by Mary Dublin
She sat by the biggest window in her bedroom chambers, letting the occasional breeze send droplets of rain in to freckle her simple gown. The crisp, earthy smell of the wind was refreshing compared to the sometimes-stifling air of castle living.
"It's days like this," she murmured, "that I don't miss having wings in the slightest."
Brennan was sitting on the spine of the book in her lap, regarding the rain dismally. His wings twitched as a tiny droplet landed between, and he scooted ever so slightly to the side further from the window. "You win that one, Princess."
"Very poor flying weather indeed," Nadine chimed in. She was leaning against Esmae's neck, sitting on the shoulder opposite the drizzle. Though she was no longer under any obligation to be guardian now that she had a title as a lady and a hero, she still visited the Mirrel palace of her own accord, and Esmae appreciated her company.
"I'm still not quite accustomed to the weather behaving any way it wants to," Esmae said, peering outside. After all, Evrosea's territory was entirely controlled by magic. It rained as needed, not randomly.
Brennan scoffed. "I don't know how humans can live that way."
"I find it admirable that they can live without the luxury of deliberate weather patterns," Esmae argued.
"You would." He rolled his eyes, looking like he was going to debate with her, but Nadine's voice piped up, urgent.
"Someone's coming!"
Sure enough, heavy footsteps carried down the hall, heading toward Esmae's chambers. They could easily have a destination other than her bedroom, but there was no such thing as being too careful. Both fairies immediately stirred from their relaxed positions without prompting. In a flutter of gossamer wings, they disappeared from sight amongst the cushions on the other end of the window seat.
A knock came at the door. Esmae stifled her sudden rush of anxiety. She knew the sound of Daniel's footsteps well enough to know it wasn't him. "Enter," she called innocently.
Her nervousness dissolved when a familiar ginger knight filled the door frame. Esmae put her book down and smiled warmly at him.
"Sir Logan," she greeted.
"Princess," he answered with a bow of his head. He couldn't quite seem to focus on her. His eyes wandered the room, perfectly aware that she may not be as alone as she appeared.
Esmae chuckled. "You don't have to call me that. I don't have a crown yet in Mirrel, nor do I have one in Evrosea anymore."
Logan glanced into the hall before shutting the door and stepping into the room. "Yet the wee folk still call you 'Princess'," he pointed out.
She shook her head. "It's a habit. Nothing more."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement amongst the cushions, and Brennan hovered up to give her a smirk. "Nothing more? I only do it because you complain about it."
"You're the exception," Esmae snorted.
Nadine crept up more hesitantly from her hiding place. She looked uncertain whether to speak at all, but Sir Logan's eyes locked onto her before she could make up her mind.
"My lady!" he barked cheerfully.
The fairy stiffened as he strode for the window in great lumbering strides. Esmae felt for her, remembering only too well how frightening it was to feel the earthquake of a human's over-eager approach. After a reproachful look from her, Sir Logan slowed his steps and knelt by the cushions.
"They took good care of you in yer kingdom, I see," he remarked, looking her over.
Nadine crossed her arms over her chest, somehow managing to stay standing on the decorated edge of the cushion.
"There wasn't much to heal," she said, arching an eyebrow in Brennan's direction. "The hero over here had it far worse than me."
Esmae giggled at Brennan's snort of apprehension, raising her eyebrows at him. Sir Logan did not look away from Nadine.
"That's good," the knight said in his gravelly voice. "I… never got to properly thank you for saving my life. If not for yer incredible magic…"
"Incredible?" Nadine squeaked.
Logan's bushy beard stretched under his wide smile. "Aye. I'm in yer debt."
Nadine stared at him in speechless astonishment. Esmae had to hide a grin. With all the lore warning about the fae, a human readily putting themselves in debt to one of them was about the last thing a fairy would expect. But Logan had taken quite well to the idea that Mirrel had developed ties with magical beings, and looked to improve his understanding at every opportunity.
Finding her voice at last, the raven-haired fairy shook her head. "There's no need for that, sir. You fought valiantly, and you're as much to thank for putting an end to that awful business." She paused to consider it, a tentative smile tugging at her lips. "I will consider us even as long as you continue protecting the princess and her prince with the same ferocity as that night."
Logan beamed at her and nodded. "Of course, my lady."
Brennan scoffed, flying around to look at Nadine. "Really? You have a human knight in your debt, and you decide to use it on telling him to do something he's already sworn to do?"
"I can do as I please," Nadine told him indignantly, not looking quite so stiff and nervous as before. It was short-lived. She went still again and turned her head toward the door.
Logan stood and followed her gaze. Another set of footsteps was approaching Esmae's chambers.
Before anyone could make another move, Esmae was on her feet. "It's Daniel," she said, but any comfort she felt about that was gone in the next instant.
He sounded like he was running.
Without another word, Esmae strode across the room to meet him outside.
She flung open the heavy door and stepped into the hall and was promptly nearly bowled over by her husband-to-be. She steadied herself with a gasp, her heart hammering from the close call. Daniel swayed where he stood before her. His fine, embroidered jacket was crumpled, his neat curls unkempt and cast across his forehead. He looked lost, as though his composure was held together by a thread.
"Daniel?" she whispered, fearing the worst.
He opened his mouth to answer, but the words seemed to stick painfully in his throat.
"I-it's… Father, h-he's…"
He didn't need to finish. Esmae opened her arms to him and the prince wordlessly sank into her, sobbing.
Epilogue
Esmae sat in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection, feeling more than looking.
The white gown was made of lightweight fabrics—tailored special for that very day. She ran her hands over her lap, relishing the smoothness. The sleeves clung to her upper arms and left her shoulders bare, and the skirt pooled on the ground silkily. Her hair was pinned with white flowers, dark curls tumbling down her shoulders.
Esmae clung to the happiness of the day's event as though her life depended on it. Gods knew they could all use a little happiness.
She didn't notice the hum of wings come up from behind, but she caught a glimpse of movement in the mirror. Her eyes fixed on Brennan hovering just behind her. Turning slowly, she gave him a weak smile.
He was dressed for the occasion in a finer tunic than he would normally wear, and his attempt to smooth his tousled hair down did not go unnoticed.
Brennan said nothing for a moment, gaze gliding Esmae up and down before he shook his head. "You look beautiful," he admitted.
Her smile spread more genuinely. "Thank you," she murmured.
A beat of silence passed between them before he spoke up again. "How's Daniel?"
Her smile dropped along with her eyes. "He's quiet. Grieving. I know he'll be alright, but I just… I wish I could do more for him."
"It can't be easy for either of you," Brennan said. "What about you? How are you doing?"
She shrugged. "It's been a blur, this past week. The funeral and all. The wedding feels like it's come too soon, but it must be done."
Brennan flew closer, sympathy written in his expression as he hovered by her face and laid a hand on her cheek. He was quiet, as if searching hard for something
to make her feel better. "Your father is here. I saw him."
The news indeed lifted her heart. "I'm glad," she murmured.
He sighed. "You're allowed to be happy, you know. I still can't believe you're getting married."
Esmae laughed shakily. "Neither can I. A wife and a queen on the same day. It's…" She trailed off. Terrifying.
As if reading that thought, Brennan leaned in for a hug. She reached up to gingerly clasp him to her cheek, shutting her eyes.
"Are you afraid?" he asked.
"One of us has to be," she answered, a smirk teasing at her lips. She shifted her hand beneath him to free his wings, giving him room to take to the air again.
A knock sounded in the room, drawing their eyes to the door.
"Everyone is seated, my lady," a servant called.
Esmae's heart jumped, and she couldn't bring herself to answer.
"I'll be there," Brennan told her, eyeing the door nervously. She nodded to him, and he flew off.
"My lady?" the servant called again. "Do you need more time?"
Esmae fixed her eyes on the mirror and took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders.
"No," she answered. "I'm ready."
Spellbound Terrors
PART THREE
Chapter
One
Three days.
Esmae could still hear the witch's voice ringing in her ears when she awoke, but perhaps that was just the result of the ache pounding her skull. The ground was hot and hard under her cheek. She could feel it in her hair and grating on her bare palms. And though her eyes were shut to the world, she could sense movement homing in on her fast.
Hurried, heavy steps tromped through the low grass—at least two pairs of boots, by the sound of it, along with some large animal trailing behind. She frowned faintly at each impact. Even the biggest fairy warriors did not have such heavy apparel.
"Is she alive?"
Before she could register that the voice was speaking of her, a man had her in his arms. She was gently turned onto her back. Esmae felt him lean over her closely, and suddenly she felt compelled to stir. All that came out was a breathy moan. The witch had never mentioned how sore she would be after accepting her contract.
"She's still breathing," the man announced to his companion. One hand was still cradling her head. "Miss, can you hear me?"
A part of her wanted to protest the forceful waking, but there was something pleasant about the man's voice when he spoke. Forcing her eyes open slowly, she squinted through the glare of sunlight to make out the face hanging over her.
Him.
It was him. His ice blue eyes were locked onto her, brimming with concern. He wasn't a giant anymore.
All at once, the reality of what she had done crashed into her. She tore her eyes away from the prince's face to look at her hand. The witch had drawn blood, but there was no wound to speak of. The memory beckoned others to rush forth. The awfulness of the witch's hut. The pain that laced through her before she blacked out. Brennan shouting her name. Likely the last she would ever hear from him.
"Miss? You're shaking." Daniel's voice brought her back. He adjusted his hold on her, inadvertently brushing his gloved hand along her bare back. She gasped and flinched hard from the contact.
No more wings.
"Don't be frightened," Daniel hushed, gently easing her to sit up on her own. His arm remained steady around her shoulders. "Whatever happened to you, you're safe now. You have my word." His eyes trailed her up and down, and he frowned. With his heavy attire, she doubted he had ever seen a dress so flimsy. "Who are you?"
She licked her dry lips and searched for her voice. "E-Esmae."
He looked pleased she had answered. "Esmae." She fought off a dizzied smile, having waited so many months to hear her name on his lips. "Where did you come from, Esmae?"
The word spilled forth without a thought. "Evrosea." She bit back a cringe, especially when his frown returned.
"Ev… I'm afraid I've never heard of it," he admitted. "Is it a village?"
"A kingdom." She couldn't bite her tongue in time to stop herself, and she couldn't take it back. She couldn't tell the truth, she realized with a sinking heart. Her past as a fairy couldn't exist. She had to be human. "I… I was traveling with my guards," she said, the lie making her pulse quicken. "W-we were attacked in the woods. Bandits. At least a dozen of them. It was so dark. I ran as far as I could to find help, but there was no one. I kept going. After that, I-I suppose I… I passed out. It's the last thing I remember."
Daniel exchanged an alarmed look with the armored guard that loomed nearby.
"Did they harm you?" the prince demanded.
It was terribly hard to focus when he was looking at her like that. "No," Esmae stammered. "No, I was lucky. I got away early."
"Good. And your guards, did you see where they went?"
Esmae shook her head. "It was chaos. Bad as a swarm of hornets."
He pulled a face at the expression. Judging by that look, it was not something humans said often. She was racing to think of an explanation, but he graciously brushed it off, much to her great relief.
"I see," Daniel said. "Well, they can't have vanished. These woods don't stretch on forever. If they're out there, my men will find them. I'll see to it myself."
Esmae nodded, giving him the brightest smile she could manage. "Thank you, sir. You're very kind."
Extracting herself from his grasp, she pushed herself up to her feet. The moment she stood, the absence of her wings became all too apparent. The weight of them was no longer there, anchoring her. Like a newborn fawn, she wavered she where she stood as if the ground was twisting under her feet.
"Careful!"
Rising quickly, Daniel seized her from behind. Esmae all but crashed backwards into his arms as he pulled her to safety. She gripped tightly at fabric of his vest, half-expecting his arms to give out beneath her.
But they didn't. Daniel's grip was strong and tight around her, unyielding as an oak. When she raised her head, his face was very close to hers. His eyes were fierce and bluer than the sky.
"You're sure you're not injured?"
She shook her head. "Just… dizzy."
Daniel studied her face, unconvinced. "Maybe you should stay off your feet for a while."
"I'll do my best. Thank you again," she murmured. He kept hold of her as he steadied her on her feet, and Esmae did not resist in the slightest. "Who can I tell my kingdom to call my savior?"
"You don't know who I am?" Daniel looked shocked, almost pleasantly so.
Esmae had to smile, thinking of the dozen times she had seen him in these very woods. Training in archery with his men. Feeding the fish in the creek. Rescuing that tiny, helpless baby bird.
She might have known him better than his own knights.
"I'm sorry," she said, doing her best to make the smile apologetic as she shook her head. "I've traveled a long distance."
The lie tasted like filth on her tongue. Esmae dismayed at thought of how many more lies she would have to tell Daniel and his human staff to ward off suspicion.
He was as forgiving as he was handsome. "I'm the crown prince of Mirrel," Daniel said, like it was quite obvious.
Esmae raised her eyebrows. "Do crown princes have names in Mirrel?"
The prince smiled widely and sheepishly. She swore there was more color in his cheeks when he added, "Daniel."
She repeated it back to him, savoring each syllable. "It's a pleasure to meet you, though I wish it were under better circumstances." She took a glance at her surroundings, knowing immediately that they were not in the witch's dead territory of the woods. Whatever magic was at work, it had dropped her right in Daniel's path.
He misread her frown. "We'll find your guards and the rogues who attacked you," he promised. "Come to the palace with me. I'll send my men out to search."
Her heart leapt. Already he was inviting her closer. He was so quick to believe her lies, drenching her with so much rel
ief and guilt, she wasn't sure whether to smile or grimace. She might have thought she was simply a natural liar, if Daniel's companion didn't step closer, looking uncertain.
"You must be very important to have your own guards," he said, studying her with narrowed eyes.
Esmae blushed and looked down. "My apologies. I was nervous about fully introducing myself right away. I couldn't be sure I was in the company of honorable men. It might have been a risk to reveal who I am. But now I know." Her face was still temptingly close to Daniel's when she lifted her eyes. "I'm Princess Esmae of Evrosea."
"Princess?" the guard echoed, his expression unchanged. "Exactly what destination did you have in mind traveling through these woods?"
His tone was rather forceful, but it saved her from conjuring a lie then and there. Daniel shot him a reproachful look. "This is hardly the time or place for an interrogation. We must return to the palace. Bring Amos." His expression softened for Esmae. "Can you walk at all?"
Slowly, he loosened his arms from around her, but she wavered immediately, leaning into him once more. He was tantalizingly warm, even through those heavy clothes of his.
"I'm sorry," she murmured with a self-conscious chuckle. She wasn't going to win him over if she continued being an absolute mess on her feet. "I do believe I ran more last night than I have in the rest of my days combined."
"No need to apologize after what you've been through," Daniel said, genuine in every word as he latched an arm firmly around her shoulders. "My horse is right over there. Here, lean back."
She did as he said without realizing what he was doing. All at once, his other arm slid under her knees and swept her feet off the ground. She gasped, throwing an arm around Daniel's neck from the sudden motion.
"It's alright," he assured. "I've got you." He flashed a smile that compelled her to relax. "I must insist that my healers have a look at you. Maybe then you can tell me about Evrosea."