Page 103 of Golden Queen
The woman's eyes went wide as she recognized me. "Your Majesty," she breathed, quickly bowing.
She used her hands to attempt to make the tiny boy do the same.
I laughed as he looked at his mother with indignation.
"Please," I said, reaching down to cup her elbow. "You don't need to bow."
The woman rose warily, holding the boy's hand close to her side.
"I am Gwen," she admitted, giving me a tentative smile.
"I'm Aelia, and you must call me that," I said. "But may we speak? Perhaps inside or somewhere private?"
I found I could not take my eyes off the beautiful, dark-haired boy with his soft blue eyes. Something in his features made my chest ache.
Gwen led me into the little apartment. A dress maker's form was in the corner and bolts of colorful fabric were piled on every table surface.
"Are you a seamstress?" I asked, looking around.
"Yes, Your Majesty...Aelia, I mean." She smiled apologetically.
"I suppose time is a bit short, and I should get right to the point."
She looked terrified, as though my words would somehow condemn her.
"My cousin asked me to come here—" I began.
"Is he okay?" she interrupted, as though she could not help herself.
"He's fine," I said quickly, hoping to ease the tension I saw in her eyes. "He asked me to come here to ensure that you and your son go south on the Godsway to meet him in Athelen," I finished.
"He asked for us to come to him?" Her face was almost stricken.
"He demanded it, really," I added, with a wry grin. "It was his condition for following my orders. He would not go unless he knew you were safe. And you are to travel with my own companion, with a full regiment of guards who will ensure you arrive safely."
Gwen's face crumpled, and I didn't know for several heartbeats whether she would refuse to go.
But then she lurched forward and embraced me, sobbing.
I hugged her back, feeling honored. It had quickly become very clear why this woman was so special to Arkadian.
Gwen released me, seeming to suddenly realize all at once that she had been crying on the queen's shoulder.
"I am so sorry, your—Aelia!" She nearly shouted my name as laughter bubbled up from her chest. "I am so sorry, Aelia. I have been so worried about how I would get Mattias out safely, and I was waiting for Arkadian to come and tell me what to do."
"Don't even give it another thought. It's obvious you're both very important to him."
She looked at me then, slightly warily. "Did he tell you?"
"He did," I said, looking at the little boy who had retreated to the table, where he was busily crumbling a cookie into pieces. "But even if he had not, I would have known just by looking at him that he is a Lithaway."
She smiled happily at that. "And did he tell you that it was me who kept Matty from him? I thought he would be angry—that he would despise me for allowing it to happen—allowing myself to become with child, and so I didnot tell him. I would not want you to think your cousin was not honorable. He is the most honorable man I have ever known."
"He didn't explain, but I surmised as much. He would have married you if he had known." I knew that much about my cousin, at least.
She nodded. "He has already asked me a hundred times since he saw Matty and realized he was his son."
"And you've said no?" I asked curiously.
