It was a blooming spring day in the capital of Gotham. Katherine was strolling along the Royal Gardens with her sister alone.
"What news of my son?" Katherine asked Victoria.
"Mathis is fine." Victoria replied. "He has more than enough nannies to look after them."
"What if they spill your secrets?"
"No they cannot, they are illiterate; their daily supplies are transported to the keep." Victoria smiled. "Your secret is safe."
"What of Sir James?" Katherine said. "I haven't seen him for…weeks."
"Dear sister, he got sent off to some border." Victoria replied with a sigh. "I suggest… you should forget him as soon as you can. Don't know when will he be back … or will he ever be able to come back."
"I don't like the sound of it." Katherine sighed. "But I suppose father would ship me off soon, like a highly-prized sow. I would never be able to forget Sir James anyway. Mathis is a living reminder of his presence."
"Remember, you have to conceal it. In the eyes of the court, Mathis is the bastard son of a servant girl and a rogue."
Katherine sighed again.
A lady-in-waiting rushed into the garden and curtseyed in front of the two princesses.
"I thought I told you to leave us alone," Victoria scolded her with a cold face.
"I apologize my lady," she replied, her head dipped low. "The Emperor seeks your presence at his chambers, both of you."
The Princesses looked at each other in the eye, and they followed the lady.
"Ah my lovely daughters," Robin exclaimed as the Princesses headed into the chambers. Raven was there as well. Her husband has summoned her to his chambers for the first time in years.
" Your Majesty," they curtseyed at their father.
"I have great news for you," said Robin. "I have found you two ideal husbands."
Raven was shocked at the statement. She felt as if history has appeared before her eyes. The day that she was told when she was coming here to marry Robin.
Now that she may never see her daughters again, they may be far away from her forever. Her heart ached a little as she squeezed out a painful smile.
"Congratulations, dear daughters." She said, almost soundlessly.
"I shall give Katherine to Sir Aegeus Harper, the son of Lord Harper and your mother's friend Lady Ellis." Robin smiled. "And you, Victoria, I shall give you to Sir Nathan Harcourt. It is only fitting that my warrior princess has a great warrior for a husband."
Victoria was elated; she curtseyed and thanked Robin before retiring to her chamber, thinking of her wedding, she had never felt so much like a woman before.
Katherine on the other hand, curtseyed with a pale face. This is the end; she is to marry now. She would never be able to see Sir James again. She managed to stumble out of her father's chamber, back into her own chambers and started weeping into the pillow.
"Why are you crying, Katherine?" Victoria arched an eyebrow and tapped on her shoulder. "It is the best way to forget, I would say."
"But how?" Katherine whimpered. "You would not understand, sister, you adored Sir Nathan."
"True, but you cannot let that James trouble you forever."
"Oh dear, oh my dear Mathis." Katherine cried into her pillow again. "Dear James, my love."
Victoria said nothing and left her weeping sister alone.
The young girl snuggled herself closer to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty," she said, planting kisses on his neck. "What excellent choice of husbands you have made for your daughters."
Robin shrugged. "Well, I can't risk marrying them back to Azarath, who knows what they will do there once …"
"Once what?"
"Once I make you Queen, you stupid whore." He grinned as he pressed his lips onto hers.
"Queen Gabrielle. I like the ring to it." She crawled downwards and enveloped his manhood with her delicate lips. "Just as I enjoy your spear, my lord."
Robin tossed his head back as he was thrown into waves of ecstasy.
What he did not realize was a hidden door in the secret chamber they were meeting, behind that hidden door was a hooded woman.
A hooded woman whose green eyes sparkled even in the darkness.
"Huh, so he intended to make that woman his Queen." Raven held her cup in her hands, clutching it tightly.
"Yes, My Lady." Starfire replied. "Do I need to land a pre-emptive strike?"
"No, no," said Raven. "I would not enrage Robin, not when the both of them had yet to show their tails."
Starfire nodded.
"But Starfire, make sure you keep an eye on her," Raven's eyes darkened. "Also, make sure my daughters are safe."
"Yes, my lady." Starfire nodded. "Before I go, my lady, I must inform you of a grave secret."
"Spill."
Starfire leaned forward and whispered into Raven's ear, her eyes widened in disbelieve.
"Really?"
"True, as the fact that the sun rises from the East."
"Poor Victoria." Raven sighed as she took another sip from the cup of tea. "Go ahead."
Starfire nodded and disappeared in one of the secret passageways.
"Someone, prepare paper and quill." Raven said, her eyes dark with sadness. "I need to write a letter."
A few months later, Princess Victoria married Sir Nathan in an elaborate ceremony. Banquets and balls were held in celebration, joust tournaments held in the honour of the Emperor's favourite daughter.
Raven realized how old she already was - she was well into her thirties.
It would soon be the case that she joins her mother in the afterworld.
She glanced at her husband, who was enjoying himself as the knights crashed into each other with their lances.
For some time, she loved him.
For some time, he loved her too.
For a moment, she thought that their love would be eternal.
And for a while, she realized that their love was barely transient and was hinged on her ability to provide him with sons.
She failed her purpose in his eyes, and his love was gone.
But now that he plans to leave her, even not hesitating to strip her of her title, her power, even her life if he sees fit to do so.
More importantly, the same would apply to her daughters.
Perhaps he did not understand.
A mother's love is much stronger than any desire that could arise in a King's mind, be it the Greatest King that Gotham would ever know.
A mother's love prevails over all.
Raven stared away at the moon hanging high above the castle, shining on her like her doting mother's white coat.
All the love vested in me, she thought.
Arella's wisdom be true, I shall give ten-fold of that love to my daughters.
If need to be, Kings shall be slayed and cities be burned.
Because a mother's love prevails over all.
Author's notes:
Sorry for the very very late update and the very short chapter!
I have a serious writer's block on this story ... I hope this chapter would rekindle your love for this!
Enjoy!
V.S.V xoxo