Rifiuto: Non Miriena
A/N: Written: 2005, Found: 2018.- Licia
The baptism in the Vinkus was to be longer than the one in Fliaan, as was custom.
"Fabala, are you ready?" The young queen looked up from threading an earring in as her husband slipped back into the room that was theirs while they were at Kiamo Ko for the baptism. She nodded, slipping into her shoes. Similar to the baptism in Fliaan, when Elphaba, as empress, had worn court dress and poliska for her daughter's baptism, so too did the Vinkun royals wear court dress for the baptism of a royal child.
The dress she wore for her daughter's baptism in the Vinkus was similar to the gown she had worn for coronation; though it was of a soft sapphire blue with a gold design, and ran straight across her chest, the sleeves hanging down and exposing her shoulders and the upper part of her chest, and on her head, tucked within her twist, was a simple diamond and sapphire tiara, reminiscent of a starburst. Trism wore military dress blues, as was custom; she quickly let her eyes rove over her husband appreciatively.
"Where's the baby, Tris?"
He took her hand as they hurried down the stairs. "With her grandmother."
Trism cradled the baby gently in his arms; she wore the same baptism gown she'd worn for her baptism in Fliaan. Her bright blue eyes, so reminiscent of his own, looked up at him, and he couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. Elphaba stood beside him, gently supporting the baby's head, as was custom when a royal infant was baptized in the Vinkus. The cradling of the baby by both parents meant that they would raise her in the faith of the church together.
Locasta stood by her son and daughter-in-law's side, tears in her eyes. In the short nine and a half months or so since they had taken the throne, things had changed; Trism, at his wife's suggestion and urging, had opened the universities to both genders, when before only higher education had been allowed to men; women were allowed to be considered for political positions, and new housing was in the process of being built for those less fortunate in the cities.
Though much of Elphaba's short time as queen had meant she helped her husband make decisions and pass laws from her bed- especially as the birth of their daughter had grown closer- she had still been an instrumental, driving force behind many of the changes made in the short nine months or so since they'd been crowned. But the one law that had been done away with completely by the time the baby had been born was the Law of Succession. In the Vinkus, a daughter could only inherit the throne if there were no sons; though she would inherit the title of Crown Princess, she would not be able to take the throne unless her parents bore no sons after her. And up until Trism was crowned, the law in place had been fine, for very few princesses had been born to Tigelaar ancestors who lived to see adulthood or had not married into other houses.
But now... now with Trism and Elphaba on the throne, and their first child a daughter, the rule had to change. Not long after Elphaba had announced her pregnancy, Trism made it impertinent that the old rule be done away with. He would not watch his daughter fall victim to the law of succession, simply because of her gender. A new law was put into place: regardless of gender, the firstborn child would inherit the throne, if they so chose to when the time came. It was the last law Elphaba herself had signed before she went into labor.
"... Her Imperial Highness, the Crown Princess and Heir Presumptive of the Vinkus..."
The couple shared a glance. Boring didn't even begin to describe it.
"... Grand Duchess of Yeter, Princess of Kelve, Faolána Sophelie Dorathea Rose Tigelaar..."
Her parents shared a glance, and as the priest anointed the infant princess's forehead, the baby began to fuss. Gently, Trism began to bounce his daughter, and Elphaba hummed softly; in a matter of minutes, the court watched as the princess calmed without so much as a wail.
Once the baptism ended, the young royal couple made their way to the balcony; the crowds below them cheered and whistled in excitement. News of the young queen's pregnancy had thrilled the Vinkun people; despite the miscarriage of their last child, for the young royals to be expecting a child so soon after taking the crown was clearly a sign that Saint Lurline was smiling on the Vinkus and her people.
As Trism held their daughter against his shoulder, he felt Elphaba slip her arm through his. The baby stared at everything with her father's wide, blue eyes; Trism was certain the little princess was overwhelmed, anyone would be if they faced thousands of subjects come to celebrate them- her mother had been nervous, and she was a grown woman.
The little princess began to fuss, and Trism turned to his wife; a camera captured stills of the young king slipping their beloved daughter into his wife's arms, images that would be splashed across every Vinkun newspaper, celebrating the baptism of their little Crown Princess.
"Faolána..." The baby cooed softly at the sing-songing. "Faolána Sophelie..." Slender fingers gently tickled the baby's tummy as she lay in her bassinet; the singsonging continued. "Faolána Sophelie Dorathea..." Soft nickering reached the baby's ears, and she watched the person standing over her with wide eyes. "Faolána Sophelie Dorathea Rose... such a beautiful baby... Grandmama loves you... yes, she does... Grandmama loves you so very much... my little angel with the big eyes..."
The door to the nursery shut softly, and the woman moved towards the bassinet. She leaned down, tickling her daughter's tummy. "Faolána... There's my little angel with the big eyes." The young Vinkun queen lifted her daughter from her bassinet, holding her gently against her shoulder. "You've had quite the exciting last few days, haven't you my sweet darling? I bet you're just as happy to be home in Colwen Grounds as Daddy and I are." Elphaba gently pressed a kiss to her daughter's head; the baby watched the woman who stood behind her mother. "If Grandmama Melena were still here with us, I know she would spend all her time cooing over you like Daddy and I have been."
The woman smiled, and then reached up, letting the baby take her hand. She nickered softly, having clearly captured her granddaughter's attention and the baby gurgled in excitement, kicking her tiny legs, her other hand in her mouth. The reaction caused her mother to turn. "Faola, what were you staring at?" The baby gurgled again as the woman appeared, brushing her fingers gently over the baby's black curls.
"Watch over my sweet Fabala for me, my darling." She brushed a kiss to the baby's forehead.
Elphaba turned, but found no one there. It was as though her daughter had been interacting with air.
