A Twist
Pippa got cleaned up. She knew this was risky, but what could she do. Swallowing her fear, she entered the portal to the den of the evil witch. She didn't know if she would ever make it out alive again.
Meanwhile:
Cedric impatiently brushed the invisible dirt off of his armor. Having recently been honored with the title of knight sure wasn't what he thought it would be. He had always dreamed of being honored with that title. Now that he had it, he realized it really meant nothing more than being at the beck and call of their majesties day or night. He had just gone to bed, when Bodwen had come knocking at his door. He had buried his head under the covers hoping that Bodwen would stop pounding the door. As if it wasn't enough his head was pounding to the rhythm of the door, Bodwen was screeching his name imperiously. The arrogant prick. Just because she was the queen's lady in waiting she thought she could interrupt everyone's lives.
Bodwen in her girly screeching voice: Sir Cedric, I know you are in there, and I won't go away. Her majesty demands your presence.
Cedric groaned. He knew Bodwen meant it, and impatiently threw the covers back. He didn't reply just to tweak Bodwen's nose out of joint more. Bodwen lived in terror of her majesty, and every order from her she took seriously and personally.
Bodwen her voice reaching an ear splitting screech: Her majesty commands your presence in 10 minsssssss which came out like she was hissing it through her front teeth. How could her majesty stand this toady?
Bodwen continuing: ,,,, and if you don't answer me, I will come in and take you by force as you are, and you know how displeased her majesty would be at that.
Cedric grumbling had pulled open the door and grabbed Bowden by the throat.
Cedric wasn't a violent man, but he had to admit it felt good to see those beady eyes pop out of her head in terror.
Cedric calmly: I swear Bodwen your voice could split trees in half. Now you go back to her majesty and tell her that I will attend her at her pleasure in 20 mins.
Setting Bodwen back down, she had tried to stammer out how her majesty would not be happy etc. as she loped away.
Now a half hour after arriving he was still standing here. He figured he was being punished for not dancing to her tune. Her majesty and him had a strange relationship. He adored his sovereign, but would not bow to her every whim. She on the other hand loving him like a son tolerated behaviors like this from him like she would for no other. She had never kept him waiting this long. Had he truly overstepped the line this time? Had he gone too far? He swallowed nervously. Stop it he chided himself, she is playing you like a well tuned violin. She wants you to squirm.
Bodwen in her girly screeching voice: Sir Cedric, I know you are in there, and I won't go away. Her majesty demands your presence.
Cedric groaned. He knew Bodwen meant it, and impatiently threw the covers back. He didn't reply just to tweak Bodwen's nose out of joint more. Bodwen lived in terror of her majesty, and every order from her she took seriously and personally.
Bodwen her voice reaching an ear splitting screech: Her majesty commands your presence in 10 minsssssss which came out like she was hissing it through her front teeth. How could her majesty stand this toady?
Bodwen continuing: ,,,, and if you don't answer me, I will come in and take you by force as you are, and you know how displeased her majesty would be at that.
Cedric grumbling had pulled open the door and grabbed Bowden by the throat.
Cedric wasn't a violent man, but he had to admit it felt good to see those beady eyes pop out of her head in terror.
Cedric calmly: I swear Bodwen your voice could split trees in half. Now you go back to her majesty and tell her that I will attend her at her pleasure in 20 mins.
Setting Bodwen back down, she had tried to stammer out how her majesty would not be happy etc. as she loped away.
Now a half hour after arriving he was still standing here. He figured he was being punished for not dancing to her tune. Her majesty and him had a strange relationship. He adored his sovereign, but would not bow to her every whim. She on the other hand loving him like a son tolerated behaviors like this from him like she would for no other. She had never kept him waiting this long. Had he truly overstepped the line this time? Had he gone too far? He swallowed nervously. Stop it he chided himself, she is playing you like a well tuned violin. She wants you to squirm.
Prince Jerold turned to his wife. How imperial she looked. She was beautiful. They had not met before they married as it was arranged as a political match, but when he first saw her on their wedding day he fell in love with her hopelessly and deeply. He knew she didn't love him, but she was kind and gave him what affection she could. They had two beautiful daughters, and were still hoping for a son someday to carry on his name. He had to admit though the one thing he didn't like was the formality of these affairs of state. He knew that Morgana his oldest hated sitting in on these, and had no desire to rule when her mother died. He couldn't rule as in Eldred only woman could carry on the line of succession. He had no desire to take over though. He was fine with it. He worried about what was to happen when they died. Morgana would be forced to rule as the fairies didn't want Olwen the youngest ruling. She unfortunately had an evil bent and was cruel to the servants. They had tried endlessly to tame her evil, willful, headstrong ways, but she wouldn't be tamed. He saw trouble in the future. He believed that Olwen was his wife's favorite as she had spirit unlike Morgana who would sit and happily read by the hour.
Olwen was dreamily sitting thinking of Cedric. She was in love with the handsome knight, and longed to marry him. She would in spite of how she knew her parents would react be with him.. She never told her father, but she suspected that her mother was in love with Cedric. She could tell by how her mother would without knowing it, shoot him surreptitious looks of tender longing when she thought no one was looking. She noticed though. That made her jealous as she was almost certain Cedric shared those feelings. They were both careful not to betray their emotions overtly, but Olwen always studied people to see if she could use them or to have leverage over them. She bet know one else knew. She had no warm tender feelings toward her mother. She was just an obstacle standing in her way of her cherished desire. She didn't care if Cedric didn't love her, she would, being a princess, gain the throne she knew her sister despised and force him to marry her. She sighed. She knew once they were married, they would be blissfully happy and he would fall headlong madly in love with her. If not she had ways of getting him to do so. The evil witch would do things for the right price.
Queen Faerydea sat pensively thinking what she was going to do. Things were getting messy. She knew it had been a mistake to send Pippa to look into the situation. She had heard talk in the King of Ogrids court about a supposed marriage of a princess who didn't even know she was a princess and the grandnephew of the king. If this marriage took place, she was afraid she would never be able to break the yoke of tyranny of the Ogrid world. She knew that a new king and his bride would consolidate the people solidly behind them, and would thwart the rebellion and support for it in the Ogrid King's court.. Right now she had allies in the king's court, but didn't know if that would last if this marriage went forward. She couldn't take the chance. If she was strong enough right now she would move against them, but sadly she had to do everything secretively, and her coffers were not filled as full as they once were, thanks to the forced tribute they had to pay monthly to the Ogrids to keep them from terrorizing Eldred.. She would need more time. So when she found out about this marriage she sent Pippa to check these rumors out and to assess the situation.. She had no idea though what Pippa would get up to. Pippa was so flighty and easily distracted, but she was the most trustworthy of those in her inner circle. She couldn't even trust her husband, as she suspected that he would not approve her trying to throw off the Ogrid's yoike.. Lucky it was for her that she had a spell put on Pippa to be able to follow her antics through her crystal ball gifted to her by a childhood friend who was a witch. She had to do something. She had thought about having Fiona brought here, but that would have been risky. It seems someone had the same idea and acted on it, but who? Could it have been Rainbow Ivy? She thought of that immediately when she saw Pippa's run in with him at the cemetery. Why else would he have been in the same town as Fiona? His reputation for being a ruthless hired hand preceded him, but she had never heard of him kidnapping anyone. Who else would want Fiona? It couldn't be the King of Ogrid, as it would be to his advantage to have his family name carried on through his grand nephew and Fiona. So now all she had to do was find out who it was who wanted Fiona, and what they planned to do with her. There was also the small matter of Pippa consulting the evil witch. She knew it was forbidden. If the evil witch didn't kill her or bring destruction on the fairy world, Pippa would be punished but severely. She was worried. This wasn't going well at all.
She knew having this late night court session was risky, but she had no choice. Her husband she felt was suspicious of her and Cedric as it was, and to have summoned him late at night to her bedroom would have led to a situation that she didn't need to deal with right now. She had gotten away with some visits from him in the daytime, but she pretended those were for business matters as well. But at night she never could get away with it. She had a servant in the room with her and Cedric during the times he came to visit her discreetly, but she had no worries as the servant was blind and deaf. Her husband didn't know that though. She hadn't stepped over the line with Cedric yet, but it was getting harder to not give in. So she made a point of summoning everybody for a formal court session as this couldn't wait for the morning.
Prince Jerold sitting next to his wife, worried about her. She seemed preoccupied lately like the fate of the kingdom was in the balance. She had been short with him lately, and when he entered the room, she looked like she was carrying a secret. He wished she would confide in him, but he knew that to try to pry would only set her famous temper in action. He had to admit her temper scared him. She would scream and rant throwing things at anyone in her way. After one of her colossal rampages she would be laid low in bed for days unable to even get out of bed. He tried to spare her those rampages as it worried him when she was like that. Her fairy energy seemed sapped and like it would never come back. Fairy's had a special life force that if it is spent too much, they are at risk of dying. It bothered him though to think she didn't trust him enough to confide in him. Whatever she was planning he was sure it wasn't going to be good.
Morgana sat there stoically. How she hated these affairs of state. All she wanted to do was read her books. She loved to study, and her being the next in line to the throne she was given every opportunity to learn and read. She was glad for that as she would rather die than not have her books. She knew that soon she would be groomed to take over for her mother, and she wouldn't have time for her studies anymore. Her mother was always under demand from morning to late at night. How she hated being in the public eye and dealing with all these nasty contrary fairies. She found this ruling of the country tedious and very trying. She was always exhausted after one of these sessions. This one was unusual though as it was in the middle of the night. How she longed to crawl back into bed with a good book. She daren't yawn as her mother would stomp on her hard. She and her sister had to sit for hours regally, not showing any emotion except to frown when appropriate or show sympathy if the situation called for it. She felt like such a phony. Hearing all these petitioners complaints, and asking for favors. What she really hated was when foreign dignitaries came to visit bearing gifts asking for favors. She had to pretend to be interested and she wasn't. She had to say the right things all the time, even when she didn't feel that way. Whatever was going down, she just wished her mother would hurry this up and get it over with. Morgana felt a yawn creeping up on her and forced it back down. Would this never end?
Finally Bodwen came out into the hall and in her falsetto screech announced him.
Bodwen: Honorable Sir Cedric come hither to prostrate yourself before her glorious, radiant, munificient, royal....
Faerydae sharply: Bodwen cut the ceremonious civilities and bring Sir Cedric in.
Bodwen: But your exalted highness we musn't....
Queen Faerydea rising from her chair growling: BODWEN! I am in no mood for your slimey obsequious smarmy antics.
Bodwen bowed low: Sorry your royalness.
Bodwen: Honorable Sir Cedric come hither to prostrate yourself before her glorious, radiant, munificient, royal....
Faerydae sharply: Bodwen cut the ceremonious civilities and bring Sir Cedric in.
Bodwen: But your exalted highness we musn't....
Queen Faerydea rising from her chair growling: BODWEN! I am in no mood for your slimey obsequious smarmy antics.
Bodwen bowed low: Sorry your royalness.
Cedric smiled at Bowdern garnering the queen's displeasure, but knew he would have to watch his step. She was in a rare mood this evening, and being so late in evening something was up. He decided to be his most charming, but be careful to follow protocol. He strode up to the throne solemnly in a measured stride. He stopped shorter than his normal spot, and bowed.
,Cedric was shocked when he saw her royal highness arise and walk toward him. She was not for breaking protocol in front of her family. She could be relaxed and charming when they were alone. How he cherished those rare moments when she had her hair down in her boudoir reclining in her settee while he sat next to her. She would feed him grapes and they would debate about fairy history and other such stimulating subjects. That is how he liked her best, reachable, and sensuous. He hated seeing her in this regal setting it always made him feel inferior. That she was letting her hair down so to speak showed that whatever it was she wanted, it was very important.
Jerold was shocked when he saw Faerydea approach the lowly knight. How... why... she couldn't could she? She was high above him. She never broached the respected lines of class. The fairy queen never came down to the level of her servants even knights, but now she was breaking the long held sacred class lines. What was going on? He would never dare to question her, as he had been the brunt of her fairy fury before and it had scared the mess out of him. He was convinced that she was going to divorce him, but thankfully he had been able to soothe her offended sensibilities and she forgave him. He had always wondered if she and Sir Cedric were lovers. Now this just made him wonder all the more. He would have to have this investigated, but most carefully. If this turned out to be true, he didn't know what he would do, but getting rid of Sir Cedric would be his sole priority. Nobody would fool with his wife especially a lowly knight, at least not while he was around. Oh boy this was really even more serious than he thought. Enough was enough he had to know what was going on, and risk her anger. He would deal with this later.
Olwen was intrigued. This was a first for her mother slumming with the peasants. Hmmm what reason could her mother have for calling this session, and then stepping away to talk to Cedric in private? Was she openly going to carry on her affair with Cedric right under the kings nose? No, she didn't think that could be the case. But what was her mother up to? Well she would have to bribe her network of spies most generously to try to find out what her evil mother was plotting. When she did, she would use it to bring her mother down not just off her throne, but to her knees. She would be begging for scraps from the new Queen's table! Her!
Morgana was bored would this night never end? Seeing her mother get up and approach Cedric bothered her. Why was her mother giving this man an honor no person outside the royal family had ever had? What was her mother up to? She looked over at Olwen her hated sister who was cruel and mean to her, and saw her sister was intently watching their mother. She worried for their mother as Olwen she knew would stab their mother in the back if she could get away with it and sit down to a hearty meal afterwards. She sighed. Well what could she do? She was tired to death, and she just wanted to be left alone with her books. How she wished she had never been born royalty. The life of a royal was tedious and hard. Sure everyone thought living in the lap of luxury was heaven, but to her it was a jeweled prison she longed to escape from. Morgana thought of her books waiting for her in her room upon the morrow and groaned thinking how she would be too tired tomorrow to indulge in a study session with Phebe's her most learned tutor in all the arts and histories. Morgana then remembered something she wanted to ask Phebe tomorrow and promptly dismissed her sister and mother's strange behavior out of her mind. She needn't worry daddy would protect mother and all she cared about was finding a way to give up her place as future queen of Eldred.
Faerydea walked over to Cedric. She knew this would shock everyone, but she couldn't just blurt out what she wanted to say in front of her family. This was her plot and she couldn't involve her family in it not until she was ready. She would talk to him alone, and think up a good explanation later to appease them. She was good at that. She had no worries she would be able to put Jerold's and Morgana's minds to rest, but she knew Olwen wouldn't be so easy. Well she had her ways with her as well. A promise of some expensive trinket, or a trip to Anywyn for a day of unlimited shopping should take care of her. It might take more than that, but whatever Olwen wanted she would get. Her daughter was not only cruel, but greedy. She didn't want to have to bribe Olwen all the time, but that is the only way she could keep Olwen under control. This was a bad time too, as she needed all the money she could get. Well she would have her tax assessors go around tomorrow and levy higher taxes for the tribute they must pay to the Ogrids with some leftover for her personal "use". They always came through for her. Not like they had a choice. She was their queen and would do as she said. Still she knew that she had to tread carefully as even the lowly ignorant peasants could become contrary and stubborn at anytime.
Jerold was shocked when he saw Faerydea approach the lowly knight. How... why... she couldn't could she? She was high above him. She never broached the respected lines of class. The fairy queen never came down to the level of her servants even knights, but now she was breaking the long held sacred class lines. What was going on? He would never dare to question her, as he had been the brunt of her fairy fury before and it had scared the mess out of him. He was convinced that she was going to divorce him, but thankfully he had been able to soothe her offended sensibilities and she forgave him. He had always wondered if she and Sir Cedric were lovers. Now this just made him wonder all the more. He would have to have this investigated, but most carefully. If this turned out to be true, he didn't know what he would do, but getting rid of Sir Cedric would be his sole priority. Nobody would fool with his wife especially a lowly knight, at least not while he was around. Oh boy this was really even more serious than he thought. Enough was enough he had to know what was going on, and risk her anger. He would deal with this later.
Olwen was intrigued. This was a first for her mother slumming with the peasants. Hmmm what reason could her mother have for calling this session, and then stepping away to talk to Cedric in private? Was she openly going to carry on her affair with Cedric right under the kings nose? No, she didn't think that could be the case. But what was her mother up to? Well she would have to bribe her network of spies most generously to try to find out what her evil mother was plotting. When she did, she would use it to bring her mother down not just off her throne, but to her knees. She would be begging for scraps from the new Queen's table! Her!
Morgana was bored would this night never end? Seeing her mother get up and approach Cedric bothered her. Why was her mother giving this man an honor no person outside the royal family had ever had? What was her mother up to? She looked over at Olwen her hated sister who was cruel and mean to her, and saw her sister was intently watching their mother. She worried for their mother as Olwen she knew would stab their mother in the back if she could get away with it and sit down to a hearty meal afterwards. She sighed. Well what could she do? She was tired to death, and she just wanted to be left alone with her books. How she wished she had never been born royalty. The life of a royal was tedious and hard. Sure everyone thought living in the lap of luxury was heaven, but to her it was a jeweled prison she longed to escape from. Morgana thought of her books waiting for her in her room upon the morrow and groaned thinking how she would be too tired tomorrow to indulge in a study session with Phebe's her most learned tutor in all the arts and histories. Morgana then remembered something she wanted to ask Phebe tomorrow and promptly dismissed her sister and mother's strange behavior out of her mind. She needn't worry daddy would protect mother and all she cared about was finding a way to give up her place as future queen of Eldred.
Faerydea walked over to Cedric. She knew this would shock everyone, but she couldn't just blurt out what she wanted to say in front of her family. This was her plot and she couldn't involve her family in it not until she was ready. She would talk to him alone, and think up a good explanation later to appease them. She was good at that. She had no worries she would be able to put Jerold's and Morgana's minds to rest, but she knew Olwen wouldn't be so easy. Well she had her ways with her as well. A promise of some expensive trinket, or a trip to Anywyn for a day of unlimited shopping should take care of her. It might take more than that, but whatever Olwen wanted she would get. Her daughter was not only cruel, but greedy. She didn't want to have to bribe Olwen all the time, but that is the only way she could keep Olwen under control. This was a bad time too, as she needed all the money she could get. Well she would have her tax assessors go around tomorrow and levy higher taxes for the tribute they must pay to the Ogrids with some leftover for her personal "use". They always came through for her. Not like they had a choice. She was their queen and would do as she said. Still she knew that she had to tread carefully as even the lowly ignorant peasants could become contrary and stubborn at anytime.
Bodwen was shocked as well. Yet she dared not intrude on the queen's privacy. She stayed close enough to be able to eavesdrop without making it look like she was.
Cedric: Faerydea my queen, I can see you are troubled. What can I do for my beloved one?
Faerydea agitated: You overstep yourself here. You take liberties you have not been given leave to take.
Cedric: I apologize your royalness. I am at your command. Give me any command even traveling to the end of the earth and I will gladly go.
Faerydea smiled tenderly: You are a loyal knight Cedric, and I couldn't do without you. Now listen up. I have a task for you and if you fail, it may be the end of everything.
Cedric: Faerydea my queen, I can see you are troubled. What can I do for my beloved one?
Faerydea agitated: You overstep yourself here. You take liberties you have not been given leave to take.
Cedric: I apologize your royalness. I am at your command. Give me any command even traveling to the end of the earth and I will gladly go.
Faerydea smiled tenderly: You are a loyal knight Cedric, and I couldn't do without you. Now listen up. I have a task for you and if you fail, it may be the end of everything.