An Unseelie Understanding

by Amy Sumida

  Trenton reined in his horse as soon as we were behind the Seelie lines, and Conall rode up alongside us.

  “Riley, I want you to go with Sir Conall,” Trenton said as he stroked my cheek tenderly.

  “What? Why? What are you going to do?” I asked anxiously.

  “I'm going to lead my army against the Unseelie,” he said calmly.

  “No,” I nearly screeched. “I just got you back; you can't go into battle now.”

  “My soldiers are going to war for us, my love.” Trenton took my face in his hands and kissed me gently. “I cannot let them fight without their commander. It would be the highest act of cowardice and arrogance, and I refuse to be that man... even for you.”

  “I wouldn't love that man,” I whispered as I looked down at the silk ribbon tied to his belt; the same one I had given him in the training courtyard. “All right, Trenton. But if you're staying, then so am I.”

  “And I,” Conall added.

  “No; you are not,” Trenton said firmly. “In this, you will obey me, Riley. We have braved much to save you; not only us Seelie, but also your friend in the Unseelie Court, who risked his life to send me a message about your Understanding being released. Now, you will do the honorable thing and respect your hard-won safety.”

  “My friend in Unseelie?” I scowled at him. “What friend?”

  “The message wasn't signed, though it arrived in a cloud of pixie dust,” Conall said with a meaningful look.

  “Hugo,” I whispered. “That wonderful little man.”

  “Conall, take her.” Trenton grabbed me by the waist and passed me to Conall.

  “Trenton, wait.” I leaned over and kissed him again. “I love you; remember what you fight for. Do not save me only to destroy me.”

  “I love you too, Riley. I will always save you; as you have saved me. Have faith in me; I have trained my entire life for this day,” Trenton said. “Now, go with Conall.”

  The pound of horse hooves announced the arrival of our enemies, and the soldiers around us set their spears before them in a unified maneuver that was both magnificent and menacing. The foot soldiers drew their swords and stared at the oncoming army stoically. I felt a shiver go down my spine as I realized that some of these men might die today all because their prince loved me. It wasn't fair, but Trenton was right; I couldn't dishonor their sacrifice by putting myself in harm's way.

  “Protect our woman, Sir Conall,” Trenton said as he pulled his sword from its sheath. “You hold my heart in your hands.”

  “I'll guard her with my life, Your Highness,” Conall said and then spurred his horse off toward the Seelie castle.

  I stared back over Conall's shoulder and watched as Trenton leapt off his horse to armor up. He had come for me unarmored, but now that he was entering battle, he needed more protection. His knights were preparing with him; all of them grim-faced as they strapped pieces of fairy steel to their bodies with waves of magic. Trenton held out his arms, and a breastplate settled over him. He looked like a god of war, and I knew he was just as skilled as he appeared. But I kept seeing the image of Drostan in his armor; fresh from battle and covered in blood that wasn't his.

  “Will he be all right?” I asked Conall.

  “Prince Trenton is our finest warrior,” Conall answered without really answering.

  “Conall.” I glanced up at his stern face.

  “I don't know, Riley,” he murmured. “I cannot see the future, but I hope that our prince will survive. He made all of this possible. Prince Trenton hounded his sister constantly, and then when that didn't work, he stopped eating.”

  “What?”

  “Prince Trenton refused to eat until Queen Tana gave him the soldiers he needed to retrieve you. He was already preparing to fight Drostan—to kill the Unseelie King and free you—when we received Hugo's message.”

  “Trenton went on a hunger strike?” I gaped at Conall. “So that he could kill Drostan?”

  “It was a brilliant move.” Conall smirked. “The Queen loves her brother more than her own life. She raised him after their parents were killed in the last war against Unseelie. Trenton's more like her son than her sibling.”

  “And now he's fighting against the Unseelie as their parents did,” I whispered. “Because of me.”

  “Queen Tana won't hold that against you, Riley,” Conall chided me. “You've met our queen; she's a good woman. She gave Trenton what he needed, and now she's fully supporting him. That means that she's fully supporting you. You're the Prince's betrothed now.”

  “What? When did that happen?” I huffed.

  “When you accepted our proposal,” Conall said in a way that made it sound as if I should have known it already. “That's a binding agreement. Several of our knights witnessed it, which makes it legitimate. Trenton, you, and I are now engaged.”

  “How strange,” I whispered.

  “Not for fairies.” He shrugged. “There have been fairy royals with multiple spouses before. Seelie had two queens once.”

  “Really?” I lifted my brows. “Who rules in such a situation?”

  “The one born to the crown,” he said. “For instance, if Queen Tana were to die, Trenton would rule. I would become King as well, and you would be Queen, but Trenton would be the High King of Seelie.”

  “Oh.” I nodded. “Okay.”

  “But the odds of that happening are low,” Conall hurried on. “Queen Tana is too wise to jeopardize herself... on... the...” Conall trailed off as he realized what he was about to say.

  “On the battlefield.” I finished for him. “Is that what you were going to say?”

  “Yes.” He sighed. “But don't worry about Prince Trenton; he's far more prepared for war than his parents were. King Drostan would be a fool to attack our prince, especially when Unseelie is so outnumbered.”

  “How do you know that Drostan is outnumbered?”

  “To catch up with us so quickly, King Drostan could only have brought his knights with him,” Conall explained. “All on horseback. The foot soldiers wouldn't be able to keep up.”

  “Oh, of course,” I murmured. “That's good, I suppose.”

  “If the battle continues long enough, though, the foot soldiers will catch up.”

  “You could have left it at Drostan being outnumbered,” I muttered.

  Conall laughed. “I've missed you so much, Riley.”

  “I've missed you too,” I admitted.

  “It's going to be all right.”

  “I know,” I said confidently, but inside, I was a churning mass of worry.

  I had nearly bound myself to Drostan forever. Then Trenton and Conall had ridden up in the nick of time to save me. That had been gloriously romantic, but to go with my lovers, I had to leave Drostan at the altar. His heartbroken expression would haunt me—as would the way he begged me to stay. Now, I was running from a war that was partially my fault. I didn't know how to begin to process it all. I was scared for Trenton, but—if I was honest with myself—I was also scared for Drostan. Damn it all to hell; I cared about the Unseelie King. That bastard had gotten under my skin. Now that his hold over me was gone, I could see it clearly; I could feel it truly.

  “Turn us around!” I shouted.

  “What's wrong?” Conall reined the horse in.

  “I can stop this war,” I said, “if you and Trenton would be willing to add one more man to our relationship.”

  “You don't mean Drostan?” Conall asked with horror.

  “I care about him,” I whispered. “I may not love him yet, but I think that I could. He really has changed, Conall.”

  “What are you saying? That you wish to marry all three of us?” Conall huffed, and then his expression went blank. “Dear Goddess; that just might work.”

  “It will?” I asked in shock. “I mean; of course it will. Why will it?”

  “It would unify the kingdoms,” Conall said with wonder. “All of these years, Queen Tana and King Drostan have been in a shaky truce. Neither have ch
ildren they could offer in marriage, nor could they marry each other. For one; they don't like each other much. And two; they need to rule their own kingdoms. But if you were to marry Tana's brother and King Drostan, that would be a way of uniting the kingdoms through marriage without either monarch abandoning their throne. This might be exactly what our world needs, Riley!”

  Conall turned his horse about, and we started racing back to the border.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  King Drostan and Prince Trenton were in the tense space between their armies; glaring at each other from horseback. It was obvious that they had been in the middle of a heated argument when we rode up. The Seelie Army made way for Conall and I as we galloped out to the furious royals. Trenton glanced over at the sound of our approach and then a double take. His eyes widened when he saw us, but Drostan's eyes narrowed.

  “I told you to get her to safety!” Trenton roared at Conall.

  “Just listen to what she has to say,” Conall said calmly. “Both of you.” He added a grim look at Drostan.

  Drostan lost his angry look in favor of a confused one. As both of the fairy royals went warily silent, Conall edged his horse between them and then nodded to me.

  “Go ahead, Riley,” Conall said. “Tell them what you want for us.”

  “I think I may have a solution,” I said to the King and the Prince. “If you're willing to compromise just a little bit more, Trenton. And if you're willing to let go of your anger, Drostan.”

  “What else would you have of me, Riley?” Trenton asked in confusion.

  “Drostan,” I said simply as I shifted my stare to Drostan.

  Drostan's jaw fell open.

  “Don't say it,” Trenton growled. “I just went through hell to get you away from him.”

  “I know,” I said gently. “But I don't want these men to pay the price for our love.” I waved a hand at both armies. “And there's one more thing that I've only just realized.”

  “What?” Trenton whispered.

  “I care for him.”

  My words fell into a shocked silence. But then Drostan began to laugh; not a scornful laugh as I was used to, but one filled with happiness, hope, and wonder. We all looked at Drostan with wide eyes.

  “Riley,” Drostan declared, “you are the most confounding, amazing, annoying, beautiful, life-altering, intuitive, sexy woman in all the worlds. Not only do you always know exactly what I need but now you seem to know what my kingdom needs as well... what this whole fucking world needs.”

  “So, it's not only me you see clearly,” Trenton said softly as he looked at me. Then he turned to stare at Drostan in consideration. “Do you truly love her; enough to enter a Blooding with her and two Seelie men?”

  “Fuck me, but I do.” Drostan sighed dismally. “I've fought against my feelings, and I was cruel to her; all of you know that. But it was in self-defense; I knew that she would destroy me. Riley got into my blood, and I couldn't deny her; no matter what I did. I would dream about her and wake with a desperate wanting. Then I'd have to accept the fact that I wasn't the one holding her... that I might never be that man.”

  “I can see how that would be rough,” Conall offered grudgingly. “But the things you did to her—”

  “I regret them,” Drostan cut him off. “But only because it hurt her. I don't regret that those actions have brought us here. You see; she did destroy me, but only to make me into a new man—a better man. A man who is willing to compromise; simply so that I may be one of the lucky few to be loved by her.”

  I looked at the Seelie men and waited; my heart racing. I was tumbling fast into an ocean of emotions, and if Trenton or Conall refused to accept Drostan, I knew that I'd drown in it. After all that he had just revealed, I couldn't let Drostan go. I couldn't let any of them go. I watched with baited breath as Conall nodded to Trenton, and the Prince gave a deep sigh.

  “This will be a binding marriage between the four of us,” Trenton said. “You will be forever connected to Seelie, King Drostan. Can you accept that?”

  “I believe what you just said is that there will be an unshakable peace between our kingdoms,” Drostan noted with a smirk. “So, yes; I can accept that.”

  “I, too, can accept it,” Trenton smiled softly and looked at me. “It seems that my sister was wrong about you, my love. You are not the harbinger of war, but rather; the catalyst of peace.”

  “I do my best,” I said with a soft smile.

  “One condition,” Drostan added.

  We all looked at him warily.

  “We finish this here; today,” Drostan said firmly. “I won't let you ride away with Riley while our marriage remains incomplete.”

  “So be it,” Trenton agreed. “Summon forth your officiant; he shall unite us all.”

  “And the marriage shall be consecrated here as well,” Drostan added. “With all of us; together.”

  “Um...” I cleared my throat. “What does that mean?”

  “We will all have you on the same night,” Drostan said. “I will not allow it to be said that Prince Trenton consecrated your union first. My people would find insult in it.”

  “And mine would be insulted if you were to take her first,” Trenton nodded. “All right, King Drostan; we shall make camp, marry our lady, and have our wedding night together.”

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Word was sent to Queen Tana so that she had a chance to attend her brother's wedding. She rode up just as night fell, and we were all assembling before a make-shift altar with Percival standing as officiant once again.

  “Queen Tana,” Drostan smiled saucily at the other monarch. “I'm pleased that you could attend my wedding.”

  “And I'm pleased that a peaceful solution has been presented to us,” Tana said generously. “I will be delighted to call you 'Brother.'”

  “And I will be most relieved to call you 'Sister.'” Drostan bowed gallantly to her. “You have been a worthy adversary, Your Majesty, but I'm sure you shall make an even better ally.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Tana said smugly. Then she turned to her brother and hugged him tightly. “Blessings to you, my brother. I hope this marriage will not only bring peace to our kingdom, but to your soul as well.”

  “It already has,” Trenton said warmly. “And I'm grateful that you're here to bear witness to it, Tana.”

  “I am as well.” Tana turned to me. “Riley, you have surprised me over and over. I thought that you would bring my kingdom ruin, and for that, I offer you my sincere apology. I have never been more delighted to be proven wrong.”

  Tana hugged me tightly, and I hugged her back.

  “Take care of my brother,” she whispered in my ear.

  “I'll do my best, Your Majesty,” I promised.

  “I have brought you a gift,” Queen Tana said as she waved Janet forward.

  Janet carried over a carved, wooden box and opened the lid for the Queen. Inside, there was a delicate, crown of gold leaves twined with sparkling, white flowers.

  “This crown is worn by all the women in my family on their wedding day,” Tana said as she lifted the crown from its box.

  “Tana,” Trenton whispered, “thank you.”

  “She deserves to wear it, Trenton,” Tana said. “There's no need to thank me. Mother would have wanted your bride to make her vows wearing the Crown of Spring, and I want your marriage to begin with the blessing of abundance and fertility.”

  “It is the right time of year,” Drostan noted with a sly smile. “The Rites of Spring were just upon us.”

  “The Goddess smiles upon us all today,” Tana said as she gently placed the crown upon my head. “And I thank her for bringing you to us, Riley.”

  “No one is more grateful than I,” I said sincerely.

  My wedding dress was a little rumpled, and my veil was lost, but I felt beautiful with that bright crown on my head. My three grooms escorted me to a fresh altar; with another chalice and dagger laid upon it. There was some debate over Drostan a
nd I exchanging vows again. Technically, our vows were in place and anything further was unnecessary. But Drostan and I both felt as if so much had changed in the hours between ceremonies that the intent behind the vows had altered, even if the words had not. So, before Trenton and Conall made their vows, Drostan renewed his.

  “All that I am is now yours,” Drostan declared in a strong voice. “Every breath and heartbeat I will share with you. My body is your body and my blood is your blood. I give you my eternity.”

  It was short, as far as wedding vows go, but it couldn't have been any more profound or more perfect for us... for all of us. After Drostan had made his declaration, Trenton and Conall made theirs. At last, it was my turn, and I made one vow to all of them. We shared the sacred wine, and then Drostan an lifted the dagger.

  “My blood is your blood,” Drostan repeated the vow as he sliced his palm.

  “My blood is your blood,” Conall said as he did the same.

  Then Trenton removed his tunic and took the dagger from Conall. He made a slice over his chest and held my gaze as he said, “My blood is your blood.”

  The men would be united through me, so I had to be cut in three places. The traditional location was the palm, but that left one man out. So, Trenton had chosen to make his cut over his heart. I held my arms out to the men, and they each made a cut on my body that mimicked their own. Drostan cut my right palm, Conall my left, and Trenton made a small cut above my heart. Then Trenton embraced me; angling our wounds together as Drostan and Conall simultaneously clasped their bleeding hands with mine. As soon as our blood melded, magic surged through us.

  The shivering rush of our new Understanding spread out from us and trembled across both kingdoms. All of the soldiers—both Unseelie and Seelie—shouted with joy, and my husbands closed in tighter around me as our marriage was set into our souls. I could feel their love flowing through my body, and I knew that with time, this bond would only grow stronger. I had bartered my life away again, but this time, it was a fair exchange.