As if on cue, the door burst open, and Fen whipped in, shutting it silently behind him and turning to look at us. He'd somehow acquired a tunic and hose, and had pulled his hair back into a masculine Saishen style and he was looking much better for it. "Why are you all moping around," he said crossly. "We've got a spell to complete."
"What are you talking about?" said Mel crossly from the bed. "If you hadn't noticed, we were rather disastrously interrupted.
"Minor setback," said Fen. He stood there, looking impatient. "Well? Let's go!"
"You want to go back to the cottage?" I asked. "Now? It's getting dark!"
"We made it last time," said Fen, and Mel perked up.
"That's true," she said. "But the negotiations tomorrow..."
"I'll tell you everything you need to know," said Fen. He waited, hands on his hips. "I want to do this," he said crossly. "Tonight. But..." He deflated. "I understand if you'd rather wait. Or... not at all. Being a Saishen princess isn't exactly a walk in the park."
Mel's tail flicked. "No, I want to," she said, standing up. "If you think we can make it." She stood, and jumped off the bed, trotting over to Fen. "We should go now."
"I..." They both turned and looked at me, and I wrung my hands. "I'm coming with you."
"You don't have to," said Mel. "It's dangerous, and not your responsibility. And you promised your mother you'd be there tomorrow. If something goes wrong..."
I shook my head. "Don't care. I want to be there."
"It's settled then," said Fen. "Back into the forest we go."
*~*~*
Our escape was quite a bit easier than our first one had been. We climbed out the window in the same way we had the first time, made easy by the pear tree directly outside my window. Once we were on the grounds, Mel shifted back into a human and used a glamour to disguise us all as old women. We scurried out of the castle and through the orchard, hiding a few times from guards, and at one point, Mel used a spell to put one to sleep before he could shout and alert the others.
"I do hope he doesn't get in trouble," she said, sounding slightly less than sincere.
Finally we sprinted across the open field to the cedar forest and began the long hike to the wall.
"We'll have just enough time to make it to the cottage," said Fen, "perform the spell and come back. With luck, no one will have noticed we were gone."
It sounded like quite a lot of luck, but I didn't mention that. Mel, back in cat form, went to ride on Fen's shoulder, and he explained to her as quickly and succinctly as he could how to pretend to be him, and how to behave in diplomatic negotiations.
"It has been twenty years," he said. "So I think you can get away with being a bit different personality-wise. Tell them that you apprenticed as a witch, and that you've left behind your past life."
"Do you think that will actually work?" asked Mel, and Fen shrugged.
"I was always a bit odd."
"We could run away together," I said quietly. "All three of us."
Fen actually stopped walking, and turned to look at me. "You've got a bad habit of running away from your problems, Princess," he said, crossing his arms.
I let out a bark of laughter. "You can talk. And anyway, you're the one who gets to leave. You get a brand new face that no one recognises, you can go wherever you like, and no one will stop you. I don't want to be a princess, you know, any more than you did. I wanted to stay with you two in our cottage in the forest. I liked it. And now we can't even do that."
"Both of you," hissed Mel, "argue some other time. It must be nearly midnight, and we've still got to get through the swamp." She jumped off of Fen's shoulder and trotted ahead of us into the woods. We both rushed after her.
We found the hole in the wall and slipped through, keeping to the path that Mel knew into the swamp. Where before it had felt like running away, now it felt like going home. I wished for the warm hearth of the cobb cottage, though I knew we wouldn't have time to relax next to it. I wondered if we could do it, just run away, build a new cottage somewhere far away from Priia. But there was no time to think about that now. We moved at breakneck speed through the swamp, eventually coming up on the cottage, illuminated gently by the green lights of the Forestlings.
Inside it was dark, the fire having burnt down to embers. Mel transformed back into a human and went to the table, rustling through the leaves and lifting them to replace the burnt ones on the floor. I helped her while Fen went to light the fire again, swearing a little as he burnt his fingers on the coals.
"I've no idea how to do this," he said angrily, and Mel went wearily to take over, leaving me and Fen to finish laying out the patterns of leaves.
"Is she going to be all right?" I asked Fen nervously, looking at Mel crouched by the fire, her head low and her shoulders slumped. "It takes a lot of energy, doesn't it? Maybe we should have waited until tomorrow."
"I hadn't thought of that," he admitted. "Mel, will you be alright if we do this tonight?"
"Why wouldn't I?" snapped Mel, standing with a burning branch in her hand. The firelight illuminated the deep shadows under her pale eyes.
"If you want to wait—" I began, and she cut me off.
"We have to go back tonight," she said. "Besides, I want to be done with this. I want my body back." She gazed levelly at Fen, who nodded.
"And I want mine," he said, his voice gravelly and never more recognizable. "Let's get this done with."
We finished with the leaves, and Mel and Fen drank the last of the silver potion and went to stand in their respective spots. My chest was thrumming with nerves, the air so thick with tension it was difficult to breathe. I gulped down air and took the lit branch from Mel, moving to light the fire underneath the sphere before withdrawing it and waving the lit end out before it burnt down to my fingers. The magical fire glowed deep blue, in contrast to the warm firelight of the hearth, which dimmed in comparison to it. I stepped back up against the wall as the room became dark and locked eyes with Mel. She looked tired and determined, her shoulders slumped and her teeth gritted.
"No turning into a cat," Fen reminded her, and she spared a tight grin.
Then she spoke the words and the spell began.
I knew what to expect of course, but nothing could prepare me for seeing the bodies of my friends lifted into the air while they writhed in pain. The souls fought as they left their bodies, as if straining to stay. Mel's face as she pushed her soul out of her body, inch by inch, was one that I would not forget for a long time.
At last it seemed to give up the fight, and I looked to see Fen's soul leaving him as well, and he slumped with the effort of wrenching it out of him. The souls seemed to waver for a moment, but the sphere glowed blue and strong, and they made their way across the room and into each other's bodies. Then there was a loud bang and the light was snuffed, as if it had never existed, and the fire in the hearth glowed orange again, and Mel and Fen's bodies fell heavily to the ground.
I hesitated for a moment, but remembered to rush to who I hoped was Mel, reaching her in time to see her purple eyes flutter open. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, as if afraid to move, and then, slowly and with a horrible, wrenching effort, lifted her hands to look at them. A look of pure relief crossed her face, and she dropped her arms to the ground again and closed her eyes, a few tears leaking out of them.
"I'm so tired, Brean," she said, her voice heartbreakingly weak. "Please let me stay here."
"You can't stay on the floor," I insisted. "We have to get you to bed, at least."
Her eyes fluttered open. "Have to get back... to the castle..." she murmured, and I shushed her. She shut her eyes again, seeming grateful, and gestured with weak limbs. "Check on Fen."
I nodded and went to Fen, who was lying, crumpled on his side. I took his hand in mine, frightened by how cold it was, and rubbed it. "Fen? Are you alright?"
"Am I a cat?" he moaned softly, and I laughed.
"No, Fen. You're a man."
His eyes fl
ew open, pale and green, and he glanced down at me. "Really?" he said weakly. "Feels odd."
"Don't tell me you're not happy," I said, feeling his forehead, which was clammy.
"Mm," he coughed. "I feel amazing."
"Bodies aren't supposed to take so much switching around, I suppose," I said softly. "Come on, let's get you both to bed."
"Leave me here," he said waving me away. "Attend to your lady first. I don't want you... knocking me around and waking me up from this dream just yet."
"You're not dreaming," I said, but I stood and went to Mel.
"Can you stand?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"You can't sleep on the floor," I said crossly. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers. She smiled a little, and I lifted her arm, draping her deadweight up over my shoulders. "Come on, darling," I said. "Help me out here. We're getting you to bed."
I helped her into her bedroom and lay her down on the bed, not quite as gently as I'd have liked, but she was bigger than me, and I was quite exhausted myself. She drew her legs up onto the bed and climbed under the covers, and I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before returning to the hearth to find Fen curled up in front of it.
"Don't you want to sleep in a bed?" I asked him, and he looked up at me. He'd been studying his hands, and he brought them to his face, brushing his chin lightly, and I realised he was feeling for stubble.
"This is a dream," he said matter-of-factly. "So, there's no use doing anything except lying here."
I crouched in front of him, and pinched him on the shoulder quite hard.
"Ow!" He batted my hand away. "Doesn't prove anything." But he drew himself up into a crouch and then stood slowly and wearily. "We're meant to go back to the castle."
"Yes." I shrugged. "But you two can't travel. And I'm not leaving you here."
"For what it's worth," he said slowly. "You're a very good princess."
I snorted. "I'm terrible. I cut my hair short, and I ran away, and now I'm going to break a promise I made to my mother."
He gave a tired smile. "You're not a very good princess by their standards, maybe. But you're brave, and kind, and caring, and you do what's right, for others and for yourself. That's what the princesses in stories always do, isn't it?"
"You're over-tired," I told him, and he chuckled and drew his arms around himself.
"I do feel close to passing out. You said something about a bed."
I helped him into the spare room where I'd slept before, and then I returned to Mel, crawling into the bed to hold her from behind. I thought she was asleep until she spoke.
"What will happen tomorrow?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "Go to sleep now, Mel. I love you."
"Yes," she murmured. "And I love you. Thank you for everything."
"You're welcome," I whispered, and then she was silent in sleep.
Even though I was exhausted, it took me a long time to fall into a restless slumber. I was afraid of a banging on the door, of Periyat coming to drag me back and force me to marry him. Of my mother's disapproval. But in the end, all I could do was hold tight to Mel and think only of her until at last I drifted off.
*~*~*
There was no banging on the door the next morning. Instead I awoke alone in Mel's bed to the smell of bacon cooking. Warm morning light was streaming through the curtains, and for a moment, I wanted to forget everything that had happened the night before. I stretched happily, and sat up, knowing full well everything that was wrong but wanting to banish the unhappiness from my mind, if just for a moment.
Then the door burst open, and Fen bounded in and tackled me down onto the bed.
He squeezed me tight, then backed off a little, his face uncertain. "Er, sorry. Suppose physical contact is a little less appropriate now that I'm huma—"
I cut him off with a return hug, jumping up out of the bed and clamping him around the middle before taking a step back to observe him. He'd washed, and cut his hair a bit shorter, and he was wearing his elven clothes and an earring of all things. He was also grinning from ear to ear, and his smile was infectious.
"Mel's cooking breakfast." He gestured me towards the door. "Probably they've noticed we've disappeared, but we might as well have a nice meal before they drag us back to the castle."
Mel looked beautiful in the morning sunlight, if still a bit tired. She was wearing a lovely purple velvet gown and had strung a sparkling gold chain into her hair, and her eyes were alight, beautiful despite the dark circles under them. I moved to kiss her, and she responded, the bacon forgotten until Fen dived in to save it.
We had breakfast, tea and bacon and fresh vegetables from the garden, and when there was a knock on the door, we didn't bother panicking. In fact, we ignored it and continued eating until at last I stood, shoving my chair back, and went to answer it. Dread was creeping into me, despite my determined cheer, and I wished whoever it was would go away and leave us be.
I opened the door, fully expecting Periyat. Instead, it was an elf I didn't recognise. I thought perhaps he had been in Periyat's party, but he hadn't spoken then.
"Princess," he said, managing to both stand at attention and peer into the cottage at the same time. "My name is Mani. I bring a message from Prince Periyat and the Queen."
I felt my heart sink. "Er, yes, what is it?"
"He regrets to announce his formal withdrawal of his proposal," said the elf, "in the circumstances of your marriage to the Saishen Princess Khalida, who, after twenty years of unexplained absence, forfeits her claim to the throne."
I turned to glance at Fen, who swallowed his bacon quickly. "Is that a new clause?"
"An obscure one," said Mani. "Since the princess was absent at the proceedings this morning, it was enacted upon her by the prince and his governing body." He narrowed his eyes at Fen. "Who are you?"
"He's my... valet," said Mel, gesturing at Fen with her fork. "So I'm not a princess anymore?"
"By birth," said the elf. "But not by title. If you wish, you may travel to Saisha and petition for your reinstatement."
"Oh," said Mel. "I think I'm alright for now."
"Right then," said Mani. "Princess Breanwynne, His Majesty Prince Periyat has formally withdrawn his proposal for your hand in marriage, so that he may be free to propose instead to your mother, Queen Annea."
I choked. "He's what?"
"Due to the Queen's status as a widow, and your unavailability for marriage, the decision was made for Prince Periyat to marry your mother in the upcoming royal wedding. You, and your Saishen bride are, of course, invited to the wedding." He nodded at me. "Your mother sends her warmest regards, and hopes you have a blessed honeymoon. Prince Periyat also sends his congratulations. Now, if there isn't anything else, I must make my way back to the palace."
I stood with my mouth open for a moment, working to find my voice. "So, my mother isn't angry that I didn't show up this morning."
Mani sniffed. "I wouldn't know about the Queen's personal feelings," he said. "If you are asking about my personal assessment," his face softened slightly, "no, I do not think she is angry." He straightened, and stood at attention. "Good day to you, your highness," he said, and left with great pomp and circumstance.
I stood in the doorway and watched him leave, giving the Forestlings' lair a wide berth. I heard a chair scrape back, and Mel got up and walked towards me, slipping her arms around my waist.
"Well then," she said, her voice a pleased murmur. "I suppose that's that."
I turned in her arms, and gave in to her insistent kiss, forgetting everything, including how to stand, eventually, and she caught me in her arms and laughed.
"That's it then?" I asked breathlessly. "They worked out everything for us?"
"I suppose so," said Fen from the table. "You know, I think I may like your mother after all."
"Yes," I agreed. "Me too."
"Well," said Mel, smiling. "What are we going to do now?"
"We've got to get dresses for
the wedding," I said. "So maybe you can make a few potions and we can take them into town? Fen will need clothes too, oh, and a gift—"
"That's not what I was thinking of." Mel smiled and kissed me again, tugging me towards her bedroom.
"I suppose I'll see to this bacon then," said Fen crossly, but when I glanced at him he was smiling as well.
Then Mel was kissing me again, and the morning sun was glowing through the cottage windows, and for then, and perhaps for ever after, everything was absolutely perfect.
FIN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. K. Pendragon is a queer writer hailing from British Columbia, Canada. They have been writing and telling stories from a young age, and enjoy writing in a variety of different genres, mashing them together whenever possible. A social recluse at heart, J. likes peace and solitude, with the exception of attention from their doting boyfriend and cold disdain from their snot-bag of a cat. J. loves receiving messages and feedback, and you can reach them by email at [email protected], or tweet them at @JKPendragon.
Witch, Cat, and Cobb Page 6
