Chapter 5.

Renelda looked at the woman, puzzled.

“How do you mean?” She asked, curious.

“When the time comes, you would find out. For now, let us see that the little Rebekah grows up strong and fair as she was always meant to,” the old woman said.

Renelda's brows creased in befuddlement.

“Rebekah? But we haven’t given her a name yet…We were supposed to name her today,” Renelda said quietly.

“I have the duty to name anyone under the sun,” the old woman said.

Renelda stared at her, perplexed. She flashed the woman an odd look. Her mind momentarily considering the woman's words.

“Who are you,” she whispered, quietly. Her eyes gazing at the woman, suspiciously.

Then the woman said, “Just call me Grandmother Cyra.”

She pasted a smile on her face. Rising to her feet and walking to the baby. She carried the baby in her arms and cradled her gently. Her warmth, travelling through the little baby. She stirred slightly in the old woman's arms. Her little sounds, thrilling to Renelda, as she watched the.

“Little Rebekah. Fairest Rebekah, you would fulfill your destiny. A brave woman you would be. A woman, who would bring back the moon and sun to the Kingdom of Elywoods.” She gave a sweet smile to Renelda.

And gently handed the baby over to her.

Renelda had a lot of questions to ask. Her heart burned with concern for her little daughter and herself. Most of all, she pondered the woman's strange words; knowing how obstinate her husband was.

A man, who could defeat her powerful father, years ago. Conquering the kingdom for himself.

Grandmother Cyra watched her keenly. "You are worried how all I have said would come to pass. You are frightened for the king."

Renelda nodded, quietly. She loved Edmund, immensely. His absence from her life was something she couldn't bear. The ache too great. The betrayal, unfathomable.

"The King has always known victory. Never has he suffered a loss." Grandmother Cyra observably said.

Renelda opened her eyes at the woman's words.

"Sometimes, a little defeat is enough to bring a soul back to the right path." Grandmother Cyra smiled.

"So, you are saying he needs this to find the right path?" Renelda asked, softly.

Grandmother Cyra watched her, meditatively.

"I am saying that when the time is right, the king would return."

Silence fell heavily, with Renelda grasping the enormity of her current situation.

“Now, let’s make some juice to drink with all the berries that I got, just as I intended before you both came.” Grandmother Cyra beamed.

Her legs already taking her to grab some wooden bowls to make berry juice.

Renelda watched her, as she washed the berries and crushed them with a strange, wooden contraption. Being a royal, she has never seen how food was prepared before. Her servants did all the work, since she was born.

Knowing she was now a peasant, she needed to accept this part of her life. She needed to learn to do chores.

Hesitantly, she spoke. "Can I help you?"

Grandmother Cyra offered a kind smile and nodded.

Wordlessly, Renelda joined Grandmother Cyra and together, they prepared the juice.

***

Who ever said the life of a peasant was one filled with hardships and struggles was very correct.

No balls. No servants waiting by the corridors. No foods on standby. Just honest hard work. That was the life of Renelda and her little one.

In the beginning it had been a difficult life for her to adjust to, knowing that she was once a queen. But as the days flew by, Renelda soon learnt all that was taught to her by Grandmother Cyra.

Kind, gentle, the woman led Renelda to adapt easily into the new life that she lived.

In the first few days living with grandmother Cyra, Renelda expected to be waited upon by the elderly woman. But the woman gently let her know that she had to be strong to fetch food for her and her little daughter, in case she was no more.

Renelda didn't welcome thoughts of the old woman dying. Somehow, she had come to enjoy Grandmother Cyra’s friendship.

So, Renelda and baby Rebekah gradually followed Grandmother Cyra to collect berries, fetch water from the well, tend the garden. They went to the market, baked breads, cooked foods and fetched woods from the forest.

Grandmother Cyra also introduced Renelda to tending the sheep in a small sized sheep farm she owned.

Soon, Renelda became good in doing these mundane chores, which in times past would have been impossible for her to do.

When Rebekah was seven years old, Grandmother Cyra, who loved Rebekah with all her heart, died. Leaving Renelda and Rebekah alone in the little cottage.

Her death crushed Renelda and Rebekah, who had equally loved the old woman. They found it difficult accepting it.

But she died, leaving all the knowledge that she had gained in her life time to Renelda, who wasted no time in teaching her beautiful, little daughter.

Taking her to the forests. Teaching her healing elixirs, teaching her to talk softly to the sheep and also to fend for herself. The little girl was soon learning a lot. Becoming a brave young one. Making her mother extremely proud.

Oh there were days they cried from all the hardships and taunts they received from the other villagers. But they held each other strong.

Going to their favorite space in the woods, where they could find peace with the trees and soft grasses beneath their feet. And whenever they did this, the sadness always washed away.

The little Rebekah was growing fast and more beautiful, every day. A constant reminder to her mother of King Edmund and herself.

However, each day, instead of feeling sad about how much she and her little one had been betrayed by the King, she would look to her little girl and love her more.

There was no greater sacrifice than love, which could conquer all. A love which she was certain existed between herself and King Edmund. And she was sure that the King would someday realize his grave error.

For in her heart, she knew that one day, her daughter’s rights would be restored to her by King Edmund.