by Amy Sumida
“My point,” I corrected him with a chuckle. “You see my point.”
“That's what I said,” he shrugged a velvet tunic on and then some pants. “I can't help it if you humans have multiple words for the same thing.”
“You, Dragon King,” I slipped my arms around his waist, “are absolutely charming.”
“Yes, I know,” he smirked, the crimson scales at his temples crinkling around his eyes. “But not as charming as my wife.”
“Oh, good save,” I kissed him and things started to get heated until a gurgle reminded us that we weren't alone.
“My sons!” Arach broke away and went to stand beside the bed. “They are magnificent, are they not?”
Dexter gave a satisfied huff.
“They're pretty cool, yeah,” I laughed as I joined them.
“We are fire faeries, sweet wife,” he slipped his arm around me. “We are never cool.”
“Ah, right you are,” I leaned down and picked up Brevyn. “Come on, hot stuff, grab your little dragon prince. We gotta let the rest of our people see his glorious little self.”
“Yes, my queen,” he beamed at me as he scooped up Rian.
Then we went down to see our subjects and our guests, who had gathered in the dining hall for a feast that was already getting rowdy. Cheering erupted as we stepped into the room and an aisle was cleared for us. We headed up it, to the dais at the other end of the hall. There, our royal table had been set out, complete with heraldic banner displaying the Fire Kingdom crest of a red, fire-breathing dragon. The crest, in the shape of a shield, was hung at the center front of the table. Behind the table, to either side of the thrones, Vali, Vidar, Thor and Kaitlin were seated; Thor and Vali were beside Arach's throne while Kaitlin and Vidar sat beside mine. But between the thrones were cradles; golden cradles made to resemble miniature thrones.
On the way through the room, I stopped and hugged each of the Hidden Ones who had tried to save my children. “Thank you,” I whispered over and over, as Arach shook their hands and added his regal approval to mine. Our gratitude was met with declarations of love and loyalty as well as relief over the princes' welfare. The giggling babies got passed among them and lowered so the Hidden Ones' toddlers could hug them too. The boys loved the Hidden Ones, especially their children, and they gleefully accepted the attention our most fearsome fey lavished on them. I think sometimes babies are more insightful than us adults. They haven't been taught to fear differences, they see only with their hearts.
“Aunty Queen,” Mini V pulled on my dress.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I bent down to give her a hug.
All four of her little arms went around me and she pressed her cheek to mine, her soft, golden fur tickling my skin.
“I was scared,” she whispered to me. “Why did the king throw the princes out the window?”
“He was helping Rian to fly,” I explained to her. “He didn't know Rian would take Brevyn with him.”
“Oh, he should have. Rian always goes with Brevyn,” she frowned, her flat nose wrinkling. Dexter came up and knocked his nose into her face, making her laugh. “Dexter, I missed you too.” She gave him a quick hug.
“Hey,” I tapped her nose. “Do you know I went into the future?”
“Mommy told me,” she gave me a serious nod. “The future was bad so you had to make it good.”
“I saw you there,” I smiled when her crimson eyes went round. “You are going to grow up and become a fierce, beautiful faerie.”
“I am?”
“You are,” I leaned closer. “But don't tell anyone else that I saw you. It's our secret.”
I didn't want to explain to the rest of the Hidden Ones' babies that I hadn't seen them because in that terrible future, they were all dead. Mini V was the only Hidden One who had survived the Faerie Wars.
“Okay, Aunty Queen,” her face lit up with a smile, showing off her fangs. “Our secret.”
“Good girl,” I gave her head a pat and stood.
Brevyn was handed back to me and I took Arach's arm again. He helped me up the steps and we went to stand before our thrones. Then we held up our sons and the crowd cheered. The boys waved their little fists at their people, already learning how to be monarchs. Then we took our seats and the room settled into the celebration.
“Looks like we came on the perfect day,” Kaitlin's eyes were huge and her little hands were nervously flying from her dark hair to her simple, cotton dress, and then to her flushed cheeks.
I hadn't thought to warn her of all my unusual fey. At the very least, I should have told her of the Hidden Ones, who weren't so hidden anymore and were currently striding freely among their brethren, wide grins on their nightmarish faces. I often forgot about my initial sight of the Hidden Ones, how they had terrified me into immobility. How my breath had stopped in my throat, and my heart had raced like a frightened bird's. I doubted that seeing them at Rian's launching had been enough time for Kaitlin to grow accustomed to them.
“Are you alright?” I asked her softly. “You know you're in no danger here. These are my people, my faeries, and although they look scary, they would never offer harm to a guest.”
“It can be difficult to look past such visages,” Vidar added in a calming voice, “but often, it's worth the effort. The Hidden Ones are valiant fey.”
I gave my son a soft smile, both proud and pleased that he was such a kind and discerning man. He smiled back, hearing everything I wanted to say to him without me having to utter a word. That was one of Vidar's talents. Not only could he express himself without words but he could understand others without them too.
“I'm sure they are,” Kaitlin took a deep breath between us. “I just hadn't thought that faeries would be so frightening.”
“Just some of them,” I shrugged. “But they can also be amazingly beautiful,” I pointed to the leanan-sidhe. “I'll tell you a secret though; it's the pretty ones you have to watch out for. For example; the leanan-sidhe are basically faerie vampires.”
Her eyes went even wider.
“Faerie is as dangerous as she is wondrous,” I smiled gently. “Treat her and her residents with respect and a healthy dose of caution, and you'll be fine... oh, and maybe don't wander too far away from me.”
Kaitlin paled.
“I'm kidding,” I laughed but then went deadpan again. “But stay in the castle.”
“Okay.”
“Now,” I smiled gently and offered her Brevyn. “Would you like to meet Brevyn?”
Her eyes focused on my son and instantly started to tear up. Brevyn cocked his head at the woman and went serious, as he often did. His royal blue eyes, so like Ull's, focused on Kaitlin intensely. A tear slipped down Kaitlin's cheek as she slowly reached a hand out to Brevyn. Brevyn looked at her hand and blinked, his little body shivered in my grip and I started to grow concerned. But then he reached out and tapped the end of her finger. Just a little ET-phone-home tap but it was enough to express his acceptance. I passed him over to Kaitlin and she took him carefully.
“Hey you,” she whispered as she hugged my son. “I've been waiting to meet you.”
She began crying fully and I realized that the faeries around us had gone quiet, watching the exchange between this human woman and their prince. I laid a hand on Brevyn's head and one on Kaitlin's shoulder, letting everyone know I had given my blessing to this strange relationship. Still, the faeries watched and waited. Dexter even got up from his sprawl across my feet and crawled out from beneath the table so he could better see what was going on. He sat on my right and looked back and forth between Kaitlin and I.
Then Brevyn reached a tiny, chubby hand up to Kaitlin and awkwardly wiped away her tears.
I inhaled sharply, a hand going to my mouth, as I witnessed the reunion of my old friend and the woman he loved. How bittersweet to hold the soul of your lover in an infant body and know that even though he was there with you, he wasn't really yours. Not yet.
And what was it like for Brevyn; to
feel something so strong for a stranger and yearn for things he couldn't possibly understand? Was he happy to see Kaitlin? Sad? Maybe I shouldn't have brought her to Faerie. Son of a succubus! Did I just screw up my son? Was he going to need fey psychotherapy? Was there even such a thing? I knew I wasn't fit to be a mother. Why did I do this? I'd end up-
Vali made a shocked sound, startling me from my mommy madness, and a baby dragon came scrambling over my lap and into Kaitlin's. Dexter yipped as Kaitlin pulled back a little in surprise, staring at Rian with horrified eyes. It's one thing to see a dragon from a distance and quite another to have one sit on your knee. But Rian didn't care about her shock, he just wanted to know who this woman was, holding his twin. He stuck his face up into hers, staring at her fiercely. Kaitlin, to her credit, held his ferocious gaze, and Rian finally lowered his nose to his brother. Brevyn laughed and smacked Rian hard on the chest, causing Rian to grunt.
Rian huffed, moved back, and perched on the arm of my throne. He settled into simply watching, his tail curling absently around my arm. The faeries went back to their feast but Dex pushed his way between me and the table so he could sit beside Rian and keep guard with him. Rian looked down and something seemed to pass between him and the nurial; an understanding. It felt to me kind of like; if something goes wrong, you take the right and I'll get her from the left.
“Looks like you passed the Rian test,” Vali noted and I glanced up to see him leaning on the back of my throne. “I was holding Rian and we were getting along pretty well until he noticed that Kaitlin had Brevyn. Then he shifted and ran over here. He tore my leather pants,” Vali chuckled and waved a hand towards his thigh. “Leather. Damn those claws are sharp.”
“Sorry,” I made an embarrassed face. “That's why he has a scratching post.”
“I don't care about the pants, Mother,” Vali kissed my cheek. “I'm just happy that they're both alright. Plus, it was kind of fascinating to watch him shift.”
“I haven't thanked you yet for trying to help them,” I angled myself to look at Vidar. “Thank you both for what you did.”
Of course, Mom,” Vali huffed. “We couldn't just stand there and do nothing while our brothers fell to their deaths.”
“I don't think we would have reached them in time,” Vidar whispered as he reached into Kaitlin's lap and stroked the blonde hair on Brevyn's head. Rian stuck his face forward and sniffed at Vidar. Vidar offered his hand for a more thorough inspection and when Rian was satisfied, he pulled away slowly.
“He's a little intense,” Kaitlin whispered to Vidar.
“Which one?” Vidar asked.
“Both of them,” she glanced from Brevyn to Rian.
“Hey, little guy,” Vali had gone around to lean over Kaitlin's chair and stroke Brevyn's cheek. “I'm your brother, Vali but I used to be your uncle. I didn't used to be your uncle though,” he tapped Rian on the nose and the baby dragon gave a little grunt of affront. “I'll let Mom explain it to you later.”
“I am Vidar,” Vidar said with deep seriousness to Rian and Brevyn. “I'm also your brother.”
And with that silent magic of his, Vidar expressed much more to the babies than his words did. They blinked at him slowly and a look of understanding crossed their faces.
“You have an impressive family, Vervain,” Thor's voice held a note of longing.
“Thank you, Thor,” I shared a look with Kaitlin and she nodded, passing Brevyn back to me.
Rian moved out of the way with an air of relief. But then I handed Brevyn to Arach and Rian went on high alert again, chasing after his brother. He was getting a little upset with all this jostling of his twin. Rian scrambled up onto the back of Arach's throne and gave a distressed cry as Arach passed Brevyn to Thor. Dexter eased back to my right and just watched.
“Cease!” Arach snapped at Rian and smacked a hand down on his lap.
Rian gave a little whimper but then jumped down to his father's lap. Still, he leaned over and watched as Thor and Brevyn stared at each other. I think he sensed that his brother was different than him in more ways than the obvious. Brevyn already had a past and that past had come to visit.
“You are just as loved,” I said to Rian as I laid a hand against my son's heaving side.
He shifted, turning and twisting on Arach's lap until a naked boy grinned up at me. I tapped his nose and Rian giggled. Yeah, he knew he was loved, that wasn't the problem. The problem was, Odin had planted a seed of doubt in Rian when he'd first suggested that Brevyn be raised in the God Realm, and now Rian viewed every god as a potential brother abductor. I shared a look with Arach and saw understanding flare to life.
“No one is taking your brother,” Arach laid his palm on the soft patch of red hair crowning Rian's head. “No one,” Arach glanced over my shoulder and I realized that he was staring down Kaitlin.
“Arach,” I hissed.
“I've said nothing impolite,” he blinked bright yellow eyes innocently at me.
“Stop intimidating our guests,” I growled.
“I'm merely setting boundaries,” he huffed. “It is a king's duty.”
“She's not going to snatch Brevyn and run off with him,” I chided. “Why would she want to raise him and then date him? That would be gross.”
“I just wanted to see him,” Kaitlin called over to Arach. “That's all, Your Majesty.”
A twitter of laughter went through the room, proving that my fey had never stopped eavesdropping on us.
“What's so funny?” Kaitlin frowned.
“We don't use such titles here,” I gave her arm a pat. “I made the same mistake when I first came to Faerie. Except I did it at High Court... way more embarrassing.”
“So how am I supposed to I address him?” She was baffled.
“As King,” Arach said imperiously. “That's what I am, I've no need for other frippery.”
“You can call him Fire King or King Arach or just plain King,” I said gently to her. “Personally, I like to call him-”
“That's quite enough, My Queen,” Arach cut me off with a knowing smile.
“I've got a few good names for him too if you ever run out,” Vali whispered to me and winked before he sauntered back to his seat.
“It really is him,” Thor breathed, bringing our attention back to him and Brevyn.
“It is and it isn't,” I offered.
“He recognizes me,” Thor looked over to me in awe. “I can see it in his eyes.”
“Yes, I'm sure he does,” I agreed. “But it's his past self that knows you and he'll still have to learn why when he gets older.”
“It's enough for me,” Thor smiled and hugged Brevyn close. “Thank you,” he whispered to me and then to Arach. “Thank you so very much for allowing me to be a part of his life.”
“Of course,” Arach said magnanimously. “You're welcome in Fire anytime, Thor, God of the Norsemen.”
“I truly appreciate your hospitality, King Arach,” Thor replied just as formally and then gave me a wink.
Are we going to get this party started or what?
The fire fey screamed in delight as the consciousness of their realm spoke to them. I laughed as someone turned on our human-made stereo and the fire cats jumped up to dance to Maroon 5's “One More Night”. The phookas joined them, which is kind of strange when you think about it; cats and dogs and all that. But then through the center of them all came a parade of pixies; tooting little horns and crying out that people make way for them.
I sat up straight to watch our fire pixies come streaming up to the high table, riding bridled rodents, carriages, and even tiny versions of bicycles. Flowers draped everything; their modes of transport, their musical instruments, and themselves, while jewels sparkled among the blooms. Our newest pixies, who were once earth pixies, were very talented jewelers.
“My King and Queen,” Lissa, one of my favorite fire pixies, shouted up to us. “We, the pixies of your kingdom, wish to present a gift to Prince Rian in honor of his first flight... and w
e made a little something for Prince Brevyn too, just because it didn't seem right to give one prince something and not the other.”
“Lissa, enough explaining,” Artair, one of the ex-earth pixies whispered to her.
“Yeah, yeah,” Lissa huffed. “May we present our gifts, Fire King?”
“Yes you may,” Arach waved his hand.
A cart rolled up behind Lissa and she jumped off her docile mouse-like mount and went to pull back the fabric covering on the cart. There, nestled on a velvet bed, was an emerald dragon. As in an actual piece of emerald carved into the figure of a flying dragon. Beside the dragon was a chunk of sapphire carved into a crouching boy. With help from Artair, Lissa moved the carving of the boy so that is sat upon the dragon's back and then the whole thing was placed upon a gold mounting to display it as if the dragon were flying through the air. The piece was put on a platform and carried up the steps by four pixies. Then Isleen stepped forward and picked up the little statue. She placed it carefully on the table before Arach and I.
“We had no idea how fitting this would be when we first carved it,” Artair announced. “We only knew about the prophecy Prince Brevyn had showed you; of him riding upon his brother's back.”
“Thank you so much,” I stood so I could see all my pixies. “This is breathtaking,” I picked up the piece and handed it to Arach.
“Beautiful,” Arach admired it and showed it to Rian, who gave a delighted shout. “And your prince agrees.”
The pixies cheered and the pixie parade made its way back through the room, accepting praise from the other fire fey as they went. I loved to see them like that, proud among their peers. They had once been ostracized and ridiculed but now they were a valued part of the court. When I thought about the future I'd changed and how those brave little faeries had all been killed in the very first battle, my heart shuddered. So much had been sacrificed to Arach and Rowan's plans for dominion.
“Prophecy?” Thor asked as he adjusted Brevyn.
“Um,” I blinked in confusion and then realized he was asking about what Artair had mentioned; the prophecy Brevyn had made. I shared a wary look with Arach. I hadn't told any of the gods about Brevyn's possible psychic abilities. Not even my god husbands and I kind of felt guilty that I was about to tell Thor and my grown sons before I told my husbands. “Brevyn gave me a vision. He showed me Rian and him flying together, just like this carving,” I waved a hand toward the beautiful figurine.
