The Heart Between Kingdoms

by Mary Dublin

  "You have pretty hair," the princess remarked, drawing Tessa out of her thoughts.

  Tessa chuckled weakly, glancing down at the white locks spilling over her shoulders. "Thank you, Princess," she murmured.

  "What are you doing here?" From anyone else, the question would have sounded harsh, accusing. From Aveline, it was curious, concerned.

  Still, the response came haltingly. "I—well, your mother, she took me away from some… bad people and brought me here."

  The princess cocked her head. "Then how come you're hiding? Are the bad people looking for you?"

  Tessa looked down. Blameless as Aveline was, Tessa couldn't exactly bare her soul about how skeptical she was about the king and queen. She peered at the girl's expectant face, searching desperately for a change of subject. She found it in the faint tear tracks on Aveline's cheeks.

  "Were you crying?" Tessa asked with a frown.

  Aveline stiffened, rubbing at her eyes. "Um… yes."

  "Why?"

  The princess looked sufficiently distracted, but Tessa realized too late that she had made a mistake in prying. A new wave of magical emotion rolled over her, and it wasn't pleasant in the slightest.

  Fear stabbing at her heart, Tessa instinctively shuffled backwards, and Aveline was quick to take notice. "W-wait," the princess pleaded, her hand sliding closer.

  Tessa flinched in alarm and covered her face, crying out.

  "M'sorry!" Aveline said hastily. When Tessa peeked through her fingers, she found that the girl had snatched her hand back and was looking at her with frantically apologetic eyes. "I wasn't going to grab you, really! I'm sorry. I-I was crying because of the bad stuff. The nightmares."

  It made sense, Tessa thought to herself. The terror was vague and distorted, unclear as dreams tended to be.

  "W-what are these dreams about?" Tessa asked, clutching her head.

  Aveline rubbed at her cheeks. "It's always different," she mumbled sadly. "Bad things in the dark… Evil shadows. They pull my hair and hurt me. They take me away."

  Her voice turned tight before cutting off entirely. The princess' shoulders trembled while new wetness slid down her cheeks.

  "Don't cry, Princess," she murmured hurriedly. "It's alright, d-don't fuss…"

  Tessa tried to peer around the girl. The door still loomed to her left, waiting for her. She tried to muster the willpower to make a run for it. The other royals had not yet stirred. While Aveline was distraught would be her best time to evade her. And yet, Tessa's legs were curiously leaden at the thought. At that moment, she could only feel an overwhelming compassion for the innocent crouched before her, the burning need to help.

  She stopped fighting the feeling and stepped out of the shadows.

  "I can make it a little better," Tessa murmured. "Come here, child."

  Surprise flashed over Aveline's face, but she was laid on the ground almost immediately with her legs curled up under her nightgown. Tessa couldn't recall the last time someone obeyed her command.

  "Just hold still," she said, trying out a small smile.

  "Bad dreams can't be healed," Aveline interjected as Tessa lifted her hands.

  "No," Tessa agreed. "But I can hide them for a short while."

  Her hands lit with soft green magic as she summoned her will. She was almost surprised it came when she called, after all this time. Tessa gazed at the swirling, shimmering strands, coaxing them into one long ribbon of magic. Raising her eyes, she willed the magic towards the space between Aveline's round eyes.

  The girl sighed as the magic made contact, and her expression relaxed. Tessa felt terribly out of practice, but seemed to have at least done something, judging by the sense of peace that radiated to her.

  When the spell was complete, Tessa was left winded, while Aveline looked on in awe. "I've never seen magic like that before," the little girl said in a hushed voice.

  Tessa's heart jumped a bit, and she swiftly answered, "Not many fairies have it."

  To her relief, Aveline didn't pry further. She kept her head lowered to the ground, rubbing away her tears and sniffling. "I feel better," she declared, still staring at Tessa in wonderment. The girl hesitated, looking like she wanted to say more, but decided against it.

  "What is it?" Tessa prompted.

  Aveline glanced away shyly. "I want to hug you, but I don't want to scare you."

  Tessa, taken aback, didn't allow her sudden spike of nervousness to show on her face at the request. Aveline seemed to notice it anyway, leaving Tessa to wonder if the transfer of emotions flowed both ways.

  Before she could ponder it, Aveline's quiet voice piped up again. "I promise it won't hurt. I'm good at hugging fairies."

  Absolutely not. "I-I… alright," was what came out instead, leaving her wondering when she had gone so soft-hearted. "Just be careful with my wings. Please."

  Beaming, Aveline sat up and reached for her. Raising her arms slightly to keep them free, Tessa couldn't help but shut her eyes as both hands neared. Fingers, smaller than she was accustomed to, closed around her midsection, avoiding her wings. She held her breath, waiting for the pressure to become uncomfortable, but it didn't happen. She was lifted from the ground with the gentlest grip she'd ever experienced.

  The princess clasped her to her shoulder, pressing her cheek softly to the top of Tessa's head. Every instinct roared to be anxious, to squirm away, but that was hard to do with the proximity to Aveline's gift.

  Besides that, for the first time, a human child wasn't treating her like a mere doll to pet, prod, and tug at.

  Tessa was on the verge of giving in completely and reciprocating the hug when something troubling occurred to her and shattered her tranquility.

  "Princess… can you keep a secret? I need you to not tell anyone about my magic. What it is, or that I used it. Not even your parents."

  "Why?"

  "It's complicated."

  Aveline was quiet for a few long moments, and Tessa grimaced, hoping dearly that the princess wouldn't insist on prying.

  "Okay," Aveline said. "I'll keep it a secret." She gently pulled Tessa out in front of her face between both her hands. "But can you stay for a while longer? Just in case the shadow dreams come back."

  Tessa gave her a gentle shake of the head. "I told you, I don't belong here."

  "Please?" Aveline's lower lip trembled. Her pretty eyes glimmered with fear and exhaustion that was better suited on an older woman—not a child of mere five.

  Her parents may have had dubious intentions, but this little girl had done nothing wrong. Tessa resigned with a sigh. "Just for a little while, then."

  The princess was exuberant. She pranced to the rug laid before the fire and promptly lowered her hands to the floor so that Tessa could climb off. With persistent tugs, Aveline freed a man's jacket from one of the statues guarding the fire. She turned it into a blanket for herself as she laid down before the fairy. Tessa smiled as the girl offered her the trailing sleeve to cover herself. To be polite, she took a seat on the embroidered sleeve with her back to the dying fire.

  "Do you like stories, Princess?"

  "Only the ones with happy endings."

  "Of course," Tessa said. The smile that spread across her face was completely genuine this time. "Those are the best sorts, aren't they?"

  "Are you going to tell me one?"

  Tessa nodded, hugging her legs to herself trying to recall the stories she was told as a child. The tales of fairies outwitting treacherous humans certainly had happy endings in her mind, but she doubted Aveline would find them as inspiring.

  "I know," Tessa announced. "My mother told me a story a few times about a butterfly befriending a dragon."

  Aveline's sleepy expression perked with interest. "Can you tell me that one?"

  Tessa dove into the story, hoping it would be enough to coax Aveline into falling asleep. She needed to clear her throat several times just to get the words out. It'd been so long since she had a reason to speak. But the girl's drowsy g
iggles at the characters' antics motivated Tessa to keep going.

  At last, near the end of the story, the princess had shut her eyes. Tessa hesitantly fell silent, waiting to see if Aveline would request that she keep going, but the girl's breathing was slow, calm. No nightmares to speak of.

  Tessa sighed and blinked heavily, running both hands down her face. Even in her sleep, Aveline's gift seemed to be at work. Tessa looked to the door, doubting she'd be faced with another opportunity like this one. But… where else would she find a better chance at a much-needed sleep than in proximity to Aveline's sweet magic?

  No, she thought sternly. She needed to go.

  Even as she reasoned, Tessa could feel herself drifting off rapidly. The magical influence persuaded her to give in to her own exhaustion. She meant to stand up, but as she shifted her legs, she instead leaned over to grab a fold of the massive sleeve, pulling it over herself. She curled up on her side, sleeping easily for the first time in years.

  Chapter

  Four

  When Daniel rose the following day to kindle the morning fire, he found his favorite navy jacket had been tossed across the rug. His irritation vanished, however, when he spotted the little bare feet sticking out from the bottom.

  He crouched, ignoring the frozen ashes waiting for him in the hearth to comb his fingers through Aveline's hair. Though she was nearly of schooling age, her hair retained the silky softness of a young babe. The early sunlight cast a reddish hue on her dark waves that reminded him fiercely of Esmae.

  She stirred faintly under his touch, mumbling something indistinguishable. He was relieved to see that, for the moment at least, her expression was peaceful. She went still again and Daniel decided to let her be. He wasn't about to rob her of a pleasant sleep when she got so few.

  He set fresh kindling ablaze as quietly as possible. The flames unfolded slowly, one golden tongue at a time. By the time it was roaring, Esmae had risen too, and joined him in the sitting area. She was pulling on her robe when he came to her side, the silk flashing against her tanned skin.

  "Do you have to leave?" she asked, her voice thick with tired tones.

  Daniel shook his head, deciding then and there. "The winter tourney will get along just as well with Edmund watching in my place."

  He was flooded with warmth as Esmae slipped her arms around him and leaned into his chest with a happy noise. She had never been an easy woman to disappoint. Which made it all the more difficult to pull her mind from thoughts of long walks in the garden and slow mornings with grapes and buttered bread.

  "You gave Avie a sleeping tonic last night, didn't you?" he asked.

  Esmae pulled away almost at once. "Er… yes. A spoonful and a half mixed with her tea. Why?"

  Holding a finger to his lips, he nodded towards the hearth. Her face crumpled.

  "It didn't work."

  "But she didn't make it to our bed, either," Daniel pointed out. "Its effects may have simply been delayed. She's sleeping well enough now."

  Esmae cocked her head, expression softening. "Perhaps if I give it to her earlier, then. She does look quite comfortable, but… maybe we should move her?"

  "Let her sleep," Daniel said, squeezing Esmae's hand.

  Tearing her eyes away from their slumbering daughter, Esmae's face remained clouded. She lowered her voice further. "I hope our guest managed to find some rest, too."

  She practically tiptoed toward the table, but as she neared it, she suddenly closed the distance with quick strides, gasping. Her eyes were wide as dinner plates when she turned to Daniel. "She's gone."

  He felt a spark of terror for the fairy, moving in to join Esmae as she grabbed the cage, peering at the floor around the table and chair.

  "No, no, no," Esmae muttered, stepping carefully as she searched the ground. "I should have known! I would have done precisely the same thing in her place! There's no telling how far she's gone by now."

  "Do you truly think she made it into the walls?" he asked.

  Esmae shrugged helplessly. "It was easy enough for me, wasn't it? But there's rats, and plenty of ways to be spotted if she's not careful." Her eyes scanned over the floor, and she set the cage down on the nightstand, dragging both hands down her face. "I should have known. She could be anywhere."

  "Don't panic," Daniel said, though he was very much experiencing her same worries. "Mouseholes are harder to come by at this floor. She could still be around here. We'll find her."

  Worry was still tight in her expression, but she nodded and pulled away to continue her search.

  As Daniel made to follow, a faint humming caught his ear from the other side of the window. He froze, familiar enough with the sound to know what it meant. "Esmae," he called, prompting her to straighten up from peering under the table.

  Sure enough, a small knock made itself known on the frosted glass. If he hadn't been listening for it, it easily would have gone amiss. Daniel padded over, trying in vain to distinguish between the six-inch tall blurs as he undid the latch and swung open the window. Aeron Bogdan hovered on the other side of the glass, looking particularly regal in a forest green tunic cinched by a gold belt. His hair shone gold and silver in the early light, as though it couldn't decide which color to be.

  To Aeron's right, Brennan kept level in the air. He looked rather annoyed, and considering the hour, Daniel didn't blame him. On either side, they were flanked by guards. Their clothes were simpler, their wings less glossy as they beat in the sunshine.

  Daniel racked his brain, but for the life of him couldn't recall why he was face to face with one of Evrosea's high council members. Luckily, Esmae saved him the trouble of formulating anything more than a confused mumble.

  "Aeron," she said, smiling widely enough to mask her frazzled nerves. "Always a pleasure to see you, my lord."

  "Your Majesties. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Aeron asked.

  Daniel felt undeservingly underdressed as Aeron looked him up and down, taking in his half-buttoned shirt and soft-spun trousers. Then, to Esmae in her thin silk.

  "No," he said, more sharply than he'd intended. "We've only just woken."

  "Then may I come in?"

  Realizing he was effectively blocking the window, Daniel took a step back and waved a hand for them to enter. The timing couldn't have been worse. Avie passed out on the floor, a fairy loose in the castle, and a hoard of Evrosea's finest calling at his window… At this rate, Daniel was only grateful Edmund hadn't come knocking on their bedroom door to complete the utter chaos.

  "Mm… Tessa?" The soft, sleepy voice had him tearing his gaze from the fairies in seconds. Aveline had awoken and was now propping herself up, rubbing at her eyes.

  Aeron gave a start of surprise. "Ah, the little princess," he exclaimed brightly. "What fortune we've been blessed with this morning."

  Daniel's gaze turned icy as he brushed past the fairy lord.

  "She's still very sensitive to fairies," he explained. "She must have felt you approach."

  And if she has another sleepless night tonight, I'm holding you accountable.

  He bent deeply to pick her up. He tucked the crumpled coat over the crook of his elbow while he boosted her onto his hip with the other arm. Aeron paid him little mind as he flew past, alighting above on the mantle. He sat himself comfortably on the stone paw of a lion carved into the wall like it was his own personal armchair. The larger of his servants landed beside his master, rigid posture never once faltering.

  Brennan touched down further on the mantle, as though he was trying to put some distance between himself and the others. Daniel tried to get a read on his face, but the fairy was curiously quiet. He kept averting his gaze, his lips clamped tight. Something was off.

  "Did King Maison send you?" Daniel ventured, shifting his gaze back to Aeron.

  "No, no. This is my personal errand."

  Esmae shared a perplexed frown with Daniel. "And what errand would that be, my lord?"

  "I've received some rather intriguing co
ncerns about the nightmares plaguing the little princess," Aeron answered readily. "She hasn't been sleeping well. This is affecting her during the daytime too, I hear?"

  In the space of a second, Daniel caught Esmae and Brennan share a silent look that ended with her raising her eyebrows incredulously and him turning his head away, stubbornness hardening his features.

  "I see," Esmae said slowly. "Well, I've made it clear to those who are concerned that I'd rather not rely too heavily on magic when it comes to my daughter. After all, she is in the only of her kind, as far as we are aware. I don't want to experiment with how much glamour she can safely receive."

  Aeron waved a dismissive hand. "I do not intend to do anything without consent from the both of you of course," he was quick to say, looking between Esmae and Daniel. "I only wish to get a read on what's troubling our poor Aveline and take my findings back to the healers in Evrosea. Perhaps they can find a solution that isn't quite so… magic-heavy."

  Esmae fell quiet, pondering the offer. Daniel opened his mouth to talk it through with her, but before he could get a word out, he felt something shift on his arm—the one that wasn't holding his drowsy daughter. He glanced down at the crook of his arm and found a head of pearl hair poking out of the pocket of his coat.

  He suppressed a gasp, not wanting to spook her, but she seemed frightened enough to begin with. Even from the back, he could see she was trembling and doing what she could to stay out of sight while seeing what was going on. She looked toward the other fairies in the room with fear.

  She gave no warning before turning her head, perhaps to make sure that she was still undetected. Daniel couldn't avert his gaze in time, and they made eye contact. Before he could send her any semblance of reassurance, she ducked back down into the pocket.

  "What do you think, Daniel?"

  "W-what?" he asked, eyes darting back up.

  Esmae looked uncertain. "Would you be alright with Aeron just… checking?"

  Daniel glanced Brennan's way and found the fairy was looking at him earnestly, advising him without words what he should do. "I suppose if the magic isn't too powerful," he answered dubiously. "We haven't allowed anyone to assess her in years."