Part 5

It did not rain much the next year. The harvest was the opposite of bountiful and King Christopher Rupert was at his wits end. The kingdom on the other side of the mountains, on the other hand, had a great deal to spare. Their kingdom had never been that wealthy (which is why the sudden influx of gold the last two years had been very helpful) but now Chris was forced to spend much of their wealth on buying food.

With less grain, there was less need for a mill.

Claudette was out, trying to tend to her struggling vegetable. The beans were doing well, but that was about it. She hadn't answered Chris's last letter. He wanted her to come to the castle and spin for him again. Even if she would be lucky enough to summon the magic man again, she had nothing to give him. The king's reward had gone to fixing up a problem with the mill, and then to buying food.

"Claudette?"

She jumped at the sudden sound, and looked up to see Baelfire.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he apologized, "Is now a bad time?"

She sighed and looked over her pathetic garden. Then she looked tiredly at Baelfire. "A bad time?"

"Chris requests that you come to the castle."

Claudette couldn't take it anymore - she burst into tears, rather confusing Baelfire. He watched her cry for a minute, and then knelt down next to her, setting a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

"I- I can't-" she gasped out, "Not now!"

"If you're worried about your father taking care of the place for a day…" Baelfire started.

She shook her head. "I can't-!"

"Claudette," Baelfire said her name firmly, "Chris misses you a great deal. He would like to see you again."

"I can't," she repeated, "I have nothing this time, nothing at all."

"Nothing?" he repeated, "What do you mean?"

"to wear," she finished lamely.

"Oh you don't need to worry about that," Baelfire assured her, "He won't mind what you wear."

Defeated, Claudette gave a nod. "Just… let me tell my papa first."

"I'll wait," Baelfire nodded, "Take your time."

Still scrubbing her tears from her face, Claudette went inside.

"Done out there already?" her father asked her.

"Done?" she scoffed, "What is there to even start out there?"

"I know," he approached her, "We all need the rain." He gave her a hug, "But things will get better."

She sighed. "The king sent Baelfire for me, he's right outside."

"It's that time again?"

She nodded silently.

"Well that's good news," he said, "We could use the money that the king will reward you with."

"If I'm lucky enough again," she murmured softly.

"You've managed it the last two times," he said, "You're a clever girl, you'll make it work."

"Yes, but-"

He kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Now go on, my child. I will see you again soon."

Claudette hesitated before the castle. "I can't go in there. Not like this." She indicated her worn and dirty dress.

"Trust me," Baelfire said, leading her, not to the front gates, but to another, smaller door. "If you're that worried, we'll take care of it."

Mentally, Claudette cursed her luck at making a friend in the castle who was so, well, nice. She was led to a place where she could wash up, and she was even given a new(ish) dress that Baelfire had borrowed from one of the maids. Now she could not complain about not being fit to appear before the king.

Christopher received her in a private sitting room. She started to bow before him, but was interrupted by his cheerful greeting of her.

"I am very glad to see you," he told her happily, "I've missed you."

She felt her cheeks grow warm at that.

"I would like to see you more often than just once a year," he told her gently.

She looked down. "It's been a difficult year… I haven't had time…"

"It's been a rough year for everyone," he told her, "I understand."

Although he was hiding it rather well, when she looked into his face, she could see how tired he looked. It seemed that he had aged more than just a year, since she had seen him last.

"But, I don't want to talk about that right now," he said cheerfully, "First, I have a request for you."

"Oh?" she asked softly.

"Would you grant me the honor of having dinner with me this evening?"

Claudette blushed and quietly accepted the offer, to his delight.

The meal was fine by Claudette's standards, although by Chris's standards, it wasn't the feast that he'd had in mind. With most of his people barely getting by, Christopher hardly felt it was fair that he should have fine meals. Still, he wished that he could have given Claudette better.

Midway through the meal, he spoke up. "I have to be honest with you, Claudette," he said slowly, "Our kingdom is in a great deal of debt. We have been relying on our neighbors across the mountain to feed us. They have not been terribly demanding on us, but I know that we must pay them back eventually, some how."

She nodded slowly.

"I fear that I have given you a great deal of straw."

Claudette closed her eyes.

"Now, if you can't do it all in one night, that's alright," he told her, "You need to sleep and eat, after all. But please…" he set his hand on hers, "We need this."

When she didn't answer, he looked worried. "Is it difficult?" he asked suddenly, "The spinning, I mean."

"Difficult?" she repeated.

"I fear that I ask too much of you…" he looked down, "I do not want to overtax you."

"It does take quite a bit out of me," she admitted.

"Then this shall be the last time," he declared. "I should not be involving you in royal problems like this."

"I've always been happy to help," she assured him, turning her hand to hold his.

That made Christopher smile. "That is because you are wonderful."
Mentally, he was trying to work up the nerve to tell her other things, but somehow he didn't think that telling her how he really felt about her would be a good follow up to telling her that he had just given her a great deal more work to do.

He opened his mouth to try to figure out something to say, but before he could get the words out, the door opened and a servant rushed in.

"Forgive me, your highness," he gave a bow, "I am sorry to interrupt you."

"What is it?" Chris asked.

"There's a messenger from King Midas."

"I'll receive him in the throne room," Chris decided, "Send for Baelfire. Tell him to come here and attend to this young lady."

The servant gave a bow and left. Chris sighed and turned to Claudette. "I am sorry about this."

"You have your royal affairs to attend to," she said understandingly, "It's alright."

"I wish that I did not," he said. He took her hand and gave it a gentle kiss. "Baelfire should be here soon. I shall see you in the morning."

"Alright," she nodded.

She was alone for a few minutes before Baelfire arrived. She picked at the remains of the food, but she wasn't really hungry.

"Are we so bad, that Chris must ask King Midas for help?" she questioned Baelfire.

"I believe that he heard of our plight," Baelfire answered, "But as far as I am aware, Chris did not contact him."

"I've heard stories that Midas's daughter is very fair," she murmured, wrapping her arms around herself as she followed Baelfire.

"I've heard those tales as well," he said, holding the door open for her, "But I've heard those tales about pretty much every princess."

"His highness would be wise to court her," she said softly.

Baelfire chuckled. "Not Chris."

"But… our kingdom would never want for anything… King Midas would see to that…"

"Chris does what Chris things is best for everyone," he said with a shrug, "And as far as I know, Chris has not been courting his daughter."

"Why not?" she suddenly exclaimed, "It would have saved us all trouble, saved all of us pain…"

"I don't know what he has in mind," he admitted, "He doesn't tell me everything either."

Baelfire took her to the same suite that she was in last time. As Chris had warned her, there were a lot of bales of straw. She almost burst into tears at the sight.

"There's water for you," Baelfire told her, indicating a pitcher. "And there is some food in the cupboard there. You are to have everything that you need, and as much time as you need. Just ring if you need anything."

"Thank you…" she murmured.

Baelfire looked at her intently. "Do you need anything?"

She just shook her head.

Bidding her good night, Baelfire reluctantly left her alone. He could see in her eyes that everything was not alright. But he could also tell that she did not want to talk about it. And that anything that he could say to her would not make the situation any better for her. So he left her be.

Claudette didn't even try to pretend to spin. This was hopeless. Christopher was depending on her, and she couldn't help. And now that Midas was involved, the king might be forced to make a strategic marriage. She had been fooling herself, thinking that Chris would be able to marry her. Even if she could summon the magic man, she didn't have anything of value. Nothing that he would want. But she had to try. "I wish…"

"Here again dearie?" The magic man looked around the room, "You're moving up in the world."

"The king needs more gold," she whispered.

"That's why you're here," he picked up a handful of straw, "And that's why I'm here. This is quite a lot of straw."

"I know," she replied, "I'm sorry… our kingdom is greatly in debt… So please… if you could find it in your heart…"

"What are you asking me?" he asked.

"Would you please spin this straw into gold?"

"I thought that's why I was here."

"You are…" she looked down, "But… the thing is… I've got nothing…"

"Nothing?" he repeated.

"No more jewelry to trade," she whispered.

"I see," he sat down on a bale of hay, "That does present a bit of a problem. I do not work for free."

Claudette looked down, sadly.

"The magic doesn't work that way," he gazed at her, "And you are sure you have nothing at all?"

"I am certain," she nodded.

"Favored friend of the king, and you have nothing?"

"I'm just a poor miller's daughter!" she shot back with a sob, "And that's what I'll always be!"

He chuckled lightly, sensing that he had touched a nerve. "Until you marry," he said, "And then I suppose you'll be the poor miller's wife."

"If I ever marry," she sighed.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll find some young man who wants to take over for your father."

"Perhaps," she said softly.

"And you'll probably have dozens of children," he nodded.

"Children…" she repeated. She hadn't thought of that.

"There's a thought," the man smiled suddenly, "Now, I don't normally give credit, but in your case, I might make an exception." He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a crystal ball. He polished it lightly, and then held it out. "Come and see."

Claudette moved over and stared into the crystal. At first, all she saw was smoke, which eventually resolved into images. She recognized herself, but she looked older, her hair was gray, and tied up in a bun. She was carrying a baby, with another child clinging to her skirts, and two more playing some sort of game near her feet.

"What is this?"

"Why it's your future, dearie," he told her, closing his hands around the globe. When he opened his hands again, the ball was gone.

"So many little ones…" She wrapped her arms around herself. She wondered how on earth she and her future husband would manage to feed so many little ones.

"You surely don't need that many," he told her, "So how about this. I will spin all of this straw into gold. And in payment, one day, when you have a child, you will turn your first born over to me."

"My first born child?" she repeated.

"Yes." He grinned. It was not comforting.

"You'd… take good care of it?"

"Of course," he placed a hand over his heart, "I'd see to it that the little one is raised properly."

"Alright," she agreed without a second thought.

"It's a deal then," he held out a hand. Without a moment's hesitation, Claudette shook the magic man's hand. He laughed lightly and released her hand, sitting down at the wheel.

"May I watch?" she asked.

"If you stay awake," he said with a shrug, "It's all the same to me."

She grabbed a pillow and sat down, using it to proper herself up. The spinner's fingers seemed to fly as the wheel whirred away. He hummed softly as he span.

Claudette tried to stay awake to watch him, but her eyes grew heavy, and soon she was asleep.

Claudette woke the next morning in a room full of gold. She let out a delighted squeal. He had managed all of it! Of course, she didn't know why she was surprised. He was magic, after all.

There was a knock at the door, and she called out that they could come in. Both Christopher and Baelfire entered.

"You did it…" Chris looked around in astonishment. Before Claudette had a chance to say anything, he swept her up in an embrace, "Thank you so much."

"Like I said," she smiled, "I'm happy to help."

"This is wonderful," he murmured.

"I'm glad you're happy," she told him.

He pulled her into another hug. "I love you."

Claudette froze and pulled away slightly. "Wh-what?"

Chris let her go, running a hand through his hair sheepishly, "That… was probably not the best time to say that."

"But… what did you say?" she asked.

"I said that I love you," Chris repeated, "Although," he looked a bit embarrassed, "That wasn't how I'd planned on telling you."

"You… love me?"

"I fell for you at the Harvest Festival," he admitted, "But it's not because of your spinning!" he was quick to assure her, "I meant it when I said I wouldn't ask you to spin anymore."

Claudette was dumbfounded. "You love me…"

"I do," he told her, "I had intended on telling you tonight… over dinner…" He gave her a sheepish smile, "But maybe this way was better."

Claudette gave a delighted laugh and embraced him tightly. "I love you too," she whispered.

The two were married soon after. The day of their wedding, it rained. Normally this was considered bad luck, but in a kingdom that was so rain starved, they considered it a blessing. The rain led to a green spring, a pleasant summer, and a bountiful harvest.
Their kingdom began to prosper again.

And then, one year and one month after the wedding, the court doctor brought Chris some wonderful news - Claudette was pregnant!

He rushed to his wife, embracing her happily.

"We'll have to pick up a name!" she exclaimed, "There's so much to do!"

Her husband chuckled and Claudette turned pink. "Well, I'm excited," she defended, "It's my first child."

"Mine too, remember?" he winked.

She giggled. "But what should we name it?"

"We have plenty of time to decide that," he assured her.

"Christopher…" she scolded playfully.

"Well, I suppose," he replied, "But won't that be confusing?"

She hit him playfully in the shoulder. "We'll have to let my papa know. He's going to be a grandpapa."

"We'll go see him in the morning," Chris assured her, sitting down on the settee next to his wife. She laid her head against his shoulder.

"It's just like I've always dreamed," she giggled, "Well, minus the royalty part. I never could have imagined that."

"I hope it's a welcome addition to your dream then," he half-teased.

She gazed up at him. "I love you."

"I love you too," Chris replied, leaning back happily.