The Swan Curse

1

Ismenia smiled to herself as she sat on the cushions lining the windowsill, staring through the lavender colored glass down into the gardens where a few of her sons played. She thought of her eldest two sons, Romulus and Luis, both young prodigies among the warriors of her kingdom. Both only 15 and yet they were leading the charge in battle. She adjusted the sleeping toddler in her arms as she watched the four other boys run around with their wooden swords and wooden shields, divided by two for two teams. She didn't jump as two warm, gentle hands caressed her shoulders, resting on the little skin that was not covered. She felt his presence before he even entered their rooms. She leaned back into the hard chest of her husband as he leaned down and kissed her temple, before resting a hand in the mess of black curls of their youngest son. She let out a long sigh, relaxing back into his warmth even as her brow furrowed with stress.
"Don't worry my love," Odo murmured against her cheek, slowly pressing his lips to the corner of her mouth. "It just takes time."
She sighed again and reached up with one hand to cover his that still rested on her clavicle.
"I know. But it doesn't ease my worry that I might only bare sons. We need an heir, Odo. Perhaps Rom or Lou may find a lover and marry them, and bare a daughter themselves. That would be nice wouldn't it? And it'd help to settle them as they continue to mature. It'll take people with strong personalities to wrangle those two." She hummed softly as she rubbed her other hand up and down the slowly rising back of her son. She gazed down at him, taking in his black curls and brown skin, cheeks flashed from sleep and round with youth. Zabini is so precious. He's got lucky eyes-one is blue and one is hazel. You go anywhere outside Ocrepan and features like his are considered bad luck or cursed. But not here. Not with Ismenia as High Queen. She has seen and spoken to many gods during her reign. She knows the truth. She is not blinded by prejudice. And yet the gods have not answered her prayers. She wishes for an heir so they may keep their kingdom at peace and prosper. She could wait for one of her many sons to produce a daughter, but they would not ascend to the throne until long after her death. And Ismenia does not plan to die early. She has seen the visions and heard the whispers of how her life will play out. She's destined to produce an heir that is touched by the gods. Blessed in many ways. And yet she has only produced sons. She wonders not for the first time, if the seers and gods were wrong about this. They haven't been before, but there can always be a first for everything.
She sighed again and turned towards her lover. He wore a light green tunic and trousers, embroidered with the silver of the royal family, their family crest embroidered to perfection on the lapels of his collar. His own brown skin was radiant against the color of Life. His curly brown hair and hazel eyes were beautiful to her now just as much as they were when they first met. She smiled up at him and stood, handing Zabini over with ease into awaiting arms.
"If you need me I'll be in the Temple. I wish to try and speak with the gods again. I may be awhile, so go ahead and have dinner with the boys. I'll grab something from the kitchens on my way back." She leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to his soft lips, feeling him sigh against her mouth. She pulled away and caressed his cheek, watching as he blinked slowly, dazed and cheeks flushed. He murmured that he loved her before pressing his lips to hers again. She smiled against his lips before pressing one last chaste kiss to his lips before leaving the room. She calmed her breath and focused on bringing forth her magick as she made her way to the Temple.
She stayed there, meditating, praying, pacing in front of the altar as she asked for guidance, for answers, for an heir.
Ismenia even kicked off her slippers and gathered her skirts into her hands before stepping into the shallow pool of the altar fountain, even going as far as to wish upon every star in the universe.
She adored her sons with every fiber of her being. She wouldn't trade them for anything, even for an heir. But she wanted to make sure her kingdom that she also adored would be okay once she was gone. She also wished for a child she could relate to. There was only so much she could teach her sons before they needed guidance from the other men of her kingdom.
As Ismenia felt her shoulders droop and she let out another defeated sigh, she felt it. The chilled fingertips of celestial beings trailing her spine. She shivered and held herself rigid, mind open and waiting.
She almost thought she'd imagined it until a little while after she felt it again, stronger. Then she could see them.
Behind her closed eyelids she saw the nursery where every single one of her children has slept until they were old enough for their own rooms, and she walked closer to its bassinet. Inside was a beautiful child. Hair the color of stardust. Skin as golden brown as her own. Eyes, framed by white eyelashes, a beautiful green, color of Life. Then she watched as the scene changed. There they were again, her child, running around in a muddy dress in the rain in the gardens, spinning around even as their impossibly long hair spun and tangled as it got more and more wet. Then she was watching her child, older now, as old as Romulus and Luis are now, eyes fierce and runes painted into their skin as they began the ancient rites of the gods, watching as the gods stood surrounding her, all hands outstretched until their palms were flat against Their skin.
Then Ismenia was opening her eyes, tears of happiness gushing down her face as she stumbled out of the fountain and ran, foregoing her shoes, straight to her sleeping chambers. She only realized how late into the night it was when she passed by servants who lit candles and lanterns lining the corridors, hurrying to bow as she rushed past.
Ismenia rushed into her rooms and shut the door, hurrying to the next door that led to her and Odo's bed, where he sat rubbing lotion into his skin. He looked up surprised and concerned as she rushed to him. He didn't even have a chance to ask her what had made her rush to their rooms before she jumped up onto the bed and tackled him down into the pillows. He let out a pleased groan as her mouth smashed into his, leaving them both breathless when she finally pulled back. She straddled his waist as he helped her to remove her skirts and corset. He paused their movements enough to caress her face, wiping away the tear tracks on her cheeks. He looked concerned for only a second before he was blinded by Ismenia's radiant smile. He didn't even have to ask what it meant, he just leaned up and kissed her, smiling against her.
They made love that night, hope and excitement in their hearts. They didn't even sleep until the sun started to rise outside their windows.
Ismenia laid back against all the pillows and cushions, Odo laying lower than her, pressing kisses and whispering sweet nothings into the skin of her stomach, right at her womb. Ismenia closed her eyes and felt sleep begin to drag her under even as a hopeful smile stayed permanently on her lips and she listened to her consorts loving words.