A Gathering
Hadassah rose from bed and went to the window, looking out over the ocean. In spite of all her fears, this time with the King and Queen had been wonderful. The King was rather imposing and distant. Of course, given that she was the Daughter of a man that had tried to kill him, that was, perhaps, to be expected.
But the Queen, and the rest of the staff here, had been wonderful. But now it was almost time for her to go off, with her new Husband, over the ocean.
//Up already, my love?// Seth said, rolling over. He was speaking in Taal, the Visser language, which he said she had to learn next. And between her Husband, Tristan, Wynforr, and the King’s own Kolchnar, she was learning it rapidly and bruisingly. She could hardly think now, in any language!
//Much to dress,// she said, in what she knew was horrible grammar. //Bathe first?//
//Certainly, if you wish,// he said, and turned to the Maid at the door, //Bath!// he said, waving his hands, getting them wet from the pitcher at the side of their bed, and making as if to wash himself.
“I’ll have them draw a bath for you right away, Sir,” the Maid responded in Farmer, grinning at the Prince.
//Both of us!// he said, pointing at Hadassah, back at himself, and then holding up two fingers.
“Yes, Sir, you and the Princess, right away Sir.”
//Well, love, we’re going to have a big day today,// Seth said, as he lowered himself into the water.
//Big?// Hadassah said, not recognizing the word in that context.
//Many people. Much pomp and ceremony.//
//Ah. Big people,// she said. //In Cathedral.//
//Yes. I wonder what on earth Tristan has been doing. ‘Elf Business’ indeed! He is my Kolchnar, for all love. What can he be doing?//
Hadassah shrugged, only partly understanding his question. She liked Tristan, everyone did, but she wasn’t particularly worried that he wanted a couple of days off. His note had said that he would be back after the ceremony today, so what did it really matter?
//Are you looking forward to sailing tomorrow, my love?// Seth asked, discouraged by her lack of reaction.
She shook her head. //Never been// she said.
//Oh, my love// he said, sitting up and splashing water out of the bath.
//You will love it! Sailing is wonderful. Especially once you transform into a Visserfrau. You will really enjoy it then. You will love swimming!// He sat back, a beatific smile on his face, //Swimming and catching fish…// Well, it sounded like her Husband liked it anyway, although she couldn’t understand everything he was saying, Hadassah thought to herself.
But she was scared. There had been so many changes already in her life, so many new experiences. Sailing seemed scary. Sailing away from her family, her life − was terrifying.
//We go now// she said, getting up and holding out her arms for the Maid to dry her. //Get dressed.// She was nervous and wanted to get dressed.
An hour later, her heart was pounding as she walked with Seth down the avenue. Ahead of them walked guards, officials, and dozens of other people whose functions she did not know. Behind her and Seth walked the King and Queen; then, in stately procession, the Bishop with his entourage.
Hadassah had been the Daughter of an important Duke all of her life, but had rarely participated in official functions. Her Father, especially since the death of her Mother, hated to entertain. She had hardly ever attended any functions, and never since Mother died.
She still remembered her Mother’s funeral. She and her siblings had been seated in the back, coming forward, each with their own escort, only to view the body and return to her seat. She remembered her hand trembling in that of her escort, one of her Father’s older soldiers, as she walked up the aisle.
Today, she knew, every single eye in the entire cathedral would be on her as she walked down the aisle with Seth. Everyone in the capital city got to see the King and Queen every Seventh Day, and at state occasions. They knew Seth − he had been a familiar figure on the streets. But Hadassah, she was new. She was the new Princess. Her Father had rebelled against the King.
She was going to go with their Prince to this new land. She was interesting.
//I love you// Seth said, squeezing her hand.
She glanced at him, and squeezed back. He had a way of sensing her fears, and helping.
The room rose as they entered, rose and stood silent. Hadassah stared straight ahead. She could hear her own footsteps echoing through the hall, all the long way down the aisle, until they stood at their place, the King and Queen stood at their places, and the Bishop reached the front, turned, and everyone knelt.
“Brothers and Sisters,” he began, “We celebrate again the blessings of He Who Is upon our people…”
The service itself was marvellous. The singing was especially glorious, the high roof causing all of the various Psalms to echo and re-echo. And she was able, by focusing straight ahead at the Bishop in his long white and purple robes, to ignore the many eyes that she knew were focused on her.
Until now. Seth took her hand and they filed out, following her Parentsin- law. Now she had to face the audience. And suddenly they became Human, real. Men, women, lads, lasses − looking at her, yes, and then blushing and glancing down when she looked at them. Her! Not knowing, perhaps, how insecure she herself felt.
Suddenly she felt Seth’s elbow and saw his head jerk, sharply but minutely, to his right. She looked and saw three Farmlads grinning at them, grinning wildly. She did a double take − one of them was Tristan! Tristan transformed into Farmer! She didn’t know he could do that; and why on Earth had he bothered?
Seth stopped, and gestured, gesturing Tristan to take his place behind them − and all three lads moved. She glanced at Seth and he seemed mildly surprised, but not taken aback. The crowd noticed and a murmur almost rose to the level of audibility. For the rest of the walk the stares were intensified, but were no longer at her.
“What are you two playing at?” Seth whispered to Tristan, once they were safely into the street. Then more loudly, “And who is your friend?”
“My Lord, my Lady,” said Tristan, who was rarely so formal, “May I present to you, my Lady, the usually Visserknaap Sean, a close friend; and his Kolchno Sionr.”
Seth bowed and Hadassah curtsied and then Seth said to Sionr, “Kolchno to Sean? An ordinary Knaapen? Were you hard up for things to learn?”
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Von
Links
Island People
Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.
The entire book is scheduled on Substack, and there are several sequels. This is a book I wrote years ago, so it is in a bit of a rough form. Critiques and comments are more than welcome, they are requested.