AUTHOR'S NOTE: In case any of you are wondering, Laura isn't a witch. I already did witches in "The Magic Heart". (:P) As to what she is, well...she's inspired by a variety of horrors throughout fiction; though the biggest one is probably "La Belle Dame Sans Merci", which itself inspired the Beldam in "Coraline". The best way I would sum her up is "an evil thing in a woman's form".

"The Act Performed in Darkness"

What little good reputation the queen managed to gain for herself by her appearance was ruined by her flight. Now everyone was talking about her, even those who had managed to avoid hearing rumors until now. Unfortunately, now that they began to talk with one another it didn't take long for those to circulate as well. Samuel, who had been left standing alone and stranded in the main hall as his wife ran out for once couldn't shrug it off. His face actually looked visibly upset for several moments before he was forced to awkwardly excuse himself as well.

The entire meeting in the grand hall had to be cut short, only raising more confusion and rumors. At the appointed time, everyone made their way to the chapel for the official baptism, but even having been dismissed early from the previous event this was delayed. The queen was long in coming, it was reported by the servants, and it wasn't until the king went and fetched her and spent an additional fifteen minutes with her that she came out. Yet she wouldn't come through the front but rather the rear, and she held to her child the whole time. Even when she arrived in the chapel, she was clutching him so fiercely and looking around at everyone so nervously that she looked almost out of her mind. Samuel's face actually began to look cross more than once.

All of this, however, was lost on Eleonora. She spent the time during the baptism service addressing the castle staff, having them prepare things for the midday meal. Although Lorenzo was more than capable of doing it, she insisted on taking a personal hand in the matters after that morning. Samuel's anger was only showing itself periodically but Eleonora's painted her dignified face. While she was abstaining from the baptism, after she had changed last night she had made it a point to greet the guests herself on her son's behalf. And she had done so again this morning, and seen the woman he had brought into the castle a year ago had made yet another scene with her outlandish behavior. For the sake of her son's dignity and her own family name she tried to make sure that the midday meal would make up for it in some way.

She had returned to her own room to change into something a bit more festive, and to offer prayers on her son's behalf that the machinations and madness of the creature he had brought home could do him no further ill, and that he would awaken to his senses before it was too late. She set her crucifix down on her dresser long enough to get changed, but as soon as she had her new dress and pulled her hair out from the neckline she intended to reclaim it. Before she could, however, there was a knock on the door.

"Milady," her maidservant immediately followed, "there is someone here to see you. Queen Laura of Pratilla."

She looked up slightly. The queen mother made it a point of always remembering the face of every noble she chanced across. She was the widow with the lovely green and lavender dress the night before. Quite attractive, but too much so for Eleonora. Relying more on her beauty and charm rather than her dignity and poise to attract others. She would normally have feigned to meet with such a woman, but she reasoned she had to make up for something that her son and his wife had left behind.

"I'll see her in the drawing room."

Taking up her crucifix and placing it under her dress, the same as usual, she exited her bedroom and made her way to her drawing room. The door was shut when she arrived, which made her frown slightly. She could appreciate privacy, but she didn't care for setting it before both parties had even arrived. She moved past her servant, opened the door, and stepped within.

Queen Laura had taken her spot in one of the room's easy chairs. She had changed into a new dress, but it was no less vivid than the night before. The color was striking to Eleonora. A bit too striking. It almost made her a little dizzy to even look at it. What more, on stepping into the threshold and closing the door behind her, she felt something odd. A very strange sensation. Something about being in the room with the woman didn't sit well, and for a moment she received an impulse not to shut the two of them inside.

She dismissed it as nothing. Once the door was shut, she faced her with a stern glare.

"I would have assumed you would be at the Christening."

She smiled back pleasantly, even though it didn't look terribly warm to her. "I'm afraid I don't really care too much for the services in this part of the country. So many…garish things on display."

She frowned. "I should have you know I have very little respect for women who neglect attending a mass. Especially noblewomen."

Laura made a clucking noise with her tongue. "Oh…let us not be hypocritical, your grace. You're remaining inside the castle as well, are you not?"

"I attended mass yesterday evening, and I do not care for the disrespect in your voice under my roof."

"Oh, I do apologize," she answered too sweetly. "It is just that I'm feeling a little confused. This is your grandson's baptism, is it not? Why would you not be in attendance? I would almost think you would make a perfect candidate for godmother. You seem to be quite the saintly woman. Virtuous, dignified, pious, and totally devoted to your son."

Eleonora nearly retorted that this was none of her business, but as she kept speaking she eased up somewhat. The truth was she had a lot running through her head recently, and because of propriety she had not vented her true passions to anyone except God. Being able to speak about it someone else might lessen the emotions she was feeling. She tightened her jaw a moment before she stepped in further, making for the opposite chair.

"There is nothing I would not do for my son, but he isn't the one being baptized."

"Oh. Dear me…don't tell me it's your own grandson you are avoiding, is it?"

Her jaw tightened again; this time almost scowling. "I want nothing whatsoever to do with that child. He's an everlasting symbol of my son's horror and disgrace."

"Merciful heavens. How could you say such a thing about your flesh and blood?"

"He's only in part my flesh and blood," Eleonora answered as she reached her chair, but stood behind it rather than sat down. "The other half comes from that devil that my son found among the filth of a forest. I have no desire for any descendants who come from madness at best and pure evil at worse. If it wasn't for the fact that he came from my son, I would see him as nothing more than a malformed piglet."

Laura looked up a bit more, seeming surprised at all of this talk. "Bless my soul, so it is neither your son nor your grandson that have truly gained your ire. It's your daughter-in-law?"

Eleonora closed her eyes long enough to seethe once before she calmed again. "Just hearing those foul words from the lips of another is enough to make me accuse one of slander. I would sooner sell my soul than call her by that epitaph. I curse the day she ever came here. She has given me and my son nothing but misery and undue duress, the foul little beast…"

Laura held a hand to her chin, turning her head and nodding. "Ah yes, so I have heard from the rumors since I arrived at the castle. I heard she was nothing more than a mute peasant girl living in squalor, and within a week of finding her, plucking her, and bringing her home like a vine of wild grapes, she was queen."

"She's a disgrace to my entire family," Eleonora answered, finally moving around the chair and sitting down in it. "There is no doubt in my mind she's not a woman at all."

"Truly?"

"Absolutely not. A dirty hermit living among mud and weeds who knows such manners and civility? Who can read perfectly well but can't write so much as a single letter, and understands three languages yet cannot speak a word? Who never smiles or laughs? Who forces herself not to cry out during childbirth, of all things? And worst of all…morning, noon, and night…forever plucking the petals off of such noxious weeds and sewing them into those hideous garments. Not stopping even when her hands are swollen and even bleeding. Excusing herself from every event my son throws for her or holds for her to attend so she can keep sewing them."

She leaned in closer, lowering her voice and looking Laura straight in the eye.

"She's no woman; she's a witch. A demon. An evil thing in an innocent guise. She seduced my son the day they met and has him under some unholy enchantment. I did not raise him to so easily bind himself to deceptive beauty and charm. As mad as it sounds, I have been the one living with her for the past year and barely getting any sleep or contentment at the thought of that vile creature lying next to my beloved night after night. It is the truth."

Laura paused. She looked to the door, seeming to wonder if the servant was listening, then back to her. She leaned in closer herself; her look growing more serious.

"Just between the two of us, your grace, you are absolutely right."

Eleonora, in a rare turn, gave a start at that response. She honestly hadn't expected it.

"The young lady is indeed a witch, and a horrible one. I recognized her for myself just this morning. She comes from my land, you see. She was as vile as they come. A temptress, a harlot, and a savage. Poison to the soul and the body of every young man she came across. Never satisfied with any of them, and why should she be? Her only true husband is the devil."

The queen mother's nearly gasped as she heard these things. "Truly? Are you sure?"

"I'll never forget that sickeningly innocent face and that dour look meant to evoke pity. I ordered her death but she somehow knew of it and fled the country before I had a chance to deliver her sentence. I thought I had seen the last of her, but it seems here in Beneserta she worked an even greater devilry. Before she only seduced the sons of peasants, but here she has gotten her vile talons latched into a king. Oh, your grace…" she grew mournful, shaking her head, "your son is trapped in a terrible fate indeed. I'm surprised he managed to last an entire year with her."

Eleonora slowly leaned back into her seat, no longer looking at Laura. Her eyes were filling with greater fear than ever. Until now, there had been moments…brief instances…in which she had questioned whether or not her hatred of the young woman was justified. If she truly did the harm to merit her treatment. Now all doubts were banished. Now she felt a stronger sense of danger for Samuel than ever. Now she felt it more imperative than ever for the wretch to be gone.

Most of all, her previous misgivings and distaste for Laura were eliminated. The words she had longed to hear were like spoonfuls of honey which she readily swallowed, making her trust that more implicit.

"Of course," Laura mused on, turning her head a little, "now that she has a son of her own, she really doesn't need to keep your son around any longer. Her position in the kingdom is secure."

Eleonora paled a bit at that realization, and she gazed at Laura fearfully. "She must be arrested at once. You must bring formal charges against her. She must hang immediately…not a day later."

Laura wistfully frowned and shook her head. "Out of the question, I am afraid. All of her crimes occurred on my soil. I would have to appeal to the king…"

"I will vouch on your behalf!" she nearly cried out. "The royal advisors will be of the same mind as me once they hear this from your own lips! All in the kingdom save my son know she is an evildoer and mad!"

"And that failed to dissuade him from marrying her or having a son with her. Do you think he would listen now?"

Eleonora quivered at that, but realized Laura was telling the truth. She slumped back in her own chair anxiously, looking hopelessly and fearfully down into her lap. All the concern of a mother for the life of their child was painting her features now, and with it her desperation to find a way out of this was stronger than ever too.

"I'm afraid the only way to possibly give her the sentence she deserves is to make evident her witchcraft and barbarism for all to see."

That only made Eleonora close her eyes and sigh more hopelessly. "Do you think I haven't tried? That I haven't advised every servant I could, both subtly and verbally, to be on the watch for any ill behavior? To look constantly for the slightest act of perversity or profanity?"

"Well, if she won't perform her evil for all to see, we'll just have to make her wickedness clear to everyone."

Eleonora paused. Her eyes slowly opened and she looked back to Laura.

She was smiling again, but as unfriendly as it was before now it was doubly so.

"…What are you saying?"

"Your grace," Laura coolly folded her hands, "you just said it yourself. There is no doubt in your mind that the woman is a devil and foul. She is a demon that must be destroyed. You know this perfectly well. She is guilty and deserves nothing less than death. It is holy, righteous, and proper that she should be put to destruction, beyond any question whatsoever. Therefore, I think it a bothersome trifle to need to simply wait for her to sin again, hurting another…perhaps your son this time…with her wickedness to declare her doom. I am merely suggesting that we expedite it, and thereby render the greater service to all. Now then, as the queen mother, I am certain that you have the key to the rooms in the royal wing. All the rooms, including the royal bedchamber?"

Eleonora held a moment. The way Laura was talking had put her on edge now, and as she kept speaking and she began to realize what she was hinting at, she began to feel more hesitation rising inside her.

Yet the thought of her son meeting a horrible end by the cruel harlot's poison…

She nodded.

"Very well. And you have a servant that you trust very much?"

"…Yes. Paola, my maidservant."

"And it is my understanding that the royal nurse abdicated her duties, refusing to serve such a loathsome creature as the new queen? Yet she still lives in the countryside?"

"Yes."

"Then all is settled." She smiled wider than ever. "This very night, you shall wait until your son and the wretch are asleep. Go in, retrieve the son from his bassinet, and entrust him to Paola. She, in turn, will deliver him to the royal nurse for safekeeping for the next few days. Once all is done and your son is free, you can bring him back, and your son can decide whether or not to spare the little hellspawn or give him the death he deserves as well. Once he's out from under the power of the sinful girl, I assure you that he will have far less attachment to him."

Eleonora looked puzzled. "I don't understand. How will any of this depose that woman?"

Laura's teeth flashed. They seemed almost to glint and, in spite of herself, it wasn't a very comforting sight to Eleonora. "Leave that to me. Just follow my instructions and at this time two days from now you will be free of her forever, as will your dear son. Are we in accord?"

The queen mother had been convinced more than ever that her unwanted daughter-in-law was a devil after all she had heard. She had thought more than once of going and slaying her herself after this latest revelation. And yet, now that she heard Laura's intentions, and had been told what was expected of her…she found herself hesitating. The girl was sinful, wicked, vile, and pure evil. It would be an Act of God to rid the world of her. A blameless act of righteousness. And yet, this did not settle in her heart or soul so easy. Removing the son of her own son to do it? She didn't know why that was necessary, but it was an act of deception. A deed done in darkness and not in light. Even if the forest witch was guilty of all crimes under the sun, was it truly necessary to commit such an act, however minor and for however such a noble cause, to expose her?

And if it was…was she forced to have a hand in it?

She felt her hand reach up for her neck line and pull on the beads of her crucifix, beginning to draw it out.

A hiss like that of a snake went off to her side, from Laura's chair. She looked up to her, and, for just a heartbeat, she saw the woman pushed back against her cushioned chair. Her eyes were on Eleonora's neckline, and her lips were curled back so much she saw all of her front teeth. Her eyes almost seemed ovoid, and a greenish hue the queen mother had never seen before.

While it was but a moment, it was long enough for her to recognize it, and for a moment she gasped at Laura's appearance and released her crucifix.

Yet the moment it slipped back into her dress, Laura's lips came back and her eyes were normal again. She was pressed into her chair a moment, but even that began to ease up. After a moment her smile returned. "Forgive me, it seems there was a cold chill that blew in under the door… Your grace," She looked into her eyes again. "You might have some misgivings, but I ask you to trust me. You are a strong, proud woman. One who would indeed do anything for her son, just as she avows. Right now, the life of him, you, your family, and this entire kingdom is at stake. It all hangs by a thread. The moment this temptress decides to end the life of your son, it will be the death of everything in this castle. All will belong to her and the greatest part of your heart will be torn from your chest."

She leaned in, turning her head and growing more imploring. She reached out and placed her hand on her arm rest, not quite touching her but being more intimate.

"Are all these things not worth such a small price?"

Laura's words weren't quite enough to dilute the effect of what she had just seen, but they made her push it aside. Thoughts of her son dead and that horrible creature gloating over him with her own offspring on the throne, the end result of the cruel trap she had set for him, was enough to drive icy knives into her heart. His safety was worth anything to her. Certainly one small deception.

Finally, she nodded. "The safety of the king and his kingdom must always come before my fears."

Laura patted her arm rest. "Very well spoken, your grace. A true noblewoman." She pushed up from the chair soon after. "Paola? I will remember that name. I'll tell her that you'll want to see her later tonight. Make sure you give the boy to her and send her off promptly and under the guise of secrecy. And tomorrow morning, justice will at last be done." She began to walk to the door.

"Just remember. No matter what you witness tomorrow morning, it is all for the good of your son and kingdom. Remember that and do not forget it for a moment."

Her words caused Eleonora to look up again. "Whatever do you mean by-"

It was too late. Laura was already out the door and shutting it behind her. Eleonora was left in the stillness, silence, and solitude of her drawing room; alone with the tasks for tonight set before her.

"My lord, you can't ignore this any longer."

Samuel didn't answer. He stood with his face to the bookshelves in his study, resting one arm on them and the other on his hip. He could feel the eyes of both Lorenzo and Diego burning on his back from the other side of the room, but he wouldn't turn to look at them. His emotions were high and his mind was burning.

"She was protective of our son…"

"She created a spectacle and embarrassed you and the rest of the kingdom," Lorenzo retorted. "She clung to your son so fiercely that the priest nearly had to tear her from his arms, and after that she looked as if she meant to attack any noble that came up to her that looked wrong. Everyone's talking about how wild and frantic she looked during the service. She scarcely gave you time to even pronounce his name. Then she hurried off with Silvio back to her room and locked the door. The chamber maid that came by said she was furiously sewing with the baby next to her on the seat and a knife at her other arm. A knife, my lord."

"Samuel," Diego spoke up uneasily, "I know that you don't like me talking ill about Costanza, but…" he winced and shrugged, "you have to see it. She's going mad."

"She was very ill after the birth," he maintained, turning his head but not being as loud or defensive as he usually was. "She hasn't been herself…"

"And the way she's working herself with those strange shirts isn't helping her get healthier, milord. Even if there's no evil intent behind them, she's obsessed with them. She won't stop even for a day. Just hours and hours of trying to make them."

"My lord, forgive my bluntness, but your queen has not only disgraced you and the kingdom by her erratic behavior today, but I honestly feel she is a very real threat to the safety of Prince Silvio and, quite honestly, you," Lorenzo maintained. "It was fair to deal with this when we could afford to, but the baptism has clearly addled something in her mind. She's acting less rational by the day. If it is allowed to go unchecked, there's no telling where it will end, and what will happen before then."

Samuel inhaled and exhaled. He couldn't refute him so easily this time. For once, he was feeling the same anger. He asked so little of Costanza. He accommodated her all the time, allowed her to work as much as she wanted on her shirts and stay in her room all the day long if she wished. There was only one thing he had asked of her: this event. But today she had turned him into a laughing-stock. And there were times in which she had such a panicked look in her eye while clutching their son that he feared she would indeed do something to the child, however unintended. As much as he loved her, there was a point when he had to be logical himself. Not to mention he loved his son as well.

"She can stay in the chamber the rest of the visit," he finally said. "I can handle the rest myself."

"Sire, you know it's not going to be that simple," Diego sighed. "Not after today."

"You've been ignoring this for a year now and it has only gotten worse," Lorenzo sternly agreed. "Milord, I know this will anger you, but if you truly value me as an advisor as your father and mother did, and I am truly to be responsible for giving you good council, then if I remain silent I have failed you and my position is meaningless." He paused to take in a deep breath. "You must set some rules and boundaries. You are the master here, after all, and she will obey you if she wishes to reside in this kingdom. You must tell her that she is expected to conduct herself as a queen and to display proper manners and decorum before others. If she fails in this regard, then she must be held accountable for it. There are consequences for insubordination to the king and she must be made to feel them."

He closed his eyes and sighed, finally pulling his arm off the shelf and turning back to them. "I am to treat my wife like an unruly child? Or beast? Maybe tomorrow you would like me to put a bridle and stirrups on her and drive her around?"

"There is nothing improper or indecent with expecting a noblewoman to conduct herself like one. To show some politeness and composure."

"And if not now, then when, Samuel?" Diego threw in. "How much worse can you let this get?"

He stood there quietly. Already, things had gone farther than most men would let them. And he did truly feel fear once or twice today. If she didn't stop this soon, and her behavior worsened, then it wouldn't be a question of such mild "wrist slapping" next time.

He didn't want to have to do this, but it had to be done. He finally nodded. "Alright…very well. I'll tell her this very evening."

Lorenzo nodded back. Diego did so more earnestly. "It's for her own good, you know. As well as yours."

Samuel didn't answer.

After leaving the study, he did his best to attend supper. It was awkward yet again with Costanza missing. There was only one question after another about her behavior throughout the day, and a few of the more powerful nobles went ahead and were bold enough to ask if he had any questions about her mental fitness. Even without her present it was hard enough to deal with. It didn't help that his mother, who had been mitigating some of this in spite of her position in regards to his wife and son, was more quiet and reserved than usual and, therefore, leaving it mostly to him. He felt the entire event was a bit of a slow torture before everyone was finally dismissed for the evening.

He thought more of everything he had heard on his way back to the bedroom. He couldn't fathom how Costanza had suddenly grown so fiercely protective of their son. She didn't act like this at all this morning. Her sewing had grown more frantic, but not her behavior. Now he began to wonder if it really was a sign that she was getting worse. And what if she continued to get worse as their marriage went on? Right now she was only acting odd and wildly. What if a year from now she did truly obscene things? What would that mean for his kingdom? What would that mean for the two of them?

He had resolved that he would give her some rules by the time he reached the room. Like it or not, she had to start conducting herself better. He knew she could. She did so back when she was first brought into the house. It was not unreasonable to expect her to act better. And if she was incapable, then…he thought rather heavily…they would have to take more drastic steps. He wasn't exactly sure what those would be, but Diego was right. This couldn't go on any longer.

When he reached the door, he didn't knock for once but tried the doorknob. He frowned on seeing it was locked. It wasn't uncommon at nightfall and the sun had gone down, but never before he was in. He realized he did feel just a touch of anxiety at what he might see in there, but he pushed it away as he produced his own key, unlocked the door, and pushed it open. His eyes looked around, searching for Costanza.

He found her shortly.

She was seated on the couch, likely the same as she had been earlier when the chamber maid came in. Silvio was back in his bassinet and sleeping, but she had drawn it close to her. Also, just as the maid had said, he saw that one of the knives from the wall display had been removed and was nearby where she could easily grab it. He almost focused entirely on that, and it nearly spurred some of his own ire…

However, he stopped on taking a closer look at her. The shirt was in her lap, and she had labored on it so hard that she had gotten just a little over half of the final seam stitched. That was all, however. She had fallen asleep in the chair since then, dropping the needle and thread to the floor. Her hair was disheveled, her dress messed up around her, and her look even more wan than usual. Small wonder as she hadn't eaten either of the meals that day.

In spite of his anger at what she had done earlier that day and her behavior that had lasted the rest of it, on seeing her like that, drained and without any strength at all, having worked so hard that she had all but collapsed, he remembered his love for her from the first day they met, and his heart began to fill with pity instead. No matter what he told himself, he could only let his shoulders slump and sigh on seeing her like that. He still cared for her as much as when they were married. Seeing her doing this, slowly destroying herself with her obsessions and fears, didn't so much as make him mad at how it was impacting him but rather what it was doing to her.

For an entire year, he had wanted to somehow give her peace and happiness. And a year later she only had more anxiety and melancholy. Whatever fancy drove her to make these shirts and flee from crowds, it would kill her one day unless he found a way to save her from herself. There would indeed be a rule put down: she needed to destroy those things. Destroy them before they destroyed their family.

But it could wait until tomorrow morning.

Slowly, a bit tiredly himself, he went to her side of the bed and drew back the covers before returning to her and removing her shoes, outer dress, and adornments. He couldn't get any more than that without risking waking her up. Once they were off, he gently cradled her body and carried her into bed, covering her up, softly brushing her hair back, and kissing her on the forehead. After that, he brought Silvio closer for when he woke, got himself ready for bed, and slipped in next to her.

He wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close. He shut his own eyes before tears of his own could come out. He wanted so badly to help her, but this, in the end, was all he could ever do. He went to sleep the same way he had many nights before; praying that her dreams would give her some relief where her life would not.

Eleonora knew every inch of the castle and the behavior of its denizens like the back of her own hand. An hour past midnight, she knew the activities of all of the night watchmen, and exactly when they would make the right rounds and at the right time. And since she wasn't far from the royal bedroom herself, it was a very simple matter of, at the appointed time, leaving her own room and reaching her son's.

She did hesitate for a half a second at the door. She hadn't intruded on Samuel sleeping since he was a boy, after all, and she didn't like having to break in on him. In the end, however, she unlocked it quietly and stepped inside, shutting it behind her before any of the watchmen could come around again. While it was dark inside the chamber, she had been awake for hours and her eyes had adjusted to the limited starlight and moonlight streaming in. She found the bassinet immediately and went to it. However, on reaching the side, she paused and looked at the bed.

It was strange. In her mind's eye, she had pictured what her son would look like with that wicked creature. She imagined in all of her nightmares the foul woman with her arms draped sensuously over him, a sultry smile on her face, clutching him like a prize she had won…or rather stolen…and milking it for all it was worth.

She didn't expect to see her look so pale and vulnerable, physically and emotionally stressed, only looking like she could sleep due to how worn she was. Rather than have her arms around her son, his arms were around her in a comforting, almost shielding, embrace. She had never seen him hold another woman like that. It was not a gesture of passion but of genuine care. For a moment, the surprise made her pause.

She dismissed it. Simply more evidence of how she had seduced him into thinking she was an innocent creature and not a vile temptress. And the thought that she had gained so much of her son's love only made her want to see her ruined all the more. Being very careful not to wake the sleeping child, she scooped up the infant, covered him with an older blanket she had brought, and then carried him out. Her timing was perfect. She walked out and returned to her room just as the watchman passed by.

Once there, she took a moment to lay him on her own mattress. His clothing wasn't much, but it was fine and had the embroidered symbol of the kingdom upon it. She wouldn't risk anything that showed the baby's parentage being passed along. After taking care to change herself into something more akin to a servant, along with a hood in case she was spotted, she began to change him. He stirred once or twice, but it seemed he was getting used to sleeping at night and didn't fully awake. At one point, however, he began to give a bit of a cry. Quickly Eleonora stopped, scooped him up, and began to rock him.

Only then, in the dim moonlight of her own chamber, did she see it.

She had never stopped to actually even look at her grandson until tonight, treating him with the same disdain as a dirty barn animal. Yet now as she was trying to quiet him, she got a good look at his face…and let out a small noise of her own. She had expected him to bear the likeness of that devil woman. To be a reminder that her son had given away his dignity and heritage to a disgusting creature, and to further serve as a reminder to her of the family's disgrace up to the next generation. Instead, aside from the ears, he looked almost just like Samuel as a baby.

That caught her. Holding that child in her arms and rocking him, being forced to stared at his face as she watched his face for signs of ease and falling asleep again, the likeness was unmistakable. As time passed, she found herself staring harder just to see more of it. Something tight and hard inside her softened, and her efforts to rock him slowly grew gentler. For a moment, she remembered when she held Samuel in her own arms. How when he woke during the night, even in her most stressed and tired moments, she would always smile on seeing his sleeping, innocent face. The memory had always been so warm.

But by the time the child had fallen asleep again, she was frowning at him while she concealed him in the rest of the unremarkable clothing before covering him with the old blanket again. This was the child of a peasant and a vile madwoman. He was as filthy and disgusting as her. Although she told herself these things, however, she found herself being more careful with the baby than before, and not simply to keep him from waking up again.

She had met Paola earlier that day, curious about what Laura had meant when she told her to see her, but Eleonora told her little. The less she knew, the better, after all. She only said that she wished to meet her at the posthurn gate entrance that led to the grounds of the family's ancestral grove later that night with a very important task that was to be conducted with the greatest of secrecy, saying it was a matter of life or death for her family. She asked for her complete trust and she agreed to give it, as always, and so that was that.

Sneaking out was even easier than breaking into the royal chambers. The watch was lessened throughout the rest of the castle at night past the bedrooms, and she was able to evade is far more easily. Even if anyone spotted her, she had made sure to conceal herself outside of her own normal regal attire so she would be mistaken for a servant herself. She quickly made her way to the ground floor and the passage to the posthurn gate. Even most of the castle staff was unaware of its existence, as it hadn't come into play since the last time Beneserta had been in a war—nearly 200 years ago.

As she reached the windowless, doorless, unlit hall that led to it, however, a fear began to come to mind. She trusted Paola and knew that she was her most faithful and obedient maidservant. They had a relationship for years. Nevertheless, she began to suspect whatever Laura was plotting involved the baby being missing tomorrow. And while she knew Paola shared her disdain for the wretch, there remained the possibility that she would wonder if she had to commune a mysterious baby to the deposed royal nurse and saw the king's own child missing the next day that she would make a connection. If she did, she might not wish to remain silent about it, especially if interrogated.

On entering the hall, anxiety toward that possibility gripped her. It no longer seemed like the best idea to entrust this to a servant, even one as faithful as Paola. It would be best if she did it herself. While it might not have been completely proper, the royal nurse was not far from the castle. All of the staff members lived in the surrounding area. And as she no longer attended the castle, she would more easily and readily take the story of, say, a servant in Eleonora's trust having had a child but rendered unable to nurse, and taking custody for a few days for the sake of an old friend. Even though it would mean her leaving the castle in the middle of the night alone and creeping about like a thief, the idea seemed more and more appropriate to her when she heard a voice from the other end of the hall.

"My lady!"

The voice was in a whisper, but a loud one. Eleonora looked up and ahead. The only light was whatever torchlight managed to stream into the long corridor, which wasn't much. Most of the passage was covered in shadow. Emerging from the far end, scarcely visible in the faint moonlight, a form approached. It wasn't until she was very close indeed that she saw the figure of her maidservant.

"Paola," she answered back quietly, "I regret pulling you out of the castle at this hour." She let out a slow sigh. "I also regret…"

"Oh, think nothing of it, my lady. I am always pleased to serve you in whatever you require."

Eleonora cut herself off. Scarcely visible with the light to her back and shadow over her own face, she registered a touch of puzzlement. "I beg your pardon?"

"Whatever you require, I will always be too happy to provide. Now, I will not keep you out of bed any longer." She held out her arms to her. "Allow me to proceed from hither."

She continued to give Paola a peculiar stare. She had known her for years, and the maidservant, in turn, knew her. Many times she knew what she was thinking and how she would ask for it, as well as how to talk to verify their understanding with one another. Never before had Eleonora heard her sound so open, warm, and acquiescing. She was dutiful and obedient, but she did so with a calm and taciturn manner; not one so openly helpful.

It was odd.

"Paola…" she continued at length, "you did not permit to finish. I wished to say that there has been a change. I did regret to bring you here at this hour because now, on consideration, I have decided to embark on this endeavor myself."

"Oh, dear me, no milady!" she immediately protested. "There is no need for you to quit the castle in the middle of the night! You've done enough already! I wouldn't want anyone to suspect you of anything!"

Eleonora, in spite of the sting at some of those words, nevertheless frowned. No one should have suspected her of anything, in any event, because none had seen her. Yet for Paola to suggest she had been doing something underhanded when she had only asked to meet her secretly was insulting to the queen mother. Not only that, it was uncharacteristic of her as well…

"Please," she continued, holding her arms out, "allow me to take the child the rest of the way. None will think anything of my absence."

However, when she reached for the child, Eleonora suddenly stepped back slightly. Her eyes had enlarged at what she heard.

"What did you just say, Paola?"

The servant stopped. "I…don't understand, milady."

"What did you just say?"

"…I merely said to allow me to take the child the rest of the way."

"I mentioned neither a child nor needing to convey a child to any place when we spoke earlier this afternoon."

Paola was quiet. She stared back at Eleonora, who by now had gone beyond merely upset at the change in demeanor to downright apprehensive. And she was now holding the wrapped baby closer to her.

Finally, she smiled innocently. "It was nothing, my lady. Queen Laura merely conveyed to me your intentions earlier after we spoke. A favor, truly. Now we need not discuss anything further. Simply give me the boy and you may return to-"

"My errand tonight involves no boy or any other child," Eleonora cut off in an icy tone, "and I am most displeased to hear you consulting with a visiting noble over that of your own mistress."

She let out a small laugh and a shrug. "My lady, Queen Laura simply was trying to expedite everything. She-"

"She had no right to dictate anything to any of my personal servants, and you had no right to consult her. As I have said, I will embark on tonight's endeavor myself. As for whatever she told you, they were mere ramblings and fancy. She neither understands my mind or my intentions, and you are to disregard everything she heard at once. Now, I will be departing. As for you, return to the castle at once."

Paola paused again, longer this time, before pressing herself in and reaching out once more. "My lady, please, do not give into folly so easily. It is nothing for me to carry out this small task. If you are worried about my silence in this matter, I have ever been devoted to you. I wish to see the castle free of that wretched creature and her foul offspring as much as you. That is the most important thing, and it must be accomplished no matter the cost. Surely you do not wish to trouble yourself or make any danger for yourself doing this? Think of what the nurse might suspect. Think of the danger of making even one more party privy to this…"

"I've heard enough of your insolence!" Eleonora suddenly snapped with such violence that Paola recoiled. Her voice was shouting so loud it was only luck that a watchman didn't hear it in the hall behind her. "You dare to speak to me in such a way? You have presumed too much for the final time! For the next three days, you are dismissed from service! Do not enter the castle grounds again until I have summoned you! And if you breathe so much as a word of tonight to anyone I shall see you thrown in the dungeons! Do I make myself clear?"

The servant stood there. In the darkness, she couldn't make out the expression on her face any more, but she almost shielded herself with her hands. "My…my lady… I have been your faithful servant for so long… You can-"

"It is because you are my faithful servant I am being so harsh with you! You should have known better! Now not one more word! Begone from my sight!"

The woman hesitated. For a moment, Eleonora thought she would protest further. Instead, however, she finally backed up, keeping her front to the queen as if hurt or shocked, and moving stiffly. She was a bit perturbed at how she moved. It seemed very disjointed, and she wondered if she had truly delivered a shock to her from how she had reacted just now. Yet she stood firm, and did not move again until she saw Paola fully retreat back into the passage. For a moment, there was an outline of faint moonlight as the gate opened, just long enough for her to slip out from it, before it shut again.

Once that was done, she took in a deep breath and went on herself. The truth was she had felt tiny little knives digging in her gut with Paola's insistence. She had wanted to believe her about her devotion and her insistence that they both wanted Samuel's foul bride removed. She had confided in her before about the matter, and she had always been in full agreement with her. And she was afraid of the danger of doing this herself; how everything would turn on her if she was discovered. She had been tempted to let her have the child.

Her pride and nobility, however, would not allow it. She forced herself to focus on the insolence and presumption. Both of those were too great to ignore. She had never even intended Paola to know so much, and the visiting noble had the audacity to bring her so much in on the plot without her knowledge… She wanted her removed from the castle now for no other reason than to ensure her silence for a few days.

More than that, however, was that none of that insolence or presumption was like Paola at all. The same with her manners and openness. Everything about that had seemed off…

She attributed it to simply what she was doing. After all, she never would have dreamed she would have been trying such a thing a short while ago, but for the sake of her son she was willing to go through with it.

The gate opened out into the ancestral grove directly. Decades ago this had been a portion of the gardens, but when the castle gained its current wall there weren't enough materials to surround it and so it was left on the periphery. The trees were ornamental but had grown large and wild in the generations since, creating a thick curtain all the way to the wall that concealed anyone who might move out from the castle from watchmen until they made it to the surrounding woods. In her youth she had gone here often and even knew it in the dark. Even for a lady like her it was no trouble to make her way through it while holding a sleeping babe.

She arrived at the house thirty minutes later and, although the nurse was no doubt sore about the hour, she awoke her with her knocking and came in briefly. On revealing herself, she presented her story as she planned: a trusted servant in her house who was with child had complications resulting in a childbirth while on duty in the castle. She had only a small chance of surviving the ordeal, but due to the influx of guests there was none to tend to the infant as all were preoccupied. She happened to be awake late that evening and, as a service to her faithful servant, had offered to conduct the child personally to the former royal nurse and implore her to care for him. While the nurse did seem puzzled that the queen mother would do this task herself, she nevertheless trusted her and her word after years of being in her own service and accepted the infant; agreeing to tend to him until word was sent that the servant had recovered, and even agreeing to keep the matter silent in case his mother passed on so it would not be known that he was a bastard.

With that done, Eleonora returned to the castle. Coming back wasn't as easy as going out. Although she held herself with as much poise and dignity as she was used to, she found herself more tensely looking for signs of any who spotted her, and even when in the clear she felt eyes watching her. When she was finally inside and back in her room, and changed into her own night attire, she paused to take up her crucifix and pray thankfulness to God for allowing her to succeed in her endeavor. Tonight, however, after her prayers were done she realized she did not feel the sense of peace she was accustomed to. She kept thinking of what she had done that evening, especially everything underhanded, and the innocent face of the babe…

Forcing it out of her mind, she slipped into the covers, shut her eyes, and went to sleep. Tomorrow, this whole gruesome business would finally be done.

To be continued...