“I would recommend the haddock, my lady. We serve it with potatoes.”
“I will take two servings of the haddock and potatoes then!” Queen Rivka smiled, sliding the appropriate amount of coin across the counter.
“Right away, your Majesty.” Ness hurried to fill the queen’s order, giving her husband a nervous glance. Rivka stood, observing the surrounding booths, when Reggie spoke, a slight tone of disgust tingeing his voice.
“Twoservings of haddock and potatoes? Does this mean you are finally eating for two?” he snipped.
The basket of food in Ness’ hands slid to the ground as she let out a gasp. She grabbed her husband's arm, “Reggie!” Ness’panic was palpable. “Clean that up and pack up twice the amount.”
Ness looked at Queen Rivka with shame written all over her face. “My sincerest apologies for my husband’s rudeness.”
Reggie wouldn’t let go of the question so easily, staring at their queen unabashedly. “We have waited for twelve years. The citizens are concerned by your lack of… fertility.”
Ness quickly sucked in a breath, almost dropping her basket of fish once again, her eyes widening in shock. She looked as if she would murder her husband. Rivka, unnerved by his tone, went still, her face reflecting her inner turmoil, but before she could respond, Captain McConnell stepped to her side, slightly moving her behind him.
“Who are you to question your queen? You will speak to her with respect.” He demanded, radiating authority. Placing her hand firmly but gently on his arm, Rivka spoke softly.
“It is alright, Captain. I have never kept anything from my citizens and I do not intend to start now.”
Standing a little straighter, she looked Reggie in the face. “While I do not find that the matters of my private life are for public review, I will let you know that it is something that is also weighing on my heart. I can promise you that I am doing everything in my power to rectify the issue. Believe me when I say that I am exceedingly aware of the pressure and need for an heir. I am sorry if this is causing my citizens any unease, but I assure you that I am here to rule for many more years.”
Reggie looked mildly chastised, lowering his eyes. “I did not mean any disrespect, my Queen. We are just worried for our future. I apologize for my forwardness.”
”Please, no need to apologize. I am honored that you brought your concerns to my attention.” She said lightly, touching his hand.
“He-here-here are your orders, my Queen.” Ness stammered out.
Rivka reached to take the orders, smiling big, handing one to Captain McConnell. “Thank you. I will see you again soon, I hope.”
“Of course, my Queen.” she said, returning Rivka’s smile.
Nodding her head, Rivka turned but did not miss Ness grabbing a raw fish by the tail and smacking Reggie in the face. His spluttered argument caused a giggle to bubble from Rivka’s chest.
She took her meal and walked to a tree, in the center of the courtyard, seeking its shade. She sat underneath, signaling for the Captain to join her, but he refused and remained standing, silently eating his lunch. Rivka watched her citizens shop and mingle. She nibbled on her fish as thoughts circled in her mind. She knew that being childless was becoming the topic of conversation at more and more dinner tables, and knew that soon, she would have to produce an heir or the unrest would spread.
She was already hearing rumors from neighboring provinces, that she was barren and Queen Vivian would wind up ruling in her stead, if her mother, the Queen Regent Sophiana, was no longer fit to rule. There was no way that she would ever let that happen. That woman was a menace, evil and conniving. Rivka would rather lie, fake a pregnancy, and secretly adopt a baby, before she allowed that woman to rule her people. She knew without a doubt that Ellis would back her in any decision she made. The province would not fall to Queen Vivian.
Rivka sighed, satiated from her lunch. They should start moving again. She wanted to visit more booths. She was in search of the perfect gift, for her perfect person. CaptainMcConnell moved, helping his queen to her feet, heading back into the thrall of people, continuing to shop.
“Oooh! Books! That just might be it!” Rivka clapped, hurrying in the direction of the bookstall.
As she reached the outer display, she let her fingers glide over the worn leather covers and delicate parchment pages. She loved the smell of books. It gave her a thrill to think of the far away lands she could travel to within their pages. But she was here with a purpose, searching for something special, a gift for her beloved. It had to be quintessential. Rivka knew that the way to Ria’s heart was through words. Ria loved books, though decidedly not nearly as much as Rivka. They spent countless hours reading together and had some of their first intimate moments during those hours. A dreamy expression filled her features.
“Looking for something in particular, Your Majesty?” the bookseller, a bespectacled older gentleman named Edwin, asked. Rivka was pulled from her brief moment of reflection.
”Something of love”, she mused “but not the grand, flowery kind. Something real, something that speaks of love as it is-wild, fierce, and gentle all at once.”
Edwin smiled and tapped a gnarled finger against the side of his nose. He pulled a small, unassuming volume from beneath his counter. “This is a story written by a simple man who once loved a queen, though history has long forgotten her name.”
Rivka reached for the book, the leather smooth and worn. “The Bound Queen”etched into the cover, in beautiful golden lettering. Turning the pages, she read a few lines to herself. The words stirred something deep within her, as if they had been written just for her and her beloved.
“This one,” she said, handing Edwin a coin. “This was exactly what I was searching for.”
As she left the stall, a young girl tugged at the hem of her cloak. Rivka knelt so they were eye to eye.
“Is it true that queens fall in love like ordinary people?” the girl asked, her small face full of curiosity.
Rivka smiled. “Oh, love is the most ordinary and extraordinary thing in the world, little one. It makes no difference if you wear a crown or not.”
