by Talia Jager
Raina always made me feel better. After my talk with her, I finished the rest of my duties for that day without dwelling on Sorin. I pushed him out of my mind and focused on studies, trainings, and hanging out with my sisters, and it worked for a while.
And then one day Tannon interrupted my “boy time-out.”
“Hey, Rory!”
“Hey! What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to hang out. Spend some time together. Would that be okay?”
I knew what he meant by hanging out. He wanted to be with me, get to know me better, so maybe he could court me. Remembering what Raina said, I decided to give it another try.
“What do you want to do?”
“Well, I know you’re adventurous, so I thought maybe we could go explore the ice caves.”
My eyebrows rose. “Oh! That sounds cool.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Are we going now? Or later?”
“Now. Now is good. Is it good for you? Or should we go later? I’m okay with whatever you want,” he said, stumbling over his words.
A small giggle escaped my lips. “Now is fine.”
We stood up to walk. “Hey, how are your burns? Is it okay for you to go?”
“They’re gone. Elara worked wonders. The marks remaining after they healed me disappeared after a few days.”
“Good.” He shot me a sincere smile.
The snow crunched under our feet as we walked side-by-side to the east where the caves were. I had been in them many times, but not recently. Zev wasn’t far behind.
“Are you still training?” Tannon asked.
“Yes. I took last week off, but otherwise every morning, between breakfast and class, I go.”
“I think that’s great.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Some faeries think I should stop and concentrate on royal stuff.”
“Not me. I think it’s admirable that you’re willing to go above and beyond.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
“So what made your parents decide to open the gates?” he asked.
I paused, not sure what to say. “I don’t really know. I made a comment about how I wished we could get to learn about the other faerie cultures. Maybe this is their way of making that happen?”
“You’re really interested in that?”
“Yes.” I stepped over a rock sticking out of the snow. “I find the differences fascinating. Our history too.”
“Well, guess we’ll see how interesting the Summer Fae are soon. Their celebration is first.”
Ignoring his comment, I pointed and said, “There they are.”
There were a few different caves in this area. “Which one do you want to go in?” Tannon asked.
I turned and looked at the one with icicles hanging around the mouth. “That one.”
At the entrance was a box that contained foot covers. I slipped a pair over my feet so I wouldn’t go slipping and sliding inside. I also grabbed a rope, flashlight, and ice pick from another, larger, box next to that one. Tannon carried the pick, and we walked in.
The ground was made of snow, but the walls and ceiling were ice. “It’s still just as beautiful as the last time I was here,” I said.
“Have you ever fallen?”
“Many times, but my father taught me to get back up and keep going.”
“Sounds like a good man,” he commented.
“He is.”
We wandered through the caves for a while. It was neat how things came back to me as we explored. I found a bunch of nooks and crannies that I had played in growing up. “My sisters and I used to play hide and seek in here,” I told him, looking at a hole in the wall just big enough for a young kid. “I should bring my brother. He’d like it. Maybe you could bring yours.”
“Are there any places for us big kids to hide?” he asked.
“Absolutely.” I led him to one just big enough for a grown faerie to hide in.
“If you’re wearing white, just turn around and face the wall and others can hardly tell the difference,” I said and then turned back toward him.
He was only inches away now and still moving closer.
Our lips were seconds away from touching when I snapped out of it and pushed past him to another crevice that someone our size could fit in. “There’s another one over here,” I said.
Tannon looked at the ground. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward spot. You’re just so beautiful, and I feel that we could have something special.”
I nodded. “It’s okay. I’m just not ready.”
“I understand.” He smiled, and I did feel as if he was okay with it.
We explored a little longer, finding some awesome sculptures before we exited the way we came in and sat down.
Tannon took out a plastic collapsed cup, pulled it straight, and took a handful of snow in his hand. Seconds later water dripped out of his hands and into the cup, filling it up. He handed it to me. “You first.”
I gulped down the cold water and handed it back. He made more water for himself. Then he grabbed an apple bar out of his pocket and handed me half.
“You thought of everything,” I said.
“Figured we could use a snack before the trek back, which by looking at the sun we’ll have to leave in a few minutes to be back for dinner.”
“This was nice. Thank you.”
As the sun fell lower in the sky, its light reflected off the beautiful icicles. Sorin would never be here with me, exploring these caves, watching the sun’s light in all its glory, so when Tannon put his hand on mine, I let him. I wasn’t ready for him to kiss me or express his undying love, but a little handholding wouldn’t hurt anybody. Except all I felt was guilt. All I wanted was for it to be Sorin’s hand.
Chapter Six
Sorin
I stood overseeing the healing to the fire-damaged areas. Most of the ground had been restored, and in those areas, the faeries were working on healing the trees. New grass and plants would grow, but the loss of animal life and our two fae couldn’t be fixed.
The fact that the Winter Fae had showed up and helped had shocked us all. Afterward my parents took my suggestion to invite all of the courts to celebrate the Summer Solstice more seriously.
I thought back to when I was working the fire with some of the Winter Fae. We were able to lower the height of a section of the fire that was traveling in the direction of the school.
That was when I saw Keir running with his younger sister, Raelynn, in his arms, looking okay. Not far behind him was a Winter Fae, who was also running and carrying a child, but the faerie seemed to be running with a limp as if she were injured. As the smoke cleared slightly, my heart knew before my eyes did: that wasn’t just any Winter Fae, that was Aurora.
Her beautiful pale skin and long white-blonde and blue hair was unmistakable, but instead of being perfectly placed as I had always seen it, her hair was tangled, wet, and flat, stuck to her shoulders and face. She didn’t have a smidge of makeup on, but she was still just as beautiful, even soaked head-to-toe, completely filthy from all the ash and soot stuck to her. At that very moment, I realized the girl she was holding, the girl she was saving, was my little sister, Skye.
Almost as if Aurora could feel my gaze, she turned and looked at me with her soul-piercing ice-blue eyes, and at the same time, I noticed the burns all over the right side of her body. It looked like the worst of her injuries were to her ribs, but being so far away, I hadn’t been able to tell for sure. She tore her gaze from mine and followed Keir a bit farther and then handed Skye off to a teacher in the school. I watched as she gathered Winter Fae to create a barrier of ice to protect the school. Her movements were fluid and graceful. She moved just like water; it was unlike anything I had ever seen. And even though I could tell every moment was causing her extreme pain, she never stopped. She was brave, strong, and truly a master of her gift. All I knew for sure was she came to help save my land, not jus
t for me, but for my faeries, and was hurt doing so. Yet there she was in all her beauty and strength, still standing…still fighting.
After checking briefly on my sister, I continued to use my fire bending as well as the other elements I had learned from being an elemental, but the only one that seemed to be helping at all was from my land, the ability to bend fire.
The talent Aurora possessed had me in awe. The raw power and strength she could wield in her bending was one of a kind, but combined with all that power and strength were an undeniable grace and elegant inner movements. I didn’t know why that surprised me. She always seemed to have the ability to wow me with whatever she did.
That was when Dev had called my name. “Sorin! Sorin!”
“Hold on! I’ll be right there,” I yelled over my shoulder.
After delivering a quick set of moves with my arms and legs to push back some of the fire, I turned and answered, “What do you need, Dev?”
“Follow me. I need the help of another Summer Fae. I’m pretty sure if we work together with the two Winter Fae over here, we can put this section of the fire out.”
I nodded in response, and we ran to where the Winter Fae waited. Dev and I were able to contain a section of the fire while the Winter Fae were able to use their bending to lower the height of the fire and eventually put out that area.
I remembered hearing Keir yelling orders for Summer Fae to team up with Winter Fae. In the same moment, panic started to rise within me when I heard Aurora scream Keir’s name. I didn’t know how she did it, but she ran for Keir with a speed that shouldn’t have been possible with her injuries. She ran into him, then turned quickly to push back some flames that had crept up to Keir. In one fluid motion, she formed a ball of ice around them. Another wave of fear hit me as a huge branch engulfed in flames fell, about to crash down right on top of them.
I cringed, but when I looked again, the fire blocked my view, and I couldn’t see anything. “No!”
I fought against the fire hard by throwing my arms and feet around to tame it, but it seemed useless. It felt as if I wasn’t making any progress, and I seriously began worrying about my land and all the faeries in it.
I heard a splash and turned around. Aurora and Keir popped out of the water.
I had never been so happy to see either of them. Seeing them both safe and not harmed any more than they already had been gave me hope. I wasn’t sure I could have handled losing them both.
It was then I saw the most incredible thing ever. Aurora created a massive wall of water so tall it towered over the trees. She pushed it out over the top of the fire. Other Winter Fae, realizing what she was doing, helped her by pushing and pulling the water so it would completely cover all of the fire.
I looked back at Aurora. She dropped her arms, and the water crashed to the ground, putting out the fire. She moved slowly back to the shore and collapsed onto the ground.
Keir scooped her up into his arms, causing a wave of jealousy to overrun me. I wished I could be the one to care for her in that moment, especially after what she had just done for my land and my faeries. But all I could do was settle for watching as Keir carried a burned Aurora covered in dirt, soot, and ash to the gates of Winter Land.
When Keir returned, we talked about what she had done, and he assured me she was fine. Then just a couple of days later, my parents told me we were opening up the gates for all of the fae to come to our celebration.
Summer Solstice was only a couple of weeks away. The decorating committee had already been busy, but their workload had grown now that other fae would be here too. My mother ran around like a crazed person trying to get everything in order. She barked orders and made rude comments about how stupid it was to have taken this on so close to the holiday.
“And on top of that, it’s almost Sorin’s birthday!” Mother’s voice was high-pitched. “It’s just too much.”
“We can change our minds, dear,” Father said.
“No. No, we can’t. Not after the Winter Fae helped us with the fire. We’d look ungrateful.”
“Mother, my birthday is the day before. Just have a cake at the celebration. No need for two different parties.”
“Oh, Sorin, are you sure? I don’t want to spoil your special day.”
Seeing Aurora would make my day special. “I’m sure.”
Keir found me after breakfast on my birthday. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.”
“What do you want to do today?”
I shot him a look. “Nothing special. Why?”
“How about we go to the swimming hole?” Keir suggested. “It’s hot, and after that fire and all the solstice work, we could use a break.”
“My parents aren’t going to let me get out of the work that’s left to do.”
“They already did. Told me to—and I quote—show you a good time.”
“Fine.”
A few minutes later we were headed out to the swimming hole. It was a short hike through the woods and then down some steep rocks. When we got all the way down, Theros, Calder, Sumi, and Daisy were already there. “Happy birthday, Sorin!” they called.
“Hey, guys! Thanks!”
Theros flung the rope toward me, and I grabbed it. I adjusted my hands until I had a good grip. Then I jumped and swung over the water. I let go when I was at the highest point and plunged into the cool water. After swimming for a while, I got out and flapped my wings like crazy to dry them off. They were heavy when they were wet, and the feeling annoyed me. I sat with the sun beating down on my back, and my feet dangling in the water, thinking of Aurora. It sure would be nice to have her sitting next to me or better yet hold her in my arms in the water. I wondered if she had ever been swimming. Winter Land was cold. I couldn’t imagine they had a swimming hole. Maybe I could bring her here one day, teach her how to swing and let go at the right moment. For a second, I could almost see it, until reality smacked me upside the head.
Aurora was a Winter faerie. She wouldn’t be sitting next to me sharing in this. Not as a friend or anything else. It was insane how she had completely taken over my thoughts.
Daisy plopped down next to me. “Are you enjoying your birthday?”
“Yes. It has been an intense few days. It’s nice to relax and let the stress go.”
“I’ll bet.”
I could feel how happy she was to be sitting next to me. I wished I could return that happiness. “It was nice of you to come.”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Would you like me to rub your back? Maybe that would help with the stress.”
Surprised, I answered, “No. I’m good.”
Daisy frowned. “If you change your mind—”
“Hey, look,” I interrupted. “Brownies.” I pointed over toward a puddle and we watched as a handful of six-inch-high humanlike creatures started horsing around in the water. They were neat to watch, sometimes fun with their mischievous behavior. I welcomed the distraction from thinking about Aurora or Daisy and what I should do about either one.
After an unnecessarily elaborate dinner with my family and few friends, I stood next to my mother as fireworks went off from the clearing on the right of the castle.
“You didn’t have to go through all that trouble, Mother.”
She sent me a small smile, which for my mother was a lot. “I do love you, Sorin. I know I’m strict and not a fan of affection, but I do love you.”
Her words almost knocked me over. I cleared my throat and said, “I love you too, Mother.”
The next morning, I jumped out of bed the minute my eyes popped open. Today was going to be a busy day with the celebration, but I was most excited about seeing Aurora. Even if we couldn’t be casual with each other, we would get to talk and that was enough for me.
Time flew by quickly as I busied myself getting any last-minute tasks taken care of.
Mere minutes until the court officially opened its gates, panic filled me. Had this been the right thing to do? What if they all hated each other? What
if things went horribly wrong? I shook my head. I had to think positively. I marched over to the mirror, stuck the crown on my head, and hurried downstairs.
Skye spun around in her frilly bright pink dress. “Sorin!” She ran to me. “Mother and Father say other princesses are coming today.”
“They sure are.”
“Do you think they’re pretty?”
Aurora’s face flashed in my mind. “Yes, I think they’re pretty, but you’re beautiful.”
She beamed. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course.”
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
“Why are you scared?”
“Mother said sometimes the other faeries are scary.”
“I don’t think they’re scary, Skye. Just different, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad or mean. We are all the same inside. We all have feelings like love and happiness. Just because they look different or dress differently doesn’t mean they’re scary or mean.”
“Are you sure?” She looked at me with her big blue eyes.
“Yes, Skye, I’m sure.”
The corners of her lips pulled up into a big smile. “Thanks.” She threw her arms around me.
“You’re welcome.” I saw the rest of the family walking toward us. “Do you want to hold my hand when we walk out?”
“Yes!” She grabbed my hand and held on tight.
Mother noticed as we got in line, and I could see a small twinkle in her eye. She nodded at me approvingly, and then the doors opened.
We walked out and stood on the landing at the top of the stairs. Three carriages had just arrived with a line of faeries behind each one. Our street was full of whispers as Summer Fae stared and gossiped. Most had never seen a faerie from another court. They were perfectly content closed off and had only heard of these other fae. Now we had made it a reality for them.
It wasn’t hard to tell which carriage held which fae. The one right in front of us was the Winter Fae. My eyes found Aurora’s immediately. I forced myself not to smile or show emotion for fear everyone in the kingdom would see. Still holding my hand, Skye peeked out from behind me and gazed out into the audience. One side of Aurora’s mouth quirked up.