I want to protect you and keep you safe.
~ Protection by Mary Guimont
Carys Hightopp walked briskly down the stone pavement of Marmoreal's courtyard. The stairs leading to the open gates were a welcome sight. A long journey from the village of the Hightopp Clan lay behind her and she was tired. Tired, yes, but also eager to see the little princess. She and her son were to receive the honor and privilege of making the first hats and bonnets for the child!
Carys turned to see if her son was keeping up with her. A boy in his mid-teens, fiery red hair that curled and stuck out in every direction, stood staring at one of the many white trees that was decked in tiny pink flowers. He was muttering to himself as he looked at the tree and held out a pale white hand to catch a blossom as it was blown from the tree by a gust of wind.
"Tarrant!" She called in a huff. "Hurry along!"
Emerald green eyes snapped away from pink flowers and met Carys' own green eyes. "Yes, fam!" He tucked the flower into a buttonhole on his checkered vest. Tripping every step he took in his large shoes he had yet to grow into, Tarrant jogged to his mother's side. Carys took his bare hand in her own glove covered one and tugged him gently along toward the palace's entrance.
The servant that stood watch over the door clicked his heels and bowed from the waist. "Madame Hightopp," he droned in a polite voice.
Tarrant giggled and received a tight squeeze on his hand from his mother for his ill-mannered amusement.
"If you will follow me, Madame and little Master, I will bring you to Princess Marina and the little princess." The servant turned and began walking down the long marble hallway.
Carys tugged Tarrant along as they followed the servant. If she had not, the boy would have been lost and left behind while he gaped at the vaulted ceilings, shiny floors, and peculiar trappings and trimmings hanging from the walls. Carys had to keep an eye on him at all times to ensure he did not touch anything within his gangly-teenager reach. He was good with hats and the delicate work it required, but he was clumsy in every other aspect of his life. Poor boy.
Carys was pulled from her thoughts when the servant stopped at an open casement that led to a large room furnished with couches, chairs, shelves of books, tables, and other items of furniture. He announced the pair of Hightopps and stepped back to allow them entrance.
Carys stepped forward with Tarrant and looked at the seat where Crown Princess Mirana sat. "Your majesty," Carys greeted, releasing Tarrant's hand so she could dip into a curtsey. The mother glanced out of the corner of her eye to see if Tarrant was bowing. He had echoed his mother's greeting and bowed at the waist. A relieved sigh escaped Carys as she straightened to her true height.
"Madame Hightopp, it is good to see you again," Mirana greeted as she motioned to a seat opposite of herself. "Please, sit down." Carys moved to the seat and shook her head to Tarrant when he tried to sit as well. He pouted for a second but quickly schooled his features to a pleasant expression. He clasped his fidgeting hands behind his back and looked around the room.
Mirana looked at Tarrant before smiling at Carys once more. "Your son, I believe?"
"Yes," Carys nodded as she spoke. Tarrant looked at the crown princess with some surprise. "Tarrant, is my boy. Learning from his father how to be a milliner."
"And how is Master Hightopp?" Mirana inquired. "I must have him come make me a new hat. Mother is planning on having a garden party for Lily's introduction to the courtiers. Of course," Mirana chuckled, "I thought it might be prudent to have Lily's hat made first."
"Idris would be more than happy to come, my lady." Carys assured. "I am so looking forward to knitting hats for the wee babi."
Tarrant huffed a sigh and looked away again. As the women talked about miscellaneous things, he let his eyes wander. Odd objects caught his attention and he tried picturing the object on a hat - any hat really. Quills, books, papers - perhaps the paper if folded into an animal would look smashing. A miniature couch? Oh! A miniature tea party on a hat! No, no. A garden party on a hat! Yes. That would look very nice.
Something solid hit his leg. Tarrant looked down in shock and curiosity, a sound of surprise slipping past his red lips. There on the ground, staring up at him with equal shock and curiosity, was a baby girl with wide brown eyes and downy hair the color of warm summer sunshine. The pair stared at each other for about a minute before the baby's gaping mouth closed and the lower lip began to quiver. To Tarrant's alarm, the baby opened her mouth once more and let out a miserable wail.
Both mothers looked over at the sound and saw Tarrant bending over and lifting the distraught baby into his arms. Awkwardly, he bounced the baby on his hip and patted her back. "Shush, shush, hush, babi," he crooned. "It's all right. You're fine."
The infant's eyes, that had been screwed shut and leaked tears, opened a sliver to look at him. The little mouth closed a little bit and the cries lowered in pitch. Tarrant smiled at the little girl and continued comforting her until the cries had ended. The brown eyes stared at him once more with curiosity. Without pretense, the little head flopped down onto his shoulder and she sighed with utter contentment.
Mirana laughed! She laughed so hard that she bent forward.
Carys looked from the queen to her son and back again. What had just happened?
Once Mirana controlled her laughter, she whipped the few tears from her eyes that came with her laughter. "I am sorry," she apologized with a chuckle. "I just found that very amusing. You see, Lily won't let anyone hold her expect myself or my husband. My mother can't convince little Lily to sit still or quietly on her lap."
"I - I am sorry, Your majesty." Tarrant stuttered as he looked to his mother for help. "Would you like me to - ah - put her down?"
"Oh no," Mirana shook her head and waved her hand dismissing the question. "If she is happy with you, then you may hold her. If you set her on the ground again, she'll most likely crawl away again. Her nurse maid loses her all the time now. Lily is always crawling away.
"Your son is very good with children, Madame Hightopp," Mirana observed.
Carys puffed up with motherly pride. "He has to be. He has five other siblings that are all younger than him."
While the mothers spoke back and forth about children, Tarrant snuck over to an unoccupied chair and sat in it. He shifted Lily to his lap but was careful to not disturb her too much. Lily's head lifted from his shoulder and she looked at his face once more. A chubby, baby hand reached for his nose before touching her own.
Tarrant grinned widely, showing off the little gap between his front teeth. Lily stuck a finger in the gap - or tried too. Her attention diverted to his hair as well as her strong grip. She tugged on the curls so hard, that Tarrant yelped.
One of his hands took her and detangled the tiny fingers. His green eyes stared into her brown eyes as she scowled and began making protesting noises. Tarrant's green eyes flashed red as he said, "No."
"Tarrant!" Carys scolded. "You be nice to the princess."
"It's all right, Madame Hightopp," Mirana assured. "The sooner Lily learns that she cannot have everything she wants, the better."
Tarrant's eyes reverted to their usual green and he smiled once more at Lily. She stuck her hand, now free from his curls, into her mouth and plopped her head once more onto his shoulder. Tarrant hummed a tune to her and rubbed her back with his other hand.
Carys and Mirana finished their conversation and called Tarrant over. He stood and brought the baby with him. Carys pulled out a measuring tape and wrapped it around Lily's head. Lily's face puckered in confusion and she tried to push the unusual object off, but a firm no from Tarrant gained her cooperation once more. Carys wrote down the numbers on a pad of paper that she pulled from a pocket in her outlandish-patchwork skirt before asking Mirana what colors she wanted Lily's hat to be.
Tarrant watched as Lily's attention latched on the pink flower sticking out of his vest's buttonhole. Before her searching hand could pull it from where it rested, Tarrant plucked it away but held it within her view. Lily did not grab it. Instead she brushed a hand against a petal and looked up with awe at Tarrant. He smiled once more at her. Lily squealed with laughter and clapped her hands. Tarrant chuckled along with her and stuck the flower behind her ear. The flower did not stay there long, but he was struck with a perfect idea for a hat for the little princess.
"Why not white and pink lace made to look like a flower?" He asked, looking up at his mother. "If I had some, I'd show you what I have in mind. It could sit on the side of her head like so," he motioned with one hand as he shifted Lily in his hold so he could do so.
Mirana tilted her head and smiled. "Yes, I think that would be lovely. A rose, perhaps?"
"A bit more squashed than a usual rose, but yes." Tarrant nodded eagerly. His eyes sparkled as he thought of the possibilities.
Carys beamed in pride at her son. She looked to Mirana and asked, "Would you mind if Tarrant made the princess' hat for the garden party? I know it is a big occasion and an important one, but Tarrant is a very good hatter."
"Of course he may!" Mirana exclaimed. "I have every faith in the Hightopps! If you do not mind giving up the opportunity yourself, Madame Hightopp."
"My son's visions are better than my own," Carys humbly demurred. "I will make the knit caps and bonnets though. He may be a hatter, but he can't knit to save his life!"
"Mother," Tarrant grumbled as he blushed. Lily laughed again and clapped her hands, earning a shy smile from Tarrant.
"It's settled then," Mirana clasped her hands together. Turning to Tarrant, she held her hands out for Lily. "Come now, Lily-girl."
Tarrant glanced at Lily sadly. He didn't want to giver her back. Lily's hands tangled in his hair and she pouted, threatening with whimpers that she would throw a tantrum if she had to leave Tarrant's arms. His heart soared with pride! He had Lily's favor!
"Lily White," Mirana's voice held a warning edge to it.
Tarrant felt the fingers leave his hair once more. Lily instantly reached out for her mother and when Mirana had her hands around Lily's middle, the baby practically lunged out of Tarrant's grasp. Tarrant's heart nearly stopped, but he sighed in relief when he was sure Mirana's hold was secure.
"We'll be back in less than a week to have the first fitting," Carys assured as Tarrant came to her side.
"Thank you Hightopps," Mirana said with a smile. "I eagerly await seeing what you create for little Lily."
Carys and Tarrant bade the princesses goodbye and followed the servant, who had been waiting patiently by the door, back down the halls. Carys did not hold Tarrants hand on their backtrack through the palace. His mind was too focused on hats and Lily to need worry about anything else.
"What do you think of a hat with lilies on it?" Tarrant questioned his mother. "I mean a knit hat with flowers knitted to look like lilies?"
"I'm sure I can make one," Carys agreed.
"I should like to make her lots of hats!" Tarrant decided as he changed the subject. He frowned. "I hope she will like them."
"I am sure she will, Tarrant."
Tarrant fell silent for several long moments. Carys believed he was thinking of hats again. She thanked the servant that had escorted them to the entrance of Mamoreal. Outside the courtyard awaited their carriage. She sighed, another long journey home.
They both entered the carriage and Tarrant took the reigns. After the carriage rolled a distance from the marble palace, Tarrant said, "I hope I never make her cry ever again."
"She's a babi, Tarrant," Carys chuckled. "They cry."
Tarrant shrugged. "I know. But I don't want to be the cause of her crying. I would much rather protect her."
Carys looked up at her son. She really looked closely at him. Gone was the nervousness and clumsiness of her daydreaming boy. He was resolute and determined. A smile graced Carys' lips. "That's a very good goal to make, fy melys." She looked forward at the road. Hats - lilies - perhaps a bonnet or two. Maybe someday she could make a pretty white veil instead. With lilies on it. Idris would need to make a white top hat. The possibilities!
Carys reigned in her thoughts. She was getting ahead of herself. A Hightopp marrying royalty! The idea! Well, one could dream, couldn't they?
Translations:
fam - mother
babi - baby
fy melys - my sweet