A Magical Evening (Chapter 15)
"This could have been so simple" Ellamay remarked. "But, since your being defiant, you force this council to take drastic measures. Send in Royal Sorcerer Orrin".
The Friezenburg royal sorcerer, Orrin, walked in.
"So, your involved in this too, Orrin" Hildegard observed in disgust.
"Orrin" Ellamay started. "Queen Hildegard will not see reason. It has become necessary to kill Queen Hildegard and Princess Cleo".
"Yes, Lady Ellamay" Orrin responded as he raised his wand and pointed it at Hildegard and Cleo.
Before Orrin knew it, Hildegard and Cleo pulled out their wands, and fired on Orrin. As Orrin fell to the floor, unconscious, the Friezenburg royal council ran from the room in panic. As the council ran down a hall, a male member of the council looked at Ellamay.
"What do we do now, Lady Ellamay?" the male council member asked in alarm.
"We go to Prince Darren's nursery and take him hostage" Ellamay directed. "If we have Prince Darren, Queen Hildegard and Princess Cleo won't dare do anything against us".
Ellamay and the council raced up to the nursery, and burst through the door. Upon entering the nursery, Ellamay and the council were shocked to discover Sofia and Lucinda standing in the room with their wands drawn.
"Surprise!" Sofia and Lucinda shouted as they started firing on Ellamay and the council. In a few moments, Ellamay and the council fell to the floor, unconscious. Darren, in his crib, started crying. Sofia went over, gently picked up Darren, and comforted him.
"It's alright, little one" Sofia gently said as she gently rocked Darren in her arms. Darren quieted down, and Sofia gently laid him back in his crib.
In a few moments, Hildegard, Cleo, and some guards ran into the nursery. They saw Ellamay and the council laying on the floor, and Sofia and Lucinda standing over them.
"Thank you" Hildegard said gratefully to Sofia and Lucinda.
"Then the council did try to move against you just now?" Lucinda asked Hildegard.
"Yes" Hildegard answered. "If it hadn't been for Cleo overhearing some of the council two days ago planning to move against me, we would have been taken off guard". Hildegard then walked over to Darren's crib, and checked him.
"He's fine" Sofia reassured Hildegard.
"Thank you both for coming on such short notice" Hildegard said gratefully to Sofia and Lucinda.
"We were glad to" Lucinda smiled. "And thanks to the cover stories that Sofia was on vacation, and that I was attending the Witches Council, nobody had any idea we were actually here".
At that point, Ellamay and the council slowly started waking up. The guards stood Ellamay and the council up, and surrounded them. Two other guards brought Royal Sorcerer Orrin to the nursery, and placed him with Ellamay and the council.
"Lady Ellamay, members of the Friezenburg royal council, and Royal Sorcerer Orrin - your under arrest for treason" Hildegard announced. "Guards, take them away".
As Hildegard watched the guards take those under arrest away, she turned to Cleo. "It was a good thing the two of us took advanced magic as an elective at Royal Prep" Hildegard smiled.
"What happens now?" Sofia asked Hildegard.
"The news will break to the public shortly" Hildegard answered. "I'll go before my people, tell them what happened ... and tell them about mine and Cleo's relationship. I can only hope they will be understanding".
"I'll stand right beside you" Cleo reassured Hildegard. "We'll handle this together".
"Thank you, Cleo" Hildegard said gratefully. Hildegard then turned to Lucinda. "We will, of course, need somebody to replace Orrin. And, I just had a thought. Would your mother, Marla, be interested in being the royal sorceress for Friezenburg?".
"I'll ask her as soon as I get back to Enchancia" Lucinda beamed.
Within a day, the news had broke about what had happened with Lady Ellamay, the Friezenburg royal council, Royal Sorcerer Orrin ... and about Hildegard and Cleo's relationship. Hildegard and Cleo went out among the people of Friezenburg and talked about their relationship. While there were those who didn't accept such a relationship, the majority of those in Friezenburg accepted Hildegard and Cleo for who they were, and stood behind the two.
Outside of Friezenburg, most of Hildegard and Cleo's friends accepted the two for who they were, and most kings and queens accepted Hildegard and Cleo for who they were. Of course, as with Sofia and Lucinda, King Nasir of Kaldune did not accept Hildegard and Cleo's relationship. However, since Hildegard, Cleo, and Friezenburg didn't really have much to do with Kaldune to begin with, King Nasir's disapproval didn't really count in the grand scheme of things.
Lady Ellamay, the Friezenburg royal council, and Royal Sorcerer Orrin were put on trial, and were all found guilty of treason. All were given life in prison. Meanwhile, the council positions that were now vacant were filled by members of the public. It was the beginning of a new golden age for Friezenburg - an age where royalty and the people worked hand in hand, and the kingdom prospered. In the process, Hildegard and Cleo became well respected, and well loved, in Friezenburg.
Lucinda's mother, Marla, accepted the position of royal sorceress of Friezenburg, and served the kingdom for many years. Meanwhile, when Darren became old enough, he started attending Royal Prep, and became a well liked prince. When Darren became an adult, Hildegard retired as Queen, appointing Darren as King of Friezenburg. Darren became a well respected, and well loved, king.
Getting back to the present, it was evening at Enchancia Castle. Sofia and Lucinda were in Sofia's bedroom. Before getting ready for bed, Sofia and Lucinda met with Ruby and Jade to go over the next day's schedule.
"Sofia" Jade started, "you have a 10:00 AM meeting with the Enchancian Arts Council".
"Lucinda" Ruby said. "Grand Sorcerer Liam will be arriving at 11:00 AM for the annual workshop inspection".
"I often wonder how Cedric passed the annual inspection?" Lucinda joked. "He wasn't exactly the best housekeeper. By the way, that reminds me - Wormwood is being brought here tomorrow from Friezenburg".
"Yes" Ruby acknowledged. "Our castle zoo has already been told, and they've prepared a cage for him".
"Good" Lucinda said. "I'll be happy when Wormwood is safely behind lock and key. Then, we won't have to worry about him causing any more trouble".
"Is that everything for tomorrow?" Sofia asked.
"Yes" both Jade and Ruby said.
"We'll let the two of you get to bed" Ruby said to Sofia and Lucinda.
"Good night" Jade smiled as she and Ruby left Sofia's bedroom.
In a few minutes, Sofia and Lucinda got ready for bed. As the two climbed into Sofia's bed, they smiled at each other as they pulled out their wands.
"Vibrate mode?" Lucinda suggested with a grin.
"Sounds good" Sofia smiled.
At that same moment, at Friezenburg Castle, Hildegard and Cleo were in Hildegard's bedroom, laying in Hildegard's bed.
"This is wonderful, Hildi" Cleo smiled. "We can be together as a couple, and be out in the open about it".
"This is wonderful" Hildegard smiled back. "I never imagined in my wildest dreams that we could have this kind of freedom".
Hildegard and Cleo then embraced each other.
In Friezenburg Castle, and in Enchancia Castle, our two couples were happy. It was truly a magical evening. Their future was bright. Everything had worked out well.