The first rays of light filter into the Princess’s bedchamber, though whereas the rest of Ynys Avallach is still fast asleep, she lies awake in her bed, watching the baby sleeping soundly in her arms.
Her little miracle, with eyes as golden as a hawk’s.
He fusses inside the blanket she has wrapped him in, just two days old, yet somehow, he seems to hold the entire world within those golden eyes.
“Shh…” she shushes him gently, running a finger carefully down his nose. “It’s alright, my little hawk.”
He opens his eyes to the light, the golden flecks in them gleaming like glass dancing in the sun.
Charis smiles as she gazes into them. “You are so beautiful.” she whispers, gathering his warm little body closer. “You have your father’s heart, little hawk.“ she leans closer to kiss his forehead softly. “You have my soul.”
The door opens to reveal Ina, a young maid, with a freshly folded dress in her arms. She enters with a quiet greeting.
Behind her, dressed in a traditional Atlantean tunic, stands Avallach himself. He spares her a warm smile as he enters. “My daughter, you must be exhausted.” He moves closer to stand beside her bed. There is a rare glimpse of vulnerability in his dark eyes as he regards the baby in her arms.
“I’m fine, father.” she replies, although her chest feels so tight with grief it might burst if not for her son to steady her.
Her father reaches out slowly to let the baby take hold of one of his fingers. His tiny hand can barely wrap around the King’s thumb.
Avallach looks up sadly. “I doubt you could be, Charis.” he sighs, looking every bit as guilty as he may feel. “What happened to the bard—”
“Taliesin.” Charis implies. “He deserves to be remembered by his name.”
“Of course.” Avallach replies, bowing his head. “What happened to Taliesin…I am eternally to blame. You have every right to renounce me, daughter. I should have agreed upon your request to marry him from the beginning. The love was strong between you, yet my pride blinded me.” He kneels down before her. “I am sorry, my daughter.”
Charis has never once seen her father fall to his knees before anyone. To push aside his pride in favor of the people he loves.
Taliesin has helped her father see after all, even if he is no longer here to witness it.
She frees one hand to place it upon Avallach’s. “This tragedy is not your fault, father.” she replies. “I have lost my husband,” She swallows against the tears in her throat. “But Taliesin’s memory lives on in our son.” She looks down at Merlin, who is watching her so intently, one might think he can actually understand her. “He lives on in all of our memories. In our songs.”
A moment of silence passes between them, in honor of the young man who had won the hearts of so many with his wondrous voice.
“The boy will change the world.” Avallach says quietly, glancing down at his grandson. “With the blood of Taliesin and our people running in his veins.”
Charis smiles down at her son with tears brimming in her eyes. “He will change everything.”
She presses her forehead to his and closes her eyes. “My Merlin.”
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