The Women of the House of the Unicorn (Part one)

Jaione rushed to the window. She needed the fresh air. The noise and demands on her were too much.

“Princess leave that shut! The child can’t take the chill,” called her nursemaid.
“His lungs are as strong as a dragons, have you not heard his wails! As long as I am stuck in this room with him I will need fresh air.” Jaione pushed the stubborn shutters aside and the cold winter air filled her lungs. She fell to the ground sobbing.

It wasn't fair. She was beautiful, sixteen, and married to a handsome older prince, but she was now stuck in the castle as he went off to fight a battle with another prince over some trifle of farmland. She had a fantasy that she would be flitting through golden fields of flowers and fairies, being romanced by all the courtiers only to be rescued by her handsome prince if anything came close to harming her or her virtue. But now she was alone with a bunch of servants and a few ladies in waiting as the rest of the court went off to fight or take care of the wounded.

She was stuck with the baby that her husband was so proud to have made with her on their wedding night. She had been too tired and gravid to have had any of her fantasy. Now she was alone, awaiting his return. And this babe would howl.

She lay on the cold stone floor choking back her sobs. Behind her were some soft footsteps then a gentle hand stroked her cheek. “Jaione you need to get up and be the princess you came to be,” came a genteel voice.Rolling over she looked into the face of her mother-in-law. Queen Bakarne crouched by her side, her beautiful face full of kindness and compassion.

“I can’t be that princess. I have no court and I have a baby who will only stop crying for me. I am tired and lonely. I am supposed to be fawned after by all the men in the court and there are none here. I would rather be locked in a tower and held prisoner by a dragon.”

“I could arrange that” the Queen’s voice took on a calculating air to it.

All other noise was sucked out of the room and it seemed as if the winds ceased as well. Jaione sat up and looked at Queen Bakarne. Her face had a contemplative look to it but Jaione could not read it.

“Wha….What? What do you mean?” Jaione choked out.
“It is the tradition of the House of the Unicorn that when a son is conceived the men go to war and when the child is born the women are generally held by the dragon. The new princess needs to make that decision. I know how to make the arrangements, as you will when you are queen. It is my duty and pleasure to share it with you as you will to your son’s wife” replied Queen Bakarne with a hint of joy in her voice. “And my dear Princess it is more preferable to go there than to stay here.”

Jaione sat and stared at Bakarne who stood and arranged herself at the edge of the bed waiting for a response. Jaione felt challenged. She knew that something momentous was expected of her right now. Queen Bakarne’s beauty radiated from the foot of the bed, but all that Jaione could see was the tapestry on the wall at the head of the bed. She had never noticed it’s detail before now.

The tapestry had a large unicorn in the foreground which she had always assumed was because this was the House of the Unicorn. Behind it was a green expanse of forest not much different than the land to the north of the castle. A thin line seemed to show a small path through the intricately stitched expanse of trees. At the end of this path was a golden dragon sitting in front of an elegant tower with silvery threads coming from the upper most window.

There was something odd about this dragon. Jaione felt it was important to take closer look. She stood from her cold spot on the floor. As she stood the sounds of life in the area returned. She went to the bed and climbed up to see the dragon. She had never seen anything like it. It looked as though all of its joints were buttoned together. But it was sharp looking; its claws and teeth seemed to have knife like edges. She touched the stitching that made up the dragon almost expecting it to fell sharp.

“He is a wonder to see in person,” came Bakarne’s voice.

“Can we go to see it?” Jaione found herself asking.

“I will order the household packed and we can begin in the morning if you would like.”

“Yes I would, as long as we can bring the baby.” Jaione surprised herself at the strong motherly love that seemed to suddenly erupt in her whole being.

“It is most important that he come.” Bakarne said as she left the room. Jaione found herself alone in the room with her now sleeping baby and the tapestry. She knew that this tapestry would have to come. The small line through the trees had small symbols along the way that reminded her of the runes that her aunt had read for others during the dark and cold winters that kept them indoors with little to do. Her parents had never allowed her to have her runes read. But she knew their meanings and she saw one - was “misfortune of another” or the beggar. It was the first mark along the path from the unicorn to the tower.

Jaione took the tapestry from its hangings, spread it out and began to roll it up. Why it needed to come she couldn’t say but the feeling that it was important seemed to resonate through her. As she finished, two household maids arrived and asked about packing. As she instructed them on what to pack she held the rolled tapestry to her. She did not set it down until the mewing of a waking baby stirred her new found motherly love and she scooped up the small bundle wrapped in fur. “Shh… Shh, Peio. We are getting ready for a trip. It will be an adventure and in the end we will come home again and your papa will be home as well”

The day was filled with preparations. Jaione took her place directing the preparations, holding the baby on her hip. She tended to his needs and he never cried. She made sure that the tapestry was never far from her. In the end they had two full carts full of supplies and two covered carriages and two open ones to carry the skeleton court. The guard would be on horseback riding along. The captain came to Jaione and Bakarne with his map. “Mistresses, there is still day light and since we are ready I think we should leave before dusk. The sooner we are on the road the fewer cold days we will have to endure.”

“Let us return indoors. The kitchen is preparing food for the road and I agree we should leave as early as we can,” replied Jaione. She picked up the tapestry and they went into the small dining area just off the kitchen. Embracing the warmth, Jaione sent the servant to begin shutting up the rooms in the castle. Then she unrolled the tapestry on the table.

“Captain, is there a path like this through the forest?” Jaione asked.
“It is called Dragon’s Way, Captain.” Bakarne injected.
“I am familiar with it, Mistresses. My father told me of it and spoke of a day when I would lead the Queen and The Princess to the tower at the end.” He leaned forward and examined the tapestry. Opening his map he pointed to a thin line. “ This is it. I think we can get to the Beggar’s Inn before night fall if we leave within two hours.”

“Then we shall.” spoke both women at once.

With baskets of food and piles of furs around them, they rode out of the gates less than two hours later. Jaione had the baby in a basket firmly between her and the nursemaid. Across her lap was the tapestry. Looking out the window of the carriage, she knew there was no mistaking who they were: The House of the Unicorn. Each horse wore a horn on his bridle giving them the appearance of unicorns. Jaione allowed herself to imagine the beauty of the horses that her husband and the king would ride into battle. The horns on the chaffron and the white bard over the saddle would flutter as the horses galloped into battle. The effect would disguise the horses as unicorns. She was sure that the spectacle would create a stir in those they rode against.

The ride was uneventful. Just as the light was beginning to dim, she heard the call to pull off the road. She looked out her window. A small sign indicated the Beggar’s Inn was nearby. The trees and other foliage were thick and she could see only the start of the path. Its narrowness kept her and the other occupants of the covered carriage from seeing the Inn until they pulled in front of it.

It was not the simple inn that could be called “The Beggar’s Inn” It was a large building the likes of which she had not seen before. It was not a timer building that was the norm of the merchants and towns, neither was it the stone structures like her castle or her family’s estate. It seemed to be stone. Solid grey stone. It was as tall as the castle, but the straight front wall had windows in it that sparkled in the sun like jewels. In the center of the wall were wide stone stairs that lead to a seemingly small door way. The door was a brilliant green.

“This is a fantastic place,” Bakarne glowed, “Let’s go in! I can’t wait to see it again!” In moves that seemed more like a young girl, Bakarne threw off the furs and opened the door. She jumped down from the carriage and reached for Jaione and the baby. Jaione moved slowly drinking in the sight of this remarkable building. There was an air of magic to it. “Come Jaione! I want to see if the Wizard is here,” Bakarne called.

“Wait here,” Jaione instructed the staff as she followed Bakarne up the stairs to the green door. Bakarne stopped at the door,hefted a large ornament from the face of the door, and used it to strike the door three times. A woman in a black dress of which she had never seen a similar cloth or cut, opened the door. She looked at the women and then stood aside saying nothing while sweeping her arm in a gesture of welcome. Once Jaione and Bakarne were in, she closed the door and left them in the bright room without a word. It was lit with devices that seemed magical to Jaione.

“Oh aren’t these fascinating? I love them! They can get brighter and dimmer with a turn of a key” Bakarne chirped. She was almost bouncing in her excitement. She seemed almost younger. A shuffling interrupted her and she turned toward the sound coming from a hallway. An old man in velvet robes came into the room. His outward appearance was the most normal thing that Jaione had seen since arriving.

“Bakarne! Has it been that long already? Your son is grown and married! Oh and a son for him as well! This must be his bride,” the man babbled and took Bakarne’s hand. “It is good to have you here again.”

Not knowing what else to do Jaione cleared her throat loudly. “I am sorry, sir, but who are you?”

“Ah young mistress, I am called Tovenaar. I am the wizard of these lands and will be here for your son’s grandchildren. I am an aide to the women who marry into the tradition of The House of the Unicorn. When each new generation is born, the women come her while the men are away and prepare them for their time in the tower and for the traditions that the Bloodline of the House of Unicorn maintain. But first let us get the horses stabled, the staff inside, and every fed the dinner that you all deserve.”