Chapter 34: Resignation

Once they got back to the castle, Shadic smiled at him. "What do you think will happen now?"

Galahad shrugged. "Well, I'll become queen when you step down, but that won't be for a while. You'll have your baby soon, so that will be great."

Shadic smiled. She hugged her husband and nodded. "Do you think people are still going to be angry about this?"

The king shrugged. "I have no idea. we should talk to them. What do you think?"

Shadic nodded. "What do we tell them?"

Galahad thought about it. "Tell them that we don't need them acting this way, and we're not so different from them. Do you have anything in mind?"

"Not really." Shadic shook her head. "Everything I can think of involves yelling."

The king chuckled. "Alright," he said. "We'll call a meeting and have the people come here so that we can talk to them."

"If they don't listen? It's not like we can banish them for their opinion."

The king shook his head. "If they start any riots or anything like that then we'd have to banish them for that."

Shadic sighed. "Maybe I should let you do most of the talking."

Galahad nodded. "When should we call a meeting?"

"We might as well get it over with."

Galahad smiled and went to the village as Shadic followed him. The people looked at their king, and he began to speak. "We want all of you to come to the castle for a meeting." The people nodded and followed their king and queen. Once they did so, Galahad turned to them. "We know how you've been thinking of us recently, and we wanted to tell you that there's no reason for it. We're just like any of you. The only difference between us is something that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things."

The citizens nodded and then talked amongst each other. One of them came forwards and bowed to the king before speaking. It was Miles. "We don't like it, but if it won't affect your leadership, we can deal with it."

Galahad nodded, and then looked at Miles. "The queen is thinking about stepping down," he said sternly. "She doesn't want a riot in her kingdom or anything bad to happen because of this."

Miles hesitated. "When was she going to do this?"

"Soon," Galahad said. "But the queen is expecting a child and it is going to be the heir to the throne, so most likely after our child is born."

Miles nodded. He didn't think anyone else would have any problems with that. "The queen doesn't have to resign," he said.

Galahad looked at Shadic. "You can speak," he said.

Shadic nodded and looked at her subjects. "If you really don't want me to resign, I could stay. But you need to prove to me that you truly don't mind having someone like me as your queen before I make that decision. I would like nothing more than to stay here and lead you, but we need to understand and trust one another."

Galahad spoke. "If she does resign, then I will be taking her place. The Lady of the Lake cast a spell on me that will turn me into a female forever when that happens."

The citizens looked at each other, then nodded in understanding. Shadic smiled at her husband, and then spoke once again. "If anyone has any problems, we'd like to hear about it."

No one said anything. A few minutes later, Miles walked up to them and bowed. "No one has any different complaints," he said.

The queen and king nodded. "Very well," Galahad said. "We will notify you if Shadic resigns or not."

The citizens smiled and walked back to the village. Shadic sighed in relief. "That went better than I was expecting."

Galahad nodded and they went back in the castle. "So, will you still be resigning?"

The queen thought about it. "I'll decide once the baby's born."

The king smiled and kissed her. They sighed and continued to rule.

A few months later, Shadic was in labor. She was giving birth to a baby boy. Galahad smiled once he was born. "What should we name him?" He asked.

Shadic thought about it. Silvond would be a good name. "Silvond," she said. "That sounds good to me."

Galahad nodded. "Same here," he said.

Shadic gave him a smile. They walked out of the room, holding Silvond, and sat on the throne. Shadic smiled down at the baby, leaning down to give him a kiss. Silvond giggled and reached up to his mother.

Galahad smiled. "So, are you going to resign?"

Shadic looked over at him, taking Silvond's hands in hers. "Do you think I should?"

Galahad shrugged. "It's up to you. If you want to resign, go ahead. If you don't, that's fine."

"I think I'll stay on the throne."

Galahad nodded. Then Shadic thought about it. Over the past month, some people still didn't like the fact that they were gay, and she had witnessed some riots, but they had quickly been resolved. She sighed and looked at her husband.

"You've seen the few riots that have happened. Do you think they're a cause for me to step down?"

"It's possible. Some other revolts have happened as well."

The queen sighed and then nodded, calling the knights. When Shadow, the Cerberus and phoenix were there, she spoke to them. "Do you think I should still resign?" She knew having their opinion would help her decision.

Shadow thought about it and nodded, but the Cerberus shook its heads. Shadic looked at the Cerberus. It made her happy that one of them didn't want her to resign. But she had to ask; "Why?"

The Cerberus growled as it couldn't speak to her telepathically. She sighed and looked at her father. "Why is it you want me to resign?"

"To prevent anything worse from happening."

Shadic thought about it and nodded, then looked at the Phoenix. "Do you think I should resign?" She asked it.

The phoenix thought about it for a while. Finally, it nodded. Shadic sighed and then asked Percival. "What do you think? Should I resign, or stay on the throne?"

"Whichever you think is best."

The queen closed her eyes. Then she stood up and nodded. "I think I will resign."

The knights nodded and stood up, then left. Galahad looked at her in shock, but then nodded. He closed his eyes and felt himself painfully change to his female form.

"Are you all right?" Shadic asked.

Galahad nodded. "What will you do now that you're not the queen anymore?" She asked, holding Silvond in her arms.

"I don't know. Find some way to help out around the castle and help raise our son, I guess."

"That will be fine."

Shadic smiled and nodded. She took off her crown and cape and handed then to Galahad.

Galahad smiled at her as she put the two on. After, she turned in a circle. "What do you think?"

"That looks great," Shadic said, smiling.

"Glad you think so. What's next on the agenda?"

The former queen thought about it. "Well...we could start by telling the citizens I've resigned."

Galahad nodded. "All right. Go do it then."

Shadow smiled and walked off. Galahad sighed and followed her. When they reached the village, the citizens looked at them. The former queen sighed and spoke.

"I've resigned. Can you let everyone else know?"

The people's eyes widened and they talked amongst themselves. Miles came forwards.

"Why have you resigned? We didn't want you to."

"I thought it might be best," Shadic said. "Before others who didn't want me as queen got any worse."

"We decided that we don't mind if you're our queen, even if you are gay."

Shadic smiled at that. If they wanted her to rule again, she would do it. But later on. "I've got a baby to take care of, anyway. If you really want me to come back, I can do it later."

They smiled and looked at Galahad. "I'm going to be your new queen from now on," she said. Galahad looked at Shadic and shrugged. "We haven't figured that out," she told them. Shadic smiled and walked back to the castle with her. "So, what are you going to be now that you're not queen?"

"I'm sure we'll think of something."

The queen nodded. "Would you like to be a knight?"

"I'd like to. It can't be too hard."

"All right, then," Galahad said. "Kneel."

Shadic knelt before Galahad. The queen smiled, taking her sword out and knighting her lover. Once she did that, Shadic stood up. "What's your first order?"

Galahad thought about it. "I don't really feel comfortable with giving my wife orders. You can do your own thing, and take care of Silvond."

"All right." Shadic gave her a kiss. "I'll do everything I can while caring for Silvond."

The queen nodded, then took her place in the throne. Shadic smiled, took their son, and went into their room.