The Regal Rogue

16. Starting A New

I stood to leave the cold body, but I heard the wailing cries of an infant.

I could see between the two thrones what looked like an invisible curtain. I went to reach out and touch it, but it disappeared revealing a crib.

I peered in it to see a beautiful baby boy. He had wisps of strawberry blonde hair on his head and dark green eyes.

When the baby saw my face he immediately stopped crying and just stared at me.

I could only return a sympathetic smile to him and softly reached down to touch his hair. He cooed.

I shook my head with a sigh and picked him up, carrying him out, covering his eyes so he wouldn't see the horrific scene.

As I carried him down the hall, he bumped my wounded shoulder and I yelped, moving him to rest on my other arm.

I walked out the court door to see Roselyn and Serenity.
We all looked around as the beasts they had been fighting disintegrated to dust. They ran to me and stared at the boy.
"Your shoulder!" Serenity pointed out.
I nodded and gave the baby to Roselyn.

Roselyn tenderly cuddled him while Serenity cleaned my now scabbed wound.

"Where's Callum." Serenity asked, so softly I almost didn't hear.
I didn't need to answer.

She nodded as if she sadly accepted the fact.

Roselyn cleared her throat. "So. Have you thought of what you're going to name him? I mean you are going to care for him. Aren't you?"

"Of course." I took him back from her and held him protectively. I relaxed a bit. "I was going to name him after my father, Carlyle. As the next King of Grimshaw I see it as only natural."

I stood proudly looking out at the bright dawn.

The sky was clear and the sun was burning orange everywhere.

"You know," I thought out loud. "My sister was right. She said we would have a new generation. It may not be of the dark arts, but it's magical in its own way." I swayed side to side, looking down at Carlyle.

The few pixies that were left lifted a light wind in agreement.

To my amazement I saw a group of villagers climbing over the small mountain and progressing this way.

"The war is over! Hey yah!" One old man said, raising his hands. The rest of the crowd cheered along.

"Praise be to Queen Crimson!" I heard a little girl call out. Everyone turned to me.

"I'm still only seventeen." I tell them.

"But you're all they have." Serenity leaned in to whisper.

I went along with it.
"Very well. First, I would like to state that a future king has been born. Prince Carlyle of Grimshaw." I let the people see and they cheered once more.
"But now, my people, on to more serious matters. Why did my sister shorten the village population?" I asked handing Carlyle to Roselyn.

"It was considered treason to publically side with the rebel or that's what she called you." The same old man from before said.

"Let us discuss this in the court." I escorted everyone in.

I sat and listened to them. I heard their sad stories of losing family, houses, and the few valuables they had.
With a softened heart, I told them the brutal end of queen Eleanor.
They all listened intently. Many had tears in their eyes, others frightened expressions, and a few who really seemed to enjoy the queen's agony.

The whole rest of the day I attended to the needs of the villagers, gave many thanks to the pixies as they returned to Grand Hawthorne, and prepared arrangements for Callum's burial.

At the end of it all, I was exhausted, but refused any help when it came to preparing Carlyle for bed and getting him to sleep.
It had to have been the first hours of the morning when he finally slept.

Still, I couldn't shake the happiness it gave me to know he was mine.
I may have lost a love, but I did gain one in return.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~