The Heart Between Kingdoms

by Mary Dublin

  "He's won, hasn't he?" he demanded in a choked voice.

  "No, Your Majesty," Alyssa said. "Your daughter's own power has seen to that. Aeron is done with, you can be sure of that."

  He shook his head, sniffling. He couldn't stop the tears from coming, seeing Aveline's fate confirmed in each of the colorful faces encircled before them.

  "But it won't change anything. Will it?"

  The council's silence was answer enough.

  Esmae shifted closer to him, setting a hand gently on his shoulder. But it was only the infinitesimal tug on his shirt that got him to look down.

  "Daddy, don't cry," Avie chirped, holding onto one of the trailing cotton cords like it was a rope.

  He looked down at her and felt his failure weigh on him more heavily than ever.

  "C'mere, love," Daniel breathed.

  He ushered Aveline into his hands and Esmae into his arms. Her tiny hands danced over the side of his neck, curious and unsure, before spreading wide to embrace what part of him she could.

  Daniel closed his eyes and held them both as tightly as he dared, as if he could keep them all together.

  Before long, the fairies milling through the palace lawn consisted of far more than the council. Healers tended to Daniel and Esmae's wounds, checking Avie thoroughly as well. Around the side of the King's Oak, Daniel caught sight of traitors being escorted inside, no doubt to be imprisoned. Soon after that, guards, nobility, and commoners alike filed in from the battleground. Several of them carried fine cloaks and jewelry, approaching Daniel and Esmae politely ask if they could pay tribute to Avie.

  "She saved us after all, did she not?" one such fairy said, holding out a glittering shawl to Avie, who accepted it with wide-eyed wonder. The old woman called her something in ancient tongue that Esmae told him meant "White Heart."

  It spread quickly. Before long, every fairy who approached the princess addressed her by this curious new title. Aveline, White Heart, they whispered to her.

  Daniel was reluctant to release Avie to these admirers, but the tributes proved to be a pleasant distraction for her while he and Esmae continued speaking to the council in hushed tones. Avie sat on the grass well within sight, flanked by several fairies who approached upon no one's orders but their own to protect her.

  Brennan remained nearby as well, standing apart from the council to listen in while keeping an eye on Aveline. He had his arms crossed, looking quite sullen, and he rolled his shoulders every few minutes, hiding a wince. Despite the roar of chaos that had invaded Daniel's mind, there was enough room for a stab of guilt that he may have injured Brennan.

  Daniel managed to catch his eye only once. Where there normally would have been a familiar, assuring smile, Brennan provided only a tight-jawed stare that was swiftly averted.

  All at once, Brennan's expression snapped into alertness, eyes fixed in something in the distance. Without a word, he broke away from the council and took wing. Daniel followed his flight, spotting Tessa and Rommen entering the lawn.

  Brennan threw his arms around Tessa in a tight embrace, pulling back to cup her face and kiss her forehead. She wore a weary smile, nodding as Brennan murmured what Daniel guessed was a question of if she was alright. Once satisfied, Brennan led her and Rommen toward the palace.

  Though everything didn't stop at once, an obvious hush crawled through the lawn slowly but surely. It started with one fairy flying to whisper in the ear of another, pointing to Tessa. And then it spread, until other were muttering amongst themselves and sending rather unkind looks toward her.

  Tessa, as exhausted as she appeared, looked around nervously. She dug her feet into the ground, grabbing Brennan's arm and shaking her head.

  In an instant, Brennan was scowling around them, beyond formalities by that point. "How many of you were hiding in your homes before Esmae came along and called upon you?" he barked at the onlookers, many of which looked away as if they hadn't been staring. "That wouldn't have happened if Tessa here hadn't undone the barrier, so I suggest you either change your opinions about her magic or shove off with them."

  "He's right," Rommen chimed in suddenly, standing straighter. "I would have counted the glamour impenetrable if I had been tasked with disabling it myself. She saved us as much as anyone else here did."

  Tessa's face was pink as she focused at the ground, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. The stares remained, uncertain, but not quite so hostile. Beside him, Daniel heard Esmae take a breath, prepared to vouch for Tessa herself, but the silence had finally spread to Avie's end of the lawn and she launched to her feet immediately.

  "Tessa!" she cried delightedly. Before any guards could stop her, Avie bolted past her small crowd of gift-bringers and across the grass. She threw her arms around Tessa's waist, then looked up at her with a faint frown of concentration before taking her hand to tug her along. "You're tired. You should come sit with me."

  Avie slung the glittering shawl around Tessa's shoulders. The pale fairy tried to refuse, but the little girl wouldn't hear of it.

  Daniel cleared his throat before they got too far. "Actually, Avie…" He trailed off. He had never felt like such an outsider as when Avie, Tessa and Brennan all stopped short at the sound of his voice and craned their necks in unison to look up at him. She had looked so comfortable amongst the fairies, and it was little wonder why.

  Daniel shifted closer, laying an open hand at her feet.

  "We're going home now," he murmured.

  A few of the ample gift-bearers lowered the bundles in their arms, exchanging confused looks. They stayed clustered around Avie, almost standing in the way between her and her father.

  "You, er... don't mean to take her away, do you?" someone piped up, green light flickering.

  The question was baffling, unsettling. "Of course I'm taking her. She belongs with us. With her parents."

  The uncertain looks furthered between the fairies, and Avie continued to stare at Daniel's offered hand, not making any real move to climb aboard. His stomach twisted. Even in victory, all of this was so very wrong.

  "Yes, Your Majesty," the same fairy went on meekly. "Of course, but, er… She's not really human anymore, is she? She, eh, can't exactly walk amongst your kind like this."

  "She can rest here," suggested a green-glowing fairy in a tone that was too matter-of-fact.

  "Aye, she's safe among us," another agreed. "And Evrosea is indebted to the White Heart."

  "That's enough," Daniel said, as sternly as he dared. "I won't hear any more of that." She's as much human as she ever was.

  He stretched his fingers wide, focusing only on his daughter. She was all that mattered.

  "Avie, come here. Don't be frightened."

  He tried to soften his expression, fearing that too severe a look would lead her to outright refuse. What was he to do, then? His heart twisted at the thought of scooping her up against her will, and it didn't help that the fairies were eying him with a touch of nervous distrust that he hadn't seen since his first visit to Evrosea.

  Brennan crossed his arms. "Don't you want to go home, Princess? You must rest."

  "There is ample protection for her here," insisted a woman with arms overladen with tribute. "She should stay. You needn't fear for her. Go and tend to the affairs of your kingdom."

  There was a finality to the statement that finally made Avie react. She stiffened and looked to Daniel with wide eyes. Then, as if Daniel intended to pull his hand away, she sprinted past her admirers to reach him.

  "Don't go! Don't leave me!" Her tiny voice bordered on sobs as she scrambled aboard his palm. Daniel curled his hand reflexively, and instead of flinching, Avie threw her arms around his index finger.

  He lifted her from the ground, avoiding the disappointed looks of the fairies. "Of course not, love," he murmured, holding her closer to his chest. "Of course not."

  "You're taking a great risk," Alyssa said, drawing Daniel's eyes back to the assembled council. She had her hands folded businesslike i
n front of her, wings humming steadily. "With no counter-spell… Surely, you realize she will have to live in hiding?"

  Esmae huffed out sharply. "We have no plans to put her on display for the kingdom to see! But she's our daughter, and she's coming home."

  Alyssa shook her head pityingly. "You can't shield her forever, Esmae."

  Esmae's lower lip began to tremble. "Evrosea is safe," she said, casting a hollow gaze around the clearing she once knew. "Aeron is finished, along with the rest of his deluded followers. We've done everything to keep this kingdom safe— and we always will. But we're going home now."

  She rose to her feet, but Daniel lingered, trying to get a read on Brennan's face. After a moment, he realized that wasn't going to happen.

  "We'll be in touch soon," he promised everyone else.

  "Of course," another councilman said, nodding his head respectfully. "We both have a great deal to tend to. May the winds be at your back, both of you."

  They retrieved Amos and set out at a slow amble back to Mirrel. He'd made the journey dozens of times, but it had never felt quite as daunting as this. He had to think of something to tell the castle. The whole of his kingdom would be gossiping about this for months.

  "Daddy?" There was a gentle stirring in his palm, and he looked down at once. Avie looked like a tiny doll, huddled under his curled fingers.

  "Am I going to be small forever? Like the fairies?"

  The inquiry was deceptively simple. Yes seemed too cruel, while no would certainly be a lie she'd come to loathe.

  "It may be some time before we know for sure," Daniel told her carefully. "I know everything must seem so frightening right now, but you can't lose hope. You must be brave as you always are. Can you do that?"

  Gently, Daniel curled his thumb in to give her cheek a brush. Instead of shying away as before, Aveline nodded and wound her arms around the digit fiercely.

  "I… I can try," she mumbled.

  Daniel frowned, feeling her squeeze him with every slight jolt of Amos' trot. No matter how hard he tried, the ride would not be the gentle one she deserved.

  "We'll be home soon," he said, cupping her against his neck to warm her. "Are you cold? I think I have another kerchief in my pocket…"

  Avie brightened strangely at this, pulling a funny face. "I bet I could fit in your pocket now, couldn't I?"

  Daniel smirked, pleased to see her lighten up, even for a short time. "I suppose you would. Did you know your Mum was once sat in this very pocket?" He jutted his chin down at the front of his coat.

  "Really? You mean, all the way back when she was a fairy?"

  "Er, yes. Mostly."

  Avie rounded on her mother. "Oh, Mummy, was it fun?"

  "It was… unforgettable, to be certain. Though of no fault of your father, of course." Esmae practically groaned, more uneasy than he at the memory. "Avie, if you're cold, sweetling-"

  Aveline shook her head hurriedly. "No, I'm alright! I promise. Daddy… he's so warm when he's big."

  "That so?" he arched a brow.

  She rubbed her cheek against his neck, thoughtful. "Mm-hmm. Your beard is really scratchy, though."

  When she embraced him, fearlessly this time, Daniel felt a little braver, too.

  He would have to be, for what was to come next.

  Chapter

  Thirteen

  A week passed, and panic slowly gave way to the grueling task of daily patience.

  Daniel and Esmae saw few fairies, for every hand was needed to rebuild the glamour shielding around Evrosea and repair obliterated homes, now splintered messes embedded in the oaks. The ones kind enough to make the flight to Mirrel brought news with them: King Maison's body had been discovered and promptly given an honorable burial next to the other rulers of Evrosea. Esmae was assured that his death had been painless and quick. A small comfort for such a loss, but far preferable to the alternative.

  Daniel found it difficult to focus on Evrosea politics, with his own kingdom demanding answers of him. He had a lot to answer to—fifty castle staff members inexplicably waking in the middle of the woods, the foremost matter. It was almost too easy to spin them an explanation, with half of the scullion maids already fanning wildfire rumors of witchcraft returning to the wilderness. It was the perfect scapegoat, but his people demanded action, talking of setting fire to the whole lot. Their superstitions were only swayed with the promise of a stone wall being erected to divide them from the "cursed" forest.

  Construction began immediately. And then, Daniel's only concern was to make it appear as though their king and queen weren't more intent on living behind closed doors rather than ruling their kingdom.

  Finally, they had to settle the matter of Aveline.

  With the castle staff having accepted that an alarming number of them had been manipulated by magic, it wasn't difficult to come to the conclusion that their missing princess had suffered the same fate. Too many had heard the screams from her bedroom, and a blanket glamour spell was out of the question with Evrosea's resources spread so thin as it was.

  Naturally, there as an outcry to comb the forest immediately to search for Aveline, but Daniel and Esmae managed to keep the fury under control, at least until they received word that the new glamour shield was active enough to keep humans from wandering too close. It helped that Daniel and Sir Logan, having largely recovered from his arrow wounds, led the search parties.

  In addition, a special layer of glamour was added to the barrier—a weak sense of hopelessness that grew stronger each time the humans came within range, searching for their lost princess.

  It was a manipulative measure, but it proved necessary.

  Mere days passed, and all who searched seemed to have given up. Each report back to Daniel and Esmae came laced with sorrowful apologies, for everyone was sure that Aveline could not have possibly survived. Whatever was in the forest had claimed its prize, and the dark sea of trees was barred for good.

  A small, empty coffin was buried, and with that, no one had the gall to question why the king and queen spent copious amounts of time in their chambers with orders that not a soul was to intrude.

  No one would have guessed their time was truly spent with the child whom the kingdom was mourning.

  Presently, the princess was asleep. Swaddled by a silken kerchief, she made Esmae's empty jewelry box look like a playroom. Daniel stole a look at Esmae as he rounded the corner of their bedroom. His wife and queen looked a shade worse than death. The lively rouge brushed onto her cheeks and lips couldn't hide how little she had slept this week.

  "No nightmares," Esmae announced by way of greeting. "Not a single one since she's returned."

  "That's a blessing, I suppose."

  It couldn't feel further from the truth. Daniel would have given anything to have Avie come running at midnight once again, to curl up between them in bed.

  He dropped down next to Esmae at the window seat, reaching out to gently adjust the kerchief around Aveline's tiny shoulders. She stirred slightly but did not wake.

  "You should go ask Joseph to warm you up some stew in the kitchen," Daniel murmured, touching Esmae's leg when she ignored him. "You haven't eaten a thing today.

  "Yes, I have."

  "No, you haven't."

  Esmae held his gaze stubbornly for a few long seconds.

  "I hate leaving her," she muttered. "I don't want her to wake up and think that I've gone. She was so frightened the last time."

  "I'll be here for her."

  She looked like she wanted to argue, but simply didn't have the energy to follow through. Finally, Esmae gave a quiet nod. Both of them held their breaths as they passed the jewelry box from one set of hands to the others.

  "I'll bring back some supper for you both," Esmae promised on her way out.

  It was only in her absence that he realized the chamber wasn't as quiet as he'd first thought. Before he could so much as turn his head, a familiar cadence of wing beats took up in the air.

  Brennan.
/>
  Daniel couldn't be sure how long he'd had been in the room, but it didn't matter. He was here.

  "You got my message?" Daniel asked.

  Brennan landed on the window's latch. After stabilizing, he held up a silver arrowhead for Daniel to see. A scroll was bound around its cylindrical base, secured with a red thread.

  "Feels strange, passing secret messages."

  "It won't be like this for long," Daniel assured him. I hope.

  Nodding absently, Brennan looked from Daniel's face to the jewelry box, more reserved than he'd seen him in years. "It doesn't feel real, does it? I've forgotten myself a few times, wondering how Avie's reading lessons are going with her instructors. Then I remember..."

  "I know what you mean," Daniel murmured. "How fares Evrosea?"

  "Everyone is a bit more at ease knowing there won't be any humans intruding in the forest. Not unwelcome ones, at least," he added, giving Daniel a ghost of a smirk that made the dark circles under his eyes more obvious.

  "And Tessa?"

  Brennan's weak smile dropped off completely. "The first few mornings, I would wake expecting her to have fled. Now I only half expect it. But she's... safe. Well taken care of. She asks for Avie daily. Sometimes I wonder if it's news about the princess that keeps her from leaving."

  Any other day, Daniel would have teasingly mused that Tessa might have other reasons for staying—to stay within reach of a certain person she fancies, perhaps? Instead, the mention of Aveline drew his eyes to the sleeping bundle.

  "She's not happy," Daniel said plainly. "She's frightened. Every noise makes her jump, and she's in tears if Esmae or I leave the room, even for a moment. No matter what we say or do, she doesn't feel safe. The world is so big to her now—she won't even look at her bedroom. I thought familiarity would be a comfort to her, but she's miserable."

  "The world is a very different place from a fairy's eyes," Brennan said with a sage nod. "It's only been a matter of days. You must be patient."