The Duke's Bride

[Siegfried]

"N-oo, not quite," he says slowly. "We haven't seen any near the castle, but sometimes I see their footprints in the morning when I feed the hens."

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

I nod gently "I understand. You don't need to worry any more"

[Siegfried]

Unexpectedly, Siegfried's eyes fill with tears. "Why are you being so nice to me? Is it... am I dying? Did the doctor find something?"

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

I stare at him shocked. "No you're not dying. Do you rember me? I spent a summer here before before everything happened.... I hadn't chosen my name yet. Well my true name, not my regal one. Anyway we used to spend our days the three of us in the kitchen baking and telling stories. Remember? We would make up the most fantastic stories. I had always hoped you'd go on to be a writer....."

[Siegfried]

"I remember you," he says quietly, "but... I am... you are a countess and at best I am the head servant. There is no call for this level of kindness. I am... I am thankful, do not get me wrong, only, I... I...?"

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"Siegfried do you know why I spent that summer in the kitchen and not upstairs? It's because I am a bastard. My "mother" the countess is barren. My father sired me with a mistress and faked my mother's pregnancy. I am only a countess because of necessity for the liniage. I am no better than you."

[Siegfried]

Siegfried glances away. "I never knew who my father was," he admits. 

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"See we're cut of the same cloth you and I I just got lucky" I smile gently

[Siegfried]

"They will not respect you for treating me so," he warns, wiping at his eyes.

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"They will respect me for my power and strangth I will  lead to a new world"

[Siegfried]

"A new world," he says slowly, liking the sound of it. "they will hate it. But... perhaps... perhaps it is time."

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

I yawn and nod "a world for all of us not just the lucky" I say nodding gently

[Siegfried]

"They will like that even less. There are reasons men have built the world we have built, and the men who built it will not appreciate your changing it."

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"They will adapt or they will furtalize the ground for our crops" I say my eyes gently closing

[Siegfried]

Sigfried slides his legs over the side of the bed. "Sit. Rest. I will clean up the dishes."