Iron

8

King Niilo was a large man, obviously bored with everything to do with work. He did not even turn his head as Aune was led into the room.

"It is the girl prisoner, Father." Prince Aonghus called out. "She is here to tell you her story."

"Bring her in." He bellowed in reply, focusing on his wine glass that was being refilled. "Take a seat, would you be so kind. Aongus, leave."

"Very well, father." Prince Aongus replied evenly. "But I shall talk to her after you have had your say." He bent down to Aune's ear. Do not tell him the truth. Any excuse to kill you is good enough for him."

"Go on, go on." King Niilo waved a meaty hand towards the door. The prince left.

"Well? Do you or do you not have a story to tell?" Aune paused, torn between the Prince's advice and her earlier desire to see the king.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I do. You see, from the very beginning, I was an orphan." Best to leave any parents out of this. "I was adopted by a peasant family, but they died of the plague and their friends took me in." Somewhere she had to get to a higher class, because she was not of peasant blood, and it was obvious in her looks. "I was kidnapped and held for ransom by one of Andras' followers, and he managed to convince me that what Andras was doing was right. I erred, Your Majesty, and I beg forgiveness. It was only when I found out what they were doing, that I rethought my ways. But it was too late. I was forced to work, through blackmail and threatening, I had to do their dirty work. Don't you see, Your Majesty? Can you forgive me?"

Finally King Niilo looked at Aune. "I do not-" He stopped abruptly. "Aphrodisia. I should be the one asking for your forgiveness. Please do not harm me. Take anything you want. My crown, my castle. Please, I beg you, do not harm me." Aune blinked in confusion.

"I am not Aphrodisia. My name is Aune." Wonderful. She had given her real name. "Who is Aphrodisia?"

The king practically fell onto the floor at her feet, weeping and sobbing. "Aphrodisia, how could you not know your own self? What have I done?"

The nearest soldier knelt and bowed his head to Aune. Then another. And another. "Stop!" Auune cried. "I am not Aphrodisia! Please! Someone fetch Prince Aonghus, quickly. Tell him his father is going mad!" One guard leapt up and sprinted off.

King Niilo continued to moan and pound the floor. "Aphrodisia, please. Take anything, anything at all. Whatever you please. But do not harm me, I beg you, do not harm me."

The door to the grand hall was blasted open and Prince Aonghus stormed in. "Father, what is this?"

King Niilo seemed not to hear. "Aphrodisia," He moaned.

Prince Aonghus scrunched up his brow. "Who is he speaking of? Ask him."

Aune, biting her lip, leaned forward. "Tell me more of who I am, Your Majesty."

He sobbed and choked out "Aphrodisia, you were the most gorgeous girl in the world, I could not let you go. But I had to steal you away. We fell in love, but people were suspicious. I stranded- Oh! Please do not make me say it, Aphrodisia!"

"Say it."

He burst into fresh wails and continued. "I left you stranded on an island. I never forgave myself, Aphrodisia. Forgive me, I plead you. I kept our son safe, all these years. Please forgive me."

"His son?" Prince Aonghus reeled as if he had been punched. "Me? Who is this son?"

"I named him Aonghus, Aphrodisia. Our son is well."

Aune froze. Prince Aonghus stared back at her. "Where did... where did my mother come from?" His voice was choked.

"Where did I come from?" Aune asked. King Niilo smote the marble floor. "I stole you away, Aphrodisia. You were a nun, at the temple of Sichern. I took you, and no one knew." Aune's blinked in astonishment.