by Talia Jager
Maybe that was the answer? I could kill myself so that I didn’t have to live without Sorin. I wouldn’t have to worry about losing my memories or living in the human world. I would be dead. I thought about what that would mean for a minute.
No. That wasn’t the answer. I pushed those thoughts far from me. It would hurt too many: Sorin, my parents, Lumi, Neige, Raina. It would devastate them all. I had to keep my head on straight. I had to come up with a plan, either to get out of this or to survive in the human realm.
I heard the dungeon door creak open, and Eira came into view with a smirk on her face. I wiped my face and sat up. “This is going to be my favorite memory. You behind bars. I just came down here to see it with my own eyes. Ingrain it in my memory because this will make me smile for a long, long time.”
“Why do you hate me so much?”
She looked confused. “I don’t hate you. I just love power more than I love you. This is the last time you’ll see me, sister. I have no need to come down here and gloat, and you’ll be gone soon—”
“How could you?” Lumi’s voice echoed in the dungeon. “How could you be so vile as to turn in your own sister? What good could ever come of this?” She stepped into the light.
Eira, clearly not prepared for this, hesitated. “She fell in love with him, Lumi. Rory fell in love with a Summer Fae. She’s not fit to be a queen.”
Lumi froze at Eira’s words. Then she gazed at and spoke to Eira with such disdain I wouldn’t have thought possible coming from my gentle sister. Then again I’d had no idea Eira was so jealous. “You did this to become queen? How could you be so selfish? Mother and Father will never let you have the throne.”
“They won’t have a choice in the matter when they are gone, and with Rory’s banishment, the crown will go to me, Lumi.”
Lumi almost smiled. “You’re wrong, sister.”
“What do you mean?”
“At the sentencing, Sorin told me to look into the old laws on banishment. There’s a reason the royals didn’t want to reevaluate them. They were hiding something. The laws on banishment aren’t forever. It’s only until the ones who impose the punishment are dead. Then the ones who were banished could return, although they may have to go through another hearing.”
“What exactly were they hiding?” I asked.
“The Iron Fae. They were banished eight hundred years ago. Once the royals who executed the punishment were deceased, the new royals should have allowed the Iron Fae to return and held a new hearing. They were denied this right. No wonder they’re so mad.”
“So this means we’ll only be banished until our parents are dead?”
“Doesn’t mean I have to bring you back,” Eira sneered.
Lumi shook her head. “Those old laws you want to hold so high. They say that when the parents pass, the eldest child becomes the next king or queen. So when our mother and father die, it won’t matter if Rory is banished. She is the eldest child. As long as she’s alive, she will always be next in line for the crown. No matter where she is. So think about it. Her banishment only lasts as long as our parents live, and because her banishment was under their rule and the next person to rule decides whether that banishment is to continue, I highly doubt she will command herself to be banished,” Lumi explained.
All color had drained from Eira’s face. “No. There must be a way. This is unfair.”
“No. Unfair is what is happening to Rory. What is happening to you is simply well deserved. Your plan never had a chance, and you didn’t even know it. Yes, you will watch Rory be banished, and that may satisfy you, but after that, you get to live every day wondering if this is the day that word will be sent to bring her back home. And I will praise the heavens for that day. Because you, my sister, will have the wrath of Rory coming for you, and when she comes home, there will be nothing you can do about it.”
“I’ll find a way to keep her from coming back,” Eira sneered.
“I wouldn’t count on it. There are many faeries here in our land as well as the other lands who would gladly like to see her return. You do know I’m on my way to becoming one of our land’s top advisors? Studying the laws of all the lands will make me an excellent advisor to our future queen, and I will be only too happy to oblige her in giving her the full account of everything you’ve done and then options on how you can and should be punished for your blatant disregard for loyalty and your countless acts of treason I’m sure you’ll commit in trying to keep her gone. So, you had better watch what you say in front of me. Making threats like that isn’t a good idea.”
“Maybe I’ll make plans for you too and not just for Rory.”
“You wouldn’t. I know you’re too scared of our parents to try anything now that they know the lengths to which you will go to obtain something that will never be yours. Plus, you know Father already made Tannon my personal guard. Wherever I go, he goes. There’s no way you’ll ever try to hurt me with someone who can provide witness to your crimes. And let’s be honest, Eira. I will never be the water bender Rory is or meet the master level as she has, but I am good, far better than you will ever be. Even our dear little brother has already shown promise in being a great bender, possibly even a master one day. Just like with Rory, water bending comes naturally to him. Not only that, they both have other gifts than just their water bending: Rory with her skating and dancing, our brother with art and musical instruments. As for me, I’ll be an advisor in no time. But you, Eira, you have no talent. Your bending abilities are subpar on your best day, and other than that the only talent you have is looking pretty in a tight dress but with no morals. All a cute guy has to do is wink at you, and the dress would probably come off if it were to benefit you in some way.”
“How dare you!” Eira flung her hand at Lumi, sending water her way, then turning to walk away.
Lumi easily redirected the water to the ground in front of Eira and turned it to ice. Eira crashed to the ground. “Leaving so soon, Eira? I thought since you’re here, you would want to pick out the cell you’ll call home someday. Maybe decorate it and get it ready. Because inevitably, whether it be one year or a hundred, you will end up here.”
A smile spread on Lumi’s face as Eira turned red and stormed off.
Lumi turned to me. “I’m going to find a way to get you back, Rory.”
“If anyone can, you can.”
She picked something up off the floor and brought it to me. “Some food.” She looked at the bars and shook her head. “I hate this, Rory. This is so unfair.”
Standing, I walked to the bars and reached out with my hands. I took the plate and put it on the table. Then I took Lumi’s hands. “I’ll be okay. They won’t put me in harm’s way. Somehow I’ll find happiness.”
“I hope you do, but I don’t want you to forget me.” Tears formed in her eyes.
“I don’t want that either. You must remember for the both of us. Never forget one single memory.”
She nodded.
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
I didn’t want to waste time being angry. With only hours left, I didn’t want them to be spent furious at Eira. I’d forget all about her soon enough. I wanted to remember Sorin and Raina, my parents, Lumi, and Neige. I thought about my little brother. He was only four. Would he remember me? Or would he forget all about me? I couldn’t remember much of when I was that age, so most likely he’d forget.
Closing my eyes, I pushed the bad thoughts from my mind. Instead I thought of Sorin and smiled as I remembered his arms around me.
I dreamed of being at the falls with Sorin and Raina, laughing and having fun. I dreamt of a world full of peace.
In the morning, my mother visited. “For your name in the human realm do you wish to be called Aurora or Rory?”
Sorin was the only one who called me Aurora anymore, except during formal occasions. Aurora had so much meaning. I didn’t want to be called Aurora by anyone but Sorin. “Rory.”
Mother nodded. “Very we
ll. It is almost done.”
“You’ve created a whole life for me in a day?”
“Yes.”
“Do I get to know anything about that life?”
“No. They won’t allow me to tell you anything.”
“Why not? It’s not like I’ll remember tomorrow.”
She smiled sadly. “I’m trying to get them to give you a good life, Rory. Not just throw you out there to fend for yourself.”
“Why can’t you change the laws? Then I wouldn’t have to go.”
Mother sighed. “It’s not that easy. They’re afraid if they do away with one law, they’ll be forced to throw out others.”
“You’re a royal. You can do whatever you want with any law.” When it was obvious she wasn’t going to respond to that, I asked, “How is this going to work? When I think of my childhood, will I remember anyone? Names?”
“You will remember having a family and moving away from them. You will have memories, but no reason to go looking for answers.”
“What about my appearance?”
“When you walk through that portal, you will be glamoured. Nobody, not even you, will see your wings.”
“Will I feel them?” I asked, flapping them.
“No. It’ll be as though they don’t exist.”
“But they’re not being cut off or anything!”
“No. If you ever get the chance to come home again, the second you come through that portal, your true self will reemerge.”
“Does that go for my ears too? Don’t humans have rounded ears?”
“That’s right.”
“My markings?”
“They’ll still be there, but they won’t shimmer.”
“Will my hair remain the same? Do humans have blue hair?”
“While most are blonde, brunette, black, or red, there are some with other colors too.”
I sighed and tried to think of other things I wanted answers to.
“Do you want me to bring Neige down to say good-bye?” Mother asked.
“No. I don’t want this to be his last memory of me.”
“If you change your mind—”
“I won’t. I don’t want him to remember me caged up. But I don’t want him to forget me.”
“We won’t let that happen. Oh! Tannon was promoted to guard. He has asked to walk you to the portal. Is that okay? Or would you like Birch to do it?”
“If Tannon wants to, he can.” I gathered up the courage and said, “Is this all about the Iron Fae and how they were supposed to be reevaluated?”
Mother’s jaw dropped. “You know about that?”
“It will come out sooner or later. Banishing us won’t prevent it.” I took a deep breath. “Stand up to the others, Mother. Fight for me.”
Later that afternoon, the door opened, and Tannon walked in. Our eyes met, and he said, “If you had only chosen me, this wouldn’t be happening.”
As true as that was, it wasn’t what I wanted. “You’re a good faerie, Tannon, but I don’t love you.”
He looked around carefully and nervously. Something was off.
“Tannon, are you all right?”
“I should really be asking you that. You’re the one whose memory is about to be erased and then banished to the human realm.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. But still, are you okay?”
He looked around once more then whispered, “Give me your hand.”
I did what he asked and held out my right hand, and when I did, he slipped a ring onto the middle finger. I inhaled sharply when I realized where it came from. It was Sorin’s.
I looked up at Tannon quickly. “How?”
“Sorin gave it to Keir, Keir passed it to Raina, and then she got it to me and made me promise I’d deliver it to you,” he explained.
“Why?”
“I may not understand why you would put yourself in the position you did, but I do understand not having any control over who you love.”
“Thank you, Tannon.” I placed my hand on his.
“You’re welcome, Rory. Hold on tight to what you feel for him. Will your feelings for him to fuse to your soul. And if the love you have for each other is real, then there’s nothing they can do that will erase that. They will erase your memories, but somewhere deep inside of you, that love will still be there. Hold on to that, believe it, and then it will always be there for you to find.”
“Do you really believe that?” I asked with tears in my eyes. This was a side of Tannon I’d never seen.
“I do. Hold on to those feelings, hold on to them with your soul, and you’ll never lose them, even with your memories gone. They will be harder for you to find, but they won’t ever be gone. That kind of love no one can take away from you no matter how hard they try.”
“Thank you. And Tannon?”
“Yes.”
“Would you do me a favor?”
“What?”
“Look after Raina. She will say she’s fine but she won’t be. She will help Lumi cope with me being gone, but eventually she’ll need someone there for her. And keep an eye on my little brother, look out for him, teach him how to fight and to protect himself, teach him everything you can about bending, play with him, and teach him games. Let him know it’s okay to have fun and not to take life too seriously. Tell him stories about me. Don’t let him forget about me. And tell him every day how much I love him. Please don’t ever let him forget how much I love him.” I wiped away the tears. “Okay?”
“I will.”
“Promise me, Tannon.”
“I promise, Rory. I will look after him for you. I’ll make sure he’s taken care of. And I’ll keep an eye on Raina and Lumi too.”
“Thank you.”
I felt better knowing he’d be watching over those I loved.
Night came, but I couldn’t sleep knowing that I’d be losing everything so soon. I wouldn’t remember where I came from, who I was, even that I was a faerie. But no matter how unfair it was and how much I hated it, I wouldn’t change falling in love with Sorin for a second.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sorin
On the ride home from court, my mother went on and on about the other royals. “Can you believe the Spring king and queen? Who do they think they are? Talking to me like that.”
After a while, I blocked her out and thought only of my one true love. Were her parents giving her a lecture? Were they crying and hugging? How was she holding up?
I was thankful I had gotten close enough to Lumi to pass on what the Treefolk had told me. Hopefully, Lumi could figure out what to do with the information.
When we reached the castle, my friend’s father led me to a cell in the dungeon. I walked in and sat down on the small bed. The walls were gray, the floor cold, and only one window let in any light.
None of that mattered though. I worried about Aurora. Was she okay? Had they thrown her in the dungeon too? Was she regretting our love? I didn’t. Not for one second. My parents might hate me right now, but never once did I wish I hadn’t met her. In fact, that was the only thing keeping me going right now.
I could close my eyes and see her as clear as day—the way she captured my heart the first time I saw her, the love and kindness in her eyes, the bravery she showed when she saved my sister and fought the fire, her chestnut scent, the way my heart leapt when she walked down the stairs at the Winter celebration.
“Sorin?” My mother’s voice rang through my daydream.
My eyes popped open, and I looked at her. “Hello, Mother.”
“How are you?”
I threw up my hands. “I’m in a cell.”
“That’s your own fault. How could you do this?” she asked.
“Do what, Mother? Fall in love? That’s all I did. I fell in love with a beautiful, wonderful, brave faerie. She’s everything I’ve always wanted. She even saved Skye’s life. And because of some old law, not only can’t I marry her, but also I’m being banished for loving her. So, I ask you, Mother, h
ow can you do this?”
She looked stunned for a moment. I relished that. Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Sorin, you are my firstborn son, and I love you. I know I don’t show it often. That is how I’ve always been. My parents were the same way. Banishing you hurts me too. I don’t want to lose you, but you did this. You chose her. You love her. So you have to accept your punishment. It’s law, and we can’t go around changing laws to fit our needs. I just hope it was worth it: to be banished and never set foot back here—not at least for a long, long time, to not remember your family or who you are. Was she worth it, Sorin?”
“Yes, Mother. She is worth it. Every minute that I spent with her is worth being banished. I have faith that somehow I will remember the love we share.”
She stuck her hand through the bars, and I took it. “I do admire you, son. I want you to know that I won’t be going with you to the portal. I can’t watch you go through. Your father will go.”
“I understand,” I said, although I wasn’t sure I did.
“I won’t allow Skye to go, but your brother may if he wishes.”
Poor Skye. “Mother, may I ask you to consider doing something?”
“What is it?”
“Read to Skye. She really loves it. I read to her every night, and I don’t want her to miss out because I’m not here. Be her mother. She needs one.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” She squeezed my hand. “I was never one for emotional good-byes or displays of affection. Take care, and know that I do love you, my sweet boy.” With that, she turned and walked away.
I stumbled back to the bed and sat down, thinking about everything she had just said. Was that really my mother? She had never said those types of things to me before. How could she be so cruel and loving at the same time?
A little bit later, Marin appeared with a tray. “I put all your favorites on here.”
“They look delicious,” I told her, and they did, but I wasn’t that hungry.