[ WP ] Whilst having a demon for a girlfriend is n't always the best , the benefits are well worth it

`` Open the gate.'' 
 
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 Frederick stood alone in the small circle of yellow light cast by the covered lanterns hanging from oak posts either side of the castle gate. 
 
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 `` Muh?'' the guard murmured as he awoke suddenly from half sleeping with his back against the huge, iron barred door, his brimmed helmet tilted forward over his eyes. He went through several states of formality in one second, from a sleeping baby to standing-to-attention-in-front-of-the-king, to a state of battle ready rage, and finally to a surly and unpleasant aloofness when he realised who woke him. 
 
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 `` Here, you're that bard from The Blue Boar aint you? What do you want?'' 
 
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 `` I want you to open the gate for me'', Frederick replied, keeping his voice in the gregarious tone he used for his performances. He was far from being this man's friend but he had met him several times over the month he had spent in North Orchard, playing nightly at the inn where he stayed in lieu of paying for his board and meals. The guard's name was William. He had a narrow, bony face like a flint axe and a receding brown and grey hairline, he was some six feet tall, and wiry like a greyhound. Frederick had chosen him because he was the least religious of the guards, never coming to a single mass all month, so that would make things easier. 
 
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 `` Why, what is your business? It is n't morning yet and no runners were sent you. What the devil is your business?'' 
 
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 Frederick could n't help but crack a smile at that, as regretful as he was, that was delightfully appropriate. He took a deep breath in, thought to himself, *go on then darling*, and exhaled slowly. It did n't feel as bad as he thought. 
 
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 William jerked suddenly as if a rock had fallen onto his helmet from the parapets high above. Every muscle in his body became as stiff as rigor mortis, and his breathing came in short, agonising gasps. Blood vessels bulged in his neck and forehead and his fists and eyes clenched shut. Finally with a great sigh of relief he relaxed and his eyes opened, vacant. 
 
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 **I am here** 
 
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 He spoke. His voice was smooth like ashes and was as warm as woodsmoke, and it resounded in Frederick's head like a funeral bell. `` My love!'' he exclaimed joyfully, and ran to him, wrapping his arms around William's armoured body, looking up into his darkening eyes. 
 
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 **He does not feel as good as you, sweet** 
 
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 Frederick blushed, and William slowly bent down and tenderly kissed him on the mouth. `` Bathsheba, my love'' Frederick whispered, and lay his head against the demon-host's chest. Frederick had become possessed three years ago. He was had been a wandering musician, living a simple life. He earned just enough by his wits to eat and survive until then next coin was given him. One night in thirty he would have enough to drink and laugh with some strangers, a rare a welcome taste of being without cares. But he had no close friends. He wandered to survive, for no inn would ever give him the security and happiness he craved. 
 
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 He had been singing and playing his mandolin in some small pub in Westmire when they came, the two most beautiful women he ever saw. One had eyes like emeralds and hair like flames, and the other had the sea of summer in her eyes, and her hair was a moon-shone night. They said their names were Bathsheba and Jezebel, and they had come to hear him play because they had heard tell from some travellers that a wonderful, handsome, and talented bard had come. They danced with him and laughed and talked and drank all night until Frederick confided in Bathsheba that he wanted to become rich and famous and never have to worry about anything again. Bathsheba pulled him close, so he could smell her shining hair, and whispered in his ear, `` I will make it so''. They lay together that night, and when Frederick awoke the next morning, neither of the beautiful strangers were to be found, and the landlord could not recall ever seeing such people. 
 
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 At first Frederick was upset at having lost this wonderful woman, and then he grew angry, and then he grew obsessed, raving night after night about the woman who stole his heart. He stopped playing, instead going from town to town searching every inn and every market, asking priests and fishwives, bakers and beggars if they had seen or heard of the beautiful Bathsheba. One cold winter night he ran out of silver to pay for a bed, and slept instead in a stable. And that is when he heard her. 
 
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 **I am here, Frederick, and I love you. Now do as I say and you will have me and all that you desire** 
 
 And so here he was, at the north-west gate of the King's castle. 
 
 The demon-host William turned and strode to the wooden door. It raised Its mailed fist and slammed it three times against the planks, hard enough to raise splinters. 
 
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 **Follow me and do as I say** 
 
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 `` Yes my love'', Frederick whispered again, his heart thumping in his chest. The port in the door snapped open, showing the face of Lewis, another patron of The Blue Boar. He looked out in puzzlement, with the same urgency and confusion William had experienced shortly before. In an instant Lewis threw the bar of the door and heaved it aside with strength Frederick had not expected from such an old man. He stood to the side holding the door open and raising a salute to the pair as the demon-host strode purposefully past with Frederick wandering like an acolyte behind. When he was past Frederick heard a noise like a pig biting a turnip. He turned his head and saw Lewis fall limply to the ground. Beneath his helmet was a stew of red meat and white bone. Lewis was a Godly man. 
 
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 The pair swept through the castle like the wind through the ribs of a rotten ship. The portcullis was raised, doors were opened, salutes were given and stains were left wherever guards were met who had been to church in the past month. They came to the door of the King and Queen's chamber. Outside of the door the Household Guard stood. All four, two either side of the arched door, all of a height at six and a half feet, all wearing polished steel breastplates etched with ornamentation and inlaid with the royal coat of arms in gold leaf, mother of pearl, onyx, jasper, and malachite, and in each of their hands they held a long fan flared partisan with a red tassel hanging from the head. When they heard the footsteps they stood smartly at the ready. From the shadows before them in the dark hallway a single silhouette emerged, and stopped. A second, shorter figure peered out from behind It. `` Who is this? What is your business? ``, one asked sternly. When no answer came he asked again, `` in the name of the Ki-'', his breath was cut short, and he fell with a clatter to the carpeted floor. The guardsman to his side placed a foot on his back and snatched his partisan from where it was buried in the nape of the other's neck. A third guardsman opened the door to the pitch darkness of the royal chamber. 
 
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 **Wait here** 
 
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 Frederick waited, and waited, and waited in the spice smelling, carpet hushed darkness outside the King's chamber, with three iron giants breathing uneasily around him. 
 
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 **Come in** 
 
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 One of them spoke. And gingerly he stepped forward into the obliterating blackness of the room, and the door closed behind him. A flame appeared in the darkness, suddenly illuminating a figure near the hearth. The hearth crackled to life and before him stood the beautiful Bathsheba, bathed in the radiant red light of the fire, and by her stood the King and Queen, both grey, both flabby, both vacant eyed, and stiff. Frederick's face twitched into an uncertain smile. 
 
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 **Now for your reward my love, that you have always desired** 
 
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 `` Bathsheba, my love, I am so happy to see you again, but I don't-'', his voice cut off, his mouth closed and his body jerked. The King, approached him and stiffly, went to one knee. 
 
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 In the bright, fresh morning the marketplace bustled with news. `` Hear yea, hear yea! ``, the red faced crier cried in the square, shaking his brass bell with a smile. `` The King's secret heir is returned, schooled abroad for safety he came in the night accompanied by his devilishly beautiful betrothed. The coronation of the new King shall be announced anon!'' 
 

