Aideen's Answer

~Chapter One~

Aideen awoke the next morning with the sun streaming through the window, directly into her eyes. She winced and turned away, not at all pleased with the offensive light.

 "Top o the mornin to you, miss."

 Aideen smiled, for it was a voice she knew well. Regan had been her personal handmaiden since she was only 10 years old. Regan had been 13 at the time and the two had bonded quickly. To this day, she was one of the people the princess trusted most.

 "A good morning to you as well, Regan," Aideen answered as she yawned and stretched.

 "Would you like breakfast in bed today, my lady? Or shall I assist you in dressing so that you may join your family?"

 "Ooh you tempt me, Regan. But no, I do believe I'll go down for breakfast, thank you though."

 She slid out of bed, pulled on her robe and headed toward her closet.

 "I want to look nice, but not overly fancy," she murmured.

 "Oh, I have just the one in mind for that!" Regan said triumphantly as she pulled out a soft blue gown trimmed in white. "This will make those clear blue eyes simply pop!"

 "I don't know, Regan," Aideen answered. "I believe I'd much rather they stay in my head."

 The girls shared a laugh as Regan helped Aideen into her gown, then sat her down at the small stool facing the mirror at her dressing table. Regan began brushing her long brown hair and Aideen closed her eyes happily.

 "I don't think there is anything more comfortable than you brushing my hair, Regan."

 "You've been saying that since you were 10 years old."

 "And it is just as true now as it was then!"

 Once Regan finished braiding her long brown hair and twisting it into an elegant updo, Aideen  went downstairs to the dining hall. She found them just raising their heads after prayer, and they began to enjoy their breakfast.

 "Good Morning all!" She said cheerfully as she strode to the head of the massive oak table. They all returned her greeting as she kissed her fathers cheek, then sat down in her place beside her mother.

 She looked around and took the time to study her dear family a bit. Her father, King Daniel, was a large man, tall and slender but well muscled. His 6' 3" frame towered over most of his officials and made him seem far more fearsome than he truly was. To Aideen, he was no more scary than a teddy bear with his thick, curly chestnut hair and brown eyes. He was a man who loved his family dearly and took his duty, both to them and the people of the kingdom, very seriously. He was fair and kind, making him deeply loved by his people.

 Queen Cara,whom Aideen resembled much more aside from her hair, had hair black as night and eyes blue like the cloudless sky. While she dearly loved the people she served, she always made it perfectly clear that she saw herself as a wife and mother first, queen second. Her faith and family were the desires of her heart, and the two things she worked hardest to nurture. She taught her children of Christ before they could walk, with the help of her husband. She also refused to allow her children to become spoiled, often sayin, "My children are no better or more important than those around them. And heaven forbid they forget that!" And so Aideen and her brothers took care of chores, did their lessons and only then could they play with the village children. While they knew they were different, the children of the king and queen never saw themselves as superior and they were all grateful to their mother for that.

 Her twin brothers, Jayden and Jeremy, were 20 and identical in looks only. Jayden loved music as well as swordplay, Jeremy, though skilled in both, would much rathering be mastering some new skill or reading. Jayden was outspoken, Jeremy could appreciate silence. But both had their mothers coloring, their fathers tall, muscular build and shared a deep love for Christ as well as family.

 And last, but certainly not least, Aideen's gaze rested on Mitchell. At 10 years old, he was their precious baby and by far the most like their father. Why, the boy was a miniature Daniel! Already tall for his age, with the same laughing brown eyes and curly hair, Mitch wanted nothing more to be just like the king. A goal he was fast achieving. He was the family clown and they all loved him dearly.

 "Aideen?" A deep voice startled her from her thoughts.

 "Oh! I'm sorry, yes Father?"

 "Did you leave us, dear?"

 She laughed at being caught and said, "I admit I did, my mind was wandering. Did I miss anything important or just the usual?"

 Daniel smiled at her teasing, "Actually, you did. You probably didn't hear me call a family meeting after breakfast?"

 Aideen's face showed her alarm, for family meetings were extremely rare and only called when the matter was of the upmost importance. And she had a sinking feeling the entire 'discussion' would be centered around her future.

 Her hand was gripping the table but she didn't notice until her mother covered it with her own.

 "Do not worry so, my darling," Cara said softly, "Just finish your meal and meet us in the library when you're done. We will wait for you."

 With that, the king and queen swept out of the room, which Aideen didn't even notice had emptied. Leaving their daughter staring after them with no appetite and noticing glumly how bright her parents crowns glittered as the morning light from the windows struck them.