Iselda

Iselda hurried through deserted halls and up an ornate staircase, trying (and failing) to look calm and completely untroubled. After what seemed like an eternity, she collapsed on the floor of her sitting room in a heap of silk and brocade. She yanked off her itchy coronation headdress and pinching shoes.

“Why did it have to be me?” she moaned. “Why did Ennis have to go fight? The counsel should have prevented him from going. He had just become king; they should have protected him! I don’t understand why he wanted to go.”

She broke down, sobbing. “I would have been a princess, but now I’m the queen! He should have stayed here!” Iselda wasn’t really upset that she was queen—wasn’t that what she had dreamed of when she was little? No, it was the fact that the country she now ruled was on the brink of a war against the distant country of Láidir, and they seemed to be on the loosing side.

“If only my brother hadn’t been killed,” Iselda thought, “ I wished for something exciting, but I didn’t know what I was asking for,” Iselda he stopped, realizing the real reason she was upset. She had refused Aherin and now was regretting it with her whole self. She would never get another chance.

A knock sounded on the door, and it opened. A young woman with bright red hair entered, and immediately started exclaiming. “Oh Iselda, wasn’t that wonderful! You looked beautiful! You’re queen now, although that is—oh, Iselda, what’s wrong?”

“Why is everybody congratulating me? You, Aela, of all people should understand. You are my cousin,” said Iselda, in a despairing tone.

“I suppose being queen is a big responsibility, but many women have been queen before you,” replied Aela.

“It’s not just that. I am queen of a country barely held together. I am queen at the expense of my brother. I am queen because my father was killed eight years ago. I grew up thinking I would always be a princess but I should have known something like this would happen,” said Iselda said, her voice trembling .

“I’m sorry Iselda, I wasn’t thinking properly,” Aela said softly, as she sat down in a chair, “It is a very inconvenient time to become queen. And I feel horrible about Ennis too. He was my cousin you know. But I am sure you will make a wonderful queen, when you get used to it.”

“I suppose I will get used to it, but it will take a big adjustment. I would be very thankful if you could come and see me often,” said the queen, walking over to the window.

Aela looked closely at her cousin. She was known as a good judge of people, especially of Iselda, who was her very close friend. “You aren’t telling me everything, are you, Iselda Díobhadh?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” asked the apparently embarrassed maiden, not looking at her cousin directly.

“I mean just that. There is something else that is bothering you. It might be a good idea to keep some things from others, so you don’t burden them with your problems. But you don’t need to bear everything on your own. You can trust me, Iselda, we’re friends,” pleaded Aela.

“I thank you for your advise, but some things are personal, you know,” said Iselda stiffly.

“I will leave you be now, but consider my offer. I’m always free to listen to your problems,” replied Aela, leaving her room.

A few minutes after her cousin left, Iselda grabbed her sword and went down a smaller stairway into a private garden.

Drawing the sword, she admired it’s beautiful shine. Iselda swung the sword in the air. She wasn’t practicing, as she was already proficient, but she was soothing herself with something familiar. It was calming to her; the graceful strokes and the silver streak flying through the air.

This was where she was at home: with the beauty in the ancient art, the thrill of the heavy sword that fitted perfectly in her hand. It had been her mother’s sword, although she was told that she hadn’t used it much.

Her mother. How Iselda wished she could remember her better. All the people she knew had told her about the beautiful Queen Cieria, with hair like spun gold and eyes as emeralds. Sadly, Iselda’s mother had faded away very soon after her father Médhor had been killed.

The young queen walked back up to her bedroom with her mind in turmoil. It was a long time before she could fall asleep, her thoughts being filled with anxiety and confusion.

After a few weeks, Iselda began to get used to being queen. The many things she attended to fell into order. People were seeming to loose interest in the war—at least the people of Vaina, the capitol city. It was even possible that the war would end.

But five weeks in to Iselda’s reign, news of an attack on a nearby city reached the palace. Scouts were sent out, and an emergency military counsel was arranged. Her mind was in a turmoil of uncertainty and apprehension in the all too few hours before the counsel.

But Iselda forced herself into a model of cool dignity in time for the counsel, and punctually arrived in the hall.

The counsel hall was large and ancient-looking, though not dreary. A wooden table was filled with nobles, counselors, and the captains of Vaina. They all rose as she entered and took her place at the head of the table.

“I call this counsel to order,” she said in a surprisingly calm voice. The people all sat as she continued, “Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for being here on such short notice. As you know, we are gathered to discuss the matter of the attack from the Láidirens on the city of Katus. I think the best course would be to go to there aid, but I am not very experienced in battle strategies. Captain, what are your thoughts?”

The captain cleared his throat and began, “I, also, think we should assist them, although it will greatly decrease this city’s defenses, as Katus is not much fortified. I am concerned that our city will be left practically defenseless; and we must decide if it would be an unnecessary sacrifice to defend their city.”

“I do not like the idea of leaving our fellow countrymen to the Láidirens,” said a young lieutenant indignantly.

Iselda looked thoughtful, than spoke, “I see that our city would be emptied of most of it’s military strength, but what else could we do? We could send messages to Fórsa, but by the time they could send an army, it would be too late.”

“We could evacuate Katus,” suggested Captain Tiarnuíl.

Aonghus Loér, the chief counselor, protested, “That seems very impractical, Captain. How long would it take to evacuate all the people; and once the Láidirens realize the city is empty, won’t they come here next? But, why are they attacking Katus in the first place? It has no military significance, and it wouldn’t be much more trouble to get to Vaina. Unless they want to use it as an outpost, but we could take it back quite easily.”

“But there is an attack coming, and what else could they be doing but attacking Katus.” said Iselda, “The only other place they could be coming for is….” Her voice trailed off, a look of realization spreading over her face. Suddenly, the door burst open, and a guard ushered in a disheveled looking man.

Iselda stood quickly and asked, “Daire, what news?”

“Your majesty,” he said, “The Láidirens, they aren’t coming for Katus. They’re coming for Vaina.”

Commotion broke out among the people. Iselda shouted over the noise, “Silence, we cannot wast any time. We must find out more.” She turned towards Daire, and questioned him for a moment. She addressed the company once more, “The scout has seen the army of Láidirens headed towards this city. We must prepare for battle immediately. Captain, send messengers to Fórsa. Have them send forces to Vaina as soon as possible.”

“Your majesty,” said Aherin, walking towards her, “You must be sent to the summer palace at once. You need to get as far away from here as possible.”

“I will not,” replied the queen vehemently, “I am going to battle with my army.”

“I must object,” he said firmly, “I cannot allow my queen to go to battle. Think of your safety.”

“You forget your place, Captain,” Iselda said icily, “I can do whatever I think is best. I am nearly as good with the sword as yourself. My mind is fully made up.”

The captain nodded, “As you wish, your majesty.”

Messages were sent to the city of Fórsa and the army was readied. Iselda had a very busy few days of it, not able to think anything over twice. The last day was a horrible calm, with nothing to but wait and think. Aela visited her cousin that evening.

“I protested when the captain told me to get away from here,” said Iselda after a few minutes, “but now I wish I hadn’t. I can’t go back now, but I wish I hadn’t insisted on it.”

“Oh, Iselda, I wish you weren’t going either, but you can’t do anything about it now,” responded Aela.

The two were quiet for a few minutes. Suddenly, Iselda broke the silence, “Aela, I envy you. No, I really mean it. You aren’t queen and never will be, you have no obligation to lead your people in battle, you’re comfortably married, and you hair is a wonderful red”

Aela looked confused, “I understand most of that, but why would you want hair like mine?”

Iselda sighed, “It’s isn’t that I’m not content with my own—it is a nice pale blonde—, but then I wouldn’t be so—so beautiful.”

“But you should want to be beautiful.”

“There’s nothing wrong in being beautiful, but…” Iselda trailed off.

The maiden with the envied auburn hair saw that there was more to this than it seemed. “Iselda, you aren’t—is there someone who wants to marry you, and for some reason you are upset about it?”

Iselda face turned red, and she stared at her cousin in disbelief, “Aela—how did you—did someone tell…”

“Ah-ha! So I am right. Who is it that wants to wed my cousin, and why are you so distraught?”

The queen took a breath, “I suppose I must tell you now that you’ve guessed. Two years ago, before my brother died—and even before this war—, Aherin Tiarnuíl wanted to marry me. I refused, telling him I could never love him.”

“If you do not love him, how then is your face turning the divinest rosy red—why it’s positively scarlet!”

“That’s just it,” said Iselda miserably, “When I told him I couldn’t love him, I thought I really meant it. But now I know I couldn’t have been so wrong. And the worst of it is that he’ll never ask again. He’s far to proud for that.”

Aela’s face became solemn, “I understand, and I’m sorry. But there’s no need to worry now that you can’t do anything about it.”

“Thank you for listening Aela. I feel better now that I’ve told you,” Iselda said, giving her cousin a hug.

Aela stood up. “Goodbye, Iselda,” she said, and walked out of the room.

A few minutes later, Iselda walked out of the room with an easy mind. She had told her cousin about her trouble, and she would try to forget about it.