Grown Enchantress (Book #2, Young Witch Series)

Chapter 11

"No."

"But Jessamine," Madeline protested. It had been another three months before Madeline could find the time away from her fathers work to go and see her teacher. She had since become a Lady Enchantress in her own right, but Jessamine was still the better one at making potions than her.

The king was now almost back at the condition he was when Jessamine made the potion for him, and Madeline was here to ask for another, or at least the knowledge on how to make it herself. She was better at appearance potions, and hadn't ever really studied the finer arts of healing potions.

"Madeline, did you never go and look back in your book?" Jessamine asked sadly, closing the book she had open on her own lap and giving Madeline her full attention.

"Of course, I did." Madeline scoffed, "It was some rubbish about sometimes we had to not do anything."

"And this is one of those times." Jessamine said gently, regarding the girl opposite her, "Your father asked me to do something, and I did it."

"What did he ask you to do?" Madeline wondered, curious, "He never said he asked you do to something."

"He asked me to make him something that would give him some time. He's dying Madeline. He knows that. If I had been called in sooner, I could have stopped it, but I can't now. No one can." Jessamine explained, still gentle, "He asked me to give him something, that potion he has been taking, that will give him enough time to teach you how to be a queen, like your mother."

"No." Madeline slumped back in her seat, stunned, "He couldn't have."

"He did, Madeline." Jessamine, soft, but firm, "And he knows his time is running out."

"But mum, she's," Madeline looked at Jessamine, tears in her eyes, "She's, she doesn't know?"

"Yes, she does. That's why she left." Jessamine said, putting the book from her lap onto the small table besides her, and leaned forward to put a hand on the younger girls knee, "She and I had a talk, a few days after we got your father settled, and she said she didn't want to see him just waste away again. I wrote to her as soon as I knew you were coming. She should be at the estate soon, to help you."

"But, I'm not ready to be queen!" Madeline said, tears dripping onto her silk skirts, "I don't know if I'll make a good queen."

"You will. You have the backing of your mother, and me, and the entire magical community. Not even your father had that." Jessamine smiled, and leaned forward some more to wipe away the tears, "You also know how those less fortunate in your kingdom fair, and what can be done to help them. You have lived with the children of the farmers, whose food you eat, and paid attention to the servants, who serve you, and you know what it is like to be one of them. You are now moving in the circles for which you were raised, and treating everyone as though they are equal to your attention, from the lowest cook, to the prime minister. That, is something that tells me you will be a great queen."

"But I don't feel ready." Madeline whispered.

"You are." Jessamine said, leaning back. "So, I cannot give you another potion, but write to me when he gets worse again, and I will come to help."

"Promise?" Madeline asked, with all the innocence of a child.

"I promise." Jessamine said, standing and pulling Madeline to her feet, before giving her a hug, "Hold your head high, Your Highness, for you are a Princess."

Madeline gave a fleeting smile, stepped out of the embrace, pulled herself upright, squared her shoulders, and sailed from the room, every inch a true royal.