Petitioner's Court

"I see all these tiny sparkles everywhere I go. They follow me. I don't know what to do about it..." The petitioner's eyes were just a little too wide for Devrim's comfort.

Anna seemed equally concerned. "And you said that you were eating when this happened?"

"Yes. I found the most delicious little toadstools! I gathered them all up and have been snacking on them. You wouldn't believe how tasty they are." The man nodded until his body started to wobble. "I can give some to your chef if you like, Your Majesty." 

'Tasty and addictive it seems...' Devrim thought. He took a deep breath and put on a neutral smile. "That is a most generous offer. I do think we would like to examine the mushrooms. I think they may be the key to these lights you have been seeing."

"Really? You think the lights are after the mushrooms?" The petitioner looked around warily. 

Devrim turned to the General. "Please have someone escort this gentleman to the infirmary for Doctor Phileas to examine." In a lower tone he added. "And get the location of those mushrooms. We should probably confiscate any more that are on this man's land and destroy them." 

"Yes, sire." Nurlan bowed and passed the orders to his men. The petitioner was removed from the throne room by two armed guards. 

The next few were more common complaints with simple solutions. During each, the young prince ambled up and down the steps, sat in Renat's and Devrim's laps, and then wallowed around on the ground until the Emperor hoisted him to his feet. 

"Do I need to call Nanny?" the grey-eyed man asked compassionately. 

"I be good!" Colvyr resorted to improper grammar when distressed.

He was still very young, Devrim had to remind himself. "You are being good, just distracting.

You can play with Nanny and burn off some energy. Then you can come back." 

The next petitioner was already in place, patiently waiting for her turn. The Emperor gave a tolerant smile in the peasant's direction, thanking her for her patience. 

"I want Mama!" Colvyr screamed, startling both Anna and Devrim. 

They exchanged glances. 'At least it sounded more like mama than Anna,' the Emperor took a deep breath. 

"You can sit wherever you want." The Emperor released the child from his grasp. 

"I want Mama!" he repeated. The child stamped his foot. 

'Does he mean Aurora?' "We can talk about this later, my son. For now, I think you need a rest. Please go and get Nanny." Devrim motioned for Nurlan to complete the task. 

Before the general was off the dais, the child went running down the steps. 

"Stop him!" Devrim did not want his child rushing into the crowd. It would be easy for anything to happen to him once he was out of sight. The Emperor stood from his throne to chase after the boy. Renat did the same. 

But a petitioner near the front grabbed the child and lifted him safely into her arms.

Devrim froze on the top step and allowed her to approach with his son. 

The woman's delicate form was wrapped in a hooded cloak and she had gloved fingers. The soft blue hue of her garments told him that she was no regular citizen. 

And her walk…Devrim furrowed his brow.

The guards at the bottom of the dais crossed spears to block her path. She stopped and waited patiently for directions.

"Let her approach. She has the prince." Devrim ordered the guards aside.

They reluctantly complied.

Renat stepped forward to take the young prince from the visitor and protect the king. The scientist did not like the idea of letting a stranger so close to his sovereign.

But Devrim held the Renat at arm's length.

"Wait," he said softly.

The hall fell silent as the lady glided up the stairs. No one approached the throne like this, especially during Petitioner's Court.

When she came to the step below the Emperor, he reached out and escorted her onto the dais.

She bowed over his hand.

"Thank you for returning the prince to me." Dervim lowered his hand to and reached for Colvyr.

But the boy clung tighter, refusing to let go.

"Believe me when I say, Your Majesty. The pleasure is all mine." The woman's voice carried through the hall.

Anna reacted first. Her voice was firm but even. "Petitioner's Court is finished for today. Everyone, leave."

In a blink, everyone disappeared from view except for those by the thrones.

Devrim pulled at the velvety hood of the woman, and his heart flew into his throat. Two blue-flecked eyes stared back at him. A crown of fiery hair fell from the hood's confinement.

Anna fell on her face before the throne and Nurlan dropped to one knee. Renat, full of trepidation, bowed in half. 

With a big smile, Colvyr grabbed the woman's face and planted a huge kiss on her cheek. 

"Mama!" 

Devrim was only a second after his son, placing his lips against his wife's. The grey-eyed man wrapped his arms around the two people before him. 

"You are back!" Devrim pulled away from his wife to look at her. 

"Was the kiss to make sure?" Aurora touched her lip with her free hand as she blushed. "I am sorry. I should have waited until court was over, but I wanted to see you. I had not anticipated Colvyr recognizing me in the crowd." 

The woman nuzzled the boy with her nose. 

"My, you have gotten so big! I am so happy to see you!" 

"Mama will stay, right?" the boy wrapped his arms around his mother's neck. 

"I will stay with you," she assured her son. 

"Good." Colvyr nodded in satisfaction. 

"Arise," Aurora told the three still showing their respect. 

Anna and Nurlan came to their feet. With Colvyr still in her arms, the Empress embraced her look-alike. 

"It is good to see you. I am sorry that my absence shouldered you with this burden. I will find a way to make it up to you and Ezer." Aurora felt bad for many things, but especially for the pressure she had put on one of her first friends. 

Anna smiled. "It has been an honor to serve, Your Majesty." 

"How are you, General?" Aurora turned to the burly man beside the throne.

Nurlan was positively beaming. "Your Majesty! Right this moment I feel like I could conquer the world. Not that I would. It is much better in your hands." 

"So you did it? Your job is complete?" Devrim was still processing the turn of events that his morning had taken. 

"I did. And the Maker returned me to my human form. He even healed my leg! I was able to walk through the Storehouse to get here without a problem. I was never supposed to be able to walk again. The Maker is gracious." Aurora bowed her head slightly at the words.

"I am very thankful that he returned you to me." Devrim hesitated. 

"What is it?" Aurora touched her hair to see if it was out of place. 

The Emperor looked to the others for help, but they would not meet his gaze. He sighed. "It's not a big deal. But you have come back different." 

"You mean I've changed again. Yes, I had noticed that. It's why I wore gloves in addition to the cloak." Auora set down the little boy and pulled off the gloves. 

Like her face, the skin of her hands shined with a dull radiance. She was lit from within. 

"I am not sure if it is a gift from the Maker or a consequence of being light for so long, but I am still shining like a star. It may wear off with time. Does it bother you?" Aurora's eyes went wide at the thought.

But she needn't have worried. Devrim smiled and kissed the lady's hand. "I like it. It suits you. I always knew you were radiant and now the world can as well." 

"I love you," the Empress had no other words for her husband's kindness. He was the most wonderful man in the world.

Behind her, someone cleared his throat. 

"Renat! Forgive me!" Aurora embraced the young man. "I was saving you for last and ended up neglecting you instead. It is most rude of me." 

The man searched her shining face. "Your Majesty..." he said slowly. "I am very happy to see you, but I notice you came alone. I don't suppose you have news of my wife." 

Aurora nodded knowingly. "I do, but I am not sure how you will feel about it. It is better that we not do it here. I am pretty sure Hanna froze time so that we could speak. I will leave so that time can resume as normal and meet you in the chamber behind the throne." 

"But is she..." Renat pressed. 

"I will speak with you in a moment," Aurora promised. She took Colvyr's hand and led him behind the thrones. 

Then, without warning, the throne room filled and time resumed.