TO - 18A: A Royal Decree

"...he is the most tame and well-trained Human you shall ever come across in this lifetime."

Queen Morrigan did her best to keep a straight face as she said it. Almost 500 years and it was still amusing to see the look on a newcomer's face when they saw her Gilbrid for the first time. The messenger needn't have worried in the slightest about the Royal Pet of course. He was more likely to have been trampled by a wild unicorn in the middle of the throne room than to be attacked by her Gilbrid.

Gilbrid was barely able to stifle a smirk himself as he stared down at the young faerie. Centuries of meeting outsiders had taught him to look at a spot beyond the visitor rather than try to make eye contact. He had been told too many times how disturbing it was for one of the Fae to look into such huge eyes.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty." the messenger stuttered before fumbling through his bag for the sealed letter once again. He was cautious as he walked the last few steps to the throne, trying not to give the Royal Pet any reason to move in his direction. The messenger stepped back once Morrigan accepted the letter.

"As thanks for your prompt delivery, I invite you to rest before you return home to the Greylands." Morrigan offered, gesturing towards a door on her left. The messenger bowed in gratitude and respect, silently accepting her offer and leaving the throne room as quickly as he had arrived.

"What news from Lord Kevin, My Queen?" Gilbrid asked, returning to his comfortable spot beside the throne.

"It seems he won't be coming this year for our birthday parties…" Morrigan replied as she read the letter. "…Robin is due any day now and he'd like to see the birth of his second grandchild."

"I'm sure Chloe will be excited to have a new little brother or sister soon."

"I certainly would be if I were her."

A half-forgotten memory stirred in Morrigan when she said the words; one of her own longing for a sibling when she was younger. It had sometimes been boring and lonely being the only child in the palace. Her parents had tried their best to assuage those feelings when they could. Lesson after lesson on a variety of subjects were learned to help fill the gap, and they made her very busy at times, but they never quite did the trick.

Morrigan intended to shake the feeling off as quickly as it had arrived, but found it lingered in the back of her mind even as she set off for her daily walk with Gilbrid.

"My Queen?"

"Yes, Gilbrid?"

"Is something the matter?"

"Hmm? What makes you think that?"

"I have been by your side for a very long time, My Queen, and I can tell when you have something on your mind." Gilbrid replied. "And…we have been circling the same spot for half an hour."

This was not the first time such a thing had happened. Centuries of strolling through the Golden Woods had made certain well-worn paths predictable and rather mundane. The pair had always endeavored to prevent such occurrences as best they could. Over the years, it became evident to Gilbrid that when his Queen was distracted from the forest, it usually meant she was reflecting on deep thoughts.

"Oh…yes, I suppose we have."

"Would you like to talk about it, My Queen?" Gilbrid asked gently. Even after years together, he knew there were some things that didn't necessarily have to be shared.

"There's no need to worry, Gilbrid." Morrigan replied, casually running a hand through her hair. "It's just-!"

That was when she saw it, caught between her fingers.

Her first gray hair.

A rush of feelings flooded her head at the sight of it; fear, anger, resentment, vanity, despair…one emotion was not enough to describe quite how she felt at that moment.

"My Queen?" Gilbrid asked again when several minutes passed in an awkward silence.

"…I've come to a decision, Gilbrid." Morrigan stated calmly.

"About what, My Queen?"

"I believe it's time that I finally name my heir and successor to the throne."