The White-Bear King Valemon
(A young prince who had horrible taste in women and a young princess who should've known better)
An Undervalued Godmother
King Audun was starting to question his earlier choice. His kingdom was a small one, easily forgotten. That was why it surprised him when a fairy came forward and offered to be godmother to his as yet unborn son. True she didn't look like most fairies and he had had his doubts. But then again, fairies usually only did that sort of thing for more important kingdoms. She had come up to him as he was hunting, clothed in a peasant style dress with her skirt cut off at the knees and large boots. She introduced herself as Gwynach and respectfully asked to be named godmother for his soon to arrive child. Of course, when he stayed silent from surprise, her next words weren't respectful. "You know, your son. He'll be born twelve days from now, making everybody get up at midnight to have the birthing. Stormy blue eyes, black curls, jagged birthmark on the lower left part of his back. You did realize that your wife is pregnant and will give birth soon, didn't you?"
He had weighed his choices carefully. He didn't want to turn away a real fairy who wished to be his son's godmother, but he also didn't want to make a mad woman his son's godmother either. He had replied that he would send her his reply as soon as his son was born. She had taken the news very agreeably, whereas most fairies would have been insulted. When his son was born, it was exactly as the fairy had said, from the time of birth to the birthmark. Now, three months later, he was holding his son's christening. As was traditional, all the important people of the small kingdom had come and many distant relatives. Also as was traditional, the boy's fairy godmother attended, and would give him at least one gift.
The fairy stuck out like a sore thumb. All the women were dressed in fine gowns in bright colors, with thick petticoats that made their skirts flare out, long sleeves tied in silk ribbons, and fur trim. Even in a small kingdom like this the women wore fine jewels. The fairy, on the other hand, wore a simple gown. It had one strap on the left side in the form of a leather cord done in a complicated braid, leaving her arms and shoulders bare. The dress was a midnight blue with threadwork of the same color making a complicated design, with a slit going up the right side to reveal a grayish blue underskirt. Her only jewelry was a pendant made out of dark blue stone, silver hoops in her ears, and a strip of braided leather on her left bicep. Even her blue-black hair was done in a simple loose braid ending about her knees.
Eventually it came time for everybody to give gifts to the new prince. As was traditional for the heir to the kingdom, the first 'gift' was allegiance. A representative from each settlement in the small kingdom came and pledged their, and everyone else's, allegiance to the future king. Then the nobles came and pledged their allegiance, and gave varying gifts that doubled as political gestures. Next the relatives went through, giving gifts more suited to a child. Finally, it was time for his godmother to step forward.
She stepped right up to the cradle and the relatives had done. Unlike the relatives, she actually reached in and tickled him. As the young prince laughed, his godmother smiled, saying, "Well, aren't you just a sweet little dear. Well, for my first gift." She reached into the slit of her dress and pulled out a wooden hoop. She set it in the cradle with the prince, and it immediately burst out in golden leaves and berries. The prince, being all of three months old, found nothing strange in this and promptly began chewing on it.
The king cleared his throat and hesitantly asked, "I am grateful for your gift to my son, but I wonder what it is for?"
The Fairy waved it off. "Every child needs a toy. It is enchanted, but nothing spectacular. It will be of use to him though. Now, my second gift is more roundabout. I have some other enchanted items which are very useful. These will be given to his children. Though that's a while in the future, he will appreciate them. And for my third gift." Suddenly she became deadly serious. "My third christening gift is Intercession." She rolled her eyes heavenward. "Because heaven knows he'll need it."
"What do you mean by intercession?" the Queen asked worriedly.
"It's a term meaning that if something along the lines of a curse happens to him, I am allowed to intercede. Basically, I can confront the person cursing him and have the spell changed in his favor, if not completely removed." Se turned and smiled at the Queen and King. "It's mostly precautionary, to make sure nothing truly bad ever happens to him. Well, I'll be in touch." With that the fairy turned and left the castle.
Once again, King Audun wondered if he should have refused to make the fairy his son's godmother.
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This is the first in a series that I'm calling Gwynach's Fables. Basically, a certain fey has barged into certain situations over the years. These situations have become good stories though a lot of the facts have disappeared or been warped. This is what really happened. It's amazing how much a girl can get around, even if she is close to immortal.
This is just a prologue, next chap will be soon. You'll actually get to hear why the prince was cursed. Anyway, R&R please.
