Prince Brendan and Countess Abigail's wedding was barely six months after that last ball. All the kingdom was invited to the wedding, which lasted for a week. Abigail had the chance to show off her skills by greeting kings and emperors come from far away. There was only one person missing, and, truth be told, everyone would have been surprised if she had appeared. Sophia had vanished the same day Brendan had announced he would be marrying the Countess, some said she was hiding her shame of being refused, some said the Duchess had fled the country and went to her mother's land. No one knew for sure, and no one even dared to ask her eccentric father. So, despite Abigail's best efforts, Sophia was the main topic on the wedding tables. The Duchess was not even there, and she was the star of the wedding. Princess Abigail, as she was known from the moment she married the Prince, decided to face her husband with that problem.
-Your Majesty, there is lots of talk about Duchess Sophia.- she told him in the privacy of their own rooms.
-Let them talk, you are the one I married, my queen.
-I know, but do they know?
He pulled her close and took her by the window of the castle. From there they could see the castle walls, the city behind them, with the Cathedral standing tall and proud, and the city walls outside. The river ran parallel to the east wall, and shone with the moonlight.
-Can you see all this? The houses, the walls, the river, the forest, the towns scattered around, the mountains in the horizon? Do you see them? Because they are all yours and I gave them to you. No matter if people talk about Sophia, because you are the one who is going to be the Queen, whether they like it or not.
The wedding festivities finished, and the newly-weds moved into a palace in the countryside to enjoy some privacy. Not long after Abigail became pregnant. It was a reason for joy, the King needed a heir, and the sooner the better. The Queen decided she was the one who needed to tell her daughter-in-law everything she needed to know, and ended up spending more time in the palace than in her castle. Abigail was overwhelmed, and a bit scared, she hadn't been feeling well, and the further her pregnancy went, the worse she felt. By the end of it she was too big and lacked the energy to move. Both the doctor and the Queen agreed that something was amiss, but the royal doctor was in the dark, he didn't know what to do knowing that if he failed, he would not live to see another day.
The days passed and the Princess was feeling weaker and weaker, the Prince was desperate as he saw the life leaving her beloved. Doctors from other lands attended her, but didn't dare to attempt any treatment for fear of the consequences. One night, a dark stranger appeared, she was wearing a hooded cape, and carrying a heavy bag that looked full of herbs.
-Who are you?-one of the guards at the gate stopped her.
-I have heard your Princess is seriously ill. I have come to cure her.
-I don't trust you, woman.- the other one said.
The other guard took him aside and told him off, they had been told to let any doctor in.
-Go find the captain!- he told him in whispers.
The captain arrived not long after, guarded by two more soldiers. He questioned the stranger, and when he was content with her answers, he let her in. They entered the palace and passed through dozens of closed doors, the Princes didn't seem to have lots of company. As they arrived at the end of a corridor, an open door greeted them. There was a fire blazing inside, and the Prince was sitting on an armchair, the weight of the world on his shoulders. The captain begged for his attention.
-Excuse me, your Highness.- the Prince looked at him.- This woman claims she can cure the Princess.
-Get closer, stranger, and take off your hood.
She did as she was told, raising both her hands and lowering her hood. Brendan was paralyzed when he saw the face he had known not too long ago.
-Sophia.
-Yes.- she skipped the formalities. The Duchess was tanner, and thinner, but she also looked wiser.
-We thought you had left.
-I did, I went to my mother's land, where I learnt about medicine and science. Where I learnt a woman can be a Queen on her own, and not only by marriage. Where I learnt a woman can be whatever she wants.
Brendan was completely stunned, she was a different woman, and she had the serenity of a Queen. And she was his only hope. He overcame himself, and took her to his wife's room. Sophia made everyone leave and stayed in the room alone with Abigail, who couldn't even understand who was helping her. Some hours later, Sophia opened the door finding a nervous Brendan pacing from one side to the other. She made him enter. Inside the room, Abigail was sitting up, her back on some pillows, holding a little bundle on her arms. She smiled at her husband.
-It's a girl.- she said with a tired voice.
-Indeed, she is your firstborn.- announced Sophia.
At that moment Abigail realized who she was. A look of confusion crossed her face, followed by one of anger.
-You?- she shouted, making the baby cry.
-Yes, me. I have saved your life, and your daughter's. However, there is something you should know. You daughter will never be able to dance, let alone walk. And, as someone once told me, no one wants a woman who can't dance.
Sophia took profit of the confusion to leave the castle, and she was never seen again.
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