Queen Faelan, flushed and weak as Abiel had ever seen her slumped exhausted and enveloped in a palpable aura of misery. Prince Alnoah struggled and fussed, confined to his swaddling blanket and his mother's clenched arm. He let out a gurgle followed by a piercing cry. The Queen winced, a flash of irritation on her paled face. Abiel had never seen such distress from a new mother, not that she'd known many. Abiel did her best to find sympathy for what the Queen had suffered from childbirth and what appeared to be an all to slow recovery from it.
"Your Majesty," the nursemaid held out her hands gesturing that she would take the prince. The Queen rose unsteadily to shove the crying baby at the nursemaid. Prince Alnoah continued to struggle. The nursemaid was now clearly tense and afraid that the Queen would be further upset. Two young servant girls were also aware and rushed forward, one to see to the Queen, the other to the nurse to try to help. The Queen slapped weakly at the girl and shooed her away as she returned to the throne, resting her face in her hand.
An awkward silence fell upon the great hall, the men and Abiel useless and unable to assist, exchanged glances.
Father Thornhold stepped forward. "Your Majesty, if I might sugge..."
"Yes yes anything, just see to it!" The Queen's irritation flared, she struggled to compose herself.
The gristle-faced father moved to the nursemaid.
"May I?" he smiled as he held out his hands to the elder nursemaid Anmari.
"Of course, Father Thornhold." Her pale cheeks flushed, and she tried her best to hide her unease behind a smile.
Father Thornhold gently took the boy with his usual overly-firm appearing manner, Anmari gasped but then relaxed when she realized how delicate the father's handling was. He appeared well skilled, even King Nikolaus smiled. It had been a long time since Abiel had seen the King smile. Father Thornhold cradled the prince in one arm, holding him to his chest and gently bounced and rocked little Alnoah, smiling down. Alnoah stared wide-eyed from beneath the blue-saturated velvet, managing to wriggle a pink hand free to touch at the unshaven jaw of the priest. The baby stared in wonder at the short rough hairs, the slight sting against his sensitive tiny fingers. The prince looked near to crying before he giggled and gurgled, the father smiled wider and laughed lightly as he approached Abiel and looked to her. Alnoah began to struggle and fuss again. Duty kept Abiel still, though the approach of the baby instilled a desire to step back. This was an all too unfamiliar role, it had only been a fortnight since the birth of the prince.
Father Thornhold gave Abiel a reassuring look and stood shoulder to shoulder with her so that she could see Prince Alnoah, who now stared wide-eyed at the assassin.
"His Majesty Prince Alnoah, first born son of King Nikolaus and Queen Faelan, it is my sincere honour to introduce to you formally, your greatest protector and loyal servant, the Sword and Shield of the land, Abiel, Dreadknight of Demonax,"
The Queen soured further at the mention, the King's jaw clenched. Father Thornhold continued without wavering, "May she serve and protect you through life and reign. May they both be long and prosperous." Father Thornhold moved the Prince into Abiel's stiff unfamiliar arms. "Defender Abiel, I give into your care, Prince Alnoah, your ward and heir to the throne of the northern kingdom. Long may he reign." Father Thornhold continued smiling.
"Long may he reign." the voices echoed the father's words in the room.
"Father," Abiel said quietly, unsure.
"The bond must be strong and it must be real. He will not remain a baby for long, treasure the experience. You need it." The father tried not to laugh, several of the men did. "Always give support here," he instructed and gently caressed the back of the Prince's head, who was still staring at Abiel but also seemed pleased by the father's voice and touch.
Abiel adjusted and readjusted awkwardly, the prince appeared amused and entertained as did Father Thornhold. Prince Alnoah giggled and smiled, seemingly content at last.
"At least he likes someone," The Queen hissed under her breath. "I am going back to sleep. Finally." she pronounced. Nikolaus was quick to hide his surprise of Faelan's begrudging tolerance, only to be visibly surprised when she put out her hand to him. "Help me to my chambers."
Nikolaus practically leapt from his throne to assist his wife.
"Of course, my love." Nikolaus helped her rise and steady herself and assisted Faelan from the hall, the two younger servant girls following closely behind. Once they had gone, Anmari stepped quickly to Abiel.
"My Lady," Anmari inclined her head. The prince squirmed to look the servant eye level, then back to Abiel as though he were waiting for a judgement on the nursemaid. Father Thornhold bit his lower lip.
"Good mother, I need your guidance more than I need a lecture. I admit to having no experience in the care or company of babies." Abiel spoke plainly. The nursemaid's mouth hung openly as her mind reeled at the tone and admission, deciding on how best to handle the assassin holding the prince.
"Yes? Yes, of course." Anmari decided she wanted to live. What little interaction she had actually had with Abiel, the nursemaid had found the king's sword and shield to be as blunt as an axe handle and not nearly as sharp as the swords she carried. But Anmari understood people are not always as simple as they seemed, forcing her to at least for the moment, reassess her opinion. The demon was holding the prince after all.
"As the Father instructed, you'll support the neck and head here, keeping the torso up at angle to your br-chest..." Anmari realized the knight was wearing a light plate under her loose tunic.
"Babies prefer the warmth and find a heartbeat comforting."
Father Thornhold bit his lip harder and had to turn away to hide the humor he was finding in this.
"May I...?" Anmari gestured at the baby to adjust the position in the crook of Abiel's arm.
"Of course, 'mum." Abiel replied. A look of disapproval showed on the nursemaid's face. Father Thornhold was visibly shaking in silent laughter, Abiel did not fail to notice. "May I call you 'mum?"
"You absolutely may." Anmari was surprised by the question.
"Then what is the problem?" Abiel asked in her usual firm tone. The Prince turned his tiny head with a stern look on his face, awaiting the nursemaid's response.
Anmari's face lost its color momentarily until she found her grit and steeled herself.
"It is, if I may, unseemly. This... You," she gestured with a wave toward the armor and at Abiel. Father Thornhold turned and looked at the Prince, the two shared a knowing look and returned their attention to the warrior and the nursemaid that was chiding her. "You. Caring for a baby? The Prince?" she scoffed, tone dripping in judgement.
Abiel's demeanor remained unchanged as ever. That frightened the nursemaid, who was doing her best to tamp it down the fear within herself. Anmari stepped forward again and covered the prince's exposed ears with her hands and whispered, "You are a demon and a killer and though the world and this kingdom owes you a debt, it is not for you to be influencing or endangering this precious soul." Anmari's sincerity was clear and Abiel did not disagree.
Abiel leaned forward to whisper into the nursemaid's ear. "Mum, it was I that held the debt. And I am not taking the boy to war... Yet."
Anmari gasped. Father Thornhold covered his mouth as he coughed to keep from laughing and leaned hard against Rohllo's broad shoulder. He'd never seen Abiel use humor before. He assumed she was joking. It was funny to him regardless.
Abiel straightened and continued in her usual dry tone. "Mum, I had to learn how to swing a sword. If this," she held Prince Alnoah away from herself and brought him back to her chest, "is to be my new duty, I will need to practice and learn. You can either help, that is my preference as Father Thornhold trusts you and you have the knowledge I need? Or find me someone who does."
"Yes, my lady." Anmari bowed her head.
"Do not call me that."
"I cannot call you 'my lord'?" Anmari looked to Father Thornhold for guidance.
Father Thornhold choked on his laughter, Prince Alnoah laughed at him.
"Call me by my name."
"But my la-..."
"You are the help, as am I." Abiel cut her off. "I am not stationed above you in this endeavor, quite the contrary. That is not to discount your fear, though you have cause, we shall go forward if it is agreeable, as equals."
Anmari wanted to be offended and looked to Father Thornhold again. The Father stepped between them to stand shoulder to shoulder and turned to address the nursemaid's concern.
"Yes. She is a demon sent from the Gods and for all the tales, she might be one of them or worse. But I give you my word, no matter how dreadful and charmless she may be," he smiled, "you have nought to fear. Perhaps you can help temper." Thornhold was quite pleased with himself. Abiel's reaction did not change and that did not help to ease Anmari. "The Gods gave you gifts and grace that make you a skilled compassionate caretaker. The prince will be well served by you. As will his warder. She may lack in a soft touch, if we are being honest, and see? I've said these things and I am still standing. Not because she is holding the prince, but because she knows that it is the truth. Abiel, am I speaking the truth? Further, are you angry or bothered that I have shared this?"
"No, Father." she looked at the nursemaid when she answered. "I am not eloquent or... soft. I leave those attributes to the Father, as he has no sword skill." Abiel's face remained unchanged though she had just purposefully mocked the father.
Father Thornhold spun on his heel, incredulous. "Did you...did you just make a joke? The cheek! May mud find its way into your best boots!" A long moment passed before the priest could not contain his amusement and pride. He doubled over in laughter. Once he'd contained himself Father Thornhold turned back to Anmari.
"It may not look as much, but slowly, very slowly, the devil is finding humor. In time, you will understand."
"Thank you Father Thornhold. I think I am beginning to." Anmari sighed. Prince Alnoah
"It may not look as much, but slowly, very slowly, the devil is finding humor. In time, you will understand."
"Thank you Father Thornhold. I think I am beginning to." Anmari sighed. Prince Alnoah
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