Sweet Waters Throne

“Of course dear sister, it’s a celebration” Artemis made a turn and ordered the servants “Go, go, go bring my nephew” and the servants at once left the feast and walked inside to fetch Prince Jeremiah at once.

Aeryn locked eyes with Aurora and the first thing she noticed was how different she looked. The silver hairs had made her even more beautiful and she was dazzling and glowing, Aeryn had hoped mayhaps her hairs would turn red and prove to the people that her good sister was indeed a witch, but somehow anything white or silver was considered pure ─ no one would believe her now.

Lady Burchad also rebuked the rumors that Aurora was a witch the second she spotted the silver hairs, she was accompanied with her son Lord Hawk, the current Lord of Horriss. For years Aeryn had made her believe that Aurora was a bad person and a witch, when the dragons came she feared for her life but somehow the pure silver hairs made her believe Aurora was nothing but a good and kind woman.

“Your Grace” Aeryn curtsied before Aurora, it’s safe to say everyone at the garden where the celebrations were held looked at these two. Their history of enmity and the recent take of Aeryn naming her son as a Prince and second in line to the throne was considered as a disrespect to Aurora, and she may be wrath of her good sister.

Instead Aurora held Aeryn’s shoulders with kindness “Princess, congratulations on the birth of your son” Aurora said with a kind face.

Then Lord Leoric quipped “Your Grace” he curtsied too with a smirk, and as usual he was looking at Aurora with flirty eyes trying to be relevant. “Might I say, this new… dye of silver hairs look so good on you, and His Grace of course” at the end he turned to look at Artemis who didn’t seem so pleased, it’s as if Artemis was pissed off every moment Lord Leoric opened his mouth to talk.

Aurora managed a simple smile “Thank you Lord Leoric. I am so much taken by your collection of jewelries, if it was a woman I wouldn’t be so surprised… but for a man its odd”

.....

The crowd laughed at Lord Leoric, this was a good take by Aurora as she tried to get under Lord Leoric’s skin. Then Artemis intervened “You wear a lot of gold than my sister” and this was received with more laughter, Lord Balrus was the only one who didn’t laugh as he was paying close attention to the energy of every guest trying to catch any lose ends.

Artemis then reached out for Lord Leoric’s bracelet on his left hand “I like this my lord, can I have it?” he said looking straight between his eyes. The tension and coldness could now be felt by everyone, these two men truly hated one another but then one of them was in power, and the rest was forced to submit to the one in power.

Leoric grinned from ear to ear trying to look at the crowd “Why Your Grace, I thought jewelries were for women” he said not looking at Artemis, it was clear he was trying to win the crowd on his side.

But Artemis ended the conversation with just “It’s not for me, it’s for the Queen” and then everyone busted out laughing. They laughed at Lord Leoric with their glasses raised high for Artemis, at first Leoric hesitated to take the bracelet off. He and Aeryn have talked about how Aurora has powers to read minds just by holding someone’s hand, could it be that she needed the bracelet so as to know what was going on in Leoric’s mind.

What if she finds out that Leoric was working on finding a way to kill a dragon? Aeryn was most worried and hence she was the first one to quickly object this “The bracelet is mine brother; I gave it to my husband” she said hanging on to Lord Leoric’s hand.

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds and then suddenly Prince Jeremiah Arteides, second in line to the throne was brought to the feast by his three wet nurses. The whole crowd erupt in cheers, and Aeryn turned to look at her brother with a forced smile.

The only chance to get one of Lord Leoric’s jewelry was cut short, Aurora however remained humble and she rejoiced at the new Prince without showing any sign of discomfort or disappointment. The crowd celebrated for Prince Jeremiah and Prince Jahery that day, they were a duo that no one saw it coming.

With being just one year apart, these two were already destined to be close together all their lives. The good folks reminisced the days of Luca Arteides who ruled Maldonia with justice and righteousness. Then the days when Princess Aeryn and Prince Artemis played in the gardens of the palace and warmed hearts of many Lords and Ladies, for many times they were insuperable and that’s what everyone wanted for Prince Jeremiah and Prince Jahery to be.

True grandsons of Luca Arteides sired by his own children, there has never been a more perfect duo. Aurora wished to have a son so as to keep what she considered a slap in the face for her and Artemis, but if she bores a daughter, then Prince Jeremiah will still be second in line to the Sweet Waters throne ─ believe me you Princess Aeryn prayed for that, day and night.

By golden hour the celebrations slowly faded and everyone was full from all the tasty foods and drinks, and music and acrobat shows. The gates were opened for those who were to return back to their homes, and only few of the nobles were allowed to stay inside the main palace. Aeryn and Lord Leoric retired to the Princess’s chambers with their son, while as usual a palanquin came to take the King and the Queen to Aurora’s Hill alongside Prince Jahery.

At times like these Aurora didn’t trust to sleep in the main palace which was full of people who she didn’t know, anyone of them could have worst motives for her or her son. Only her castle in the bay was safe, protected by five thousand trained knights and it was impregnable, no one could pass through without being caught. And if somehow one manages to pass through, five full grown dragons awaited to roast him alive.

During the night, Artemis and Aurora talked about what just happened at the feast, and how the Lords of ten houses cheered for Prince Jeremiah too which didn’t seem to be a good sign. But Artemis wasn’t that bothered by it, and he told Aurora “Our sons and daughters will ride dragons, that’s what matters” and he was right.

Torgo knocked on their chambers and it was so unusual for the dragon keeper to wander along the corridors of Aurora’s Hill during the hour of the wolf.

Even Aurora was stunned when she opened the door “What is it Torgo?” she asked softly.

“A letter has arrived Your Grace, a raven sent it and dropped it outside the dragons’ cave”

“Does it say where it comes from?” asked Aurora taking the letter which was carefully folded, but it wasn’t sealed and nor did it have any legitimacy on it. Artemis joined them, Aurora handed the letter to him. “Torgo says it was dropped outside the dragons’ cave”

Artemis turned to Torgo “Who dropped it?”

“A raven, You Grace”

“A raven?” Artemis’s eyes widened with amazement, he quickly opened it and started to read it silently. There was a confusion look on Artemis’s face which made Aurora curious to know what’s the letter says.

“It’s from Amabel Taelin, the first son of Castellan Taelin, former King of Prophis” said Artemis handing the letter back to Aurora.

Torgo understood nothing about kingdoms and letters, he didn’t know how to read himself and hence he excused himself and went back to his quarters. Aurora thanked him and wished him good night, then she closed the door and from there she lit up the oil lantern and sat on the bed.

Slowly and carefully Aurora read Amabel’s letter, she couldn’t believe that it was written by a thirteen year old few days shy away from his fourteen name day. The words were carefully crafted, and in the voice of a man and no longer a child. Amabel said of how his aunt and uncle plans to pass him for the Silver throne while they knew clearly that he was the true heir to the throne.

Then he went on to say how he knew of the King’s plans to support Princess Thelma in taking back the kingdom, and ended with “If you want to help us restore House Taelin, then do it by supporting it’s true heir”