Young Adult / Gaelwyn (Analysis)

Gaelwyn watched her mother riding up ahead, the afternoon light playing on her dark hair, glancing off the jeweled coronet that hung heavy on her fair brow, and making golden patches in the hollows of her dark cloak. Gaelwyn thought that surely, her mother was the most beautiful woman in the world. Queen Sabraxa’s pale skin was hidden under the cloak; only her face, heavily coated in the lotions and potions that kept her translucent skin from burning, showed. Even so, Gaelwyn could tell her mother was uncomfortable. The lotions caked onto her the queen’s face and made it itch. Queen Sabraxa shifted in the saddle and slowed her fiery red stallion to a walk. He pranced, restless under the bit. Gaelwyn grinned; it seemed the queen was becoming restless. This was confirmed when an imperious gloved hand was raised and the stallion came to a stop along with the rest of her retinue. Gaelwyn, mingling with the porters and scullery maids, was one of the last to stop, catching a glare from her mother and the rest of the highborn Court surrounding her. She could almost hear her mother’s voice: Well if you’d ridden with me, you would have known what to do and when to do it and not look like a bumbling idiot.
Nevertheless, Gaelwyn’s grin grew as the annoying little ambassador from Lilith rode out to whisper something in the queen’s ear. Her mother’s scowl deepened and she gestured angrily. As Gaelwyn watched, a bony elbow jabbed itself into her ribs. “Wipe that grin off your face,” a familiar voice whispered teasingly. “It’s not seemly for a princess to gloat.”
Gaelwyn whirled to knock the offender down and then report them, but her placid mare Buttercup merely bumped into the silver stallion whose owner was as familiar to Gaelwyn as her own mother.
“Caedes!” she cried, “you’re one to be talking manners! A fine offense it is to be elbowing your own princess in the ribs!”
The curly brown-haired boy ignored her. “Who d’you think will win?”
Gaelwyn never hesitated. “The queen,” she said. “The queen always wins.”
**
Gaelwyn’s prediction came true. A few hours later, they camped on a flat, grassy plain. Ominous storm clouds were rolling overhead as the court hurried to set up tents. The king’s ambassador camped by himself, a forlorn figure huddled by a lone fire, scorned by the Sanguines, Gaelwyn’s people. Caedes joined Gaelwyn under her tent, giving her a smile that made her insides flop alarmingly.
“So little princess,” he said, “for all this trouble and bother and fuss, d’you think the king of Lilith will find your mother pleasing?”
Gaelwyn glared at him with all the disdain of a thirteen-year old princess royal. “Of course he will. He found her pleasing before she married my father, why should any of that change? She is the most beautiful woman in the world! And you hush Caedes! You’re only three years older’n I.”
Caedes could not deny that the queen was beautiful. But besides her beauty, the queen had a cold, regal air and a chilling dignity and calm to her. He admired her as much as his mother hated her.
        When the king of Lilith had sent her the marriage proposal, a year after Gaelwyn’s father ad died, the queen had decided the Royal Court went with her. All of it. King Metris had not dared to refuse his late rival’s widow anything, so along the Sanguinian Court came. Needless to say, Caedes’s mother had not been pleased. Many wondered at the calm acceptance the queen had given to the proposal. The staunch rival of her own dear husband and murderer of her sons, the precious heirs of Sanguine. Gaelwyn alone knew how deep the queen’s hatred ran for the man. Gaelwyn alone mourned with her mother for the death of her father and brothers. Gaelwyn knew her mother’s plans.
        “It is for peace,” said Sabraxa’s daughter.
        “What?” Caedes looked up in surprise.
        “It is for peace,” repeated Gaelwyn. “She says she cannot bring more war to Sanguine. There was a war fought you know, for who would marry her—Lilith versus Sanguine.”
        Caedes, nephew of Emer who was the one-time king of Sanguine, merely nodded. “I am glad my uncle won.”
        “I am too.” Gaelwyn drew her knees up to her chest, and hugged them close. “You are of noble blood no? When I am queen, I will make you king of all Sanguine.”
        Caedes smiled, but his eyes were sad. “Such ambition Princess Gaelwyn.” He had seen what ambition brought and how the mighty fell. He did not want to be part of ambition any longer.
        “D’you not want to be king?” asked Gaelwyn, confused.
        Instead of answering, Caedes got up and bowed to her. “Goodnight Princess. If you will excuse me, my lady mother is probably looking for me.”
        “Caedes, wait!” pled Gaelwyn.
        He didn’t look back as he strode away.
CAEDES
        She doesn’t understand. She doesn’t realize I will be her downfall, my innocent little cousin, who fancies herself in love with me.  I forgot myself this afternoon—I cannot be too close to her. Ever. She must not fall in love with me, or I with her, or we are all undone. My lady mother, Ulianine will be furious when she hears I rode with the princess today. She protects the interests of the Sanguine family as fiercely as my uncle ever did.
        “Although you are only a bastard child,” she tells me, “you are my only son. You are the nephew of the queen and cousin to the next queen.” This is always said with a bitter grimace, for she despises the queen, her sister-in-law. “Through my blood, and never forget it. And also remember, because you are tainted, you cannot marry anyone with Sanguine blood. Else you destroy them and our family. Do you understand me?”
        Her  nails will dig into my shoulder and her harsh blue eyes will bore into mine and she will dig harder and harder until I yelp and try to squirm away.
        “Weak,” she’ll remark with contempt.  Then she’ll release me and walk away. Although Queen Sabraxa does not recognize her as virgin sister to the queen (because of me), my lady mother regards herself as such and blames me for her fall from grace. See, the oldest sister of the king is to remain unmarried and untouched—the price of kingship. My lady mother spurns yet needs me. It is a curious bond we have.  I cannot do anything about it. All I can do now is stay far, far away from the Princess Gaelwyn.
QUEEN SABRAXA
Queen Sabraxa heard the woman’s soft footfall before she saw her. The queen had the ears of a fox.
        “Hello Ulianine,” she said coolly.
        The woman jumped, but maintained her dignity. She was after all, the king’s sister.
        “Good evening my queen.” Lady Ulianine sank into a deep curtsy.
        The queen looked her over with a calculating eye. Ulianine was undoubtedly beautiful. With her long flowing masses of rich brown hair and snapping blue eyes, she was a catch for any lucky man. Queen Sabraxa had no doubt that once they reached Lilith, Ulianine would receive many marriage offers.  Her lip curled up. It was a pity she could accept none of them.
        “Rise, Lady Ulianine.” Although the woman was her sister-in-law, the queen shared no love for her. Ulianine had broken the sacred law of Sanguine and as punishment, Sabraxa’s own dear husband was dead, not a full year later.
        “I have come to make a request of you my queen,” said Ulianine, intoning the time-honored words for a request.
        The queen could see how it pained the king’s sister to ask a question in such a demeaning fashion—like any ordinary supplicant.
        If Ulianine had stayed true to herself and the law,  thought Queen Sabraxa coldly, she would not have to ask. She would have been second to only me and been a royal princess, in her own right. Instead she is reduced to a lowly Lady of the Court and must come to me for favors, like any other.
        Aloud, she said, “Yes Lady Ulianine. Your request is heard.”
        Ulianine hesitated for a moment, unsure. Finally, she spoke out. “If it pleases you my queen, I ask that I may keep Caedes close to me for a few days.”
        Caedes had ridden with the queen’ retinue every day for the last week.
        “Your son,” said Queen Sabraxa cruelly, forcing her to admit her failure. Ulianine’s eyes filled with anguish, but her chin stayed steady and her head did not waver.
        “Yes, Your Majesty.”
        The queen noted how she maneuvered herself away from the word “son”.
        “Say it.”
        The king’s sister drew herself up in defiance. “My queen, I would have thought such pettiness beneath you,” she said quietly.
        Queen Sabraxa did not deign to respond to this. “Say it.”
        An imperial order.
        “Yes. My son. The bastard. Your nephew, the little princess’s cousin. Caedes. Our shame.”
        “Your shame,” corrected the queen.
        “Our shame. What one does, all feel,” retorted Ulianine.
        The queen closed her eyes and sank back on the lightly scented cushions. She wearied of this hard woman, unyielding, unbending, unfeeling.
        “Well?” demanded Ulianine, after a long silence.
        “Do as you see fit,” replied the queen, not opening her eyes.
        Ulianine curtsied once more and departed.