Cassandra's Challenge

by M. K. Eidem

  “But…”

  “No buts Cassandra, you’re not getting enough rest.” His eyes challenging.

  “I’m getting as much as you are.”

  “I’m not carrying a child.” Speaking, he gently touches the place where their son rests.

  “We’re fine.” She covers his hand with one of hers.

  “And I’ll make sure you stay that way.”

  “William…” Cassandra looks into his eyes. “Victoria knows.”

  “What?”

  “About the baby, she recognized the test, from her mother.”

  “And she hasn’t said anything?”

  “No, she just told me last night, when she asked, I couldn’t lie to her.” She looks at him hoping he’d understand.

  “Of course you couldn’t.” He looks at her. “She’s okay with it?” He frowns, thinking about the little brother she’d lost.

  “She thinks it’s awesome.”

  “Really?” He has to grin. “That’s good. I need to tell the boys.” He sees the concern in her eyes. “It will be fine. So you’ll rest.” William won’t be distracted, his eyes bore into hers. “Then you’ll eat.”

  “William.” She starts to disagree.

  “Then we’ll have our Union.” She closes her mouth.

  “And you say I always win an argument.”

  William gives her a quick kiss. “I think we both win.”

  “So do I.” He rolls out of bed before he changes his mind.

  “Sleep.” He orders than heads to the shower. Smiling he thinks of all he has to do.

  “Lucas?” William walks into his ready room.

  “What? Oh dad hi.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Wrong? Nothing, what could be wrong? Victoria’s having nightmares, I can’t help her but hey, nothing’s wrong.” William can see the frustration in his son’s eyes.

  “You want too, feel like you should be able too, because she’s your life mate.”

  “Yes.”

  “Lucas, she maybe, someday, she maybe your life mate, but not today. Today she is a nine cycle little girl who needs her Aunt, someone to guide and protect her.”

  “I can do that.” Lucas interrupts.

  “To be a parent.” William finishes. “You can’t be both Lucas, you can’t be a parent and a life mate, it doesn’t work that way. You have to choose.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If you want to someday, when she’s old enough to understand, claim her as yours then right now you have to step back. Let her become that person.”

  “That leaves her unprotected!”

  “I’ll protect her. Cassandra and I will. She’s ours to raise.” He looks into his son’s eyes. “When she’s old enough she’ll make her own decision.”

  “How do I step back? How do I take that risk?” Lucas sits down.

  “By trusting me, trusting Cassandra, and mostly trusting Victoria. If there’s no trust, then there is no relationship.”

  “Like you and mom.”

  “What?” William freezes.

  “You didn’t trust each other, not after what she did.” His meets his father’s eyes. “I know you tried to make it work, after she lied to you about having conceived.”

  “Lucas…”

  “I’ve known for a long time. But when she did conceive, me, you stayed.”

  “You’re my son, of course I stayed.”

  “But you didn’t trust her again. And she never really believed you’d stay.”

  “We both made mistakes.”

  “Yeah…I don’t want to make one with Victoria.”

  “She needs the chance to grow up, to find her way. Find her way to you. If that’s her choice, you have to give her that choice Lucas.”

  “It scares the fuck out of me dad. What if she chooses someone else?”

  “Her choice Lucas.” William puts a hand on his son’s shoulder. “But I promise you if she’s given the choice and chooses you, you’ll be the luckiest man on the planet.”

  “You’re speaking of Cassandra.”

  “Yes. Is your brother awake?” William stands to walk around the desk.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Would you go find him for me, bring him down here, I need to talk to both of you.”

  “Dad, what’s going on?” Lucas frowns at him, something’s up.

  “Please, get your brother.”

  “Okay.”

  “Shut the door.” With one last look Lucas leaves shutting the door.

  Picking up the headset William pushes a button, and waits.

  “Jotham, its Will. I need a favor.”

  “Ask.”

  “I would like you to perform Cassandra’s and my Union this afternoon.”

  “Excuse me?” William is silent. “Will, you’re serious?”

  “Definitely.”

  “If she becomes Queen….”

  “We’ll deal with that when the time comes.”

  “Why now Will?”

  “Jotham, I want her for my wife. She wants me for her husband. She wants to be Cassandra Qwes Zafar.”

  “What….” Jotham is stunned.

  “I want it too. I hadn’t realized how badly I wanted it until she said it.” He leans back in his chair. “I’m asking my friend and King for his help.”

  “What time.” William releases a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

  “1500.”

  “I’ll be there by 1430.”

  “Thanks. And Jotham, bring Barek.”

  “I’ll let him know.” The King disconnects.

  William is just taking off the headset when there is a knock on the door. “Enter.” Lucas and Kyle walk in. “Close the door, sit down.”

  William watches his sons as they sit. They are two grown men he was very proud of, soon he’d have a third. The thought filled him with pride and terrifies him.

  “Dad, what is it.” Kyle asks.

  “Queen Yakira has called for and been granted a full Assembly to finish the Challenge tomorrow at 1300.”

  “What!” Kyle sits forward. “There haven’t been all the gatherings.”

  “And there won’t be. It’s done.” William looks at his sons. “Today at 1500 King Jotham will be here to perform a Union, a Union between myself and Cassandra.”

  “Today?” Kyle looks at Lucas. “Why?”

  “It’s what I want, it’s what Cassandra wants.” Time to tell them everything. “There’s more.”

  “What?” Lucas asks.

  “Cassandra’s conceived.” Both his sons sit back stunned. William waits.

  “You’re sure, she’s sure?” Lucas asks.

  “Yes.”

  “It could be all the adjustments she’s gone through.” Kyle tells him.

  “That was Cassandra’s first thought. It’s why she waited so long to tell me, she wanted to be sure.”

  “Are you?” Lucas has to ask knowing why his mother and father got married.

  “Lucas, I haven’t done anything to prevent it.”

  “But…”

  “I wanted her to conceive, selfish of me, but there it is.”

  “It’s why she was light headed at the ball.” Kyle says.

  “Yes.”

  “It’s why she seems to be tiring easier.”

  “Yes. She’s pushing too hard. Trying to handle too much on her own, she’s stubborn that way.”

  “Oh she is?” Lucas challenges with a smile. William smiles back.

  “So now you know. Are either of you going to have a problem with this?”

  “Dad…what do you want us to say?”

  “Congratulations would be nice.” William’s face hardens.

  “This is what you want, what you really want?” Kyle asks.

  “I want Cassandra as my wife more than I’ve wanted anything in my life.” The conviction in his voice has Kyle hesitating.

  “And the baby.”

  “Scares the hell out of me, she’s so little. Onc
e this Challenge is over she’s going to the best doctor on the planet if I have to tie her up to get her there.”

  The brothers grin at each other, it’s rare to see their father expression his emotions this way. Cassandra’s had a good effect on him.

  “If your good with it so am I.” Kyle replies first.

  “Me too.” Lucas says.

  “Thank you. Both of you, it means a lot. You know it doesn’t change anything, between the three of us.”

  “Yes it does.” Kyle’s not going to lie to his father. “But that’s okay, it’ll just get better. I’ll finally get to be a big brother. Oh crap!” Kyle pales.

  “What!”

  “What if it’s a girl? What do we do with a girl?” William laughs at the stricken look on both his sons faces.

  “I personally happen to like women.” William chuckles.

  “Women yeah, but little girls….they’re terrifying. Look at Victoria last night. She nearly scared me to death, I’ve never felt so helpless in my entire life.” Kyle shutters remembering. “She’s okay isn’t she?”

  “Yes. Still sleeping, and I’ll let you off the hook. It’s a boy.”

  “What! How can you know that?” Lucas demands.

  “According to Cassandra a Qwes woman always has a son first.”

  “Really? She’s got that documented?” Kyle’s eyes sparkle.

  “God, sometimes you’re just like her, all excited about data.” Kyle just smiles at him.

  “So 1430 we meet down here with Jotham and Barek.”

  Rising Cassandra can’t help but smile. She’s gotten a good three hours of sleep now it’s time to get ready for her Union with William.

  “Aunt Cassie?” Pulling on her robe she turns to find Victoria in the doorway.

  “Hi. How are you this morning?” She walks over to kneel down in front of her niece.

  “Okay, sorry about last night.”

  “Hey there’s nothing to be sorry about.” She pulls her into her arms. “We all have bad dreams.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes.”

  “You never tell me.”

  “I guess it’s because I tell William.”

  “And he makes them go away, like you do for me?”

  “Yes.” Victoria thinks about it.

  “I guess that’s okay than along as you tell someone.” Cassandra gives her a quick hug.

  “Are you just getting up too?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good then we can eat together and talk. I’m thinking flatcakes what about you?”

  “That sounds good.”

  “Do you want to call Hutu or me?”

  “I will…” Victoria runs to the comm.

  “Victoria Lynn, no fudge torta.” Her mouth waters at the thought.

  “Oh man….” Smiling she watches her niece talk to Hutu. She’s okay.

  Cassandra isn’t sure she’d ever had flatcakes that tasted this good. Finishing her plate she sees Victoria’s eyes are wide.

  “Sorry.” She swallows the bite in her mouth. “We were supposed to be talking.”

  “That’s okay. I’ve never seen you eat like that. It must be the baby.” Victoria says in a knowing voice. “Did you know that when Amina was born she weighted ten hectic… pounds?”

  “Ten?” Cassandra pales just a little. She is going to have to talk to Javiera.

  “Yeah, I was only eight.”

  “I know I was there.” Cassandra smiles at her.

  “So what’s up Aunt Cassie?”

  “Well…I was wondering if you’d like to go to a wedding this afternoon?”

  “A wedding? Who’s?” Victoria’s eyes widen as she stares at her Aunt. “Yours? You and the Admiral?”

  “Yes.”

  “Really? Reallyreallyreally?” Victoria is out of her chair, jumping up and down.

  “Really.” She has to laugh at her excitement.

  “I’ll have an Uncle William!”

  “Yes you will.” William enters the room, hearing Victoria. Leaning over he gives Cassandra a hard kiss. “Good morning.”

  “It is.” She touches the side of his face, enjoying the look in his eyes.

  “This is better than the baby! Ooops….” Victoria stops jumping. “Sorry Aunt Cassie.”

  “That’s okay honey, I told William you know.”

  “But I promised not to say anything.”

  “I think we can forgive you.” He picks her up smiling. “I see you got your Aunt to eat.” He looks at the empty plate.

  “She was really hunger. I told her it was the baby.”

  “You may be right.”

  “Do Lucas and Kyle know yet?” Victoria questions.

  “I just got done telling them.”

  “About the baby too?”

  “Yes.” He watches her.

  “Can I go over know then? I can tell Amina can’t I?”

  William looks at Cassandra to see what she thinks. “Yes that’s fine.”

  “Awesome!” She wiggles out of William’s arms. “Bye!”

  “Wait.” The Admiral’s voice stops her cold. “You can’t just run across.”

  “I forgot, sorry.”

  “I’ll walk you over. I’ll be right back.” He tells Cassandra as he follows Victoria.

  Waiting Cassandra looks out the window to Lata’s garden. It is a beautiful day.

  “What are you thinking?” William’s arms go around her.

  “Just that it’s a beautiful day.” She turns in his arms. “So tell me Admiral, what have you been doing today?”

  “Oh a little of this, a little of that.” He caresses her cheek. “Planning a Union.”

  “Really…anything I can help with?”

  “That depends I thought we’d have it in Lata’s garden.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  “I need to know what you want. I don’t know how it was done on Earth.”

  “All I need is you. You, your sons and Victoria, but I’d like everyone else there if possible, including Jotham and Barek.”

  “I’ve taken care of that. Jotham’s agreed to perform the ceremony.”

  “Jotham? The King performs Unions?” She frowns.

  “He can, it’s not common, but it can be done.”

  “How is it normally done?” William hesitates, “William?”

  “A Guide usually performs the ceremony.”

  “Like the one from the Temple.”

  “Yes.”

  “And we’re not having one because….”

  “A Guide wouldn’t perform the ceremony.” He watches the sparkle go out of her eyes.

  “Why?” She asks softly.

  “There are protocols, things that must be determined before a Guide will perform a Union.”

  “You had one with Salish.”

  “Yes.”

  “So it has nothing to do with my having conceived.”

  “No! Cassandra, it’s a formality, not everyone has a Guide perform the ceremony. There are others who perform it, it’s still recognized.”

  “But you didn’t want to tell me. Why?”

  William runs a hand through his hair, his frustration showing. “I didn’t want you upset about it.” She waits. “Some will consider it void when you become Queen.”

  “If. Why?”

  “Because we’re from two different Houses.”

  “Let them try and void my Union.” Cassandra’s eyes blaze. “And we’re not from two different Houses!”

  “You’re Qwes Cassandra, that’s House of Knowledge.”

  “I also descend for Kayden. That’s House of Protection.”

  “They won’t see it that way.”

  “I don’t care how they see it that’s the way it is.”

  William pulls her close for a quick kiss. That’s all he’s allowing himself. “Let’s worry about it if it happens. Right now I need to know what you what for the ceremony.”

  “William…I don’t know how it’s done here. All I know is I want to be y
our wife.” She puts a hand over his heart.

  “Go change. I’ll have Javiera come over, you two can talk, find out what you want. Jotham won’t be here until 1430.” He nudges her towards the bedroom.

  “But William…”

  “Cassandra, I’m going to be no help here, this is something women talk about.” The lost look on his face makes her smile.

  “Well at least that’s the same as on Earth. You men get all flustered with wedding details.” She gives him a teasing look. “Are you sure you don’t want to join me? We are all alone….”

  William’s eyes flare into hers. “You’re a tease sometimes.” He pulls her against his chest, kissing her until she’s limp in his arms. Finally he releases her lips.

  “That will have to hold me until tonight.” He smiles as he watches Cassandra’s eyes start to focus again.

  “I’m not the only tease around here.” She’s breathless looking at him.

  “That wasn’t a tease, it was a promise.” He rubs his hands down her back one last time before stepping away.

  “I’ll hold you to it.” She watches him leave before turning to get dressed.

  “Cassandra!” Javiera calls from the private area.

  “Be right there.” Pulling her hair up she heads for the door. “Hi!” She has a big grin on her face.

  “Hi…Hi…. What do you mean Hi! Get over here!” Javiera sweeps her into a big hug. “A baby and a Union! This is great!”

  Cassandra hugs Javiera back suddenly tearing up. It seems like a life time since she’s just been able to sit down and talk to her, when in reality it’d only been nine days. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to talk to a woman. William had.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Javiera leans back giving her a worried look.

  “I’m fine. I just missed you. So much has been going on.”

  “You’re telling me, gatherings, dinner with the King, balls, Dadrian’s death, now a Union, and a baby.”

  “I know and I’ve barely been able to talk to you.”

  “So we’ll talk now.” Javiera leads her to the couch, sitting down. “Leander and Lucas are with the girls under orders to keep them occupied. No interruptions.”

  “That would be nice. Better than nice.” Cassandra sighs.

  “What do you need to know?”

  “There’s the problem, I don’t know.” She gives her a lost look. “Let’s start with the Union ceremony. Tell me how it’s normally down on Carina, how was yours and Leander’s?”