Who is the Korinthian King?
It's well known the High King was a sickly baby. The queen had a difficult time of things from bed to birthing chamber, as they say, and the babe laboured for each breath on his own. It's said the Arch Bishop himself prepared the new parents for the worst, but the king—that is Roderick I—would have none of it.
Well, the babe just goes on, doesn't he? Gasping for each breath but never stopping. Poor thing don't know he's supposed to die, even with everyone but his parents saying so. Oh he's a skinny little thing, small all round he is, but he's alive. Eating like a bird when his cousins can't stay fed and never far from mother's arms when the other bairns are mucking about, but still living.
Then his first birthday arrives. Well, it's a grand celebration, isn't it? Here was this sickly child everyone thought was days for the grave and now he's a yearling. King and Queen are inviting everyone to see how well they've done. And all the to-do are about, because that's how it's done, but they're all chattering to themselves about the gall of it. How can they parade this sickly son about and expect cheers?
Except that's not what happens. Oh the boy's there alright, but he's different, isn't he? Even at a year old, there's a strength to him now. A healthy rose to his cheeks that weren't there before. He's not clutching his mumma's skirts but running about, like any lad—better than most at his age! And now one of the tallest you've seen. A gift for the Father, says the Arch Bishop. Nature's way, murmur the help-maids.
Oh but weren't the king given his great gold and emerald crown by the fairy folk? And what did he promise them in return? And weren't those lad's eyes ice blue before which are now a green to match that stone in the crown? And weren't it said his mum followed the old ways before she up and married the king? So what brought her so high? And who's to say if the High King is truly his father's son?
Summary
High King Roderick I had an acension of mythical proportions. Of course the people could not leave it there and so as his life settled down, they found new things to tell stories about. One of the most popular concerns the possibility that his son, Roderick II, was replaced by a changeling child as a favour to the fae, either for helping Roderick become High King to begin with, or helping his wife become queen.
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