometimes made of stone and sometimes of clay brick, or wood plaster - sometimes mismatched bits of all three.

Ariel considered it to be an unruly slum - though she was sure that a bleeding heart like Mavere would have admired the local's ingenuity.

The place stunk both to high Heaven and low Hell, why didn't anyone clean this place?

Oh that's right she voted down the public sanitation initiative.

She looked for the restaurant, "The Fall Inn".

Talos said she wouldn't be able to miss it.

She saw it and the eccentricity of it seemed like something that would appeal to Talos.

The sign showed a man falling into a pit, and the restaurant itself had apparently been built on an unstable foundation, because the front end had sunk partway into the ground, necessitating building a door in the roof.

When the carriage stopped in front of the establishment she let herself out and was greeted by the smell of both animal and human waste. There were chickens and pigs roaming freely on the streets.

No one took notice of her. Her guards, dressed in black with the symbol of an adder on their chest (a symbol both she and her rivals said suited her), stepped to each side of her as she entered the establishment.

A steeply sloped floor with stairs set into it allowing customers and staff to move up and down. Broader steps (Platforms? Shelves?) upon which tables and chairs were set. And some kind of rail set into the wall

People sitting at the tables shouted out drink orders. A burly man and a chubby woman poured drinks and let them slide down the rails. Then the customers would let their money slide further down into an unseen container where the coins would make a "chink chink* sound.

Waitresses stepped out of the (presumably flat) kitchen at the top of the stairs with food orders.

A handsome young man with an oh so cheerful face approached them, "Three for an early dinner? Or just drinks? I should tell you tomorrow is Barbarian Buffet Wednesday. All you can eat for five copper commons. Although there is a ten percent gratuity if you bring a troll - they have *really* big appetites."

"I am looking for a man, Talos, he said he would meet me here."

"He rented a side room - right at the top of the stairs. If you need me my name is Chris."

Ariel was certain she wouldn't be needing him.

She had the guards stand outside the door. And *no* they were not coming back for Barbarian Buffet Wednesday.

The rented room was flat, an island of sanity in the insane restaurant.

"Why this retched place?"

Talos was a handsome man, the same age as Mavere, fit and sleek with a tightly cropped black beard, "Because, no one would expect us to be here. And its Two for One Tuesday.", the laugh sounded forced

"We had a deal - why did you change sides?"

"The Queen is going to make me a better offer. My son is to marry Rue. Well, she hasn't agreed yet, but she will, if she wants to stop your plan for world conquest."

"Mavere's not stupid - she won't believe it."

"She's probably not sure what to believe right now. Her childhood friend betraying her. Is that what this is about?, She didn't choose you? You know the only man she ever loved was her father. Even Edward only has her respect."

"Something is coming - like a jackal it lurks in the shadows, picks off the weak,, nibbles at leaves and branches of our family. He will soon go for the root. He will come out of the shadows. And when he does he will go straight for the throne, and whomever is sitting on it will be killed.

Once that happens the kingdom will be thrown into disarray - if Mavere is baroness then she can call the barons together again, Even Edward might be able to do it. But I can't. But I can die for them - die for my country. And if they want to see it as a usurper getting his just desserts, all the better."

"Oh of course this is about *patriotism*. And I assume you have proof of this lurking predator?"

"No - at least none she will believe. But the attack on Helmut - that was a warning."

"Well let's assume you are right and there is some evil person lurking in the shadows, so what? I can kiss his posterior as much as yours or Mavere's. And apparently siding with you risks my life."

"Don't you care about anything other than yourself?"

"I try not to, really. I make an effort to *not* care. I care nothing for my idiot husband. My daughters I had arranged politically convenient marriages for. I care nothing for them - and they return the favor. I have yet to see any of my grandchildren.

I love my son - and even him I tried, really *tried* not to. Once you care about something other than yourself, someone will use it against you. They will hold it hostage, threaten it, and then they control you. But I try not to be hypocritical about it - unless hypocrisy is somehow useful to me."

Talos grumbled and drank his drink." And who cares about you?"

"Alfred does. And that is enough for me."

"And what if it isn't enough for him?"

"If its not a danger a threat to my Alfred or me - then let the world burn."

***

In the convent there was routine, stability, not many new faces, not many tearful goodbyes. Aside from the occasional girl sent on retreat (many daughter's father were nervous about what went on inside the convent, others couldn't care less just so long as they didn't get pregnant), or an orphan girl adopted by the sisters to replenish their numbers.

The latter described Blossom. She could not remember having a mother or a father. Just the convent.

They played a game in the front yard, broad and filled with dry yellow leaves. A peasant game called "catch the hoop" - an old barrel hoop was tossed in the air, and girls ran squealing to catch it - and then fling it back up in the air.

No one kept score, though the endlessly nimble Leah impressed them all catching a hoop in mid summersault.

It seemed odd with all the wealth here they would end up playing a peasant's game.

Rue had given Blossom a sweater. The Paige (she would not be a novice until she was sixteen and old enough to take the vows) never considered herself soft, but the peasant girl moved in the autumn cool in her short skirt as if the cool, wet air didn't touch her.

Or else she was starting to enjoy the looks she was getting. And what if she did?

She had always imagined peasants as being worn and ragged - aged beyond their years by endless toil. But instead that life seemed to give the girl a fit, toned body. The long brown hair flowed like water, no sign of snarls, probably carefully combed and washed each morning.

She suspected from the lack of tan lines on her fair skin she must normally wear much more conservative clothing.

Blossom of the plain face and the plain dress. Not even as lovely as a peasant girl. But then she was supposed to develop her inner beauty.

Blossom turned away. She didn't want to embarrass the girl by staring at her.

"Blossom!", Leah shouted at her, the priestess in training jumped and the hoop landed at her feet.

Morgan tried to do a handstand like Leah, but fell over on the wet leaves, " *umf!* You're supposed to catch it on the stick silly!"

"Sorry - I was distracted.", Blossom had friends in the convent - but she never really *played* - running around with sticks in the yard, this, more than any conspicuous show of wealth, would be the greatest moment in the party. To just be a *girl* for a few minutes.

Barbara shouted from the distance, "Will you just toss it!"

Blossom threw it as high as she could and they all ran squealing.

Rue's plan was a noble one - they were the first generation after the war, the first with no living memory of violence between their races, the first that might be able to forgive.

Melissa had told them the stories she'd been told. The people of the countryside would be slower to forgive, unlike the city dwellers, safe behind thick stone walls, the peasants had direct contact with them. She had family who'd lost brother's and sisters. Aunt's, uncles, cousins.

Stories of losses to spears and arrows, and death by starvation in the winter that followed.

Melissa had pointed to her head, "I know up here that Heppi is innocent. And my father told me to judge someone by what they *do* not what they look like - but."

The Princess also was forced to "come out" about more intimate things - a fairy potion enhancing her missy fluids. Though the princess was mysterious about *why*.

Blossom's chest burned, Barbara's own generous bosom was heaving, the paige sat near the older girl. Then she lay down in the cool wet grass.

There was a pause in the game as Leah tried to teach Morgan how to do a handstand.

Blossom scooted closer to the older girl, "Have you ever?"

"Oh I'm not a virgin. But I skipped the drinking bit - I seen my mom throwing up enough. Though I was made to make a promise not to embarrass my mother."

"Oh so you cannot seduce any of us? Just like the princess."

Barbara rolled her eyes, "Sorry - I don't swing that way. Are there any *boy* Assurites?"

"Yes, there is a monastery some five days travel from here."

"That's my new fantasy - trapped in the Assurite monastery. A helpless young girl surrounded by amorous men on all sides - oh dear me. Oh no - no more - well alright, maybe a *little* more."

Blossom giggled to herself, "They would never touch you without your permission. Besides, most of them favor men."

"Well that would a little frustrating for me. I sound like a slut don't I?"

Blossom smiled, "No one is judging you. Besides none of the girls here seems innocent."

Leah did a backflip, "I'm innocent!"

Barbara rolled her eyes, " Uh huh - I'll bet half the dresses in my closet that you did not *accidentally * forget your underpants. I bet you're a little show off."

"But I *did* forget!"

Barbara put her arm around Blossom and pulled her close, the paige accepted the spontaneous affection without complaint. "And of course we caught Morgan and Melissa in the act."

Melissa blushed, Morgan shrugged.

Barbara continued, "The princess has already confessed being - how do I say this in a nice way. Mind you any word I use could be applied to me."

Princess Rue smiled, "My mother prefers to call me 'sexually precocious'."

Barbara nodded, "I would like to use that if I could. And our goblin friend is probably losing it as we speak - assuming she brought it with her in the first place."

Princess Rue joined the other girls on the leafy ground, " My grandmother told my mother innocence isn't about sex, its believing nothing bad can ever happen to the people you love. People will only die of old age surrounded by friends."

Melissa had lost her innocence, by that definition, about a month before. But the farm girl just let it alone.

Melissa and Morgan joined the others. Soon they all lay like spokes of a wheel on the ground.

Blossom liked the feel, it was kind of intimate.

Barbara played with Blossom's hair. "So I am sure you have had adventures that make us all look like -", Barbara had to pause because "innocent " and "nun" no longer meant what they usually did. "Prudes."

Blossom sighed, " Contrary to what many may think the convent is not one long lesbian orgy. I study and pray and meditate. I have not had a lover. We are supposed to focus on inner beauty, but still I cannot help but think -

"Oh *please*, men will do it with anything that stands still long enough. You are going to do fine. Alfred needed no potion to make out with a goblin - just permission. Sometimes they don't even wait for that."

The gates squeaked open, and the clop-clop of horses. The adder symbol on the side.

Barbara lifted her head, "Princess - who's carriage it that?"

Rue shielded her eyes, "That's Ariel - she probably went shopping in town."

Leah did a cartwheel past them and jumped to her feet, "Last minute birthday present?"

Rue smiled, "One can only hope."

Ariel got out of her carriage, one of her guards was munching on a meat pie.

They spoke loudly enough that they could overhear one of the guards, "Baroness, they said it was on the house. And I was *starving*."

"What are you? *Five*?"

"Forgive my lack of discipline, mistress!", absent mindedly the guard saluted with his pie - bits of spiced pork splatted on his helmet.

They marched inside.

Blossom bit her lip, "How will the baronness feel about, you know?"

Rue smoothed her dress, "Well Alfred tattled on me yesterday when he caught Morgan and me."

Barbara sighed, "Ahh - a peeker. I have a cousin like that."

Rue propped herself on one arm, "She seemed pretty relaxed about it. She even yelled at him for invading our privacy. So maybe it won't be a big deal."

They got up again, to continue their game, troubles forgotten for a moment.

Then they heard Ariel scream.

***

*I had sex. *, Alfred just tried to wrap his mind around it. Even at his young age he was convinced that this activity was just something that other people would do.

He had expected Rue and her new cohort of friends to jump in on him in the middle of the act.

He took precautions - mother had left two guards behind and they would be able to keep out the little princess.

Still - he supposed he *could* avoid calling Rue a whore, or attacking the help (he did sort of throw the first punch) - or things of that general nature.

Heppi was nibbling on his neck again, Alfred was going to have to wear high necked collars for a while, but it was worth it. Those erotic nibbles had brought him back more than a few times.

The downy white fur that covered the goblin's body actually felt nice, and she made a strange barking sound when she was excited, that the guards had to have heard it and had to know what was going on.

Still if they can keep quiet about father's love of various livestock, they can keep quiet about this.

"Hepfred of the Happy Forever."

Alfred turned and faced the odd animal face - a face that became more beautiful every time he looked at it. "Hepfred?"

"Alfred -" Heppi picked up Alfred's hand, "Heppi," clasping them together "Hepfred."

"Like 'Benifer'?"

"Yes! Yes!" smiling wickedly.

"You cannot want to do it *again *"

"Hepfred of the Again and Again and Again!", that strange saw tooth panting Alfred assumed must be laughter.

He pulled her close and stroked her, "What is with the names.You keep giving yourself new titles all the time."

"Heppi of the today not the same goblin as Heppi of the tomorrow, and Alfred of the today not the same as the Alfred of the Yesterday and the Tomorrow."

"Alfred of the Yesterday wasn't a very nice person."

Heppi smiled, " All the Heppis will meet all the Alfreds.", she then suckled on one of his nipples.

Alfred wondered if the goblin had some kind of spiritual power - because she could unfailingly bring back the dead.

Then just as he closed his eyes and let Heppi have her way, the door burst open.

***

Rue and her guests found their way to Alfred's love nest, Ariel was shouting at her son - she was *not* happy one bit.

Heppi was in the hall dressing, in front of four guards that stood like statues. One still had a bit of pork on his helmet.

"Ariel of the get Much Shouting does not like Hepfred."

Leah raised an eyebrow, "Hepfred?"

Blossom explained, "Goblins believe lovers move through life with a single identity. So they have a couple name."

"That's kind of sweet."

Barbara mimicked sticking a finger down her throat.

Heppi finished buttoning her dress, " Ariel of the ' Get hands off my son!' still mad when Heppi use her mouth. Ariel of the Should be More Specific."

The shouting could be heard in the hallway.

"But mother - I love her!"

"No you don't, You cannot possibly care for *that*."

Heppi's ears perked up, "Alfred of the Fights for Hepfred."

Ariel knew she had eavesdroppers so she stuck her head outside, "Princess - I would like some privacy - if you please."

Rue stood firm, "I might remind you that yesterday -"

"Princess - don't make me call your nanny."

Rue stared at the baroness - she knew the woman would carry out her threat.

As the two nobles tried to stare each other down there was the ringing of bells. Maids moving through the halls ringing handbells.

At long last - dinner was served.