Page 67 of Bewitched

“Rhys, what other way is there?” asked Talia, cleaning up dishes from the table.

“I think I know a way to do it.” Rhys stopped pacing and folded his arms over his chest as he stared at the ground. “I won’t even try to approach her at the castle. I agree, that would be a mistake. Instead, I need to lure her to me, similar to the way we’re going to lure the dragon into the pit.”

“I don’t understand. With a reflection of herself?” asked Zann with a chuckle.

“Nay, nothing like that,” said Rhys. “I know a better way, even though I hate to use it. You see, I discovered that Medea is scared out of her mind of being alone, and having no one love her.”

“She’s not alone. She’ll have the King,” remarked Darium.

“And her baby,” added Talia.

“Exactly,” said Rhys, looking up at the others with a smile on his face. “If I know Medea, and I think I know her at least a little, since we’ve spent intimate time together, she will treasure that baby more than anything right now.”

“She already does,” said Rapunzel. “She didn’t even want me to hold it, when I was just trying to help her to get the baby to stop crying.”

“Mmmm hmmm,” said Rhys, feeling more and more confident about this plan. “All we need to do is to distract her long enough for one of us to sneak in and steal the baby away from her.”

“What?” asked Darium. “You’re going to steal her baby?”

“You have gone daft, Rhys,” said Zann. “You can’t steal a woman’s baby.”

“Nay, Brothers, I haven’t gone daft,” Rhys told them. “It seems you are all forgetting it is also my child. I am the father, and have just as many rights to raise my daughter as she does.”

“But she’s the mother,” protested Talia. “You can’t take a newborn away from its mother.”

“As Rapunzel pointed out to us, Medea is also filled with darkness right now that she cannot control,” Rhys reminded them. “I personally think being around that darkness is harmful to my child.”

“Perhaps you are right, but this is a magical baby,” said Rapunzel. “It’s not going to be easy to deal with the child either, believe me. I know, since I was the one who basically raised Medea. And I tell you, it was not pleasant.”

“Oh, come on, Rapunzel,” said Rhys with a chuckle. “It’s just a little innocent baby. How much trouble can it really be?”

Seventeen

Thankfully, the next day, Darium was summoned to Kasculbough to sin-eat, therefore giving them a perfect opportunity to proceed with their plan.

“Remember,” said Rhys from atop his horse as he and his brothers prepared to leave. “You’ve got to keep the King distracted so I can sneak to the tower to get the baby. After all, I don’t think I’m welcome there right now, or else I’d just walk right in.”

“I’ll do the best I can and take my time sin-eating,” replied Darium.

“Right. And I’ll go in my wolf form, and distract the guards by making a few circles around the courtyard,” said Zann, repeating his part in the plan. “When they start to chase me, Rhys will make his way to the tower to get the baby. Damn, why did I agree to this? What if they start shooting arrows at me?”

“That’s what I’ll be there for,” said Rapunzel, exiting the house with Talia at her side. She and Talia had baskets filled with food over their arms. “I can use my magic to deter any arrows from hitting you.”

“Talia, you’re not coming with us,” said Darium.

“Yes, I am, Husband. I want to be a part of this plan as well.”

“Nay. You’ll get hurt. You stay here and wait for us,” said Darium once again.

“We are bringing offerings of freshly baked hand pies to tempt them,” stated Talia proudly. “Actually, what they won’t know is that I added enough semi-poisonous herbs into the food that it’ll make them instantly sleepy and they’ll fall fast asleep. It’s enough to slow them down, but won’t kill them.”

“What makes you think you can get the soldiers to eat the goods right away?” asked Darium.

“I’m a fae, sweetheart. I have powers too, if you’ve forgotten.”

“Nay, I still don’t like the idea of the women being there,” protested Darium.

“If there is any danger to her, I swear I’ll get Talia out of there quickly,” promised Rapunzel.