Queen Juno And The Kings Bastard

Dark clouds hang heavy over the Vathy Mountains. The tallest mountains are grey and capped with ice and snow. The short ones are covered in trees.

On the slopes of one of the mountains is a palace. It is an elegant, grey, and monumental structure with trees surrounding its walls. An iron-bar gate provides the only entrance to the building. Atop the gates is a stone arch, with the name of the place carved into it Samowood Estate.

Inside the palace is the mistress of the palace. Juno, the Queen of Enonum, stands in the splendid atrium of her personal estate. The sound of hammering comes from one of the doors in her hall. From the door comes her head of servants.

"Ah, Ms. Watson, how goes the renovations."

"Excellent, Your Majesty. We will be done by tomorrow afternoon."

"Perfect."

Juno walks towards the fireplace. The fire crackles and dances. Queen Juno looks up at two portraits over the fireplace. One depicting a dark-haired child, who appears sad and scared, as she stands under two intimidating adults. A man, who has white hair cut short, and has a thick, impeccably groomed moustache; upon his face is a scowl. The woman is a mirror reflection of the queen.

The portrait next to the family, depicts Queen Juno in her wedding dress. She stands beside her husband, who smiles warmly and his eyes shine. Juno smiles in the portrait; however, her eyes are filled with apprehension.

Knock! Knock! The sound comes from the front door. Ms. Watson goes to open it.

A visitor stands in front of the doorway. He is a tall man, in a long coat and wearing a dark top hat that casts a dark shadow over his face. On his coat is a rose badge.

"Come in," Ms. Watson bows as she gestures him in.

The visitor walks into the palace. He approaches the queen, and stands before her. His hat remains on his head and cloaks him in shadow.

"Welcome to my estate, sir." Queen Juno greets her guest while standing tall.

He bows before her. "It is in honor, my queen."

"How goes your investigation?" the queen asks.

The man smiles and reaches into his coat. He takes out a folder. He opens it and shows its contents to Queen Juno. "Excellent, Your Majesty. I have found the lad."

The queen takes one of the sketches and looks at it. A black-and-white profile picture of a young man from a public school for boys a recent graduate, aged eighteen. He is a slim, young man with a light complexion and fair brown hair. And a face similar to her husband, King Carolus of Enonum.

"His name is Pippin Hare. However, he goes by the name Pip."

"Are you sure he is the one we are looking for?"

"Yes, my queen. I guarantee it. I combed through the school and hospital records. I found his mother and verified her."

Queen Juno purses her lips and grits her teeth. "Ina O'Hara," she snarls, coldly. "That drunken whore my husband brought into his harem. Only to throw her out when he grew tired of her."

"Yes, my queen. However, she goes by the name Alison Hare, and moved here after breaking up with the king. She lives off hustling and escorting local gentlemen."

"Is my husband aware of him?" Queen Juno asks.

"No, my queen. He has no idea she was ever pregnant. The king has also never spoken to her since she was expelled from the harem of roses."

"Excellent." A wolfish grin stretches across her face. "I think it's time I invited Mr. Hare to Samowood. I must get to... know him."

The following week

KLANG, KLANG, KLANG.

The noon bells of Paddingwell Secondary School ring. Three young men in school uniforms exit.

"Do you think the university will accept our applications, Pip?" asks the youth on the right.

"I hope so, Jan," says Pip, in the center. "We have been taking the summer courses."

"If we get rejected, at least we can continue taking classes and study here until they finally accept us," says the boy on the left.

"Yeah, there is our silver lining, Francis," Pip sighs. "It is getting late and I have to get home to... Mother."

The two friends wince.

"Oh, good luck. I have no need to see her again," Francis says, and rubs a mark under his hairline. "I have to get going now, bye guys," he says and runs off quickly.

"Ha. Coward." Jan shakes his head. "Don't worry, my friend. I'll be there for you."

"It's fine, Jan. I can handle it," Pip sighs.

"No really, Pip, it's okay."

"Jan, you have to get home and get ready for your nightshift."

"Oh, Pip, it's nothing."

Pip forces a smile and looks at Jan. "Jan, everything will be fine," Pip reassures him. "Tell you what. If anything happens, I'll let you be my bodyguard for the rest of the year."

"If anything happens, you will move in with me and my folks, deal?" He holds out his hand.

"Deal." The friends shake and embrace. They split up and each go home.

Pip walks home to his townhouse. A modest, brick row house identical to all the other townhouses. Pip enters the house, without announcing his presence, and sneaks towards the kitchen. On his way there, he passes through the living room. On the couch lies his mother, asleep with her long, messy blonde and greying hair covering her face. In front of her is the coffee table, where there sits a bottle of rum, tea kettle, cups and a top hat.

"To be expected," Pip sighs, and turns back to the kitchen.

Wait! Mother hates tea, Pip thinks to himself. He looks back at the table and the number of cups on the table. One, two and three, Pip silently counts.

Whose hat is that? The young man stares at the top hat.

He turns his head towards the chair by the window. "AHHH!" Pip yells.

There sits a man in the chair. A man Pip has never seen before. His face is hidden by the shadow.

"Who are you?!" Pip yells, and backs away towards the kitchen.

The stranger calmly takes a sip of the tea. "Hello Mr. Hare."

Pip halts by the counter. There is a knife by the counter.

"Pippin is your given name, is it?"

Pippin freezes like a deer in a hunter's gaze. "Y-y-y-yes..." Pip answers. "How did you know?"

"I have been talking with your mother." His mother remains asleep.

"Who are you?" Pip inches towards the knife. "What are you doing here?"

"At ease, boy." The man remains seated.

Pip feels as if the man is towering over him, despite him just sitting there.

His hand ranches out and points to another chair by the coffee table. "Sit," he commands.

Pip obeys, and sits down.

"Make yourself at home." The man points to the tea kettle and extra cup.

Pip quickly pours himself a cup of tea.

"Good boy," the man says, while Pip sips his tea. A moment of silence passes with the young man and the mystery man.

The mystery man stands up, revealing himself to the young man his hair is dark with grey sideburns; he has piercing, ethereal blue eyes; his face is mature and strong like a marble statue, with sharp jawlines.

"Allow me to introduce myself." He stands over Pip. "I am Dr. Emmett Bell."

"Hello Mister"

Dr. Bell furrows his brow, leaning forward, his stare is harsh.

"... My apologies, good doctor. Dr. Bell, it is an honor." Pip sinks into the chair.

Dr. Bell gives a slight smile and softs his glare. "Good boy." Dr. Bell raises an index finger and gestures towards him. "Sit up straight, Pip."

Pip obeys and sits up.

"Good boy." He circles Pip's chair and pats him on the head. Dr. Bell runs his finger through his hair. "Now, to answer one of your earlier questions. What am I doing here?" he begins.

"I am a professor of biology and chemistry from the capital. When I'm not researching and teaching at the Royal University, I take on private investigating for clients. One of my cases involves looking for someone."

Pip shifts in his seat. "Who is this, you are looking for?"

"Why you, of course, Pip."

Pip freezes in his seat as the professor stands over him.

"What... Who... Who... is looking for me?" Pip's hands shake. "Why?"

"Let me ask you something," the doctor replies. "Have you ever wondered who your father was?"

Pip's pulse stops. "Say what?"

"Your father. Has your mother ever told you anything about him?"

Pip shakes his head. "No..." Pip looks at his passed-out mother on the couch. "Every time I ask, she refuses to tell."

"Well, Pip my, boy," Dr. Bell leans in closer to Pip. "Would you like to find out who he is?"

"Yes," Pip says. "You know who my father is?"

"I know..." Dr. Bell smiles, "someone who can get you in touch with him."

"Well, who is it?" Pip jumps from his chair. "Please tell me!"

"My employer is a noblewoman." Dr. Bell turns his back on Pip, and walks towards the window. "She is the one who sent me to find you. She would rather introduce herself to you, than to have me do it." He gazes out the window.

"Oh, you mean I would have to leave town to meet her?"

"Yes, my boy. You would have to make a decision soon. I depart for her estate tomorrow morning, with or without you."

"Oh... uh..." Pip nibbles his lip.

"My boy." Dr. Bell turns around. "Don't you wish to learn more about where you came from?"

"Well... Yes..."

"Don't you..." Dr. Bell puts his hand on Pip's shoulder; his hard grip is tight on Pip's skinny shoulders, "wish you could get away from..." He points to Pip's unconscious mother. "This."

Pip stares hard at his disheveled mother. There is silence, as Pip ponders.

"Tell you what, my boy," Dr. Bell says, with his hand still holding onto Pip's shoulder. "Meet me at the tavern at the town center."

"Cross's Place?"

"Yes, that one." Dr. Bell nods. "I'll leave around 6:45am. If you aren't there fifteen minutes before that time, you will miss your chance." Dr. Bell puts down the tea cup and goes to the door, where he finds his cane.

"It is your choice, Pip." He opens the door and waves, "Farewell."

The door closes and Pip is alone with his unconscious mother.

The next morning

Dr. Bell waits outside Cross's Place. A dense fog fills the streets. The professor checks his pocket watch, while the horse-drawn carriage stands ready.

"Well, sir," the driver calls to Dr. Bell. "You think the lad will come?"

Dr. Bell smiles and stares at a shadow in the distance. "Oh, he is."

The shadowy figure gets closer.

"Dr. Bell, is that you?" the voice of Pip shouts through the fog.

"Ah, Pip, my boy, you made it." Dr. Bell waves at the youth. He opens the carriage door.

Pip runs over and bows to Dr. Bell. In his right hand is a small suitcase.

"You are early." Dr. Bell pats Pip on the back. "Good boy."

The driver hops down from the carriage and loads Pip's suitcase in the back. Pip enters the carriage, and takes his seat. Dr. Bell enters, and closes the door behind them.

"We are ready, driver," Dr. Bell calls to the driver.

"Right away, sir." The driver returns to the driver's seat. He raises his whip and cracks it. "Away!" The horse-drawn carriage takes off into the fog.

The carriage leaves the town of Paddingwell, as Dr. Bell and Pip travel towards the Vathy Mountains. At noon, they stop at a tavern at the foot of one of the mountains, where they have a quick meal before continuing. The journey is quiet and tense. As they travel, Pip looks at the professor; he is quietly reading and pays little attention to Pip. The wide-eyed Pip gazes upon the mighty mountains; never has he ever been so close to peaks so massive.

As the carriage slowly traverses the mountain roads, Pip's insides churn as he looks down from the window of the carriage. Dr. Bell, meanwhile, pays no heed to the heights, or to Pip's discomfort. They travel through the mountains for hours. Night arrives, and the mountains are cloaked in darkness. A lantern hangs in front of the carriage to light the way.

Boom! Rumble!

Distant thunder echoes softly through the valley. Pip shivers, and Dr. Bell remains unfazed. They slowly ride along the mountain road until they finally reach their destination.

"We are here, sir!" the driver calls out.

"Excellent." Dr. Bell grins and checks his watch. "Early, no less."

Pip sticks his head out the window and sees their destination a tall, mighty palace in the mountains, surrounded by trees the most beautiful structure he has ever seen in his life.

The carriage parks outside the palace and the driver opens the door. Dr. Bell exits first, and leads Pip to the front gate. There are guards at the gate, who open it and bow to Dr. Bell. Pip follows through the gate and looks closely at the guards. They wear green and purple military uniforms that would be used by the guards of royals and nobles, their helmets have feather plumes that are green with blue spots.

Dr. Bell wraps his arm around Pip. His grip is tight, as they walk towards the massive palace doors made of wood and metal.

Thunder booms through the valley, as they approach the door; once there, Dr. Bell raps the door knocker.

KLANG, KLANG, KLANG.

The door opens immediately; there, standing, are two women and one man.

The silver-haired man is six-foot-two inches tall, his jawline sharp and large; he is wearing a military uniform. Next to him, in the center, is a tall woman, five feet ten inches, with chestnut brown hair and grey eyes. Like the man, she is also wearing a military uniform. Finally, on the left, a short, elderly woman stands with grey hair, and a wrinkled face.

"Welcome," the three say, in unison.

The elderly woman steps forward. "Come inside, our honored guest." She starts to lead Pip.

"Wait!" Pip says, and turns his head. "My lug..."

"No need to worry, my dear." The elder butler snaps her fingers and a servant runs over to the carriage.

"Have a seat, my dear." The short, old woman leads Pip over to a sofa by a warm, roaring fireplace.

Pip takes his seat.

The three greeters introduce themselves.

"I am Ms. Sarah Watson," says the older woman. "I am the butler of Samowood."

"I am Colonel Agatha Panos," says the woman in the military uniform. "I am the chief of security of Samowood."

"I am Major Gustav Allseende," adds the tall man. "I am Colonel Panos's lieutenant and primary bodyguard of the mistress of this house."

"Hello," Pip says, shyly. "Who is the mistress of this house?"

"Oh, she is coming and you will meet her soon," says Ms. Watson. Everyone smiles and they wink at each other.

"I'll bring out some refreshments for you and the mistress." Sarah Watson leaves for the kitchen. Pip is left with Doctor Bell, Colonel Panos and Major Allseende.

It only takes a minute for the mistress of Samowood to arrive. She is a regal woman in a modest formal dress. It is the color of a dark red wine. She wears a wide-brimmed bonnet with a lotus flower; a short net hangs from the brim hiding the lady's face.

Pip stands and bows. "My lady." He takes a knee before the mistress. "Thank you for welcoming me into your home as a guest." Pip looks down at the floor. "Your home is most beautiful."

The mysterious mistress of Samowood gets closer to Pip.

He catches a glimpse of her feet. She is wearing fine dark leather shoes.

"Stand, my boy," she orders.

Pip obeys and slowly gets up. Once he is up, the lady of the house stares intently at him through the netting of her hat.

Pip can see little of her face; only her mouth and nose are visible, her mouth is tight and her lips are red.

The lady studies Pip's face closely. After a long minute has passed, a wide smile stretches across the queen's lips. "Take a seat." She points at the sofa, and Pip obeys. The lady takes a seat in a chair in front of him.

"Tell me your name, boy."

"Pip. Madame. Pippin Hare of Paddingwell."

"Good." She grins. "Tell me why it is that you are here, young Mr. Hare?"

"I am here because I was told you could provide me with answers..." Pip's heart starts to quicken, and he freezes.

"Answers for what?" the lady asks.

"Answers about my father?" Pip finishes.

"Ahhhhh." The lady grits her teeth, as she grins. "Your father."

Sarah Watson returns with a kettle of tea and two cups; she puts them down on the coffee table in between them.

"Oh, young Mr. Hare, please have some refreshments."

The mistress of the house takes a cup, and Sarah Watson pours the tea into it. Ms Watson pours tea into another cup, and hands it to Pip.

"Thank you." Pip bows his head to Ms Watson. He stares at the hot and steaming tea; it smells wonderful.

"How do you like your tea, Mr. Hare?"

Pip looks at the tea tray. He sees sugar and cream. Pip feels something is off.

I sure would like some tea with sugar or cream, Pip thinks. However, the mistress, here, has been rather shady. Pip looks at his hostess.

She smiles and takes a sip of the tea. A few moments pass. The lady seems fine. She takes a spoonful of sugar and pours a little cream into the tea. She takes another sip.

Two tense and silent minutes pass. Pip holds the hot tea in his hands.

"Mr. Hare," the mystery lady breaks the silence, "the tea will get cold if you don't drink it soon."

The lady seems fine. Unaffected by the tea or the additives.

"All right," Pip says.

"Would you like some sugar, dear?" Ms. Watson smiles, and takes a spoonful of sugar.

"No thank you, Ms." Pip holds out his hand. "I am good."

Pip sniffs the tea. No unusual odors, Pip thinks. He takes a slow and careful sip of the warm tea. It tastes like normal black tea without any sugar or cream. It is bitter and Pip winces as he sips more of the tea. He lowers his cup to smile and nod to the hostess.

"Excellent," he lies, "thank you very much, madame."

"My dear boy." The mysterious noblewoman leans forward. "I can tell you didn't enjoy it."

Pip's pits sweat. "What?" he replies.

"I could see you wincing from the bitterness. Please have something to sweeten it, dear."

"No, no, no, no." Pip waves away the sugar. "I'm trying to cut back on the sweets," Pip refuses.

The noblewoman shrugs her shoulders. "Suit yourself."

They both take a sip before Pip asks, "I have come here for answers." Pip's stomach twists itself in a knot.

"Ah yes," the mystery woman nods. "You came to my home because I am willing to share the truth about your family."

"Yes, please," Pip says, his guts churn excitedly.

"You are the son of a single mother," the lady says. "Your mother raised you in the simple town of Paddingwall."

"Yes..." Pip nibbles his lip.

"You are a student who gets good marks, and has two close friends, Jan and Francis."

"Wait, what...?" Pip goes pale.

"You normally have your tea with sugar and cream, which you didn't just now accept because you are suspicious I might be trying to poison you." The mysterious woman grins like a wolf and laughs, "Hahaha!"

Pip leans back and sinks into his seat.

"Your favorite meal is grilled trout and vegetables, and your first crush was Roberta Parker."

"How...? How...?" Pip's heart putters rapidly in his chest.

His host stands up and begins to circle him. "Hahaha," she laughs softly, behind Pip.

Young Pippin is too paralyzed to move.

"I know more things about you, than you know about yourself, dear boy."

Cold sweat drips down Pip's forehead and he feels sick.

"Your mother's real name is Ina O'Hara." She runs her fingers through Pip's hair. "She was a common whore then, as she is now." The lady completes her first lap around him.

"However, there was a brief time when she courted the highest nobles in the kingdom." The mystery woman clenches her fists. "She made her way into the bedchambers of power before being thrown out for being a jealous, drunken bitch."

Pip feels dizzy as the mistress of the house circles him. He feels tired and sick.

"Your mother left disgraced and pregnant with one of her many lovers' babies." She pokes Pip in the forehead. "You are the little bastard of the whore and one of the nobles she fucked..."

She pauses before saying, "... My husband."

Pip's heart races. "I-I-I am... Sorry." Pip struggles to speak. "Wh-wh-wh--" Pip's vision blurs. "Wh-who are y-you?" Pip spills his tea all over his lap and everything goes black.