Title: The Heir
Title: The Heir
Author: skybirdday
Challenge: White Chocolate #3 -deceit, Chocolate #6 - grace
Rating: PG
Summary: King James announces his heir as Athena reveals her secret.
(You should probably reread the first story My King because this story refers to it)
"Your majesty, why have you called us together?"
The king stared at the speaker. "Lady Leto, I have assembled our small group to discuss the future and the person who is to be my heir before I present it to the people."
"Forgive me, your majesty, but is this not premature? You are still young. Why do you need an heir?" asked Gwynn.
"I have been having visions like my father before me. As my father dreamed of his death, I had a vision of mine," said King James. "Since the One is the only one who knows the exact time when I die, I wish to ease the transition of the new heir so that when my time comes, the people may accept them and also to ensure that no one else seeks the throne of the Western Kingdom. The heir shall protect the kingdom as soon as they ascend the throne."
"So, your majesty, who is it?" asked Leto.
"They are of royal lineage, their blood descended from both the Western and Southern kingdoms, the oldest grandchild of King Stephen and his wife. Her name is the Princess of the Western Kingdom Aurora Anne Athena."
At the sound of her name, Athena stepped forward.
Leto stared at her and said "What deceit is this? Why did you deceive us?"
"Leto, I did not intend to deceive you--"
"Did you now?" said Leto, her green eyes narrowing.
"Leto!" said Gwynn, turning to her. "She did not deceive us. It was you who assumed from the very start that she was a servant. At least she had the grace not to correct you."
"Young Gwynn is correct, my dear lady," said another. "Poor Stephen is not thought of as a good king in the eyes of the people. Think of the position that Lady Athena is in."
"I do not need your help to understand, Lord Brody," said Leto. "I thought that seeing as we worked as guards together that we shared all." Then she turned to King James and said "Your majesty, if this is all, I wish to retire now."
King James nodded and said "You are excused, Lady Leto."
Leto bowed and left the room. Gwynn sighed and said "Forgive her, your majesty," he said.
"It is all right, Lord Gwynn. Do you wish to follow her? You may go."
Gwynn nodded and follow after Leto.
Athena sighed and turned to the King. "You see, I was afraid of this. Once you tell the people, will they not react as Leto has done?"
"He cannot know, child," said Lord Brody. "Only after he reveals it, shall he know."
"Lord Brody is correct. By the way, my lady, how did she mistake you for a servant in the first place?"
Athena smiled. "Well, Father Ian, she assumed I was from the simple tunic and pants I wore with my old boots."
Father Ian and Lord Brody chuckled. "Sounds like when I met your grandfather and at the time, I did not think much of him, but now, I think he is and was a great man."
"Princess Athena, I say this to you now. Irreguardless of the feelings of the people good or bad, we three understand your situation. We will support you," said the king.
"Thank you. It means so much to me to hear that," said Athena with a nod.
King James nodded back and said "I wish to end our meeting by saying good night," he said.
Those assembled in turn said good night to the king and his heir before heading to their rooms.
END
Author: skybirdday
Challenge: White Chocolate #3 -deceit, Chocolate #6 - grace
Rating: PG
Summary: King James announces his heir as Athena reveals her secret.
(You should probably reread the first story My King because this story refers to it)
"Your majesty, why have you called us together?"
The king stared at the speaker. "Lady Leto, I have assembled our small group to discuss the future and the person who is to be my heir before I present it to the people."
"Forgive me, your majesty, but is this not premature? You are still young. Why do you need an heir?" asked Gwynn.
"I have been having visions like my father before me. As my father dreamed of his death, I had a vision of mine," said King James. "Since the One is the only one who knows the exact time when I die, I wish to ease the transition of the new heir so that when my time comes, the people may accept them and also to ensure that no one else seeks the throne of the Western Kingdom. The heir shall protect the kingdom as soon as they ascend the throne."
"So, your majesty, who is it?" asked Leto.
"They are of royal lineage, their blood descended from both the Western and Southern kingdoms, the oldest grandchild of King Stephen and his wife. Her name is the Princess of the Western Kingdom Aurora Anne Athena."
At the sound of her name, Athena stepped forward.
Leto stared at her and said "What deceit is this? Why did you deceive us?"
"Leto, I did not intend to deceive you--"
"Did you now?" said Leto, her green eyes narrowing.
"Leto!" said Gwynn, turning to her. "She did not deceive us. It was you who assumed from the very start that she was a servant. At least she had the grace not to correct you."
"Young Gwynn is correct, my dear lady," said another. "Poor Stephen is not thought of as a good king in the eyes of the people. Think of the position that Lady Athena is in."
"I do not need your help to understand, Lord Brody," said Leto. "I thought that seeing as we worked as guards together that we shared all." Then she turned to King James and said "Your majesty, if this is all, I wish to retire now."
King James nodded and said "You are excused, Lady Leto."
Leto bowed and left the room. Gwynn sighed and said "Forgive her, your majesty," he said.
"It is all right, Lord Gwynn. Do you wish to follow her? You may go."
Gwynn nodded and follow after Leto.
Athena sighed and turned to the King. "You see, I was afraid of this. Once you tell the people, will they not react as Leto has done?"
"He cannot know, child," said Lord Brody. "Only after he reveals it, shall he know."
"Lord Brody is correct. By the way, my lady, how did she mistake you for a servant in the first place?"
Athena smiled. "Well, Father Ian, she assumed I was from the simple tunic and pants I wore with my old boots."
Father Ian and Lord Brody chuckled. "Sounds like when I met your grandfather and at the time, I did not think much of him, but now, I think he is and was a great man."
"Princess Athena, I say this to you now. Irreguardless of the feelings of the people good or bad, we three understand your situation. We will support you," said the king.
"Thank you. It means so much to me to hear that," said Athena with a nod.
King James nodded back and said "I wish to end our meeting by saying good night," he said.
Those assembled in turn said good night to the king and his heir before heading to their rooms.
END