The next evening Reign and Elizabeta awoke. “Are you okay this evening my love?” Reign asked. Elizabeta just looked at Reign, not recognizing him at all.  Sarah walked into the bedroom with their usually glasses. “Is she any better this evening M’Lord?” Sarah asked handing Reign his glass. “I’m afraid not Sarah.” He said taking a drink from his glass. Reign handed his glass back to Sarah. “Sarah hold on to this please, I am going to sit Elizabeta up so she can drink pure blood and not in the wine, perhaps it might help.” He said. Sarah nodded and took Reign’s glass and watch as he sat her up in bed. Sarah took the other glass and gave it to Elizabeta “M’Lady please drink this it will help.” She said putting the glass her hand. Elizabeta looked at the glass and at the liquid and again drank as if her thirst was unquenchable. 

After Elizabeta finished the glass she blinked her eyes and looked at Reign and Sarah. “What happen, how did I get here?” she said looking around.  Reign looked at her “Elizabeta do you know where you are?” Reign asked.  Elizabeta looked at him “Did the drugs effect me as well?” she asked. Reign breathed a sigh of relief and hugged Elizabeta. “Yes they did my love.” He said smiling. “It took you drinking some pure blood to undo the effects of the drugs.” He said. 

 Elizabeta nodded and smiled. “I am so glad that I was able to go and wreak havoc on the village before I fell into this stupor.” She said laying back in bed. 

“I am just glad that you were able to snap out of it as well.” Sarah said. Elizabeta smiled and hugged Sarah. “Thank you for being there and warning Reign.” She said. Sarah smiled. “What are you going to wear tonight?” Sarah asked. “Today is the day the Kiria berries are ready to be picked.” She said digging through Elizabeta armoire. “Oh Sarah you’re right today is the day isn’t it.” She said sitting up and sliding out of the bed. Reign got out of bed and looked around the room. “Where is Micah?” he asked. “He is getting the servants ready for the Kiria berry picking M’Lord.” Sarah said looking over her shoulder. “He knew that you were wanting to take care of Lady Elizabeta so he got everyone together last night and got everything coordinated for tonight’s festivities.” She said. Reign nodded and got dressed. “I will meet you ladies out in the berry patch.” Reign said walking out the door.

The ladies continued to dig through the armoire and when they came a royal purple dress they both knew that this was the one that she was going to wear tonight. Elizabeta hurried and put it on. Sarah did her hair adding two Amethyst combs to her hair and she was ready to go.

They both walked out the door and into the garden where they saw every single servant, including Reign with a basket and they were going over each Kiria berry bush picking. Sarah and Elizabeta both picked up the last two baskets and they began picking the ripe blue berries.  Sabin sat at the end of the berry row watching Elizabeta picking the berries.

Every time a basket became full they walked over to a large bowl with a pipe attached at one side leading into the castle and two servants inside pushing the berries down into the pipe.  Three more servants were inside on the other end of the pipe and they were making sure that the berries did get caught up in tube, and they pushed them into three large barrels where three more servants danced inside crushing the berries into juice.

Reign and Elizabeta took a break from picking berries and went inside the castle and down into the room where the berries where being crushed.  Elizabeta put her finger into the juice and then licked her finger. “Ahhh so sweet.” She said smiling and putting her finger back into the juice and then she bent down so Sabin could lick the juice off her finger.   She turned and looked at Reign, “Do you think that the draining is complete?” she asked grabbing Reign’s hand and pulling him out the door. “I suppose it should be.” He said going along willingly.  Sabin barked excitedly and ran into the sitting room and sat down in front of the painting and waited for them to catch up.

Once they got into the sitting room they walked over to the painting and opened it up and Sabin ran down the hall to the room and again waited for them to come down the stairs.  Reign pushed on the door and it slid open and all three of them walked into the room. The burly attendant bowed to them. “The draining is complete.” He said walking over to the dozen large barrels. “Wonderful!” Elizabeta said clapping her hands together and walked over to the barrels. “Well then I guess it is time to take a few of these barrels up to the fermenting room.” Reign said walking over to a cord hanging in the corner and he pulled on it.

A few minutes later four well muscled servants came into the room. When they walked into the room they bowed to them. “Would you please take one barrel each up to the fermenting room?” Reign asked. “Yes M’Lord.” All four of them said in unison.  Then they walked over to the barrels and they each picked up one and headed out the door with Sabin leading the way.  Elizabeta giggled and followed the servants.

Reign stayed behind and talked with the attendant. Elizabeta followed the servants up to the fermenting room and made sure that the barrels got put where they needed to be. “Now that, this is done would you please go down and pick up the berry juice and bring them back up here. “Yes M’Lady.” They said in unison and they turned and walked out of the room and down the stairs.  Just as the servants walked out the door Reign walked in. “Well should we get the blood prepped?” he asked walking over to a small container and lifting the lid.  He pulled out a cloth bag and then walked over to the barrels he lifted the lids on two of them, and as he walked over to the third barrel the 4 servants walked into the room carrying eight large buckets of the berry juice.

They set the buckets on the large table that sat against the east wall. Three of them turned and bowed to Reign and Elizabeta and they walked out of the room.  The remaining servant lifted off the lids of the last two barrels. Reign walked over to the barrels and he reached into the cloth bag and pulled out a small cup and scooped out some cream colored powder and poured the contents into each barrel.  The remaining servant pulled out a long stick and started to stir, as he did this Reign walked over and picked up one of the buckets and started to slowly pour the berry juice into the barrel.  Once they had finished the one barrel they moved on to the other three. 

As they did this Elizabeta sat on the floor next to Sabin and started rubbing his head, and watched them.

Once they had finished mixing all the barrels they put the lids on the barrels and sealed them with wax and they set the barrels on their sides. Elizabeta then marked each barrel with a hot iron marking the moon phase that they were made, and then Elizabeta stood up and walked over to Reign and slipped her arm around his waist. Reign put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close and kissed her on top of the head.  

“Now that the picking is complete it is time to celebrate.” Reign said, and he looked at the servant. “Will you please take two of those barrels down stairs and put them into the dance hall.” Reign said. The servant bowed and picked up two barrels and walked out the door.  Elizabeta looked up at Reign and smiled. “I’ll go and get an orchestra together.” She said kissing Reign on the cheek. As she was just about to walk away Reign took Elizabeta by the arm and pulled her back to him and lifted her chin and kissed her.  Elizabeta put her hands around his waist and moved in closer to him.  Reign broke the kiss and looked at her. “You know there is something that we have not done in a while.” He said with a sheepish grin.  Elizabeta smiled and looked at him. “What would that be?” She asked.  Reign grinned and swept her off her feet, and Elizabeta giggled.  Sabin barked and danced around at their feet and then ran down the stairs and to their bedroom.

Reign carried Elizabeta down the stairs and into their bedroom where there they found Sabin lying on the rug next to the large dressing mirror. Elizabeta giggled and then looked at Reign who laid her down ever so gently and laid down next to her and began kissing her and rubbing his hands over her mid section causing her to shiver. Elizabeta pulled Reign closer to her kissing deeply running her tongue over the sharp points of his teeth.  Reign reach up her skirt and pulled at her undergarments and slid them down her legs. He then undid himself and took Elizabeta by the hips and slid her gently onto him and there she rode him until they both were brought to a climax.  Elizabeta fells to the side of the bed and took a deep breath and smiled. “Yes, my love we have not done that in quite some time.” She said between breaths.

Reign just nodded, and looked out the window. “It nears dawn my love.” He said. “You get ready for our sleep and I am going to go down stairs and finish the final plans for the dance.” He said getting up and lacing himself back into his breeches.  Elizabeta took Reign by the hand, “Let Micah and Sarah take care of the finishing preparations, they know what they are doing, they have been in service with us long enough to know what is going on.” She said with a smile. Reign looked at her and smiled. “With those green eyes of yours I can not resist.” He said reaching up and undoing the belt. Elizabeta smiled and slide off the bed and began to undress.  Elizabeta looked at Sabin, “You know we should build a fireplace here in the bedroom for Sabin, so that he has something to keep warm while we sleep.” She said pulling her dress down over a wooden manikin. Reign nodded and folded his leather breeches and laid them over the back of the chair. He then pulled off his shirt and laid it over his breeches. “We will get a smithy down here to take a look around and to see where the best place for one in here is.” He said sliding into bed.  Elizabeta cuddled into Reign and the sun came over the horizon and the couple fell into their sleep.

To Chapter 11