by Amy Sumida
“You know what it is.” Daxon got up on one knee and took my hand. “I love you, Seren Firethorn, and I believe our love is strong enough to conquer all of our nightmares. Be it sunshine or darkness; I want you beside me.” He took the necklace from the box and held it out to me. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I whispered and moved my hair aside as I leaned forward.
Daxon slipped the necklace around my throat and then pulled me into a passionate kiss. When he eased away, his eyes were shiny with tears.
“What the fuck am I crying for?” He laughed.
“Happiness,” I said and then hugged him. “Sometimes laughter will drive away the tears, and sometimes it will bring them forth.”
“I will gladly shed both tears of joy and of sadness, as long as you're there to wipe them away,” Daxon said softly.
“Hopefully, there will be more happy tears than there are sad,” I said.
“There will be,” he swore and kissed my hand.
“I believe you.”
“This is where I want to get married,” Daxon suddenly declared. “Right here, with only the Goddess as our priestess and our witness. This is all I need.”
“I'd like that,” I whispered.
“Soon, then,” he promised. “After you and Killian have settled, we can come back.”
“All right, King Daxon Tromlaighe; I accept your proposal.”
Daxon laughed as he drug me onto his lap and then rolled me into the grass. I wrapped my arms around him as he lowered his lips to mine. As I closed my eyes to enjoy our kiss, the image of Daxon's jubilant face—with a background of Danu's apple trees—stayed with me. My heart lightened and filled with Daxon, and I knew that no monster—living or otherwise—could ever be stronger than our love.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Through a semicircle of gates rolled three royal carriages; one through each rath. I was in the center coach, with my father, Killian, Daxon, and Cat. To our left, Tiernan was arriving in the golden Seelie carriage with its gleaming crest of a radiant sun on the door and four white horses drawing it forward. To the right, Raza's midnight Unseelie carriage, with its half-moon crest, was pulled along by four black horses. Twilight was the neutral middle with our pale wood carriage and crest of a silver star. Four, gray, twilight pukas pulled us toward Danu's temple.
Behind Raza's royal coach were several carts full of the prisoners; both seelie and unseelie fairies. They sat on wood benches under the watchful eyes of Unseelie knights. But they didn't look as if they'd try to escape; especially not here, on Danu's Sacred Isle.
“This tradition hasn't been enacted since before the war for Unseelie,” my father said.
“So, you haven't seen it before?” I asked.
“No,” he confirmed. “It's sad, but also exciting.”
I looked out the window as the three royal carriages converged on the pebbled path that led beneath the main arches of Danu's temple. Seelie was in the lead, with Twilight in the middle, and Unseelie at the end with its trail of carts following. Up ahead of us, crystal spires rose to form Danu's Temple in a roughly circular configuration that appeared natural, but these were not ordinary crystals. Danu herself had sung the stones from the earth and connected the supernatural spires with angled arches that drew the eye ever upward until you squinted into the sun; hoping to see the glittering peaks. It was so beautiful that if you stared too long, you'd start to cry.
Encircling the temple was a meadow that stretched out to the edge of an apple orchard. The meadow was full of ever-blooming flowers in every color of the rainbow, and the orchard was spotted with red fruit that lent its sweet scent to the air. My hand strayed to the blue diamond at my throat as I remembered the night before. But then Killian's hand shifted into mine. I transferred my gaze to him; Killian's eyes were even greener than the lush meadow.
Killian smiled softly at me, and my hand fell away from the pendant. I already wore two slim bands on the ring finger of my left hand; a black titanium one to symbolize my marriage to Raza, and a gold ring for my marriage to Tiernan. Raza had commissioned the slim style; expecting that I would have to fit two other bands on my finger. But now, it looked as if I'd have a total of four rings. I'd spoken to Killian and Daxon about it, and we'd decided that I'd wear their wedding bands on my other hand; silver for Killian and blue tungsten for Daxon. But before that blue went on, I'd be wearing the silver; my wedding to Killian was only one week away.
“This will be over just in time for our wedding,” Killian whispered.
“Almost like fate,” I whispered back.
Our carriages were drawn beneath the sparkling arches of Danu's temple and through the forest of crystal spires; all the way to the roundabout in the center. The path circled a collection of five crystal columns; four of them spread evenly around one central crystal that was larger than the rest. Past this crystal henge, the road continued on to the Fairy High Council House where Danu's High Council Members lived, and where a rath connected it to the High Council House in Ireland. But we weren't headed there today. In fact, the High Fairy Council Members already stood among the spires of the temple; facing in toward the circle of columns to bear witness to the ceremony.
Our procession came to a halt on the curving path, and I exited the carriage with my father's help as I looked up the length of the central spire. The Spirit column was filled with a fluttering lavender light. It was a doorway for Danu; she'd emerge from the crystal when she was ready to speak to us.
Around Danu's door, the four other columns represented the elements; each filled with a different energy. Earth churned with greenish-brown magic, and the column itself was wrapped with living vines. Fire glowed orangey-red within its heart while eternal flames burned around its base. Air had a creamy lemon light inside of it with a whirlwind blowing around the column. And, finally, there was Water; full of deep blue shimmers and enveloped by a constant rain.
I waited for Raza and Tiernan to join us before we made our way to the central spire. Raza nodded to his knights, and they brought the prisoners forward; over ninety men and women. They were set into circles around us; going out past the columns and onto the road. There was no nervous shuffling or muttering from the prisoners, only a grim sense of expectation. It must have been a confusing mix of emotions for them; excitement to see their goddess, mixed with fear over her judgment. I was just as confused; nervous for the outcome and relieved that I wasn't the one doing the judging or being judged.
I was dressed for a party; in a lavender silk gown and delicate shoes that my father had insisted I wear. The Seelie and Unseelie crowns were both on my head; affixed in place with a diamond, star, hairpin to represent Twilight. The Unseelie jet band formed the base of this collection, with its simple, silver, upturned, crescent moon in the center front. Atop that, the sunrays of the golden Seelie crown rose, with the central spike topped by the Seelie Sun. This central sun ray shot up behind—and in the direct middle of—the Unseelie Moon, and my Twilight Star ended up between the two. The symbols for each kingdom aligned perfectly. It was such a pretty combination that Tiernan proposed to have a combined crown made for me; for times like this, when I had to represent three kingdoms at once. I looked every inch the queen today, except for one unusual accessory; my sword belt.
The sword I had worn into battle hung from my waist, and as my father and husbands urged me forward, I drew it. The three kings formed a semicircle behind me as I stepped up to the Spirit Spire. I knelt before it and laid my iron sword at its base. The light within the column shifted and pulsed. This must have been the first time an iron sword had been offered to Danu.
My father came to kneel behind me. Since he hadn't been in the battle, I was representing Twilight on his behalf, but he was still required to be there. Tiernan settled on my left, and Raza on my right; both of them laying swords before the obelisk. In Raza's case it was a ceremonial sword; a representation of his claws.
“We, the Kings and Queen of Fairy, lay our swords at y
our feet, Danu,” I said the ceremonial words I'd been taught the night before. “The battle has been won, and now, we offer you the conquered as your prize. May your wisdom and mercy determine their fates.”
The swirling light within the column collected and condensed into the shape of a woman. The colors shifted into warmer tones; skin, hair, and eyes forming. Then Danu stepped from the crystal and stood before our border of weapons.
“Rise, Victors, and sheath your swords,” Danu declared with a shifting mouth; first thin and then full.
The fairies around us dropped to their knees; gasps of awe filling the silence. We took up our swords and stood; clearing the way for Danu to come forward. She smiled softly at us and kissed each of us in turn; ending with my father.
“You've done well, Keir,” Danu said to him. “Your daughter has fulfilled the destiny you began.”
“Thank you, Danu.” Keir bowed his head but then looked up suddenly. “She has?”
“She has,” Danu said serenely; her face shifting from sidhe to dryad. Then she turned to the fairy prisoners and said, “Your actions have saddened me, my children. I claim you as sacrifice and will search your hearts to see if the weight of sorrow I feel is shared. If it is, I shall pardon you, and if not, you shall forge the way for peace in our world.”
The fairies looked at each other uneasily, but then one man got to his feet and lifted his face to Danu. “I am ready to be judged, Goddess. My heart has always been yours; do with it as you please.”
Danu smiled softly as she went forward and took the man's face in her hands. She looked into his eyes for a moment and then laid her hand over his heart. A gentle glow seeped from her palm into his chest, and then Danu smiled brilliantly.
“Your courage was not unfounded,” she declared. “I grant you pardon, Gellig, and welcome you home.”
Gellig bowed as tears coursed down his face. “I will endeavor to deserve that pardon, my lady.”
Gellig moved aside—to stand with the High Council—as the rest of the prisoners were judged. Several more came forward, and they were all pardoned, but then Danu chose a fairy from the crowd, and with a sad expression, declared him to be beyond redemption. She laid her hand to his forehead, and he began to glow. At first, he looked terrified, but then his expression settled into one of peaceful relief. The light emerging from his skin brightened until it was blinding and then burst into mist. When it cleared, the fairy was gone.
That made the prisoners nervous, but there was no escape for them, and they knew it. Danu carefully considered every single prisoner. Those who passed judgment went to stand with the Council, and those who didn't, disappeared. Cat whined and pressed into my leg, and I pet her reassuringly, even though, I was a little shaken myself.
The process was long, but we stood silently through all of it until finally, nearly fifty men and women were free to return to their homes, while just under that number were gone completely. Danu motioned us forward, and the High Council came with the pardoned fairies to stand with us before the Goddess.
“You who have been forgiven are now tasked with testimony,” Danu said. “You have seen my mercy and my vengeance, and now, you shall tell the rest of our world what occurred here today. And when you do, you will have proof to offer; physical symbols of my blessing upon the Kings and Queen of Fairy. Standing guard outside the Castles of Twilight, Seelie, and Unseelie, there are now groves of apple trees that were once fairies.”
The fairies shifted uneasily, and I looked over at my father in shock. He widened his eyes at me and shook his head. This was not the time to challenge the Goddess' actions. What was done, was done.
“Those who have earned my wrath will spend eternity guarding the monarchs they once opposed; a conduit for my magic and a warning to the rest of Fairy,” Danu went on. “Come against my chosen rulers, and you shall answer to me. I am finished watching you kill each other over crowns and courts. Those royals who have abused you have been replaced and those who stand before you now will lead you into a future of lasting peace. This is my wish for you, my children, and this is what I have been working toward for centuries. It is here at last, and I will allow nothing to threaten what I have achieved. Challenge the peace, and you challenge me.”
The fairies fell to their knees and bowed their heads to Danu. She nodded in satisfaction and turned to us royals.
“Seren,” Danu said with a joyous smile, “you have brought me the peace I have coveted; uniting the kingdoms of Fairy and that of Earth.” She paused to wink at Daxon. “In return, I give you my blessing and your freedom. Your future is yours to make of it what you will. I am always here with you, but my influence is lifting from your life.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You are free as well, my Kings,” Danu looked at Tiernan and then Raza. “Free to live and rule as you see fit.” She turned to my father. “Free to love as you will. Your heart has been full of sadness for far too long, Keir. I grant you the healing you deserve, so that you may fill your heart with love again.”
Danu laid her hand on my father's chest, and he shivered as light fluttered from her to him. Keir bent forward with a gasp, and when he looked up, his eyes were full of relief and joy.
“Thank you, Danu,” he whispered.
“Your love for Catriona is still there,” Danu said. “But now it's a foundation that will support you, instead of a wall imprisoning you.” She looked back at Tiernan and Raza to include them in her next proclamation. “You three shall be the greatest kings Fairy has ever known. I am so proud of you.”
And then Danu turned to face Killian.
“I'm good; freedom is overrated.” Killian held up his hand. “I'm about to marry the only woman I've ever loved, and it's all because I was bound to you. Please, don't ever release me, Danu.”
“You're not marrying Seren because of me.” Danu chuckled.
“But the Call...” Killian lost his grin.
“That was me,” she admitted. “I was a matchmaker and gave you both a little push, but I didn't tell you how to win her heart, Killian Blair. That was all you.”
Killian grinned widely.
“So, I will release you,” she went on. “But it is with one last command; continue to be the Ambassador between our realms. Seren has already decided to step down; I feel it in her heart. You must take her place and look after the witches for me.”
“Only the witches?” Killian asked.
“Mainly the witches,” Danu amended. “My children on Earth will have Daxon to watch over them.”
Danu turned to Daxon and held out her hand. With a twist of her wrist, she turned her palm up and opened her fingers to reveal a velvet pouch.
“For you,” she said.
Daxon took the pouch and upended it into his hand; golden seeds poured out.
“Those seeds hold the souls of a few of the fairies I judged today,” Danu declared. “Plant them outside your castle, King Daxon, and they will grow into an apple orchard to mirror those here in Fairy. I cannot reach my brother's world, but through you, I will make my mark upon it. May all of my children on Earth see my trees and know that their goddess has not forgotten them... and that she protects those who serve her.”
“I will see to it, my lady,” Daxon vowed.
“And I will see to all of you,” Danu said gently as she turned in a circle. “From the highest mountaintop to the deepest cavern of the sea, peace has come to Fairy at last. My blessing is upon you all.”
Danu's voice drifted away as she stepped into the central column and disappeared.
Chapter Forty-Eight
When we returned to Twilight, we indeed found an orchard of apple trees growing on the hill before the castle. Crystalline fruit hung from their branches; gleaming out a warning and the blessing of the Goddess. We were told that they had sprouted suddenly; from seedling into fully-grown trees in seconds. It caused quite a stir among the guards on wall duty that day. But when the guards went to investigate, they felt such an overwhe
lming sense of peace—growing stronger the further into the grove they went—that their unease vanished.
It was now a week later, and the open fields around Twilight's orchard were full of brightly colored tents. All the Fey races were there—from all of the kingdoms of Fairy—to see Killian and I get married. I stared at the crowds of excited fairies—mingling and merrymaking—from my tower window. It was like a country fair down there; with stalls for food, drink, and crafts. I heard there was even Killian and Seren memorabilia for sale.
Abigail came striding into the room wearing a T-shirt with a crown on it and the words: One Queen to Rule Them All, printed beneath it.
“Abby!” I fumed. “What the fuck? Where did you get that?”
“Daxon gave it to me.” She laughed. “I gotta say, Seren; that guy is something else. I'm looking forward to your wedding to him.”
“We're going to have a private ceremony with just Danu and us,” I said.
“What?” She whined. “That's no fun.”
“It looks as if Daxon's having enough fun with this wedding.” I waved to the shirt. “Who did he give those to?”
“Oh, just those of us in the wedding party,” she said.
I started to relax.
“But Desmond and Rodaidh are down in the makeshift market, selling them in a stall.” She waved her hand to the window.
“Oh; come on!” I wailed.
“It's funny.” Abby sauntered over to me; patting Cat on the head as she passed the bed. “Relax, Princess. You don't have ambassadorial or extinguisher duties anymore, no one is trying to kill you, and you're about to marry your third, smokin' hot husband. Can I be you? Just for a day. Glamour me or something; I will love you forever!”
“Shut up.” I snorted.
“Holy shit; that's it, isn't it?” She asked. “You don't have anything to worry about, and that worries you.”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“That's not it.” I looked away. “Not exactly.”