I don't have a title yet, but heres chapter 1

“ Ooh, I don’t think I can stand it any more.” The Queen whispered, her head enveloped in feather pillows, dark hair spread against their softness. The silken covers pulled down, the Queen’s thin hands folded.“ I want -need- a child.” A dreamy look came over her face. “ To hold, and cuddle with, to sing a lullaby to…” she lay on the bed, cradling an invisible infant. Queen Marianna was dying of sadness, because she wanted a baby of her own. A worried look came over the First Royal Physician’s features.

“ Sire, your Highness, I’m afraid that there is nothing I can do. Queen Marianna is pining away for a child. To have a baby would be the only thing that would save her, poor lady.” With a bow, the First Royal Physician backed out of the darkened room.

King Mark of Mouria stood in front of the bed, the shadows from the fire flickering across his form, his brown hair falling in his eyes, with tears rolling down his face. “ Marianna, don’t die, I need you here,” he sobbed. “ You’re too young to die. I love you.” He sat down on the bed and bowed his head, stroking the Queen’s pale hand. “ Don’t go.” In a deep sleep, the Queen smiled wanly.

~*~

For the next few days King Mark walked around in a daze, blind to the world. But one morning, as he sat on his magnificent gold throne in the airy throne room, gazing out the widow where flowers and ivy twined round the sill, and where the bumblebees buzzed, reminding him of how the Queen loved seeing sights like these. But now she will never see it again, he thought bitterly, because she will die. Tears threatened again, stinging his eyes.

A figure approached. “ Your Highness, there is a woman who wants to see you.” The guard reported. “ She demands to see you.” The King glanced up.“ Tell her that she may come,” he said gruffly.

An old woman walked into the throne room. She bowed and said, “ Your Majesty, I have heard of your plight, the Queen Marianna’s sickness. So I have traveled across mountains and forests and deserts to bring to you the cure. I can help you.” She tipped her head back, and her hood fell back, letting him see her face. Silvery hair hung in wispy strands around her head, her face was worn and wrinkled but had a strange beauty to it, and her eyes were deep, dark, pools of wisdom.

She spread her arms, revealing tiny bottles sewed into the gray cloth of her cloak. The old woman drew out a glittering glass bottle. The bottle was as clear as a polished mirror, but so thick that no man could see through it. She handed it to the King.

“ Pour this into the Queen’s drink and give it to her. Then do not let her eat for five days--” she stopped at the King’s expression. “ No, the Queen will not starve nor even notice that she has not any food. She will not need to eat. But do not let her eat for five days. When those days are finished, wait.”

The woman lifted her hands to the heavens, calling, “ wait! And you will see, you dear young King and Queen, your wish will be given to you!” Then the woman vanished, and the air around her shimmered.

The King gasped, recognizing her as the Wisdom Woman, who has lived forever. "Thank you, Wisdom Woman!” he cried, “ thank you!” With trembling hands, he rushed out of the room.

~*~

So it was done. The King poured the potion into the Queen wine. With frail hands, she lifted it up to her lips. She smiled, and a sparkle came to her eyes, and she took another sip, and a rosy color flushed on her white cheeks. And so it went. On the first day, the Queen sat up in bed and talked clearly. On the second day, she walked around the room. On the third day, she embroidered a handkerchief for King Mark and laughed merrily. On day four, she dressed herself and walked down the hall. On day five, the Queen came into the Royal Garden and admired the flowers, chased a butterfly, and played a game of croquet. And on day six, she had a glorious meal, laughed with the King as usual, sat on her throne, which had been empty of her presence for a whole month, and helped the King rule their kingdom.

All this the Wisdom Woman watched this from across mountains and forests and deserts and smiled.