Page 63 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

Chapter Twenty

Even though the wedding will be small with just me, the prince, Barra, Aaran, Kes and possibly Ailish, I’ve still had a busy day preparing for it. I intend to at least present myself to the prince as a proper bride, complete with bridal gown and bouquet. As predicted, Kes was over the moon when I told her the prince’s seed proved good and we intend to wed on the morrow, and she wasted no time in organising my hen party with the Khaleeni.

I’ve spent the past few hours in relaxed repose with her and the rest of the Khaleeni, eating, drinking and being entertained by increasingly bawdy tales and songs as the night has progressed. However, I’ve been touched by the amount of Khaleeni who have privately wished me well and passed on their best wishes for my marriage to the prince. My heart is happy and I feel a lightness of being I’ve rarely felt before. It feels good to have trusted my intuition and to know I did the right thing in bringing the prince here.

However, as much fun as the night has been, I feel it’s now time for me to take my leave and return to my chamber. I have a number of queenly duties to attend to in the morning and I don't wish to be tired and haggard looking by the time the sun is setting tomorrow. I rise to leave and all the Khaleeni rise with me. Each one raises their glass, including Kes, who declares, “To Queen Elinor, may the Goddess bless her union with the prince and bestow the honour of motherhood upon her.”

“To Queen Elinor!” all the Khaleeni cry out in unison.

I raise my own glass. “Thank you, my sisters,” I say and can’t quite hide the wobble of emotion in my voice. “It feels goodto be embarking upon the next phase of my life knowing I have each one of you at my back.”

I then turn to leave and Kes touches my arm. “I shall accompany you, my Queen,” she says as she falls into step beside me. We make our way back to my chamber and I pour us two glasses of brandy. I sit in my seat beside the fire and she sits opposite.

She raises her glass. “I must congratulate you, Elinor, on having the boldness of heart to go beyond the realm and find your prince. You will be marrying a far finer man than any of those trumped up Ardvallan lords who presented themselves before you. And don't forget, if there's anything you wish to know regarding the intimacies between a man and a woman, all you have to do is ask. I'm here for you always.”

I smile and am just about to respond when the silence of the night is shattered by a piercing scream.

“Help! Help! Please, somebody help me!” a woman's voice wails, echoing along the castle corridors.

Kes is on her feet instantly, sword in hand. “By all the gods,” she exclaims, “who is that? What's happening?”

I'm by her side in seconds as another wail rings out through the night, sending a shiver of foreboding down my spine. “My baby!”

“Oh my goodness.” I exhale. “That's Bottomleigh’s serving girl. She gave birth to a baby boy two days ago and there were some complications after the birth, so she’s been resting in the old quarters of my mother’s chief chambermaid.”

The sound of an infant's cries falls on our ears and we both reach the door of my chamber at the same time. We dash down the hallway, but the sight that greets us as we turn the corner stops us in our tracks. Standing in the middle of the hallway, holding the infant in his arms, is the prince. He’s rocking the child back and forth, staring into his eyesand speaking to him in soft, soothing tones, in what I think is Bawnish. He seems unaware of my and Kes’ presence, so focused is he on the infant.

Then the infant’s mother appears behind him, visibly distressed. “Please,” she implores him, “please, sire, I beg you. Hand me back my baby.”

The prince looks at her for a moment but it’s as if he’s heard a noise and is looking to see where it came from because he doesn’t seem to see her. His eyes look vacant, like he is somewhere far away, and I wonder if he is in fact nightwalking.

The baby’s mother spots me and Kes. “Your Majesty,” she pleads, “please, can you command the Emissary to hand me back my baby?”

I move towards the prince, who still seems unaware of my presence, but Kes grabs my arm. “Elinor, I’m not sure if it’s wise to approach him right now. He doesn’t seem to be in his right mind.”

I pat her hand but shrug it off my arm. “It’s fine, Kes,” I assure her. “I’ll be careful.”

I move slowly towards him and reach out my hand. “Prince Ronan,” I say softly, but he doesn’t respond. “Prince Ronan,” I say again, this time a little firmer. He looks at me and I feel my heart break a little at the confusion in his eyes. It’s as if he’s trying to figure out who I am, like he knows me but can’t quite remember me.

“It’s me, Queen Elinor,” I assure him. He stares at me and I’m shocked at the lack of recognition in his eyes. He pulls the baby closer, as if afraid I’m going to take him. The infant stops crying and Prince Ronan smiles and places a kiss on his tiny forehead. “There, there, little one,” he soothes in a low voice, “all is well, you’re safe now, my child.”

My child? I can’t help wondering at his possessive tone when he refers to the infant as “my child”. Does he somehow believe the baby to be his?

I take a step closer and he gives me a wary look. “It’s fine,” I assure him, “I simply wish to have a look at the baby. He’s beautiful.”

He smiles at my words. “Thank you,” he replies, “he looks like his mother.” He cuddles the baby closer to him, and my heart aches a little more at the extent to which he is obviously in another place where he believes he is the father of this child.

At that moment the captain of the Night Guard and a number of soldiers arrive. The effect of their presence on the prince is instantaneous and he shrinks back, pulling the infant even closer to his chest. “Stay away,” he warns them and the look of fear in his eyes causes my pulse to race.

What happened to him in the past?I wonder, as I try to calm myself and think of a way to get the child from him without anyone, especially him, getting hurt. I turn to the guards. “Stay back,” I command.

I turn back to the prince. “Don’t worry, Sire. Everything is fine. The soldiers are here merely because they heard a noise and have come to investigate. You have nothing to be afraid of.”

He looks at me and for an instant I think I see a flicker of recognition in his eyes. However, it's quickly replaced by confusion and uncertainty. The baby makes a noise, akin to a little grunt, and starts fussing and sucking on the back of his hand. “There, there little one,” the prince soothes, “all is well. We will find your mother soon and she will give you all the sustenance you need.”

“Sire,” I say in a low voice, “the serving girl here will take care of the child while you seek out his mother. She is a wet nurse and well versed in the needs of infants.”

He looks at me and there's that flicker of recognition again, except it lasts longer this time. I quickly decide to capitalise on it. “Ronan, it is I, Queen Elinor. You can trust me.”

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