I do not own the WWE or any of the characters associated with it. I only own Rose and her family.
Chapter 8
Months had passed and Richard was growing stronger with each day. Marcus had ensured that his son would have the best tutors. Rose had smiled at this prospect, as Marcus was heir to the High King's throne, but it unsettled her. Tutored in what? Violence? Revenge? Death? Destruction? Was he to be like Morgana's son Mordred.
Morgana had become her friend and companion much of the time, helping her with Richard. She was always keeping Rose's heart in balance. Morgana was an advisor to Marcus now, officially, though her name had been changed to Arylen. At least to the court.
Morgana came to the garden to see Richard running around. Barely eight months had passed and Richard was already running as if he was three. His caretakers would not be able to keep up with him, let alone the rest of the royal brood when the time came.
"Something troubles you, my lady." Morgana didn't need to phrase it as a question.
"Yes. It's about Richard." She answered.
"Are you concerned for the people like a future High Queen should be?" She asked.
"No, Morgana. It isn't that. I'm worried about his tutors."
"You worry they will teach him destruction and mayhem." She said with a knowing look.
"Yes, I want him to learn the good things to. Like about the Goddess and nature and all the things he should take delight in." Rose looked at her. "Would you teach him with me?"
"Of course, I'm one of the destructive tutors. Marcus asked me a fortnight or so ago."
Rose hugged her. "I'm sorry, but I am overjoyed to hear this."
"As I am sure you would be." Morgana answered.
"Did you want Arthur to die?" She asked it so abruptly, that Morgana stopped in her tracks.
"No, I wanted him to go to Avalon. I wanted him to take the Goddess to heart. The Christians fear us, Rose. It's why Marcus is fighting the Irish barbarians. They worship the Goddess and the High King Taliesin won't tolerate it." She looked at Rose. Rose could swear Morgana saw her soul just then. "I am trying to protect the Old Religion. I want to teach Richard and your other heirs the beauty that is the balance the Goddess holds in place. Please let me."
Rose smiled. "Of course, Arylen. Anything for you. Hello, Lord Adam."
Morgana breathed a sigh of relief. How much had the man overheard? Maybe she should seduce him later. She made a mental note.
"My ladies, Lord Marcus has received a messenger from the High King." He spoke solemnly.
Richard came right over to Rose at the mention of his father's name, as if urging his mother to go to her husband. Sometimes she swore the child could read her thoughts. They walked down the hallway with Richard firmly in his mother's arms. He adored Morgana as well, but only when he was in her room and Morgana adored the child. He reminded her so much of Mordred. Maybe she could get this one right for once. Shut up, Merlin. She mentally scolded herself. There was still a deep wound from the fight,
"Ah, ladies, and my little Prince." Marcus immediately came to us and took him from me. Richard giggled at his father and she made her way to her chair. "Is everyone of court here? Good. I have something very important to tell all of you."
Richard played in his lap. It was very hard to take Lord Marcus seriously. "Da…da…" Richard answered, smiling. Marcus was overjoyed, but appeared conflicted.
"His first word." Morgana whispered to Rose who had tears of joy in her face.
"I called you all here because the Irish are making trouble again. We are to train some new soldiers and go back to Ireland in one month." The crowd murmured. "Silence. We will do what we can. Lord Kane, you will be in charge of the conscription. Any healthy males we have." Kane left at that. "Adam, protection of the lady and my son should by your only priority. Arylen will certainly help with that in any way she can. Lord John and myself will do the training. Ladies, be sure to keep your vigils for your husbands. That is all, thank you."
Once they were alone with just Morgana and Richard, Richard began climbing into his mother's lap, after muttering another "Dada…" Morgana smiled, exactly like her Mordred.
"Marcus, you cannot go. Please. Think of Richard, he is very attached to you." Rose said.
"I have to go, it's the High King's orders." Marcus said. "Besides, there's no reason why we cannot have Richard sleep in Morgana's room for a few nights."
Rose froze. "Marcus, I…"
"My lady, do not worry. I was like you are when I was going to conceive Mordred." Morgana cut in.
"Who? When? Where?" Marcus asked, dumbstruck.
"Arthur, when I had taken part in the Beltane rights, and on the shore of Avalon and Albion." She smugly replied.
"You had relations with your own brother?" Rose asked, shivering.
"It wasn't like that. Beltane, you don't see your lover and the only reason I know is because he told me that he knew the eyes and he didn't know another woman like that, but for me." Morgana bit her lip at the memory. "I will gladly have Richard stay with me so you may get better acquainted."
"Thank you very much." She answered.
"Don't think anything of it, my lady. You were born to be with your lord. Everyone has a fate, those who don't accept that, will die and be forced by nature to repeat until it sinks in." Morgana swept out of the throne room with Richard after that.
"Don't fret, Rose. Richard will be fine." Marcus soothed. "Come with me to review the new troops, then we will retire and get better acquainted." He grinned.
She nodded and followed him into the courtyard where Lord Adam was talking with Lord Kane about new recruits and a month wasn't enough to train them and they were going to die. Marcus came up to them and looked over the new recruits.
Outfitted with new armor, most of them looked like they never held a sword in their lifetime. Rose felt sorry for them. "How old are they, my lord?" She asked.
"All of them are at least sixteen, my lady." Lord Kane answered.
"So young and they will be hardened." She remarked.
"Your son will be fighting with us one day, my lady. He will be a fierce and capable warrior. Lord Marcus will see to it." Adam said. "Do not worry; no harm will come to the Prince. Just like no harm shall come to Lord Marcus. Don't fret so."
"It's hard not to. I care about them. If Richard got hurt or worse, I don't think I could be able to bear it and even if I could, I doubt I would be sociable." Rose looked at the new recruits. "They'll be ready in a month?"
"Marcus seems to think so." Kane spoke this time. "I think he plans on drilling them from dawn until dusk with the other lords. Lord John of Cena Hills told me how he couldn't wait for the training."
"Will anyone else be joining in the training?" Rose asked. Maybe some of the ladies would be here to entertain her besides that boring Lady Evelyn.
As if reading her thoughts, Lord Adam jumped in. "My brother, Sir Christian will be here by nightfall with Lord Hunter and his wife, the Lady Stephanie."
Kane spoke again. "I only think it will be you, Lady Elizabeth, Lady Stephanie, and Lady Maria, Lord Dave's wife. I apologize, but none of the other lords have gotten married besides Lord John, Lord Dave, and Lord Hunter."
"That's fine. Any company is better than Lady Evelyn." She laughed.
They all shared a laugh as Marcus came up to them. "I want Lord Christian to wake them all at dawn. The men look fine physically. We will test their strength tomorrow. But for now, there are many preparations as we will have guests tonight."
"My lord, you do so much." Rose sighed.
"Only to please you, my lady." He smiled back. "Come, I want you to look radiant when Lady Stephanie arrives. I want you to dress Richard in that little princely coat the High King sent us last month from his tailor."
"Of course, anything for you."