by A V Awenna
***
When Demi-Lee recognized the final bend in the path before Annwn, it was like all her birthdays come at once. Only five minutes to the end, and there was still plenty of light in the sky. Was it finally all over? She took a few moments to compose herself. She brushed herself down, straightened her torn, muddy clothes, pulled some leaves from her hair, and put a smile on her face. Then she realized that she’d won, and was grinning from ear to ear as she rounded the bend and strode across the square, pushing the Prize into Hafren’s hands before he could object.
There was loud applause, but only from one pair of hands – Owina’s. Tefyn was smiling at her, but looking rather awkward – his arm was still in a sling so he could only hit his bad hand with his good one, making a feeble sound. No-one else was applauding – and where were Blackbird and Pefryn? They should have got back before her. Then Demi saw them, running around a corner of the city walls, followed by an elf-girl in a short, torn dressing-gown and one shoe, who was even more dishevelled than she was.
Demi wasn’t the only one to have noticed them – there was a chorus of scandalised noises, many along the lines of, ‘She’s half-naked!’ The elf-girl stopped dead and clutched her gown around herself, bending forward and pulling her gown down as far as possible to cover her legs.
Tefyn strode over to the elf-girl, shrugging off the sling as he did so. Using both his hands, he unbuttoned his over-tunic, then wrapped it around her.
‘You poor child!’ he said, in a gentle but authoritative voice. ‘What on earth has happened to you? Were you sleepwalking?’
Madryn didn’t respond to that, instead saying, ‘You used both your hands.’
‘Indeed I did,’ he replied, smiling as he rippled the fingers of his right hand. He drew himself to his full height and stood with his hands on his hips as he surveyed the crowd. In his long pants and undervest, his broad shoulders and strong arms on display, Demi-Lee could see he was setting hearts a-flutter.
‘So,’ Tefyn said, ‘You’ve all noticed that I’m a whole man again. The curse which was laid on me has been removed. And, whilst I appreciate all the hard work my Chancellor has done over these past few months,’ he gave Hafren a grim smile, ‘I’m pleased to tell you, you can relinquish those extra duties.’ There was nothing Hafren could do, and everyone knew it. ‘Furthermore,’ Tefyn continued, ‘as the curse is removed, the fairy Blackbird has met the terms to be released from exile. I return to him his former Place, and invite him to re-enter the City of Annwn.’ There was an expectant hush as all the elves and fairies present guessed what would happen next. But first, Tefyn turned to Madryn.
‘I know this young citizen undertook a difficult and dangerous task yesterday, for the benefit of Annwn, and I imagine this is what led to her unfortunate sleepwalking incident. You may keep the tunic for now,’ he told her, ‘perhaps you would be kind enough to return it at the Celebration tonight. For we have much to celebrate. Our young visitor has Walked the Walk, and earned her right to enter the City gates. The curse that was placed on me has been lifted, and my injury healed. I am a whole man again, except for one thing.’
He turned his full attention to Pefryn, tiny and proud in her ragged splendour, and offered her both his hands.
‘My beloved. Your courage and fidelity have shamed us all. Will you return to your former Place, and reclaim me as your husband?’
Pefryn said nothing, but took his hands, and went up on tiptoes to kiss him. Demi-Lee realized she’d gone, ‘aah’, but most present remained stonily silent. Ignoring them, Tefyn kept hold of Pefryn’s left hand, and gestured to Blackbird and Demi-Lee to follow them. As she slipped her arm through Blackbird’s, mindful of his wounds, Demi-Lee noticed something about the fairy had changed. Like her, Blackbird was generating his own magic.