I looked down at her attire and realised that she had changed it a lot rather craftily. It suited her a lot and reminded me much of the Martha I knew.
“You really do look like your older self this way,” I said with a soft smile, “But please, do tell me more.”
“There are two kinds of memories,” she explained, “one of the mind, and one of the muscle. I’m somehow aware of certain accounts where people may follow a certain routine accurately even when not fully awake. Their bodies are used to doing those actions repeatedly. I’m thinking that it’s possible that most of my memory may not be wiped out, but possibly stored in my body.”
“By the law of magic, it’s impossible to erase someone’s memories permanently,” I realised, “Yours are simply locked away.”
“Do you know of anyone who went through what I have?” she asked hopefully. If it was not for my beard that had grown and become unkempt, she would have seen the heat flushing across my face.
“Yes,” I said quietly, “I knew of someone.”
“And how did they overcome it?”
“It might sound a little nonsensical to someone like you,” I tried to joke my way out of it.
“Nothing is sensical when magic is involved,” she rolled her eyes, “I feel a particular distaste cropping up against it. Now, tell me.”
I made sure to look away from her when I answered. “True love’s kiss. It’s quite the loophole for a lot of things. Dare I say it, you’ve–”
I stopped abruptly when I turned and saw the impassive look on her face.
“Wow,” she raised a brow, “that really is nonsensical. Never mind, I’ll find another way.”
“You don’t believe in love?” I tried to ask humorously, but my heart was sinking. She sighed and got up, dusting her dress. I got a look at her milky thighs from behind the woven mesh in the slit of her dress, trying to control my raging hormones from remembering how I would bury my face in them and pepper her skin with bites and kisses. I missed Martha, and I missed pleasing her. I missed her little gasps, her breathless moans, and the sight of her tits bouncing lightly as she shuddered under my mouth. I wanted to feel her fingers clenching into my hair as she guided me across her body.
The need was feral, and I forced myself to look away.
“I don’t know but…” she paused thoughtfully, “there is too much to do to think about love. And all that I know about men has led me to believe that one would only want me as a conquest or a prize.”
I looked up at her face, a frown crossing her soft and delicate features, “I’m not something to attain. I have bigger plans right now than falling in love. People are hurting and need my help, and I shan’t let a man thwart me no more. From the looks of it, it’s gone on long enough.”
A wave of admiration washed over me as I heard the determination in her voice. And for once, I was not thinking of what I could do to get her to love me. I realised that no matter the outcome, I needed to fuel her fire and take her to the heights she desired. I’d been a fool to reduce her worth to loyalty towards me. She was so much more and I’d disservice her long enough.
“What do you wish to do, my Queen?”
“For starters,” she smirked down at me, “You’ll address me as Martha until I state otherwise.”
I almost smiled in amusement at her audacity.
“Did you forget the part where I mentioned I’m the King of the Seelie Court?”
“As far as I’ve been made aware,” she crossed her arm, the smile remaining on her face, “My blood is not of the Seelie Court. We are not in the Seelie Court. And you are not my king. Regardless of your status, I have a name and you will call me by it.”
“Fair enough…” I breathed, clenching my jaw. I could feel the vein under my eye pop from annoyance from being questioned of my power and authority. But as embarrassed as I felt, she was right. I’d spent too much time doing the wrong thing and trying to own her. It was time to look at her differently.
We sensed Gabriella break through the trees, looking disgruntled and confused.
“We’re in Lynn’s Court!” she cried out, “Oran and Marianne were almost attacked until one of her advisor’s halted the guards. They want you at the palace immediately. Something’s happening. They…they’re breaking off their alliance with the Unseelie Court as we speak, and so are the others!”
Chapter Thirteen
Lynn’s Court
“How did we end up in Lynn’s Court?” I whispered to Oran.
“We’re in a carriage,” he rolled his eyes, “and no one wishes to hurt us. You can speak out loud.”
“I wouldn’t trust anyone just yet,” Martha huffed from across us, wedged between Marianne and Gabriella, “We’re on a political minefield ever since Sylius’s outburst at the party yesterday.”
I nodded in agreement and gave Oran a hard look. He shook his head but lowered his voice.
“I’m guessing it was an unintentional interference,” he said, “I sensed that there were too many teleportation attempts last night after the party. It took me about three tries to get to where I had located you. Nothing too unusual, I’ve experienced it during war before.”
“Also, should I know whoever Majesty Lynn is?” Martha whispered.
“No, you’ve yet to meet her, I think,” I rubbed the back of my head, “although…you did know a lot of people, to be honest. I can’t keep track so I’d say you come clean about what Sylius has done and not bother hiding anything. She would understand.”
“Fair enough.”
The carriage bumped lightly on the beaten path down the hills, and the horses neighed every now and then. After a while, we were finally heading straight ahead onto a smooth road. I pulled away the curtain to look outside. It was as merry as the Seelie Court, albeit more colourful with very specific pointed architecture that came from the Asian human realm they existed around in silence. The road soon started to sink into the water as the buildings soon turned into boat houses tied to large boulders to keep from wafting away. Each boulder was large enough to hold ten boathouses within its perimeter. We passed by some small islands with inset lagoons, which seemed to be bathhouses for the residents when in human form.
Lynn’s Court was situated right on the borders of Japan and rested over the sea. In all honestly, I believed it to be an inconvenient location, geographically. It caused the humans of Japan much inconvenience. The people of Lynn’s court were mostly marine-shifters, having the ability to transform into mer-people and aquatic life forms. The way they worked to keep their kingdom going was…precarious. There would be accidents every few years or so that would send all kinds of storms into Japan. It was a miracle that the country survived that long being smack in the middle of Lynn’s Court.
My eyes caught sight of the people of Lynn’s Court. They were strange but beautiful beings, with almond eyes, extremely pale skin tinged with either green or blue, with either red or blonde hair. As far as I was aware, Lynn was the only one with black hair in the kingdom. Those with black hair were the direct descendants of their diety, although I believe they were simply chosen vessels for the diety’s soul.
Our carriage had turned into a boat, drifting calmly over the sea towards a small mountain. I could see the city carved out in the rock of the mountain quite literally, with painted caves that had waterfalls or slides leading into a lake that spilled into the ocean. If the sun was not in my eyes when I looked just right, I could spot Lynn’s palace right at the tip of the mountain. A stairway was carved into the centre of the mountain, curving all the way up to it.
But instead of stopping at a harbour visible at the front of the island, the carriage moved around the mountain and took us to the back. I saw more caves drilled into the mountain’s leaning cliff face with waterfalls falling into the sea and…the mer-people were swimming upwards and right into their cave homes?
Martha gasped as she peeked outside with Gabriella and mushed her face to the window with a barely contained squeal of excitement
.
“How are they doing that?” she hissed, “It’s amazing! This whole place is amazing!”
“I’m not sure,” Oran chuckled, “but Lynn’s Court is wonderful.”
“But how will we get all the way up there?” Marianne muttered, “It’s quite a long swim even for mer-people.”
“If I remember correctly, they have a waterfall powered pull system,” I stroked my face, looking around for the thing in question. I had visited Lynn’s Court once over two decades ago. The place looked even better than back then, and Lynn’s people were extremely creative and resourceful people who were always evolving intelligently.
I spotted the main waterfall as soon as we halted onto a solid surface, and we started to rise steadily through the air at considerable speed. Martha gazed down in wonder as more colonies and islands became visible the higher we went.
“It’s so colourful…” she breathed, and I felt my heart grow warm in my chest from the look on her face. My hands yearned to touch her face, and have her lean into it.
I felt a stare on me and looked sideways to see Oran’s suggestive smirk. I pushed his face away with a grunt and he only chuckled. Marianne reached forward to pinch his knee, but she was also smiling.
“Ahh, my friend,” Oran whispered, “do you finally realise what it is like to be in love?”
“It’s no good denying it,” I huffed, “but I’d truly been in the wrong about so many things…especially about Martha.”
“I’m glad you accept these feelings,” he patted my arm, “You’re now a true man, Darragh. You’ll be surprised to see how much this love can grow into. It’s why having a Queen is so important. Kingdoms, ironically, usually do just fine without a king, a queen can suffice. But without a Queen? It doesn’t last long in happiness.”
If I’d heard this perhaps a day ago, I would have been cross and lashed out at Oran for questioning my authority and demeanour. But the things that Martha was making me feel right now, so differently and so purely, it all made sense. There was something missing in my chest for so long that sex alone could not satisfy.
I stole a glance at Gabriella. I understood that the witches had lied to keep Martha and I away from each other, but was there some truth in their words back then? That Martha and I could not be together because I had yet to mature? It was silly to fathom I had anything more to learn after being alive for centuries but here I was, watching Martha’s eyes sparkling in admiration and wondering what I could do to see that more often.
Thinking on it, it made sense. I had caused everyone too much trouble because I had not sorted myself out right about Martha, and it led to me losing my throne and Martha all at once. Now there was possibly some hope in retrieving my title with this recent news of neighbouring Courts dropping out of Sylius’s coalition.
We finally made it to the top, and a blonde mer-person opened our carriage, dressed in a sheer bluish-white fabric that resembled sea-foam. They had long hair and deep brown eyes.
“Welcome,” they said with a friendly smile and a small bow, “Prince Darragh, Queen Lynn awaits your presence.”
I winced at the title, but it was a fact. Word obviously spread very fast in the magical realms. The mer-person must have noticed, and they gave me an apologetic bow.
“If it may comfort you,” they started, “most of the realms still believe you’re the true king of the Seelie Court. I’m sure you’ll find Queen Lynn’s proposition very tempting in this matter.”
I was more confused than before, but they said nothing more and led us away from the carriage and towards the palace with it large lagoons placed one above the other, spilling water over its edges. I noticed the walls were twice the height I was as we neared it, and I realised there was a cave like space in the middle that was curtained by the waterfall. As the water pulled away, markings of bioluminescent planktons lit up in the walls of the tunnels. Martha gasped and followed the mer-person right in, all previous caution thrown to the wind. Gabriella chuckled and went after her, winking at me to let me know I could relax.
We walked a short distance through the beautiful tunnel that depicted the history of Lynn’s Court carved out in colourful glowing lines. Back when I had visited, these were simple marking with lamps stuck into the walls. The water must have kept putting them out. The tunnel soon opened abruptly into a wide room that was practically a pool of beautiful, glowing blue water. The room was a ridiculously large dome with bioluminescent plants suspended at various lengths from the ceiling like lamps, bathing the room in a dim pulsating glow. A white singular platform stretched out in the centre towards a large floating circle where the queen sat on a an elaborate throne like platform carved out of fish skulls and shells, pushed up by a geyser.
Queen Lynn looked as beautiful as ever since I last saw her, if not a little older. Her black hair floated around her in braids as if she was still under water, shins and forearms covered in purple blue scales. Her dress was practically liquid gold, like the ocean when a sunset fell over it. Her eyes were no different. She held the sunsets in them.
“Darragh, look at you,” she smiled, “You’ve grown so much since I last saw you.”
“It’s been a while,” I admitted with a smile, “The last time I came here, I had my brothers with me. I’m sorry the circumstances won’t allow them to accompany me here.”
“I’m aware of them,” she nodded disappointedly, “A sad turn of events, but it was to be expected. Life of royalty is often riddle with greed.”
“Monarchy is quite dramatic,” I agreed. She only nodded in amusement. Things in Lynn’s Court did not work like it did in the rest of the realms. The deity of the ocean, Sakatoke, usually chose the vessel that was to contain a part of their spirit. That vessel was marked by black hair and fish scales. Sakatoke appeared to the next heir in their dream, and often chose one based on the problems of the time and a befitting ruler to solve them. So far, Lynn was the first one to have crossed the twenty-year ruling mark, already edging a century.
“Please sit,” she gestured before us, and we found large cushions to sit on. Her platform lowered until she was levelled with us. We sat around her, and her servants served us ceramic platters of fruit and fish wrapped in colourful, sweet seaweed. Martha was absolutely astounded and reached out tentatively for a small sushi roll. Lynn only smiled at her.
“Very adorable,” she said to me softly, “Is this the rumoured girl of Sylius that you rescued from his Court?”
“He’d kidnapped Martha from me,” I sighed, “and now she holds no memories of our encounters.”
“I was right to suspect something when my advisors came back from a meeting with him three days ago,” she shook her head, “I’m not sure if you’re aware but there has been news of Princess Selene’s existence. I’ve limited the witches’ access to my court after my advisors told me how they were profiting with blood from the war between Faes. I’m also in process of diminishing my alliance with the Unseelie Court, and a lot of other kingdoms are also following suit.”
“Won’t that cause more war?” I asked worriedly.
“Most of his troops are deployed towards your kingdom,” she shrugged, “He’s an awful strategist. I hold the breath of Sakatoke who is also the deity of war, so I often know of the tides. Sylius won’t win now when everyone is anticipating Princess Selene’s return.”
“Wait, are you serious?” Oran gasped through a bite of fruit.
Lynn smiled at us, “The tides are changing, my younglings. But there is still much to do. The kingdoms will soon deploy searches for the Princess and try to assist her in acquiring the throne that is rightfully hers. There will be some conflict amongst the preparations, but it’s not something you should be too worried about…”
Her eyes swept to Martha, who was now on the edge of the round platform and playing with the large koi in the water.
“Seeing as how she’s right here.”
Gabriella stood in alarm, putting herself between Queen Lynn and a very unaware Mart
ha, but the woman only chuckled and shook her head, “I wish to bring her no harm. The person I do want from your side, though, is Ulrich. He has a debt to pay.”
Marianne coughed a little into her drink, visibly confused, “What did he do?”
“He asked for assistance in the war against the Unseelie Court when Darragh was gone,” she sighed, “I lost many of my best men under his misguidance and negligence. He’d promised no losses.”
“By rule, he is to be punished in your court,” I realised.
Queen Lynn nodded, “You’re still widely acknowledged as the true ruler of the Seelie Court. The borders act on your call. Allow my men into your court, Darragh, and Ulrich will be taken care of.”
Oran and I looked at each other in disbelief. Luck was truly on our side.
“Of course, his punishment won’t completely compensate the loss of my men,” she continued, “When I’m done breaking off my alliance with Sylius, would you make room for one with me?”
“Without a doubt,” I said gratefully.
“Now,” she said seriously, “this isn’t going to be your only stop. I know you must be tired from all that you’ve gone through, but it’s time to act. Once you regain control over your Court, you must start targeting the realms not yet under Sylius’s influence and create a coalition. I’m aware this is something you’ve never done before, but I know people will trust you. Be sure to promise them full independence over their courts and keep that promise.”
“You’re right,” I said and stood up, “Luck is in our favour and we must not let it run out. This is the time for a revolution and we must prepare our forces against Sylius’s dark magic. He may lose the war and be cornered into isolation, but Princess Selene will still need to rip the crown from his dead hands. It doesn’t help that they will be assisted by demonic magic.”
A Fae's Love Page 11