by Vanessa Skye
I chuckle. Our reputation precedes us.
From a distance, the fae city looks like nothing more than a wide raging river disappearing into a deep gorge and coming out the other end a roaring waterfall, which forms one pool after another before falling into a perfectly round cavity for as far as the eye can see.
But up close, Uisce ag Titim is a marvel. Set around the waterfall are multiple levels of carved stone terraces leading to deep tunnels, hanging gardens, and bridges and walkways hewed from stone so ancient, they’re worn smooth from the centuries worth of footfalls. Weeping vines that are mostly bare for the winter droop like a canopy overhead, but I’m sure in spring and summer there is a riot of color alongside the blue, teal, azure, and indigo of the crystal pools.
I spy Nuadha several levels beneath me, leaning against a wall with his arms folded, while fae flutter around him offering platters of food, tankards of ale, and documents to sign, all of which he waves away impatiently.
He glances up, catching my secret stare, and our eyes lock for a long moment before he turns and strides down a dim tunnel entrance with his blue cloak snapping behind him.
Beautifully dressed fae, many with brilliant wings so large they drag behind them, shoot curious glances as I walk into the city, but no one questions my presence, despite the heavily armed company of guards.
I stop on a high bridge and gape, smiling as the watery mist bends the sunlight and covers everything in tiny rainbow sequins. I feel my power gathering here. Apart from the recent fireball, I’ve had little cause to use it, and in this place more than any other, I feel it tumbling and twisting within, desperate to escape.
Adding to the fairy tale experience, a fae with delightful pink wings lands and bows before gesturing for me to follow with a graceful beckoning of her long fingers. Her serene, lightly feathered face and the air around me are so alive with magic I don’t want to break the spell by speaking, so I just nod.
I trail her down a network of caves hidden in the cliffs to a circular room filled, floor to ceiling, with leather-bound books, a round canopy bed centered in the space and highlighted by an intricate lead dome skylight large enough for an air fae to fly to the heavens without traveling underground passageways. The bed is the perfect size and shape for two lovers and evokes images so real that I can barely look at it.
Ugh! Stupid romantic city is a big, fat tease. I wish I had wings to disappear into the late afternoon sky.
Even with its magical storybook qualities, and the beautiful wood, stone, and wrought-iron furnishings, this place leaves me cold.
I drop my belongings on the rugged floor and find my way back toward the waterfall.
Following a slow eddy, I jump from one smooth boulder breaking the river’s surface to another until I find a sheltered alcove overlooking a merry pool of clear water and lit by the last of the day’s sunlight.
Dropping into the literal bright spot of my day, I hug my knees to my chest and let the tears fall, my lips still tingling from the soft kiss a reluctant king bestowed.
***
The stars twinkle and the moon is full and shining when I hear soft footfalls behind me.
“I’ve been searching for you everywhere.” Aiden sits beside me. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head and hurriedly wipe my drying tears. “It’s nothing…”
He puts his arm around me and squeezes tight before letting go. “A lie. Anything that makes you cry is not nothing, Alys. Talk to me. I thought we were friends.”
Shrugging, I listen to the babbling of the waterways. The air is cold, but I am so caught up in the pain inside me that I barely feel it. I cover my mouth in a vain attempt to stifle the sobs. “We are…Nuadha…I-I…ah, forget it. It’s stupid.”
He chuckles. “The love between a man and a woman is not stupid, Alys. There is nothing on this, or any other, earth more beautiful, and sometimes more painful, than love.”
“Love?” I look up quickly and frown. “Who said anything about love? That’s crap.”
He smiles and wipes a tear off my face with a thumb. “A fae would have to be blind not to see the feelings between you and our king.”
I let out a bitter bark of laughter. “He has no such feelings. He’s made that quite clear. No, this is all on me.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily believe that if I were you. I hear he demoted six of his best men for simply refusing to follow your order to disarm. You think he does that for just anyone? Besides, I see the way he looks at you. Repeatedly turning you away is difficult for him.”
I snort.
He sighs and lies back on the cool rock with his hands folded behind his head. “Do you know why Nuadha has never taken a bride?” he asks, looking up at the stars.
I shake my head.
“Because he is married to Tír na nÓg. There was a female for him once, thousands of years ago, but she turned her back on Nuadha when he was no longer considered perfect enough to be king. I do not know what happened to her, but Nuadha never recovered from her rejection or Bres’ tyranny. He blames her, and love, for what he considers his weakest moment.”
Outraged, I shoot to my feet. “How could she—who would—how could anyone do such a thing? Did she not love him at all?”
“I do not know her feelings, but perhaps she was more enamored with the idea of becoming queen than with Nuadha himself.”
“Being king is the least wonderful thing about him.”
“Since then he’s dedicated his life to protecting the people of Tír na nÓg from ever being enslaved again and refused love at every turn. He considers it a threat to him and his people. He runs from the past and from predictions Estrild made before she died. Now, he occasionally enjoys the attentions of females to meet his physical needs—”
A knife twists in my heart.
“—but he never lets any of them close. However, you, Alys, you make him pause and reconsider his stance on love, which is no small thing. No other woman, in three millennia, can claim such.”
“Nuadha mentioned Estrild earlier today, too. What did she say? What prophecy?”
Aiden sighs. “Estrild made many predictions in her time, some barely comprehensible, and some so accurate, they take the breath away.” He seems to weigh his words as he rubs his jaw for several moments then he clears his throat and faces me. “Long ago, Estrild spoke of a woman born of three worlds—a child of god and demon with both fire and water dwelling inside her—a woman who would be queen to her chosen people. Estrild said this fire woman would preside over a battle of three worlds, heal her beloved with ancient fire, and lead all fae to either victory or destruction.”
“That makes no sense at all. What has that got to do with me?”
Aiden chuckles. “Most of Estrild’s predictions don’t make sense, but I think the fire woman part of that prophecy is what gives the king pause given what you can do.”
“He thinks she’s referring to me?” As soon as the words leave my lips on a high-pitched squeak, I remember Rhiannon calling me a child of three worlds, and Lir and Talentless fae referring to me as queen. “That’s ridiculous!”
“He has spent much of his life running from this prophecy and the love of this woman who would be queen. After his arm was healed with ancient fire, I think he believed it wouldn’t come true. Then, you showed up.”
“Well, it’s not me. Like you said, he has already been injured and healed.”
Aiden nods. “He struggles with his feelings for you. Fear keeps him from happiness. Your love scares him.”
“I never understood what all the other girls were crying about at school, but I get it now.” I take a shaky breath. “This sucks. I don’t want these feelings!”
“Don’t wish love away,” he says with a grin. “Love is the best feeling in the world.”
“Maybe if it’s returned. What about you?” I ask, not looking him in the eye. “Have you ever found it?”
He chuckles. “No. My life is filled with war and duty. There is no time for love.”
> I breathe a sigh of relief as we enjoy each other’s company in silence. Aiden’s friendship means a lot to me, and I do love him, but not the way I love Nuadha. I am just glad he doesn’t have romantic feelings for me.
“But…”
I jump when he speaks after so many minutes of nothing but the soft sounds of our surroundings.
“…if I did find love, then I wouldn’t let anything or anyone keep me from it.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Alys, listen to me.” Aiden sits up and faces me. “I can see our king wrestling with his emotions. I do not believe it would take much to tip him over the edge. He deserves happiness as much as you, don’t you think?”
“What are you saying?”
“Go to him. Make it plain how you feel. I do not believe he will turn away again.”
“I don’t know…”
He shrugs. “It is up to you, of course. However…eternity is a long time for regret. Would you rather let fear stop you from finding true happiness?”
I sigh. He is right. What kind of person do I want to be? One who tries and possibly fails, or one who lets fear stop me from trying at all?
“Besides, perhaps if he were happier, then this war with the Talentless would not be his only focus…” Aiden raises his eyebrow and smirks then lies back down beside me.
I groan. “Talentless fae will be obliterated. They aren’t trained in the art of warfare. And I’m not even convinced it’s them responsible for all the raids.”
Aiden frowns. “I heard your theory about humans, but humans cannot travel to Tír na nÓg. They cannot tear the veil. There is no way they could be here.”
“But maybe human weapons have found their way here.”
“True. I think we would have seen some evidence of them before now, though. Don’t you?”
“Nothing about these raids makes any sense to me.” I hold up my hand, ticking off each reason on my fingers as I name them. “One. I have only witnessed a single raid carried out by Talentless fae, and they were easily defeated. Two. There are never any bodies of raiders left behind. Surely, they are losing men, too. Three. Every one of the communities attacked is burned to the ground, conveniently destroying any possible evidence of who’s actually behind the attacks. And four. What about the strange marks on the bodies that cannot be accounted for?”
Aiden rolls onto his side and looks at me. “Even if it was somehow humans, what purpose does it serve to come here?”
“I don’t know. But there is more going on here than meets the eye. If humans are arming Talentless, then Nuadha is marching to war against the wrong people.”
Aiden rubs his face. “Regardless of whether it is justified or not, this war will divide Tír na nÓg for centuries to come. To attack the Talentless means our two races will become hopelessly divided, but Nuadha will not see reason on this issue.”
“Yet he protected them earlier today. Even gave them money to survive…” I shake my head. “Which reminds me…I know you are helping them, at great to risk to yourself. Thank you,” I whisper.
“It is the least I can do. I have no quarrel with the Talentless. And if what you suspect is correct, then they have done nothing wrong. But when Nuadha orders us to march on them, we must.” His voice is heavy with regret and sadness.
“I don’t know if I can. I mean, I can’t kill them. I won’t!”
“We must do what the king commands.”
“I never thought I’d willingly go back to being bullied, but right now, it seems a butt load easier than this.” I laugh at the irony.
“If you decide to…tonight. Well, know that I wish you every happiness, Alys,” he says with a weak smile before standing and disappearing into the darkness.
“Thank you.”
I think about Aiden’s words on my walk back to the city and through the bustling night market outside the main fortress.
As I stroll between stalls of food, rugs and fabrics, I’m almost entirely convinced I will do nothing about my undecided feelings for Nuadha…until I see the dress.
Pure silk and soft as a cloud, the gown is a delicate pale pink. So pale it’s almost white. It appears woven from a single piece of material with no seams or any adornment beyond the thin bejeweled straps.
I finger the gossamer fabric carefully. “It’s beautiful,” I whisper. “Did you create this?”
The vendor glances up and smiles then returns to working on another piece. “I did. It took many days. The threads are so fine that it is translucent when worn.”
“I love it.” I sigh. “Unfortunately, I have no money.”
“You are the strange fae traveling with the king’s army?” The woman peers at me. “The warrior woman who rides Danu’s beast?”
“Yes,” I say, fingering the dress regretfully. I have three beautiful dresses already, but Nuadha has seen me in all of them. This dress, however…this would be hard to ignore.
“You defended Talentless fae against the king and your fellow soldiers and even saved the life of one in another land, I hear?”
Her probing is enough to trigger my anger, and I drop the fabric. “Yes.” Preparing for a fight, I meet her gaze with a hard stare of my own. “Even if Talentless are carrying out the recent raids, which I doubt, other innocents should not be punished for their misdeeds.”
The woman looks around as if she’s checking to see if anyone is watching or listening. “I agree with you,” she whispers. “M-my daughter, Nara, is Talentless. She and her husband, Tyree, were banished from our home. They are expecting a faeling and had to leave. I do not even know if she lives.” She wipes a tear from her cheek.
Sending another silent thank you to Aiden, I whisper, “She has been directed to safety. And it is warmer now that spring approaches. I’m sure she lives.”
“You are very kind to speak for those who have no voice.” She smiles through her tears.
“I understand what it’s like to have no voice,” I reply with a scowl.
She takes the dress off the wooden rod and holds it out to me. “A gift from me and the Talentless across our land.”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t. It must be worth a fortune.”
“You are worth it,” she replies, pressing it firmly into my hands. “And whatever fae you plan to wear it for is lucky, indeed.”
“Thank you.” I blush, look away, and take the dress as the all the sign I need that my bold plan will work.
***
After the evening meal, I enjoy a late soak in the tub for more than an hour in an effort to calm my tingling nerves.
I dry my hair carefully, fluffing the bright red strands, so they hang just right around my face then slip the sheer gown over my lightly oiled body.
I breathe the jasmine and citrus scent filling the warm air in deep, and I rub a little extra oil on my lips. I have received enough admiring looks from males to know many of them find me attractive, and that thought gives me all the courage I need as I consider my next move.
Pulling on my jacket, I sneak out of my room and run down the chilly stone hallways in the direction of Nuadha’s temporary war room. Despite the late hour and the deserted corridors, I know he is there.
Part of me can’t believe what I am doing. Six months ago, I was a mousy high school girl not interested in boys. Now, that scared girl is long gone, and I am half-naked and intent on seducing a king. And once we sort out the feelings between us, I will be able to make him see reason about Talentless fae. I just know it!
As I approach, I see two guards on either side of the arched, intricately carved wooden doors, and my heart beats a little faster—their presence is confirmation Nuadha is inside.
“Is he alone?” I ask one of the guards, who nods, opens the door, and follows me as I enter.
Nuadha is sitting at a round table pouring over maps and documents by the light of a single lantern flickering behind him. A half-eaten plate of food sits next to him, discarded.
He looks up and awkwardly rises. “Alys? The
hour is late. Why aren’t you asleep? We have an early start to Chathair Mhór in the morning.”
I open the jacket, ensuring my body stays obscured from the guard.
Nuadha’s eyes widen as they sweep from my face to my feet then back up again. “Leave us, immediately! And see we are not disturbed.”
The guard rushes out and shuts the door behind him with a bang.
“What is this?” he whispers, taking a hesitant half step closer.
“This is me.” I let the jacket fall to the floor.
Nuadha says nothing, but his expression as he stares at my naked body through the sheer fabric says exactly what I wanted to hear.
“I want you,” I whisper. “I have wanted you since the first moment I saw you. I-I…” I step toward him. “I love you, Nuadha.”
He slowly wrenches his gaze away from my body and steps back. “Stop. You cannot…” He holds his hands up as if warding off some attack. “You don’t know what you are asking. You must leave.”
“I know what concerns you. I am not the woman from Estrild’s prophecy. I do not want to be queen. I am offering myself to you. I want you. Please…I know you are often with the women of music. Let me be that for you…”
I dare to step closer, and this time, he doesn’t move away.
His pupils dilate as he searches my face. “You…you are not them and never could be!”
“Don’t make me out to be a saint. I’m not one. And I’m not a child, either, and you know it.”
His groan is painful, almost animalistic. An instant later, I am in his arms with his lips crushing mine. He growls deep in his throat and his hand grabs my behind, pulling my hips to his.
We slow our frantic mouths, caressing and grazing each other’s lips, and his tongue touches mine for the first time.
I whimper.
Without breaking the kiss, his picks me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist. Holding me easily with one hand, he slides the other through my thick hair and grabs a handful, and deepens our kiss.
I feel him move as he carries me across the room then hear a loud bang of wood against stone.
He kneels, breaking our kiss but still holding me close, and places me gently on a tiny bare cot.