Alone on the road

Could this baby be a magic user? Gia thought to herself. It made sense if she thought about it, especially considering the king's questions about her birthmark. Gia had not heard of any royals having both marks recently. There were rumors and legends of course, that stated that both birthmarks had appeared on the royals before, but they were supposed to be extremely rare. Legends said that the first King that brought everyone together had both. That he was a great leader that had been touched by a moon spirit and sun goddess when he was born because they had seen his future and deemed him worthy. He did indeed achieve greatness as he was one of the most loved kings in history. It was also said that the king who was born one hundred years after the first one had also received both marks, and he is said to be the one who aligned the kingdom with the Draygun of legend. Actually, according to the rumors and legends swirling through the capitol, almost everyone supposedly born with both marks was born a hundred years after the previous one, could that really be what happened with Braelyn, Gia was beginning to think so.

"You're very special, aren't you Braelyn?" Gia spoke to the baby next to her, the baby that still looked at her with wide, and very bright, curious eyes.

Gia drove the wagon all through the night, she wanted to put distance between them and the castle as quickly as she could. She thought about what their options were all night long. About where she could take the baby that would be safe for the both of them. She had come up with only one option, and she hoped she was not crazy for thinking of it. Gia thought that it was best to head home, in a sense. Gia had not been born in Kingston. Her family had moved to the capital shortly after she had turned one. Her parents had no magic and it seemed as if Gia and her older brother Liam wouldn't either. Lacking any magical ability her parents thought it was unwise to stay in their hometown where magic was held in the highest of respects. Her uncle, however, did have magic, and still lived there to this day. So, she thought heading to the place of her birth was the wisest decision, it was time to head to Whispering Willows, the safe haven to all magic users who do not pose a threat to others. She just hoped that the elders of the village would not deem the princess a threat to their safety.

Gia travelled with the baby mostly at night and rested during the day. She hoped that this would be less conspicuous and draw less attention from those around them, she saved most of their travels for while people slept soundly in their homes. She ate slowly at the dried foods she had brought with them and had found a nice brook where she filled the water skins. She avoided all villages and towns she came to, skirted around farms, and went out of her way to avoid being seen. She wanted to make sure they were safe.

They were on the road for three days when she used the last of the nurse milk she had brought for the baby, Gia grew concerned over what to do for milk after that.

"As much as I have been avoiding it, baby girl, I think I need to ask someone for help." Gia said, concern thickening her voice.

"Did ya say ya need help?" A scruffy voice called from beside Gia.

"Oh!" Gia gasped as she jumped and spun around. Gia saw an old man and woman who had been walking along the dirt road.

"I'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean ta frighten ya, youngin'." The scruffy voice spoke again, it was the elderly man.

"Forgive this old coot here, his voice sounds like it would belong to a racoon if one could talk, like he's sneaky and likely to take your stuff, but he don't mean nothing by it dearie, he just has that kind of voice." The older woman laughed smacking her husband on the elbow.

"Ouch, woman, that hurt." The man laughed as he held his elbow as if in pain. "I really am sorry if I scared ya, I didn't mean ta ya know." The old man spoke apologetically.

"Oh, it's quite alright, I just wasn't expecting someone to be right there when I spoke, so it scared me a little is all. It's not your fault, really." Gia tried to smile but didn't quite manage it, the situation they were in had her too worried for that.

"What is it you needed help with, dearie?" The old woman asked.

"Oh," Gia said startled, "well you see, my baby and I are travelling, and I have run out of nurse's milk for her. My milk never came in properly, so I have to rely on others. I guess I just didn't plan enough ahead for this, and we were so close too."

"Oh, that's terrible dearie," the old woman said with a smile, "but don't worry, I know what to do."

"You do?" Gia asked, astonished.

"Oh she certainly should," the old man grumbled, "we had four babies and her milk only came in with one of them, she kept sendin' me out ta get milk from the neighbors so much the first time that it happened that I up and bought two cows when she found out she was pregnant again. I was not goin' ta keep runnin' ta the neighbors barn in the middle of the night." The old man's grumble turned into laughter as he finished.

"Now don't go complaining again Agustus, that was sixty years ago now, we have great grandchildren now, just let it go already." The woman said, feigning annoyance but her eyes smiled fondly at her husband.

"I know that Ruthie, but I still remember those winter nights, I nearly froze my bum off when Henrich was a babe." They both laughed at that and Gia smiled.

"I did not think that a baby could have cow's milk." Gia said, concerned.

"Not directly, but if you mix it, half milk and half warm water and a pinch of sugar, then the baby does just fine." The old woman named Ruthie said smiling.

"That's wonderful news." Gia exclaimed, relieved that there seemed to be another way to feed the baby she was so desperate to protect.

"I would be happy to mix some for you." Ruthie said. "Why don't you come along to our house, we're heading home from our nightly walk now."

"Um," Gia wanted to trust them, needed the help, and she was still concerned for the baby, but she couldn't continue without it. "Alright, I'll do just that, would you like a ride back to your home?" Gia asked, indicating the wagon she was sitting in.

"That would probably be best, wouldn't it?" Agustus said. "It'll be hard for ya ta follow us if yar ridin' and we're walkin'." Agustus helped his wife up then followed after her. "If ya wouldn't mind me takin' the reins youngin' I can drive the way and ya can hold that baby of yars." Agustus didn't wait for an answer, he just took the reins in his hand and flicked them gently, setting the horses off on a slow, gentle pace.

"Ooh, isn't she a beaut!" Ruthie exclaimed as she saw the baby sitting in the box. When Gia looked, she noticed the baby appeared to be asleep, even though she had been awake just moments ago. "What's her name dearie?" Ruthie asked, still looking at the baby.

"Her name is," Gia knew she shouldn't give the baby's real first name, she didn't know if word had gotten out of the capitol about a missing maid and princess, "Lyn." She finished after just the slight pause. The name wasn't a total lie. Lyn was in the baby's name, it was just the last part of it.

"She's so pretty, and she looks like you, you must be a proud mommy." Gia had never thought about whether she could pass for the baby's mother, she just wanted to protect her. But as she thought about it, she thought perhaps she could. The baby and her were both naturally pale, and Gia had very dark brown hair, not quite the perfect black of the baby's but not far off. Plus, they had similar faces, not quite rounded and not quite heart shaped but a very pretty cross of the two.

"I am proud, she is a very lovely baby, and I love her very much." Gia said, answering honestly. She knew that until things were settled and the king and queen were safe, if they weren't dead, that she would have to act as Braelyn's mother. She didn't even have to think about if she would or not, she would do it with no questions asked.