Identity of Twins Revealed

---------------- ORIGINAL STORY FROM THE 1960s- ----------------

This story is also included in "The Children Scene"... prithee bear with us.

December 767

At the Christmas feast nearly all the great lords were assembled. The King and Queen sat at the had of the festive table, very festive in their finery. Jugglers and tumblers and dancers whiled and leapt and smiled in a dizzy maze of red, green and gold. From his seat, Lawrence watched his friends. Lorin sat, arms crossed smiling wistfully at a minstrel whose voice trilled a love tune. Larissa watched him and nibbled on dates. Shannon and Rory sat and talked, Shannon's face a picture of rapture, still not believing his friend was returned. Erik made no distinction between a holy night and any other night. Adin had not proclaimed a holiday for bawdiness, and a raven-haired beauty enjoyed his lusty kisses. The rest talked and laughed and sang carols with the music. There was one notable absence - Elerde did not sing or dance even sit at the table. Lawrence remembered how he had made sure Elerde left the castle, soon after that dark night. Lawrence's temper had been formidable and on order Elerde had taken his flight on pretext wanting to spend Christmas in Brittany. Through all this Josephine had remained quiet and secluded , taking with courage the King's temper snaps and the poignant sorrow and doubt she face. That first night back together Lawrence had been passionate and desperate, but that night as so many nights, she awoke to find him standing at the window, watching the moon.

The children were their source for true delight. Peter ported his three and one-half years gallantly. The Queen loved to watch his eyes, so like his father's, and found she loved the King more and more each time she did. Two and half years fit the toddlers well. Both were quiet now, Elaine naturally and Caitie because of her illness. Tavish swaggered about like a man-at-arms but spent quiet moments at the cradle of little Donal.

Of course the children were asleep now, and while the Queen chatted with Samir, Lawrence thought of a very gay event a month ago. He and Jo and been casually playing a game of chess when Clancy informed them a very old woman pleaded her way into the castle. Lawrence, whose temper was still quite short, started to tell Clancy to have the woman taken away, but a soft look from the Queen made him gesture her in. The woman entered cowering, and kissed the Queen's hand.

"Why…" the Queen gasped, "Why, you're one of the midwives at Sheffield…"

"Yes, my lady, and if you will but promise me no harm will come to me for my silence until now, I shall tell you glad news," the old woman said.

Lawrence sat up straight in his char. "Aye, aye my good woman. What is it you have to say? If it truly good news, you shall have anything you desire…." He flushed. "Within reason, of course."

"My Liege, I am here to tell you of the night the princesses were born. Both my ladies the Queen and Raphaele were in labor and we put them to sleep with our various herbs. The Jewess died before her child was born, and the baby, a boy, died also. I had not realized that the Queen thought her twins were not both hers, for I was the only one in room when were born. And I left soon after. The lady who attended the Jewess hated her and told the queen a lie. The woman is now dead, God rest her."

Lawrence remembered how Jo had jumped to him and cried out in joy when the woman had left. The Queen and he had sat together, running their fingers through each other's hair and laughing and kissing for sheer delight.

The Queen turned to him and saw the smile of a dreamer. "Merry Yule, my love!" she said.

Next:  Josephine's Breakdown