MIDSUMMER’S COURT (part 7 of 14)

[sidhe_faerie]

 ~~~~<O 7 O>~~~~ 

“Well?” Queen Taralen asked her daughter as she entered the Queen’s study.

“She looks beautiful in the ball gown and everything is on track for her wedding.” Princess Cara sat in a chair by the hearth. “I think we should tell her.”

“Why? It will only make her flee. She’ll go on one of those ridiculous quests of hers. She’s getting too old to be running around waving a sword at things.” The Queen thought for a moment. “I want you to talk to her about her training.”

“What about her training?” Princess Cara asked.

“She needs to stop that nonsense. It does not look well for a future Queen to be playing at soldiering.”

“She won’t stop. Mother, I think she should train. What if we are invaded? Atlantis will be too far away to help us.”

“Have you heard anything?” The Queen looked up from her paper work and frowned.

“No but the Northern Realm heard nothing either before they were attacked by the Fomors.”

“It’s unseemly. She will be a Queen not a Captain of the Sidhe Guard.”

“It may be necessary for the security of our Realm. She will most likely give it up when she becomes a mother. She will have no choice then.”

“Then say nothing for now and pray she gets with child quickly. Have you heard from Prince Brandon?”    

“Yes. He is very eager to meet her. A bit too eager I think.”

“He has no crown coming his way. What do you expect? There are few choices for a male Sidhe. What’s he going to do marry a Tylwyth Teg Princess or one of those Peri Princesses?”        

“Royal blood is Royal blood, Mother.”

“She needs a Sidhe husband. The blood must be pure for her children to inherit.”

“My blood isn’t pure and I’m the Crown Princess.”

“No one knows that but the two of us. Her children will have less of the mundane blood if she weds a full sidhe.”

“What if she doesn’t like him?”

“He’s a dashing prince. What’s not to like? Besides whom else will she marry? One of her questing friends? As far as I know she doesn’t have any Sidhe questing friends, does she?”

“Most of them are different races. I believe the only Fae she quests with is Dionne and that dark Fae Dulcina.”

"Hmph." The Queen rose and joined her daughter at the hearth. “That is another thing. She keeps company with some of the most questionable creatures. Marriage, I hope, will settle her down.”

“I wouldn’t count on it. She’s very open minded.”

“That was your doing. Lord Draconis sent me an invitation to Aura’s wedding. I will not attend but you will take a gift for them. I’m having a crystal platter commissioned for them.”

“I’m sure Aura will love it. It’s just what she needs for biscuits at tea in her cottage.”

“Stop being ridiculous. I’m sure they will live in the palace.” 

“They will not. Aura is the High Priestess of Una. She cannot give up her position.”

“That was Lord Draconis’ fault for having her trained as such.”

“What choice did I give him? I left her there and came back here. He had to do something.”

“Let us hope that you are the only Princess of this Realm that will make a poor choice in husband.”

Princess Cara stood up and walked to the door. “Just so you know, I don’t regret any of my daughters or my time with their fathers.” She left before the Queen could respond.

The Queen glared at the empty door way. She was not as cold as her daughter might think. 

PART 8