34: He Ain't Heavy

Chapter 34 of "A River Trembles", Book Two of The Môrdreigiau Chronicles

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The story began in A Grail for Eidothea. You really need to catch up to make sense of A River Trembles. Go on, save this post and go have a binge read. You deserve it.

Rhiannon found out the truth about Emrys’ illness. He’s pregnant! Cornelian ap Tregallas demanded an interview with Eidothea. It isn’t going so well.

I blinked at Cornelian ap Tregallas, thinking I misheard.

He grinned at my bafflement. :We know you are Berlewen’s daughter. I suppose she never spoke to either of you of a little dalliance we had before she married that human you call Father?:

Emrys frowned. :Are you suggesting you carried Eidothea in the womb pouch and birthed her?:

:Impossible!: Grandmother put in. :I would have known! Eidothea is my granddaughter. My daughter sacrificed herself so that Eidothea might live. She has her grym bywd. There is none of you in her.:

I looked between Emrys, Grandmother and the silent Maeve in growing panic. I was related to Jasper? My skin crawled.

Cornelian shrugged, his perceptive gaze registering my reactions. :You misunderstand. There is a child from that liaison. You are not my biological daughter, but your half-brother means I can call you daughter.:

Ladon gave a half-hearted wave.

I stared. I vacillated between relief and revulsion. Glad that Jasper and I held no parents in common, disgusted that my sibling was one who had assaulted me and attempted to seduce me. How was this possible? :Not long ago, you wanted me to marry him!:

:You only share a single parent.: He smiled, showing his teeth, his incisors gleaming. :It would be like marrying your cousin.: Cornelian steepled his fingers. :It’s still not an unreasonable idea. You share Berlewen’s blood. Ladon really could have succeeded in finding—: He waved away the rest of his thought. :As members of the royal family, we would like to claim our place.:

I gaped like a fish.

:Eidothea?: came Llyr’s query. :Are you in danger?:

:I am safe,: I replied. I did not face any physical danger. :I will tell you later.: I focused on Cornelian. :The Esteemed still rules.:

:Then we shall wait until after your coronation. It is important to have your family around you.: His sweet smile dripped with avarice.

:Absolutely not.: I stood, fists clenched at my side. I wanted to pound the table. :I cannot believe you have wasted our time with this nonsense. Your manipulations sicken me. You are not family.:

Cornelian canted his head, observing me. :You remain so unaware of the dreigiau môr customs. Did you think the Esteemed and his sister share the same parents?:

Emrys rose. :This audience is over. I thank you for bringing this to our attention. However, the Chosen Court will not function like the royal family has. Her Majesty has spoken and there’s an end to it.:

Cornelian’s cool attitude vaporised. He fumed. :An end? An end? You break hundreds of years of tradition.:

Emrys lips thinned. :Eidothea has already shown herself capable of changing traditions. But perhaps Ladon and Her Majesty can put past griefs behind them and become friends in time.:

Both Ladon and I snorted in disbelief.

:The Queen needs a consort,: Cornelian persisted. :She was so close to leaving with Ladon at the solstice.:

:I am still in the room,: I snapped. :Ladon will never be my choice for Consort. We are related.: I drew myself up to my full height, not an easy feat as one of the shortest people in the room. :You may go.: When they did not move, I snarled, :Now.:

When they left, I sank into my seat. :Do I really need to acknowledge Ladon as my brother?:

:It’ll become common knowledge,: Grandmother remarked, her lips pursed. :We’ve seen how Cornelian lies. This last must also be a lie.:

I wished for Grandmother’s confidence. :Thank you for coming. I assume Mother never mentioned such a thing?:

:She had her run-ins with Cornelian, but nothing like that. Alas, my Berlewen is not here to defend herself and you…: She patted my hand. :You did well. I’ll be on my way now.:

She and Maeve left Emrys and I alone. :What was all that about?: I mused. :They have wealth enough.:

:As members of the royal family, they’d have increased influence and be able to accrue more power. Should I have them banished?:

:It’s not exactly treason,: I grumbled. :Leave them be. He can think what he likes. It will not change my mind.:

Emrys swiveled in his chair to face me. :Have you considered anyone as Consort?:

I had, but I was not ready to admit it just yet. :You, purely as a matter of convenience. You would be in a role to assist me, but I guess that was never really an option for us.:

:If it ever were. Your heart is too soft for such a mercenary act. The right person will come along.:

I left the drawing room, calling out to Llyr. :Llyr, can you meet me in the royal quarter? There’s a small plaza…:

:I know it. I will be there soon.: He paused. :I should have been at the meeting as you asked.:

:There was nothing you could do,: I soothed. :I will tell you all about it.:

I left the palace, trailed by two guards. I insisted they not wear their sashes to avoid attracting attention. I wore my jewellery piece for the same reason, to hide my glowing blue mark. People still noticed and whispered. I realised the impossibility of anonymity in the caer.

A popular meeting place, dreigiau môr criss-crossed the plaza, small groups clustered here and there in deep conversation.

I scanned the crowd and spotted Llyr at once. Various dreigiau môr clustered around him. As the son of Ceridwy, he’d never experienced being an anonymous person.

He saw me at the same time, lifting a hand in a wave.

This prompted great curiosity. Heads turned toward me. Llyr strode forward. They closed in behind him, not following. I felt the gossip current surge.

Reaching me, Llyr bowed. :Eidothea. We’ve attracted some attention. Is that all right?:

:Of course. Nobody else will hear my woes.: I gestured he walk beside me. We took one of the circular paths that ringed the plaza.

:What happened?: Llyr prompted.

:Let us practice first. What did you experience from me? What made you reach out?:

Llyr huffed in impatience but answered. :Panic, fright, the strong urge to run. Confusion. After I reached out to you, anger—which I hope wasn’t directed at me.:

:It was not,: I hastened to assure him. :Cornelian ap Tregallas claimed royal family rights because Ladon is my half-brother.:

Llyr glanced sidelong. :Did he offer any proof?:

:None but his word and my mother cannot defend herself from the grave. When I think of how Cornelian knowingly foisted Ladon as a replacement for Jasper…: I shuddered, my skin prickling.

:He what?: Llyr took me by the arm, encouraging me to face him. :When was this?:

:A while back.: I shrugged free of his grasp. :Grandmother and I took care of it. I also denied him any royal privileges. I refuse to take his word for anything.:

Llyr fell silent but his disapproval blared through our bond. :What are these emotions? Love, hope? Not for the Tregallas lot surely.:

I caught my breath. I had been thinking about Jasper. I did not want to hazard our newly restored friendship. My shoulders slumped. :I cannot help what happened then, but I can learn from it.:

:Can you? What I sense from your heart…: We resumed walking. Llyr changed the subject. :About yesterday. I really did need to stop for the day. My stamina is not what is was. It is coming back. I hope to swim with Cychwr next week.:

:I should not have … said all those things. I do not wish for us to be awkward—:

:Truce,: Llyr interrupted. :Let us focus on strengthening our bond and our resilience to it instead of … us.: He walked backward to watch my expression. :I don’t hate you.:

I managed a smile. :Oh. Good,: I muttered faintly. :A truce is an excellent idea.: My heart felt full, hopeful, and I knew he felt that too.

He held out his hand. I placed mine in it. Llyr smiled, giving his face such a boyish cast that I instantly felt happier, lighter. The warmth of his hand reminded me of simpler days, of exploring the caer with him, of innocent flirtations. I squeezed his hand, wanting to extend that comfort to him.

:Let’s practice naming emotions and people.: Llyr held my hand while we continued to stroll. I said nothing, grateful he felt at least that comfortable.

Maeve commandeered a meeting room in the palace, and there the Chosen Court gathered. :Ondine appears proficient in the Shielding Spell. How are you two doing?: Her gaze encompassed both Llyr and I who sat on separate stone couches.

Llyr answered first. :I’m not blocking her. I can read Eidothea like a book, but I can handle it.:

I felt his twinge of annoyance through our bond. :He is like a burbling brook to me, present but not distracting. He has been very focused lately on regaining his strength.:

He stared at me strangely and I struggled to name the emotions streaming from him. He blinked and looked to Maeve, his expression smooth. :I need to learn when Eidothea is in danger versus when she is surprised or upset.:

I nodded in agreement.

:You will know,: Maeve reassured us. :You should have felt something when Angharad’s men attacked.:

:We were together. Llyr’s battle sprit made me fight harder, though I lacked any skill.:

Maeve nodded, satisfied. :As it should be between Monarch and Prophet. Your bond helps you elevate each other.:

:And that will happen when we bond?: Ondine tucked a lock of her dark hair behind her ear, revealing the squiggle of her Mark on her forehead.

:Yes. We will return to the Lady’s circle for this ceremony. You are likely to swoon Ondine, but it will soon pass. Llyr, do you remember the chant?:

:Some of it.:

:Eidothea, you’ll need to learn this as well. You will chant the spell at the same time.: We practiced until Maeve was satisfied. :The liquid will be mead this time, not the healing elixir Llyr got from me, so you’ll remain conscious. It will be heady, as at the quarter days. You will feel a rush of new awarenesses entering your mind. Welcome them and then chant the shielding spell to dim them. Once the ceremony is over, the other awarenesses will reduce to a background buzz. Shall we rehearse? Llyr, you brought the Greal with you?:

He patted the small cloth bag slung at his side.

:The choreography is as important as the words. The gathered dreigiau môr won’t hear what you chant but they will see your actions. As there are four of us, we will stand as the points of a square…:

The days leading to the bonding ceremony were filled with the business of the kingdom, practicing the spells and the choreography for the bonding ceremony. Llyr and I took regular walks together, either within the palace gardens or outside in the Royal Quarter’s wide plaza. We continued to practice sensing each other’s emotions, being careful not to tumble into dangerous territory.

We planned to arrive at the stone circle well before any who wished to witness it, but the citizenry of Caer Morgana gathered before us, eager to watch a ritual that hadn’t been performed in generations. Nestled around the stones’ periphery, they chattered and laughed, not noticing when the four of us entered.

I saw Emrys, set apart from the others by his guards. Rhiannon stood with him, along with members of the royal family. I guess she felt part of the palace household, just as I did. I gave them a friendly wave, which Rhiannon shyly returned. Emrys nodded.

That action caught the eye of some in the crowd and the gathering stilled to an expectant silence.

I want to tell you that the bonding ceremony went without a hitch, but …

I feel awful making you wait for a week, but — Five chapters to go! Thoughts about today’s instalment? Comments? Share below or join the Chat!

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