Gwendolyn and the Hexed Blade

Cursed Blade

The sounds of a baby crying rang out in the large sleeping chambers of Alvin III and Carolyn, the king and queen of Athax. The midwife smiled as she presented the bundle of joy they had just brought into the world. Tears of sheer happiness found their way down Carolyn's cheeks. Her husband, Alvin, allowed a small twitch of a smile to grace his lips as he took in the baby before him.

Carolyn let go of the white-knuckled grip on her husband's hand, hands outstretched to receive her child. The midwife happily handed the babe over to the queen of her nation. She immediately wrapped the child, her child, up in her arms in a loving embrace.

"She's a girl, your Majesties," the midwife declared, "Qrodea has blessed you with a healthy baby girl."

"A girl, Alvin," Carolyn gasped, breathless.

"What shall we name her, dear?" Alvin commented, gazing upon the little life they had made together.

"Gwendolyn, Gwendolyn Thorne," Carolyn responded without a moment's hesitation.

Gwendolyn was her mother's name, so of course, she'd choose that name. Alvin wasn't too fond of their new child's namesake, but he respected his wife's decision. He did say he would allow her the right to name their child after all.

"Gwendolyn it is then, my dear," Alvin relented without argument.

It would be useless to argue with a stubborn woman such as his wife anyhow. They'd only go around in circles until the Sunset was upon them. No, he'd let his wife have this. She was the one who hoped and prayed to Qrodea for a girl, so she deserved to choose whichever name she desired.

"Welcome home, Gwendolyn," Carolyn smiled at her baby girl.

"Lady Thorne! Lady Thorne, where are you? It's time for your studies!" The aging tutor called out.

His brow was furrowed in frustration at the young princess who seemed to enjoy making his job harder. She was always wandering off doing Qrodea knows what. He took a calming breath, adjusting his monocle as he did so.

"Butler, look what I found!" A five-year-old Gwendolyn came running out of the forest with a toad croaking loudly in her palms.

"Good heavens, child!" Butler gasped while knocking the poor creature out of Gwendolyn's hands, "don't you know those things can give you warts? Honestly, when your royal advisor said I'd have my hands full, this was not what I was expecting at all! Why don't you act like a lady for once?"

"Ugh! You're so boring, Butler! I wanna play hide and seek!" The auburn haired child stomped her foot on the ground indicative of an upcoming tantrum.

"No! You will not be playing anything until you've completed your lessons for the day! Now," Butler rolled up his sleeves, "to wash off those germs from touching that slimy creature."

Butler grabbed onto Gwendolyn's arm, practically dragging her to the water basin. He ignored the princess's screams of "no let go, Butler", and kept dragging her forward. He yanked her arms under the water, instructing her on how to properly wash her hands for the thousandth time in the past month.

"I know how to wash my hands, Butler!"Gwendolyn griped, tossing her head back in an exaggerated display of frustration.

"I've only seen evidence to the contrary, my Lady," Butler replied sharply while adjusting his monocle once more.

"That's so mean! I'm telling Edward! Then you'll be sorry!" Gwendolyn threatened, but Butler only laughed as a response.

"And what can a lowly knight like Farnsworth do anyway? He's only a commoner despite how highly you think of him."