War Bound

by Tara Grayce

  Now she was making Farrendel sound like an animal in a zoological park. But Farrendel seemed like he was going to oblige her nephews. At three and one, it would help them understand. Hopefully.

  Bertie inched forward, still staring wide-eyed.

  Essie touched her own ear. “Here, feel your ear.”

  Bertie patted his ear with his hand.

  “Now touch his ear.” Essie traced a finger over the point of Farrendel’s ear. He froze. She tried to remain casual. “See, Bertie. Farrendel’s ear might be shaped differently, but he’s still a person like us.”

  The others in the room had taken to quietly talking about their gifts, though Essie could still feel plenty of gazes focused on them. She kept her focus on the nephews and Farrendel.

  Bertie poked Farrendel’s ear, then patted a lock of Farrendel’s hair. “You are nice.”

  “Yes, he is. I like him very much.” Essie patted Farrendel’s arm, feeling him relax as he straightened. “Now would you like to open your gifts?”

  “Yes!” Bertie plopped down and, as soon as Essie handed his gift over, yanked at the strings tying the canvas wrapping closed.

  Essie held out a hand to Finn. “Do you want me to help you open your present?”

  Finn gave Farrendel a wide berth before he plopped into Essie’s lap. She tugged on the bow she’d tied back in Estyra. The string loosened and the wrapping fell apart, revealing a carved wooden figurine about two inches tall of an elf warrior that looked a lot like Farrendel, with two swords raised and his hair flying behind him. Finn snatched it up, grinning. “Army guy!”

  “Yes, it’s an army guy. An elf army guy.”

  Bertie glanced over at it, made a whining noise, and shook his package. He’d managed to get the string tangled, rather than loosed. He held the sad-looking bundle out to Farrendel. “Uncle Farrendel, can you do it?” Bertie stretched out Farrendel’s name, as if trying to figure out exactly how to say it. It was an awful lot of syllables for a three-year-old to tackle in a single name.

  Farrendel took the bundle and picked at the string, trying to untangle the knot Bertie had made.

  After a moment, Averett held out his new dagger, gripping it by the blade with the hilt toward Farrendel. “Here. This will make it easier.”

  With a glance at Averett, Farrendel took the knife and sliced the string in a single swipe. Just how sharp were those daggers he’d gifted her brothers?

  “Elf guy.” Finn clutched the figurine in a fist, waving it about. He stood, as if to leave, but Essie reeled him back in, tugging him back onto her lap. “You still have another present.”

  She was just as curious as Finn was to find out what Farrendel might have decided to give her nephews. Hopefully nothing sharp. After untying the string, she unwrapped the canvas and revealed...a second figurine. This one looked like Essie. The figurine had a rifle strapped across her back, making her look warlike without being in a fighting pose.

  Essie laughed and glanced at Farrendel. “Now I know why Fingol gave me such a strange look when I picked up my order. I thought it was because wooden figurine toys weren’t something you had in Tarenhiel. But apparently, we had the same idea.”

  “I did not know what to give them, and he mentioned your gift. So I asked him to make another one.” Farrendel returned the dagger to Averett as Bertie hopped to his feet, a figurine clutched in each fist, as he raced around the room to show everyone his new toys.

  Finn joined him a moment later, waving around his own figurines. Once their new toys had been admired by everyone, the boys raced to the corner where they dumped out baskets filled with their toy soldiers.

  “So, Farrendel...” Averett swiveled in his chair to face them better. “Essie has sent us a lot of letters, but I’d like to hear it from you. Tell us about yourself. What’s your role in Tarenhiel? What sort of accommodations do you have in the elven palace?”

  Farrendel shifted, staring at his hands.

  Julien studied the dagger in his hands. “Do you have any hobbies? A large weapons collection?”

  “And what about your magic?” Edmund’s smirk told Essie this was his spy’s intuition at work. “I’ve heard it’s rather awe-inspiring.”

  Essie took one of Farrendel’s hands, squeezing, feeling the heart bond warm between them. Talking to others was difficult for him, and her brothers hadn’t earned Farrendel’s trust enough for him to open up. It would take him time.

  But she couldn’t talk for him. Not in this case. He needed to answer for himself, however much or little he was comfortable saying.

  Farrendel’s shoulders were tight, his grip tighter still.

  Paige rolled her eyes. “Stop interrogating him. Especially you, Avie. You remember how intimidating my father was.”

  At the time Averett started courting Paige, her father had been the captain of palace security, though he had since retired. Even though Averett was his king, he apparently hadn’t been afraid to come down hard on him about his motives for courting the captain’s only daughter.

  “It’s so much more fun being on this side of things.” Averett stretched out in his chair, folding his hands over his chest.

  Great. Her brothers were settling in for a long night.

  Essie bit her lip, words building up in her throat. Hopefully Farrendel thought of something to say soon because she couldn’t take much more of this.

  Farrendel glanced at her, some of the stiffness easing from his posture, his mouth twitching with a smile. “You want to talk.”

  “Yes.” The word came out with a whoosh of air. She’d been holding her breath in an effort to stop her chatter. “It’s just so hard not to answer. Please, tell them something before I explode.”

  That tilted Farrendel’s smile wider still. It faded quickly, though, as he raised his head and faced the room. “I am Laesornysh. It is my duty to protect Tarenhiel from the trolls.”

  And, he was back to hard and scary, his tone flat. When she’d first met him, Essie had found it intimidating. Now she saw it for what it was. A mask to protect the vulnerable, broken part of him.

  But it probably wasn’t the best route to go for reassuring her brothers. They had seen this side of Farrendel already at the wedding. This hard persona had caused them to worry for the past three months about what type of marriage they’d just handed their sister into.

  By the way Averett, Julien, and Edmund stiffened, their jaws tightening, hands straying toward the new daggers they had just been given, Farrendel’s mask had been a mistake. Essie wasn’t sure what to do or say to ease the rising tension.

  Mother leaned forward, spearing Avie, Julien, and Edmund with a look, before she gave Farrendel a soft smile. “Duty is something we understand very well in this family.”

  Farrendel’s gaze lifted, and he studied Essie’s mother for a long moment. “I have a whole branch in Ellonahshinel.”

  “That’s equivalent to a wing of the palace to himself,” Essie hurried to add. Not that a single main room and three connected bedrooms was really a whole wing, but it was as near as the elven palace had. Besides, she was going to run with the change in topic now that Farrendel had brought it up. “I wish I could show it to you. Ellonahshinel is huge.”

  Farrendel raised his hands, and a faint blue light began to flicker around his fingers. He glanced at her, as if asking her permission.

  But for what? Essie sucked in a breath. What was he planning to do? Why had he activated his magic?

  Her brothers started reaching for their daggers once again.

  Farrendel’s magic didn’t build into the charged, crackling magic he’d used against the trolls. This was a soft, brilliant blue light tracing patterns in the air. He formed a picture of Ellonahshinel, its branches crackling magic instead of wood and leaves.

  Both nephews left off with their playing in the corner and eased closer. Essie waved Bertie over. When he drew close enough, she pulled him onto her lap, and he settled against her without protesting. Finn crept closer, staring wide-
eyed.

  “Would you like to hear about the big treehouse where I live now?” When Bertie nodded, Essie described their home and how they had to walk across the branches like roads. Then she moved on to the town of Estyra with its shops nestled into the trees, connected with branches and rope bridges. All the while, Farrendel illustrated her stories with patterns drawn by his magic.

  “Maybe you can all visit someday,” Essie finished, giving Bertie a hug and reaching over to ruffle Finn’s hair. She looked to her family watching them. “We mean it. Once the danger of this war is over, I’d love to host whoever wants to come in Estyra. We have a few guest rooms where you can stay.”

  “Yes.” Farrendel met her gaze and tipped his head in a small nod. Letting her, and her everyone else know, that he was on board with her inviting her family.

  “And the branches aren’t that scary once you get used to them, though we might want to carry these guys.” She poked Bertie’s stomach.

  “Hey.” Bertie jumped off her lap, giving her an exaggerated scowl.

  Farrendel’s fingers flared with blue light again. He flicked his wrists, and magic burst in a starburst of sparkles like miniature fireworks popping inside the room. The blue sparkles hung in the air like fireflies. He glanced at her, then held out his palm to one of the sparkles. It winked out against his hand.

  Essie reached out and let one of the floating sparkles land on her hand. It fizzled out with a faint tingle. Not a painful tingle. More a ticklish sensation. She laughed and reached for another one. She wasn’t sure how to describe it. This was pure magic floating in the air.

  A few of the sparkles landed on Bertie’s head. He brushed at his hair, giggling. He jumped, smacking one of the magic sparkles between his hands. Laughing, he jumped for another.

  His smile broader than it had been since before the trolls attacked on the trail from Lethorel, Farrendel sent up another burst of magic that had both nephews on their feet, swatting at sparkles and giggling with the fun.

  Essie joined in, catching Farrendel’s magic sparkles and the nephews in turn.

  By the time they were done, she had Finn on her lap, and Bertie had collapsed onto Farrendel’s lap.

  Essie leaned her head against Farrendel’s shoulder. “I didn’t know your magic could do that.” She said it so that no one but Farrendel could understand. Well, Farrendel and Edmund, but Edmund seemed to be deep in discussion with Mother.

  “I used to do this for my niece and nephew. Before I became Laesornysh.” By the tone in his voice, she could tell he’d forgotten how his magic could be beautiful and fun.

  She took his hand in both of hers. “You’re tired, aren’t you?”

  Farrendel leaned his head on top of hers. “Yes.”

  “Sorry. You’re usually in bed by now. We can leave, if you’d like.”

  Farrendel straightened and squeezed her hand. “Stay with your family. I know you missed them.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind going with you. Our guards only occasionally patrol this hall, but it might not be such a good idea if you were caught wandering the palace at night. They might be jumpy to come across an elf, even if they know you’re supposed to be here.” Essie hugged Finn.

  “Do you want to leave?” Farrendel searched her face.

  How could he possibly know her this well after only a few months? “Not really. But it’s all right. I’ll have other times to talk with my family.”

  “Then stay.” Farrendel pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.

  Why was she even arguing against this? Even if she was tired, she wasn’t ready to end the night yet.

  “All right. I’ll walk you to our room, then come back. It’s only a few yards down the hall and back.” Essie struggled to climb to her feet while holding Finn. The boy stirred but didn’t wake.

  Farrendel rose to his feet gracefully, even while hefting Bertie.

  Essie turned to the rest of her family. “Farrendel’s tired. I’m going to walk him to our room so the guards don’t get nervous about him wandering by himself, then I’m going to come back.”

  Paige pushed off the settee. “Essie, you stay here. Looks like I need to put the boys to bed anyway.” She gave Essie a conspiratorial smile.

  Apparently, Paige was looking for a chance to chat with Farrendel. Her own, subtle way of making sure Farrendel was good enough for Essie.

  Essie rolled her eyes at Paige and handed Finn over to her sister-in-law. “Be nice to him.”

  “Of course.” Paige turned to Farrendel. “If you would be so kind as to carry Bertie for me, I’d appreciate it.”

  Farrendel nodded, adjusting his grip on Bertie. Essie’s stomach did a tight, tingly flip at seeing Farrendel cradling a child.

  Averett popped to his feet, eying Farrendel as if he wasn’t sure about letting Farrendel go off alone with his wife and children. But he leaned forward and kissed Finn on the cheek, murmuring a goodnight the boy wouldn’t hear while he slept. Then Averett whispered something to Paige and gave her a short kiss.

  Farrendel’s eyes widened. Essie covered her mouth to hide her grin. It was probably the first time Farrendel had ever seen a couple kiss in public. Terribly shocking to an elf, even if it had been nothing but a peck on the lips.

  Essie rested her hand on Farrendel’s arm, getting his attention. “Goodnight.” Before Farrendel could react, Essie stood on her tiptoes and gave him a brief kiss.

  Farrendel froze stock still, staring at her.

  She smirked and said in elvish, “You’re in Escarland. A quick kiss goodnight is perfectly proper for a married couple.”

  Farrendel’s mouth tipped in the hint of a frown. “Humans are strange.”

  “We are more tolerant of public displays of affection. There are limits, of course. But we do allow much more than you elves.” Essie kissed his cheek for good measure. The expression on his face was too priceless to resist.

  Paige waited at the door. “Ready?”

  Farrendel nodded and hurried toward her, Bertie still sleeping against his shoulder.

  Essie sank onto the settee in Paige’s place, sighing at the relief of sitting on the soft cushion. She could handle sitting on the floor for a while, but now her tailbone had gone to sleep. With a glance around the room, Essie braced for the questions. Mother, Averett, Julien, and Edmund were all focused on her.

  Mother patted her knee. “You look happy.”

  “I am.” Essie relaxed into the cushion. How she’d missed cushioned seats with backs. Elves tended to either have hard-backed chairs or cushions on the floor. Nothing in between.

  Averett pushed off from the doorway and sat on the floor in front of her. “Should I be worried about sending my wife and children off alone with that elf husband of yours?”

  “No, of course not.” Essie blew out a breath. “You saw how gentle he was with the boys. I know it’s going to take you a while to believe me, but he isn’t as scary as the title Laesornysh makes him sound.”

  “Are you truly all right?” Averett’s gaze lifted to hers, his eyes filled with the torment he’d been putting himself through the past three months.

  “Avie, I’m fine. Please stop beating yourself up for the marriage alliance.” Essie leaned forward, hoping her sincerity came through in her voice. “Farrendel might not be the person I would’ve picked to marry under normal circumstances, but he’s the one I should’ve been looking for. He listens when I chatter and dotes on me to the point I’m pretty sure all the gossips in Estyra have been talking about it. You should’ve seen the way he stood up to his family for me several times.”

  Averett’s forehead still furrowed. Julien rubbed at his palm. Mother looked about ready to hug Essie. Only Edmund remained relaxed. Thanks to the train ride, he’d had a few hours more of interaction with Farrendel. Not that those hours would count for much, especially since Edmund knew more of Farrendel’s secrets than the rest of them.

  She needed to be vulnerably honest to convince her family. “I love him, and h
e loves me. I know you probably don’t believe me, but could you please try to be welcoming? We can’t stay long, and I don’t want to spend all of it filled with tension.”

  “We will.” Mother sent a glare to each of Essie’s brothers.

  Edmund grinned. “We’ll play nice.”

  Essie didn’t believe that. Her brothers hadn’t made their minds up about Farrendel yet. Things would be interesting until they did.

  HIS HEAD POUNDING dully, Farrendel strode down the darkened hallway, carrying Essie’s nephew and matching his stride to Queen Paige’s. Was he supposed to say something? He tried to think of something, anything, but even if he could think of something, he would not be able to force it out.

  At the far end of the hall, two guards paced back and forth. They stopped and glared at him, though they did not reach for their weapons. Probably due to Queen Paige’s presence beside him.

  “What do you like most about Essie?” Queen Paige glanced at him before focusing on the hallway ahead of them.

  It was the best—and worst—question he had been asked all evening. It was rather personal, but it was also Essie. He could talk about Essie. “I like her smile. I like that she talks.”

  They paused outside of a door a few down from the sitting room they had been in, and Queen Paige opened it. “It’s a good thing you like her chatter. I have always worried she would end up with someone who would want to stifle her.”

  Why would anyone wish to do that? Farrendel trailed after Queen Paige, holding Bertie steady as the young one shifted in his sleep. Essie was so...Essie. Vibrant and lively and so richly full of happiness. He could not imagine asking her to be anything less than who she was. “When she talks, I do not have to.”

  “I can see how you’d appreciate that.” Queen Paige led the way across a darkened sitting room to one of the doors set in the walls. This must be a suite of rooms like his in Estyra. With this sitting room as a main room and the bedrooms branching off it.

  Farrendel left both the door to the hallway and the door to the sitting room open as he followed Queen Paige inside. She laid Phineas in a small human bed with gates surrounding it. That must be what Essie meant when she said they added rails for their young ones.