The Broken Identity

Chapter One

"You have a visitor, my dear. He's going to be here at supper."

I couldn't believe my ears. No one ever came and visited us. Not on our farm, at least; unless it was the collectors. They would come every autumn to get our crops, and then after the harvest we would get our pay.

I say "we". It's really just me and the baby, and Maylyn. If you count my maids and her. My love left me after he figured out I was pregnant, so now, it's pretty much just Maylyn and I. We never get many visitors. This should be a pleasent surprise...

I went into the farmhouse and decided to sweep. That went to quickly, so I made the beds, finished my laundry from yesterday; folding it and taking it down, and then dusted the house. The barn was my next stop. I cleaned out the stalls, fed the cows, pigs, and chickens, and then went to clean the horses. They were extremely calm today.

"You're going to have a visitor tonight, Finn." I told my horse.

"What should we do for dinner, Lestat?" I asked another horse. He came far from these lands, and was much larger and stronger than any other horse I've ever seen. He has to be at least 18-19 hands to his shoulders. But, oh well. I loved him even though he didn't fit in. 

"Do you think he's handsome, kind, wise?"  I asked  Maribelle, the only female horse we had.

I finished washing the other two horses and the pony. I sighed as I carried the dirty water out of the stalls and dumped it into the marsh by the river. It's convient having one by our house.

Oh, how time passes to slowly. After all that was finished, I decided to go to the back tree and swing for an hour or so.

I got bored after five minutes.

So, I went onto the back, had Maylyn fix me an iced lemon drink, I sat, and started thinking.

*****

"Elizabeth. Elizabeth, darling, he's here."

I came back to reality. A blanket had been placed around me; the air had become fridgid cold. The ice in the lemonade was melted, but the drink stood untouched. I stared into space again, but nothing was making me come back.

"Elizabeth. Don't keep him waiting."

My heart froze. Could he be from the castle? I've never even seen that city, or anyone from it. Hopefully I never will. Maybe it's because I'm too proud, or too jealous. The floor creaked; I jumped to see a man in all black. Why was he here?! At my farmhouse?!

"Elizabeth. My lady." He bowed his head in respect and then offered me his hand. I shouldn't have been surprised that he knew my name, but I was. I stared blankly at the hand that was offered to me.

"Elizabeth. Take it. You're going to get ill."

 I took the hand and half fell into his arms.

"You're weak. Apparently the cold has already gotten to you. Come inside. Maylyn made up some tea. It smells rather delicious." He picked me up, smiled, and carried me into the house. True to his word, Maylyn had tea prepared.

"Elizabeth, darling, you're soaked! Why didn't you come inside when it started raining?!"

"I... I didn't know... I didn't know it was raining. I apologize, Maylyn."

Maylyn sat us both down with a cup of hot tea. She informed us that there was more hot water, and that we could call her when needed. She bowed, thanked the visitor, and left.

"Elizabeth. You should know why I'm here."

"No... Am I in trouble with the law."

"You are here because of your sons. They are to be bore in one month exactly. And I am to stay here with you. The king has sentenced it."

"Oh... My.... God. My baby is going to be born in a month?! And you have to stay here for a month?!"

"Elizabeth. You're carrying twins."

I stopped breathing for a second. I couldn't. Me. A nobody who had done nothing their entire life. There hadn't been twins for as long as anyone could remember. It would be either an honor or a disgrace to be known as a "twin".

"Your face says it all." He said. "My duty is to keep them alive and safe. Your duty is to see them alive, and healthy. But I am here for you, Elizabeth. To the end. And your sons will be too."

Tears appeared in my eyes. "How can you be so sure that it's twins. And for sure, both of them men."

"Because: the fates have spoken. And the both the princess and her father have seen your future-"

"Does it end well?"

"It is always changing, Elizabeth. So, yes."

"Thank the gods..."

"But, right now, it could be no."

"Stop frighening me! This is doing me no good!"

"Very well." He said. "But no more tea for me. A glass of wine would do me well. You do deserve to know."