Aidan tried not to be the mother who was impressed with every little thing her baby girl did. But secretly she could not help her suspension that Artisia was unique and far more intelligent and well behaved than the average baby.
Arthur, the 11th Duke of Saber had no hesitation declaring his daughter perfection and brilliant. He foresaw her becoming the greatest ruler of the Dukedom.
Artisia had been calm with wide eyed curiosity and hardly ever whimpered. But when she turned six months and began cutting teeth she turned into a crying monster that broke her daddy's heart everyday.
Aidan began to keep a journal, documenting Artisia's first tooth, first rolling, crawling, sit up, etcetera. She was devastated that Artisia's first word at 8 months was "Dada" and her second was "Bedee" short for Dad and Bedelia, respectively. But Artisia soon followed those up with "Mama" and her first sentence "Want mama."
By 11 months Artisia's favorite quote was "fooly dada" with her own unique sassy smile. Arthur would melt and could never be able to even pretend to be indignant that Artisia picked up calling him foolish from his wife's playful teasing.
As Artisia's first Birthday drew near Aidan became convinced that her daughter may really be a prodigy. During late night feedings Aidan's mind was overwhelmed with her growing list of concerns. How to best raise her daughter? Was it possible to raise a child to be respectful after she exceeded her parent's knowledge? How to raise Artisia to be affectionate and tenderhearted to peers who were not her own intellectual equal?
Arthur remained ignorant to his wife's worries as he dealt with his burden of guilt. His daughter had no connection to her grandparents. His own parents died before he had met Aidan. His attempts at broaching the subject of sending a letter to Aidan's father and healing the breach between father and daughter were repeatedly met by cold glares.
How could Arthur be a good father when he caused his wife the heartache of breaking ties with her own father? The thought of Artisia abandoning him to run off with some man became one of his greatest fears. However, Aidan of Tremain inherited her father's stubborn pride. She did not wanting Arthur to act as an intermediary to mend the years of hurt.
Only with the aid of Bedelia did Arthur finally convince Aidan to send a letter on Artisia's third birthday to Trahern of Tremain 39th king of Aibhlin. In her crisp hand Aidan wrote one short paragraph of formal text informing the man the existence of his granddaughter and Artisia's date of birth. Not a word about his own daughter, any kind of apology, or even a polite greeting.
Following Bedelia's advice, Arthur resisted the urge to add anything to the letter and sent it off exactly as his wife wrote it. He anxiously wondered how to handle it if the messages exchanged remained constrained. Or worse if this little olive branch was ignored altogether.
162 F.E. the first month of Spring started a new year, bringing with it warmth to thaw winter snows and the ship with Trahern of Tremain's reply.
Aidan Duchess of Saber agreed to give her father's messenger a private audience, only her husband and personal maid present as witnesses.
The faithful butler of Saber castle, Hillard, personally announced their guest. "Flanna, loyal daughter of Aibhlin and servant of great king Trahern of Tremain here to see Lady Aidan, our esteemed Duchess of Saber."
Aidan made eye contact with the aged gentleman until the end of his speech, then with a dip of her head she signaled his dismissal. Only after his exit and the door closed did she deign to shift her practiced cold gaze to her father's messenger. She knew her face was impassive, just as he had raised her to do when facing an enemy.
The moment she finally allowed herself to focus on her guest Aidan knew what her father's intentions were. The girl standing before her appeared to be 15 years old, her reddish brown hair cut to her jawline, and she was dressed in a simple garment that came to her knees overlayed with a chest plate and shin guards for armor. Flanna was looking down at the floor in subservience, but Aidan knew the girl was a trained warrior.
Aidan kept her breathing even as her heart squeezed in her chest and motioned the girl forward.
Flanna took exactly three steps toward Aidan and then knelt onto one knee. In Aibhlin she spoke the traditional words making her request. Aidan vaguely processed the words as she focused on maintaining her reserve. When Flanna was finished speaking, Aidan turned to Bedelia and ordered her in Sterram to bring Artisia into the room.
Flanna was staring at the floor, no nerves or emotions visible as she waited for Aidan's reply. Aidan assumed the girl only spoke their native language, so she spoke softly in that language while they waited. "It is Artisia's choice to accept or refuse your request."
Aidan felt the nervous energy from Arthur sitting to her left. She knew he was trying to be patient and only observe the proceedings until their conclusion. She had every confidence he would support her in this, even without his full understanding.
Flanna had dedicated herself to the art of war and when the opportunity arose, she had battled at least 20 other fighters for the honor to serve a child of the royal family. Aidan's family. Flanna had proven herself among the best Aibhlin had to offer and she had chosen to dedicate her life and breath to serve a princess of Aibhlin. To serve Artisia the same way Bedelia had served Aidan since the day they had first met.
When three-year-old Artisia arrived, it would be her choice to accept or refuse Flanna's oath of loyalty and lifelong servitude. Her choice would be to accept or refuse the closest thing to an apology Aidan would ever receive from her father.
Aidan avoided to let herself to consider how if her daughter refused it would be the end of any hope Aidan harbored to communicate with her father ever again.
Bedelia returned to the room with Artisia in her arms and then placed the girl down in front of where Aidan and Arthur sat. Before Artisia could climb up into her parent's laps, Aidan told her daughter to greet their guest.
Artisia turned to see Flanna still knelt on the floor and in her high-pitched baby voice greeted her in Sterram. Flanna did not so much as twitch.
Aidan knew Artisia was used to everyone always greeting her with smiles, so she was prepared for her daughter's look of confusion. "She only speaks my language. She wants to become your very own Bedee so Mama doesn't have to share." Aidan said as she tried to think of the best way to explain.
Artisia looked up at Bedelia, her huge eyes expressing her broken heart. "My Bedee." There was no whine in her voice, only a child's expression of love.
"I know," Aidan soothed regretting her previous words. "Bedee will still be yours. Flanna also wants to help you dress and carry you when Mama and Bedee are busy. Would you like to meet her?" She pondered how to make her words even simpler for a 3-year-old to understand if further explanation was required.
Artisia turned to walk over to Flanna. She stood on tip-toes to put her chubby hand on the crown of Flanna's head, the way she'd been taught to greet Bedelia in the mornings. But instead of the traditional greeting, in Aibhlin she asked, "Do your knees hurt?"
Flanna's eyes looked up at Artisia. She gave only the faintest smile and replied, "a little."
Artisia stroked Flanna's hair. "Pretty" she said. Then opening her arms wide, she grinned at the teenage girl. "Up please."
Aiden allowed a sigh of relief and accepted Arthur's hand that grabbed hers to give a squeeze of support. Artisia's childish kindness was a mercy to her mother's heart.
Over the next few weeks Aidan and Bedelia maintained Artisia's regular morning routine, but Flanna was included as an observer. At exactly 7am Aidan would personally wake her daughter up, help her wash and dress. She then proceeded to hold Artisia in her arms as the little girl received curtsies from Bedelia and Flanna, the women then waiting to receive their morning pat on the head as an acknowledgment of their acceptable service.
Artisia was than handed off to Bedelia who would comb and style Artisia's curly hair for the day. Flanna would watch carefully, her fingers moving in the air mimicking the way Bedelia's would move while creating the intricate braids. Aidan would have used this time to check if Arthur was awake, check her schedule for the day with Hillard, or discuss meals with the cook. But as she waited to make sure Artisia was comfortable with Flanna she remained in the room overseeing everything.
Every morning, as soon as Bedelia was finished she kissed Artisia's cheek to signal the girl was free to wiggle. Artisia would give Bedelia a hug and kiss, jump down and rush for Flanna.
Artisia grabbed the older girl by the hand and would drag her to the door and down the hall. Along the way Artisia pointed to everything her eyes landed on and would say the word in Sterram. She would coax Flanna into saying it in Aibhlin and then repeated it in Sterram.
In this way Artisia explored all of her favorite places in Saber castle teaching Flanna Sterram and improving her own ability to speak Aibhlin. Aiden and Bedelia followed behind to insure they did not get lost, introduce Flanna to the other maids and servants, and only interject in the language lessons when requested by Artisia. In less than an hour she would be tired and reached for her mother or Bedelia to carry her and all four would go to breakfast. Artisia would nap in the Duchess's office while her mother completed her morning work.
When Aidan felt confident in letting Flanna take over the morning routine, she still would be first to awaken her daughter and received her hugs. Aidan was then free to get an early start on her duties.
It felt strange to no longer be eating breakfast with her daughter. There were days her arms began to ache to hold her child and she would lose her ability to concentrate on what she was doing. But Artisia was never separated from her mother for more than three hours.
Most mornings Flanna would arrive in the Duchess's office at exactly 9am, holding a sleeping little girl. Aidan's greedy arms would take Artisia to cradle the growing girl the best she could while the Duchess read and signed documents.
By Artisia's fourth birthday everyone in Saber castle and throughout the Dukedom knew two things about their future Duchess. Artisia was a brilliant child with a loving heart.
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