20 Years ago

*An Alternate Universe*

*TWENTY YEARS PAST*

It was night. The full moon illuminated the sacred Chapel inside the tower, at the very top of Castle MeadowBrook.

"We must find a way to keep the jewel safe, Your Majesty," confessed the Royal Chancellor of Meadowbrook to the Queen, Bihaldy, who was holding her sleeping, infant daughter, the Princess. 

She was such a perfect, beautiful babe  to her. She saw the resemblance in the tiny face of the man she had loved and ruled with. He was dead now, and here she stood in the light of the moon with her Royal confidante contemplating how to protect her legacy.

"Are you suggesting I hide it from my new husband, Chancellor?" She asked. Knowing full well that was exactly what he was suggesting.

He looked ashamed of her accusation. She didn’t know if it was sincere or if he were playing the part given to him so many,many, years ago.

"I only mean to protect you and your only heir, Your Majesty. This Jewel has been entrusted to your family for centuries. I'm only thinKing of your duty to your Kingdom. You have only been wed to him for six months. No one is questioning his loyalty to you, or yours. It is the safest and wisest thing to do." 

The Chancellor was right, she admitted to herself. She could not tell her new husband, and new King of Zuff, about the family entrusted jewel. Ever. 

He had been there for her when she had been left a very pregnant,vulnerable widow and Queen to a Kingdom on the cusp of war. He had assisted her in Royal counsel and made her Royal guard and home more fortified than she had ever thought possible, and now after the great war her Kingdom was now known for its commanding and resilient army. He was everything she had needed in that moment of turmoil. He was everything she could ever want in a second husband, strong, ambitious, and loyal. He was not of noble blood, but his striKing looks, alluring presence, valor, and command of battle strategy seemed to overshadow that.

She didn't truly know if he loved her for her or the idea of being wed to a Queen. It had been too soon to tell. They had been married literally seconds before the enemies breached her home. By doing so, he was able to combine their forces, win the war and end the madness that had consumed her land. She recalled hiding in this very tower as the war waged on inside of her own castle walls.

She had held her heavy stomach and feared for her unborn child. She was no stranger to war or to loss, having lost her true love in the very same war weeks prior to this integral attack. He had been her life. Her strength. Her everything.

He had been born into nobility just as she. He was known for his power in battle and his strong leadership. His heart and sword had been pledged to the protection of Zuff. He was handsome, charismatic and always wise in his counsel to her. She had loved him instantly.

She thought he would be pleased with her match to her new husband. Fresh tears sprang free at the thought of her dead husband, Tehxadlayk. If he had been alive she wouldn’t be worrying about any of this, but he was dead and the newfound fate of the Kingdom they built together rested with her. She was thankful for their last moments together before he had gone away to battle. They had been passionate, sexual, loving bliss of the purest kind.

She knew she would never feel that way about anyone ever again. He had, at least, died a hero and left her with an heir. Their child. A beautiful baby girl she named Flossina...