Chapter Text
Int-twilight-elfhame Palace
Gods above, the twinkling sky never felt more ominous till now. Baphen looked at the sky, then at his chart. Sky, chart, sky, chart.He kept on repeating said action, but the sky still remained the same. He looked at the sky a tiny little bit.
Baphen: (whispering to the sky) Do you think you could change?
His assistants backed away from him. They quietly wondered if he was going crazy. Well, they should know he was not. He looked at the sky, and wanted to bang his head.
He continued looking at the sky, begging for it to change. But nope. It stubbornly remained the same.
Paige: (coughing) Lord Baphen.
He turned, the Paige backed away, and seemed terrified of Baphen.
Baphen wondered why? He was a nice man. And then he saw the mirror. Goodness, Bloodshot eyes. Had he been crying?
Well, the sky wasn’t changing and he would most likely die. So he was most likely crying.
Baphen:(to the sky) Why won’t you change!
Paige: Uhh lord Baphen.
Baphen: what?
Paige: The king requested your presence for the reading of his newborn son.
And the sky was still being stubborn. This was not a good night for Baphen.
Int-elfhame palace halls- twilight
Linda: Shhh… little one, it’s ok. Mommy’s here.
The black haired mortal stared at the bundle with a tail. Her eyes filled with adoration. Holding him as if he was the most precious treasure she ever had. Placing a finger with his reach, the toddler greedily took it.
The woman smiled.
Baphen wished she’d drop the boy, and bash his head.
Usually, the prince and princesses were presented to the high king as soon as they were born. Linda’s child, Cardan was it? He’d been born too weak to be separated from his mother. Many thought he’d die.
The stars showed nothing on his birth, so Baphen simply thought the babe would die as well.
But Linda held the baby in her arms, a fierceness in her eyes. She’d refused to let fae near him. Refused the undertakers and healers near him.
Linda: You’ll give up on him! I know it!
Gently rocking the babe, feeding him her milk. In fact she was rarely seen on balls. Everyone whispered the high king could have imagined his new mortal consort…
Of course no one was idiotic enough to whisper it in the high king’s ears.
Then one day.
Idiotic courtier: Your majesty!
Eldred glances at the man, then goes back to his conversation.
Idiotic courtier again: Your majesty!
Eldred sighed, trying to ignore the fool.
The courtier was red faced. Then stomped his foot. Eldred ignored him. The courtier continued to stomp his foot.
Fae could hear Eldred breathing in and out.
Idiotic courtier: Your majesty!
Eldred: (mumbling to himself) May the gods have mercy on me (turns to the courtier) What?
The courtier gives a silly smile.
The idiotic courtier: Nothing…
Eldred’s left eye twitched. Everyone backed away from said drunk and the king. Eldred was debating if he should send the numbskull to the stock. Maybe a little humiliation will sober him up.
Idiotic courtier: Nothing like your new mortal consort.
Every other head then turned to the brave fool. Then turned to the king. Breathes were held.
Eldred: (smiling with his mouth, not with his eyes) What do you mean by that?
The courtier giggles.
Courtier: Well everyone knows you’ve gone insane and made her up. Probably due to old age. Have you thought of stepping down?
The king shakes. And everyone leaves. The idiot was beheaded. The next day he presented Linda, and the child.
Then demanded Baphen to look at the star chart.
Int-elfhame palace-twilight
Now here Baphen was. His hands were barely able to hold the paper. He looked at the king. Who raised a brow.
Eldred: Well?
Baphen: ( looking sheepish) do you really want to know his fortune? I mean just because I’m accurate doesn’t mean his fortune is everything…
Eldred: Would you like to spend the night in the dungeons?
No Baphen would not.
Baphen looked at the kid, he really wished the mortal would drop him. Then at the king.
Baphen: Well you see… it’s kind of… well…
Eldred: Spit it out!
Baphen: (as fast as he could) He’s destined to make a mortal queen of faerie.
The king was silent. Everyone in the room was silent. Crickets could be heard. The stars could be heard falling.
Eldred: (very calmly) What?
Baphen: (squeaking) He’s destined to make a mortal queen?
Eldred: Have you gained the ability to lie astrologer? Would you like to have your tongue cut out?
Baphen then prostrated himself before the king.
Baphen: My lord, I regret I cannot, because if I could, I would not say such a thing.
The king took this in… then turned to Baphen.
Baphen who was basically trying to look like a big strong man.
The king rolled his eyes.
Eldred: (waving his hand) You may leave.
Baphen didn’t need to be told twice. He stared at the mother and child, a bit with pity. But better then than him.