Chapter Three

One Boy on the Go

Queen Selene had waited patiently for her husband and daughter to return. She barely managed to think this before her mind focused in on her use of the word daughter. The novelty of the word struck and she fell to the wave of thought and emotion that threatened to overcome her.

Her daughter. That was the title that summarized everything the little package of innocence in her consort's arms. The tiny fingers the fragile feet, the small and lively heartbeat, those bright eyes, there were her daughter, the gesture of love that would be there in their lives morning and night.

The Queen slide out of bed and put her feet back into slippers. Pulling herself out of the warmth of her bed, she eased into a thick woolen wrapper and inhaled it. It smelled of her favorite jasmine and honeysuckle perfume, the oils she washed her hair with and even the scent of her husband. It smelled unchanged, like a lasting memory of who she was. The dressing gown had not changed but she had and she would never return to that state again. And I never will want to, either, She thought, a smile coming over her face. The Queen crossed the room to her wardrobe and opened the doors. Perhaps the King was on his way home…with their daughter, Princess Serenity.

Just as the King came up the Palace steps he saw a familiar figure in pale blue walking through the large doors. He had never been so grateful to see that she had ignored his request in his life. His nerves were frazzled and he had a haunted look in his eye as he staggered into the Halls still humming. Serenity was plainly hollering by now and upon hearing this, her mother rushed to the long-suffering King and lifted the screaming baby out of his arms, holding her close to her chest. For the next few minutes, the only sound heard was that of the child's eager suckling as she greedily satisfied her hunger. The almost-instantaneous peace brought King Apollo out of his reverie. He remembered his cloak and put it on his wife's shoulders so her modesty would not be compromised. Queen Selene looked up and saw her husband's face turn serious. "If I had known how loud she could be, I would have pulled you in a litter if that's what it took to prevent an earful like that. Not to say I didn't have a good time with her, of course," he said quickly. "But Selene…I am a man and all the spittle in the world can't change that, not even when she's hungry." The Queen had to bit her lip to keep from laughing at the shell-shocked expression on her husband's face. The indefatigable King with his nearly invincible aura of calm had been brought to his knees by an infant barely 6 hours old. Serenity, she thought, looking down at the nursing child at her breast, if this is any indication of the future, I'm almost frightened to think of thee growing up! As if she had heard her mother's thoughts, Serenity looked at her, beaming. Smiling ruefully, Queen Selene walked back into the palace, her husband right at her heels.

A week later, a richly carved ebony carriage dusty with travel came to the golden walls. The four riders that accompanied the coach dismounted, walking toward the guards weary and in want of rest. They hoped that the sooner they could be admitted the sooner they could get the chance to freshen up after the long and hard ride. Their Commander strode up to the two guards who come out to meet them. "My name is Sir William, of the Swenyos' Guard. I and my three fellow members of the Guard are here to escort and protect our Royal Family while they visit with the Family of Illuseon. May we enter?" One of the Palace Guards, the leader, stepped out of the shadows. It was a dark-skinned woman with a befuddling smile. She studied the man quietly and after a moment's deliberation she nodded to her partner. "Travelers, you may proceed." The Gates opened soundlessly, a feat as great as the Doors themselves. The party came through, grateful that this was the last leg of the distance. The first guard gazed after the procession her face neutral and allowing us only to guess at the river of thoughts flowing through her mind. Her partner turned to look at her but he knew her so well that he didn't bother asking her what she was thinking. He knew full that she wouldn't tell him anyway. All he could do was keep watch while his wife silently contemplated the change approaching.

Stop fidgeting. She kept telling herself, but her body seemed to disobey the feeble command she gave it, no matter how often she gave it. "Selene," The King's quiet voice distracted her from smoothing out her skirts again. She looked up and his lips softly touched her forehead. "You look lovely, my dear." He did not flatter her, but merely acknowledged what he held to be true and so it was. His wife's silver curls were held in place by a tiny tiara that sparkled and echoed the brightness in her eyes. She wore a long elegant gown of pale leaf and smelled of cream and roses. The King laughed quietly under his breath. Only his wife could stand there looking as shamelessly transcendent as she did, worrying that she was too plain.

While she fretted, the King stood beside her, deep in thought. King Apollo knew better than to say this aloud, but he understood his wife's worries. When the two began to court, she had always been uneasy about the difference in rank between them. She was born a member of the Court, a titled personage but humble in comparison. The King had been the intended of a princess of Calpeart but he had forgotten her the second his brother had introduced him to Lady Selene. When they had married, there were whispers on both sides that their happiness would not last and that they were too different to be compatible. The King had cheerfully ignored the muttering but his bride was a sensitive soul and it took a long time for her husband to reassure her. And today's visit is probably going to undo any confidence she re-gained. He thought gloomily to himself. He wanted to say something but the words failed in his mouth. Please, he prayed, silently. Just this once, let Dagda figure out what tact means.

Ten minutes later the doors of the throne room opened and the King and Queen jumped at the sound. A boy every bit as startled as they were bowed and announced that the Royal Family of Swenyos was here. "Send them in, please." The King replied. A minute later the doors opened again and four people walked through them, a man, a woman, and a little boy and girl. The King went to greet them. "Dagda!" He clapped his friend on the shoulder, motioning for Queen Selene to come over to be introduced. "Dagda, this is my wife, Selene. Selene, this is Dagda." King Dagda grinned and beckoned a tall woman with soft chestnut hair over. "Queen Selene, this is my Gaia." Queen Selene blushed and fell into a curtsy but was stopped. "Please, Selene. We're equals here. I am just Gaia. I'm sure we can be friends." Before Queen Selene could do or say anything she found herself in a bone-crushing hug. Well this cJordenainly isn't what I was expecting. But not something I despise, either. Queen Gaia gently let go. She smiled again, five-year-old happiness shining in her eyes. "Let me introduce you to the children." She said eagerly and the little boy and girl walked to them as she said this. "This is our daughter Michelle and our son, Endymion." Michelle politely swept into a curtsy. She was her mother in miniature; even her shy smile was similar although a bit more reserved. She tugged on her younger brother's arm but he would not go before the lovely stranger. He clung to his mother's skirts, face nearly entirely hidden from view. King Apollo suddenly put an arm around his bride's waist. "And now this is where we introduce someone new, friends." He boomed. His Queen looked at him and nodded. She stepped from between the two thrones and revealed a familiar cradle where the infant Princess lay. A wry, mischievous smile flitted on King Dagda' face as he glanced at it but he hastily rearranged his expression when he saw his daughter staring up at him in confusion. "Can we have a look?" He said to his friend, a grin spreading on his face as he remembered a long-forgotten private joke.

It was only seven years ago but it seemed like eons ago. King Dagda was a newlywed and his friend King Apollo had come to visit them. The day he'd arrived, Dagda had burst through the castle doors, half-terrified and half-gleeful, as he greeted his friend. "Good god, Gaia's…Gaia is…" Apollo waited patiently for Dagda to finish his sentence. Poor Dagda couldn't continue. "What? Is she a bullfrog now that you've done gods-know-what with her?" He said with an amused smirk. King Dagda shot a look at him and went on in a half-strangled voice. "She's…pregnant." King Apollo erupted in laughter. "You should see your face! You look as if you've been at a party in Hell!" King Dagda turned very red and muttered under his breath. "I should go to Hell for this." At last King Apollo stopped and put on a more somber expression. "What did you say to Gaia?" King Dagda looked at his boots. "I told her I was glad and then she skipped off to the kitchens to find Cook." He looked at his friend in horror. "That isn't part of it, right?"

"You're the married man, mate. I'm just a bachelor."

"But what am I supposed to do? I'm just figuring out how to be a husband, I have no clue how to be a father!"

"You honestly didn't expect this, did thee?" King Apollo said, exasperated. "There aren't any instructions on how to be a father, so I guess you just figure it out." King Dagda looked sheepish at this. Seeing his reaction, King Apollo hastily added: "Really, Dagda, you should give yourself credit for making it this far. Everything will be fine and I'll give you permission to laugh yourself silly should I ever have children if you want." King Dagda stared at his friend's face. For a full minute, neither of them spoke before they broke out in laughter.

A punch on the shoulder brought King Apollo out of his daze. He looked around, and cleared his throat apologetically. "Ah, yes. Dagda, Gaia, this is Serenity of Illuseon, Selene's daughter and mine." King Dagda laughed; his chortling boomed and echoing in the wide expanse of the cavernous room. He choked out: "Gods love you to be a father! Especially after-" Luckily for Apollo, Dagda' wife had covered his mouth with delicacy, saving Apollo's ego from being punctured by whatever anecdote Dagda was in danger of telling. "Dear," Queen Gaia scolded, her soft her voiced soft in his ear. "Shouldn't we meet the little Princess?" With that, the King and Queen of Swenyos stepped up to the dais. "How exquisite!" Queen Gaia murmured, her low voice hushed and wondering. "My darlings," she called to her children. "Come and have a look," Princess Michelle jumped up willingly enough and trotted over to her mother. "She's so pretty!" She whispered, watching the baby shake her head a little in her sleep, instinctive grabbing the older Princess's pinkie with her whole fist. Queen Gaia gently slid the finger out of Serenity's tiny grip and glanced at her son, who was still standing off the platform. "Endymion, come and see."

Endymion refused. "I don't wanna." Queen Gaia tried again. "But you'll hurt her feelings," Little Endymion crossed his arms and looked at her stubbornly. "I still don't wanna." Gaia looked helplessly at her husband, but he had stepped out of the line of fire, so to speak. "Can I take her out?" she asked the watching parents. King Apollo nodded briefly and the Queen of Swenyos picked her up, walked over to her headstrong son and placed Serenity in his small arms. She was heavy, but soft and no sooner had she been put in his embrace did she awaken, giving Endymion the quickest grin there ever was before she opened her tiny mouth to bawl loudly.

Poor Endymion was running as best as he could with her and practically threw her into Queen Selene's arms. Panicked, he ran to his father (Who had just stepped out from behind a statue) and hugged his knees like they were his last anchor. "Goodness," King Dagda chuckled as his son looked at him with a scared expression. "Not even teething and she has one boy on the go. Endymion," he suddenly said sternly, addressing the little boy. "This won't be the last time a woman will frighten you. Believe me; you haven't seen the half of it." He said wisely. Queen Gaia silenced him with a kiss. "You don't mean that, do you,?" King Dagda was flabbergasted but he pulled himself together. "No, I don't think I do anymore." He remarked. The four adults laughed and were still giggling when a servant called them in for dinner.