Aidan observed them in shock. Raising his arms, he roared a decisive, "Stop!"
The cavalry men did as commanded. But the rest needed some convincing. Viniria swung her arms, making webs fly out and swat them away.
"Your Majesty," the his military companions stuttered, gawking and mumbling amongs themselves. Viniria looked around, finding the situation as perplexing as they did.
The prince turned towards the castle and looked back at the knights in full combat gear. He found the place familiar, but he could not know for certain, seeing it so demolished. "Where are we? Why are you charging?" he addressed his men.
No one dared to reply. His elder brother hid from sight.
A gut-wrenching scream came from beyond the destroyed walls. Aidan gasped turning. "I would recognize that sweet voice anywhere. Zora! I'm here my love. I'm coming," he declared loudly.
The commander's looked back, uncertain what to do.
"You! Do not move. I have to go to her... Viniria make sure they obey!" he yelled hurrying through the ruble.
"With pleasure," the large fairy creature said. Its vine-like appendages raised behind her as she frowned, intimidating the nervous men even more.
Queen Anabelle bit her fingernails, watching over her daughter in labor. King Filip was hiding in the next room with his small son. The young woman took in deep breaths, sweating and hollering in horrible pain. The midwife and nanny squatted ready to catch the baby. "Just a little longer," they encouraged the young mother.
Zora let out a shrieking sound. There was a moment of silence. The baby started crying. She gasped relieved, falling back into bed.
"Zora, where are you?" the voice heard startled the very core of her soul.
"Aidan, are you here?" she mumbled, exhausted and covered in sweat.
"Yes, I have come!" he ran in, knealing next to her.
"Aidan!" she mouthed as if in a trance, with a smile so wide it showed most of her teeth.
Her husband took her hand. "I'm here. I'm here. Do not threat. I have come to save you."
"Oh my love. It is so early. What if something goes wrong?" she uttered as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"The baby looks perfect," the midwife said, wrapping up the crying baby.
Zora barely managed to turn her head. Her husband took out the small golden fruit and handed it to her.
"What is this?" the women stuttered.
"It is something to help you. Please eat it!"
The midwife protested. "She cannot eat now. Let her sleep. The mother needs to rest."
He clenched his jaw, impatient. "Darling, please eat it! It is the only way you will survive!" he said holding the fruit with a trembling hand.
"What?" she gasped in disbelief.
"Haven't I earned your trust after everything we've been through?" he said serious.
Zora did not think twice. She accepted the strange apple and took a big bite. Gold dust sprayed from the piece, first covering her mouth, then her face, until small golden pieces materialized all over her body. Covering her dress and hair, the fragile woman felt lighter than a feather. The nanny jumped startled as the princess started levitating above the bed. Her eyelids shut only for a second as Zora raised her head. Her eyeballs started glowing like bright gold. In a state of bliss, she felt the pain go away. Her body worked on its own.
King Aidan held in his breath, watching her gently land back on the bed. He came closer, holding her hand. Zora sighed, regaining consciousness.
"Is the baby alright?" she mumbled drowsy, as he pressed his head on her cheek.
"Yes. It is a healthy baby boy," the midwife said with tears of joy flowing down her face. Anabelle was crying as well. The tiny creature screamed his heart out, not knowing all the difficulties his parents had to face to have him.
The new mother accepted it into her arms as the father touched his small foot.
"We are a family now," she smiled warmly, turning to her husband. He kissed her in her hair, overwhelmed with joy.
"What is happening?" king Filip screamed, emerged from his hiding. His wife nudged him, smiling and weeping at the same time. The proud grandparents looked warmly at the lovely sight.
Swaying the helpless child, Zora raised her head in fright.
"What about the army outside?"
Aidan grunted, looking to the side.
The knights of The Seven Hill kingdom had dismounted their horses, while the archers held down their bows.
"Whose this your doing?" Vinira yelled from outside.
The nervous men shook their heads, cowering.
Viniria rolled her eyes. "Never mind. I already know. Where is he?" she uttered looking around.
The real culprit was hiding among the men, careful not to be spotted.
Fanfares were blown from the damaged castle, announcing the royal couple.
The soldiers stood up, attentive.
"My fellow countrymen," Aidan declared as Zora held their child. "Behold our son and heir! Your future ruler, prince Luka!"
Most men yelled in approval, ignoring the fact that they wanted to murder them only an hour ago. Still, some were in the opposition.
"Boo!" was the elegant statement of a nobleman on horseback.
The smile on Aidan's face instantly disappeared. Still, he contained his rage. "Who said that? Explain yourself!" he stated firmly.
The gray-haired nobleman raised his head. "I did. And in all my years on this earth, I have never heard that the son of a foreign princess had even a remote right to rule."
"That insolent," Aidan grumbled to himself.
"Let me handle this, dear," Zora replied, making her way to the rock balcony. "I apologize, good Sir. But did you say that never in the history of the kingdom, has a child of a foreigner become the ruler?" she asked calmly.
"That is correct!" the man replied with confidence. "The way you gained power is not in line with longtime traditions. You do not have the royal blood of our forefathers, who ruled for centuries."
"Is that your biggest complaint for holding the title?" she asked calmly.
"Indeed it is."
"Then I apologize, dear Sir, but by that reasoning, the former king Nathaniel loses right to half his land."
The men looked around in shock. The surprised Nathaniel raised his head over the archers.
"What do you mean, my love?" Aidan uttered stunned.
"You were not born yet. But the truth is the family of your sister-in-law, the great cousin of queen Olivia, brought over a large lot of land to the Seven Hill Kingdom. Almost half of it. Isn't that right?" she addressed the men below.
"I-" the noblemen stuttered, lost for words. "It was such a long time ago."
"Eighty years to be exact. In fact, the arrangement was so prosperous that another girl from the family was chosen. Queen Olivia was the only child of a wealthy landowner. She was 7 when her father died and Nathaniel only 8, so your father took it upon himself to arrange their marriage. Combined fairness and practicality, if you ask me."
The younger knights looked around, surprised. "Why hasn't anyone told us this?" they murmured in disbelief, while the older looked away awkwardly.
"In the old archives, I have read about their marriage contracts and a special law that was passed quickly afterward. By it, not only the children, but also any spouse of the royal family can take the throne if he or she sees fit. I can show you if you want."
The nobles murmured, some old enough to be present at the signing. Zora looked down upon the confused and embarrassed men, "I would say that proof is more than enough to make our claim legal and valid," she proclaimed calmly.
The nobleman bowed his head as the soldiers discussed it among themselves. "But what about my brother? He was killed by that monstrous guard."
"There isn't much I can do about that. The man who killed him is already dead," she sighed.
The crowd's rowdiness seemed to subside, looking more like a gathering than an army.
"Unbelievable!" Aidan uttered baffled. "How did you discover that?"
She shrugged. "It was all in those dusty books you never bothered to open," she stated, rocking her sleeping child.
Nathaniel was still sneaking around, puffing and grunting in rage. He pushed an archer, taking his bow and arrow.
"Now, all we need to do is find that despicable brother of mine," the prince declared angry.
"Aidan, I know this might seem strange but please listen," she said. "When you do find him. First and foremost, we need to hold a trial."
Aidan squinted. "A trial? But his guilt is evident as day!"
"I know," Zora started. "Still, it is only fair that he has the right to defend himself. And besides, that way the people will see just what happened. "
"I do not know, dear. It all seems unnecessary," Aidan said. At that moment, his ears perked and the hairs on his neck stood up. He pulled Zora to his side. A whoosh sound of the small metal projectile passed them, hitting the wall behind. The baby screamed from fright.
"Alright! That is it!" Aidan screamed, with fury in his eyes.