Chapter 7: Rumbling Thunder

"I'm being summoned to a council meeting."

"On your wedding day?" Captain Aengus asked quietly.

"Shall I come with you?" Niamh stepped forward.

Loran nodded at the messenger and sent him away.

"I was summoned to the council, not you."

Niamh went silent. The king was no longer smiling and began walking back to the palace. He did not wait for his bride, but strode so purposefully that Niamh had to push herself to keep a close distance between them. Captain Aengus looked like he had done this many times before, and kept up with little trouble.

King Lorcan paused at the top of the path.

"Don't make me late," he snapped.

An angry screech came from the sky.

The new queen jumped, and looked up at Fergal. The captain caught her glance and motioned with his arm. Niamh imitated the action and called the falcon's name. For a moment, Fergal circled slowly, then dove to his new master's arm. Walking with the bird of prey on her arm was a little difficult, but Niamh adapted quickly, earning a fleeting look of approval from her new husband.

They continued briskly into the courtyard of the castle, where the general and council members stood waiting.

"What's this?" King Lorcan snapped. "I can't even enjoy my own wedding day?"

"Our outer border has been attacked," the General Konnyr replied with a stone-like expression.

Lorcan strode forward without a word.

As he left the courtyard, Niamh heard him tell the captain, "Take my queen to her chambers. I feel this is going to be a long meeting."

Niamh allowed the Captain to lead her back into the palace, her new home, with Fergal still on her arm.

They stopped in front of the Queen's Chambers, and Niamh gave her companion a skeptical look.

"Will I not be going to the King's Chambers on my wedding night?" she asked.

Captain Aengus looked away and swayed awkwardly, "I think you may have to postpone your wedding night. By the sounds of what the general said, a storm is coming. The king will not be in the best mood after meeting with the council… it was the war council, and that never has good news."

"Are things that serious in this part of the kingdom?" Niamh was now interested. "Captain?"

The Captain frowned and stepped back, "I shouldn't have said anything, my Lady."

"But you did, and I would like an answer," Niamh replied bravely.

Captain Aengus hesitated, then sighed, "You come from the very edge of our kingdom, where elves, humans and more live together in a different way of life than we live here, at the Elven heart. We have been repelling attacks and uprisings since the King took the throne. The King has no allies. Those here hated his father, and hated his brother more."

Niamh stood in shock, trying to absorb all that the Captain was saying. She thought of her joyful childhood, before her mother, then her father, died. Living at the Tigherneach Keep had been pleasant, and what the Captain had said was true, many different races passed through the gates for trading.

"Thank you for escorting the Queen," King Lorcan was walking down the hall.

Niamh attempted a smile. The King did not.

He stopped in front of his bed-chamber. "I am afraid our wedding night will have to wait, Niamh Aidhne. I have to leave before dawn to quell a border dispute. Captain Aengus, I need to speak with you."

Niamh felt the sting of rejection.

"Will I see you later, my King?" Niamh inquired hopefully, trying to keep the disappointment from her voice.

Lorcan shook his head. "No. You will not."

As the Captain hurried down the hall to his king, Lorcan's eyes looked briefly, and almost regrettably, at Niamh. The men disappeared into the king's rooms and left the newly married queen alone with her falcon.

"General Konnyr?" Captain Aengus asked.

"Preparing," Lorcan swung the heavy chamber door shut behind him.

The hall settled into silence.

"What am I to do with you?" Niamh whispered kindly to the falcon who sat silently on her arm.

Fergal turned his head as loud voices erupted from the King's chamber.

Niamh stepped closer, hoping to hear what the raised voices were discussing.

"This is the only way. I must put an end to it," Lorcan said in a heated, frustrated voice.

She heard Captain Aengus disagree in more reserved tones.

The king shouted his reply, "I'll look weak, that's why!"

"Would you like to come in and bathe?" Maeval spoke from behind her.

Niamh jumped, causing the falcon to shriek in protest. She shushed her handmaiden and hurried to her chamber door.

"I'm sorry…" Maeval flinched.

Powerful footsteps could be heard at the King's door.

"Can I not have quiet?" bellowed an angry King Lorcan, throwing his door open. He glared at the elf maidens angrily. "Captain, take care of the falcon."

Running her hand down the falcon's speckled feathers, Niamh handed Fergal over to Captain Aengus and quickly entered her chambers. She leaned back against the door, taking a deep breath to calm her rattled nerves.

"Does he always rage like that?" Niamh asked the anxiously waiting Maeval and Moidrin.

Moidrin glanced sideways at the other lady. "Sadly, it seems to run in the family."

"Is he ever happy?" Niamh reached out her arm to Moidrin who approached and began to help Niamh out of her clothes.

Neither lady said a word. Moidrin motioned towards the freshly poured bath, and Niamh let herself be led over. She decided it would take some time to become accustomed to being undressed and washed by others, but she already trusted her handmaidens. Niamh smiled as she remembered how she would often help Eithne with her baths. How strange how the tables had turned.

It was while Maeval combed her hair, that Niamh heard giggling out in the hall.

"What is that?" she asked her ladies.

Moidrin and Maeval frowned at each other. Niamh heard more giggling and got up. Striding purposefully to her door, she swung it open.

To her surprise, the two young elfmaidens were standing in the king's bedchamber doorway. For a moment, after Niamh felt her heart drop, she could only stand and stare. The elfmaidens, scantily dressed, stopped their conversation. The shorter one looked at Niamh standing in the middle of the hall, hair dripping, hand clenched at her sides.

"Yes?" the elfmaiden asked bravely.

"I was told the King needed quiet, and I expect you two to obey that command. What are you doing here anyway?" Niamh demanded.

"Oh," said the tall elfmaiden with hair the color of oak bark, dressed in a green and brown linen dress. "We were told to come here by General Konnyr. He said the King needed… cheering up."

"He doesn't need the likes of you." Niamh was surprised at the feeling rising in her heart. She grit her teeth. "Get out!"

Captain Aengus turned the far corner of the hallway.

Niamh took her chance. "Captain, remove this dirt from the castle."

"You are not queen yet." King Lorcan opened his door. He looked at Niamh, then looked at the elf maidens. "Go."

The door shut in their faces. Niamh felt a faint pulse of satisfaction.

Captain Aengus shot an apologetic look at Niamh, and curtly ordered the general's guests outside.

Niamh returned to her chambers and made her way out onto the balcony attached to her room. The view was beautiful, she admitted. Trees with the darkest of green leaves filled the horizon, making way only for a rushing stream and the edge of a busy village.

She dismissed Maeval and Moidrin for the evening, and when they had finally left her room, Niamh fell to her knees and broke into tears.