by Jarica James
“We will,” she agrees. “For now, I believe your kings are antsy to see you. They’re in the ballroom waiting.
The rest of the day is a whirlwind of chaos. We call a meeting and explain to the fae about the city we’re establishing in the former neutral grounds. This time as I speak, and we stand before them, the suspicion is gone. We’ve already proven we’re on their side and they’ve accepted us.
Over two hundred of the survivors want to come with us and we agree. Even if space will be tight, I’d never force someone to stay in a castle they’re uncomfortable with. Hell, I won’t stay in Winter either. Not yet at least.
The other three hundred want to stay and rebuild, and with the mix of courts they have a real chance of doing so. They even seem happy to have my mom and dad here with them, it’s easy to see that the Winter and Spring fae loved their prince and princess more than the higher royalty.
We all pack our things and say our goodbyes, which isn’t easy. It seems crazy that we’ve spent a few months in the Winter Court. The trip was never meant to last this long, but that’s the thing about changing a realm, nothing is a safe bet or easy to predict.
As we walk through the ruins of the Winter compound, I can see the potential for change. The compound is still strong in the parts that weren’t blasted open in the war. I figure with a little bit of teamwork, we can patch the holes and clean up the rubble. You won’t be here for that. The thought bothers me, but hopefully I’ll be back before everything is underway and help them. I don’t want total control of the land, but I do want to ensure that everyone has what they deserve.
“Did you find anything on portals, Wyn?” I direct my attention away from the land and onto him, desperate to have a way to travel within the realms.
“I found a little, mainly something speaking of mirrors. Mirrors in Faerie were always used as a communication tool, so it wasn’t a far jump. You may be able to travel via mirrors with your magic alone," Wyn explained.
“That’s how we traveled here, isn't it?” I question, realizing I’ve already seen the mirrors.
“Excuse me, Queen Arabella?” A young man’s voice speaks up from the back of the crowd. The fae part as we pause our procession, to let a younger fae through. He looks barely out of his teens and my heart breaks at the fact he was frozen before he could fully become an adult.
“Go ahead. What’s your name?” I give him a reassuring smile and wave him on.
“Collin, ma’am. I heard you speaking about portals. I was an apprentice to a portal maker. I’m hardly an expert, but I know my way around portal making. Perhaps if you have the magic, I can help walk through the process. I can even test it, I’m sure your mates wouldn’t approve of you going first anyway," he says with a small smile.
“Smart kid," Emrick rumbles without hesitation.
“That would be wonderful. Come find me when you’re settled in at camp. You can join our next council meeting as one of the representatives of the new fae," I say with a pat on his arm. He looked at me in awe.
“It would be an honor, your majesty," he whispers reverently before melting back into the crowd.
The trek through the rest of Winter is uneventful and cold. The fae who were frozen seemed to be soaking in the outside air and reveling in their freedom. That’s definitely a feeling I can relate to. Even walking freely in the halls after being in that awful cell was like paradise to me.
As we approach the bridge to our town, a patrolling guard spots us. He lets out a shrill whistle and gets in a defensive position, until he sees it’s us leading the group. The other guards are already rushing to his aid as well as a crowd of townspeople. I’m impressed they’ve gotten our defense down to a science.
“The queen lives! They’ve returned!” he yells, which is met by a chorus of screams. I see River’s curly hair bobbing through the crowd before she races toward us. She crashes into me, knocking us both on the ground and I hold her tight. Both of us are crying and I hadn't realized just how bad I missed her until she was here in front of me.
“I can’t believe you’re alive, I was so worried!” she sobs, tears coursing down her cheeks as she pulls us both up to sit.
“It’s a long, awful story," I whisper in a haunted voice. I can’t keep the images of killing the king out of my head, a moment of vulnerability shining through. I shudder and she looks at me, worried all over again.
“I’m here if you ever want to talk about it. But I’m so happy you’re back. Tristan refused to let anyone talk about you being hurt or dead. He focused everyone on rebuilding instead. Look,” she sounds excited as she points to the camp, pulling herself out of her sadness.
As I finally turn my focus away from the people and onto the actual land, I'm in shock. Somehow in the month and a half we had been gone, they’d created a real city. There’s a stone mansion on the plateau, and several stone buildings surround the farm area. I even note a barracks and a large pavilion that houses picnic tables. The school Jacob helped to create is nestled into the center of town, next to a stone patio created for events.
“Damn, you guys don’t play around,” Jacob says and lets out a long whistle of appreciation. I’m too stunned to respond so I simply nod in awe. Tristan pushes his way to the front of the crowd, surrounded by the other council members. As soon as his eyes meet mine, I can see his relief and it warms my heart. I never imagined that I could end up meaning so much to so many, but the crowds happy yells and tears is all the reassurance I need that I’m doing something right. I’ve become their hope, and I will do anything I can to give them a world they can be proud of.
Chapter 16
“We ran into some trouble in Winter. The king was still alive somehow. He froze my knights and apparently over five hundred others before the war ended. He imprisoned me in solitary confinement for weeks. But he’s dead now, everyone is free, and the stone is ours. Winter is now healing and we’re back here to prepare for our next journey,” I summarize the events so everyone is up to date. We called an impromptu council meeting as soon as the greetings calmed down. I felt they deserved some answers after so long alone.
“He raided our village in Autumn. Somehow his men came in unnoticed and froze the entire town before we had a chance to fight back. He threw us in wagons and they took us back to Winter," Collin explains.
“Everyone, this is Collin. He’ll be our new portal keeper as we try and create a portal from here. He’s helping me find a way to travel to each of the castles once restored. He may need help with materials as he creates mirrors. You’ll need to see Tristan for that, he’ll point you in the right direction," I explain, before introducing each of my council members in turn.
“Tristan, thank you for keeping my people together. You’re an invaluable member of this council and our realm," I say, bowing to him. His cheeks tinge pink at my praise and he mumbles something and waves me off. I smile at his reaction but pull attention away from him. Making him uncomfortable is no way to praise him.
“Tegan, your guards were impressive, reacting in seconds the moment they detected us. Good work,” Emrick adds. The stoic guard captain smirks and nods at the comment, but his eyes shine with pride.
“Gareth and Adara, can you help find places for the new fae to stay and mark them down for our census like before? Even if we have to pull out the old bed rolls, we need everyone comfortable. I know it’s a huge influx, but we had little choice. Tegan, I would love you or one of your men to protect them as they do this. We don’t know everyone quite yet and they’ve had a lot of trauma," I explain, hating that it has to be this way. I’d like to trust everyone, but we also have to be cautious. It’d be stupid not to be.
“We can meet again tomorrow to plan our next journey. Emrick will assist with the planning, since it’s his homeland. For now, I want to see my home!” I say excitedly. At that Tristan stands and rubs his hands together.
“You’re going to be impressed, my queen,” he says confidently.
“Hell yes!” Jacob cheers,
pulling me up to my feet and toward our new home. Too excited to not run. Emrick grunts behind us, but for once doesn’t protest. I think he just likes that I’m happy and not hurt.
We’re practically sprinting until we get to the front door, which is uncharacteristic for us unless we’re being chased. I don’t go in right away, instead stepping back to take in the entire building, appreciating its beauty. Tristan outdid himself here.
The outside is stone, much like the castles we’ve seen so far. It has three floors and a domed attic of some kind. They put extra care in carving out gorgeous wooden window borders and a front porch. The addition of the deep wood gives it a homey feel that I’m sure is Jacob’s doing.
Too excited to linger, I’m now the one pulling Jacob along with me, yanking him through the front door. We practically fall into the house, but he manages to save us.
“You two are like small children on Christmas morning," Maddox laughs at our clumsiness.
“And you love us for it,” I shrug, not even the least bit sorry. I’ve never had a home that’s truly my own. An apartment I had alone, sure. But not a home filled with family and love like this one will be.
A living area sits on one side of the spacious main floor. They brought in fluffy couches that I have no idea how they procured, along with a huge fireplace that’ll be so cozy on cool nights.
The kitchen is in the far corner with counters separating the space. A large table that seats twelve rests on the other side, big enough for family meals and even meetings.
A large staircase rests against the far wall. I admire the room for a moment before I head for the stairs, eager to see the rest.
The second floor isn’t as open, instead we step out into a large hallway. Doors line both sides and the end is another staircase.
There are signs marking the doors, probably so we know who lives in each room. Andras and Jacob’s suite is first. He pulls us inside with a squeal. They must have taken trips to the villages in Spring or even to Earth, because there are real beds and couches. Their suite has a common room, washroom, giant closet, and bedroom.
Next is a room for each of my knights. Their rooms aren’t as big as Jacob’s suite, but just as beautifully done. They’re also fairly plain, but I assume that’s so they can make them their own.
Finally, at the end of the hall next to the staircase, is my suite. My heart pounds as I push open my door, admiring the crown carved into the door.
My mouth drops at the room before me. The suite is bigger than any of the other rooms. I have a large common room that’s definitely decorated with me in mind. The colors and style are perfect and I turn to Jacob, knowing he had a hand in this.
“Thanks for this.” He smiles softly as he looks around, happy with his work, even if he wasn’t here to put it all together.
On one wall, someone painted a gorgeous mural that represented each of the courts… all four seasons and castles represented in their original glory. The vibrant colors match the accents in the room, bringing it together beautifully.
The best part of my suite is the bedroom, or rather, the bed. They must have created a custom bed just for me and the guys. It’s big enough to sleep all five of us, with room to spare. The canopy around us sports a beautiful teal silk. The entire space is bright and classy, with pops of bold colors that I’m a sucker for.
“Come on, it’s not over yet,” Jacob says, pulling me away from my room. I blink back tears as I follow, so incredibly grateful that they’ve all done this for us. Our journey may not be easy, but with a home to come back to, how can I complain?
The floor above ours has several guest bedrooms and a communal washroom. In the middle of the floor is a comfortable common room with comfortable couches and a small fireplace. I can already picture my parents or Lilly and Elsie coming for visits. Saying goodbye to that sweet little girl wasn’t easy either, but having a place for them to visit someday is amazing.
The attic is still empty, ready to be turned into whatever we need it to be. Right now it stands completely empty, just a huge window overlooking the city below and another stairwell that goes straight down to the ground floor.
“This place is perfect,” Maddox says as he stands next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
“I couldn’t agree more. It’s perfect,” I agree.
“And ours,” Bowen adds.
“Tell me we get to appreciate it before we run off to Autumn?” Gerwyn asks with a slight groan.
“We need to get this done,” Emrick starts, but catches Maddox’s hard stare. “But it couldn’t hurt to spend a few days here catching up and checking in,” he relents.
When we turn toward the stairs, I catch Tristan’s eyes as he waits for my reaction. I can see a hint of vulnerability in his face, which morphs into surprise as I launch myself at him. I give him the biggest hug I can manage.
“Thank you for giving me my first real home," I say in a shaky whisper. I can’t stop the tears this time.
“It was my honor. You deserve the best," he says back, with an awkward pat on my back.
“What are the other buildings in town?” I ask as I pull away and give him space, curious what else he managed. The man is a miracle worker
“A council hall, school, barracks, a kitchen and mess hall, and a housing complex. Outdoors we’re working on a park and picnic area," he sounds so proud and I can’t help but beam at him. It’s exactly what I wanted for our people.
“Thanks, Tristan. You really are amazing," I say as Jacob belts out Wind Beneath My Wings. Tristan looks equal parts confused and embarrassed by the display and the rest of us just smile at Jacob being Jacob.
“Rein it in Jacob, you’re going to break him," I say before heading down the stairs. The moment we get down there, Tristan promptly leaves.
“Why do I have a feeling you’re going to get us kicked out of Faerie?” I joke, giving him a serious look. He rolls his eyes.
“I have a feeling the queen will let me stay,” he snorts. He gets quiet for a moment and his face falls.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as I lead him to sit on the couch. The guys all disperse, giving us a minute.
“What if I want to marry Andras?” he asks softly. My heart breaks that he even has to worry about that. It’s openly accepted on Earth, but Faerie is a new land.
“Then we try and figure out how to get a ring and plan the biggest and best wedding Faerie has to offer," I say simply. “I make the laws here and that’s one I won’t budge on… love is love. Plus, I have four future husbands handpicked by the Spirits themselves. We’re throwing tradition out the window.”
“Would you be my best man?” he asks with a small smile.
“Duh. I would be offended if I wasn’t. I want a fancy tux though," I say, hugging him tight.
“I’ll have River design it,” he promises. His smile is wistful now and I know he’s already planning it all in his mind.
“When are you going to ask him? What brought this on?” I ask quietly, not wanting anyone to hear us.
“The past few weeks. I could have lost you both and it really hit me. With Andras, it just feels right. It’s deeper than anything I’ve ever experienced, and I don’t want to put it off because it hasn’t been long enough. It’s been long enough for me," he explains.
An excited squeal escapes me. “I can’t believe this! It’s so exciting," I say emphatically, dancing in my seat.
“What if he says no?” The vulnerability in his voice isn’t surprising after his ex completely abandoned him, but I know he has nothing to worry about.
“If he wants time, you give him more. However, I’ve seen the way he looks at you, like you hang the stars themselves. Plus, life is about taking chances, and I think you should give him a chance to say yes," I reassure him.
“What about a ring?” His back and forth is intense, but I’m used to it. This is just how Jacob processes his emotions, sandwiching the harder ones between the lighter. “Can we plan a fae flash mob to sing M
arry You?” His excitement grows as he plans out the elaborate performance in his head.
“I don’t think it would have the effect you hope for," I laugh at the thought of Emrick dancing to a modern song like that… or dancing in general.
“Well think about some romantic ideas for me, girl. I need something amazing," he says. Though I have a feeling if I give him a day, he’ll have it completely planned out. We might need to stay longer than a few days if that’s the case. Just because I’m restoring this land doesn’t mean I’m willing to give up my entire life. These moments are just as important.
“Build him a library and propose on the reveal?” It’s a joke, but his eyes go wide.
“You are a goddess of pure brilliance!” he says emphatically, giving me a hug and literally sprinting out of the door. I have a feeling it will be our next building project.
With everyone gone, I head back up to my room and lay down on the bed. It’s so relaxing in here but I can’t fall asleep, my mind already on the people we left behind. That’s one thing about being a ruler, the worry never quite leaves you. There are too many lives at stake.
I’m so lost in thought I don’t even realize that my knights have entered the room. Without a word they all take off their boots and spread out around me on the bed. Bowen and Gerwyn each grab an ankle before dozing off. Emrick and Maddox each take a hand, Emrick placing a sweet kiss on my palm before he falls asleep.
I’m so happy and content as I snuggle between my four mates. I’m beyond lucky to have such supportive companions in my life. It’s intimidating to be in charge of so many people’s lives, but I know with my council, family, and now knights, that I will make the right choices.
Epilogue
“He’s going to say yes, Jacob. Breathe," I say for the fiftieth time. My best friend is pacing back and forth in front of me.
“I’ve literally never been this nervous. Like I literally have no jokes right now," he practically yells in his nervous state, hands moving around animatedly with each word.