A'lurejah: The Fae Princess

Chapter Five

    I did not see nor hear from Eramus for a whole week, and I have to say, it was proving to be the loneliest week of my life. My physicians did their best to keep my spirits up, and Uncle Albion even surprised me and lifted my sentence of needing constant babysitting, even this did not keep me happy for long.

    One night as I was lying awake thinking over the things that Eramus had told me a week ago, I heard a door open.

    “Pssst.”

    I sat up in my bed, looking furiously around.

    “Pssst” it came from the servants door.

    I lit a candle and looked over, Eramus was standing there looking rather excited. 

    “I heard father banished your babysitters! Come with me, I have something to show you!!” He whispered loudly. 

    “Hang on a minute, let me get out of bed and get my robes and slippers on, will you hand me my walking cane?” I asked and pointed at the main bedroom door. He crossed the floor silently and handed me the walking cane, “Be patient with me, I do not walk well still.” I said. 

    Eramus kept pace with me easily, though he was eager to show me what he had found. We didn’t speak much as we went, except the occasional, “careful, there’s a step here” or “watch your head here”. We didn’t want to take a chance of waking anyone up.

    We walked for what seemed like hours, my legs and back were beginning to hurt so much that it slowed my pace even more.

    “Ary, we are nearly there, I promise, do you need to lean on me?” His face showed regret.

    “No,” I grunted “I’ll be fine.” I said.

    “I should have made you bring your chair!” he said, kicking hard at the ground.

    “No, I’m fine. This is good for me.” I grunted again. He refused to take that as an answer and  took my arm to help support my weight. Another hundred steps and we arrived at what appeared to be a dead end. I gave Eramus my best scowl, which was actually impressive because of the pain I was in. 

    “Sit down right here, and watch.” He said, leading me to a chair against a wall. He walked over to the wall and touched it, the wall gave way to a secret room.  Eramus came back and helped me inside, I gasped as we crossed the threshold.

    The room inside was massive, it was lined with all sorts of books, cushions, dummies and other elaborate things that I couldn’t place. I was so tired the world seemed to be spinning, I didn’t have the chance to enjoy the full splendor of the room we were in. In fact, I seemed to be falling down, the room swayed and went black. 

    The next thing I knew, I woke up on a soft cushion in a brightly lit, unfamiliar room. I stirred and groaned in pain. 

    “Hang on, just a second, I have something here that will help with your pain.” I know that voice, who’s voice is that? I thought to myself as I tried to remember where I was.

    Eramus came around the corner holding a cup of steaming liquid. “Here, drink this, it will help with your pain and renew your energy.” He said.

    “Where did you learn how to do this?” I asked after I had finished his concoction.

    He threw his hands up and gestured all around him. “These books are filled with everything and anything you might need to know about herbs, majickal healing, how to use your majick, where it all began, so forth and so on.” He grinned excitedly.

    “Is this what took you so long to find?” I asked

    “No, this is what took me so long to find.” He said, bringing me a book.

    “What’s this?” I asked, dumbfounded.

    “Look here,” he pointed at a family tree. I looked closer and realized that it was my family tree. 

    I gasped, “But, I am on here!” I exclaimed breathlessly.

    “And look at this side of the tree.” He said, pointing to the left. 

    “It’s my dad and his family!” I said excited for the first time.

    “He’s the prince of Avalon, Ary.” He said.

    “But, what does that mean?” I asked.

    “That means that you are half Fae, Ary, half Fae, half human.” He said, eyes sparkling.

    “But, what does that mean?!” I said, exasperated.

    “Ary, don’t you see how rare this is?!”

    “No, I guess not.” I said, exhausted. “Can we do this tomorrow when I can think straight? Come to my rooms right after breakfast, and we can do this all day, I don’t have my exercises tomorrow.” I said, yawning deeply.

    “Okay, I’ll go get your chair and take you back. I am sorry, I should have waited..” he said sounding defeated.

    “Hey! Come back here!” I said loudly.

    “Yeah?” He said glumly.

    “It’s not that this isn’t very impressive, or that I don’t appreciate this, or that I am not curious or excited.” I told him earnestly “I am just so exhausted right now…” I told him, the deep purple circles under my eyes highlighted and magnified this.

    “I know, I just should have waited to come show you until you were feeling better, I knew you’d had a rough day and I thought that this would cheer you up.” He said.

    “Well, you have succeeded in cheering me up, but bringing me back from the dead? Not so much!” I smiled, he laughed a bit at my joke. “Hurry back here with my chair, questions will be raised if they don’t find me in my room in the morning!” I said shooing him away.

    When he came back I had nodded off to sleep, he shook me gently and helped me into my chair. He covered me up with my thick fur blanket and gave me a pillow to cuddle on the way back.

    The next morning I woke up and wondered how I got back into my bed. Idhrenniel came bustling in with breakfast, smiling and humming.

    “You look happy this morning, anything you want to share?” I smiled and teased.

    “Well, actually, yes,there is!” She was positively beaming! “We are almost ready to try on your dress for your birthday banquet!!” She said, a huge smile broke out on her face. “Eat your breakfast and we will get started on the last minute fitting so I can hem it and make the adjustments that need to be made.” She said.

    I rolled my eyes and did as she asked, ate my eggs and porridge silently, sullenly. This banquet was not my idea, and I did not like it. I wanted nothing to do with large crowds of people laughing at how ugly I am now. 

    After I ate breakfast I saw the servants door to my room open just slightly, two eyes peeked in and then the door closed and he was gone. It wasn’t until after lunch that I could finally escape my rooms and go with Eramus. This time we didn’t forget my chair.

    “Sorry about earlier!” I blurted out.

    “Well, I guess now we know why you didn’t have exercises today!” Eramus laughed easily.   I laughed with him. He brought me to the door and went and placed his hand over the wall, the wall gave way and opened into our secret room. This time I was able to take it all in.

    “Wow, this place is really something!” I exclaimed.

    “Yeah, it is. Your mum built it, compelled it into being.  The walls of the room have majick deep within them, bits of your mum really.  You see, when a compeller compels something, they leave some of their majick behind in the thing that they compelled.”

    “Fascinating!” I said, “You have really done your research!” I complimented.

    “Well, to be honest my knowledge didn’t come from this last week, I have been coming here since I could walk. I accidentally stumbled across it when I was three, I ran away from my nanny and put my hand on the wall in an attempt to catch my breath, I looked down on the floor and the wall gave way, I literally tumbled head first into the room!” He said, I laughed with him at this. “Ever since then I have been coming here to read and escape…” There was a dark look that crossed his eyes as he said that. Something about his face told me not to press the conversation.

    “Well, let’s have a look at that book you found!” I said, excited to look at the family tree again. “You said last night something about my father, but I canna remember what it was that you said.” I said.

    “Your da’ was Fae! He was the crown prince of Avalon! You are half Fae, half human!” He said, it was like someone lit a fire in his eyes.

    “Wait, half Fae? But that’s never been heard of before!” I said, confused, and trying to remember something that was tickling the back of my mind. “I had a dream one night, and in that dream I was told that I was the key to the survival of Nah-Alba, that without me, the whole kingdom devours itself until there is not a single living creature on it.” I said suddenly. I looked at Eramus and then went into deeper details of the dream.

    “That’s amazing, Ary! Not everyone has the ability to see a possible future like that, and then come back from it and still be okay!” He looked at me like I was a goddess.

    “Well, I wasn’t okay, not for a few days. Uncle Albion said that I was just staring into space all white and cold as ice for almost two days before they woke me up again.” I shivered at the memory.

    “Are you cold?” He asked immediately.

    “No, just thinking about that memory makes me shiver.” I said.

    “Well, that’s incredible. I wonder what starts the war?” He asked.

    “I donna know, but whatever it was, it had to have been pretty big, huh?” I said.

    “Ary, what if it was your death that triggered that ten year war?” He wondered.

    I sat quietly, outlining the tree and the words absentmindedly for a few minutes thinking about what he had said, “Yes, I suppose that would make sense for what the voice told me. It would all line up and match the time lines.” I said thoughtfully.

    Eramus and I spent nearly every waking moment together after that, we went all over the castle exploring, he’d take me to a new place that I had not been to before and tell me about all the people who used to come here and stay in the rooms. He and I would go into the kitchens and steal food, and get into trouble with the cooks.  When I was with him, I got stronger, healthier, and my color started coming back into me. My stamina became better, and it was not long before I didn’t need my physicians every day.  

    Uncle Albion came to visit me in the gardens a few days before my birthday.

    “Hello little one! Enjoying your time out here?” He asked me, a smile playing at his face.

    “Aye, uncle! It is so beautiful and so peaceful out here!” I said, almost laughing. 

    “Aye, yer mother used to say the same thing.  She would spend hours out here, reading and planting and weeding and gossiping with her ladies in waiting.” He smiled at the reflected memory.

    I smiled sadly, wishing that I could remember more about them, “Did you need something, Uncle?” I asked pleasantly, not wanting to sound rude, but he was interrupting the little alone time I did get.

    “Aye, I had something I wish to discuss with you about your cousin, Eramus.” His face turned serious and I felt the color drain from my face.

    How did he know about Eramus and I?! 

. “First off, I want to say thank you, these last few months have not been easy on him, with everything going on with his mother, and you have really lifted his spirits high.”

“Wait, so yer not mad?” I asked, still waiting for the anger.

 “No! The second thing I wanted to talk to you about is, how would you feel about Eramus being your escort for your birthday banquet?”

    “Escort?” I asked, confused.

    “It is a tradition that every young lady of court have an escort for a birthday or coronation, and I was hoping that you would accept Eramus as your escort?” He asked, eyes cautious, hopeful.

    “What does Eramus think about this?” I asked.

    “He doesn’t know yet, I wanted to make sure that you were okay with it before I spoke to him about it.” The sound of footsteps made him look up, “Ach, speaking of the devil himself, Eramus, my boy!” He said, eyes twinkling.

    “I came to ask A’lurejah a question, but if this is a bad time, I can come back.” He said timidly.

    “Not at all, my boy, not at all, ask away!” Uncle Albion said.

    “Ary, I was wondering … well … That is to say ... “ He was wringing his hands in front of him, he came around the front of me and got down on one knee, “It would be my honor if you would accept me as your escort for your birthday ball?” He looked from me to his father who gave him a nod of approval, pride written all over his face, and back to me again.

    “I graciously accept.” I said, not knowing the formalities of court or accepting something like this.  My words had the effect I had hoped they would, Eramus’ ears went bright pink and his chest puffed out, his face beamed with pride and excitement. 

    “I shall coordinate with yer servants on colors.” Eramus said, nodding his head and turned to walk away.

    “Well, I am feeling rather useless at the moment.” He said, trying to sound disappointed, but his face still shone with pride for his son. 

    “Well, you useless person you, I need a hand getting back inside for my therapy sessions, if you wouldn’t mind?” I teased. He smiled and he pushed me back to my rooms where my physician was waiting for me. 

    “It’s about time! I thought that you were skipping out on me today!” He smiled his jolly smile and we got to work on my exercises.

    “I am sorry that I was late today, my Uncle and cousin had a surprise for me about my birthday ball.  My cousin came to ask if he could be my escort.” I blushed at saying it out loud.

    “Did he indeed?” My physician asked slyly. 

    “Wait, what does that mean?” I asked curious.  When he refused to answer, I refused to do my therapy until he told me what he meant.

    “Well, to tell yer the truth, mistress, begging yer pardon if things have changed over the time I have been at court, but back in yer mother’s day, if a lady was escorted to a ball or a coronation, it meant that the two were betrothed.  Yer mother’s coronation day she only had her lady’s in waiting because yer mum didn’t have no suitors come callin’.” He told me, looking slightly abashed at his forwardness.

    “Wait, are you saying that my Uncle is wanting me to marry Eramus??” I asked, shocked.

    “Could be. Or it could be that yer still weak and yeh’ll be needin’ some extra help walking the long aisle through the great hall.  Could be both, yeh’d need to be speakin’ to summat else about that mistress, I don’t know everythin’, mind.” He said, sounding unsure of why he’d just spilled the truth like that.

    “IDHRENNIEL!” I yelled as loud as I could, making my physician jump.  

Idhrenniel came running in, “Yes, Lass, what is it?” She asked, red in the face huffing and puffing.

    “Tell me what you know about my escort and the reason behind it.” I demanded.

    “Well, the king and I think that you and Eramus would make a good match, so we thought it would be good for you to have an escort, extra support to help yeh walk and all, but also some moral support for walking through the crowd.” When she got done talking she looked at me suspiciously. “Why did I just tell you all of that?!” She demanded. 

    “What do you mean?” I asked innocently.

    “A’lurejah Jade, answer me and answer me true, why did I just tell you all of that?!” She demanded me again.

    “I asked a question, and you answered me honest and true, I am confused, where is there something wrong with that?” I asked, a strange kind of authority ringing in my voice.

    “Now you listen here young lady, you will not talk to me thus! You will treat me with respect and dignity.” She was now red in the face with anger.

    “Oh, okay, so I am supposed to treat you with respect when you just flat out admitted to me that you had planned on lying to me about this?” I demanded.

    “Well, that does seem a bit unreasonable, doesn’t it. Look, just watch yer tone of voice, that’s all I am saying.” She said, again baffled at why she was spilling her most blunt truths at her. “Well, I have a dress to be gettin’ on with, and yer poor physician is frightened.” She said, ending the conversation as she turned around and walked out the door.

    “Well, I will just have to have a conversation with my uncle about this!” I said in a huff. I crossed my arms across my chest and sat with a sullen look on my face.

    “Beggin’ yer pardon, mistress?” My physician asked.

    I jumped, I had forgotten that he was there. “Yes, what is it?” I asked crossly.

    “Er.. Well, Permission to speak bluntly?” He asked me.

    “You may always speak bluntly to me, good sir.” I said, more gently.

    “Well … er … Beggin’ yer pardon again, miss, but I think that if you do speak to yer uncle about this, yeh might wanna consider not poutin’ when yeh do.” He said, a smile tempting the corner of his mouth.

I smiled with him and we laughed loudly, relieving the tension in the room. I was done for the day, and he was massaging me down as he always did when he asked me a curious question.  “Mistress?”

    “Hmm?” I said, so relaxed that I could drift into sleep.

    “Would it be so bad?” He asked me.

    “Would what be so bad?” I asked, confused.

    “You and Eramus?” 

    “What do you mean by that?” I asked, a little bit of tension in my body.

    “Well, it’s just, it makes sense … the things that you have both been through, you can help each other through the dark days.  You both have been light for each other, and you would be good together.” He said, I rolled over to look at his face, and there was nothing but kindness and wisdom in his eyes.

    “Perhaps there is something to that. I am not a child, and I will not be left out of such important information such as this. I donna wanna be kept out of the loop, this is my life, and I have the right to know!” I said fiercely.

    “No un’s disagreein’ there little missy, not at all, they should be tellin’ you impertant stuff like ‘at.” He said, agreeing with me. 

    “I will find Uncle Albion when we are done here and have a conversation about me being kept in the dark.” I said decidedly.

    When my physician had left I got my walking stick and made my way to my uncle. I found him in the gardens, “Hello, Uncle.” I said.

    “Oh! Hello Ary! What brings you out here? It’s not time for you to be here yet?” He asked.

    “No, It’s not, I am sorry if I am interrupting, I know that you dona like to be disturbed when you , I came looking for you, just followed the trail of guards and found you easily enough.” I laughed.

    “What can I do for you little one?” He asked.

    “May we sit? I have some things I’d like to discuss with you.” I said diplomatically.

    “Of course, come, sit.” He said polite but confused.

    “Uncle, I know that I am not yet thirteen years, but I would appreciate you to be honest with me, straight forward, not hiding things and keeping things from me.” I said politely.

    “Okay, I understand that.  May I ask what things I am keeping from you?” He asked.

    “Today I found out that you and Idhrenniel have thought that Eramus and I would / will make a good match.” I said, accusingly. “I found out that the reason a lady of the court would have an escort is if they are betrothed to each other. Is this the truth?” I demanded, that strange ring of authority in my voice now.

Uncle Albion looked startled at me, “Yes, traditionally, it is correct.” He said, anger flashed in his eyes, he closed them and took a breath, when he looked at me again, there was no anger, “Why do you ask this?”

    “Because I want to know if that is the reason yer having Eramus escort me on my birthday?” I asked, “Traditionally, the people will see this as a statement, one that I am not sure of yet.” I said.

    “A’lurejah, first off, I came to you to ask you these things, and I didn’t get the chance to explain everything. If I may, I would like to rewind, and start this again?” He asked.

    “Okay, I am all ears.” I said.

    “A’lurejah, it is tradition for a young lady of court to have an escort on big events such as birthday banquets or coronation balls.  Now, aagin, traditionally, this escort would be a young male that the king and queen would have arranged to be a suitor for the young princess. Now it is well known, what happened to your family in the fire, and a lot of folks don’t believe that you’re still alive.  The crown pouring in is a large crowd and, while I think that one day you and Eramus might make a fine match, I don’t want you to face that large crowd alone. And Eramus is about the right height to talk with you and help support your weight better than I, I would only make the walk more painful and awkward with your current ability to stand.” He said, his words rang true, and I smiled at him, tears brimming my eyes.

    “I am sorry, Uncle, I was given wrong information. Please forgive my rudeness?” I said.

    “There is nothing to forgive, I would feel the same way.  Ary, I know that you are no ordinary girl of twelve, on the eve of her thirteenth birthday, I know that you have strength enough to carry this with you, and strength enough for me to always be honest and open with you about everything. I will not hide anything from you, unless it is to protect your life.” He pulled me into a hug and Idhrenniel came bursting into the gardens red faced and angry again.

    “What do you think yer doin’? Running off without any word as to where yeh’d gone! I’ve been looking everywhere for yeh! Had me worried sick yeh did!” she huffed and puffed and gulped for air.

    “Beggin’ yer pardon, yer majesty.” She said, realizing who was sitting next to me.

    “Idhrenniel, I wonder where A’lurejah would have gotten the impression that we were matching her and Eramus together?  I wonder why she would have thought that was why he was escorting her to her birthday banquet?” Uncle Albion asked, eyeing her carefully.

    “I … uh … well … I may have gotten the wrong impression, sire. I beg your forgiveness.” She stuttered.

    “Do not let it happen again, if I want A’lurejah to know something, she will know it, and if you try to poison the truth again, I’ll have you flogged, you hear me?” Uncle Albion said fiercely. “You may be her legal guardian, but I am your king, and she is my niece, I will hire my own lawyers and get that fixed right away. Do I make myself clear?” Uncle Albion barked.

    “Aye, yer majesty. Crystal clear.” She bowed low and backed out of his presence. 

    “If she does that again, I want to know. From now on, all information that deals with you in any capacity will be run by you. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?” He asked me.

    “Yes, can we just cancel the banquet?” I asked, wrinkling up my face like something smelled bad.

    He laughed and tapped his finger on my nose. “You know we canna do that. The people need to see their princess alive and well, because that is truly what you are, their princess. You know, you are next in line for the throne, right?” He asked me.

    “What about Eramus?” I asked.

    “Eramus is a bastard, and either way, your mother was the first born of my father, which makes you next in line.” He advised me.

    “Actually, doesn’t that make me the rightful ruler of the kingdom by default?” I asked, trying to sound curious about how that all worked.

    “Yes, actually, it does. You have been doing some research haven’t you?” He asked.

    “Well, I don’t think I am ready for that, hold on to it for me, would ya? Until I am ready?” I said, relief was written all over his face; it was clear that he did not want to give up his throne for me.

    “Aye, little lady, I will keep it safe for you.” He smiled and ruffled my hair gently.