When Life Gives You Wings

The King's Descendant

The walk to the square didn’t last as long as it usually seemed. Henri couldn’t stop thinking of one solitary word repeated over and over again in her mind. Denied, denied, denied. It repeated over and over in her mind. She was on a constant ferris wheel, but so close to falling off. 

The grass seemed to almost caress her toes as she walked. Then the hard gravel from the square scared off all the grass and made a constant crunch crunch crunch sound with every step. Other citizens of the Kingdom of Argos had already gathered in the square. There were small children holding onto every mother's hand and the father’s who stood stiff by their side, protecting them possessively. The king had yet to arrive. Henri didn’t care though. She had a problem with denial. It was alright though; at least for now.

Amelia stood beside Henri and held her hand. This seemed to trigger a response and clear her mind. She noticed everyone around her suddenly become silent. It was then that she remembered that this was her first time coming to one of these with a somewhat clear mind. She had never paid attention before, never caring but somehow paying attention now seemed important. Maybe it was a gut instinct or maybe it was just her needing a distraction from the denial. Denial. Yes, denial. There the word was again. But that didn’t matter right now, she needed to focus on the king’s words. A single thought anchored itself inside her: What’s this about? 

The answer came when the king stepped forward on his high balcony and began to take in a deep breath. Henri had to do the same. She felt a sudden pull to this mysterious man and subconsciously took a stumbling step forward. No, not forward, toward him. 

She jolted out of it quickly, not even having time to process what happened or how it felt.

She felt all eyes on her. She had been the only one to move while everyone else had stood completely and utterly still. They were frozen. In fear or respect, Henri didn’t know.

She looked up at the king to see if he had noticed. He had. He was looking directly at her, his heated gaze sending shivers and sparks up her spine, so patronizing, she noticed. There was something about this man, something bitter, but also something profound and… unique. Strong, even. He glanced away immediately but it felt as though it had lasted a bit more than a second. She looked down at the ground and then realized that when she did, she had to look back at him because the king began to speak in his rich, rich voice filled with tainted love and calm. 

“Greetings, citizens.  I have gathered you here today to inform you of an important event of grand importance.” Murmurs echoed through the square with questions and harsh spoken words Henri would be severely punished for if repeated. The chill in her bones seemed to sharpen, as if on automatic. Then the King spoke once again. “As you all know, I have taken a great liking to many of the women of Argos.” He paused again. This time there was laughter in the crowd and many young ladies mock swooning. 

“I am sorry and glad to say that I have impregnated a good few of these ladies per your request and bargain. You know of the consequences and contract of the deal, so I am sure you are well aware of a bit of what I am about to say. It was your request to begin with so I really see no reason for you to complain.” The smile he gave the crowd was malicious and confident. 

“Who would request that?” Someone in the crowd yelled. Amelia stood frozen beside her as the king spoke. A woman and daughter who looked to be 14 ran through the crowd. Suddenly, guards snatched them up and held them in place. Fear laced the crowd. Fear had laced Henri’s bones since he had spoken. But it was an almost calm sort of fear. Maybe it’ll be okay, she thought. Yeah. Maybe. Stay positive, just stay positive. 

Henri began to worry about Amelia as her hand tightened and loosened at a seemingly random rate. 

“Some of my subjects do not have the ability to procreate as the vast majority of you do. I seek to help them. As you well know, and as I have mentioned on more than one occasion, I can easily control what women recieve a child bearing my genes. It is not my intention to steal from you,” loud sobbing could be heard throughout the crowd, “but the end of my reign over this land is near and these children have royal blood. I will be taking them into my care. You have until Tuesday afternoon to have these children ready and brought to my palace. I know who they are and will not hesitate to sentence parents to death upon any refusals. Your children,” someone was shaking beside Henri and the king had his eyes on the few of them in that section of the square. The King’s voice had gone suddenly hard and his final troubling words rang out clearly. “Will be mine.”

Henri knew now why women were crying and some children were laughing without a care in the world, unknowing of the path laid out before them. King Argonaut had given these women children. But for what price? He had given them one child, she was sure. But it didn’t even matter, did it? He was going to take them all anyway. He was going to steal away what had been given. Monster. Monster. Monster. The words reached into her mind. Amelia was crying for a good reason. For herself or others, she didn’t know, didn’t even want to know. She cared about it, though and knew that it wasn’t over yet. “Silence, please.”

The voice shut everyone up. It looked like it shut up their souls too. Well, maybe it did. He was a God after all. God of this Kingdom. God of Temptation. Did it even matter? The words came from the king. Henri was right. It wasn’t over, it was far from it. The King had more to say to his people. No, to her, too. She was a part of it all now whether she was willing to believe it or not. She had to be. She lived here, had always lived here. That would never change. 

“I have yet another announcement.” Yes, another. Always another. That’s the way, isn’t it? “I am not taking only the children with royal blood.” Only a few gasps that time. There were hundreds of people in the crowd but only about ten or so really had the will to respond. “I am accepting those with superb talent regarding school and public actions. My second in command will have a list of names of those going and will post them on the pillars accordingly. Time cannot be wasted on such minimal tasks such as names at the moment. Farewell citizens of Argos. Enjoy your day.” The king then walked gracefully back into his castle. Henri could swear he looked directly at her before he turned completely away and out of sight.

By now everyone was shocked into silence. Nobody moved to gather the children who now held on the pants legs of their fathers, and the skirts of their mothers. Henri deducted that much of these meetings didn’t end this way. Amelia grabbed Henri’s hand and yanked to the direction of their home. She pulled Henri away from the terrified crowd. It didn’t seem as though many people noticed.  

“Mom, slow down!” Amelia turned around quickly. She looked like she was going to hit her and so Henri flinched, ready for the assault. But she wasn’t slapped as she thought she would be.

Amelia was sobbing. She screamed “No! I will NOT lose you!” Her eyes were pink, stained in utter despair, sorrow and desperation. She looked broken. “Not to him. I haven’t even had you long. I want to see you grow old with me and become a woman.” Amelia caressed her face and wiped away a stray tear Henri hadn’t noticed had rolled down her cheek. “I want to see you be married to a man you love. I want you to be free.” She suddenly dropped her hands. “I’m sorry, baby. I am so sorry. This is all my fault, all of it. I brought you into this world and in this mess.” Amelia fell to the ground. Henri tried to catch her but wasn’t fast enough and toppled on her knees with her. 

Henri hugged her mom. “You won’t lose me, momma. I’ll be here. You know, in the castle.” Henri told her softly. “I’ll be close.” Now that she was thinking about it, the only thing that seemed so bad about the situation was the lack of seeing her mom. But it would have been the same even before if she went to school so what was the deal now? Opportunity, her fogged mind whispered. Yes, opportunity. This was an opportunity and she should take it. 

Yeah, sure, he threatened to kill her mom, but that was only if she refused and as long as she didn’t refuse, everything was going to be okay. 

“How did you even know you would be chosen, Hen?” Amelia asked suspiciously. Classic Amelia, suspicious of everyone and everything yet so ambitious and with a fierce desire to be loved by at least one person unconditionally. Henri didn’t think too hard about her reply. 

“Context clues, I guess.” Henri shrugged. “You cry, him paying attention to me a few times, you saying you don’t want to lose me, your certainty that I will be chosen. Either I am his child or just a smart person, I’m still not completely sure.” Henri gulped down her sudden fear.

She sounded exactly like him, how she spoke so critically, analytically, how she thought with larger words. 

Amelia stared at her for a moment before completely sobbing into her shoulder. It reminded Henri of a time when she was younger. 

“Momma, I found something outside!” Amelia had been sitting on the couch when her daughter ran in with b****y hands and chunks of something gray or white in some places. She felt fear like a grappling hook. Manic thoughts crept into her mind. Her hands clenched and tangled on the couch. What exactly was happening? “Momma, he’s hurt, help him.” 

My daughter is hurt, she thought. She leaped from the couch to Hen’s side. “Honey, what happened? What hurt you?” Amelia began to feel her eyes sting and blur.

“Momma, help him, help him, please help him! He’s hurt mommy, we should help the bunny baby!” Henri had a determined look on her face. Brave, as always. Amelia took a deep breath and attempted to calm herself. Henri wasn’t hurt and that was all that mattered. But Henri wasn’t happy either and that mattered, too. So Amelia reached for the chunks of meat and blood. “What happened to it, honey?” Amelia asked calmly. 

Henri was ugly with tears now. “Oh momma, the strays did it. They were eating the baby. Momma, we have to help it, we have to! Can we help it?” Henri had an almost quizzical look on her face. 

 It was a good question: COULD they help it? Was it even alive anymore? Was it even capable of being helped? Maybe this one time she would help someone else. Just this once. 

“Alright. Go wash your hands and we will see what we can do for it.” Henri ran off toward the bathroom to wash up. 

She’d never speak to anyone of what she did that day, but when Henri returned, the bunny was as good as new and ready to return to its family outside and the two of them shared a long hug with Henrietta curled against Amelia’s chest as if she were still just a babe.

“I’m sorry, mom.” They had made it home that same morning around 10am.

“It’s not you I am upset with.” Amelia was lying in bed, facing the wall.

“Then what is it?” Amelia really wanted to tell her that it really was partly her fault. Henri had accepted the situation with ease and even gratitude. She would never understand the cost that came with living in the palace. She didn’t understand the pain of having a child torn away by an  unnatural force. It was hard to believe that early that morning, they were happy and talking about normal things like college and food and school. She wanted to go back to a time when she didn’t have to worry so much about how long she would live or how long she would be able to keep hold of her daughter. She knew the risks of what she did that day. She was paying the price even now, fifteen years later. It had seemed so far away, but Henrietta had grown so fast and time had flown by so quickly and Henri was always changing. 

She clenched her fists into the soft comforter that so many would beg on their knees to have. Sweat brushed her tears and they mingled together in a twisted dance. What right does Henri have to mean so much to her? How could such a young girl cause her so much pain? She couldn’t make sense of her feelings. What was the point of the deal to begin with? How had she not known 

exactly how much the choice was going to affect her and her child in the long run? Hadn’t she just wanted someone to protect and love? How was she going to protect and love a daughter who was being sheltered by the enemy? A daughter who was being cared for by the most selfish being on the planet? He was a God. He was the reason she was born.

Shouldn’t she be thanking him for that, groveling at his feet?

No, she shouldn’t be. He offered her a near impossible choice. Had she chosen wrong? Surely not. Surely what she had gained from her choice was worth it? It had to be worth it or else it was all for nothing. Would it really be so bad to send her to that school, to that place with him? Would it even make her happy? Well, maybe it would. Maybe she could see for herself how awful it was. Maybe she would have to learn the hard way. She’s the one who wanted to leave, right? So, why not let her? Why not let her run off to the sunset with the origin of her pain. 

A sob escaped her throat and she felt Henri’s arms wrap around her.

A part of her wanted to shove her away, to say you made your choice, but she knew that Henri hadn’t truly done much wrong. Much.

“Why do you want to go to him instead of staying with me?” She had asked the question, barely feeling her lips move, soul numb and shattered. The resounding silence was deafening and it made Amelia shake harder. Henri’s hands moved to her hair. She rubbed it and combed her fingers through it. She’s mine. She remembered his words too clearly. Her sobs grew more hoarse as they continued.

She heard a soft sigh behind her and heard the shaking voice of a young girl. No, she is a young woman now. She was growing up. The woman behind her, so far away seemed to be smiling. She just knew it. Was she happy with the despair of the woman who raised her? Was Henri really so cruel? Had she raised her daughter to be that way even after everything?

“Mom.” A whisper. A slight breath reaching out to her through the disaster, through the pain of the possibility of loss. Horrible, dreadful loss. “I want you to be safe.” A sharp wind seemed to blow in from somewhere, tickling her neck. A huff of someone strong. Was it him? Or was it strength from Henri? Was Amelia the weak one here silently seething and so close to completely disowning her own daughter? No, she couldn’t disown someone she had never owned to begin with. 

Amelia wanted to say something to reply but her mouth was dry. She couldn’t offer up anything to say. She only squeezed Henri tighter and tried her best to let her go. She would be happy that way. Everything would be fine. She just had to believe in Henri and believing in Henri was everything. It had to be.