11 Finding Her Voice

The nursery was quiet as Aurora and Devrim entered. Having recently been fed, the twins were being cared for by nurses and other attendants. Nanny stood in the middle of the nursery overseeing the work. The princess was surprised, "Nanny, what are you doing here?"

Nanny curtsied and chuckled lightly. "Hello, Your Majesty! I am taking care of my new charges."

"What about me?"

"The new Empress does not need old Nanny here. You will be receiving ladies-in-waiting later today."

"Oh," the girl said sadly. The thought had not occurred to her that she might have to give up her Nanny. Her small lips quivered for a moment. "Take good care of my brother and sister! I will be checking on you."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you." Nanny bowed her head. Aurora hugged her caretaker for the last time. It was a tender moment, and Devrim felt like he was intruding. He cleared his throat awkwardly, bringing the ladies back to the present.

"Devrim, this is Nanny. Nanny this is my…husband." Devrim bowed his head in deference to the woman, who in turn eyed him carefully.

"Is this part of the Council's crazy plan?" Nanny asked. "They should just stick to the truth, and things would be simpler."

Devrim was scandalized. No one spoke against the Council. Next to the Empress, they were the most powerful people in the world. Nanny ignored his look of shock. She wagged her finger at the boy, nearly touching his nose. "You better be nice to this little Empress. Or I will come after you myself." The fierceness in her eyes caused the boy gulp.

Devrim nodded. "Yes ma'am," he answered quickly.

The large woman stepped back and put her hands on her hips. "I like him," she said to the princess at last. Nanny motioned toward the cribs where the babies were being laid. "I suppose you will want to see the little ones? Follow me."

Devrim leaned over to Aurora as they followed Nanny to the cribs. "That woman is…"

"Feisty, unpredictable, candid?"

"Terrifying." Dervim shivered.

"I could see that," Aurora agreed with a wide grin. As the two came to the small beds, Aurora introduced her siblings to her guest. "Brother and sister, this is Devrim."

"I did not know you had siblings." Devrim said as he looked at the tiny babes.

"They were born yesterday. I might not have mentioned that Empress Zephyra died in childbirth. I am all they have left." The melancholy in the the girl's voice made Devrim want to hug her. Instead he chose to comfort her with words.

"Anyone who can call you family is truly blessed. What are their names?"

"The naming ceremony will be when they are ten days old. I have until then to decide."

The baby girl cooed causing the pair to peek into her crib. Her eyes were open wide and Aurora could see they were clear blue. Although newborns cannot actually smile, Aurora could swear that the small creature grinned at her and winked. Not to be outdone, the little boy let out a high pitched scream. It was short and sharp, as if saying, 'look at me!'

Aurora giggled and turned to the other crib. "I see you, little man. You will not let your sister have all the fun."

"They already have personalities!" Devrim commented with amusement.

"Babies always do," Nanny said. "You just have to get to know them."

"I see," Devrim believed her.

A servant entered the room and bowed before the future Empress. "Your Majesty, the Council would like to know if you have reached a decision."

Aurora sighed. Obviously someone had told the Council of her detour to the nursery. "I suppose we should head back." She said to the boy. Then to the servant she added, "Tell the Council we are on our way."

Devrim straightened and strode eagerly to the door, glad to be included in the meeting that would decide his fate. His future would be decided by the princess, a ten-year-old child, and somehow he didn't mind. Like Aurora, he had never really had a friend. He would do nearly anything to make this work. The boy's security was momentarily shaken when the guards tried to bar him from the Council's chamber. But the princess reprimanded the guards sternly and took Devrim's hand, leading him into the Council's presence.

"Glory to the Empress! I see you've made your decision." Cafer bowed at his waist. His words were right, but something did not sit right with the way he said them. His next word confirmed her suspicion. "Welcome, future Emperor Consort. You are dismissed."

Devrim looked around helplessly. His heart sank as he began to panic. "Sir?" He asked, hoping he had heard wrong.

Cafer looked at him, annoyed. "You are at best a place holder and an elaborate illusion, neither of which are needed at this time. Please show 'Jumper' to his quarters." The last was directed to the nearest servant, who began to comply before Aurora intervened.

"Chief Cafer!" The girl said in a voice of someone twice her age. "If I am to be Empress, I should be able to direct my subjects, including my FRIEND and purported husband, at my pleasure. In future, please refer to my husband as Devrim. That will be his name as Emperor Consort. And I would like Devrim to stay. THAT is my pleasure."

The other Councilmen were slightly shocked to hear such eloquence from a child. They could see a resemblance to Empress Zephyra but unlike her mother, the girl took her stand on someone else's behalf. Zan was pleased to see the future Empress find her voice. Cafer, on the other hand, was not pleased. He swallowed his anger and forced a smile. "My apologies, Your Highness. I will remember my place. I was only looking out for you. We have need to discuss a delicate subject."

Aurora nodded. "Please get a chair for Devrim. He will join us at the table." A servant scurried off and retrieved a tall stool and set it next to the throne. It was an insult to Devrim, and Aurora knew it. As she started to object, the boy touched her sleeve gently.

"It is fine." He told her.

"No, it is not. You deserve respect." She glared at the servant and a few moments later, a proper chair was brought. "Better." Aurora dismissed the servants, made her way to the throne, and directed everyone to sit. "Now, Chief Cafer, what do we need to discuss?"