Pawns and Queens--a 15th Century Gwynedd Story--Chapter Thirty-Eight & Epilogue

[Evie]

Previous chapter: https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php/topic,3281.0.html


Chapter Thirty-Eight

October 2, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
Afternoon

The day following the woods battle in which Queen Ingrid had been captured and slain, Prince Camber's forces returned from the war, bearing the head and body of the Queen of Eistenmarcke, which would be displayed above Bishopgate for a day or two before being taken down, preserved for the long journey home, and sent back to her homeland along with those Eistenmarckers who survived the decimation to follow, for the King intended that the surviving enemy combatants face the same penalty that had previously been demanded by the late King Cinhil. King Haakon's earthly remains were similarly displayed, since Ingrid was no longer alive to return him to in any case. King Torval's body remained in the custody of the King's forces, who had seen to its temporary preservation in the meantime, but whose army was still in the field rounding up smaller enemy units who had not yet learned of the deaths of their leaders, and making their way up to Kheldour, where Ingrid had left several units of men behind to build an Eistenmarcker settlement, since she had intended to set up her capital there. The Nördmarckers who had survived the battle of Baynham and the subsequent one with the Eistenmarckers were currently in the custody of the garrison at Ramos to await the King's judgment. Those who survived their decimation would eventually be returned to the Nördmarcke border by Prince Alarikos of Beldouria, along with the body of their late King, but for the moment the heir to Beldouria was also taking a welcome break from the fighting field to visit his Haldane princess, so they could finalize her travel plans to Beldour for their wedding the following summer.

Prince Philippe, missing his own Haldane bride, had opted to begin the return journey to Bremagne with his men as soon as they had assisted Prince Camber with bringing their prisoners back to Rhemuth for trial and sentencing. But in the meantime, the three returning Princes and their forces were welcomed back to Rhemuth as heroes. The citizens of Rhemuth were jubilant now rather than fearful to find army encampments outside their walls once again, for the City itself was still too crowded to accommodate all of the returning soldiers, even though Gwyneddans from other towns and villages were now beginning to slowly trickle out of the city now that it seemed safe for them to return to their homes.

It was not a day of jubilation for all, however. For Queen Alixa, over two weeks of pent up grief was only now beginning to be felt, now that life in the castle and the city below was beginning to show some hope of soon setting back into more normal rhythms. The letter she had received from the Hort of Orsal the day before had stirred up more than just the keen sense of loss she felt, not having Cinhil by her side any longer. It had also brought up much older anxieties she had thought she would never need to face again.

The door opened, and Alixa tucked the letter away, putting on a brave face as her mother-by-marriage entered with Cynewyn. She reached for her daughter gratefully, glad to have something to do to distract herself from her conflicted feelings, although she knew she would need to face them head-on eventually. For the moment, however, she had not shared the contents of the letter with Queen Soraya, or with anyone else for that matter.

Rather uncharacteristically, the Queen Mother was grinning ear to ear. "Camber's forces have returned to the City! Come and see!"

Alixa looked up from nursing her child, startled. That must have been what all the cheering had been about earlier! Picking up her periwinkle shawl and draping it across her shoulders and her suckling babe, she followed Soraya from the chamber, walking out into the corridor and peering down into the gardens, trying to look beyond the other side of the garden courtyard into the bailey, but the King's Tower was in the way. She gave Soraya a mute look of appeal.

"I suppose it would be fine for you to break your confinement, under the circumstances, if you want to watch them ride in," the Queen Mother told her. "You've had nearly two weeks to recover from Cynewyn's birth, so as long as you don't run or overly exert yourself, a stroll to the other side of the apartment block might even do you some good. Just keep Cynewyn's eyes covered; she's not used to bright sunlight yet."

Alixa walked as briskly as she dared through the corridors to the other side of the apartment block, entering the Royal Library, where she knew she would find some windows that faced the upper bailey and the gatehouse rather than the gardens. The knights and men-at-arms began to file in, banners held high, while others in residence at the castle began to emerge, joyfully reuniting with their menfolk or at least welcoming home those who were returning even if they weren't seeking out any specific person among the new arrivals.

The Queen emerged from King's Tower, laughing with joy and relief as she welcomed her husband's brother home. Alixa could relate, feeling much the same, although her joy was mixed with the pain of knowing that Cinhil was not here to see his youngest brother safely home from the war.

Camber looked up suddenly, as if he'd sensed her watching through the window–perhaps he had? Their eyes met, and he shot her his characteristic cheeky grin, offering up a salute. Alixa laughed, feeling like some sense of rightness had just returned to her world, at least for the moment.

#

Queen Soraya was tutting and shaking her head when Alixa returned to her chambers, although she had the faintest of smiles at the corners of her lips. "The nerve of that boy!" she muttered.

"Who, Camber?" Alixa asked, completely lost at sea as to what Soraya was referring to.

"No, Prince Alarikos! He kissed my daughter in the middle of the bailey in broad daylight! Can you imagine?"

Alixa laughed. "Maman, the man has spent months fighting in our kingdom's war so that his kingdom will be a safer place for Elisa to live once they marry. And they've been betrothed since February! Surely you're not going to begrudge him the reward of a single kiss?"

"Oh, I suppose not," Soraya grumbled, though there was very little heat in it. "But he could have had the decency to find some quiet corner first. God knows the Castle has enough of them they could have snuck off to! Young people these days have no sense of place!"

#

October 2, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
Late Afternoon

The Queen was making her rounds to what she had jokingly started to refer to as "the New Mothers' Guild," first stopping by the wing of Alixa's apartment where Countess Noella and Lady Melisande were both recuperating from their travails mere days earlier. Mellie was sound asleep, which was not unexpected, but Noella was awake and tending to her son, who she was thinking her husband might want to name Duncan, though she was still awaiting a response from the Earl to the message announcing his heir's birth that the royal courier had slipped in with his weekly set of dispatches meant to be forwarded on to the King.

"Her children were brought up to visit her earlier," Noella informed Catalina with a nod towards Mellie, "and I'm sure she was very happy to see them, but they've quite worn her out, poor dear! I'll tell her you stopped by."

"I came to see you also," said Catalina. "I know it's hard, hearing the celebrations outside but knowing your husband isn't one of the ones returning yet. Hopefully the King's army will be heading back soon also."

"I suppose it's just as well," said Noella. "I'm hardly in any shape to ride home to Kierney yet, even in a carriage, and I would be very worried about traveling with a baby who is only a few days old in any case! I dread to see the work ahead of me at home; David says the Eistenmarckers tried to take Castel Dearg, but thankfully they didn't succeed. They did extensive damage though."

"Yes, there's going to be so much restoration work ahead of us throughout the kingdom, not to mention there's still an Eistenmarcker settlement in Kheldour to be ousted. At this rate, I figure I might get my husband back hopefully before the Year of Our Lord Fifteen-Hundred," Catalina joked.

Noella laughed. "Oh, I'm certain he'll be eager to get back to you long before that, Your Majesty!"

#

Catalina stopped in the doorway of the next room, feeling concerned, for she found her friend Alixa quite alone and quietly sobbing into her pillow.

"Alixa?" she said uncertainly, closing the door behind her. "What's wrong? Would you like me to stay, or would you prefer to be alone?"

Alixa hastily dried her eyes, patting the empty side of the bed next to her in silent invitation for the Queen to join her. "I'm sorry. My emotions are just all over the place today."

"You needn't apologize for that! In less than three weeks, you've lost a husband, gained a daughter, and been through a horrific siege, opened your apartment up to unexpected housemates, and you've hardly had a moment to yourself to deal with all the feelings you must be going through right now. Of course your emotions are all over the place! Why wouldn't they be?"

"And now I have to find a new husband as well," Alixa said quietly, handing Catalina the letter. The Queen's eyebrows shot skyward as she took it from Alixa with a brief glance at the broken seal before she started reading it. "So the Hort is requiring you to remarry before he will confirm you as Renier's heir?" she finally summarized, looking back up.

"Yes," Alixa said. "He doesn't think a widow ruling on her own would be sufficient to hold Joux."

"But Renier is not in any immediate danger of dying yet?"

Alixa shook her head. "Not that I've heard. I'm sure his Healers would have notified me if that were the case."

"Well, tell the Hort to bugger off, then."

Alixa laughed. "He's my father's suzerain! That's not going to help my case!"

"Shall I tell him? I can use shorter one-syllable words he's more likely to understand. While I can understand Adémar's concerns, how dare he spring this on you while you're still newly widowed and not even out of confinement from Cynewyn's birth yet!" Catalina gave Alixa a tender hug. "Seriously, this is not the sort of decision you should be required to make before you are more fully recovered. If you want me to have a word with him, let me know."

"Thank you, but I should probably respond to him myself. I just need a bit more time to think it through, because right now I have no idea what to do." She gave the Queen a sad smile.

Catalina gave her friend a considering look, the memory of Camber frantic with worry at her doorstep on the night Alixa had gone into labor coming back to her. "If you did have to choose another husband right now–and I'm certainly not suggesting that you should–would there be anyone in particular you would consider first, or would you just take whoever Adémar thinks is suitable to suggest for you?"

"I honestly have no idea," said Alixa in a small voice. "It's not like I've been keeping an eye out for other suitors while happily married to my husband!" She sighed. "I suppose I would ask Camber–he's the only man I know and trust well enough to imagine myself marrying–but I would hate to ask him to make such an awful sacrifice on my behalf."

Catalina couldn't help but laugh, causing Alixa to turn to her with a puzzled look. "Really, mi cuñada, apart from the muck that Renier and Rémy have made of the place in recent years, is Joux itself that bad, that putting Camber in the position of having to rule it with you would be such a terrible price to pay for marrying you?"

Alixa giggled. "That's not what I meant at all!" Sobering, she added, "I would just hate to see him give up his own chance at a love match. He's been such a dear friend to me. He deserves to be happy."

"So he does. So do you. I don't think those goals are necessarily incompatible. In fact, I suspect Camber would feel quite honored to be asked, although he would need to get a dispensation from the Archbishop should it come to that. Though I think in any case, whatever you end up deciding, you don't need to be rushed into making a decision you might regret later."

#

October 7, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
The King's Apartment
Evening

Lord Riordan felt the warmth of Catalina's hands clasped in his for perhaps the last time.

"Tell my family I will try to visit them when I can, though that might not be for quite some time. I think the King would prefer for me to wait until our son is born next February, but maybe after my churching I can spend a week or two in Andelonia in the spring. It will be nice to make the journey back via a Transfer Portal rather than by ship and barge, and I'll be glad for the chance to visit a milder climate by then." She smiled up at him through her tears.

"Your Coronation will be even earlier, I understand," he told her. "I am certain that King Mikhail will do his best to be here for the occasion, though of course I know you will be glad for a chance to see the rest of your family also."

Catalina took a steadying breath. "You will Mind-Share your memory of Doña Amina's trial with the King my father when you deliver my letter concerning Amina?"

"I will." He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. "You are very much Mikhail of Andelonia's daughter, Su Majestad. I am certain he will be quite proud to see how you are coming into your new role as Gwynedd's Queen."

She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as she gazed down at their joined hands. "I will always remember you with the fondest of regard...." Catalina's voice broke.

He was perhaps taking his life in his own hands, but she was worth the risk. He released her hands, enfolding her in his arms instead. "Shhh...." He chuckled softly as he laid a tender kiss on her hair. "I am not dying, mi corazón, I am merely returning to your father's service. I am a bit redundant here now, I think, especially now that the Princess has completed her studies and is focusing on preparing her trousseau for her journey to Beldouria."

"I know. I accept your return to Andelonia is for the best. Now that my husband will be returning soon, I need to focus on our future together, not what's in the past. I am not just Colin's Queen, I am his wife, and he deserves all of my devotion." Composing herself, she stepped back slightly, although her arms still lightly encircled his waist. "My father will be glad for your return. My sisters still need to complete their education, as does Reyhan. I am certain you will make of my brother a most excellent King someday." Catalina gave him a trembling smile. "My father thinks most highly of you. In fact, he once told me if it had been any of his other daughters asking for permission to wed with you...."

"Catalina, I think equally highly of your father and your sisters, but don't you dare throw Esmeralda at me!" Riordan joked. "She's a perfectly lovely girl, but I'm certain you would think less highly of me if I thought the Vastouni sisters were equally interchangeable, and I've seen how you handle a scimitar."

She laughed. "You might be right." Catalina sighed. "Although I do want you to be happy. I just thought, if you ever did aspire to win the heart of a princess...."

Riordan touched a gentle fingertip to her lips. "Mi querida, I never aspired to win the heart of a princess. I have only ever aspired to win the love of Catalina Vastouni, and for a brief moment in time, I had that. That is enough for me."

#

Nicholas took in the scene from the partially open doorway, thankful the two were in the smaller sitting room and not in the larger chamber adjacent to the corridor where the guard stood just outside the apartment door. He would need to have a word with Catalina later about exercising more discretion; being distraught was insufficient excuse for taking such a chance with her reputation and her life.

However, now was not the time. He figured this was the perfect moment for an interruption. A private leavetaking was one thing, but he was not quite so indulgent as to stand here and watch to see if the other man would be so stupid as to try to kiss his wife goodbye, and while he trusted Catalina well enough, he figured no one, even with the best intentions at heart, was completely impervious to temptation while standing within mere inches of it.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," he said from the doorway, startling the two of them into jumping a more seemly distance apart from each other, the lord bowing deeply and looking unnerved, "but before you leave for Andelon, Lord Riordan, I will need to see you in my study for just a few minutes. I have a couple of things I intend to send back with you."

"Colin!" Joy warred with nervous trepidation in his wife's eyes. "When did you get home? I thought you were heading to Kheldour!"

"Clearly." He crossed the room to embrace his wife, giving her a brief but admittedly very possessive kiss before pulling back and studying her face intently, fighting back a laugh. "I heard some interesting rumors about your first Court as my Regent, and since Prince Alarikos has returned to Ramos to escort the Nördmarcker prisoners home with his men, I figured I would use the Ramos portal to stop by here for a few days before returning and continuing on from there. I'll admit to being very curious about my...what was that description I heard?...'Bride of Fire and her flashing scimitar'?"

As Catalina's cheeks flamed, her Andelonian retainer started to laugh. Nicholas turned towards him with an inquiring smile. "I'd like to see that memory, Lord Riordan."

"Gladly shared, Your Majesty." Riordan took the King's offered hand, exchanging the entire series of events in a few brief seconds.

"Thank you," Colin said. Taking his wife's hand, he brought it up to his lips. "And thank you also. I'm not sure what I'm more stunned by–your control of that blade, or my mother acting as Mellie's midwife! But I'm grateful." His lips twitched in an almost grin. "Not to mention a little afraid of getting on your bad side."

Catalina relaxed enough to return his smile. "No worries, love. I've already given Lord Salim his scimitar back."

#

King Nicholas sat at his writing desk, stamping the wax on two folded parchments with his royal seal. He looked back up at his Queen's former tutor and amanuensis. "So are you taking Lady Amina back by sea or by Portal?" he asked. "I don't recommend sea travel this late in the season, unless you're hoping to consign the woman to King Neptune's tender mercies. I would have no particular objection if you did, but I would hate to lose a perfectly good ship and crew in the process."

"I was planning on taking her back to Andelon by Portal, Sire," Riordan answered. "I've never claimed to be a saint, but I hope my sins haven't been so heinous as to deserve needing expiation by being forced to spend several weeks listening to Amina's tearful declarations that she is woefully misunderstood and put upon."

"Stand that close to my wife again, and I'll shackle you to Amina for the journey, sailing all the way along the coastline of the Southern Sea." He handed the two sealed parchments to the Andelonian. "The larger one is for King Mikhail. It's a letter of safe conduct for him and any other member of Catalina's family if they should wish to use the diplomatic portal in King's Meadow. Do you know that portal signature already?"

"I don't know that one, just the warded one in the Library Annex."

"Here." He extended his hand, sharing the psychic impression of that portal's unique signature. "I don't think Mikhail knows it, so be sure to share it with him when you give him the letter."

"I will do so, Your Majesty. And who is the other document meant to go to?"

Nicholas glanced back up at him. "That one is for you. I can't have you popping into my library at odd moments waiting for a Haldane to wander in and discover you."

Riordan laughed at the thought of being stuck in the Annex for days hoping to be let in. "Thank you, but as I will be returning to King Mikhail's service, I don't know when or if I will have the opportunity to return."

"I feel certain Mikhail isn't planning on shackling you to your desk." Nicholas stood. "I understand Elisa has completed her course of study. Has my mother already settled her account with you, or are you still owed anything for her educational expenses?"

"Already settled, Sire."

"And how old is Prince Reyhan?"

Riordan looked slightly caught off guard by the abrupt switch in topic. "He's around your son's age. Either eight or nine now; I can't remember if his birthday has already passed yet. Why do you ask?"

"Because by the time Reyhan completes his formal education, my heirs should be ready to begin theirs. If at that time you should happen to be in need of another position, you'll have the means to return here." He gave Riordan a sardonic grin. "Although if that should happen, I'll be sure to have our chamberlain give you lodgings on the other side of the bloody castle so I'm not constantly tripping over you whenever I come home!"

#

October 8, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
Queen Alixa's Apartments
Afternoon

The King appeared at Queen Alixa's apartment door, much to Alixa's surprise, since none of the ladies within were anywhere near the end of their expected periods of confinement yet. "I'm sorry to intrude on your exclusively female domain," Colin said with a smile, "but I was hoping for a quick word with Mellie and a glimpse of my new son before I have to head back to Ramos tomorrow."

"Oh!" Alixa glanced toward the door leading from the small antechamber to the other wing of her apartment. "She shares a room with Countess Noella, so let me make sure they are both suitably dressed for male company first." She dropped a quick curtsey before going to inform her housemates of the King's request.

A few minutes later, Alixa emerged, beckoning to let her brother-by-marriage know that he could enter the room. She returned to her own bedchamber by means of the connecting door, leaving it slightly open after she passed through it, causing Colin some momentary amusement. He was hardly venturing into this most womanly of sanctuaries because he was bent on seducing his former paramour. Knowing Mellie, this soon after childbirth, even had it been one far less traumatic than the one she'd just come through, she'd risk regicide by braining him with a chair for the mere suggestion!

He waved the Countess down as she appeared to be attempting to rise and give him the proper greeting due his station, but he was hardly concerned with the formalities at the moment. Reaching into his doublet, he produced a folded letter from her husband. "Good morning, my lady! Kierney asked me to deliver this to you." 

Having discharged that obligation to his Earl and Countess, Colin perched on the side of Mellie's bed, taking her hand in his and bending to plant a tender kiss on her brow. "I hear you had quite the ordeal. I am very sorry for it. How are you feeling now?"

"A little like I've been run over by a runaway cart that's been rolling down a steep hill," she joked. "I love you, Colin Haldane, but you should be grateful I'm unarmed."

He laughed. "Yes, that's about what I expected you would say." He squeezed her hand. "May I see our son, or has your nursemaid taken him back to the nursery?"

"He's in the nursery. Though I'm certain if you wanted to pop in to see him, they won't deny you."

"Let's hope not. It is my castle." Colin kissed Mellie's hand. "I'll let you catch up on your rest. Am I asking to see Edward or Nicholas?"

"Cole," she said. "He's a tiny thing. Edward seemed far too grown up, and Nicholas or Colin would be too confusing."

"Cole." He nodded. "I'll stop back in to say goodbye before I head back north."

#

October 29, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
St. Hilary's Basilica
Morning

Queen Alixa knelt at the threshold of St. Hilary's Basilica for her churching, holding a lighted candle. Father Aleghieri, vested in his surplice and white stole, smiled down at her. Beside him stood Father Camber, carrying the aspersorium.

"Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini...." Father Aleghieri sprinkled Alixa with the holy water and he continued the words of blessing over her. Alixa's understanding of the Latin words was not nearly as fluent as she would have liked, but she caught enough of the meaning nonetheless.

"This woman shall receive a blessing from the Lord and mercy from God, her Savior, for she is one of the people who seek the Lord...." Alixa prayed for blessings and mercy. She would need both once she returned to her people in Joux–a journey she had once hoped never to have to make, for she had few happy memories of Joux, and she had learned to love Gwynedd. But she was beginning to realize that despite her personal wishes on the matter, her people would need a benevolent and caring ruler after her father's death.

The priest continued on until he reached the words Alixa had been told would be her cue to rise. Father Aleghieri placed the left end of his white stole into her hand and led her into the church, saying "Ingredere in templum Dei, adora Filium beatae Mariae Virginis, que tibi foecunditatem tribuit prolis." Come into God's House. Adore the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and thank God who has given you the grace of motherhood.

Alixa knelt before the altar, giving thanks to God for her safe deliverance in childbirth and for the blessing of Cynewyn's birth and life. The priest continued with the Kyrie and the Lord's Prayer before concluding the service.

She felt the gentle touch of Camber's mind as he translated Father Aleghieri's final blessing for her. "Almighty everlasting God, who by means of the blessed Virgin Mary's childbearing has given every Christian mother joy, even in her pains of bringing forth her child; look kindly on this servant of yours who has come in gladness to your holy dwelling to offer her thanks. And grant that after this life, through the merits and prayers of that same blessed Mary, she and her child may be deemed worthy of attaining the happiness of everlasting life; through Christ our Lord, Amen." The officiant sprinkled her with holy water one more time. "May the peace and blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come upon you and remain with you forever. Amen."

#

Camber escorted Alixa back to the apartment block after the service. The gray skies overhead had started to pour down rain almost as soon as the church doors had been opened, so with a tug on her arm, he led her on a mad dash towards a section of the curtain wall where Alixa assumed they would continue under the shelter of the arcaded walkway attached to it. Instead, tracing a glyph in the air before a certain spot on the wall, Camber opened a small door that led into a dark corridor within.

Alixa created handfire, peering curiously at the narrow space as she stepped inside, her eyes lighting up in recognition. "This is the secret passage Colin used the first time he carried Cinhil down here to use his wheeled chair, isn't it?"

"It is. There's a staircase up ahead, but it's a straight one and the steps aren't quite as worn as the ones on the main Queen's Tower spiral staircase, so he thought it would be safer to carry Cinhil up and down these steps instead. Though once we get to them, I would still use caution. They're a bit steep."

He sent a ball of handfire hovering down the corridor ahead of them, lighting their way as they began the trek back towards the apartment block. "Are there other entrances into the passage, or is the one in my apartment the only one?"

"There are a few others, but I don't know where all of them are anymore. The apartment block has been rebuilt a few times over the centuries to accommodate more people, so I'm sure some have been lost over time. There used to be a map of them back in King Kelson's day. A copy of it turned up in the family archives a few years ago. I think it was made by one of Lord Geoffrey's distant ancestors. But it's very much out of date now. Watch your step here; these might be somewhat safer stairs, but they're still very old."

He moved behind her, prepared to break her fall if she slipped, though Alixa wondered what use that would be, as she figured the momentum of her falling into him would simply send them both toppling to their doom. She appreciated the gallant gesture nonetheless. By the time they reached the top of the stairs, she was slightly out of breath. "I'll be glad to get out more," she said. "Clearly I need the exercise!"

He chuckled. "I've had all the walking, marching, and climbing I can stand. So if you want to confine me to my chambers for the next forty days, just give me a good supply of books and my cat...." 

Alixa laughed. "Speaking of confinement, have you seen my daughter yet? If not, I can take you by the Royal Nursery. I need to go pick her up anyway."

"I would like that. And no, I have not seen Cynewyn yet, although I have stopped by the nursery a time or two in hopes of seeing her. I've run into Colin's daughters a few times. Emmie has decided I'm a beautiful pony named Snowdrop."

"What?" Alixa stared at him, bemused. He Mind-Shared a quick image of what appeared to be his point of view as he galloped through the nursery with Emmeline on his shoulders while Anneke hopped up and down excitedly waiting for her turn. Alixa laughed.

Camber moved past her as they reached the far end of the corridor. Her laughter stilled as she regarded him fondly. Her own father would never have dreamed of playing with his own daughters in such a way. To the best of her memory, he had never even played with Rémy so, even though Renier had cared for Rémy as much as he had been capable of caring for anyone besides himself.

He stopped, sketching the same glyph in front of a certain spot on the wall, and a door slid open, revealing her apartment beyond it. She stepped through it, turning back towards him. "Did you want to come in?"

He hesitated. "I probably shouldn't. Your guard might wonder about the two of us emerging from your bedchamber together."

Her cheeks turned rosy. "Oh! I didn't think. Maybe...I'll just meet you at the nursery?"

He smiled. "Give me just a few minutes."

#

October 29, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
The Royal Nursery
Late morning

She was utterly beautiful. Camber knew the moment he saw her that his heart was lost twice over.

He picked up the child, whose dark lashes and black silken fluff were clearly Cinhil's contribution to his daughter's appearance, but as those lashes fluttered open, Camber saw Alixa's eyes peering up at him.

Camber cradled Cinhil and Alixa's child in his arms, looking up to see Alixa studying him, an unusual expression on her face. He gave her a quizzical smile.

Alixa appeared self-conscious to be caught watching him. "I thought you might be a bit more awkward with her at first. I suppose I didn't expect you to be accustomed to holding such a young infant."

He smiled. "I baptize these, you know. At least at this age, they don't bite yet." He stroked her cheek with his knuckle, laughing as she immediately turned her head and tried to latch on. "Well, I know when I'm not wanted," he joked as he handed Cynewyn to her mother, kissing the top of the baby's fuzzy head first. "I'll go check on Colin's girls so you can have a bit of privacy."

#

As Camber started to escort Alixa and Cynewyn back to their apartment, she stopped, appearing lost in thought before catching him off guard by suddenly blurting out, "Is there somewhere we can go where we can be alone?"

A great many ideas sprang to mind, nearly all of them inappropriate and very quickly shielded. "What did you have in mind?" he asked hesitantly.

She blushed. "Well, I don't mean too private, but just...maybe somewhere where we can talk. I would say maybe one of the towers, but it's still raining."

"The Royal Chapel, maybe?" he suggested. Surely that wouldn't raise too many eyebrows if they were discovered together there.

Alixa looked relieved. "Yes, that should work."

#

They sat on one of the benches at the side of the nave. Alixa reached into her sleeve cuff, drawing out a letter that appeared to have been much read and refolded, handing it to him wordlessly.

He read it, dismay and anger growing as he perused the Hort's words. "When did you get this?" he asked quietly, holding himself back from what he wanted to say in response to his brother-by-marriage's letter, not wanting to profane the house of God with the response that had first leaped to mind.

"The first day of the month," Alixa told him. "I haven't answered him yet. I don't know what to say."

"He couldn't even give you a whole bloody month to grieve?" Camber sternly suppressed the urge to rip the letter into shreds while screaming vile imprecations and punching a hole in the wall, especially since it was solid marble. He handed the letter back to Alixa, putting his arm around her and drawing her close.

"I was wondering..." she whispered. "Do you think...could you maybe consider...?"

"Will I marry you while your heart is still in tatters and you've barely recovered from childbirth? No. But my original offer still stands, Alixa, if you still want to marry me once you've had a little more time to think." He kissed her hand. "I love you too much to take advantage of you while you're this vulnerable."

"Your original offer?" Alixa asked, baffled.

Camber sighed. "Yes. That horribly mangled excuse of an offer I made you at the top of Queen's Tower when your father sent you that letter back in February. The one Cinhil nearly took my head off for."

"Oh. Oh, that one!" Alixa giggled as the memory came back to her, then his last statement registered and she gave Camber a startled look. "Cinhil knew about that?"

"Unfortunately. Cinhil was damn near omniscient, I think."

She blushed. "I'm sure he knew you didn't mean that literally."

"He knew exactly how literally I meant it. I haven't known how to love you in a purely uncomplicated, brotherly way for years, Alixa." Camber shared his memory of Cinhil's angry reaction, not at his brother's feelings for her, but over how Camber had inadvertently endangered Alixa by openly expressing them. "If you are offering for me, you need to have a clear understanding of that, because I wouldn't want a simple marriage of convenience with you, but I know you're nowhere near ready for anything more than that right now." He sighed. "I'm very well aware you don't love me the same way you loved Cinhil."

She took a few moments to consider this new and heretofore unsuspected information. "Of course I don't love you the same way I loved Cinhil," she replied quietly. "You're not Cinhil. I love you in the way I have always loved Camber. I don't expect you to replace Cinhil; you can't." She looked up at him. "But when I married Cinhil, I didn't know him yet. I didn't know if I could trust him with my heart. As I grew to trust him, I learned to love him. You already have something that no other man besides Cinhil has ever had. You have my trust. I am certain more can grow from that in time." She smiled up at him. "Would you consider asking for that dispensation?"

He squeezed her shoulders, turning to brush a tender kiss against her temple. "Yes."

Epilogue

November 1, 1464
(All Saints Day)
City of Rhemuth
St. George's Cathedral
Noon

The day had dawned cold but fair, the hint of frost in the air soon dissipating under the faint autumnal warmth of the rising sun peeking through the cloud cover as if it also wanted to join in with the celebration of the heroic young king's life that was being honored at the public memorial service that day. The crowds had gathered along the King's Way, eager to watch the procession of the royal family, visiting dignitaries, and the great lords and ladies of Gwynedd making their way from the castle at the top of the hill down to the cathedral at the heart of the city.

A familiar mental touch brushed at the edges of the King's mind. Recognizing it, he allowed the contact, smiling as the Banoidhre Aoife's mind-voice greeted him. Greetings, Gwynedd's handsomest king since Cinhil Haldane.

Nicholas stifled a laugh. Not to mention Gwynedd's only King since Cinhil Haldane. Good morning, Aoife.

See? Then I'm not wrong. He sensed an undercurrent of laughter in the mental voice. I just wanted to keep you abreast of the news on the other side of the Southern Sea. Your favorite troubadour has managed to make it as far down the coastline as Bremagne and is about to head further south and east towards Kharthat. His 'Ballad of King Cinhil' has become a hugely popular request including, surprisingly enough, in Joux. Though perhaps not within King Renier's hearing.

That's good to hear, Nicholas replied. I look forward to hearing Devyn sing it when he's back in Rhemuth. Though I might need to ask him for a slightly less scandalous version if he sings it for Maman. I'm not sure her heart can take the unexpurgated version of Cinhil's beautiful poetry if Devyn's account is true to actual events. She's more inclined to want to believe in Saint Cinhil a little too literally.

He felt Aoife's silent laughter. I'll be sure to let Devyn know. He will hopefully be back in your court sometime in December at the latest, just in time for your Coronation. That's still planned for early January, isn't it?

The first of January, between Christmas Court and Twelfth Night, while we still have most of the Kingdom's lords and ladies who are able to make it to Rhemuth for the winter festivities. Even so, there might still be a lower than usual turnout this year, under the circumstances. But we didn't want everyone to have to make an extra trip back here for the occasion.

And your Queen is due to be delivered of your heir when? Aoife asked.

Sometime in February, possibly around the tenth, Master Healer James believes.

He sensed her smile. May the Swift Sure Hand grant your son a safe birth and your lady a swift and uneventful deliverance.

#

November 28, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
The Infirmarium

"One more time, Your Highness," said the midwife. "Push!"

Princess Cécile complied, crying out as her daughter entered the world. The midwife deftly caught the child, clearing out her mouth and nostrils and tying off the umbilicus before severing the tie between mother and infant. Alixa smiled through her tears, wiping her sister's brow as Cécile quietly laughed in relief. She knew her job was not quite done; the midwife had warned her ahead of time that she would still need to pass the afterbirth as well. But surely now she was past the worst of it all!

The babe was quickly cleaned up and swaddled closer to the fireplace to ensure she remained warm, then brought to lie upon her mother's chest while the midwife ensured the rest of the birth process continued smoothly.

"Have you decided on a name for her yet?" Alixa asked. Even up to that morning, Cécile could not decide what to call her child. She had thought her sisters' and her mother's name might serve well enough for middle names, but as for what the child would be called by, she didn't want to give her daughter a name that would be confused for someone else. Nor did she think it was in the best interests of the child to be named for her father, although Cécile had given very brief consideration to the name Thora. It had not seemed the most fitting name for the child of a princess of Joux, however, and it reminded Cécile of her Eistenmarcker husband almost as much as it reminded her of Torval, or Thórvaldr, as she preferred to remember him, thinking back on their journey up the Beldour River together, before her hopes and dreams had been shattered.

Cécile shook her head slowly, her hand reaching up to the letter that had lain against her chest, between kirtle and chemise, before she had removed her outer garments in preparation for her child's birth. It was not there, of course, but the gesture was born of reflexive habit. There was no need for the actual letter; she had memorized it.

My sweet little bird,

I am sorry that I failed to protect you. You deserved far better than I was able to give you. I hope our child still lives. I hope you will discover the world of beauty, safety, and peace that you longed for. I only wish I could have been the one to show it to you.

Thórvaldr

"What is the Torenthi word for 'hope'?" she asked her sister.

Alixa thought. "I am not sure. 'Nadezhda,' I think."

Cécile considered. "It's a little long, and I have no idea how to even spell that. What about 'Nadia'?"

Alixa smiled. "Nadia? That's pretty."

"I think so too," Cécile decided. "Nadia Alixa Marthe Éloïse." She sighed. "I just wish I didn't have to tack 'Buyenne-Furstán' to the end of it, but 'Hjort-Furstán' would be inappropriate, and I'm absolutely not going to call her 'Haakonsdottir'!"

"I hope to redeem our family name in time, and under the circumstances, even if our people assume her father was King Haakon, I can't imagine they'd be keen on the surname 'Haakonsdottir' either," Alixa assured her.

#

December 25, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
The King's Bedchamber
Night

Christmas Court had come and gone, and the King had made his final return to Rhemuth mere days before the start of the Twelve Days of Christmas, during which Christmastide season he and Catalina would be anointed as Gwynedd's King and Queen during the upcoming Coronation ceremony, followed shortly thereafter by the Twelfth Night Court of feasting and gaiety before most of the visiting lords and ladies made their way back to their own lands for the rest of the winter months. Nicholas's obligations in the northeastern part of the Kingdom had been fully discharged with the installation of a new Duke of Claibourne, the late duke's grand-nephew, who had returned with him to Rhemuth to take a more public oath of fealty at the Coronation service along with the other great lords of Gwynedd.

But for this moment, he was not Nicholas, King of Gwynedd. He was simply Colin Haldane, curled up in bed beside his beautiful wife.

"How is my heir doing?" he asked her, laying his hand gently on her belly as she lay on her side spooned against him. He could feel the not so gentle thump of a tiny foot against his palm. Colin smiled into his wife's shoulder.

"Your son has been playing football with my bladder all evening," Catalina informed him. "If I wet the bed tonight, it will be your fault."

Colin laughed. "How would that be my fault?"

"Because you did this to me!"

He chuckled. "So I did." He brought his hand up to stroke her arm. "I hope you don't regret it."

She turned to face him, planting a tender kiss at the corner of his lips. "I regret nothing."

He returned the kiss. "Nor do I."

###

[Demercia]

So what do I do on Monday and Thursday lunchtimes now.  What a fabulous story, thank you.

[Evie]

So what do I do on Monday and Thursday lunchtimes now.  What a fabulous story, thank you.

You'll keep checking back here, at least up to the week before Christmas, because I still have Cinhil and Alixa's early months of marriage story to post.

[JudithR]

"Oh, I suppose not," Soraya grumbled, though there was very little heat in it. "But he could have had the decency to find some quiet corner first. God knows the Castle has enough of them they could have snuck off to! Young people these days have no sense of place!"

Love it.

I'll miss our bi-weekly treat.

[Evie]

"Oh, I suppose not," Soraya grumbled, though there was very little heat in it. "But he could have had the decency to find some quiet corner first. God knows the Castle has enough of them they could have snuck off to! Young people these days have no sense of place!"

Love it.

I'll miss our bi-weekly treat.

Speaking of young people, starting on Monday I'll begin posting the six chapter novella about the first two months of Cinhil and Alixa's marriage and the events surrounding Cinhil's Haldane potential setting. Camber will also have a fairly large role in that story, and of course you'll all have another baddie to hate, so that should be fun. 

[Jerusha]

Thank you for the wonderful story.  And for giving us another one to look forward to.

[Evie]

Thank you for the wonderful story.  And for giving us another one to look forward to.

I'm up to Chapter Twelve of the sequel, though y'all will need to wait a bit longer for that one to be complete and ready for posting. 

[Nezz]

Congratulations on the successful completion of another novel, Evie. As I can see by the amount of chatter I see for this story, it has been received with great rejoicing by the fans themselves.

[DerynifanK]

You tied up this wonderful story neatly, but not too neatly. You have given us much to look forward to. Because as usual I have questions and you give me hope that the sequel will provide answers at least to some of them. Wish Alixa had let Catalina reply to the Hort, sending a letter like that only 3 weeks after Cinhil's death after he said she needed at least a year to grieve.Am concerned about Camber. He is the only man Alixa trusts. It sounds a bit like they are trying to block the Hort. I would hate to see him badly hurt. Haven't heard anything about Reiner's condition. Quite a few loose ends.
Looking forward to Cinhil's and Alixa's love story and to the sequel

[Evie]

You tied up this wonderful story neatly, but not too neatly. You have given us much to look forward to. Because as usual I have questions and you give me hope that the sequel will provide answers at least to some of them. Wish Alixa had let Catalina reply to the Hort, sending a letter like that only 3 weeks after Cinhil's death after he said she needed at least a year to grieve.Am concerned about Camber. He is the only man Alixa trusts. It sounds a bit like they are trying to block the Hort. I would hate to see him badly hurt. Haven't heard anything about Reiner's condition. Quite a few loose ends.
Looking forward to Cinhil's and Alixa's love story and to the sequel

No worries, the Hort isn't intending to force Alixa to get married right away. His timing is a bit insensitive, but his intent was to inform her that remarriage would be a condition required by him if she wanted him to confirm her as heiress to Joux, so she could use her year of official mourning to get used to the idea and perhaps come up with a suitable suitor to present to him for approval. I'm pretty sure if he intended to force Alixa into a new marriage before she's even recovered from childbirth, Miranda would be giving him such a tongue lashing his ears would bleed!

Alixa hasn't responded yet because she wanted more time to decide what to tell the Hort in her reply, and she prefers to reply herself because she sees that as taking responsibility for her own life and securing her throne, rather than leaning on Catalina to help her out. She needs to learn how to stand on her own two feet (and equally as important, show the Hort that she can) if she's to be the future sovereign of Joux.

[DerynifanK]

Still worried about what will happen to Camber. Would love to see him happy and he would make a wonderful father.

[JudithR]

And has been tempered by events. Enough to be Prince Consort?  Probably.

[Evie]

Still worried about what will happen to Camber. Would love to see him happy and he would make a wonderful father.

Well, fortunately he will still be involved in the sequel and will play a major role in it. 

The Hort is unlikely to be a threat to him. After all, he has given Alixa notice that she will need to remarry (and he would consider it understood he doesn't mean to just anyone, but to someone suitable to place on Joux's throne) if she wants to inherit Joux. So he can hardly object to her looking for a prince willing to marry her, given that he has essentially ordered her to do so.

What is more likely to be the uphill battle would be convincing the Hort to confirm her as the Sovereign rather than making her husband the next King of Joux by right of his wife. Adémar and many of the Jouvian people are a bit old fashioned that way, so Alixa will need to be both assertive and convincingly strong if she wants to become the next Sovereign and present Camber as her Consort.

The only potential problem I can see the Hort having with Camber being selected is that marriage to Alixa would mean that now there is a Haldane in the Royal Courts of Gwynedd, Orsal/Tralia, Bremagne, Beldouria (once Elisa married), and now Joux. Adémar might worry about the Haldanes having that much power in the region. But if he does, he has little room to talk, since his own ancestor Hort Létald had relatives intermarried into every one of the Eleven Kingdoms back in the 12th Century, talk about the von Horthys having influence!

And yes, I think Camber would make a good father, certainly much better than Renier did!

And has been tempered by events. Enough to be Prince Consort?  Probably.

He has been raised in every way to be a Haldane prince and suitable for a dynastic marriage, even though for a while he had placed the idea of marrying on hold because he thought he might serve his house better by rising in the clergy (in this AU Gwynedd, priests can marry, but it is still somewhat discouraged if one is hoping to become a bishop someday, since while technically married bishops are allowed, it is thought an unmarried one would have more undivided time to devote to his flock). Leading troops into battle would help complete his education in what a medieval leader of men needs to know in order to be able to lead his people during wartime as well as in peacetime. Up until now, Camber has had a lot of theoretical knowledge about war, but little practical experience with it, aside from maybe some involvement with putting down a small border skirmish or two. And those would have been mostly against roving bands of outlaws and the like, not full armies.

[DerynifanK]

I'm not sure that prince consort is the role for Camber He loves Alixa but I think she continues to think of him more as a trusted brother. Maybe that will change, maybe not. I think she sees him more as a safe haven. Will she keep comparing to Cinhil and will he feel he is competing with his brother? Her trust may grow into love as it did with Cinhil but there's no guarantee.

[Evie]

I'm not sure that prince consort is the role for Camber He loves Alixa but I think she continues to think of him more as a trusted brother. Maybe that will change, maybe not. I think she sees him more as a safe haven. Her trust may grow into love as it did with Cinhil but there's no guarantee.

Hopefully we'll soon see how that ends up playing out. If she doesn't marry him, she will have to marry someone sooner or later, but likely in the next year or two, and I think she'd much rather be married to someone she already knows and trusts, even if she's not madly in romantic love with him from the start (though make no mistake, she already loves Camber very much, she's just never even considered him as a romantic partner before now), than end up being given by the Hort to a complete stranger he thinks would make a suitable King. (Especially since the Hort has in mind that Alixa would be more of a figurehead Queen, and Alixa intends to be the Queen of Joux in more than name only so she can have full say in how to address the changes she needs to make in the Kingdom to restore it after all the damage Renier and Remy have done.)

Remember, Alixa is living in a time when arranged marriages were the norm, not the exception, and the expectation was that if you chose your partner well and didn't arrange the formal betrothal until you felt some measure of compatibility might be possible, you were far more likely to develop love for your partner over time. That was the typical mindset about love and marriage until quite recently in human history, and is still the prevalent mindset in many other parts of the world. As you will see starting next Monday, when Alixa married Cinhil, she knew nothing about the man besides his name. She didn't even know originally how old he was, if he was nice or if he would be another Renier, what he expected from a wife, pretty much nothing besides the fact that she was marrying some prince named Cinhil from a kingdom called Gwynedd, and fortunately thanks to her mother's efforts to educate her, she already knew some Gwyneddan. That was it, though. Similarly, as we saw in the spin-off story about Cinhil and Aoife, Cinhil knew almost nothing about Alixa besides the fact that she was Renier's eldest daughter (not a promising start there!), she had red hair, and in Aoife's memory she looked sad and unwanted even in her father's Court where as their Princess Royal she ought to have been valued. They didn't start out as a young couple in love, and she wasn't even Cinhil's first choice for a potential wife, but despite that rough beginning, love grew. This time around, if she ends up marrying Camber, she wouldn't be starting over with a complete stranger, she'd be starting over with someone who is already one of her closest friends and strongest supporters. She already knows what she would be getting in the match. Will a strong romantic love grow out of that someday? I'd say it has a better chance to than if Alixa just gets randomly paired up with someone the Hort selects because he thinks that man would make a good King, but without giving any thought to Alixa's personal likes, dislikes, personality, needs, desires, etc.