The Realm of the Sun

The Ulster Conferences

Eirainna watched from her tower window as the impending fog swallowed the last glimpse of sunlight. The vast stretch of green moors was finally empty. Since dawn, she had watched the droves of soldiers marching over her beloved hill of Tara. She had been entranced by the dark shapes as they grew on the horizon, how they changed and evolved into horses and men, into plaids and sheaths and leather boots. With the clouds rolling in from the west, she nearly mistook their galloping for thunder. But she had never heard thunder so deliberate, so mighty, so unyielding. Now the empty hill disappeared underneath the fresh sheet of mist. A sigh escaped her. It was time.

"I believe they're about to begin, your highness," came the hesitant voice of her scullery maid.

"Yes, thank you, Una," she replied politely with a stoic smile, though she did not need to be told. All was eerily quiet in the west wing of the castle, but Eirainna could feel the presence of a great mass of energy stories beneath her.

Rising from her window seat and taking a deep breath to prepare herself for what she was about to endure, Eirainna patted down her bodice and skirt to rid it of any wrinkles. The colour of her dress made her smile. It was a pale blue, simple and beautiful, like the sea in the morning. She could not possibly be nervous, she thought, while wearing such a peaceful, unobtrusive hue. And for a moment at least, it worked. She made her way out of her bedchamber and turned into the stone corridor. Una, whose warm eyes softened the severity of her gaunt face, followed close behind carrying a bundle of sheets.

"I hardly know why my presence is needed when I myself have no part in any of the negotiation," Eirainna confided in Una as they started their descent down the narrow winding staircase from the tower chamber.

"You mustn't think so low of yourself, Milady. You are more important than you know," said she, with a gentle smile.

"You are very kind, Una, though mistaken, I'm afraid," Eirainna smiled at her maid and friend, "I suppose I'll never forgive myself if I don't speak to her about the orphans...Oh, if you could've seen the way those poor children looked at me the day before last, when I stood up to leave...it was as though their eyes were screaming..." Eirainna had done her best to scratch the image from her memory, but it lingered in her mind like a stain. They reached the bottom of the little staircase, which led to the wide, westbound hallway. After passing the only lit torch in the corridor, they came to a grand wooden door. Its iron hinges pointed like arrows to its handle as if beckoning Eirainna to open it.

"Remember that—above all else—she is your sister, Milady," Una whispered.

"Not above all else. Besides, it is nearly impossible to negotiate with Maeve—"

"Your highness..." a muffled voice said from just behind the thick wooden door. Before the women could step away, a young soldier emerged from the door. He glanced at Eirainna, clumsily adjusting his clothes, and scampered away.

"...Though some don't have difficulty negotiating with her at all," Eirainna murmured. She swallowed. Una turned a blind eye as always and made herself scarce while Eirainna gingerly approached the tall, mahogany door.

"Yes?" came a stern voice from within.

"Maeve, I must—I wish to speak with you before the conference," Eirainna took the silence that followed as a reluctant, but obliging signal to enter. They weighty door creaked as she stepped into her elder sister's enormous, ornate bedchamber. Queen Maeve was seated at her grand vanity, looking rather poised for what Eirainna imagined had occurred just moments before. Though Maeve's back was turned to her, a pair of captivating dark eyes examined Eirainna's reflection in the vanity mirror. She could feel the heat of that searing glare before looking up to meet it. The queen's velvet robes were loosely bound, a wide line of her skin visible between the clasps from her breasts to her belly. Her face was lightly flushed and long dark curls cascaded down her back. As Eirainna's palms began to dampen, she separated her hands and forced them down at her sides, wondering why they had been clasped so tightly in front of her.