"It's not that, Mother, it's just so painful to have her hanging around again. It reminds me too much of him." Selanick sat across from his mother at the supper table. They had just finished eating a meal prepared by Meeka, and, he had to admit, she could cook. Meeka had also offered to clear the table and scrub the dishes, the latter of which she was doing at that moment.
"I understand that, Heart; it hurts me too. But that was years ago and it's time for the wounds to heal."
"Re-exposing them to the very thing that caused them doesn't help, though," Selanick muttered under his breath.
"What was that dear?"
"Nothing, Mother." She knew nothing of what he had seen the day his brother died, and Selanick knew she couldn't handle it if she did.
He slowly got up from the table to bring his drinking horn to the sink for washing. As he walked, he studied his family crest, which was engraved on it. It's so beautiful, he thought, Fit for a king.
"Started in on the alcohol already, eh Love?"
"I am of age now." Selanick answer to Meeka's question was cold. "And don't call me 'Love.' "
"But why, Dear One? Don't you love me? Isn't that why you asked me to come here after that unfortunate scene at the temple? I thought you needed my counseling and company."
"I didn't ask you to come here. You followed me home, like a sick wounded puppy." With all his anger and resentment, he managed to keep his composure. "I don't enjoy your company, Meeka."
The woman's face softened with sympathy. She moved toward Selanick slowly as she spoke. "Oh, I see. I remind you of your brother, Peshell. I understand the pain, Beloved. I feel it too by just being in this house again. But my love for you is so strong I can overcome my sadness, and bask in the beauty that is you." As she finished, her slender arms went about his neck. He started to pull away.
"No, Meeka, that's not..."
"Shhh," she interrupted him, "We don't want to ruin this moment with words. Therefore, I shall silence your lips in the only sure way I know how."
Selanick remembered her kiss. At least he thought he did. He wasn't sure why, but this time, he didn't feel the urge to pull away. He was surprised to find himself wishing that this kiss would never end. Finally he gave in, put his arms about Meeka's waist, and returned the kiss with all his soul.
Selanick awoke before Meeka the next morning. He turned and looked at her naked body lying next to his. How did she do that? he mused to himself. How did she make me care for her like this? She is beautiful, and I can see why my brother loved her. What a night that was!
"Meeka, wake up," he said aloud. She stirred slightly, turning onto her back, eyes open. She smiled up at the man next to her.
"Good morning," Selanick whispered, returning her smile. He bent down and kissed her.
"I suppose it would be rather silly to ask if you slept well." Meeka's smile broadened as she spoke. Selanick let out a laugh.
"Yes I suppose it would be, Love!" He was still laughing.
"Selanick."
"Yes?"
"You just called me 'Love.' " There was a stillness brought to the room by Meeka's words. Selanick was a bit shocked at himself, and yet, somehow, it didn't surprise him at all.
"Hmm, so I did. What of it?"
"It just was a little unexpected, that's all. Don't fret over it." She kissed him. "I'm getting up to make breakfast."
Selanick watched her cross the room and put on her robe, then walk toward the kitchen. He hadn't wanted to admit it before, but it was now so obvious that it couldn't be denied. "I love her."
"My lady, if you don't hold still I can't determine the child's health!"
"Iuquy, isn't there a better way to do this? I'm extremely uncomfortable!" The queen was trying to have her unborn child examined by the healer, but the only person she was used to having near that part of her was her husband.
"No, my lady, I apologize. Have you told his majesty about the child yet?"
"I have not. I don't quite know how to put my plan into action yet, and I want him to be as surprised as the rest of the kingdom."
"Do you really believe that the prince will step forward when he discovers that Balnor's ways will continue with his son?"
"That's what I'm hoping for, my dear friend. I hope he will become so outraged by the injustice that he will show himself."
"What if the prince is unaware of his lineage? Do you think that only one will speak out? There, the examination is finished."
"Finally!" The queen began to dress herself. "I hadn't considered that last possibility, Iuquy. We'll just have to make sure that the boy knows. Come here, let me look you over. Yes, you will do nicely."
"For what, my lady?"
"I want you to go to the boy and seduce him. In the heat of passion, call him "your Highness" or "your Majesty" or whatever. This will intrigue him, and eventually he'll ask you about it. Don't dare hesitate to tell him, or else you'll be (how eloquently you put it), 'discharged.' "
"Now, my dear lady, stop sobbing. From as far as I can tell, she didn't take the poison. Someone she knows did, and she's worried about that person. Oh, my lady love, please stop crying!"
"You don't know what it's like, Selge, to know that she's rambling on about poison, and might be insane and there's probably no hope that she'll ever be the way she was! How could you possibly understand?! You haven't been with her all her life!"
"Don't hold that against me, Uquois, you wouldn't let me near her all her life because you didn't want to get in trouble with your husband!"
"Keep it down, Selge! LaJeeya doesn't know!"
"I realize that, otherwise she might have responded to my words!"
"I don't even know if she is your daughter! Maybe she's not, and that's why she didn't respond! If she was yours, don't you think that in her soul she'd know that, even if her mind doesn't?!"
Selge was quiet for a moment. They'd had these kinds of fights before. He knew LaJeeya was his, and so did her mother. But they still couldn't tell the girl because Uquois' husband was still alive, but his drinking was wearing him down, eating away at his strength.
"I know she's mine, and so do you. You would never have a child with that thing you call your husband. I know you too well for that."
"I'm sorry, Selge. It's just hard for me to think of you as her father since you weren't around all the time. There have been so many times I have wanted to tell her, especially when she has disagreed with Gothro. Her rage matches yours so completely. She doesn't even look like either Gothro or myself. She needs to know, Selge. Right now. She wouldn't tell Gothro if her life depended on it, she hates that man so much. Come, she should know the truth."
Selge and Uquois walked into LaJeeya's room. She still sat rocking on her bed, but she had stopped muttering. When the two adults walked into her room, she suddenly stilled, and looked blankly up at them. Her eyes were empty, her body a stone. Uquois knelt in front of her daughter.
"LaJeeya, I 'm sure you've had suspicions about your father, and I'm sure you were right in thinking that Gothro isn't your father. The healer, Selge, is your father. Can you her me, Beauty?"
"Uquois! What lies are you telling that child?!" Gothro's booming voice rattled the windows. "I am her father, despite any vile affairs you may have had. Oh, yes, Uquois! I know about this wretch here! I've known for years, that you sneak out at night to see this evil demon that holds you close now!"
"Gothro! No! Leave us! How can you be so sure?! If you knew, how can you deny the possibility?!" Uquois was cringing, shrinking into the arms of her lover. He whispered soothing words in her ear.
"Sir, I meant you no disrespect by taking your wife. I love her, my lord. Please, don't scold her. It wasn't her idea. I seduced her. If anyone should be punished, it should be me!"
"No! Selge, don't sacrifice yourself for me! I want LaJeeya to know her real father!" As the last two words escaped her mouth, Uquois glared at her husband, whose face reddened. He raised his hand to strike his wife.
"Well, look who's finally up!" Selanick's mother walked groggily into the dining room. Selanick enjoyed giving her a hard time about sleeping so late.
"Well, who could get any sleep with you two up so late! Goodness! Even your dear father Kuolmas didn't make that much noise!" She grinned at her son.
As Selanick's face reddened in embarrassment, he glared at Meeka as she laughed. She was bustling around the kitchen, finishing the breakfast preparation. His annoyance soon passed, though. He watched Meeka handle the morning meal, and place a serving in front of him. He ate a few bites, but soon only played with it, and started thinking about his lady love;
She moves like water. So graceful and swift. Her body curves so naturally, as if the river itself molded her from the earth, eroded the shape of her banks. And her lips, dear Gods, they taste of the sweetest wine from a sunlit vineyard. Come close to me, my beauty, and let me drink of your mouth again! Her eyes are bright untouched pools where light freely dances a mysterious ballet. It beckons to those who would dare to dive so deep. She hasn't skin, but instead her essence is surrounded in the finest, softest blanket of silk, such that I had never felt until last night. She is a gift, wanting for the truest of loves to unwrap her again and again every night for the rest of her life. What an incredible creature, this woman before me. I am certain the Gods meant for this to be. Why then Peshell first? Perhaps it was merely a test, to see if true love could prevail against such adversity. She is a crafty one, and her spell has taken me. My body, mind, heart, soul, my very essence and state of being, belong to her. And so they shall forever.
"Selanick, you haven't eaten more than five bites of your breakfast and now it's cold! Is that how you plan to show gratitude to your lover?"
"Mother!" Selanick blushed through his scowl. His mother kept grinning as she brought her plate to the sink.
"Oh Love, she's just teasing! I believe the Madam Jiin actually quite proud of her youngest!"
"That I am, Meeka, that I am. I apologize, Son. Please take your scraps to the hounds. I'm sure they'll enjoy them. Oh, Meeka, I saw some lovely cloth at the market yesterday that I think you would absolutely die for! Would you like to go out with me today and pick them up?"
"Of course, Madam Jiin!" Meeka said cheerfully. "Also, I have some other errands to run, and I was wondering if you would accompany me. It has to be alright with Selanick, though, because our shopping will probably take most of the day. What say you, Heart?"
The man came in from the yard and crossed to kitchen to his lover. He encircled her waist with his arms and kissed her. "That's fine with me."
"Well then we best be off, Meeka. We don't want anyone else to snatch up that cloth before we get there. Good-bye Selanick! Have a good day!"
"Good-bye Mother! See you both this evening!"
"Are you absolutely certain? Because if you’re lying to me, Kitraa..."
"Positive, my lord. I was mixing herbs when I heard them discussing it. The queen is with child."
"The little shit. Why does she keep things from me? Doesn't she think I'd like an heir?! Damn that woman. I often ask myself why I made her queen."
"My lord, I believe that the queen regrets that decision as well. She and the healer were planning to overthrow you; to find the rightful heir, and bring him to power." She didn't enjoy delivering such news to the king, for after the anger had subsided a bit, Balnor would need to be calmed. This was normally Meeka's duty, but Kitraa was currently the only woman in the palace that could serve her king in such a way.
"WHAT?!?! That ungrateful hideous wretch!!! How is this to be done?"
"The healer was to seduce the prince, and reveal his identity to him."
"I sent Meeka on a similar task, only she was to assassinate the little bastard, and I have gotten no word of this being accomplished! Go find Meeka and the healer, and bring them back here! I shall see them dead for this treason!"
