In Which Celina Gains a Sense of Closure

October 19, 1161

It had been her first decent nap since giving birth to Rona, Celina realized as she woke to the sound of Aldhein's voice; it might have been nice to have been able to enjoy it for a longer period of time.

"Sorry to disturb you, your grace," he apologized quietly.

"Don't trouble yourself, Aldhein," insisted Celina. "What is it you need?"

He appeared suddenly grim. It was not an expression that Celina had never seen on him before, but she did find it rather unbecoming. Where was the teasing, carefree young man who had always greeted her when she had called at Roderick's castle? He had his inner demons, she knew, but he had once been fully in control of them, reluctant to let anyone else know they existed; now, it seemed he simply did not care. Had Geneva truly broken him so? Celina had half a mind to start looking for a girl who could fix him.

"Uh... there's someone here to see you," he told her, seemingly weighing each word before he spoke, "but I doubt that you will appreciate this visit. Give me the word, your grace, and I will say that you are not here."

"Oh, don't!" Celina protested. "You shouldn't have to lie on my behalf, Aldhein."

Closing his eyes, the steward nodded. "You're right. I shall simply say that you do not care to entertain today."

That hadn't been what she meant. "No, that would be terribly rude. Please tell whoever it is that I will see them."

He did not smile and nod and turn on his heel as he usually did when she asked something of him; instead, he simply stared at her. "Trust me, your grace... that is the last thing you want to do."

"If someone rode all the way up to the castle to see me, then the least I can do is receive them," she stated firmly. "Aldhein, please--send them in."

Sighing, he slowly turned around and made his way out of the sitting room and into the corridor. "Don't say I didn't warn you, your grace."

"I won't."

From the second the door clicked shut behind him, she dismissed the conversation as a weak attempt to find some amusement in the monotony of his new, adult life; however, the moment that his absence was filled by the arrival of the visitor, she realized that she might have been wise to heed his warning after all.

"Hello, Celina."

For the first time in months, Celina was without words--not only verbally, but mentally as well.

"Forgive me for startling you, but of everyone here, I figure you're the most likely to keep my presence here a secret," Geneva began, apparently oblivious to Celina's newfound state of shock. "How are things? They say that Roderick married Karlspan's widow and Alina's had about a dozen more babies. Is that true?"

She couldn't even bring herself to nod. Geneva, however, didn't seem to notice.

"Speaking of babies, I simply can't believe you've had four," the other woman continued. "My God, Celina--you have the figure of a seventeen-year-old! You're very fortunate, you know. I imagine Alina also looks much the same as always, though; that woman will live to be eighty and not age a day.

"Anyway, I heard tell that Roderick is quite happy with Laralita. Do you know for sure? The man did deserve someone, you know--I do hope he's found her, though I admit I was rather startled when I first found out. I imagine it's only a good thing that only Medea and I--and now you, of course--know he's a bigamist. He himself doesn't even know! A story to tell the grandchildren, certainly... but it should be kept under wraps for now, don't you agree?

"But you might be wondering why I'm here. As I'm sure you know, it never did a parent any good to be separated from their children for any significant period of time, yes? Well, it's been about four years now--I know, I can't believe it either, how time flies--and I was heading this way anyway, so I figured I would drop by for a glimpse of my babies, you see. Anyway, is Eilyssa around, or...?"

Finally, Celina felt motion return to her. She slowly pulled herself to her feet and locked eyes with Geneva--but only for a moment.

"You dare show your face here?" she screamed as her outstretched hand flew past the former queen's face. "The nerve of you! What right have you to even think

about setting foot in this castle?"

She barely noticed the stinging of her own hand. Never before in her life had Celina struck another human being, and perhaps in a moment, she would feel guilty--but for now, all she knew was a sense of closure.

Clearly taken aback, Geneva proceeded to blink rapidly. "What the hell was that for?"

Celina couldn't believe it.

"As if you didn't know, you whore!" she spat, surprised at the ease with which she had voiced this forbidden word that had never before breached her lips. "You committed adultery against my cousin, slept with my husband, broke my friend, and abandoned your own children! And then you just come back here and babble on as though everything was normal? Are you even aware that there other people in this world other than yourself, you vile witch?"

Geneva sighed. "Celina... please. I just want to see my daughter..."

"Not on my watch, bitch!" Celina declared, unconsciously releasing yet another new noun. "The moment you left was the moment you decided you weren't going to be a part of Eilyssa's life; don't lead her on by coming back to her and just running away again like you did before. She doesn't need that--she deserves better than that! And so do your other children, and Roderick! Now, I'm only going to tell you once, so you'd better listen: get out of my castle. Get out of my castle, and get out of this kingdom! Do you understand, or do I need Aldhein to fetch me a knife so I can carve the written instructions into your arm for future reference?"

This time, Geneva said nothing; she simply nodded, then hurried through the door, not even bothering to close it behind her.

Now, Celina was alone in the room again. And yet, somehow, it did not seem emptier.

NEXT CHAPTER: