12 Fanfic Roses: "Kushiel's Legacy" -- "In Trutina" (Melisande/Phedre -- R)

[matrixrefugee]

This has, so far, been the most embarrassing -- and exciting -- to type. I've never written in this fandom before, and I've never really written this kind of relationship before, either, so I'm delighted to have had my boundaries challenged.

A red rose and a white rose tied together with a golden silk ribbon, for Henry and Monica Swinton;
A tiny pink rosebud and a thick thorny stem without any blossoms at all for Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru
A rose so dark a red that it is almost maroon, with heavy thorns hidden under its lush green leaves, and a brighter red rose with few thorns, tied together with a delicate silver chain, for the Merovingian and Neo
A twig of pink and a twig of white wild roses, with thick, brambly stems, bound together with a red velvet cord, for Phedre no Delaunay and Melisande Shahrizai.

"In Trutina"

by "Matrix Refugee"

Author's Note: This the first time I have ever attempted femslash and so I'm heading into virgin territory (hah!), and while I'm a little shaky about writing this fic, I love the pairing too much to resist writing it. Written for tomboy_typist and based on the prompt "caresses; every touch you give me steals my breath away"

Rating: R (knifeplay with some blood, tasteful BDSM situation)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Kushiel's Legacy”, its characters, settings, concepts or other indicia, which are the property of Jacqueline Carey, Grand Central Publishing, et al

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The Yeshuites write in their scriptures of a saying of Yeshua ha Mashiach, "Let not your right hand know what your left hand doeth." That night, Melisande practised this principle in her own fashion, playing on my nerves like a harpist plucking the strings of a fine instrument. I was that instrument, well-crafted and tuned by Delaunay's training. Her hand left hand ran along one of my arms, from my shoulder up to my bound wrists, her touch as light as swan's down, as I knelt with my back to her; but her right hand skimmed the edge of a dagger's blade along the outside of my other arm. The touch of her hand ignited my senses, but the caress of the dagger, the danger that its keen edge promised, inflamed my heart.

She turned the blade onto its point as she reached the outside of my wrist. Then leaning in closer, she whispered into my ear, "Which do you prefer, my pet: the touch of my hand or the bite of my dagger?"

I hesitated, my breath caught in my throat, bottling in my words; I licked my lips, a half sigh escaping them. I could not tell you, in that moment, which was more dangerous, the dagger or the woman who wielded it. I knew too well that despite her silken touch, the woman who knelt behind me could wreak more havoc, if she so willed, than an invading Skaldi horde, and she knew that I knew this. If she so willed, she could turn the blade against my throat and slice it open, silencing me; and yet she knew that I held the Queen's ear and that my destruction would not go unpunished, not in this life, nor in the one to come, should she, as a Kushieline, let one of his chosen come to harm.

"Do I leave you without the use of your tongue?" she asked, her hand shifting to caress the hollow at the base of my throat as her other hand brought the point of the dagger to touch the tip of my chin. "Which pleases you more?" she asked again.

I found my tongue at last. "Both please me in their own way, my lady."

"But is that what you desire or is it what you wish me to hear?" she asked. I had no reply for that question, as pointed and piercing as the dagger in her hand.

She laughed in her throat and turning my head so that I face her, she leaned down to kiss me, her other hand shifting just enough to prick the tip of my chin with the dagger. I gasped against her mouth as the smell of my blood rose in my nostrils and my ears echo with the clanger of bronze wings...

Comments

[northernwalker]

Sexy, and scary kinky. Letting Melisande anywhere near me with a blade would get the adrenaline up, but the panic attack that follows would not be sexy. :(

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

She has that effect on me, too, though I have to admit, there's a part of me that's as besotted with her as Phedre is. "Scary kinky" was about the effect I was going for: Melisande is a scaaaary lady.

[whensheflies.livejournal.com]

You've got Phedre's voice down perfectly!

So sexy. Thanks for sharing.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

:: Bows, blushing:: I wasn't completely sure if I had or not, since Phedre has such an ornate way of speaking, one of the things I love the most about the series.

[tomboy-typist.livejournal.com]

.... DUUUUUUDE. Your Phedre voice is. Just. *guh* I love this. I do. And your Melisandre is perfect. And and and. *flails*

Also, poke at me if I miss a prompt I gave you? Because it's hard to keep track these days. >.>

*snugs you lots and dashes off*

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Hee, I was going to toss you a note today that I'd managed to get this fic posted, but you beat me to it. :: Laughs gently:: I'll be sure and give you a heads-up next time.

And I am so stunned at how well this fic came out and how much people it's struck the right chords with everyone who's read it: I'll admit, I was a little shaky when I saw the prompt, and I'd had something else in mind when I started to write it, but then the line about your left hand not knowing what your right hand is doing came into my head and I just took it from there.

[tomboy-typist.livejournal.com]

Naaaw, you really did a good job. I'm actually jealous of your Phedre voice. XD Seriously, it was great. Needsmoarfic. *cute puppy eyes?*

[jailbaitjello.livejournal.com]

People have commented on how awesome your Phedre voice is. I concur, and add that your Melisande voice is fantastic as well. (I confess that I too am besotted with Melisande. She is quite possibly the most fascinating antagonist I've read in years.)