12 years ago, Weria Escanor lost her brother to the army; she was only a child and the loss of her only sibling hit her hard. The day her parents received the news of his passing, she had promised herself that she would never allow any of her children to suffer through similar pains. However, that was a promise made by a child and those rarely keep. Since then, she had gotten married, been crowned Queen of Meridian, and had her first child. Her first child was a boy she named Phobos, but that wasn't what bothered the young queen, what bothered her were the news she received from the doctor earlier that morning. Since giving birth to her son, Weria and Zaden were trying to have another for a chance to have a girl, a girl that could inherit Weria's powers and rule Meridian as traditions demanded; however, this morning she spoke with the royal doctor and received troubling news. According to the doctor, her body couldn't produce another child.
It wasn't that she was too hold or infertile, but her body wasn't strong enough to carry a child. This hit the Queen hard; since the death of her brother, the importance of tradition had been drilled into her. She understood that the people expected a girl to be born and she wanted to provide for her people. Weria felt cursed and couldn't understand why her body had failed her; why had nature made her so she would fail her kingdom? Sure, she had been given a boy and he showed a lot of promise. By the time he was 1-year old, he could speak, walk, whistle, and perform simple spells such as creating balls of light and clouds. Now that he was 5 going on 6, he could conjure entire storms inside closed rooms, jump locations if he knew where to go, and produce small portals to enter locked rooms. If she weren't bound to tradition, Weria would have been more than happy to hand the crown to her son, but she was sure that the people would not accept this. To this day, children in schools learn about the last true king of Meridian and how he had nearly destroyed all of Metamoor if it hadn't been for his wife, who then became the first Queen. All of this had happened centuries ago, but the stories are still told, and the people act as though it happened in recent history. To this day, the citizens don't speak his name.
Still, all she could give to the people was a boy and Weria didn't know what to do. Like an animal backed into a corner, she didn't know what to do and reached out to her closest cousin, Queen Seras Ero, in desperation. Her and Sears had grown-up practically as sisters and Weria knew she could confined in her; Seras always knew what to do and what to say and Weria needed that. She hadn't told Zaden about her condition and didn't know how, but she had to tell someone. As expected, the moment she sent a message to Seras, the queen packed her bags and made her way from Ero to Meridian with two children, the 6-year old Myra and the 3-year old Isabela; even though she wasn't told to bring the girls, Seras felt it best that the girls meet their cousin.
Within the hour of sending the message, Weria received the message that Seras was on her way and knew that her cousin would arrive within the day since Ero was the home of the fastest horse in all of Metamoor. Nervous about seeing her cousin for the first time in years, Weria orders a servant to bring her son to her study, which the servant did. Since giving birth to him, Weria tried to keep her distance from her son as tradition mandated.
Furthermore, this was to protect herself against the pain she would experience should he be sent to the army and die as her brother had. However, now that she knew she wouldn't have another child, she felt guilty for never treating her son as such; she had always treated him like a stranger that shared her house and blood. With the exception of his abilities, Weria knew nothing about her son. She didn't know what he liked and disliked, what his favorite color was if he preferred warm or cold days, or what his favorite book was. Did this make her a horrible mother? Was there still the chance to patch things up between her and her son?
Within minutes, there came a knock on the study door that stopped Weria's train of thought. In a firm, yet gentle voice, she turned to the door. "Come in."
To no surprise, it was her son who entered and immediately bowed before her as customs mandated. Without meeting her eye, the young prince spoke. "My Queen has sent for me?"
He spoke in such a hushed tone, that Weria found it difficult to hear him. However, she knew what he said because he said the same as anyone who she sent for. As she looked down at the child before her, she was unsure what to feel about him. She had carried that child under her heart for 9 months, but since giving birth she rarely saw her son. He had been raised the way all Meridian royal males have been raised, by a series of nannies and teachers; she didn't even share a dinner table with her son. If she were going to start treating her son the way she would treat a Meridian royal princess, how would she start?
"Prince Phobos, the castle is expecting guests from Ero; it is Queen Seras Ero and she is bringing her daughters Myra and Isabela with her. I expect you to be on your best behavior. You are representing Meridian for as long as they choose to stay. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, my queen. I shall not disappoint." Responded the young prince as he kept his head down. He honored, respected, and even feared the Queen he was related to; this was the way he was raised since he could crawl, and he never questioned this. He knew that, should she please it, he could be thrown out onto the streets, so each time she summoned him to her, he felt like walking on eggshells. This was normal life for the prince.
"Good, you may be dismissed." Said the Queen with a quick and snappy nod of her head. Without a word or even looking up at his mother, the Prince nodded his head and left his mother's study to return to the library.
XXXXX
Later that same day, as expected, Queen Seras arrived at the gates of the castle; her white Wind Stallions were glistening with sweat and shaking with exhaustion from the long ride; their white hides and golden manes shone like they were studded with diamonds. The royals inside the carriage weren't faring much better, as the ride was bumpy and none of them was used to such a long and tumultuous ride. However, no journey was uncomfortable enough to keep Seras from visiting her dearest friend. Furthermore, she was aching to see Weria again and the letter was the best excuse to leave the royal duties to her husband and sister-in-law. Seras hadn't seen Weria since the young queen gave birth to Phobos; furthermore, Seras was excited to see how much her godson had grown in the past 5 years. Since she was so used to the Meridian castle and its' layout, she had grown up in it, she didn't bother to wait for a servant to take her to the royal study rooms and simply walked past the servant meant to greet her.
"Queen Seras, I was meant to greet you and your daughters, My Queen will be very cross if I fail at my duties." Said the servant in a panicked tone as he rushed after Queen Seras and her daughters, which he had difficulties with.
"I do not need a welcome committee for a castle I have grown up in for 10 years of my life. I know every nook and cranny of this place, so I know what I am doing, and I know why I am here. You are going to get me cross if you keep following me like a lost puppy." Seras replied through gritted teeth as her body still vibrated from the carriage ride and the servant was nothing more than a pesky fly to her at the time. Besides, she was faster on her own than being led by some small servant boy. Within moments of arriving at the castle, Seras stood before the study doors and knocked. Weria knew, by the sound of the heavy knocking that it was her dear friend. Furthermore, she could practically hear Seras march down the hallway the moment she arrived.
"Come-"before she could finish the command, Seras opened the door and rushed in, giving Weria a tight, rib-crushing, hug.
"Oh Weria, it has been so long. I packed my bags the moment I got your letter." She then released the young queen and waved her hand dismissively at the servant that was frozen at the door. It was clear he had never seen someone being this casual around the Queen. "Now, you go and get me my god-son, Prince Phobos, and a glass of your finest bitter-plum liquor." The servant stood frozen for another second before following Queen Sera's orders, making sure to close the door as he left. Once alone, Seras returned her attention to Weria. "I am so glad you sent that letter. I was looking for a reason to get out of the castle. Also, this gives the best opportunity to introduce you and Phobos to my girls. I have been telling them so much about this place and they have been dying to come here."
At this, Myra and Isabela step closer to Queen Weria and make a simple bow; keeping eye contact with the Queen when they did so. Both simultaneously give their most formal greeting. "We are humbled to meet you. Queen Weria Escanor." Then Myra, the oldest one, stood straight and smiled, revealing the gap in her front teeth that resembled a barndoor left ajar, "Mother has told us so much, we were excited when she said we would visit you and our cousin."
Weria tried to hide it, but her cheeks were beginning to grow red at the sight of the two beautiful princesses. She was jalousie at her friend for having two daughters while she had none. Then again, there were many things Weria was jalousie of when it came to Seras. Where Weria was petite and dainty, like a fine bone-china doll, Seras was built like a brewery horse. Her hips were wide and plump, her chest and shoulders were broad like a shelf, with bosoms like two melons, and her hair hung in perfect blond curls from her head. Seras was a battleship of a woman and it showed in the way her life turned out. Weria was always sick and weak as a child, and suffered from frequent migraines; Seras, on the other hand, was never ill or suffering from weak-spells. When Weria almost took a year to recover from having her son, Seras was back on her feet within the week and even aided Weria in giving birth a few months after Myra was born. Lastly, Seras wasn't bound to tradition like she was; Seras could say and do as she pleased. If she wanted her children to call her mother, she could. Luckily, Weria didn't have to hide her emotions for long, as soon there came a knocking from the door; it was the servant with the glass of liquor and the Prince.
When Phobos entered the room, he immediately noticed Seras and the two princesses and quickly bowed in the respective manor he was taught. "Welcome to Meridian, Queen Seras. You and your daughters are most welcomed."
"Oh, my gawd." Seras let go of Weria and rushed over to the young royal; lifting his face by the chin so she could have a closer look at him. "Look how much you have grown. I haven't seen you since you were a baby and what a handsome young lad you are." She then turned his head from side to side to get a better look at him. The Prince wasn't used to someone touching him, especially by someone who he only knew of in passing. Feeling like a deer being confronted by a lion, he froze and let the women look him over. "You look so much like your father Zaden, I just know you are going to grow up to do great things." She then turned to her daughters with a smile and waved them closer before returning her attention to the young prince. "I am sorry I hardly wrote in the years. I know I am a sad excuse of a godmother, but I brought my daughters along, so you have someone to play with. Also, this way you get the chance to meet your cousins."
Then, she let go of the prince and placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders as if they were a passion project and she was a young girl presenting it to her parents. "These are my daughters Princess Myra and Princess Isabela." She then, gently, pushed her daughters closer to the prince. Myra immediately grabbed Phobos's hand and firmly shook it; clearly having inherited her mother's confidence and open nature. Isabela, on the other hand, was more reserved; though that could have come from her being so young. The small, white-haired, blue-eyed girl quietly stood beside her raven-haired, ruby eyed, sister and waved at her cousin.
"It is great to meet you!" Myra cheered as she shook his hand and smiled wide, showing the Prince her gapped front teeth. "Mom told us so much about this place and we were so excited when she said we were going to visit. Can you show us around? We have been cooped up in a bumpy carriage for almost 6 hours."
Unsure of what to do, Phobos looked at both Queen Seras and Queen Weria for guidance. This was the first time he encountered anyone around his age and so open. He usually interacted with a select group of reserved adults, so being around anyone this energetic made him feel like a fish out of water. Queen Weria, simply seeking a moment alone with her childhood friend, waved her hand in a dismissive manner. "Go and show our guests around. Queen Seras and I have important things to discuss."
"Yes, my Queen." Replied the prince and guided the two young princesses out the door past the stunned servant, who was still holding the tray with the drink for Queen Seras. What the young servant just witnessed was most unorthodox; no one spoke this casual around the royals, no one addressed them by their first name, and, certainly, no one ever touched the royals. However, before the unnamed servant had another chance to think, Queen Seras waltzed on over to him, took the glass off the tray with a quick 'thank you' and closed the door so she and Weria could speak in private.
Meanwhile, in the hallway, the young princess Isabela turned her head up to face her cousin and asked. "Why do you address your mom by her title?"
XXXXX
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Yup, my first attempt at Frozen Heart with more OCs. Do you like short and fast chapters, or long and detailed chapters? Keep in mind, long chapters take longer to write and post.