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Twilight in the Tower


Chela watched from the Tower as the army assembled. "To Darken Heights!" she heard the King call, and then they were away. How can he do this? she wondered sorrowfully. But she knew the answer. She'd always known the answer. She just hadn't wanted to admit it.

Oh, Arla... I cannot blame you for your actions, but I so wish this had not happened....

A familiar voice broke into her mind. *I'm sure she wishes that too.*

^I know, Stripe. I know.^ Tears in her eyes, Chela turned away from the window, sure that two of her favorite people would be dead by dawn. At least Mikhal and Rilla are safe - no one would think to look for them in the oh-so-respectable Bardic Guild, she thought, a trifle bitterly.

"Lady Chela!" Her thoughts were interrupted as a frantic servant raced into the room. "Milady Queen! She's 'bout to 'ave 'er babies!"

Chela shot to her feet, the new situation pushing all other thoughts to the back of her mind. "Take me there," she ordered, reaching for her supplies. Tomorrow I will mourn. Today, I will aid the Queen.


Nearly six hours later, Chela cradled two tiny babies in her arms. Too tiny, in the case of the boy; it was a miracle he'd been born alive. The Queen was unconscious, but stable. Commanding a younger Healer to monitor Mica and her daughter, Chela carried the boy up to the Tower.

^Stripe,^ she asked, mounting the stairs, ^Please go tell Kinder his services are needed.^

*Of course.* Leaping from her shoulder, the tiny chipmunk dashed away.

"Please, don't die on me, little one," she pleaded. Exercising her powerful Healing talent, she poured her own energy into the child. Her efforts were centered on the boy's lungs and heart, speeding up their growth. Speed-growing was a double-edged sword; it was only used on newborns who wouldn't survive without it, but there was an equal chance the unnatural growth would damage the baby, killing it. Chela was desperate; Mica would bear no more children, and her babies were the last hope of the royal line. Both must live, to ensure that at least one heir will survive to adulthood. Chela had no illusions as to the chances that both would live, not with their daredevil of a father.

In what seemed an amazingly short time, she had done as much as she dared. Anything more, and it would do more harm then good. Eyeing the boy with HealerSight, she sighed. "You will not make it out of infancy, much less become a man," she told him with an air of depressed finality. "You are far too delicate. My poor, doomed Princeling...."

*I have told Kinder. He's letting me come with him!* For a moment, Chela saw a huge expanse of white scales and blue sky instead of the Infirmary wall, and smiled. Stripe so loved traveling on the gifted dragon's back....

As if he had understood her pronouncement, the boy began to wail. She picked him up and rocked him gently, crooning to him, but he did not settle. "You want your mother, don't you? I'm sorry... Poor dear, you'll break her heart when you die... Kantor, what would you do?" She looked heavenwards, almost expecting her departed husband to answer her.

And the answer came, but not from Kantor. "Chela!" For the second time that night, someone rushed up the stairs, calling her name. This time, however, the Queen was not their concern.

"Chela...." Allanyra's voice was ragged, as if she'd been crying. "I thought you'd want to hear from me, not that bastard Sunstar...." Clearly identifiable rage colored her voice as she spoke the King's honorific. But the Guildmistress pulled up short as she saw the child in Chela's arms. "Who...."

"The Prince," Chela murmured.

"My sister's son... Give him to me," Allanyra commanded, snatching the bawling baby from the Healer's arms. She paced back and forth across the room, crooning softly at the child. Half-way through the song, the crying stopped. "He's asleep."

"You cheated," Chela accused, taking him back.

The Bard laughed. "Of course. I'm not the mother type." Then all humor vanished from her voice. "I still have to tell you...."

"What?" Chela asked, fearing the answer. "I know Arla and Kellan are doomed...."

Allanyra shook her head. "No, actually, they're quite safe. It's - it's Mikhal and Rilla." She took a deep breath, then continued. "They were with me, trying to think how to keep them safe - the babies were just born an hour ago, you know, and they were going to complicate things. One of the younglings raced in, yelling that the army was on the move, towards Darken Heights. There was a bunch of shouting and such, and confusion. When it died down, I was watching the babies, and Rilla and Mikhal were already mounting Blackwing." Her eyes filled with tears. "They wanted to warn Arla and Kellan - they never made it. Some of the soldiers returned this morning - dismissed because of injuries, and naturally headed to the tavern. The Bard there came and told me what they said. Mikhal and Rilla weren't even halfway through the Forest when they ran into the Army. They fought - someone caught Rilla with an arrow - then Blackwing took a spear through the heart. Mikhal and Rilla used everything they had left, and called up fire." Her eyes hardened. "They took out three units along with them, and the calvary is still trying to collect their horses."

Chela felt as though someone had struck her across the face. "No... Not Mikhal...."

A wave of sorrow struck her from Stripe's mind as well. *Poor, poor child,* Stripe mourned, her mindvoice filled with grief.

"I'm sorry, Chela," Allanyra whispered. "I'm so sorry. I know how you felt about him - but he didn't die in vain, my friend. The fire gave time to let Arla and Kellan reach the Heights - they'll be safe. He knew that, I think."

"I hope so," Chela choked out, trying unsuccessfully to stop her tears. "Oh, Goddess, I hope so...." An indignant cry from the Prince made her realize she was clutching him tightly to her chest. "I'm sorry, little one."

Allanyra smiled weakly. "Let's take him to Mica, all right?" she suggested. "At least there's one spot of light in all this."

"Not really," Chela said, her voice harsh with more then tears. "The Princess is all right, but this little one... He's going to die, and he's going to break the Queen's heart when he does it."

"Mica would be heartbroken," Allanyra agreed. Then she asked tenatively, "Has anyone but you gotten a good look at him?"

Chela shook her head, completely puzzled by Allanyra's question.

The Bard wiped away the last of her tears, a faint hint of her traditional grin returning to her face. "Then I have an idea...."


"Red hair?" the King demanded, staring in disbelief at his newborn children. "I mean, the little lass clearly takes after me, but where in the name of the Foxlord did my son get red hair?" For a second, Chela couldn't think of an answer.

*His great-grandfather! Vernon never knew what color Timon's hair was!*

*Thank you, Stripe,* Chela said gratefully. "I recall that your great-grandfather on your father's side was a redhead," she supplied. "He went grey before you were ever born, of course."

"Ah," Vernon said, now smiling at the child. "Cootchie cootchie coo..." he crooned, elicting giggles from both children.

Chela sniffled, then wiped her nose on her robes. He takes after Mikhal.... she thought sadly, looking down at the boy. My poor young nephew.... She looked up in surprise as the King patted her gently on the back.

"I'm sorry we had to kill him, Lady," Vernon said in what he clearly believed to be a kindly manner. "We didn't want to, truthfully, but he and that Shadowblade attacked us first." Then he shrugged. "And what's another Mage, more or less?"

That was a mistake. Spinning away, she dashed up the stairs, sobbing into her robe. Behind her, she could hear Mica angrily remonstrating with her husband, but the sound barely registered. One thought pounded through her head, blocking out everything else. Mikhal, Mikhal, Mikhal.... Wisely, Stripe made no attempt to soothe her human.

"Are you all right, milady?" a gruff but worried voice asked, and she realized she was in the Infirmary. Looking up, she found herself face-to-face with one of the injured soldiers, a kindly man known as Thom. He'd told her the truth about Mikhal's death; the army had struck first.

Following King Vernon's orders.

Once again, Chela's mind returned to the expedition that had set off two days ago. And this time, she allowed herself to identify the reason this had all happened.

The King has no respect for human life. And no controls on his temper. He can be beyond unreasonable, and in his position he can do a lot of damage in his state.

The King is mad. Gods help us all.


Seven years later....

Chela smiled as the young Prince and Princess ran up to her, laughing. "Lookit what we caught you!" Riven trilled, holding up a frightened bird. "Kea made it come!"

"That's not nice, you two," Chela said firmly, fighting a smile. "Let it go, Riven."

"Okay," the boy said readily, releasing the bird.

"'Lo! Chela!" Allanyra called, entering the Garden. Dashing across the grass, she joined Chela on the bench. "How are the children?"

"Doing quite well," Chela said with a smile. "Riven reminds me so much of his father." She felt a wave of sadness at the thought. Mikhal.... Firmly, she pushed it aside. "But you didn't come to ask me about them. For that you could have gone to Mica."

"No," Allanyra agreed. Glancing around, she lowered her voice. "I had a talk with one of the Priests yesterday."

"And?"

"You were wrong." Grinning triumphantly, Allanyra explained her statement. "You told me Mica's son would never live? Well, he did. You must have done more good then you thought. He's more delicate then the other children, but he's survived, and he and his 'twin' are thriving."

Chela smiled. "That's wonderful! By any chance did you get the children's names while you were talking?"

Allanyra's grin widened. "Of course. The boy is Toren. Rather fitting if you ask me, since he and the original Torin are related. And the girl...." Her eyes gleamed with good humor. "Is Aria." Leaping to her feet, she dashed away.

Chela began to laugh. "Aria," she murmured between bursts of laughter. "Aria. Pity you'll never know just how appropriate that is...." Rising to her feet, Chela shouted a message to the heavens. "Did you hear that, Kantor? They named her Aria!" With a considerably lighter heart, Chela strode towards the Tower. ^Stripe, they named Mikhal's daughter Aria!^

The chipmunk's laughter bubbled up in her mind, followed by a more quietly joyful comment. *One wonders if they knew....*

^One wonders indeed.^


 
~Lady of the Tower~