*POV* Coral Sparks
The decorations had been put up and the castle practically sparked, but even though it was a joyful day for the kingdom, I wasn't feeling it.
My stomach hurt, my mind was a buzz and I couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom.
Lula started screaming beside my ear, I bolted up in bed.
Samuel had his small hand in his sister's shoulder length hair pulling, I huffed in frustration debating if I should take Dixie up on her offer of putting the children in a nursery.
I shook my head, I didn't want them to stay out of my sight for long. I took Samuel's hand and gently pried it out of Lula's hair, once free Lula fell onto my stomach sobbing.
"Sammy, you can't pull your sister's hair like that, it's not nice." I chided. He frowned, pulling away to slide off the big bed and make his way into the sitting room to pout.
I shook my head. "Where is Randall?" I asked the room. My eyes snagged on the painting of Magnur and I on the wall.
"Maybe some fresh air will do you two some good!" Pushing off the blankets I gathered up Lula, her face still red from crying.
Grabbing at the massive paint I pulled it unceremoniously off the wall and tossed it into the corner of the room.
Baby clothes had been brought to my room by the maids so it only took a couple minutes to dress the twins warmly, then I rang for a maid.
When the girl arrived I told her to grab my paints and met me in the garden. Then I went outside. The air was chilly, but the sun felt good on my face.
As I walked into the gardens that held some good memories for me, the 4 ladies that were in the middle of the lawn sitting up to a white table stopped what they were doing and got up to greet me.
"Your majesty, what brings you out today?" One asked. I smiled, setting the twins on the ground before spreading out a blanket and then placing them on it one by one.
"I thought I might paint today." The lady who had spoken looked surprised. "Oh! That's great, do you need a model?" I shook my head.
"Lula and Samuel will do perfectly. You guys can continue what you were doing." I said dismissing them. 3 maids entered hauling in my stuff before setting it up where I wanted it. I sat and started to paint.
30 minutes later a crowd had gathered of both ladies and maids. "I guess this is my life now." I thought as I continued painting.
An hour later the twins were ready to go inside, but my painting was only half done. Sighing I had a maid help me take them back up to my rooms.
My stomach had settled and my mind a little also, but deep in my mind I was still unsettled about what to do about the men that had appeared claiming I stool their master.
Dark magic made no sense to me. And I continued to think about it as I bathed Lula and Samuel with the help of a maid. Then leaving them asleep with the door locked, I went to see Cassy.
She held a title of lady now given to her by Andrew, knocking on her door. I waited. It swung open, she looked half asleep even though it was only a little past noon.
"Hi!" I greeted, and she curtsied. "What can I do for you, your majesty?"
Her voice was in the back of my head and I clenched my fist to hold myself from flinching.
"I want to ask you some questions, can I come in?" She nodded, opening the door wider for me to enter.
The sitting room was a like mine but furnished in a way that surprised me, a fire was burning in the harth making the room smell of cedarwood, a fur rug lay in front of it with two round seats covered with furs placed beside the fire, on the rug nestled in a pile of blankets was a toddler fast asleep.
She was dressed in a baby pink dress with black bows on the cuffs and on the waist. Her black hair had been pulled into 2 pigtails and tied with bows.
I lightened my steps as I moved to sit on one of the fur covered seats. "What do you wish to know?" She asked, I buried my hands in the fur.
"I wanted to know how you guys defeated Magnur, he used dark magic." She took a place on the rug beside the sleeping child.
"Are you asking because of those men?" She asked, I nodded. "Yes, I have been thinking and I don't want them to be a problem…" she smiled sadly.
"It is a bit concerning, but I wouldn't worry much about it, your majesty. At least if I was you." Her lips didn't move, but her face couvade the emotion that was behind her words.
"I don't-'' I was cut off as she glowed and from out of her materialized a massive white tiger, I squeaked. The tiger spoke.
"Wow, you are pretty.." it bowed its head, then stared at me with its big eyes. It almost took up a part of the room. "Thanks.." I said soundly, growing bolder.
"I am Monique, now." She settled down, making herself smaller.
"Dark magic can tip the balance of the universe. But in this case, we can't do much. The child might be born of dark magic, but that is not saying he is bad."
I straightened. She made a point. "But what about those men?" The tiger seemed to shrug.
"They didn't seem too powerful, and they are master less from what they were saying. Hopefully they will just fizzle out."
I nodded, feeling a bit more relaxed. Cassy stood and the tiger in a blink disappeared again. "I hope that helped." Cassy voiced, settling on the floor once again. "It did thanks."