by Unknown
“Oh dear gods,” I rolled my eyes.
“I don't appreciate that expression on principle either,” Arach sniffed.
“Uh-huh, why would that be?”
“Because I don't like gods who are dear to you.”
“You're such an idiot,” I huffed. “So what should I call the nurial then?”
“I don't know,” Arach made a face. “He's your nurial.”
“Dexter it is,” I nodded decisively.
“Dexter?” Arach lifted a brow. “Why does that sound familiar?”
“It's the name of a television series. A series being bunch of short movies that continue the story on and on,” I explained.
“Yes, I recall what a series is,” he huffed and then his eyes went round. “Isn't that the name of the man who kills all those people and cuts them up neatly before bagging them up and tossing them into the ocean?”
“Yeah,” I grinned. “But he only kills bad guys after he makes sure they're guilty of some horrible crime. His Daddy taught him how.”
“Oh yes,” Arach's eyes gleamed. “He's a lot like the Wild Hunt. I approve whole heartedly.”
“Well there's a small miracle.”
“But he's not sleeping in bed with us.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Are you having fun?”
I was in the Forgetful Forest, trudging through thick snowfall. My feet and lower legs were going numb and try as I might, I couldn't raise my core temperature to combat the cold. The monstrous trees were black, their skeletal branches waving to the frigid sky as if they were calling for help. The voice echoed through the forest and I turned to see who it was talking to me.
A woman stood ankle deep in the snow. Her dress was as white as the snow was, seeming to flow right out of it, as if it were made from the snow itself. Her skin was nearly as pale as her dress but her hair and eyes were black. Pitch black, a black that absorbed all the color around it. As I watched, the blackness seemed to flow from her hair and eyes, into her skin.
“Faerie?” I watched in horror as the black invaded her.
“I asked if you were having fun?” She growled. “Just frolicking about with hardly a care while I'm suffering, waiting for you to do something!”
“What can I do?” I gaped at her, while the dark continued to cover her. It went past her shoulders, then her chest. “Tell me and I'll do it.”
“You always want me to tell you,” she huffed. “You're such an idiot, I don't know why you had to be the one we need.”
“I don't know what to do to help you,” I sighed. “I'm hoping one of the other royals will find something to use, some spell or something.”
“Some spell or something?” She scoffed. “There is no spell! The Darkness split away from me on its own but now that it's returned to me, it has no wish to leave. No, it wants instead to take over. You must help me, Vervain. I am being consumed and I can't stop it.”
“You have to fight,” I urged. “I need some more time to figure this out.”
“I am fighting,” she sighed, “but please, hurry.”
I sat up, dislodging Dexter, who was snuggled between Arach and I on the bed. He squeaked at me and then snuggled back into the damp covers. I laid back down and stared up at the velvet canopy over the bed. Black velvet even darker within the night, as black as the Darkness itself.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“You can't take that thing around the children, Vervain,” Arach grumbled. “And you're getting a bed made for it. I refuse to wake up with a wet spot on my back every morning.”
“He's new to the steam thing and can't control it yet.” Arach glowered at me and I rolled my eyes. “Okay, okay. I'll find him his own bed.”
He was just bent out of shape because he'd gone to kiss me that morning and accidentally squished Dexter. Dexter in turn had accidentally stabbed him with the little stinger that was hidden in the end of his tail. I told Arach that it had just been an automatic reaction. I mean what would he have done if a giant tried to squish him? Also it was kind of a good thing because now we knew about the stinger. Arach hadn't agreed with me.
“And you won't take him around the babies,” Arach knew my tricks.
“He's just a baby himself,” I argued. “He stays on my shoulder anyway,” I pointed to where Dexter was curled around my neck, underneath my hair. His little face peered out at Arach aggressively, as if he knew exactly what Arach was talking about. “I'll make sure he doesn't go near the babies.”
“You just said he stays on your shoulder,” Arach threw his hands up into the air. “How will he not be near them when I know you plan on holding those babes in your arms? Arms are attached to shoulders, Vervain!”
Dexter growled and Arach growled back. Dexter whimpered and hid in my hair.
“Oh great,” I made a face at Arach while I comforted Dexter. “You feel better now that you've scared a six inch long animal who's only reacting on instincts?”
“Yes, I do actually,” Arach smirked.
“You're a jackass,” I huffed and walked out of the room before he could realize that I never promised to keep Dexter away from the babies.
I hummed all the way down to Fionnaghal's chamber, Dexter making little humming noises to mimic mine. I looked down in surprise and stroked his little face. He preened under the affection and added to the tune, creating his own sweet song. It was lilting, with upbeat trills in it, a very happy sound. I shook my head in wonder, nurials could sing too. How much cuter could he get?
Dex had indeed liked mirtens and milk, not together cause that would be gross. He had also liked the chunk of raw mystery meat that Caoimhe had given him after I'd brought him down into the kitchens. All the women thought Dexter was adorable, I think it's something about babies that appeal to us. It doesn't matter what kind of babies they are, just that they're little and vulnerable. We ladies like to nurture. It was the male fey that were more wary of Dex and I admit, I was kind of enjoying their discomfort. It was fun to see their shocked faces when they came upon a crowd of women cooing over something and discovered it to be a nurial. Classic.
“Fionnaghal,” I knocked on the open door of the nursery.
“Queen Vervain,” she waved me in. “Thank you for coming to visit again, I was just-what's that there?”
“It's a baby nurial I found,” I coaxed Dexter out to take a look at Fionnaghal. “His element changed to steam, just as some of the fire fey are doing in reaction to winter, and his mother must have been scared by it. It looks as though she abandoned him.”
“Oh, how beautiful he is,” she gushed and held out a hand, her other hand was holding Deidre, the babe's numerous limbs waving in delight.
“Isn't he?” I eased him down so she could pet him. “I love his eyes and did you know nurials could sing? He was just mimicking my humming.”
“Oh yes,” she nodded and scraped a claw under his chin. He started his gravelly purring. “They sing at night usually. If you go out into the Weeping Woods when it's dark, you can hear them. It's so pretty. You know they're one of the only fey creatures who never feared us Hidden Ones? I used to play with them when I was a girl.”
“Really?” I don't know why that touched me so much or why it made me cherish both Fionnaghal and Dexter even more, but it did. The imagery of a little Fionnaghal playing with nurials is one I will treasure, even though it's purely imagination on my part.
“Yes, I love nurials,” she gave a little laugh when Dexter jumped from me to her, climbing up her arm so he could take a closer look at her ruff of horns. “I think they knew we didn't fear them or mean them harm, and so they never tried to harm us. There's a certain friendship in that and it's hard for us Hidden Ones to make friends with things not a Hidden One.”
“Not anymore, I hope,” I stroked Deidre's head before going to check on the other babies. They were sleeping soundly, making little growling noises and twitching.
“No, that's definitely changed,” Fionnaghal had a content sound to her voi
ce. “But nurials will always be my first friends.”
“Arach didn't want me to bring him around the babies,” I said smugly.
“The King's just being cautious and I appreciate that,” she nodded. “But my babes are Hidden Ones, a little nurial isn't going to hurt them. You might want to watch him around the cat-sidhe baby though, you know how cats can be. Hunter may cause mayhem without even trying.”
“Good point,” I laughed. “If he's anything like his father, it's practically a guarantee.”
“Damn it, Vervain,” Arach was standing in the doorway. “I knew it. I realized you never promised not to bring Dexter around the babies and sure enough, here you are.”
“Dexter?” Fionnaghal asked.
“It's the nurial's name,” I gestured to Dexter, who was hiding behind Fionnaghal's ruff of horns as he eyed Arach.
“He's fine, King Arach,” she gestured to Dexter and he came down her arm. “You must have a little faith in the creatures of your kingdom.”
“Oh ho ho,” I pointed at him, “she just schooled you.”
“But the venom,” he said in a chastised tone.
“Nurials only release venom when they feel threatened,” Fionnaghal lifted Dexter so he could climb back up my arm. He was so dexterous with his six legs that I grinned, thinking his name was perfect in more ways than one. “Just don't threaten him and all will be well.”
“Oh, well alright then,” Arach gruffly gave in. “I must claim my Queen though, Fionnaghal. We've been asked to bring our changed fey to a meeting at the Castle of Eight. I've already summoned Colm and the other sixteen fire fey who have been reported to have made the change.”
“Sixteen?” I gaped. “I didn't know there had been so many.”
“Neither did I,” Arach acknowledged. “I just received the report this morning. They should be arriving soon, I've sent phookas to fetch them.”
“Oh, sweet,” I nodded and kissed Deidre and her mother goodbye. “See you all later.”
“You can't being him, Vervain,” Arach pointed to Dexter.
“I can't leave him alone,” I gasped. “He's just a baby.”
“Leave him with me, Queen Vervain,” Fionnaghal offered and extended her hand once more. “I'll be happy to watch over him.”
“Well,” I chewed my lip and looked down at Dexter. How did I become so attached so quickly? “Okay. He eats meat and milk and he'll go to the door when he wants to go outside and relieve himself. He's very good about that but I don't know how long we'll be gone.”
“Oh, I know what to feed him,” she laughed. “And I'll take him outside when he needs to go or he can just use the moss. Don't worry about him, he'll be safe with me, and take as long as you need. Down here, he'll just be one more baby for everyone to fuss over.”
“Yeah, I guess you're right,” I let him climb back down to her. “This is probably the safest room in the whole castle right now. And the warmest too, being so close to the lava flows.”
“Yes, it seems that even more fey are taking the time to visit the babes lately,” she chuckled. “Did you see them congregating in the main cavern?”
“I did,” I laughed with her. “I hadn't realized the reason was twofold. Okay, Dex, you be good for Aunty Fionnaghal and I'll be back to get you later.”
He squawked happily at me and I left knowing he'd be safe with the Hidden Ones.
We went back upstairs to prepare for the journey and await the arrival of the altered fire fey. It was nice to visit everyone but traveling in the Faerie Realm wasn't the same as the Human. The Faerie Realm was big and it took awhile to travel by carriage. So after waiting on the steam fey's arrival and then traveling to the center of the forest, we didn't arrive at the Castle of Eight till late in the afternoon.
There was a lot of activity in the main courtyard. All the different kingdoms were there with their changed fey, unloading and going about the general movements of arrival. The altered faeries of Earth and Air stood in groups on their own, looking a little lost and nervous. That upset me, seeing them standing there discarded, and I marched over to the changed fey of Air with determination.
“Vervain,” Arach called after me but I ignored him and kept walking, my boots making sharp clicking sounds on the courtyard stones. I heard the heavier pound of Arach's footfalls come from behind as he caught up with me. “What are you doing?”
“I just want to offer some words of encouragement to the new fey,” I shrugged as I came to stand before the group of altered air-sidhe. “Hello.”
“Greetings, Queen of Fire,” one of the men stepped forward and gave a little head bow.
“I noticed that you looked a little, well...”
“Ostracized?” He supplied with a lifted brow.
“Yes, that,” I nodded, “and maybe just a little worried. I wanted you all to know that Faerie herself has told me that this is only a temporary state for you, you will return to your old selves when winter is over.”
“Yes, our King has informed us of this,” he nodded.
“I also wanted to encourage you to embrace these changes and maybe start to see them as a gift,” I continued.
“A gift?” One of the women stepped forward, snow drifting down from her wings with each flutter. “They stare at us like we're freaks.”
“They just need some time to get used to the changes,” I offered. “Just as you do. I think that if you give it a chance, these new forms will become something to look forward to every year.”
“Every year?” Another woman gasped. “We'll be going through this every year?”
“It's hardly something to lament,” I waved my hand at them. “You're quite beautiful.”
“Not to other air-sidhe,” the first female pouted.
“I think that once they have time to adjust, they'll find your differences appealing,” I tried to console her but it was useless, she just stared at me with a childish frown. “What's your new element, by the way?”
“Frost,” the first guy said. “We're frost fey.”
“Feeling guilty, Queen Vervain?” Craigor came sidling around the group of altered air fey, keeping his distance from them as if they were contagious.
“What exactly would I be feeling guilty for?” I narrowed my eyes on him as Arach started making a rumbling sound of warning deep in his throat.
“This is your fault,” he waved a hand toward the new fey. “You've brought this upon them as sure as if you laid a curse upon them.”
“Craigor, that will be enough, thank you,” King Fionn came up to us and sent Craigor skulking away with one angry look. “Now, Queen Vervain, is there a reason you feel the need to counsel my fey?”
“She was only offering words of comfort from Faerie,” Arach spoke before I could. “We'll leave them be now,” Arach put a hand to my shoulder.
“But...” I looked back at the altered fey as I let him turn me around.
“You don't need to have a hand in everything, Queen Vervain,” King Fionn lifted his nose in the air. “We're more than capable of taking care of our own.”
“Damn,” I shrugged off Arach's arm and turned back to Fionn. “I'm sorry, King Fionn, I didn't mean to offend you. They just looked so alone over here. I wanted to offer them some words of encouragement but I'm sure you'll take very good care of them. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.”
“We will,” King Fionn said in a softer tone. “I'll see to it personally.” He started to herd them over to where the rest of the House of Air waited but the man who'd first greeted me, broke away from the group
“May fire burn for you, Queen Vervain,” he gave me a small head bow.
“And may frost form for you,” I smiled, relieved that at least one of them hadn't taken my words the wrong way.
“May frost form,” he exhaled a laugh. “I like it.” He started to leave but I stopped him.
“Hey, what's your name?”
“It's Bryce, Queen Vervain,” then he walked away but I heard him add under his breath, “and
it was a pleasure to meet you.”
I started walking toward the altered earth fey.
“Oh, no, no, no,” Arach steered me back toward our carriages. “You'll start a war for sure.”
“But look at them,” I waved my hands toward the altered earth fey and they frowned at us, murmuring amongst themselves. “Someone needs to tell them they'll be okay. You're going to be okay!” I shouted over to them as Arach groaned and shook his head. “Stay strong,” I lifted my fist in the air. “Power to the people!” I frowned and dropped my arm. “That went a little too far.”
“You think?” Arach urged me over to where our altered fey were waiting. “What does that even mean?”
“It's about having strength against oppression,” I chewed at my lip. “I know, it was a little much but I got carried away and it just sounded good.”
“Well, they do look a little less frightened now,” Arach conceded with a nod toward the altered earth fey.
“Yeah, now they're just confused,” I gave a little laugh. “Okay, you're right, let's just take care of our own fey.”
“Thank you,” Arach sighed.
We went over to our steam fey and gathered them together like a bunch of school children with the phookas and red caps bringing up the rear. Normally, we wouldn't have worried about our attendants but these were fey from within the kingdom, they'd probably never been to the Castle of Eight and I didn't want them to be scared. I also wanted to show my support for them, in case some stupid faerie got it into their head to mess with my people. So we marched with them into the main tree, where Danal was waiting for us.
“King Arach,” Danal nodded to Arach and then me, “Queen Vervain. Thank you for coming so quickly. If you would follow me, I have chambers for you and your guards prepared, as well as a separate one for your altered fey.”
“Um,” I stopped Danal before he could turn around to lead us off. “That's not going to work. “You see, these are my fey,” I gestured back to my steam faeries. “They are steam fey for now but they're still part of the House of Fire and we will all stay together, in adjoining suites, as usual. Thank you anyway, Danal.” I nodded before he could protest.