DAMEISELE CWĒN (Damsel Queen) 8

 The Princess

Taralen continued to visit the mundane in the turret for three months until signs of being with child appeared. She and Miran went to the healer to confirm what she already knew to be true.

The healer examined her and stood back with a confused look on his face.

“What is it healer?” Taralen asked.

“You are with child but that cannot be.” The healer said.

“Am I not capable of being with child?” Taralen asked sarcastically.

“Yes My Lady. You are but you are not married and you have no known consort.” The healer said.

“I had a consort but he is now gone.” Taralen said. “He could not stay.”

“I see.” The healer looked at the floor.

“Other than that healer, is there anything else you wish to tell me?” Taralen asked him.

“You are in perfect health, My Lady. The child will be here in about six moons.” The healer said.

“Thank you.” Taralen left and headed to the throne room.

Miran followed her. “It must have happened on one of the first tries.”

“If I had known I could have spared myself most of the ordeal.” Taralen sighed. “I have put him in a deep sleep. He will not know the passage of time.”

“Has the healer asked why he is still here?” Miran asked.

“No. The old healer will not say anything. He knows that I will send him back to the Northern Court if he does.” Taralen said. “Caleb will stay for now.”

“You should send him back.” Moran said. “He has served his purpose.”

“If the child is male then do I send someone to fetch him back and try again? No. He stays. I need a Seer. I wish we had one here.” Taralen mused.

“Is there one in the Northern Court still?” Miran asked.

“I believe there is. I shall contact Anla and ask for the seer to be brought here. The last thing I need is for the Northern Court to know what is said. I remember the servants gossiped horribly.” Taralen made a face.

Miran laughed. “All servants gossip horribly. The trick is to never give them any reason to gossip.”

Taralen smiled. “That is easier said than done Miran. I have to sit Court. I will contact Anla when I am done.”

“I need to get home. Sol is still ill.” Miran said. “The healer said it was his heart.”

“Go and give him my love.” Taralen said. “She hugged Miran and entered the throne room.”

Miran looked back at the young Queen and sighed before hurrying home to tend to her husband.

Taralen decided to say nothing about being with child. She would not make the announcement about the child she was carrying until it was obvious. If something happened and she lost the child, there would be no reason to get anyone’s hopes up of a royal heir.

After her duties were finished at Court, Taralen went to the tower where the scrying bowl sat on a pedestal. The servant that minded the bowl stood up and bowed to the Queen.

“Leave me.” Taralen said softly as she went to the bowl and poured water in.

The servant left quickly and shut the door behind her.

Taralen waved her hand over the bowl and the servant that minded the bowl in the Northern Court looked in from the other side.

“My Lady?” The girl asked.

“I need to speak to your Queen in private. Please fetch her for me. Taralen told the girl.

Yes my lady. The servant left and a few minutes later Queen Anla was looking at her.

“Taralen, what is it? Is there something wrong?” Queen Anla asked.

“Are you alone?” Taralen asked her cousin.

“One minute. Go. I will call for you when I am finished here.” Anla said to the servant.

There was the sound of a door closing on the other side.

Anla turned back to the bowl. “What is this about that it needed privacy?”

“I am with child. I haven’t made an announcement at Court and I wasn’t planning to have it gossiped about in two realms.” Taralen said.

“That is wonderful but I didn’t hear of a wedding.” Anla said.

“I didn’t marry I took a consort. It was foolish but he is gone and I am expecting a child. I wanted to ask about your Seer. Is the woman reliable? Taralen said.

“Yes. You want to follow the old tradition of consulting the Seer when you are with child. I understand. There are a few that still do this.” Anla said. “I think it’s better not to know.”

“I would too if I thought that this child would not be my only one. But I need to consult the woman and find out if the child is female.” Taralen said. “I want to ask you to send her here but I will come there if I have to.”

“No. I will send her tomorrow.” Anla smiled. “You will love being a mother. I have three and they are my joy even the male.”

“I shall remember that when I am having difficulties.” Taralen laughed. “I fear with no father, there will be many of them.”

“What happened to him?” Anla asked.

“He died.” Taralen lied. “He was a Tylwyth Teg and a common Fae.”

“As was your father but he was a great warrior. I hope this child’s father was as brave as yours.”

“He was. I shall await the Seer tomorrow and thank you Anla. I know we have never been close as cousins should but I am grateful for everything you have helped me with.” Taralen said with a smile.  

“It is nothing. We are family. Until next time, Taralen.” Anla smiled back.

“Yes until next time.” Taralen said as the image faded in the bowl.

She went to the door and opened it the servant was standing at the end of the hall.

“I am done you may resume your post.” Taralen said.

“Thank you My Lady.” The servant said.

Taralen went to her room to rest. To have been a long day and she would need to be well rested for the Seer tomorrow. 

The morning dawned grey and a kitchen maid brought Taralen’s breakfast.

“Where is Miran?” Taralen asked the girl.

“My Lady, she didn’t come to the castle this morning. Old Sol died last night. She is preparing for his burial.” The girl said.

“Have the gardener send over some flowers for her. She will need them for offerings. Send some grain and fruit as well.” Taralen said.

“Yes My Lady.” The kitchen maid bowed and left to relay the message.

Taralen looked out to the courtyard and saw the portal open and the Seer and the Seer’s slave come through.

The Northern Court still used slaves as servants but the practice had been abolished in the Southern Court during Queen Deidra’s time on the throne. All of the servants at the Southern Court were paid well and loyal to the Queen.       

The Seer was brought directly to the Queen’s chambers by the guards.

“I hear you require my services, My Lady.” The old Fae said.

“I do. I ask that your servant leave the room. I wish to speak to you in private.” Taralen said.

The seer nodded at the girl. “Go to the end of the hall and wait for me.”

The veiled Fae did as she was told shutting the door behind her.

The Seer pulled out her bowl from a large leather bag. “Do you have water, My Lady?”

“Yes I do.” Taralen brought a pitcher over to the table where the Seer sat the bowl.

“Hold out your hand I need a few drops of your blood.” The Seer said. “The fate of the child is in your blood as well as its own.”    

“How do you know about my child?” Taralen asked.

Queen Anla told me why you wished to see me. It was a wise move.” The Seer grinned. “I could have warned her about that male child but she does not follow the old ways. I think you do.”

“Yes. I wanted to take the veil and join the sisters at Tara when I was a girl.” Taralen said.

The Seer smiled a toothless smile. “That brings joy to my heart. Hold out your hand and we will begin.”

Taralen held out her hand and the Seer sliced her finger with a silver blade. The blood dripped into the water.

“Ah I see the child. She is a she.” The Seer told her. “She has the look of a Tylwyth Teg. She will be a troubled child.”

“What do you mean?” Taralen asked.

“She will have many questions but you will have no answers for her. She will seek them herself just after she turns of age. My Lady, she will be a great trial to you and will be a great disappointment. She will be the source of great pain but her youngest daughter will be your greatest joy.”

“I don’t understand.” Taralen said.

“She will never be a queen. Her powers will be weak and her will too strong. She will have three daughters but only one will be fathered by a Fae. That is the one that is to be the next queen.”

“Who will father the other two?” Taralen was confused.

“A dragon man will be their father. She will abandon them and return to you.” The Seer shook her head and sighed.

“Will they die before they become of age?” Taralen asked.

“No My Lady. They will have great power in their own right.” The Seer said. “That is all I can see but it is more than I expected.”

“Thank you. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that you must say nothing to anyone.” Taralen took a bag of gold from a chest and handed it to the Seer.

“My silence is assured.” The Seer said as she tested the weight of the bag in her hand. “I need to be on my way.”

“Of course.” Taralen called the guard and the Seer’s slave.

The Seer and her slave went through the portal as soon as she reached the courtyard.

Taralen went to comfort Miran and tell her what the seer said. It was a difficult day for everyone. Sol was buried with honors for serving two Queen with loyalty and steadfastness.  

Soon the day came when Taralen gave birth to the little princess. It was difficult and the labor was long but the child was healthy.

The baby had been named Cara. She favored her father. The child’s reddish blond hair and blue gray eyes were unique. Many of the people that saw her commented on her looks.

Taralen went to the turret where the mundane that was still sleeping soon after the princess was born. She had guards take in through the mist in the dead of night and give him a potion to wake him and wipe his memory. She had no further use for him but she didn’t want to kill him either. She told the guards to hide and make sure he was found before they returned.        

Taralen watched as the guards carried him away that night. She was holding the newborn princess in her arms.

“I am sorry my little one but I cannot let him stay. He gave me you and that was all I required of him. No matter what the Seer said I will love you with all my heart even if you are not the child I had hoped to have. Taralen kissed her daughters forehead.

Taralen moved away from the window and sat down to rock her daughter. She was a Queen and a Queen must do what she must to rule her people wisely and justly even if that meant breaking her own heart. It was a hard lesson but Taralen had learned it and now she must move on.