by Candace Sams
These were stipulations that had been put to her before, but the queen was now listening. Sky knew she had to respond carefully, but this last promise was still a little harder to make. After all, no time limit had been placed on their offspring’s training. Still, it was in a child’s best interest to know its full heritage. She couldn’t deny any baby she and Rowan had that privilege, and knew she could make no counter terms or Rowan might very well be called back to his home for good. “Our baby should know its birthright. I agree to such training.”
He grinned and laughed out loud even as trumpets sounded from the Fairy Realm to announce the queen was pleased. He soundly kissed Sky again and gazed down into her eyes when he was finished. “There’s just one last thing.”
Sky held her breath, still reeling from his sudden appearance after having been gone so long.
“On the night when we would have tried to conceive a child, we were interrupted by events that we’ll leave behind us. The queen commands me to start immediately…where we left off. Don’t tarry with telling Eartha and Windy I’m back. They’ll find out tomorrow. I, my grandmother, and entire family, are eagerly waiting to make an announcement in the Fairy Realm…an announcement of an impending birth. If you’re still willing,” he joyfully whispered against her hair.
“Willing?” she murmured, then quickly pulled herself from his tight embrace. “I-I have to get my magic bag from my room. Swear you’ll be here when I get back. Swear it, Rowan! I want to bless this union, for our sake and the child’s! I’ll be back in a flash!”
He kissed her hard before making his promise. “Explosives won’t move me. An entire regiment from the Fairy Realm won’t budge me, nor will any known thing in your world!”
He watched as she turned and fled toward the cottage.
Then, he paced, discarded his loincloth and waited. All he could think about was having Sky again and hopefully producing a child that would bear his grandmother’s name. More importantly, he wanted to see Sky carrying his baby. Something about the idea thrilled him.
She’d make a beautiful mother. The side benefit to him was that he’d have an heir to call his own, perhaps many heirs in the years to come.
For the rest of their lives, they would love each other until parted only by death. He’d have her by his side, growing old together.
When he saw her flying through the garden wearing a white witch-like robe, he ran forward to meet her.
“I’ve got everything in this bag,” Sky breathlessly confirmed as she lifted her sack of magic goods.
“Then, we’re to begin our life. No more delays!”
She laughed gaily as he briefly swung her and her bag of Wiccan paraphernalia up into his arms.
“Where shall we go, Sky? You name the spot, and it will forever be a sacred place for us. Just for you and me.”
“When I was little, I remember my parents taking me to an old stone altar deep in the woods. I don’t know why I’ve never gone back there, but it’s as good a place as any to handfast. We can try for our baby there.”
Rowan sighed. “Our baby. I like the sound of that.”
“Tarry not, my Faun,” she joked.
She pointed south and Rowan went where she directed.
Eventually, they reached the spot. It was deep in a darkened glen, with a canopy of branches overhead.
This is a place of ancient power,” she quietly whispered.
Rowan gazed about and saw the fireflies swarming over a large recumbent stone. “I-I never knew this was on your property. I’d have probably found it when I cleared the debris from the forest floor in late summer. But it is a protected place. Protected even from my senses. Even now, I can feel its power. And I know this is the perfect place for us to pledge ourselves to one another.”
The stone altar they gazed upon sat about two feet high by seven feet long. It was surrounded by soft grass, vines and small flowers.
Sky searched her bag. She located a small white candle, put it on a rock, and lit it with some matches.
Rowan cleared away any remaining vines from the altar stone. After working under the light of the fireflies for several minutes, he discovered there were four small, column-like stones that were equally high as the main altar stone. These columns were situated at each corner of the larger stone. They likely represented the elements of air, earth, fire and water.
“I’ve heard of the ancient Pagan ways,” Sky explained. “I hope the old gods and goddesses favor us.”
“I believe they will,” he responded.
From her large bag, Sky sifted for other magical devices.
“What are you searching for now?” he impatiently asked.
“Silver charms. Particular ones.” She leaned toward the light of the small white candle to find the exact charms she wanted. Once done, she placed them near the bottom of the candle. The rest of the silver tokens went back into her bag. She stepped back and spoke worshipfully.
“The illumination of a white candle represents the spirit of the universe, and enlightenment for our journey through life. With these charms, I bless this union: a small silver acorn represents growth; the small, silver apple represents joy and a wholeness with life; a small silver arrow symbolizes love’s true course; and the little silver Green Man represents—”
“Nature, and her bounty and balance,” Rowan finished.
She smiled at him, pulled a rolled-up blanket from her bag, tossed the bag aside, and handed Rowan the covering.
“Place the blanket over the stone, so we can make love comfortably,” she instructed.
He quickly did as she asked and noted a subtle change in her. With each word she spoke, she drew power from the earth and the elements. He felt it all around them. Such energy was clean and pure. It was like having a cool breeze blow through a window, on a warm day.
After he placed the cover over the stone, he turned and held out his hand. “Come to me…join with me. We shall be as one with each other…and all of creation.”
“Together we go forth as one, from this night on. Blessed be,” she whispered.
He watched her walk across the short distance that separated them, her tiny feet making no sound on the soft, clean moss. But when she was in his embrace, and he would have kissed her soundly, she placed her fingertips over his lips.
“Come to me as you appear in your realm, Rowan. I love both parts of you, and so you’ll make love and consecrate our vows in both forms. If tonight brings a child, no matter what powers it might or might not have, I’ll always love it and you for giving it to me,” she promised.
“As I shall love you for carrying it. And for being the strong woman you are,” he softly murmured. “I’ll never again be parted from you. Not for any reason.”
In the morning, Sky awoke to the warmth of the sun seeping through the canopy of the great oak trees. It seemed to surround the stone altar like a blanket, but its warmth was no compensation for the absence of Rowan’s strong body. She sat up quickly, and had to blink several times at the beauty surrounding her.
Rowan was kneeling near the altar stone in Faun form. Around the stone, about twenty feet in all directions, grew the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. Bluebells, irises, lilies, wild trillium, moonflowers, and dozens of assorted other flowering plants and vines surrounding them. Their colors and scents were amassed in such profusion that no words for such beauty came to mind. She reverently knelt beside Rowan.
“These flowers weren’t here before. I know they weren’t,” she confirmed.
“We have the queen’s blessing. She was so overcome with our gift of shared love that she bestowed upon us a growth of flowers. I don’t think your land or your gardens will ever find their produce lacking. She means to help us.”
Swallowing hard, Sky moved into his embrace. “But how did she know? Was she still watching or listening from the portal between our worlds? I thought we might have to send some kind of message to tell her we’d consummated our relationship.”
“S
he respected our privacy, I’m quite sure. But it’s not necessary to send any message. Look over there,” Rowan said as he pointed into the deepest part of the woods.
Sky saw small lights twinkling where the sun’s rays didn’t reach. She knew the lights weren’t fireflies as the colors were too vibrant, and spanned the spectrum from blue to silver and gold. “They told the queen?”
Rowan nodded. “To make up for Glacia’s wrath, I think it was the intention of others from my world to go back through the barrier, and tell my grandmother how we fared this past night. Like my queen, they heard our promises and will honor them. The queen already looks forward to our first visit to the Fairy Realm. With her grandchild, of course,” he smilingly announced.
Sky pointed toward the lights in the woods as Rowan had. “Those Pixies don’t look like the others. Their light isn’t the same.”
“They’re Sprites,” he corrected. “The difference is subtle, but you’ll learn soon enough. And you’ll never have to worry about your home again, Sky. As long as the forest is protected, the queen will not see it go to anyone to whom you and your aunts don’t will it. Our heirs will live here in peace.”
Sky placed her cheek against his chest. “Then I am to have a child?”
“The Sprites say it’s already done. You’re carrying a little girl,” he gently told her.
“But how do they know?” she asked as she put her hand over her abdomen.
“The members of the Fae race, including the Sprites, are very protective of children. The smaller the child is, the more protective a Sprite becomes. And though I think they initially came here to watch over us, when they sensed that you and I had created a new life, I believe the message was sent to the queen at once. The little beggars wouldn’t be able to keep such a happy announcement to themselves,” he laughingly explained.
“Ariana,” Sky whispered as she looked down at her navel. Then she gazed into Rowan’s eyes. “We have to tell Windy and Eartha right away.”
“If humans would learn to tolerate magic, I’d like to tell the whole world,” he murmured, then kissed her deeply.
When the kiss finally ended, Sky wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his embrace. “The whole world can hear about my new husband, my daughter, and that I’m starting a new life. But they don’t need to know who and what you really are. I’ll forge whatever paperwork I need, to keep you and our lives protected.”
“No one will ever bother about who I am or where I’m from. By the queen’s command, the magic now protecting us will never allow anyone to find out that I’m a Faun, that you’re a witch, or that our daughter may have both our powers. As long as we keep our word about visiting her often, we’re safe.”
She sighed and took a long look at the lovely flowers surrounding them. “And this place will stay sacred forever. Our daughter will bring her mate here, and so on and so forth.”
Rowan frowned. “That mate had better do well by her, or that person will answer to me!”
“Maybe, when our daughter is much older, her chosen mate will be another beautiful Faun, just like you.”
“Come on, little witch. Let’s get to the cottage, tell your aunts that I’m back, and tell them what we’ve been up to. Let’s begin our new life.”
“I can’t wait!” Sky smilingly agreed.
Epilogue
“That’s the last tour bus for the day,” Sky said as she closed out the cash register, and watched her aunts restock their supplies of homemade soaps, essential oils and charms.
“The tourists love our crafts!” Windy exuberantly announced.
“That’s because we’re real witches, not the fake kind in the next village over. And we have a lovely garden, and a picnic ground. We have the most wonderful sandwiches and sweets. Tours are booked up solid, for the next six months,” Eartha replied.
Rowan watched the two older women as they busily placed new goods on the shelves. “I’d better get Ariana upstairs for her nap. Then I’ll be in the woods finishing up the last wall on the cottage where Sky and I will sleep this winter.”
“Are you sure it’ll be warm enough for both of you and the baby?” Eartha asked as she walked forward and touched little Ariana’s cheek. “She’s such a perfect child.”
“Perfect in every way,” Windy reiterated. “We’d hate to see her catch cold.”
Sky walked forward and put her arms around each of her aunt’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. Rowan has built a very large fire pit. The three stone walls and roof will reflect the heat. I’ve been inside it. It’s like a cave with all the comforts of home. The one wall was left off only so Rowan could be near the forest while protecting us from the elements. We’ll be fine. Besides, I’m not about to spend one night away from him.”
Windy giggled and waved one hand in acceptance. “Of course not. We’re just being silly old ninnies! Don’t mind us.”
Rowan picked up their green-eyed, brunette daughter, and carefully nestled her in his arms.
Ariana had been born six months ago. As was normal for little Faunlings—which was what she was—the baby’s green eyes sparkled incessantly. She smiled and cooed at everyone, with great affection. Oddly, only he and the witches in is life noticed the baby’s glittering eyes. For some odd reason—probably due his grandmother’s magical protection—humans overlooked those eyes. Probably a good thing. As things were, humans weren’t ready for magic. At least, not all of them.
He turned, kissed Windy and Eartha on their cheeks, then smiled warmly at them. “What would we do without your support?”
Sky nodded. “Indeed!”
Apparently overcome with a sudden bout of emotion, Eartha took a hanky from her apron pocket and dabbed at her eyes. “You youngsters put the baby down for a quick nap. Windy and I will refill the shelves, and get dinner started. Go on…off with the both of you.”
Later that night, Rowan and Sky were happily ensconced in each other’s arms—on makeshift cots in their little cave-cottage. Though the weather was still quite warm, little Ariana slept nestled in blankets next to them.
Something woke Rowan, though he wasn’t sure what it was. A presence in the vicinity of the cottage just didn’t feel right in the human world. He shook Sky awake. “Something in the garden isn’t right. I can feel a difference,” he told her.
Sky quickly sat up and pulled her robe on even as Rowan pulled a soft towel around his waist and tied it.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” she quietly asked.
He looked toward the herb patch. “Someone is out there. Very big and powerful.” Sky protectively reached for the baby, but Rowan held out his hand to stop her. “Whoever is out there isn’t dangerous. Just very…present. I can sense them the way I would be able to sense them if I was in the Fairy Realm. They mean no harm.”
“They? You mean…there’s more than one?” she quietly asked. “What should we do?”
“Leave the baby here.”
He had designed their resting spots, wherever they were, so that he would never be more than a few yards away from the baby. With obvious total trust in his decision to leave the little girl a short distance away, Sky nodded at him. She followed when he walked into the garden.
“I can better deal with the power that’s here by changing,” he quickly explained, then proceeded to shapeshift. “There’s no danger, but I want to sneak up on whoever this is. They shouldn’t be here.”
“If you say so, then they shouldn’t be,” she agreed.
Quietly, stealthy as any deer or predator, Rowan crept forward and Sky followed. They were both unprepared to see Windy and Eartha sitting on a bench, with two large and nude older men on either side of them. The men had sparkling, gauze-like wings spread out behind them, like banners.
Rowan snorted. “Butterfly Fairies! It’s been ages since I’ve come across one; much less two of them.” He stood to his full height.
Sky walked forward with her hands on her hips.
At the same time she walked forward, her aun
ts saw her and stood. The Fairy men also rose.
Momentarily shocked, Sky stopped and gawked.
“Let me handle this,” Rowan said. He looked at the two older men. They were like others of their race; exceedingly attractive, with bright, captivating smiles. Their wings shimmered in the moonlight, like diamonds on black velvet. “Ladies…would you like to introduce us to your friends?” he reproachfully asked.
“Oh…yes! Uh…this is Rigel and this is Orion,” Eartha explained as she pointed to the man on her left, then to the other giant on her right.
“I checked every word of the spell,” Windy defended. “I promise, it was all correct this time. I swear it!”
Finally finding her voice, Sky spoke up. “What have you two done?”
Eartha bowed her head. “Well, you see…we just wanted to bring the butterflies into the garden. Rowan mentioned that he’d love for the baby to see them, and they seem to stay nearer the woods than the flowers by the cottage. Since he wouldn’t use his powers to summon them—”
“We lit a candle and burned an incantation in the flame. We asked for the Monarchs of the forest to come to the cottage,” Windy finished. “But our enchantment was properly spelled. I promise!”
Sky moaned and pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index finger.
Rowan began to laugh.
“It isn’t funny,” Sky warned. “Don’t encourage them!”
“I-I can’t help it,” he gasped in mirth.
Eartha walked forward. “What did we do wrong?”
“My dearest Eartha and my adorable Windy,” Rowan laughingly began, “while Monarchs are butterflies, the way you phrased the spell was incorrect. You see, Monarchs of the forest is another way to refer to Butterfly Fairies. You’ve summoned two very sensual creatures right into the middle of our garden.”
“Like someone else we know,” Sky muttered.
Ignoring Sky’s offhand comment, Rowan held out his right hand in greeting. “Welcome to the world of humans, my brothers of the forest.”