Page 70 of Bewitched

“Oh, could I? I do love babies.”

“Of course. Put the gown on the bed.” Medea was reluctant to hand her child over, but knew if she wanted the handmaid to trust her, she was going to have to let the woman hold the baby. “Here you are,” she said, giving the handmaid the little girl. The handmaid’s expression changed drastically and she smiled, hugging the baby to her chest, rocking it slowly.

“She is so cute. What is the baby’s name?”

“I-I don’t know,” said Medea. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“Mayhap you should name her after your mother. What was her name?” The handmaid sat down on a rocking chair, rocking the child on her lap now. The little girl cooed with contentment.

“My mother?” Medea thought of the evil woman and didn’t want her daughter to be that way. “Nay, I don’t think so. Her name was Hecuba, and I don’t like that name.”

“Then how about if you name her after her father? But a girl’s version of the name of course. What is her father’s name?”

Medea felt protective over that information and didn’t want to tell her. “I don’t think that would be a good idea either.”

“Oh, look, the baby is sleeping. I’ll just put her down on the bed.”

“She is sleeping? Already?” Medea glanced over to her daughter in shock. The baby had kept her up most of the night, and it hadn’t been easy at all to stop her from crying. This was amazing in an odd sort of way. “Oh, well then, why don’t you help me dress and fix my hair?”

“Of course, my lady.” As Henriette helped Medea don the wedding gown, Medea got to thinking about something the King said.

“Did I hear the King mention that the Sin Eater was coming to the castle this morning?”

“Yes, my lady,” answered Henriette. “The King’s falconer died suddenly in the night so the King called for the Sin Eater.”

“I see.” She held up her arms as the woman pulled the gown over her head. If Darium was going to be here, did that mean Rhys would be with him? If so, she wondered if Rapunzel had told him about the baby. Part of her wanted to see Rhys again. Part of her wanted to show him the child they’d conceived together in the field of lilies. But then, another part of her kept thinking of how he had deceived her. Nay, she decided. She never wanted to see Rhys again.

After dressing her, Henriette combed out Medea’s hair. “There you go, my lady. You look beautiful.” The woman smiled, perusing her from head to toe. “I am sure you are going to be the talk of all Mura.”

“I’m sure I am,” she said, thinking of the plan she and the King had to seize the Kingdoms of Evandorm and Sethor, claiming the title as King and Queen of all Mura. This plan had felt strong and right yesterday. However, now she was starting to waver a little in her decision. It didn’t feel so good anymore.

Medea heard voices from outside and headed over to the window to look out. She gazed down into the courtyard, seeing Darium approaching the King. At the King’s feet was the dead body of the falconer. Bread and ale had been placed atop the corpse’s body.

“My King,” said Darium with a bow. His raven was on his shoulder, but flew up to the tower window, perching on the sill right by her. It stared at her as if it was trying to say something. “Today, we’ve brought food for everyone so I won’t have to eat alone,” Darium continued.

“Rap?” Medea mumbled to herself, seeing Rapunzel and Talia accompanying Darium. They held baskets of food. The women started to pass out hand pies to all the guards. When a little child asked for some, Darium brushed the boy away.

“This is a special treat only for the King and the soldiers,” said Darium, making Medea suspicious. She wondered what was going on.

“I don’t want any.” The King refused the food, but Darium remained persistent. The raven scared her as it flapped its wings and left the sill, heading up to the roof of the castle.

“At least drink with me then, as I sin-eat,” Darium told him. “For the sake of your poor falconer.” He took a bottle of wine that Talia handed him from the basket, first drinking the ale from the chest of the corpse. Then he filled the empty goblet with wine from the bottle and handed it to the King.

“I don’t need to drink to a dead man,” complained the King. “Besides, I’m getting married in a few minutes. I’ll celebrate afterwards.”

“Then let us drink to your wedding, Sire,” said Darium, making Medea very suspicious now. She didn’t think any of Rhys’ family would approve of her marrying King Osric.

“Nay, I don’t want any,” said the King, sounding irritated with Darium.

The next thing she knew, Zann appeared in the courtyard in his wolf form, howling and running around in crazy circles. All the men tried to catch him. When one guard on the battlements raised an arrow, Rapunzel turned around and used her powers to redirect the path of the arrow. It just missed the wolf’s back end, scraping up against it.

“What’s going on here, Blackseed?” growled the King.

“That’s what I’d like to know,” mumbled Medea. “Henriette, I need to get down to the courtyard. I think there is trouble. Can you watch my baby for me until I return?”

“Of course, my lady.” Henriette walked over to the bed, sitting down by the little sleeping girl.

“I’ll be right back,” Medea promised.