She drowns her woes in the salty ale
Her tears and the spirit tastes just the same
The walls have grown taller each day
Ivy covers the dusty lattices.

Her pallid face gleams like the moon
'bitch,' 'murderess', 'monster',
The whispers have been unkind as she languishes in this tomb
It is only me, her, and the darkness and naught, another soul in this room.

A wealthy widow with lands far and wide
Rumours work just as well as might
A flick of wrist, and Voila!
The queen topples from her throne.

Devil spawn who bathes in virgin blood
That's what they told in front of the court
Filthy demoness, a blight on god's world
May her face be seen nevermore.

So here we are, she and I
The maid and countess and this ceaseless evening
I rest my head on her lap as she weeps
The goblet drops, the spirits wasted.

Blood dribbles down from her bitten lip
I wipe them off with my thumb
Leaning close, I kiss her on the lips
So warm, soft, and pliant under my own.

"Milady," I whisper against the shell of her ear
My voice breaks as she wistfully smiles
Our lives flashes in front of my eyes
The good, the bad, and the very worst.

I remember the times we made love
Hidden under the thick furs in the refuge of the night
I could hardly suppress my shameless moans as she ravished me
Her mouth on my swollen bud, hands between my thighs.

I remember the longing glances and smiles
Of the gentle mornings after those wild nights
We would hold hands beneath the table
Stations forgotten in the heat of desire.

It was forbidden but so good
I would die for her, kill for her too
Maybe I should have brought perjury upon my soul
And poisoned every last one of those lying fools.

We rest our foreheads against the other
Knowing nothing now can tear us asunder
If this is the way, I must die
Lord, let me relive this life a thousand times.

~•~