Fae Frost

by Michelle R. Reid

  Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say that, not when it was so obvious what it would mean to my family. Even so, how cruel was I being to Seamus, letting him think something might happen, when I wasn’t sure what I would do?

  I weaved around the buildings, ducking away from curious looks of the folk that were around. Whether they were Deaglan kin or ranch hands, I don’t know, but I didn’t want to talk with them yet. It was a relief when I finally came to the yellow barn. Well, I assumed it was the yellow barn. The only part of the long, tall barn that was yellow was the two front doors, standing open, and the frames around the windows on the side. The rest of the barn was natural wood. Another barn not far away had red paint splattered over it in a similar fashion. There was nothing pretty about it. It was a straightforward and logical job, marking the two barns as different, without spending too much in paint. So different from the artistic flare that the Sun Fae seemed unable to deny in any of their constructions.

  I stepped into the barn and blinked as my eyes adjusted to the dim light and the smell of cows swamped over me.

  The barn was divided in half with a wooden fence. The front half held ranching equipment. The back had a half dozen black cows, tied in two rows along the walls. They shifted, stomped their hooves on the dirt ground, and turned their heads, stretching the rope leads around their faces.

  A door in the back of the barn opened and a shrill whistle echoed through the room. A handful of calves pushed their way through the opening. They couldn’t have been more than a week old, thundering around the fenced-in area, gangly legs swinging under them as they scampered about.

  Seamus walked in after them. “Come on, come on,” he said, his voice calm and stern as he grabbed the nearest calf around the stomach.

  It let out a bellow and wiggled as Seamus brought it over to the first cow. Seamus positioned the calf’s nose next to the udder of the cow. Immediately, the calf lunged forward and latched on. Seamus stood up and patted the cow on the head as it mooed and looked to see what was happening. “You’re alright, girl.”

  He walked over to the next calf within arm’s length that hadn’t already gotten the idea, and grabbed that one.

  I smiled, watching the way he handled the calves. So sure in his movements, making them do what he wanted them to do without hurting them. To soothe my jumpy heart, I ran my hand over the lump in my apron pocket where the healing tonic rested and walked forward. “Hello.”

  Seamus jumped, lost his hold on a calf, and looked up. “Maira!” His ears turned red. “I didn’t see—ah, hello.” He swallowed. “Um, it’s a nice day, isn’t it?”

  I nodded and looked around. “I’m surprised you still have young calves. Why are they here, and not with the rest of the herds?”

  “Ah,” Seamus grunted. He lunged forward and grabbed the calf, his movements not nearly as smooth as they were a moment ago. “A bull got loose in the pastures when he shouldn’t have last year. Now we have some out of season cows. These are the orphans from that herd.” He brought the calf over to a vacant cow and stuck its nose down until it started to eat. “These cows have already weaned their calves. Since they still have milk, I’m using them to feed the orphans.” He patted the cow on the rump.

  “Does that happen often?” I leaned against the fence and watched the tail of the calf closest to me wag in glee as it sucked. “Orphans, I mean.”

  He walked over and stood next to the cow, watching the same calf. “It’s a lot more likely with out of season cows. Since there’s a lot going on, we aren’t able to keep as close an eye on them like when the rest of the herd is birthing.”

  Cow business. It sounded as messy as the air was smelly around me. But there was something adorable about the calf with its long gangly legs. “It’s cute. What’s its name?”

  Seamus leaned over to look at the black calf more closely. “She doesn’t have one. Most don’t. We have too many, and well, it’s easier that way. Since these are meat cows.”

  “Oh.” I bit my lips.

  He reached out and ran a hand down the calf’s back. “But she has pretty lines. If she lives the winter, I was thinking about putting her in the show at the Spring Fair.”

  Cormick said that our cows have good lines too. I didn’t really know what that meant. A cow was a cow, although that baby was really cute. Still, if she was a fair cow, then that meant the likelihood of her having a long life was high.

  Seamus peaked at me, a small smile on his face. “What do you think I should name her?” There was something so boyishly charming about his face and the way his blond curls fell into his hazel eyes.

  I pressed my lips together. “Rosemary.”

  His smile bloomed into a full grin that gleamed in his eyes. “Rosemary it is.”

  I found myself smiling back, touched by his gentle nature. “How are you going to keep track of her?” I glanced around at the other animals. “They’re all black.”

  “I’ll know,” he said, voice soft with confidence.

  I found myself believing him.

  Seamus might not be a king, but he was still a master in his domain. Until he saw me and became flustered, he’d been so sure in what he was doing. I was sure that he handled everything with the same confidence. It was so reassuring. It was a confidence that I lacked. But we both wanted the same thing—a happy marriage.

  If it weren’t for Helios, it would be very easy to learn to love Seamus and the simple life he promised.

  The idea crashed through my head. I didn’t want it to be easy to love Seamus. I pushed off the fence, trying to act natural while the desire to run pounded through my veins.

  Run away from here, from anything that would distract me from Helios. Anything that threatened my connection with him and the magical world I wanted to live in. I wasn’t being fair. But who was I not fair to? Helios? Or Seamus?

  Chapter 10

  We got back to the farm at dinner time. It was such a relief to be able to hide in my house, away from prying eyes. As if Mama and Papa could tell that I was feeling overwhelmed, they avoided talk about this morning. Instead, the conversation was about the end of summer market and events that would take place there. When dinner was done, Papa and I put our plates in the wash basin and walked to the door.

  “Just a moment, Maira,” Mama called to me from the kitchen sink.

  I closed the door and walked back to her.

  She dried her hands on a towel and motioned to her room, the door on the other side of the kitchen. “There’s something I want to show you.” She smiled softly.

  While the rest of the house was clean and uncluttered, my parent’s room was full of things. Chests lined the walls, some made out of thick cedar and filled with clothes. Others were made out of lesser wood and housed knickknacks that represented events in my parents’ marriage, a wooden horse that was missing one ear from the years of use from my brothers, the seashell brooch Papa gave Mama when my first brother got married sat on top of one chest, a pink ribbon that Mama used to tie in my hair. Some of the boxes piled so high, they obstructed the views of the tapestries hanging on the shiplap walls.

  Mama walked over to an oak box next to the bed and opened the lid. From inside, she pulled out a cream dress and laid it on the bed. A wedding dress, with lace around the torso and the sleeves. A lacey tie wrapped around the waist and cascaded down the back and stopped at the hem of the skirt.

  My eyes widened, taking in all the material and lace.

  “This was my wedding dress,” Mama said as she carefully ran her fingers along the material. “Yes, I used to be as skinny as you.” She laughed over her shoulder. “That was before eight pregnancies.” She sobered. “I’d always hoped that I’d get to see you wear it. After seven boys, I didn’t think I’d get a girl. Then you were attacked by those Red Caps and I was worried you’d never get the chance to wear this dress. To eventually know what it feels like to hold a sweet baby in your arms and love it with all your heart.” Her eyes filled with tears as she smiled softly i
n memory.

  I stared at her, not sure what to say. I couldn’t remember a time when Mama cried happy tears. And what I really wanted to do would break her heart.

  I forced a smile and looked down at the dress, finally stepping closer. “It’s really lovely.” I reached out and fingered the lace around the collar, amazed at its excellent condition. Another testament of how much Mama’s marriage to Papa meant to her.

  And yet I was treating my engagement to Seamus casually, despite knowing he was a good man and I’d be taken care of for the rest of my life.

  Mama grinned, chest swelling in pride. “Yes, it is lovely. And it’ll look lovely on you. I don’t even think there needs to be too many alterations, but you should try it on to see.” She lifted it and pressed it against my body, eyeing the fit of the gown.

  I stood there and let her, barely able to look into her happy face.

  “You have that silk cloak up in your chest,” Mama continued casually and turned to lay the dress back on the bed. “It’s so lovely, but you barely wear it. It’s a shame really, for such an expensive piece to go unused. I think it would look beautiful with this dress. You should wear it on your wedding day.”

  I couldn’t breathe. It was like a chain twisted around my chest, pulling tighter and tighter. Wear my Fae silk cloak to get married in? The cloak that Helios gave me? Wear it, while I married another man?

  I swallowed and turned to finger a handkerchief doll that sat crumpled on the top of a chest. Carefully, I smoothed out the material of the first doll I ever had. “Yeah…maybe.” My fingers drifted over the knots of green thread that represented the eyes.

  The floor planks groaned as Mama turned to me. “Maira.” Her voice demanded my attention. She waited until I looked at her before she reached out and hugged me tight around the shoulders. “I know this is hard,” she said softly into my hair, the same reddish-blondish-brownish color hers once was. “It was for me too, when I was younger. It’s hard to close the door to what your life once was and start something new. But it ended up being the best thing that could have happened to me. I believe it will be for you too.”

  She leaned back and fussed with my hair, trying to get it to lay down straight like she wanted. “I know how indebted you feel to the Sun Fae. They have done you—us—a great service, for a price that you still haven’t told us about. But you can’t keep one foot in the Fae world and one in the human world. It’s not healthy for you. And not fair on poor Seamus, to keep him waiting like this. If you don’t make up your mind soon, it’ll have to wait till next spring when the priest comes back.”

  I took a breath and looked down. “I know. But…” Would that really be such a bad thing?

  She smiled sadly and lifted my chin. “It’s time you decide what you are going to do. You aren’t a child anymore. You need to step into the world and walk on the path that you’re supposed to.”

  The path I was always meant to, since the day I was born. Do what is best for the farm. She might not have said the words, but I knew what she meant.

  She ran a hand down my hair, trying to soothe me. “Why don’t you try on the dress? It needs to be fitted properly before too long.” She left the room, closing the door behind her.

  All I could do was stare at the innocent cream lace and material on the bed. I should try it on. Most engagements barely lasted a couple weeks, just long enough to make sure the couple could become acquainted before the season changed.

  Mama told me it was time to choose.

  It wasn’t fair for me to keep everyone waiting. Not only was I holding up my family and Seamus, but I was throwing the Sun and Frost Fae into chaos. There were things they needed that I couldn’t give them. An heir. A peace treaty to ensure their safety. A human like me would never be able to do that, and it was best that I didn’t step between Helios and Queen Aysla.

  Slowly, I reached for the dress.

  Inches away, my hand stopped. I didn’t want to touch it. I didn’t want to wear it.

  Suddenly it was all too much. Thoughts of never seeing Helios again, knowing he was with another woman, were almost as painful as the idea of being with another man for the rest of my life. It would be a future without the color and wonder of magic. I would have nothing left but a reality of duties and cows.

  It’s okay to choose to be happy, Aine’s voice whispered softly in my head.

  I wanted to be happy. More than anything, I wanted to be happy. And see Helios happily beside me. Slowly, my hand wrapped around my bracelet and lifted it to my chest, remembering the way he whispered “Fae Eyes” when he gave it to me. I wanted to hear that voice for the rest of my life.

  Helios, I thought picturing him in my mind clear as day, I want to see Helios.

  My feet inched back from the bed.

  I wanted happiness. With Helios. No matter what it cost me, I would pay it.

  I swung around and ran for the door. It shook as I threw it open. The door banged against the wall, making the pots and pans about the sink rattle.

  Mama jumped up from the table, alarmed. “Maira, wha—”

  I ran outside, not even looking at her. As soon as the sun hit me, a sense of wild freedom exploded in my heart. All the pressure of what I should do vanished from my shoulders, leaving me so light and giddy I could fly.

  I ran right past the barn. My feet took me down the incline of one of the dry irrigation trenches that lined the fields, straight to the forest. I was out of breath by the time I was halfway across the field and couldn’t hear my family yelling anymore. It wasn’t just the exercise that left me breathless, my heart was pounding so fast with joy and happiness, it felt like it was on fire.

  Nothing was going to stop me from telling Helios that I loved him. Not anymore. There was going to be no more “farmer girl” and “Fae king.” It was going to be just me and Helios. Forever. Come what may. No matter what problems arose, me and Helios would find a solution, somehow.

  I stumbled across the tree line, breathing hard. My heart might be ready to run forever, but my body wasn’t. I put my hands on my knees and leaned over, breathing hard.

  What was I doing, getting all sweaty like this? I should look my best. Maybe I should have changed into nicer clothes than the plain blue work dress and apron I wore. I should have tied my hair up in ribbons and washed my face.

  I had a long walk ahead of me. I could use that to get cleaned up at least. If I was lucky, I’d run into another Fae and they could let Helios know I was here sooner rather than later.

  Quickly, I hurried over to the small creek scooping up the cool fresh water. Its chill and freshness left me smiling as it dripped off my chin. Laughing and reveling in the wonder of life that seemed to bloom just minutes ago, I washed my face and arms, any skin that was visible. Then I braided my hair and wetted the sides a little, hoping to keep the wilder pieces in check. It never worked, but maybe this time it would. Right now, anything was possible.

  I climbed up the bank and looked around the peaceful forest. Humming to myself, I started down the deer trail, hand in my pocket and my thumb stroking the smooth neck of the tonic bottle.

  Light flashed brightly in the distance as something flew through one of the beams of sun that broke through the tree canopy. It was a light I knew well, the flash of sun reflecting off glossy Fae wings.

  Grinning, I stopped and looked up. What luck. I could ask whoever it was to let Helios know I was coming. Maybe he could even come and meet me halfway.

  Two more flashes followed the first. Three Fae. The Fae wound around tree branches, getting closer and closer. And bluer.

  The smile on my face disappeared as realization hit.

  It was Frost Fae who come closer. Not just any Frost Fae, Queen Aysla and her guards.

  Chapter 11

  It wasn’t till my heel hit the ground behind me that I realized I had stepped back. I was ready to run, as fast as I could. I couldn’t face a Frost Fae queen by myself.

  I took another step back and paused. I had ch
osen a life with Helios. Since she was a queen of the neighboring lands, I would have to deal with Queen Aysla for the rest of my life. She might be powerful and able to wield ice, but I wasn’t going to submit to her.

  Instead, I took a breath and faced her squarely as she and her guards landed before me. I forced a smile. “Hello, Queen Aysla.”

  The guard on the right, the one who attacked me just this morning, glowered at me.

  She regarded me with cold disdain. “I thought you were smarter than this. How disappointing.” There was more warmth in snow than there was in her voice. “You were a fool to enter these woods.”

  “Why do you hate me?” I asked. “I’ve never done anything to you. I don’t even think we’ve exchanged more than a dozen words till now.”

  “Your very existence offends me,” she seethed. “A human, treated like a Fae. Somehow, a plain little human like you is considered my equal. A human like you threatens the development my people.” Her hand fisted. Frost started to spread from her and across the ground.

  I watched as flowers withered and grass turned white. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I want everyone to be happy. The Sun Fae and Frost Fae. All the Fae and humans. I’m sure there’s a way we can both—”

  “The only way is for you to disappear,” Queen Aysla cut in. “Both you and your family will pay for crossing the Frost Nation.” Ice crystals and snowflakes formed in the air around her, glittering like diamonds in the sun. “Apparently you couldn’t take the first hint. This will be your last.”

  I was officially in over my head. Maybe I shouldn’t have confronted her after all. I doubted the magic in me was enough to deflect an attack from someone as strong as her.

  She thrust out her hand towards me, the ice followed her movements and blasted at me.

  I yelled and threw up my arms.