Fay Tale - Chapter Twelve

Seris’s eyes flickered open as Angelis shifted beside him. Immediately he wrapped his arms around the slender waist.

“You don’t need to go. It’s still early,” the heir whined.

A pair of blue eyes opened only to regard him with amusement.

“It is early because that is when we must begin our day, Seris.”

“No. I forbid it as crown prince.”

“The sun cannot be commanded even by someone as stubborn as you,” Angel said, planting a kiss on his brother’s forehead before rolling out of his embrace.

“Come back!” Seris whined. “I miss you already!”

“You miss my warmth,” Angel replied as he slipped off the bed.

“It’s the same thing really.”

The older prince rolled his eyes then gripped the covers and yanked them away. Seris shrieked at the sudden shock of cold air hitting his skin.

“You are being overdramatic, brother. It’s not even fall yet.”

Seris muttered something rude in return.

“If you didn't insist on sleeping bare then perhaps it wouldn’t be such an imposition to you,” the blond pointed out as he stripped and began a quick sponge bath.

“Not bare anymore,” Seris insisted, pointing to his loin wrap.

“You only wear that because Liliana sneaks in with you.”

“She has nightmares. She’s allowed to sneak,” Seris growled.

“Don’t be snappy with me or I’ll throw the sponge at you.”

The dark-haired prince sighed but finally rolled out of bed and grabbed his dressing robe before making the quick trip across the hall to his own set of rooms to get ready for the day. Once he finished Seris went to check on his daughter. Her room appeared empty but with such an expectant silence to it that he didn’t even need to use the bond to know she was hiding in there.

“Hmm, it appears my daughter has somehow disappeared. I wonder where she could possibly have gone?”

He checked inside a nearby chest, which proved empty of a child but full of bed linens and a collection of pinecones. Next he flicked back the heavy curtains but still no child.

“Oh where, oh where has my Lily gone? Oh where, oh where could she be?” he sang as he swept through the rest of her hiding spots.

All that remained was the bed. Seris got down on his knees and swept back the bed skirt, peeking under it. He was just in time to see the skirt on the other side shift back into place. Grinning he launched himself across the bed and rolled off on top of her.

“DADDY!” she shrieked then giggled when he tickled her. “Nooooooooooo!”

“Yeeeeeeees,” he crooned and kept it up until she was breathless. “Good morning, my heart. Let’s get you ready.”

He kissed her cheek then scooped her up and carried her over to the outfit one of the maids had pressed and laid out for her.

After a quick sponge bath, Seris had her dressed and hair braided by the time Angelis came to collect them for breakfast. Normally Seris would simply grab a piece of fruit and be on his way, but now that care for his child fell solely on him, he had taken to sitting at the table and coaxing Lily through her more human dietary needs.

“Eat more egg, Lily. Then you can have more bread.” The little blond sighed deeply and Angelis hid a smile at how similar his brother and child acted. “If you keep fussing, I won’t share any of my fruit,” Seris warned.

Lily quickly stuffed the rest of the egg in her mouth and nearly choked. Both princes patted her back until she could breathe again. Then Angel coaxed her into drinking some milk while Seris peeled an orange for her.

“I don’t see how you can stand the smell of that,” a voice complained from under the table.

“Bremen!” Lily shrieked excitedly, and promptly spilled her milk trying to look at the cat.

The moment the liquid hit the floor the clever cat pounced on it and began lapping it up. It took all of Seris’s self-control not to step on his tail while he cleaned up his child and the surrounding table.

“What do you want, Bremen.”

“Nothing,” the feline replied, mouth rimmed by cream.

“Then get lost.”

“Well, nothing I want but the king has summoned the three of you to appear before the court.”

Angelis glanced swiftly at his brother, but Seris was just as confused.

“As soon as we finish breaking our fast we will join him. Did he inform you for what reason we’ve been summoned.”

Bremen shrugged eloquently then continued cleaning up the spill. This time Seris didn’t stop himself from stomping on the end of the long brown tail, but Bremen was expecting this and shot away from the polished boot before it could accomplish its goal. With a regretful glance at the remaining milk, he trotted out of the room to inform His Majesty the message had been delivered.

~~~

Seris’s sense of unease grew throughout the court session. The king had acknowledged their appearance and though the appearance of both royal princes and princess was rare at a court session, he had given no indication either to Seris or the avidly curious nobility about the reason for their presence. He felt Angelis lightly touch his foot in encouragement as he shifted positions in his seat.

The blond sported an expression of placid interest in the proceedings, which belied a sense of anxiety as strong as Seris’s own. He gently stroked the blonde curls of the child in his lap, easing her back into the doze his movement had interrupted. Seris couldn’t resist dipping down to kiss the round little cheek as Lily turned her head to settle more comfortably against Angelis’s chest.

“Crown Prince Seris, Prince Angelis, and the Princess Liliana are called to approach the platform,” the herald bellowed.

Angelis stood to his feet and walked out to the court floor, graceful even when carrying a groggy child on his hip. Seris followed and stood close to his brother and child.

“His Majesty Aarav Anand of Eirendyr wishes all to hear that he has appointed a Royal Guardian for Princess Liliana Mirandas of Eirendyr.” Seris stiffened in outrage but the herald continued, “on this day he shall be appointed to her service and protection until such time as the king deems his presence unnecessary.”

The nobles buzzed with anticipation and delight. The king was appointing a guardian. The king was also the one who would decide when the guardian could be retired. This was clearly the king’s revenge for the prince’s poorly concealed attack after the incident with Scylla. The prince was angry over her apparent lack of safety? Then the king would appoint a guardian to ensure it. Of course, this also meant he had a loyal servant monitoring her progress and anything the prince would say or share. And if Seris decided to display his temper in such an unseemly manner again, well, this was as blatant as pointing a knife directly at his heart.

The crown prince’s eyes slitted with fury but even he didn’t dare attack or deny the king in full court.

Which he knows full well and why he announced the guardianship in front of all these blasted nobles! Seris snarled inwardly.

Anand met his gaze, seeming to sense his thoughts. Without looking away he gestured at one of the servants who quickly opened the large doors at the end of the room.

There were gasps of surprise and not a few of fear as a full eight spans of ogre stepped through the doorway. Seris stared as the giant creature walked up to the throne and bowed, first to the king then to the princess herself. Lily, who had woken up considerably during these proceedings, had the ill-judged audacity to smile and wave at her new guardian. A few weak chuckles came from those still overwhelmed by the ogre’s appearance.

A soft hiss from Angelis caught the prince’s attention, and he turned to find his brother staring up in dismay at the new guard.

Not just any ogre, the crown prince realized. But the same one Angel attacked! What’s this bastard’s game?!

“Lovely! Absolutely lovely!” a loud voice called out. Seris glared through the crowd at the familiar, mocking voice.

“Lord Penar,” the herald identified. “If you wish to speak, you must petition the court.”

“Oh I have no objection to the creature’s presence,” the noble insisted with a charming smile. “I simply wish to congratulate the king on his wise choice. With such a formidable guardian, surely no person of ill-intent would dare approach the princess.”

“Your approval is noted, Lord Penar,” the king replied.

“Prince Seris you have my admiration,” the man continued, “for being so fortunate as to find the king’s favor in this manner.”

“It is fortunate indeed we have found it,” Angelis replied with a smile just as charming as their tormentor’s. “We can only hope to find this guardian as faithful as your own household to our king.”

Penar’s eyes hooded at the subtle insinuation, and Seris would have kissed his brother if he hadn’t been busy glaring at the noble.

“If you are finished bestowing blessings upon my reign, I will dismiss all but the royal line to their own amusements,” the king said dryly.

Lord Penar bowed submissively but the angry glitter in his eyes told the princes he would not forgive the slight on his house.

For once the court took its time filing through the large doorway. Everyone wished for a better look at the ogre who stood facing the throne. Only after the last official and noble had exited the room and the doors had once more been shut, did any of the group speak.

“Well, this is exciting,” Bremen said, stretching on his perch. “Lily’s first guardian.” He gazed up at the ogre who had yet to speak. “He’s awful big isn’t he?”

Seris stared murder at the ogre who looked back impassively.

“You do not approve of my choice,” the king stated.

“He will be Liliana’s guardian over my dead body,” Seris snarled.

“That can be arranged,” Bremen suggested from his perch on a nearby stool. Seris continued to ignore him, but Angelis’s eyes turned to angry slits, and he hissed at the royal advisor in warning.

“You were given ample time to acquire a suitable guardian for her,” Anand reminded the crown prince.

“She’s only been without for-”

“I do not refer merely to this instance but the veritable parade of ladies-in-waiting and nursemaids who have proceeded through her tower. None have been a suitable match and the strain is beginning to show on your efforts.”

“My efforts are fine!”

“They show a lack of attention to detail and a complete disregard for future priorities.”

“I will not allow a stranger to guard my child!”

“The princess seems well-acquainted with him.”

“I do not know his character or disposition!” Seris spat. “It would be irresponsible for me to allow him to guard her!”

“I vouch both for his character and his lack of ulterior motives,” the king replied calmly. When the prince didn’t reply he added, “You will either allow him to become her guardian, Prince Seris, or the princess will be removed from Endyr entirely,” Anand commanded.

Seris froze.

“It has been in my mind to remove her completely from your sphere, but Bremen suggested another, less dramatic measure.”

“From the generosity of his heart no doubt,” Seris said bitterly.

The king made no reply.

“A guardian is very important role to play,” Angelis said, speaking for the first time, “and my brother is right to be cautious of appointing someone so unknown to a position of such trust. If I may be so bold to ask through what means has Your Majesty made sure of his character?”

“I have accounted for all his actions from his time within Eirendyr to his appearance at our border and beyond. Additionally, strong magic has been applied to make clear his motivations and desires. He possesses nothing untoward concerning the child or the throne.”

“Magical means can be fooled,” the blond prince countered.

“You speak truth. However, the accuracy of this means is such that I would place my own life upon it.” Anand’s gaze shifted to encompass all three of his royal line. “It would not bring me any pleasure or material gain to put the princess in harm’s way. Quite the opposite for it would be a sign of weakness to my enemies that I cannot safeguard even a child who is under my protection. I have chosen the ogre Maidd because I am convinced he will provide both security and stability for the princess during those times your duties draw you away from her.”

The king’s eyes locked with the crown prince’s and for a long moment no one in the room dared to move. It was Seris who dropped his gaze, swinging around and scooping up Lily before marching out of the room. Angelis immediately followed, looking more like a dangerous guardian than a prince.

The ogre, who had been watching the proceedings with silent apprehension, hesitated at their departure, unsure if he was to follow. Bremen caught his gaze as he vaulted to the top of the king’s throne then proceeded to gesture meaningfully at the departing royalty with his tail. With an inward curse at whichever ancestor had given him less than his deserved quota of self-preservation, the ogre followed after his new charge.