Page 62 of Bewitched

“You can’t really believe that. Rhys cares for you. A lot, Medea.”

“He doesn’t, and I don’t care for him. At all.” Medea looked up to see her sister shaking her head. “Osric is the one for me. He’s the one I need in my life, not Rhys.”

“Nay, this is not you talking, Sister. That sounds more like Medea to me. It is the darkness taking control of you. I can see it since your eyes just turned black.”

“I don’t care what you say or think. It doesn’t matter to me.” Get rid of her, Medea. She is only going to ruin your plans. Don’t listen to a word she says. She never was anything but trouble. “Rap, leave,” commanded Medea, sticking her chin in the air.

“No. I’m not going to leave unless you come with me,” Rapunzel protested.

“Well, I’m not going back to Rhys and that is final.”

“Why not?” asked Rapunzel. “Rhys asked me to tell you that he’s sorry, you know.”

“He did?” Medea felt a stab to her heart. Part of her wanted to believe this was true. Just as she started to soften toward him, she heard her mother’s voice in her head once more and now it was getting louder and impossible to ignore. Rhys deceived you, Medea. He wanted you dead. You don’t want anything to do with him.

“I don’t want to hear you mention Rhys again, Rap,” she warned her sister.

“But Medea—”

“Ever! You can just tell him that I will never forgive him. I want nothing to do with him from now on.”

“Medea, why are you acting so odd?” asked Rapunzel. “You and Rhys have a daughter now. Of course you want to see him. He’s the father of your baby. Since you’ve already got a child, you two might even get married someday. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? Then you’ll never have to worry about being alone again. You’ll have someone to love and someone to love you in return.”

Osric will do all that. Don’t listen to a word she says. She is trying to trick you. “I don’t care about love anymore. That’s not important,” said Medea. “Nor do I want to ever marry Rhys.”

“You don’t?” Rapunzel’s brows dipped. “Why not? I don’t understand. You two seemed so happy together at the Whispering Dale.”

“I won’t marry Rhys, Rap, because it’s too late.”

“Nay, Medea. It’s never too late. You two can make up, I’m sure of it. Every couple has quarrels. This will pass, I assure you.”

“Nay!” she shouted. “You don’t understand, Sister. I can’t marry Rhys. I’ve already agreed to marry King Osric. We are going to raise an army of magical babies and make them into soldiers when we seize both Evandorm and Sethor.” Yes, Medea. This is the right thing to do.

“Medea, what are you saying?” asked Rapunzel, sounding as if she were in shock.

“I am saying that I made the King a promise and I won’t go back on it. When I say something, unlike other people I know, I mean every word of it.” She also wanted more than anything to be rid of the guilt of her mother’s death but didn’t want to tell Rapunzel. She had a plan now, and when this was over, her mother will have forgiven her, and she wouldn’t need to carry that guilt any longer.

“I certainly hope you don’t really mean that,” said Rapunzel, her mouth dropping open in surprise. Medea’s sister looked sad and shocked, both at the same time. “Medea, if you marry King Osric, the darkness inside of you will rule you, as well as all your babies, for the rest of all time.”

Sixteen

By the time they’d made their way over the mountain, it was already nightfall. Rhys’ brothers convinced him to wait until the morrow when they were refreshed to make an appearance at Kasculbough. It had been against Rhys’ wishes, but when Rapunzel returned and told him the news that he had a child, he couldn’t think straight. It was so unbelievable, that he didn’t know what to do.

Back at the cottage, Rhys paced the floor while Darium’s wife, Talia served them all something to eat.

“Rhys, please eat something,” said Talia from the table. Rhys’ mother had yet to return from the Whispering Dale.

“I can’t,” he said, pacing some more and running a hand over his hair in thought. “I’m too upset. I still can’t believe I have a baby. A daughter,” he said, thinking the more he said it, the faster it would lodge in his brain as being real.

“What’s the matter, Rhys? Don’t you want a baby?” asked Talia.

He looked up at her and made a face. “Aye, Talia, of course I do. Someday. Doesn’t every man want children? But instantly? This can’t be real!” He was back to disbelieving again.

“It’s not unlike the way Medea was born,” explained Rapunzel. “Medea’s magic is strong. Plus, you have different magic than her, altogether. There is no telling what can happen when you mix the two together. Not to mention, the baby was conceived in the very magical land of the fae in a field of lippenbur lilies, no less. It all makes perfect sense to me.”

“Well, I think it’s wonderful, and I am happy for you two. I can’t wait until I have children,” said Talia. “Plus, you have a girl, Rhys, which is rare for your family.”

“Aye,” agree Rapunzel. “She’s a cute little girl who looks just like her father.”