Midnight till Dawn

Chapter One

Queen Natalya rocked her new baby in her tender arms. Her face glowed with pride and care at the sight of her new daughter. Natalya’s husband, Rupert, stood nearby. He stood erect, a proud father.

“She’s beautiful, Rupert. Simply beautiful.” Natalya looked up at her husband, then back at her child. “She has your eyes.”

Rupert looked at her brown eyes, like that of a doe. “Yes, I do believe you are correct. And she certainly has your hair.”

Natalya touched the curls of red on the baby’s head. “It appears that way.” She remarked, looking down at her own red curls spilling on her shoulder.

“We never decided on a name.” Rupert realized, kneeling beside his wife.

“My grandmother’s name was Lilly. We could call her--”

“Lillyan.” They said at the same time.

“Alexandré was the name of Auberona’s King.” Rupert began.

“Alexandra would be very fitting for the Princess of Firmula.”

“Yes.” Rupert paused. “Lillyan Alexandra.”

“Isadora.” Natalya stated.

“What?”

“Lillyan Alexandra Isadora.” She said, stroking her child’s face. “That shall be her name.”

“Isadora for...”

“Queen Isabella Dorati of Wuduelfen. A dear friend of mine since we were children.” Natalya smiled. “I promised her that I would name my first daughter after her.” 

“Then so be it.” Rupert said. He lifted the infant from her mother’s arms. “From this day on, you shall be known as Lillyan Alexandra Isadora.”

************

“Rumpelstiltskin? What sort of name is Rumpelstiltskin? One can hardly pronounce it!” King Gregory cried.

“That is only his first name, Gregory.” Queen Isabella said calmly. “It isn’t as if anyone will call him that. His full name is Rumpelstiltskin Oliver Lyle Astor Nicolay Dmytri.”

“Rumpelstiltskin Oliver what?”

She repeated the name.

“Where in heaven’s name did you find that name, Isabella?”

“Rumpelstiltskin is the name of my godfather. Oliver is my father’s name. Lyle is your grandfather’s name. Nicolay is the name of my late brother, and Dmytri is your godfather’s name.”

“I promised my father that I would name my son after him.”

“And so he is.” Isabella stated.

“My father’s name is Roland. Where in this name is found Roland?”

“Rumpelstiltskin Oliver Lyle Astor Nicolay Dmytri. R-O-L-A-N-D. His initials spell your father’s name- Roland. And that is the name by which our son shall be known. Not Rumpelstiltskin, but Roland.”

Gregory sighed. “I should have known that you would choose a name like that for our son. You did the same for our daughter.”

“Rapunzel Opal Silvana Emmaline.”  

“Rose.” Gregory murmured.

They each looked down at the mention of their missing daughter.

“There is no need to mourn over her know. We have a son to care for.” Gregory said.

“Yes, we do.” Isabella agreed, smiling down at the boy in her arms. 

His eyes were closed in sleep, but she knew that they were sparkling green. His ears were far more pointed than Rose’s had been. Roland took after his mother, while Rose took after her father.

Isabella showed her elven traits more than most people in Wuduelfen, with pointed ears, bright green eyes, and flaming red hair. But Gregory had inherited none of the elven traits. He had black hair, grey eyes, and normal ears. No one would ever guess that his mother was a full elf.

Rose certainly had taken after Gregory, except for her red hair. It wasn’t as bright as her mother’s, but it was red nonetheless. Her eyes were grey, and her ears that of a human. 

Isabella sighed. Rose would have been five this year. She looked back at her son, shaking away thoughts of her missing daughter.

************

Four Months Later:

Queen Natalya and King Rupert sat in the garden. She held a cup of tea in her hands, with a teapot on the table. And in his hands, a letter just delivered from Wuduelfen.

King Rupert sighed, putting the letter down on the table. He rested his head in his hands.

"What is it? Is there trouble?" His wife, Queen Natalya asked.

Rupert didn't look up. "The letter is from King Gregory and Queen Isabella."

"Yes? What do they say?"

"There is talk of war for their country." Rupert said. "Gregory is asking for an alliance, to ensure that neither of us will join in war against the other."

"Should we? Should we form an alliance?"

"I believe that we must. However..."

Natalya waited for him to continue, but he didn't. "What?" She prodded.

"He wants a solid alliance, something that will not waiver. More than a signed piece of parchment, or a shaking of hands."

"What does he want?"

"A betrothal, between his son and our daughter." Rupert answered, handing Natalya the letter.

Natalya quickly read it. "They're only infants, Rupert. They were born just a few months ago."

"It's only a betrothal. They will not be married for many years. Anything could happen from now until then."

"I suppose that is true." Natalya sighed. "An alliance would be beneficial to our country, as well as Wuduelfen.” She paused, thinking. Then she nodded her head. “Speak with your advisors, then you may proceed with the alliance."

Natalya stood and walked out of the garden, her satin dress rustling against the soft grass.