Betrothed

by Wanda Wiltshire

  ‘Our granddaughter! Betrothed to the prince! But where did he find you? Where have you been?’

  Asher answered for me. ‘Our prince called to her beyond our realm and found her living on Earth, adopted into a human family.’

  ‘The human world?’ Melody’s face was all confusion.

  ‘Have you called Leander?’ Asher asked.

  ‘He will be here in moments.’

  ‘When he comes, Faun can take Marla, and I will explain what we know to you both.’

  My grandfather Leander arrived soon after. He was tall and handsome and infinitely more reserved than his golden-haired wife. He greeted me, kissed me and held me in his arms before Faun led me away. It was difficult to grasp that all these years while I was growing up on Earth this whole other world existed, filled with people who loved me. My own family and I’d had no idea. I thought of my brother Lysander and what he didn’t know—what he was missing. But I pushed the thought away, it was too depressing.

  Faun walked with me to one of the groups of women. They were grinding grain with rounded stones that fit snugly into their hands. They looked up and greeted us as we approached. Faun introduced me and then we sat in the circle and joined them at their task. It was simple and relaxing work transforming the grain into flour before scooping it into fabric bags.

  ‘What will they do with it?’ I asked Faun after a while.

  ‘Some they will use for baking, the rest will go to the markets to share.’

  ‘All this work, just to give it away,’ I mused.

  Faun smiled. ‘The grain needs to be ground, Marla, or it will be wasted, but if you prefer, we can walk instead.’

  ‘No, this is good.’ I looked around the group of women, all chatting and laughing as they added to the mountain of flourbags. ‘I wouldn’t get to do this back home.’

  ‘Would you not? I’m interested to learn of your home.’

  ‘It’s not like this place,’ I told her. ‘Not quite so caring and sharing.’

  ‘It must have its benefits,’ Faun said.

  But I could hardly think of any. Television and computers could possibly be seen as a benefit, but I’d always thought the negatives outweighed the positives as far as they were concerned. I thought of the other earthly things that were absent here: telephones, shopping malls, apartment blocks, cars, hospitals, pollution. There was nothing I missed.

  ‘I don’t know. Not really that many for me, I’m allergic to everything.’

  ‘It must have been difficult growing up there.’

  ‘It’s all I knew. I had no idea this place existed. Oh, but Faun, there is one really great thing about Earth—the beaches. Leif said you don’t have them here.’

  ‘I have heard of them,’ she said, looking pleased with the knowledge. ‘The Fae do like to visit, but I have never been interested to go. They sound like dangerous places to me, great gushes of salted water that knock you down and pull you under.’

  ‘Waves,’ I said with a grin. ‘They’re brilliant.’

  We went back to Melody and Leander’s home in a nearby riverbank. Leander read poetry from a thick volume—many of which were his own compositions—while Melody buzzed around, making cups of tea and bringing me sweet things to eat. She gave me a bracelet that had belonged to my mother and showed me Finelle’s childhood photos. They looked so similar to my own that it took my breath away. I was halfway through yet another cake when Leif called me from Asher and Faun’s house.

  ‘I have to go now, Leif’s calling,’ I said, when Leander had finished reading a poignant poem about vanishing childhood. Melody embraced me tightly and kissed my cheeks profusely, releasing me only when I promised for the third or fourth time that I would be back to see her soon. Leander held me tenderly for a moment, kissed me quickly then let me go. My mother’s parents, with tears in their eyes, held tight to each other as they waved and watched as I flew off with Faun and Asher.

  I am so loved, I told Leif as I flew to meet him.

  Of course you are, he answered.

  He waited on the pier for me, and watched me descend with a smile on his face and his arms wide. I flew straight into them. He held me to him and kissed me, before setting me down and greeting my grandparents.

  ‘What have you been doing today?’ he asked, as Faun ushered us inside her home.

  ‘I’ve been hearing all about my family, and oh, I learned how to make flour.’ I showed him the bag that Asher had carried back for me.

  ‘Will you cook something for me with it?’

  I looked at him and blinked. ‘I didn’t say I’d learned how to cook, Leif.’

  ‘What, you can’t cook? It’s a good thing you were born to be princess.’

  A short while later, the four of us squeezed around my grandparents’ table for dinner. Like everything else I’d eaten since I arrived here, the food was amazing—probably for no other reason than I could actually eat it without having a near-death experience. If I never saw another pear or bowl of rice again I would be a very happy girl. After dinner, we stayed to talk for a while and then it was time to go. I was looking forward to getting back to the castle. I wanted a nice bath before curling up in bed with Leif.

  We didn’t bother going to the entrance, instead flying straight to Leif’s balcony. Once inside I collapsed onto the bed. Leif came and fell onto his back beside me, closing his eyes.

  ‘You look tired, Leif.’

  ‘I am tired.’

  ‘How come?’ I turned onto my side to face him.

  ‘Because I spent almost the whole of last night in a meeting with my father and his council, and the entire day today flying all over Telophy.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I need to talk with you about that, Marla, but later, all right? I just want to relax for a while first.’

  ‘Will I run you a bath?’

  ‘That would be nice.’ He opened his eyes and smiled. The light from the bedside lamp flickered there, dazzling me for a moment. I kissed him quickly, then jumped out of bed to run the bath.

  I turned the water on, lit the sunlamps and poured a good sprinkle of bath salts into the tub. A gorgeous citrus spice mist began to fill the room, combining with the scent of the wood that lined the bathroom walls. I closed my eyes and inhaled—an exquisite indulgence after all the years of not being able to enjoy such pleasures. After long moments enjoying the fragrance, I ran to my room and grabbed a handful of flower petals from one of the many vases there. I went back to Leif’s bathroom, scattered them into the bath and sat on the edge of the big round tub until it filled. When it was finished, I returned to my prince. He was sleeping. I sat by his side and watched him—the rise and fall of his perfect chest, his wide lips as the air whispered in and out. I pressed my hand over his heart and felt the pulse beating soft and warm against my palm. With the fingers of my other hand I found the pulse in my neck.

  He was so beautiful. I became hypnotised by him, his lovely face, peaceful with sleep, the thud of our hearts beating together. He sighed softly and stirred as I brushed his face with my fingertips, his cheek, his jaw, the line of his nose. But he slept on. I couldn’t take my eyes from him. He was mine, born for me, I for him.

  I wondered if it was true. I wondered if there really was a piece of him inside of me. It would certainly explain this incredible yearning to be with him, the pull of my soul to his. The very way our hearts beat as one. I smiled as he made a little snoring noise in his throat, such a sleepy sound. It would be a shame to wake him, he looked so peaceful. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t do it, so I left him and went to take the bath alone.

  ‘I have something to tell you, Marla, and you won’t like it,’ Leif said, as we sat down to breakfast the next morning.

  ‘What?’ I asked, sitting straighter in anticipation.

  ‘I’m going to be busy for a few days with my father. There’s something wrong in Telophy and he’s requested my help.’

  ‘Is it the Shadow Fae?’

  Leif’s eyes opene
d wide. ‘You know about them?’

  ‘I do and I don’t see why you didn’t tell me.’

  He had the look of someone waiting for something unpleasant. He said, ‘I didn’t want to frighten you.’

  ‘Well, it’s not like I wasn’t going to find out.’

  ‘I know but—’

  ‘Oh, don’t worry about it,’ I interrupted, impatient. ‘Just tell me what’s going on.’

  ‘People are vanishing and every indication is that they are being taken by the Shadow Fae.’ Leif hesitated for a moment, his forehead creased with confusion. ‘But it makes no sense—my father is always able to hear the cries of his people when they are taken, but with these missing subjects he has heard nothing.’

  I frowned. ‘So what can you do? Your dad’s the one with all the power.’

  ‘My father has requested my help and I am hoping that if I give it to him, he will be more inclined to be understanding towards you and me. Besides that, I am born to be protector of the Fae. One day I will have my own kingdom and this can only be good experience for me.’ Leif reached across the table and took my hand. ‘Marla, my father has given his consent for me to take you home.’

  ‘Why would he do that after what he did to get me here?’ I asked. But I already knew the answer. It was his son the king had wanted, and he’d known the sure way to lure him home was to kidnap me. Now that he had Leif back, he couldn’t get rid of me quickly enough.

  ‘He knows you want to be here with me,’ Leif said quietly.

  ‘He’s right! I don’t want to go back; I want to stay here with you!’ A horrible tight sensation was building in my chest. I just knew that if Leif took me back now, his father would never let me return. How could Leif not see that?

  ‘It’s just for a little while. The assembly is only days away.’

  ‘But Mum and Dad think I’m at camp for a whole week,’ I cried, grasping at straws.

  ‘You know that’s nothing I can’t take care of, Marla.’

  ‘I’m not going back! If you must help your stupid father, fine, I’ll stay here and wait for you.’

  ‘I’m taking you back after breakfast.’

  ‘What! Don’t you care what I want? I want to stay, Leif!’

  ‘I care what you want, of course. But I’ve made up my mind. I won’t be around to protect you and I will not allow you to be in danger.’

  ‘Your mother will be here.’

  ‘My mother has lived in Faera all of her life. She knows the dangers—you’ve yet to learn.’

  ‘Take me to Asher and Faun then,’ I demanded. ‘They’ll protect me.’

  ‘They cannot. Now stop, Marla, it is decided.’ His tone was final. There was no point in arguing.

  ‘This is about the Bond of Allegiance isn’t it?’

  Leif looked surprised and annoyed at the same time. ‘So they told you about that too?’

  ‘Yes and I don’t need it, I have you.’

  ‘It’s not the same, Marla—ours is a different kind of connection. If you were taken by the Shadow Fae, you could call me and I would hear you. But that doesn’t mean I would be able to find you. You would have to describe your location to me, and how could you? You don’t know this place. Even if you did, it would be near impossible. The Kingdom of Telophy is vast, with enormous areas of wilderness. Only the Bond of Allegiance with the ruling king offers protection from the Shadow Fae.’

  ‘Well, tell your stupid father to give it to me so I can stay!’

  ‘I have asked him, Marla. He refuses to make the offer,’ he said quietly.

  The admission shocked me into silence for a long moment. But really, I didn’t know why it should: Leif’s father had wished me never born after all, he was hardly about to make a commitment to me that would cement me to him and his kingdom. But still, I couldn’t help feeling wounded. I had to fight to keep the tears back.

  Quietly, I said, ‘So that’s why you didn’t tell me about the Shadow Fae. You knew he’d never give me protection from them . . . Haven’t been very honest with me, have you?’

  Leif came around the table in an instant, taking me in his arms and attempting to comfort me with hugs and kisses. But it didn’t help. I felt too sore for it to help.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Leif brought me home in plenty of time for school. I stood at the front door, silent and surly, refusing to speak to him while he tried to say goodbye.

  ‘Come, it’s just a few days,’ he said, pressing warm lips to my forehead. ‘I hate to leave you upset with me.’

  I gave him a frosty glare. ‘Then don’t.’

  ‘I must.’ He laid his hand against my face. ‘Please, Marla, talk to me.’

  I ignored him.

  He sighed and turned from me, knocking on the door.

  My mother’s eyes were wide at the sight of me. ‘Amy, back already? I thought you’d be at camp for a few more days.’ Then she smiled. ‘I’m so proud you decided to lead the youth group.’

  I wondered at the lies Leif had filled her head with and felt guilty about them. But I supposed it was for the best—I hated to think how she’d be carrying on right now if she knew the truth.

  I forced a smile to my lips and told her what a good time I’d had before changing my expression to a scowl for Leif.

  ‘Are you coming inside, Leif?’ Mum asked.

  ‘No, I cannot stay,’ he said, his eyes flicking to my mother for a moment before returning to me. He handed me the bag he’d carried with him from Faera and said, ‘I love you, Marla.’

  ‘Obviously you don’t,’ I huffed, turning away from him and ignoring the bag he held out to me. My mother took the bag and diplomatically told Leif goodbye before leaving us alone.

  ‘Marla, you are not being reasonable,’ Leif said, clutching my shoulder and turning me to face him. Then he pulled me against him and bent to kiss me. I turned my face and his mouth brushed my jaw instead.

  ‘Just go back to your father,’ I muttered.

  ‘Marla!’

  ‘I don’t want to talk to you right now.’

  He looked at me, stunned, then opened his mouth. But if he spoke, I never heard, because I turned from him, stepped inside and closed the door in his face.

  Then I went to my room and crashed into bed, torn between telling him I loved him and telling him I hated him. I decided to do neither. He told me that he loved me and wanted me and missed me already until I could no longer hear him. When my head was empty of his voice, I couldn’t stop the tears. Nor could I go to school. I just lay in bed all day, miserable, hating that he was a whole other world away and feeling terrible for refusing to speak to him. He called me to him in my sleep that night—to some rocky place I’d never seen before.

  ‘I love you,’ he said, bringing me into his arms.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ I replied, pressing my forehead to him.

  He lifted my chin and smiled. His dark eyes were soft and warm. ‘I forgive you.’

  ‘I love you, Leif.’

  ‘I know, and you will not be apart from me for long. When your freedom is announced, I want you with me in Faera.’

  ‘Promise you won’t forget me?’ I asked in a quiet voice.

  Leif watched me for a long moment, brows furrowed. ‘Surely you do not doubt me, Marla. On my honour I will be back for you before the assembly.’

  It wasn’t really Leif I doubted, but the idea that King Telophy would ever allow me back into Faera now that I was out. But there was nothing I could do, so I forced a smile to my face and said, ‘Of course not.’

  He returned the smile and bent to kiss me. ‘Did you like the things I packed for you?’

  ‘I haven’t looked.’

  ‘Have a look when you wake up. I have to go; meeting with you like this uses energy I need to conserve right now.’

  ‘Come back quickly, Leif.’

  He kissed me then and was gone.

  The next day I woke up feeling itchy. The rashes were already returning to my body. And I was starving—I ha
dn’t eaten since I left Faera. Mum had boiled me a fresh batch of rice. A bowl of it was sitting on the shelf in the fridge, a plate of stewed apple alongside it. I groaned as I contemplated the food—how could I possibly get used to this again? Oh, for a steaming dish of delicious Faeran soup, or just one bite of my grandmother’s chocolate cake. I attempted to shut down my tastebuds as I shovelled the mush into my mouth, wishing there was some other way to get it from the bowl to my stomach. Then, when I was halfway through, I remembered Leif’s bag. I leaped up from my seat and hurried to my bedroom to get it, tugging at the drawstring as I returned to the living room.

  It was full of food—fruit, pies, cakes, coffee and . . . chocolate! I pulled out a chunk. The mouth-watering aroma wafted up my nostrils. I bit into it, rolling the delicious, melting morsel around my tongue as I continued digging through the bag. Tucked down the side was a small book covered with rainbow silk. I took it out and opened it. Inside was a photo of Leif, smiling and gorgeous. I paused for a while, stroking his face, before flipping through the rest of the album. It was full of photos of my family, together with messages of love from my grandparents—Leif must have gone to them while I slept. The last was the photo of me with my brother Lysander. My heart instantly filled with yearning. Oh, how I wanted to know him.

  ‘Are you coming, Ash?’ I called as I waited by the front door for my sister. She’d been uncharacteristically quiet since I got back.

  ‘Just a minute,’ she said, as she went to the kitchen to get her lunch. She packed it into her backpack and joined me at the door.

  ‘Are you okay?’ I asked, as we walked down the stairs.

  ‘I’m all right. What about you? You were so upset yesterday.’

  ‘I was just being stupid.’

  ‘I know how that feels . . . I feel like a moron about the whole Jason thing.’ She kept her eyes on the ground as she spoke. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it, I shouldn’t have interfered anyway. I knew Jason was a jerk, but how could you? Besides, when love comes into the equation . . . ’ I raised my eyebrows meaningfully.