Consequence of Choice
Her sin stared back at her with bright crimson eyes.
A small burble and coo passed the plump shell pink lips of the doll-like child slotted snuggly in the crook of her arms. Smooth beige skin reflect the mother's own, a few shades lighter but just as rich in color. Scarlet cloth swathed the small frame, contrasting vividly with the small mop of green hair that topped the babe's head.
Gazing down at her child, she couldn't help the small churn of regret in her bosom. She had never meant to be unfaithful but her feelings had run away with her. It had been only once with him, a single night of burning passion and heated love. His own life choices could relate to her own, leaving the Island that acted as their homeland. It was exciting but also oh so very lonely in a way humans couldn't even hope to sate.
Alhedha, for that was her name spoken like the last sighed note of a child's lullaby, had proven weak toward the influx of elation and companionship that came to life each time they interacted. She had no desire to turn him into a consort. That was why after that incident she had ended it before it could go any further.
Yet, staring at the red twist that was the mirror image of a familiar marking she saw throughout her childhood on her younger brother's brow, she knew she had ended it far too late.
It wasn't my intention to make him into a gigolo*!
A gurgle brought her attention back to the child she had shifted to rest against her breast. She had lost herself in her thoughts, Almedha's eyes still locked inside the depth of those two endless pools of red. The eyes of her baby. Her hatchling. Not matter whatever dreadful feelings she felt, she couldn't help the instant connection with the child of her own blood. Whoever the father, it was her son. A child born of her own flesh and love, her son. And with those facts came a certain, almost frightening, instinct to protect.
It was that instinct that had compelled Almedha to lock herself into her chambers with her son the second she had been well enough to recover from the birth. Her quick thinking and the humans' own lack of knowledge of her kind made far from difficult to explain away the brand that stood bright and proud in between his eyes. With almost laughable ease she had manage to hide the truth from her midwives and anyone else she had happened upon.
But Ashnard would know better. He may be a madman but he never was a stupid one. If anything his insanity drove him to greater intelligence to rival his growing paranoia, a paranoia that lead to him to often spend his nights curled upon alone without a soul nearby save for the rare times Almedha herself was permitted to share his bed. Times that were growing fewer and far between.
The question is will he even care? Probably not... He will just be delighted I gave birth to a child he can use instead of a Branded… Or his paranoia will get the better of him and he will seek my son's very destruction...
It hadn't been long into the pregnancy had the king's true colors had shown, his insanity growing beyond the few nervous habits or bouts of suspicion toward everyone and everything. The emerald-haired queen had foolishly thought that they could simply work through these episodes and character flaws displayed by the man that attracted her so. Even so, somewhere in the back of her mind, Almedha was aware that is was far worse than simply that and her denial had helped to kept her blind. A blindness she can't deny that she was content with. But that was before it was more than simply her own life at stake.
The small infant in her arms was just too important to her for her to risk losing.
I've made so many mistakes… My dear child, I am sorry... The second he discovers the truth about you I will surely you... Unless..
There was nothing she could do to change things, but maybe just maybe there was someone else who could. Someone who could maybe change the fate of the young child in her arms. And this someone would surely be the first to come see the babe, even before Ashnard himself. This someone, this person, this hated man would be the one to check up on her son and decided upon what would come of him.
Very little time amassed, spent carding her fingers of her free hand through the infant's thin hair, before a knock sounded upon the door. Through the entryway came in a hunch and gnarled form. Stringy grey-blue hair, like that of a crow, topped his head and hung in greasy locks around his face. This disgusting excuse of a man was Ashnard's head mage, a crazed scientist by the name of Izuka. He hung in the doorway, an attention at respectful as he awaiting his chance to come inspect the young prince. And Almedha had no choice but to let him, that is if her plan was to work.
Izuka came forward in that shuffling way of his when beckoned, at least decent enough to remain quiet. In her arms her child was fast asleep, his eyes having drifted shut in exhaustion and comfort at her repetitive motions. He examined the marking with relative interest and the grand woman had to struggled not to slap away the man's corrupted figures as they traced those elegant lines.
Only when there was no longer any excuse to inspect further did the madman regretfully released his grip from the newborn, a sudden jerk of a gesture that brought a waking cry from the baby. At the sudden sound the wrinkles starting to form on the elder man's brow deepened. Yet they soon smoothed out as a toothy feral grin lit up the man's lips. All the while Almedha was quick to snatch her child and begin to try and shush him.
"What a bad girl you are," Izuka called out teasingly, "I wonder how Ashnard would react if he found out his trophy was sleeping around,"
"What makes you think he would care?" Almedha's responded with a tone as cold as the northern winters, her child still being gently rocked against her chest.
"Ah true. But I can't help but wonder, why haven't you run away? You have to know what is going to be done with that powerful child of yours,"
"I am well aware. That is why I am asking for your help. Please make it so that no one can expect what this child is,"
Small dark eyes narrowed as they gazed upon the dragon swallowing her pride, Izuka's eyebrow raised in intrigue. Meanwhile Almedha kept her own gaze locked onto the fuzzy head slotted beneath her chin, unwilling to meet his eyes.
"And why should I?" the summoner finally vocalized in a curious yet hesitant fashion. One could practically see the gears working in his skull as he thought through her request and what it would mean for him to do so. No doubt Izuka was also thinking on the merits of undertaking such a task and what it would mean for his research.
The look, the deep focus that echoed in his eyes sent a wave of relief washing through the fair mother as Almedha spotted his interest. The bait had been taken, his attention grabbed. Now she just had to finish it.
"I hear your feral drug is still neglecting to work,"
Izuka's head snapped to face her directly.
"Ah yes..." the expression on the elder man's face fell as he was reminded once again of his failures, "What about it?"
"If you find a way to hide my son's powers, I will allow you to harvest my own and use them to complete the drug," Almedha was quick to speak before she could change her mind. True, she was giving a madman what he needed to wreak havoc, but at the same time she couldn't find it in herself to really care. Ever since this hatchling came into her life it was all she could bear to truly love. All that mattered to her was her baby. And if it meant condemning the rest of the world to save her son, the queen would do it in a heartbeat.
"OH! That would definitely help my research greatly! And if I was to find a way to hide a dragon prince I would be all the greater scientist! Alright, I will do it! Just remember you're part of the bargain," Izuka practically danced at the news, that is if he possessed the energy to do so. Necromansy put such a strain on his body that left him aging poorly.
In his excitement the aged man just about ran out of the room before pausing and turning as if hit with a sudden afterthought.
"I almost forgot. What is his name?"
"..."
"You have decided on one right?"
"Yes... Severyn..."
"What a strange taste in names you dragons have," That final remark was tossed casually behind him as the chuckling scientist walked away eager to begin his work.
Five days later, with Izuka keeping Ashnard away, at last the summoner finished the potion. With one hard-to-get sip from Severyn, the child's intricate marking turned to a simpler mark of a Branded. While Almedha knew that would only bring the child more trouble, she was far too elated to question it. Upon the change she received a means to change the child back if need be and without the slightest remorse gave up her powers.
Years past and it all blended into history, Almedha's child long lost to the war and the crazed man she had made the mistake of loving. Her love was again wrongly placed, but that is another story entirely.
Little did she know that the first had yet to end, her child still very much alive.
And Almedha's choice brought upon him, this poor soul, nothing but hardship...
Gigolo* = a young man paid or financially supported by an older woman to be her escort or lover.
Author Note/
I decided when reading it a few times to re-write what I already had written prior before continuing it. To keep it from being far too confusing I decided to just up and post a whole new story for the re-write instead of editing the original's chapter. Anyway I hope you enjoy the re-boot.
-With Luffles, Aureux