The castle was strangely quiet for once, with the King having left for a brief reprieve of planning for war to go out on a short hunt with the majority of the Knights, court physician Frederick Durand, mage Lee, and mage Lee’s idiot son, Keith. After packing the party some fruit, dried meats, and a few root vegetables that wouldn’t rot quickly, Fin found himself having a significant amount of free time to himself. The mages fortunately had not reappeared since the day Keith had arrived. Fin guessed this was because mage Lee had wisely steered his offspring away from him. As a result, the witch was more relieved than he could say.

The Ladies in the castle ate significantly less than the men, and with the heat of summer rising, no one really wanted to feel bogged down with extra food.

Fin had started taking it upon himself to go down to the creek that ran down by the East side of the castle in the woods, and dipping his bare feet in the cool waters. He did this once lunch was served, and would spend an hour or two in the quiet shade, listening to the various birdcalls, and occasionally closing his eyes for sleep. Kraken would prowl around the undergrowth searching for mice and chipmunks to play with off further down the beck, but would come when Fin called him.

On the third day of the hunt, Fin was eagerly awaiting his hour of solitude while preparing lunch, when in walked none other than Annika Jenoure.

Fin was in the middle of rolling out dough for a pie, his hands covered in flour, and a thin sheen of sweat settled on his brow despite the garden door being propped open. The new window that was to be installed wouldn’t come until the following week, and the cook could hardly wait. Were it not for the plates magically fanning him all morning, he would’ve most likely needed to bathe several times a day from the heat.

The dishware sadly had returned to their shelves the moment Annika had stepped behind the kitchen door however.

“Good morning Fin.” She greeted, giving him a tentative smile.

He stopped what he was doing, and bowed.

“Good morning Lady Jenoure.”

He didn’t see the look of shock and mild revulsion on her face as he did so. Once he straightened, she had schooled her features into a mostly blank expression, though the glint of worry in her eyes was still clear.

“I haven’t seen you much lately, are you avoiding me?” She teased slightly while walking over to the mugs, picking up a cup, and then seating herself in the middle chair in front of Fin.

“No my Lady, I have been working here. I apologize if you feel as though I have slighted you.”

“… You’re scaring me with your proper manners.” Annika declared with severe trepidation.

“I am sorry for causing you alarm.” Fin bowed again.

Annika continued staring at him stunned before blinking several times, and forcing herself to look away. She withdrew her flask from her emerald skirts and filled her cup eagerly. Her hair was loosely piled at the back of her head, and as usual, she wore little jewelry.

“Alright, who are you and what have you done with our beloved cook who can, in a single sentence, infuriate a room full of people to the point of violence?”

She took a deep drink from her cup when he didn’t answer, and suddenly began undoing the ties of her sleeves that attached them to the bodice of her gown.

Fin turned away from her, putting his back to the Lady.

“Would you like me to leave my Lady to provide you with privacy?”

“Good Gods Fin, it’s boiling in here, I was just going to remove my sleeves. Are you going to be as stuffy as the nobles about that?”

“My Lady, it is improper for me to-”

“Knock it off. What in the name of the King’s beard has gotten into you?”

Fin didn’t reply, and instead headed towards the closed castle door, still refusing to look at Annika.

She was suddenly in front of him, her palm pressed against the door, her brown eyes gazing up at him in an expression Fin couldn’t understand anymore than the speed with which she got to him.

“I’m sorry, if you want me to leave my sleeves on I will. What is going on though? You are acting really-”

His heart was racing with her standing so close, but if he reached for the handle he would be even nearer to her. Yet if he stayed… he wasn’t sure what he would possibly betray.

He took the risk and snatched the handle, he saw in almost slow motion her eyes widen in surprise, and the immediate arrival of a faint blush on her cheeks as Fin was close enough that she could smell him.

He definitely smelled of sweat, and flour, but underneath all of that… he smelled like herbs. He smelled like garlic, mint, rosemary, lavender … How was that possible, and why did it smell good?!

The door opened a crack, but before Fin could finish opening it, Annika pushed it shut again, her mouth hardening.

“Stop it.” She demanded. “I don’t know what is wrong, but I thought we were becoming friends.” The hurt in her tone struck at Fin, and it made resisting her all the harder.

“With all due respect my Lady, how can a Viscountess be friends with a commoner? I would not want you to suffer hardship by having ties with myself.”

“Isn’t it more odd that you don’t treat me like everyone else, and what does it matter if we’re friends?”

Fin was going to lose control at the rate his heart beats were rattling his mind, filling it with images and urges he hadn’t ever experienced so potently.

“I don’t want to be your friend.” He finally said, his voice somehow sounding calm and in control. “Pardon my rudeness, my Lady.” He bowed.

“Oh.” Annika looked stricken for a full moment, before she lowered her gaze embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had been serious all this time about my bothering you. I formally apologize Royal Cook Finlay for making your job more difficult.” Without lifting her eyes to him, Annika curtsied, and promptly exited the room.

Fin straightened, and stared at the closed door for several minutes lost in thought, then began rubbing his neck as he turned back to his work, only to find Kraken sitting in Annika’s empty chair, glaring at him.

“I was going to bloody kiss her at that rate! It’s for the best. It isn’t like anything could happen, or that she’s even interested in me. She’s just a bored noble not used to someone not giving her her way.”

Fin did his best not to stare at his cat whom remained rooted to the chair the rest of lunch, his judging stare boring into the witch relentlessly.

*

It was in the middle of the night when Fin’s eyes snapped open.

Someone was in trouble.

He could feel their terror… their weakness…

Sitting up, he gazed around the room in a panic.

‘Calm down! Think… you can only sense those that also live in the space you call home. You’re ‘home’ has to be rooms you’ve visited or grounds you’ve visited in the castle… That means, the kitchen, the servants hall, the banquet hall, the glass tower…’

Fin began recalling all the places he had visited in the castle, and whom could be in them at the late hour.

‘The rose maze? Possibly… perhaps Hannah is in trouble, or perhaps Lord Fuks, or…’

Fin’s blood ran cold.

The Queen. The baby. The King’s chambers.

Fin was on his feet, and running.

He made it up to the fourth floor in record time, his heart pounding.

He stood in front of the door, ready to burst in, when he found himself petrified to the spot.

‘If I burst in there and the Queen is fine… I could be imprisoned, or hanged. I would be seeing the Queen in a disrobed state and bursting in on her while she is in a delicate state. It could be seen as an attack.’ Fin’s hand hovered over the handle caught in his indecision.

“Move and I will shove this knife through your heart.”

He froze. He could feel a sharp point in his back, but he knew that voice. He knew he didn’t need his magic.

“Lady Jenoure thank the Gods. I think the Queen is in trouble, could you please check on her.” Fin breathed beyond grateful for her sudden appearance.

“Why in the world would you think that?” Annika hissed, the knife tip piercing his shirt and touching his skin, making the spot on his skin itch uncomfortably.

“I… I had a dream. Please, I can turn around and head back to the stairs, but could you check on her?”

The Lady didn’t say anything for what felt like eternity as Fin’s heart continued to race erratically.

“I want you to slowly raise your arms above your head, then turn to your right, and stand by the servant stairwell.”

The witch did his best to move slowly, but it was difficult not to be more panicked.

He followed her directions however, and at long last Fin turned and saw Annika in the moonlight that poured in through the windows, standing in a gauzy white chemise, and her long hair unbound.

He gave his head a quick shake. It was not the time to note these things…

Annika pushed the chamber door opened, and Fin could see from where he stood that there were still candles lighting the room, and in their light, he saw the look of terror on Annika’s face.

“AINSLEY!” She ran into the room. Fin couldn’t stand by anymore, he dashed into the chamber, and took stock of the sight.

The Queen was curled on her side protectively over her belly on the floor. Her face was screwed in pain, and as Fin neared, he saw the blood. Annika was crouched over her friend, speaking softly and hurriedly to her.

Years of working with his mother snapped into focus in an instance.

“Annika go get the physician, I don’t know where his chambers are.” Fin rushed over to the pitcher of water on the bedside, and snatched one of the clean white towels that saw folded beside them.

“He’s gone on the hunting trip and won’t be back until tomorrow.” She breathed, the fear in her voice rising.

“We need a physician immediately, get Ruby to send for someone in Austice. I don’t know where her chambers are either.” Fin dropped down beside the Queen whom still hadn’t said a word, and began applying the damp cloth to her head as he then, scooped her up in his arms, and with a strength he normally did not possesses, carefully managed to get her into the bed.

Annika fled from the room, and once she was out of sight, Fin made every flame in the room a bit brighter. He gently began wiping up the blood that had somehow smeared on her cheek, and whispered prayers to the Goddess.

“Is… the babe… dead?” The hoarse gentle voice of the Queen asked, and Fin felt his chest constrict.

“I cannot say your grace.”

“Can your magic save…”

He froze.

The King had told his wife his secret, and one of his many fears about people knowing came true in that moment as he stared down into the Queen’s desperate face. Right then, she wasn’t the ruler of a country, she was just another petrified woman and mother, fearing for the life of her unborn, and it tortured Fin.

“I…I can’t do anything here. I’ve seen this before only because of my mother.”

“Oh Gods… Oh Gods.” Her whispered, agony as tears flowed under her closed eyes.

Fin dropped to his knees beside her, and gripped her hand.

“Your majesty we are going to get you help, I promise. It isn’t over yet, you need to hang on to whatever hope you can.”

“I-It’s been too much. I can’t lose… another one… what hope is there?”

“You have to. You have to for this baby.” Fin could feel his magic flow to the Queen. He knew all he could do… was offer the feeling of warmth that came from being in a loving supportive place. He knew the value of being surrounded by peace, even when the moment felt anything but peaceful.

“I cannot, it’s happened too many times.” She wept, gripping harder onto Fin’s hand as another wave of pain flooded through her.

“Then I’ll help. You’re not alone your majesty, and I think there’s a chance things could be alright. You and the King inspire more than enough hope in me, I can definitely share some.”

For a moment, the Queen cried harder, her free hand rising up to cover her eyes as she sobbed.

“Your majesty, please don’t distress too much if you can, it can make it worse.” Fin pleaded not sure how else to say it. He couldn’t fathom her fear and grief, but also had seen enough times on the Island with his mother, how getting even more worked up could be the difference of success and failure.

“Ask me anything, and I will tell you the honest truth.” Fin tried desperately trying to draw her away from the sinking pit of grief.

She gave a few small gasps, and lowered her hand from her face.

“Come on your grace, if you are anywhere near as stubborn as Eric, we can do our best to hang on to any sliver of a chance that things could still turn around.”

“He gets it from his father.” The knee jerk response made Fin smile desperately.

The Queen took a deep steadying breath, and continued gripping Fin’s hand.

“I wish Norman were here.” Her voice broke, and Fin could tell she was about to dive deeper into a place he couldn’t reach, unless he intervened.

“Ah sorry, I know I am not as captivatingly charming as his majesty, but I promise I do have a couple good stories at least.”

The Queen cast an accusing glare at him for his jesting at such a time, before softening her tense expression slightly. He saw the flicker of determination in her eyes revive itself, and he dared to breathe a little more.

“Tell me these stories, and let’s see if they are as good as you seem to think.”

Fin smiled and gently took the cloth from the Queen’s forehead, and dabbed her tear-ridden cheeks.

“Well, there is the first time that Kraken stole an entire loaf of bread that I’d made for your majesty’s supper.”

The adrenaline fueled chuckle mixed with gasps that erupted from the Queen made Fin smile, and so he continued his story.

“Finlay, did you say the first time?” The Queen asked suddenly, turning her watery gaze to him.

“I did indeed.”

“How many times has it been?” Her face suddenly screwed in pain again, and Fin allowed her to crush the bones in his hand, ignoring his own pain, and when it looked as though it has eased away, the cook answered.

“It’s been four times your grace.”

She laughed again, she was far weaker than her usual self, but at that moment it was the best they could ask for.