by Unknown
“You have a daughter,” I smiled and sniffed back the tears I hadn't realized I was crying. “A beautiful baby girl.”
“Give her to me,” Fionnaghal held out her arms and I put the child in them, even as her body tensed on another push. She couldn't wait and I couldn't blame her. She angled the baby around the still significant mound of her belly. “Oh, little one, there you are,” she crooned as she unwrapped the baby. “She has fire eyes! Such a lucky girl.”
Four arms, two legs, and a body covered golden-brown fur, she looked more human than I was expecting. Then her long tail swung out and wrapped itself around her mother's arm, the end of it brushing back and forth. I loved her immediately but my love paled by comparison to the love that instantly shone in her mother's eyes. Fionnaghal lowered her head, as if to kiss her baby, then a long pink tongue snaked out and she began to clean her. The little girl giggled but I had to look away. Unusual looks were one thing but licking up birth goo was a little too much for me.
“Queen Vervain!” Laise called, her voice a background to the wail of another babe.
“Oh, right!” I rushed over with another cloth and Laise cut the cord, tied it off, and simply put the babe into my arms this time.
I wiped away the goo frantically, hoping there would be a lot less for Fionnaghal to lick, and threw the cloth aside for a fresh one. I wrapped the baby in the new cloth but not before I got a good look at her. Another girl. She had six thick legs and two arms, greenish gray like her mother's. They all came together in a delighted clapping motion as she stared up at me with her green eyes. Her face was flat, just the hint of a nose with slits below, but her lips were full and red. They opened in a baby grin and a long tongue popped out to lick my face.
“Well hello to you too,” I laughed. “It's another girl, Fionnaghal.
“Another girl,” she smiled and reached for the new baby.
“Here let me take the first born,” I took the first babe and smiled at her freshly washed fur, all fluffy and soft. Her brown nose was flat and wide, it twitched as she sniffed the air and I rubbed my face to hers. She gave a gurgling laugh and patted my cheeks.
“And a son,” Laise stood up, holding a large boy in her arms. “Queen Vervain, if you would take him, I'll clean up Fionnaghal.”
“Oh, sure.”
“Give her back to me,” Fionnaghal held one arm towards me. “I can hold them both.”
“Of course you can,” I placed the baby gently back into her mother's arms and then turned for the third and final child. “Damn you're a big guy,” I laughed as I wiped him off.
He seemed to smile at me, his wide mouth opening around two little white tusks that seemed even whiter against the dark green of his skin. There were the nubs of horns forming a line down his head and his three fingered hands were already very strong, as evidenced by his grip on my finger. He made a sort of huffing happy sound and tried to roll about. That's when I noticed the ridge of overlapping plates down his back. I got the feeling that he could curl up and roll around like a ball if he wanted to. His eyes were bright yellow like his mother's and they focused on me gleefully, as if he couldn't wait to do just that.
“Okay, we're done, Fionnaghal,” Laise announced as she wiped her hands and came over to inspect the babies. “You did really well. Let me just seal the umbilical cords now while the Queen let's in the men. I'm sure they're anxious to see you.”
“My son first, please,” she held the first baby girl out to me and I traded her for the boy. “My son,” she whispered. “I have two daughters and a son.”
I rushed to the door and swung it open to find a press of anxious faces waiting on the other side. Arach was at the front of a group of Hidden Ones that stretched back into the main cavern. His face broke into a wide smile as he pushed Toak forward on his rhinoceros legs.
“Go have a look at your children,” Arach grinned at me as I passed the little girl to her father.
“You have two daughters and a son,” I told him and his green eyes, just like his second daughter's, filled up with tears.
He kissed the baby and nuzzled her until she giggled, then turned and held her aloft.
“We have two daughters and a son!” He shouted to the Hidden Ones and they cheered back.
Then he rushed inside to see his other children and the rest of the Hidden Ones pressed forward. I pulled back against the wall so those who hadn't seen the children yet could, as I contemplated how loving and generous these fey were. When Toak had said “We have two daughters and a son” he hadn't meant him and Fionnaghal, he'd meant the Hidden Ones. Those children would be shared and loved by all of them.
“You're blessing seems to be working already,” Arach observed as he came to stand beside me and put an arm around my shoulders. “Those children are so loved, they will never feel the need to hide like their parents did.”
“They're beautiful,” I nodded. “And that birth was fast... and rather easy for her.”
“I hate to say I told you so,” Arach grinned.
“You're learning too many human sayings from those movies,” I laughed. “Go ahead.”
“Well, if you insist,” he kissed me gently and then pulled away. “I told you fey births are easy.”
Chapter Fourteen
After everyone had been in to see the babies, and given their suggestion for names, Toak came to the door to announce that the names of the new babies were Daoir for the boy, Deirdre for the second born girl, and Vervain for the first. I started bawling like one of those newborns and had to hug every Hidden One there, starting with Fionnaghal and Toak. Arach laughed the whole time.
As any magical person knows, there's power in a name and I formed a quick connection with baby Vervain. The babies had been moved into the nursery after their birth, the cradles going up on their stone pillar bases so they were easier to attend, and I was a frequent visitor. Laise had done a good job on the nursery design, painting the drab walls bright yellow and laying down enough rugs that the whole room was covered so the babies could learn to crawl safely. There was a large playpen and numerous toys both hard and soft for the babies to cuddle and chew. A scratching post was also installed in one corner(evidently a common feature in fey nurseries) and a changing table with its tray of moss to line the babies' swaddling.
My gifts to the children were the traditional teddy bears, one for each, which I'd brought from the Human Realm months ago in preparation for their birth. When I explained to Fionnaghal that they were representations of fearsome creatures in the Human Realm, she conveyed her instant and whole-hearted approval. She'd told me that she was proud the Queen of Fire thought her children brave enough to have mighty beasts for toys and she made sure to show them to everyone who visited the nursery. Which was everyone in Castle Aithinne.
No one could stay away from the newborns. They exerted a pull on the fire fey that was all consuming and a little unexpected on my part. I mean, I knew they were wanted, that the whole kingdom rejoiced in their returned fertility and the sign of that return was to be rejoiced in as well, but I had no idea how much they would treasure the actual babes. Fionnaghal's nursery practically overflowed with gifts and she sat in a large chair in it all day, accepting her visitors like a Queen upon her throne.
I was so grateful, so happy, that when Faerie finally spoke to me, her abrasive attitude was a bit bewildering. I was holding Mini V, as I'd been calling her, cooing in the way that silly adults do to children, when my head filled with Faerie's voice.
So they named the child for you. How sweet.
I put Mini V back into her cradle, kissed Fionnaghal goodbye and didn't answer Faerie until I was in the main cavern, heading out to the hallway.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I hissed. “I get that the weather is making you unstable but this is too much. Did you even congratulate Fionnaghal on the birth of her children?”
Congratulate her? I'm the one who made the birth possible. She should have thanked me when they were born.
&nbs
p; “You have become the biggest asshole!” I growled and then shifted my face into a big smile when I realized I was passing a group of leanan-sidhe headed toward the nursery. “Hi, how ya doin'?”
A chorus of Very well, my Queens were sent my way as the ladies, and one man, hurried on. Good thing my fey were used to me talking to Faerie and looking like a crazy person.
And here I was about to give you a warning, she huffed.
“What warning?”
I sense a disturbance.
“In the force?” I couldn't resist. I mean come on, could you?
What? No, in the fey. I may not be the only one becoming an asshole, she sounded almost smug.
“What have you done?”
So now I'm to blame? I come to help you and I get blamed for the trouble I foretell?
“Seriously, what is going on with you?”
There was a long silence and then a soft whisper of sound. I don't know, Vervain. Help me. And then her presence left my mind.
“Help you?” I waited for a response. “What do you want me to do? What do you mean help you? Does this have anything to do with rotten apples? Hello? Gods damn it!”
I stomped up to the ground level of the castle and then out the front cave entrance. I fumed all the way over to the work area on the left and surveyed the final batch of shutters that were being made. Then I took a few deep breaths and let it go, if Faerie wasn't going to help me help her, then I had better things to do.
“My Queen,” Scotaidh, one of my imps, smiled up at me, his red fur sticking out all over his little body, fluffed out to keep him warm.
“Hey Scotaidh,” I bent over to inspect the frame he was working on. “Good job.”
“We went into the Inter Realm for instructions,” he nodded. “The earth pixies are helping.”
“The earth pixies?” I looked over and sure enough, there was a group of the tiny fey working on setting pieces of glass into the frames.
“Greetings, Queen Vervain,” Artair waved at me. His tiny body made the imps look gigantic, like Elmo standing next to a Ken doll. Actually that comparison was pretty accurate. Elmo being furry and red, and Ken looking like a little man.
“Hey Artair,” I went over to see what he was up to. “I thought your talents were limited to jewels.”
“Working with glass is very similar,” he grinned and wiped his brow with a tiny red handkerchief. His brown hair was slick with sweat but his green eyes were bright. “We're all so happy to be able to contribute something to the preparations.”
“Yes, we should all be contributing,” a thought was niggling at my brain. “Thank you for all of your hard work but don't overtax yourselves.”
I waved goodbye and headed back inside. The other kingdoms wouldn't be as prepared as we. They might be installing windows yes but what about fires? I don't recall seeing any fireplaces inside the Air Kingdom and Water, well that was just impossible beneath the ocean surface. Or was it?
“Arach?” I found him in the throne room, sitting at a long table with Isleen, going over the construction reports from the villages.
“Vervain?” He looked up. “What is it? You have that look.”
“I'm worried about Air and Water,” I sighed. “I know that sounds like I don't care about Earth but I know they'll be okay underground, the layers of soil will insulate them.”
“Uh huh,” he lifted his brows in a go on look.
“Is there any way we can create an item, something like the air stones except harnessing fire? I'd like to provide the other kingdoms with something that will help keep them warm through winter.”
“There are hot stones that can be made,” his expression turned thoughtful and he looked over to Isleen.
“I could arrange for them to be created,” Isleen nodded. “How many do you think we'll need?”
“How taxing are they to make?” I countered. I didn't want my fey stressed either.
“It's a small magic,” Isleen shrugged. “Seconds per stone maybe. If I gather a group of us together, we can make thousands should you wish it.”
“What do you think, Arach?” I looked over at him. “We could deliver them ourselves and that way I can check up on their fortifications too.”
“I think maybe ten thousand per kingdom to start,” he looked to Isleen and she nodded. “I'll mirror King Guirmean and King Fionn to let them know we'll be visiting soon with the stones.”
“Should we contact King Cahal too?” I offered. “Just in case they would like some stones? I don't want to seem like we're snubbing them.”
“I will mirror him as well,” Arach nodded. “We've just about finished our preparations but you've given me an idea with the stones, I shall have a message sent out to the villages that they might want to create heat sources as well, so they don't have to tax their magics during such a volatile time. We don't know how stressful winter will be on our bodies yet.”
“Stressful,” I glanced away. “Faerie finally talked to me.”
“She did?” Arach looked over my expression carefully. “It didn't go well.”
“Not so much,” I admitted. “She said something about some of the fey becoming assholes like her.”
“Becoming what?” Isleen gave me wide horrified eyes.
“Not literally, Isleen,” Arach chuckled. “It's a human term used to describe someone who is behaving in a foul manner.”
“Ah,” she thought about it and grinned. “Asshole, yes it's appropriate.”
“She also said she didn't know why she's been behaving so badly and she asked me to help her,” I continued past Isleen's asshole revelation.
“Help her?” Arach's face got focused. “How are you supposed to help her?”
“That's just it,” I huffed. “She wouldn't tell me. I really hate having to guess what she needs all the time.”
“Did you tell her about the apple?” He asked, as I knew he would.
“I tried,” I grimaced. “She didn't give me the chance.”
“What apple?” Isleen stared down Arach when he didn't answer he right away.
“We found an apple in the forest,” he finally admitted. “It was rotted through and turning black.”
“A rotten apple?” Isleen was horrified. “That's not possible.”
“Do you think it's a sign of what's happening internally with Faerie?” I sat down heavily in a chair across from them. “Do you think she's rotting too?”
“Faerie is truly immortal,” Arach reassured me. “Not like us fey who can be killed. She will last forever and I say with absolute certainty that she cannot rot.”
“Well, she sure is acting rotten,” I griped. “There has to be some significance to that apple though. She is the land and now for the first time ever, apples are rotting. There's got to be a connection. I mean, something's wrong with her, maybe it's not rot but it's something.”
“It must be the seasons,” Arach mused. “There's nothing else it could be, nothing that's happened lately that could have affected her. So how can you help Faerie deal with seasonal changes?”
“I don't know,” I snorted. “You tell me.”
“Give her a blanket?” Isleen shrugged. “A hot stone?”
Chapter Fifteen
Both Water and Air had welcomed our gifts, Earth had declined politely. King Cahal thought they'd be warm enough in their burrows and he also didn't want to upset his Queen by accepting gifts from Fire. It lowered him in my estimation, Aalish's feelings shouldn't have mattered when it came to the well being of his people. Arach said it was a good thing he'd made the call instead of me because that statement wouldn't have gone over well and may have threatened the already tenuous thread of peace between our kingdoms.
Sheesh, you try to give someone a present.
Isleen had come through with the hot stones, which I was told were not stones at all but compressed fire. We had twenty thousand of them done and stored in metal boxes. Metal just in case one of them got activated accidentally, which I was told was virtuall
y impossible but enough impossible crap had been happening lately that the caution was warranted.
“Let's go for another flight,” Arach took my hand and steered me away from the stones.
“Oh?” I lifted a brow as I let him lead me out of the castle. “More dragon sex?”
“Dragons don't participate in anything as base as simple sex,” Arach shook his head at me and added a patronizing look for good measure. “That was the joining of a mated pair.”
“You're so full of shit,” I laughed and he cracked a smile at me.
“Yes alright,” he led me behind a boulder right outside the castle entrance within the kingdom and we started removing our clothes. “But no, we're not having sex in the bright sunlight above our kingdom for everyone to see. I thought you might like to go to the hot springs.”
“Oh, yes please,” I shifted and so did he.
We took off together, flying beside one another across the length of our kingdom. It was a bit of a trip but I think the hot springs were worth it, they'd be really nice amid the chill of Autumn.
We finally reached the end of the kingdom and circled into a landing beside the springs, the mossy ground soft beneath my feet. I shifted back into human form, taking a deep breath as I headed toward the steaming pool on my right but at the last minute I glanced aside and noticed that we were rather close to the Tine.
I'd never wandered the banks of the Tine and I was a little curious so I made my way through the bare trees and browning shrubs towards its shore. Arach, used to my strange habits, just followed along behind me. The moss covered trees faded away to a pebbled bank and I walked over the smooth cold stones with a little shiver.
“I hope you're not thinking about jumping into the Tine before our dip in the springs,” Arach commented as he came out of the trees beside me. “It's bound to be chilly and there's a vicious undertow created by the push and pull of the two rivers that feed and siphon it.”
“You wouldn't know it to look at it,” I mused as I stared across the glassy surface of the immense lake.
“Yes, it's so very still on the surface,” he mused. “Yet beneath the facade is a churning chaos.”