Page 71 of Bewitched

Not wanting to waste time in actually walking down the stairs, Medea used her powers and disappeared, reappearing in the courtyard.

* * *

To Rhys’ surprise, the plan was going smoothly. He was able to sneak through the courtyard and over to the keep without being spotted. He didn’t think he’d even need to use the grappling hook and rope hanging at his side to scale the tower. He would probably be able to climb the stairs instead.

“What is going on here?” he heard, turning his head to see Medea materialize in the courtyard. His heart jumped. She was wearing a wedding gown, and looked more beautiful than ever. Her hair had been combed out, and her ebony locks spilled over her shoulders in a soft cascading flow like that of a waterfall. The neckline on the gown was low, and showed cleavage. Too much cleavage, in his opinion. Suddenly, he felt jealous, He didn’t want Osric looking at her when she was dressed like that.

“Medea, my bride, the wedding will start in just a minute,” said the King. “There seems to be a loose wolf in the courtyard that we need to rid ourselves of first.”

Rhys didn’t like King Osric calling Medea his bride. Rhys was about to storm over there when he heard a low growl from his side. He looked down to see Zann in his wolf form.

“Zann, good job,” he said, as his brother shifted back into himself. Of course, Zann was naked. Rhys reached into the bag slung over his shoulder, throwing Zann his clothes. “I’m going up to the tower now to get the baby.”

“Rhys, shouldn’t we be preparing to capture the dragon? It’s bound to show up soon.” Zann took a few deep breaths since it was always exhausting to shift.

“Yes, you’re right,” Rhys agreed. “But we need Medea’s participation, and taking the baby is going to bring her to me. This needs to be done first. Make your way to the armory and start collecting only the shiniest shields. Get as many as you can find and bring them to the pit.”

“Me? You’re the knight here. I think you should help me.”

“I will. But first, I need to get my child. That’s more important.”

“Have it your way,” said Zann, hurriedly dressing. “You know, I almost got shot out there. I felt the arrow graze my butt.” He rubbed his backend, trying to see it.

“Rapunzel redirected the arrow, so you can stop complaining, Brother. Now, tell the women to get out of here,” he said, noticing a few guards yawning and dropping to their knees. “I think the poisoned food is working.”

Rhys quickly entered the keep without being seen. He made his way over to the tower and ran up the spiral staircase, approaching the bedchamber. There were no guards there, and he figured they heard the commotion and left to go out to the courtyard.

Rhys still wore his tunic with the King’s crest on it. So, even if someone did see him, they hopefully would believe he was still one of King Osric’s knights. He reached out for the door latch, but hesitated when he heard a baby crying from within the room. That was his baby, he reminded himself. It was the child that he and Medea conceived together. This whole thing still made his head spin. Realizing he needed to get out of here before Medea returned, he opened the door and stepped into the room.

The handmaid, Henriette, whom he knew well, sat on the bed trying to calm the squalling child.

“Sir Rhys?” The woman looked up in surprise. “It is nice to see you again. I didn’t think you were still in the King’s service.”

“Well, I’m here, aren’t I?” he answered, instead of outright lying.

“Lady Medea asked me to watch her baby until she returned. That is why I’m in here.”

“Of course,” he said, walking over and looking down to the little girl in the woman’s arms who looked to be about a year old. She was a beautiful child with a full head of brown hair, matching the color of his own. Her eyes were also clear and emerald green instead of dark like her mother’s. Rapunzel was correct in saying that his daughter took after him. He liked that a lot. It made his heart swell with pride. “May I hold her?” he asked, wanting more than anything to cuddle his daughter to his chest.

“If you can get her to stop crying, it would be appreciated.” Henriette handed Rhys the baby and got up off the bed, straightening her wimple. She also handed him a bottle filled with blue milk.

“What in Zoroct’s name is that?” he asked.

“I am not sure, but I think it is magical milk,” answered the handmaid, giving him the bottle.

“What is her name?” Rhys held his daughter in his arms, feeling his heart open wide with love.

“Lady Medea has yet to name the child.”

“I see.” Rhys couldn’t help but think of where the baby had been conceived. It was in a field of lippenbur lilies and it had truly been a magical night. The child was just as beautiful and as precious as those flowers of the fae folk. The little girl looked up to him with teary eyes. He reached out with his free hand and wiped away her tears, much the same way as he had done to the baby’s mother.

“Don’t cry, my precious little lily,” he told her. “You daddy is here now.”

“Daddy?” gasped the woman. “I didn’t know you were the father of the child. However, now that you mention it, I can see the resemblance.”

The baby was already a one-year-old little girl, and Rhys wished he had been able to see her when she’d first been born. Everything was moving so quickly in his life right now that it seemed like naught but a dream. He rocked the child in the crook of his arm and then bent over and kissed his daughter on the center of her forehead. The child cooed and giggled, reaching out and touching the crystal hanging around his neck. When she did, Rhys swore he smelled the scent of lippenbur lilies. He also saw a quick flash of light, and felt a connection with the child. It made him feel strong and alive. He was proud to be the little girl’s father. Rhys’ heart opened wide.

“Did you see that? There was a flash of light,” said the handmaid. “It happened right after you kissed the baby and she touched that crystal at the same time.”