sidhe_faerie | DAMEISELE CWĒN (Damsel Queen) 5 (Reply)

Succession Of The Dameisele

As Taralen’s eighteenth birthday approached, Deidra grew more agitated. Miran who had become her confidant and companion noticed the change in the Queen.

“My Lady, what troubles you?” Miran asked one day as they walked in the newly planted gardens.

“When I was with child with Taralen I went to the Royal Seer.” Deidra told her. “It is customary to do so when a Fae of royal blood becomes with child. The old woman told me things that I have shared with no one not even my husband. I fear they are about to come true.”

“You left the Court and now you are a Queen of your own Court. Surely the changes have made the visions untrue.” Miran said.

“No. It has only strengthened them. I will die soon and Taralen will be Queen.” Deidra stopped and faced her friend. “I need you to promise me that you will watch over her when I am beyond the veil with my beloved Dagda.”

Miran looked at Deidra. “I will do what you ask but I fear I may go before you through the veil. I have more years than you do.”

“There is one other thing I have to ask.” Deidra said. “Please see that she marries well. She will need an heir as quickly as possible when she takes the throne. See that he is a good man and a good husband to my daughter. “

“I will My Lady.” Miran smiled. “I still believe you are worrying over nothing.”

“I believe what the old seer said. I did things to keep her visions a secret from my sister. If she had known that Taralen would be a Queen then she would have been ripped from my breast and slaughtered before she could see her first year,”

Miran sighed. “We do many things to keep out children safe. Some of those things are not pleasant. What did you do that you feel guilty for? I’m sure it was not as bad as you think.”

“It is worse than you can imagine.” Deidra said as they started walking again. “I gave poison to the Seer so her slave could kill one of my nephews.”

“What?” Miran grabbed Deidra’s arm. “Why would she want the Prince killed?”

“He was forcing himself on her repeatedly. The Seer wanted the girl’s suffering to stop. The poor girl was killed for it but I was the one that provided the poison.” Deidra bit her lip to keep the tears from coming as she remembered the girl’s execution.

Miran released Deidra arm and they continued to walk.

“Am I the first that you have told this to?” Miran asked.

Deidra sighed. “Yes. Dagda never knew what I did. If I had told him then I would have had to tell him what the Seer said. He wanted Taralen to take the veil at the temple at Tara. He never wanted her to have this life.”

“I have noticed that her faith is stronger than most Fae her age. She would have been welcomed into that life but we cannot choose our destinies.” Miran said. “Do you know how or when she will take the throne?”

“No the Seer only said she will be Queen at a young age.” Deidra said. “Most Fae become Queen after they are married and have at least one child. I don’t think that will be her fate. I want her to rule as my mother did but I fear what that will do to her at such a young age.”

Miran sighed as they rounded the corner and headed back inside the newly built castle.

The Northern Court sent news of an outbreak of fever among the common born Fae. Travel between all four of the Faerie Courts was restricted until the danger of spreading the sickness had passed.

The news came too late for the Southern Court. Several were already infected and more became infected every day.

One of the castle guards fell ill while on duty. Before long the sickness had spread throughout the castle from the guards to the servants, cooks and stable hands.

Deidra fell ill while sitting Court. Miran had her taken to her chambers and nursed her there. Deidra knew she would not survive so she had Miran send for Taralen.

Taralen had already become ill but the fever had broken the day before. Like many of the younger Fae she had fought off the sickness without too much difficulty.

Taralen came into the room. Miran went to her immediately.

“Your mother is gravely ill. I fear she will not survive the night. Sit with her now. That is all we can do.” Miran said

“There must be something. What about the herbs that were given to me? Has she had them and the cool cloths for her head?” Taralen asked frantically.

“We have done everything. She is not as strong as she always seems. You know she was much older when she gave birth to you. It has a way of taking the strength out of a woman as it did with your mother.” Miran told her.

“Taralen?” Deidra’s voice was weak.

“I’m here, Mother. I will not leave you until you are better.” Taralen sat on the stool by her mother’s bed and took the cloth from her mother’s head to dip it in the cool water again. Taralen replaced the cloth after wringing it out. “It will be morning soon and the birds will sing for you.”

“Taralen, I will not hear the birds in the morning. By that time you will be Queen of this Court. Rule as I have taught you. Find yourself a good man and marry him. You will need a daughter to follow you.” Deidra said hurriedly.

“Mother, there is plenty of time for that. When you get well we will sit in the garden. The roses are about to start blooming anytime now.” Taralen smiled but there were tears forming in her eyes.

“Taralen, listen to me.” Deidra grabbed her daughter’s hand. “I am going to see your father. I have missed him and he will want to hear all about you.”

“Mother, please stop saying these things. I am not ready to be without you.” Taralen started to cry.

“Miran will help you. Let her be a guide to you. Taralen, I am tired and I don’t want to leave you but I know that I will.” Deidra said.

“Mother, I am not even of age. Surely I cannot be Queen. Taralen was crying now.

“You will be fine, my daughter. You will be a beautiful Queen. Deidra whispered as her eyes closed. She breathed her last breath as a sigh.

Taralen screamed as her mother’s hand fell from her own. Miran came up behind her and wrapped her arms around the new Queen. Comfort was all Miran could offer her. Taralen sobbed into the older Fae’s shoulder.

A servant came in to see who had screamed. She gasped at the sight of Deidra dead and Taralen sobbing on Miran’s shoulder.

Miran looked over to the door. “Queen Deidra is dead. Please tell the servants in charge of burial.”

“Madam, they are burning the bodies because of the fever. What should we do?” The servant said.

Taralen looked up and took a breath to steady herself. “She will have to be burned as well. Her ashes will be entombed. I cannot let my heart endanger my people. Tell them to prepare the pyre and my mother. I will be the one to light it.”

“Taralen, are you sure?” Miran asked.

“Yes. It would have been what she would have done.” Taralen stood up and kissed her mother on the forehead. She turned to the servant. “Tell them I want her dressed in her best silk gown.”

“Yes My Lady.” The servant bowed and left.

“Miran, I need to get dressed. Will you watch over her as they prepare her?” Taralen asked.

“I will My Lady. I will see that they do everything just as she would want it done.” Miran stood and hugged “Taralen. I have lost a friend and you a mother but we have our duties to attend to before we can begin to mourn.”

Taralen pulled away and started to leave. “I have many duties that I am not looking forward to. I will see you in the courtyard for the pyre.”

“Yes My Lady.” Miran bowed.

Taralen left to change and prepare for the pyre and her coronation. She was sad and she knew that now that she was Queen she would have many sad days to come.

Two hours later, Taralen stood in the courtyard of the castle and lit the torch from a braiser. She lifted the grey veil she was wearing and stepped forward to light the pyre. She lit it and stepped back letting her veil fall back over her face. She didn’t want the mourners to see the tears she was shedding. She was Queen now and she had to be strong for her people.

Miran stood in front of the mourners she shed her tears openly for the woman she called friend before she called her Queen.

Miran’s husband, Sol stood holding her hand but he knew that it was no comfort. He knew that there would be no comfort able to take away this loss from his wife and the young Queen standing so straight before him. He thought back to the day on the boat when he had seen Deidra and Taralen for the first time. They were fleeing and afraid of being discovered but gracious as the great Ladies that he would come to know later as friends.

When the fire had started to die down, Miran went to Taralen and took her hand.

“You must rest, My Lady. Your coronation is tomorrow. Come let me take you inside.” Miran said.

Taralen said nothing as Miran led her inside. They walked silently to Taralen’s chambers. Miran helped her to undress and tucked her in bed. Only when Miran had left did the young Queen start to cry. She was alone.

The following day dawned brightly. All signs of the pyre had been removed from the courtyard. The ashes of Queen Deidra had been put inside her tomb. It had been sealed and flowers had been laid around it by mourners paying their respects. There was a bouquet of white roses on the top of it. Miran had seen to it. White roses were Deidra’s favorite flower.

The Northern Court had sent an emissary to perform the coronation. The withered old Fae stood at the front of the crowded throne room as Taralen entered. He spoke the ancient words to sanctify her as Queen. The crown that had come tucked inside a bag all the way from the Northern Court when she and her mother had fled was placed on her head. Taralen took the throne with a stoic face and a strangely calm demeanor.

The onlookers bowed to the new Queen and shouted for her long life as they had for her mother.

Miran knew now that the prophecy that Deidra had tried so hard to hide was now truth. She worried for the young Queen but had faith that she had been taught well and would be fair and just.