Flight of the Raven (A The Sword of Rhiannon Prequel)

by Melissa E Beckwith

  He took her hand in his own large, pale hand and tenderly rubbed her skin with his thumb. “How is it a man that works in the stable has not one callus on his hands?” She had wanted to ask before but had thought it too presumptuous of her. However, they had known each other long enough now she did not feel so awkward about asking.

  “I—uh, mostly work with the horses now. I take them out for their daily exercise. And I wear gloves, of course.” She felt him tense under her. She smiled at him. He was still embarrassed to talk about his work.

  “Someday you must take me to the stables to see these great royal horses.”

  “Raven!” April called out to her. Her noon break must be over already. She felt Eric let out a breath he had been holding, but she quickly pushed it out of her mind.

  She lowered herself down and kissed Eric then jumped to her feet and brushed off bits of grass and leaves from her blue skirts. She ran her small hand over the leaves of the bushes and low hanging tree branches, and they parted for her. “Thank you, my friends, for your help in hiding us,” she whispered to them. She turned back to Eric, who had gotten up from the blanket he had spread on the grass. He smiled sheepishly at her. “I’ll see you tonight!” she said, then she ran off back to the kitchen.

  That evening the moon hung full in a clear sky dancing with cold starlight. Torches burned throughout the Royal Garden lending their golden, flickering light to the moon’s steady illumination. She sat up in an old oak disguised as her namesake: a raven, and watched Eric as he stood looking over the dark waters of a large pond tucked back into a quiet corner of the garden.

  The night was warm, and the ancient, massive trees of the Royal Garden, sheltered them from most of the relentless, salty wind that constantly blew off the Carniad Sea. Here, in this perfect garden, roses and moonflowers perfumed the air as the lonely call of a night bird echoed through leafy boughs and the gentle lullaby of frogs floated up to her ears.Weary from her hard work in the kitchen all day, Raven still could be no happier. As she looked down at Eric she studied this profile in the wavering yellow light of the crackling torches. She felt filled up with raw, unrestrained emotion. She had left Ghroc and come to Sona Tuath for an adventure, but found an all-encompassing passion that threatened to swallow her whole.

  He had not seen her in her blessed form yet, and she hesitated to show herself. Would he be disgusted? Or would he see her as some bizarre oddity? Apprehension lay like a stone in the pit of her belly. If he rejected her, she did not know how she could live through it.

  Finally, she threw caution to the wind and jumped off the tree branch floating down to the scrolling arm of an iron bench beside Eric. He turned, looked down at her and smiled, and she could see he immediately knew who she was. She cocked her head and looked up at him with her bird eye, her midnight-black feathers glowing in the torchlight. She wished she could return his smile in this form, but she was smiling on the inside.

  She hopped down upon the grass and said a quick prayer to Pom-Ni and silently melted out of her raven form into the form a girl. Eric’s eyes grew wide for a moment, but then they crinkled up into his familiar smile. For a long time, they did not speak, just looked into each other’s eyes. She knew from the softness in his eyes and the warmth of his smile that he approved of her abilities. A warmth spread over her as she realized she had been accepted.

  Finally, she stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He immediately took her in his arms and laid his cheek on the top of her head. “I was wondering how long it was going to take for you to trust me enough to show me,” he whispered.

  “I didn’t know how you’d react.”

  He stepped away from her a little and looked into her eyes. “You worried that I wouldn’t accept you?” He was almost incredulous. He sounded wounded. “I love you, Raven. You are my moon and stars. I love everything about you.”

  “You don’t find me odd?” She tilted her head a little, pinpointing her gaze.

  “Certainly not! And besides, what other man in Sona Tuath can say he has a woman that can change into the form of any animal she chooses?” His smile was wide, warm and adorably lopsided.

  “I guess none since as far as I know, I’m the only Goyor in Sona Tuath,” she laughed.

  Suddenly he got a mischievous look in his eye. “Let’s go for a swim.” He unlaced his tunic and pulled it over his head.

  “But, I-uh…” Raven backed away and watched him in shock as he disrobed. She had never seen a naked man before! The paleness of his skin surprised her, but his form was very pleasing and woke in her feelings she had never experienced. Her faced burned hot as she turned her eyes down to the carpet of thick grass, wondering what she should do next.

  She looked back up at him when she heard splashing water. “Come on, Raven! ‘Tis hot tonight, let’s cool off in the pond.” Without another word, he walked into the black water. “’Tis nice and cool, come in!” And then he was gone, disappearing under the ripples of the pond.

  Her heart slammed in her chest as she stood there in indecision. Finally, he came up from under the water, and she watched as his golden hair glistened and dripped under the cool moonlight, the dark water lapping at his wide chest. He made a motion for her to join him.

  She took a deep breath, making her decision, and quickly undid the laces of her dress and pulled it over her head. Her hands shook as she then let her shift drop to the ground, then her small clothes. The warm air seemed cooler, and she was overwhelmed with a feeling of vulnerability. She glanced around, but they were all alone. She looked up at the trees suddenly wanting nothing more than to melt into a bird and hide amongst the leaves.

  But she would not. She took another deep breath, the sweet fragrance of roses heavy in the air, and started to walk toward the water. Eric had been silently waiting and now smiled that silly grin as he watched her slowly approach. The warm grass left off and the cool mud squished in between her toes as she hesitantly entered the cold water. The shock of the crisp water rose gooseflesh across her dark skin as she moved deeper into the pond.

  Eric walked up to meet her, so she did not have to go too deep. “’Tis cold,” she mildly complained as she walked into his embrace and rested her head on the chilled skin of his chest.

  “’Twill warm up now.” His voice was deep and husky and vibrated on her cheek. She looked up at him; his usually bright eyes were now dark and serious. He bent down and took her mouth in his. She stiffened at his suddenly overwhelming closeness, but eventually relaxed into their kiss and tight embrace. Finally, he released her mouth and whispered, “I will always protect you, my dark maiden of the forest.” She smiled up at him; content in the certainty of that promise.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  In the morning, she and April dressed in companionable silence. She wondered if April was as tired as she was. Raven had been out with Eric until the early morning hours, so she felt sluggish and yearned for the warmth of her comfortable bed. The castle’s inhabitance, however, needed their food, so she threw on her blue dress, tied her apron strings and hastily tightened up a few braids that had come loose while she slept. She splashed water on her face and dabbed it with a towel. She happened to glance up at herself in the mirror and saw how her usually plump skin was lined with fatigue and dark wedges hung under her eyes. Her magical night with Eric spend under the full moon, and his soft caresses were like a dream she did not want to wake from, but they would take a toll on her work this morning. She would have to retire early tonight.

  Raven looked over at April when she did not hear the girl’s movements any longer. April was looking at her with a grin on her face. “What?”

  “You’ve been spending a lot of time with your beau, lately.”

  “Have I?” Raven smiled and threw the towel at her.

  “It must be serious, huh?”

  “Perhaps…”

  “You said he was a groom?” April asked, nonchalantly as she slipped her feet into her shoes.

  “Yes. He exer
cises the Royal Horses.” Raven answered, proudly.

  “What did you say his name was?”

  “I didn’t say.” Raven smiled, reveling in the intrigue.

  “Come on, out with it, what’s his name?”

  “Eric!” she finally blurted out, not being able to keep it secret any longer.

  April got a thoughtful expression on her face. “Is he new? I thought I knew everyone that worked down there and I’ve never heard of him.”

  Raven crinkled up her face. “I don’t think so. He more or less said he worked his way up to exercising the horses now. He said that’s why he doesn’t have any callouses on his hands.” She smiled at the memory of how smooth his hands felt on her bare skin.

  When she looked back up at April, the girl was wearing a very concerned look on her face. “Has he actually taken you down to the stables and shown you where he works?” April’s words were hesitant and careful.

  “Well, no.” It pained Raven more than she thought to admit that.

  “I’d be careful if I were you, Raven. Castle boys see a pretty new girl and scheme to take advantage.” April’s brows drew together in concern as she pinned her friend with a serious stare. “You haven’t dallied with him, have you?” Raven’s face grew hot with shame, and she looked down at the floor. She could hear April’s indrawn breath. “Raven!”

  Just then someone called out their names from down the hallway, and she realized they were late. She looked up at April whose face held a shocked expression and then gave her an awkward smile, shrugged her shoulders, then quickly ran out of their room grateful for the reprieve.

  When Raven arrived, she could see Rubi standing on the other side of the kitchen with a fancy looking lady. Her perfectly coifed hair and colorful satin and lace gown looked totally out of place in the busy kitchen. When Rubi saw Raven, she waved the girl over, and Raven quickly joined them.

  “Raven, this is Mattie, one of Queen Danielle’s Ladies-in-waiting. She wants to borrow you for a while,” Rubi said, laughing nervously and smiling at the younger woman.

  “Of course.” Raven stepped closer to the woman and could smell the spicy, dry scent of her perfume. Even though she had been out of the forest for months, and had gotten used to most of the other smells of the castle, the artificial smell still took her by surprise.

  “Follow me.” She looked down her nose at Rubi and Raven with a look that conveyed she clearly wanted to leave the kitchen as quickly as possible. Without another word, the woman turned and hastily strode away not even checking to see if Raven was following. Raven trailed behind her, taking large steps to keep up with the taller woman. She had not done much exploring in the castle; she feared the color of her skin would make her stand out and she would not be able to roam around inconspicuously. Plus, she had not had much time to herself since she had met Eric.

  Mattie and Raven quickly left the servant’s areas and entered a grand hall. Huge paintings and bright tapestries she knew must have come from the famed village of Bell hung on the walls. The exotic rugs that covered the stone floors were soft under her slippered feet as they hurried toward an opulent, wide staircase; a deep blue rug spilled down the stairs kept in place by shiny silver bars. Mattie took her skits in her gloved hands and started to climb, Raven followed closely. After briskly passing down three hallways and ascending two more staircases, they finally arrived at the Tower of Roses—the queen’s apartments.

  Two guardsmen stood at attention on either side of huge wooden doors. A butler dressed in a crisp, black tunic and breeches pulled one of the heavy doors open, so the women could enter. They came into an empty receiving chamber filled with more blue carpet and whimsical Bell tapestries on the walls. Raven continued to obediently follow Mattie down a hallway where many scented candles burned in silver sconces on the walls casting a yellow glow on everything.

  Finally, they entered a huge living room. The same blue carpet with scrolling silver edges covered the stone floors. The biggest tapestries Raven had ever seen hung above an empty fireplace and portrayed the Castle Sona Tuath hanging from a bright, white cliff looking over a deep, red ocean. Birds silently hung in a blue sky and miles of green pastures rolled off into the distance under a yellow sun. The room was filled with heavy, dark furniture and extravagant vases full of giant clumps of fresh flowers. Raven’s sensitive senses were overwhelmed. Many huge windows framed by heavy yellow drapes that pooled on the floor stood open, letting sunlight brighten the cavernous room. The cool morning air would soon be turning warm, but the constant ocean wind gently flowed through the room making it quite comfortable.

  In a particularly sunny corner sat a group of women who had looked up from their embroidery when Mattie and Raven had entered the room. Four women, of varying ages, in equally as fine dresses as Mattie’s, clustered around a very regal looking woman of middle years whom Raven could only guess was Queen Danelle Basilias herself. She wore no official crown, but a dainty golden circlet sat atop her gleaming, red hair. Her deep burgundy dress was even finer than those of her ladies-in-waiting. In the heat of the summer, the queen wore a sleeveless dress, and Raven noticed her milk-colored skin was sprayed with light freckles. Raven had never seen freckles before. The queen smiled kindly at her, but the warmth did not extend to her green eyes. Curled at her feet lay a tiny dog with scruffy brown fur wearing an elaborate blue color. He lazily looked up when she entered the room, sniffed the air and then quietly returned to his nap.

  “Come, Raven,” she ordered and waved the girl closer. Raven’s heart pounded in her ears as she tried to determine if she were in trouble and how the queen even knew her name. Immediately she thought of all the time she spent in the Royal Garden which was off limits to all servants but the gardeners. Someone must have spotted her and Eric and reported it to the queen. She hoped Eric had not gotten sacked for their trespassing. Suddenly she felt ill as if she might vomit on the bright, blue rugs. “’Tis alright, dear, come here, don’t worry, I won’t bite.” Her ladies-in-waiting all giggled, and Raven felt her face burn.

  Slowly she approached the queen, demurely keeping her eyes upon the floor, wishing she could be anywhere but here and then did an elaborate curtsy hoping it was adequate. Her hands were clasped together to keep them from trembling. She stood before the Queen of Beaynid; sweat prickled her armpits and moistened her back, though the day had not yet become hot. She wished she were in those cool waters of the dark pond within the protection of Eric’s arms. But how could a mere groom protect her from an angry queen? Suddenly she wondered at the wisdom of her leaving Ghroc.

  “I hear you are a hard worker,” the queen complimented Raven, and she looked up at the older woman.

  “I try to be, Your Grace.” Raven slowly breathed in through her nose to try and slow her heart.

  “Rubi says you’re one of her best workers. And the other servants all have nice things to say about you.” Raven swallowed, wondering where this conversation was going.

  “Yes, Your Grace, I get on well with everyone.” Her voice sounded weak and high, and she cursed herself for being so timid.

  “Well, Raven, I am looking for a girl who works hard to take a position as one of my handmaidens. I can’t think of anyone more deserving than you. After all, you are a representative of Ghroc, am I right?”

  “Yes, Your Highness. I am from Ghroc.”

  “Well, then, I think you’d be a perfect handmaiden. That is, unless you are from a noble family in Ghroc. In that case, you’d be welcome as one of my ladies-in-waiting. Are you from a noble family?”

  “W-we don’t have noble families as the Suen’s do, Your Grace.” Raven spared a moment to look around at the women cloistered around the queen. Their pride was evident upon their fine, creamy features, but their curiosity was just as strong.

  “Well, that’s a shame, then. That would have really been something, had you been of noble birth, I could have married you off to one of my sons and created an alliance between Beaynid and Ghroc. ‘Tis said the Forest F
olk have great power. What a loss.” The queen’s voice was too lilting and almost shrill, and she wore an expression like she knew something Raven had not been privy to. An uncomfortable feeling began to wash over her as if she was the butt of some inside joke. “However,” the queen continued, “being a handmaiden to a queen is a very desirable position.” Queen Danelle looked back down to her embroidery and started working again as if to dismiss her.

  “I am sure it is, Your Highness. I would be most flattered, of course. I would be happy to serve you.”

  “Very well, then. Clair, can you please show Raven to her new quarters and give her an appropriate wardrobe.” The queen spoke without looking up, and a young woman she had not even been aware of appeared beside her and gently took her elbow and guided her out of the presence of the queen and her court. Raven spared one more backward glance at the Queen of Beaynid and her little brown dog.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Instead of leaving the Queen’s apartments, they took a turn down the first hallway they entered and through another room that lay cool and empty with its windows closed tight, and the heavy drapes pulled shut. Finally, they entered a very austere room compared to the rest of The Tower of Roses. The walls were a stark white. One long, narrow window was cut into one of the walls framed by creamy muslin curtains which hung open, a shaft of morning sunlight stabbing through the wavy glass to pool on the bare stone floor. There were six narrow beds along one wall, all meticulously made up with sheets, two blankets, and one feather pillow. On the facing wall were six large wardrobes, their rustic exteriors were painted in a bright white.