Iron

2*

 The King fixed Nephele with a long, hard stare. "You had better be telling the truth, Nephele." Then he turned back to Aune, his voice icy and angry. "And you. You are never to leave the room. Never again. If, by some chance, you were able to, you will find yourself in the same position your late nurse finds herself in now. You were trouble from the start. Nephele, you are her new nurse. Teach her some manners, if we are to have any hope in marrying her away."

Nephele bowed, but said nothing. Aune turned her attention to the Queen. She was shaking, tears running down her face. Nephele noticed this too, but Aune was quicker. She leapt up onto the dais and knelt before the Queen. "Your Majesty, do not cry over me."

The queen shook her head, a ragged sob escaping her. "Aune, you wouldn't understand."

Aune nodded, understanding every last horrible bit of it. "You're right. I apologize." Then she turned and walked off, without another word.

She exited the cavernous hall at a run, trying to leave behind the awful certainty of what had happened. She was a forbidden child of the King and Queen. She was an embarrassment, by no fault of her own. It couldn't possible, but yet, here she was, and it was true. She slumped down against a wall, and realized, to her horror, that she was crying.

"Come on, now. Enough of that." Nephele sat beside her. "You are lucky to be in such a position, Aune. Now let's go back to your room. The path back was mostly up, up stairs, up long hallways, until finally they stopped at a small tapestry depicting dogs taking down a wild boar, their masters woven in behind them. Nephele glanced up and down the hall, before sweeping away the tapestry and revealing a latch, holding a door shut. The door opened into the same stairwell Aune had descended not very long ago. Nephele talked to her as they climbed.

"Can you read?"

"Yes."

"And write?"

"Yes."

"Do you like to sew?"

"No."

"No?"

"Not really."

"Would you escape again if you could?"

This question took Aune by surprise. "I... I..." She stammered. "I don't know. I want to see the world."

Nephele nodded. "Don't try to, Aune, I see I have given you a thought. I merely wanted to know how you think. Being kept in your rooms your entire life, you wouldn't think of such on your own. Let me dissuade you from trying anything. Extra security measures are sure to be placed now that you have escaped once." They had reached Aune's door. Nephele opened it and let Aune inside. Aune sat down, with a sigh, on a chair. She could feel Nephele's Journal pressing through the cushion.

She turned to look for Nephele, but she had left. Frustrated, Aune flung the cushion across the room. She was living in a hole, maybe the physical opposite, but not mentally. There was a world outside. Of course she would explore and escape again. But not right away. It was probably best to let things calm down. For now, she would have to return to the land of books which she knew so well. Retrieving the cushion, she settled down and reopened Nephele's Journal.

"I have begun to think that the child, when he is born, will live a life like Rapunzel. I will not be the child's nurse because I am being married to a city merchant! I can hardly believe it, but I must stay at the castle until the baby is born and the Royal Wedding has taken place. The Queen has not come out of her room for almost three months. The castle doctor, Old Russell, and I are the only ones allowed in. I have become a lady-in-waiting, in a sense. The tower where the child is to live has been supplied with toiletries, including a toilet that runs into the moat, and it never has to be emptied. It has a glass roof, but no windows otherwise, for the fear that someone might see in. I have been given permission to fill one of the child's rooms with books, ink, quills, and paper, possibly more than anyone could use in a lifetime. I hope he will delve into them with great joy and learn about the wonders of reading and writing.

A week later, the baby has arrived! It is a girl! When she was born, she screamed, and the whites of her eyes began to tinge red. I am afraid to mention it to the Queen, because the only thing this could mean is that she has Battle-Lust. I must keep her safe from it, for one day she will hurt herself. It is a dangerous curse for anyone, but at least, in the life she will lead, I can shield her from it. She is a fighter born, but will not be a fighter bred. Their Royal Majesties have decided to name her Aune.

The castle is in uproar. Only two days after Aune was born, Dirk ran away. He killed a merchant and stole his wagon, after trying to kill the King and fatally injuring Old Russell. I feel as if I have lost a father. Old Russell, why him? Why not anyone else? There is no one kinder or wiser in this castle, and I will be alone now. The only comfort is my husband-to-be.

[Here tear blots splatter the page]

Where has my life gone? The merchant Dirk killed was my husband. Two honest people removed from the face of the earth. I can't bear to think of them. People have begun to think I am mad with grief, and I believe I am. The King and Queen have appointed me as Librarian, but I couldn't care less. I've lost the only family I have, except for my mother, who never was meant to be a mother. I'm done with life. There is no point left. I will leave this in Aune's tower, hidden inside a secret panel. Maybe one day she will escape. Run free, young girl. Good luck."

Aune gasped and shook her head. This couldn't be the end! Nephele was still here. Frantically she flipped the pages searching for any bit of writing. On the last page, she found a note addressed to herself. She began to read again.

Dear Aune,

I have rethought my choices since I last wrote. I will become Librarian and watch you grow up. You are like my daughter that I never had. My wish from the last writing still stands. I wish you to be free, and I will find some way to get you out. Tread carefully. The doctor who birthed you was slain for his knowledge. Don't let anyone see you. The King is dangerous, second only to the Queen. By now you know. Your parents are indeed the King and Queen, and you are a princess. Somehow, I don't believe the life of a princess is for you. Find a way out of you tower once, as a sign to me. I will help you find you life outside of the castle.

Your friend,

Nephele Sparks.