by Julie Kagawa
“I don't know what you're talking about,” Ash replied with perfect
innocence, and tossed a kernel into his mouth. “I’m just here to watch a movie.”
I would’ve pinched him, but the doors at the end of the hall opened, and
the line started moving forward.
Sadly, with the amount of people in the theater, all the back row seats
were taken by the time we reached the aisles, so we had to take seats front and
center. Which was fine for movie watching but totally unsuitable for making out,
as I had been secretly hoping to do. But I snuggled into Ash and munched
popcorn and watched the movie, which was cute and sappy and very much a
Valentine’s Day flick. Ash didn't say much throughout the film, except to ask me
what a vibrator was, which made me very glad it was dark. Awkward questions
aside, he seemed to enjoy it, or at least he didn’t fall asleep in the middle, like the
snoring man several aisles behind us.
“So?” I asked when the movie was over and we’d filed onto the sidewalk
again, hand-in-hand. “What did you think? Was your first movie experience
everything you hoped it would be and more?”
“It was...interesting,” Ash replied as we began walking. “I think the one
human male should have challenged the other to a duel when he attempted to steal
his girl, but that’s just what I would’ve done. It’s a shame dueling has fallen out
of favor in the human world.” He frowned slightly as I sighed and gazed
wistfully down the street. “Meghan? Are you all right?”
I nodded. “I’m just sad the night is almost over,” I said, shrugging. “I
suppose we should head home, before Glitch bursts a blood vessel or short
circuits his hair.”
That made us both chuckle. Sadly, it was mostly true. Our night together
was nearly at an end, and it was time to return to Mag Tuiredh. To leave Normal
Meghan behind and return as the Iron Queen.
I sighed again, feeling melancholic. Still, it was as wonderful a date as I
could’ve hoped for, a pitch-perfect Valentine’s Day. Ash put an arm around me,
and I leaned into him as we left the mortal realm and slipped back into the
Nevernever.
***
We found our carriage where we’d left it on the Faery side of the trod, and
Ash helped me onto the seat before sliding in himself. The door slammed, the
driver clucked his tongue, and the carriage started moving, bouncing softly as it
headed back to Mag Tuiredh.
“I can see why this Valentine’s Day is such a popular festival,” Ash said
as the wyldwood scrolled by the windows, casting moving shadows over the walls
and floor. I stifled a yawn, full of food, wine, popcorn, and general
contentedness. “But you still haven’t told me what it actually celebrates.”
“Can I tell you tomorrow?” I asked, leaning against the corner. The
rhythmic swaying of the carriage was making me sleepy, and my brain was too
fuzzy to try to explain. “I’ll tell Fix... to remind me later...”
A low chuckle, and then Ash drew me into his arms, pulling me against
him. I curled happily against his chest as he leaned back, still keeping his arms
around me, and kissed the top of my head.
“I had fun tonight,” he murmured in my ear, and said the words that no
normal faery would ever speak. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome,” I whispered, as my eyes flickered shut. “Next year,
maybe we’ll go someplace more exotic. Like Paris...or Greece...” And I dozed
off, already dreaming of future dates, wrapped comfortably in the arms of my
knight.
***
Opening my eyes, I sat up, blinking and confused. I was still in the
carriage, but a pale silver light was shining through the curtains, and Ash was no
longer beside me. The carriage had stopped moving, and I scooted to the door,
wondering if we were back in Mag Tuiredh. Before I could reach for the handle
though, the door swung open, and silver light flooded the dark chamber, nearly
blinding me.
I stared in amazement at what lay beyond the door. A dazzling, snow-
covered glen stretched away through the frame, sparkling like crystal under the
moon. The ground was covered in roses. They carpeted the snow-dusted
meadow, but not in their normal shades of red, yellow, or white. These roses
were the blue of the ocean, the bright tint of a cloudless sky, the deep color of
midnight. Their scent drifted through the open carriage door, heady and
powerful, making all other flowers seem weak in comparison.
“Where...where am I?” I asked, wondering if this was a dream and I was
still snoozing, on my way back to Mag Tuiredh. “What is this?”
A shadow stepped in front of me, filling the empty space. A tall, lean
shadow in a black and silver uniform, a dark cloak draping his shoulders and a
sword at his side. My heart pounded as I gazed up into the gorgeous face of a
Winter prince, solemn and beautiful under the light of the moon.
Ash smiled at me, charming and magnificent, and extended a hand. “My
contribution to the evening,” he said in a low voice. Dazed, I put my palm in his,
and let him lead me from the carriage into the field of roses. He chuckled at my
shock. “Did you really think I had no clue about what Valentine’s Day is? What
it means?” Pulling me to him, he lowered his head, his cool breath tickling my
ear. “I haven't survived this long by not being observant.”
“Where... are we?”
“Tir Na Nog. Someplace I’ve always wanted to show you. I thought this
would be the perfect time.”
I followed him across the carpet of blue and black roses, still wondering if
this was a dream. A gazebo made entirely of crystal ice sat at the edge of the
field, sparkling under the moon. Inside, an ice bucket sat on a round table, a dark
green bottle chilling within. Two wine glasses perched on either side, and a huge
bouquet of sapphire-colored roses loomed over the whole display.
“Ash...” I looked around in astonishment. “How? When did you find the
time to set this up?”
“I have my ways.” Ash slipped by me and walked to the table, taking the
wine bottle from its bucket and turning back with a grin. “Winterberry and
icewine,” he explained, as I gave the bottle a dubious look. He smiled. “I
promise it won’t put you to sleep, make you dance uncontrollably, or turn you
into a hedgehog. The most it will do is give you--what do you call it?-- brain
freeze, if you gulp it too quickly.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” I said, watching as he poured a pale blue liquid into
the two glasses. It bubbled and fizzed, filling the air with the scent of mint and
something sweeter. Gingerly, I took the offered cup. “You’re certain it’s okay?”
I asked, watching the wine sparkle in the dim light. “I haven’t had the best
experiences with faery wine. Promise you’ll take me home if I turn into a
squirrel?”
Ash just smiled, gesturing with his glass. I took a sip and was instantly
shocked by how cold the wine was--cold enough to raise goose bumps along my
skin and make the hairs on my arm stand up. But the wine itself tasted of mint
and frost and m
oonlight, of mist and snow and hanging icicles, and everything
you would expect winter to be. It wasn’t something you could put into words; it
was something you just had to experience. Strangely enough, the icy faery wine
warmed me on the way down, like liquid sunlight through my veins, though I
scrunched up my forehead from the brief headache it left behind.
Ash shook his head. “I told you not to drink it too quickly,” he said.
“But, see? No squirrels.” He blinked as a giggle escaped my lips, his expression
shifting to mild concern. “Though I think one glass is probably your cutoff point.
Just to be safe.”
I giggled again, feeling giddy, then calmed myself. No, I wasn't going to
ruin this evening by getting drunk on faery wine. Drawing myself up, I raised the
glass. “To Valentine’s Day,” I announced. “To first dates and movies and blue
roses and...and a shockingly romantic faery prince, who apparently knows exactly
what Valentine’s Day is about and likes to render his wife absolutely speechless.”
Ash smirked and raised his glass, and I smiled at him. “To us,” I said quietly.
“And many more years to come.”
Ash nodded and clinked his glass softly against mine. He didn’t drink,
however, just watched me with solemn silver eyes as I took another, slower sip.
“I love you, Meghan,” he said quietly, his gaze never leaving my face. A warm
glow spread through my stomach, and not from the wine. “I never thought I
could be happy again. But you...when I’m with you, everything I’ve endured,
everything that’s happened to me, it was all worth it. I will give you a thousand
Valentine’s Days, if it makes you smile like that.” He put down his wine and
stepped close, taking my glass and setting it on the table. His strong arms
wrapped around my waist, drawing me against him. “Forever, Meghan Chase,”
he murmured, stroking my cheek. “I’m yours, forever. And I hope this was an
acceptable date for your Valentine’s Day ritual, even though I skipped out on the
chocolates and the traditional sappy card.”
I laughed, even though my eyes were getting misty. “Are you kidding? It
was more than acceptable. Ash, this was amazing. It was perfect.”
“Not yet.” Ash took my face gently in his hands, lowering his head. His
eyes were smoldering in the darkness as he brought his lips close to mine. “Now,
it’s perfect,” he whispered, and kissed me.
I closed my eyes, surrendering completely to sensation. His lips were cool
and tasted faintly of wine, making the kiss even more intoxicating. I wound my
arms around his waist, and his slid down my back, pressing us together. His
kisses were soft and sweet, achingly gentle, melting my bones and sending the pit
of my stomach into a wild swirl. I clung to him, wrapped in a cocoon of ecstasy,
lost to everything but this moment, never wanting it to end.
Music started from somewhere, low and haunting, drifting through the
trees and swirling around us. It crept through the trees and stole into the gazebo, a
distant, mournful song that pulled at your insides. It was familiar, though I
couldn’t remember where I’d heard it before. Ash drew away, listening to the
eerie notes for a few moments, before a faint, wicked smile crossed his face.
“What?” I asked, curious. “What’s that grin for?”
Ash chuckled. “Do you remember this song?” he asked, turning back to
me. “You should--it was playing when I first started falling for the half-human
daughter of Oberon.” At my puzzled look, he smirked and pulled me close again.
Bringing his lips to my ear, he breathed, “I’ll kill you.”
I smacked his arm, and he retreated with a laugh, holding up his hands. I
laughed, too, marveling at how much had changed, how much we both had
changed, and everything we’d been through to get to this perfect night. Ash
bowed deeply, though his eyes sparkled as he extended a hand once more. “My
queen,” he said formally, “before Glitch sends out the knights and the hounds to
drag us back to Mag Tuiredh, will you do me the honor of a last dance?”
I smiled and put my hand in his, letting him lead me into the field of roses.
And, under the moon, with the music of our very first dance filling the glen, we
ended the perfect evening on a perfect note, wrapped in each other’s arms, our
hearts beating together, as the first of many Valentine’s Days slipped away into
the morning.
