When I woke, my mother was fawning over me, with a worried expression on her face. I was lying in my bed, with a tarp curtain drawn around my mother and I. I could hear my father taking to the king in the kitchen.
"Redynvre, are you all right dear. You gave us a dreadful fright." She asked.
I sat up and looked at her. "Yes, I'm okay. Mother did you hear her, she's evil, I think we should make her leave."
My mother stood up and frowned at me. "Darling, I think you are delirious, please lie down and rest."
"No, I'm not delirious." I jumped out of bed protesting. "Didn't you hear her laughing? She's cruel, she's evil, she must leav—" I stopped short as Maeve pulled back the curtain.
"I see your feeling better." She then turned to my mother. "Get her dressed, and help her pack. The king has decided he is willing to let her heal the queen." She smiled at me and retreated back into the kitchen.
My mother smiled softly. "Well, I suppose we must start packing." I opened my mouth to protest, but closed it shut again. She didn't believe me, and wouldn't, no matter what I told her.
With two crudely woven dresses packed away in a small bag, and my best dress, a dark green with a dark leather corset and sandals on my feet, I came out into the kitchen.
The King examined me from head to foot before nodding his approval. "When we get to the palace, I will have some nicer clothes made, so you may attend to my queen. She is very fussy about appearances." A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Surely, you can stay another night," my mother put in. "And let Redynvre say good bye properly."
"Well, we really must begin soon, it is a lon—" Maeve stopped short at a glance from the king. "I suppose that isn't a problem." The king answered warmly.
So I got one more night with my family before I was off to the palace.
The next morning I arose early. Slipping into my handmade dress, I went for a walk on the beach. The waves crashed gently on the shore, and sea gulls circled over head. The merlin bird came down and rest on my shoulder. I absentmindedly stroked its feathers as I wandered along the shore.
I stopped when I came to the place where the woods began, next where the shore stopped, being right against a large cliff. I whistled once, and a pale white horse came cantering in from the forest. I stroked its muzzled and sighed. "I'm going to miss you Epona." Epona whickered, and then reared up. In a puff of smoke the creamy horse was gone, and in its place was a nymph like woman, with long silky blonde hair and clear brown eyes. I backed away, startled.
"Do not fear me." Her voice was like honey, smooth and sweet. "I am the same Epona you have known for so long. This is my true form."
"Epona. . ." I whispered. Realization spread through me. This was the horse goddess. "I am honored by your presence." I made as though to kneel, but Epona put up a hand to stop me.
"No need to kneel in the presence of an equal." she took my hand in hers. Her hands were soft and creamy. "I am here to warn you. Beware of one who wears black and whose eyes glow red in candle light. Her power expends much and is equal to you. And be wary also of a young blonde with lips as red as a rose and skin as white as snow." She paused, and reached up into a tree with one hand. From the tree she plucked a dark red apple. "I can give you three gifts which will aid you. One," she handed me the apple, "Is this apple. Two, "In front of me appeared a mirror. It was a hand mirror, and was rimmed in gold. "Two is a mirror, through which I can communicate with you, and three," she bent down and kissed me on the forehead. "three my dear is what overcomes all evil."
Her image faded, and the horse reappeared. The horse turned, and galloped away into the sky over the ocean. It turned and reared, its eyes sparkling. Then it continued on its way.
Quickly I gathered up the gifts of the apple and the mirror. I tucked them into my skirt and ran back to the house, my heart heavy, but my feet light. I slipped in the back door and retrieved my bag, in which I placed the mirror and apple.
My family, the King and Maeve were waiting for me at the front door. Questioning looks were on all their faces, but I ignored that. I hugged each sister individually, Merlyn clinging to me, weeping slightly.
"Shh, it's alright." I told her. "I will come back, and I will visit often." I looked up at the king for a moment and stood up. "Perhaps you can even come visit me." I said, addressing my whole family. The last one I hugged was my mother. "You'll be alright dear."
I turned towards the King and Maeve, who stood at the door of a small carriage. This carriage was not as ornate as the one from the procession, and more fitted for traveling through woods.
"Are you ready?" the king asked me. I nodded. "Then we may be off." He stepped into the carriage and I followed him.
As the carriage pulled away, I thought I saw the faint figure of a white horse galloping along the waves.
The ride to the palace was a long and quiet one. I sat in one corner, watching the passing scenery go by. The carriage traveled down a large dirt road that went through the woods. The road was unfamiliar to me, as I had never been out of our small fishing village. I was little nervous about going to the palace. What if I was too scruffy or too peasant like? I pushed those thoughts out of my head. The king said he would give me new clothes, and I will only be attending to the sick queen.
Maeve shifted in her seat. She sat across from the king, on the opposite side of me. The king was quiet, reading a letter the coachman had given him before we left my home. Maeve was looking out the window, lost in thought. I looked at her. She did not seem as imposing as when she came to our cottage. She looked almost innocent, her black hair shining in the sunlight, her blue eyes soft and partially closed. As I watched her out of the corner of my eye, she sighed and looked up at the king, who was distractly folding the letter again and again in his hands. Her expression was hard to place as she gazed at the king. Was it an indifferent look, and I just imagining things, or was it loving and gentle? She made as if to place her silky white hand on his leather clad knee, then quickly jerked away and looked out the window, as though embarrassed.
Wondering, I continued to watch the tree passing by. Faintly, through the thick foliage, I thought I saw a white horse running along side our carriage. I blinked, and it was gone. It was a trick of the light. I must be going crazy, with light horses and a loving look in Maeve's eye. I thought.
We rode until sundown. Just when the sun was barely peeking through the leaves, the carriage stopped. The footman jumped up and looked through the curtains of the window.
"There is a village nearby; Mel believes it is closer than 100 carriage lengths. Would you like to continue, or spend the night here?" he looked at the king expectantly.
The king glanced at me. I shrugged, not quite prepared to be telling the king what he should do. He looked at Maeve, who straightened and addressed the youth directly.
"I suppose we can stay in the village, for the King is weary." She said, with a tone of authority I had never heard ever used. The footman nodded and went to tell the driver.
I marveled at the sudden weakness of the king. He was slumped down in his seat, his head down, his hands still folding the letter into a tiny square. My voice shaking slightly I asked,
"Are you alright, your majesty?" he shook his head and looked up at me. His eyes were a clear grey, and his dark brown hair fell across them, shadowing them slightly. It struck me how beautiful the king was. Quickly I shook that thought from my mind. Maeve looked at us, suddenly alert. The king motioned to the now inch by inch square that was once a letter in his hand.
"The queen is getting sicker. She struggles to breathe, and cannot eat. She is getting weaker. Eirwen is having trouble coping. She never leaves her mother's side not even to eat or sleep." He looked directly at me, his eyes pleading. "You can help her right?" he asked me.
I was aware of how much he cared for Queen Riona. Struggling to find my voice I replied, "I will do what ever I can." He straightened, seemly relieved. Inside I was uneasy. I wasn't sure if I could heal the queen. Healing a seagull with a broken wing is one thing, but healing a person with such a horrible sickness. It reminded me of the plague that hit out village years ago, killing my grandmother and others. My father had been at sea, and my sister's and I did not stray from the house. My father was heart broken when he learned his mother had died.
Slowly we approached a great gate, which lead into the village. It was another small village by the sea, but instead of fishing, they relied on spinning and fabrics to survive.
The carriage came to a gradual halt. I felt the driver jump down and heard him approach the guards on duty. After a short conversation, I heard footsteps coming towards the door. An unfamiliar face appeared at the window.
"Why, so it is King Fionn and his lovely advisor Maeve Ravenwing." He strode back to the gate and made a signal. The gate creaked open slowly and the carriage began moving again.
The gate opened up onto a narrow cobblestone street. Along each side houses and shops were nestled together like eggs in a birds nest. In the distance, you could vaguely see the great silhouettes of the mountains. The carriage continued until it came to a small painted wooden sign that read in large gold lettering "Oak and Ivy Inn". Underneath was the words," All are welcome."
The footman came and opened the door. The king got out first, still in his leather breeches and tunic. Maeve followed, and I followed Maeve.
"The guard suggested this place to stay." The footman explained, as he led us to the door. He knocked and it swung open. We were greeted by a middle aged man with a balding head.
"Aah, welcome to the Oak and Ivy Inn. Here for a room suppose. That will be a silver piece each." He held out his hand.
The king grumbled as he pulled out three silver pieces from a pouch on his belt and placed them in the man's waiting hand. The man inspected the coins, the placed them in his pocket.
With a smile he held out his hand and opened the door up wide.
"Come on in!" we followed him into a large dining area. A girl about my age was working behind the counter, wiping down the counter. She had a long blonde braid down her back, and blue eyes with laughter and cheer in them.
"Tuathla, come here my girl." She unpinned her apron and came out from behind the counter. She was rather short, and a little on the chubby side. She was wearing a brown peasant's dress and brown leather shoes. She curtsied.
"Pleased to me you." She said smiling. When she smiled her eyes crinkled up cutely.
'Tuathla, lead them to their rooms." She curtsied again.
"Yes father." She turned to us. "You may follow me up to your rooms." She headed up a flight of winding stairs, and down a long hallway to a room on the end. "This is the biggest room we have. If you need anything, ring this bell and I will attend to you. There is a bath down this hall and a lounge area over here." She said pointing. 'Have a good night." In a flourish of brown skirts she was gone.
I opened the door. Our room was rather large. It had three beds, each with a blanket and pillow. The mattresses were stuffed with straw, just like the ones at home. There was a window that looked out onto the street next to one of the beds. I took the bed farthest from the others and lay my things down. The walls were painted a dull red, with some of the paint chipping away. On closer inspection I found some remains of gold filigree, which had once been on the walls. Other furnishings in the room were two wooden nightstand, three candleholders attached to the walls, and a small desk in one corner.
Unsure of what I should do, I looked around to see what Maeve and King Fionn were doing. King Fionn had kicked off his books and was lying on his bed. I decided to follow suit. With out even realizing it, I slowly drifted to sleep.
I woke just as the sunlight was streaming through the window opposite my bed. The King and Maeve's beds were already empty. I quickly gathered my things and headed down the stairs, where Maeve and the King were sitting eating breakfast. They were being served by Tuathla, who smiled as she saw me enter the room.
"Come," she called warmly, "There is plenty for you as well." I sat next to the king and Tuathla served a breakfast of eggs, ham and goat's cheese. I helped myself, as I was starving.
After breakfast, I helped the footman pack up our things while Maeve and King Fionn thanked Tuathla and her father for their generosity. Then they came over, and we all got back in the carriage. The driver chrked to the horses, and they began moving again. As we pulled away from the in, Tuathla and her father waved, smiled. I waved back smiling to myself.