Fairy Gifts: A Between the Worlds Anthology

by Morgan Daimler

  The pair walked into the cemetery, Allie knocking politely on the stone archway at the entrance. They had to walk past all the newer headstones and into the back where the oldest section was before Allie bothered reading the markers to look for Esther’s name. It was hard to stay focused though because the stones themselves were so fascinating. Ashwood had been founded in 1792, but before that it had been part of the neighboring town of Berville which had been here since the state was a British colony. Some of the graves dated back to the mid-1600’s and they included far more detail than modern grave markers usually did. While Luath ran around her in wide circles Allie read about people who had died of smallpox, people killed in the Revolutionary War, and saw the graves of mothers and unnamed children who had died together in childbirth. She saw single graves with stones that listed entire families, killed when some illness went through the community, and stones carved with elaborate skulls and patterns. And she saw some whose stones had been smoothed blank by wind and weather over the years and others that had fallen over.

  Then when she least expected it, in the back corner beneath a yew, she found Esther. The headstone was tilting back, almost falling but the words were still legible: “Esther Mae Brown, beloved daughter of Lucille Brown and Edgar Brown. June 1, 1842 ~ August 27, 1854”. Glancing to the right Allie saw that the next grave over was Esther’s parents, buried together, although they had died 60 years apart. She felt a wave of sympathy for Lucille Brown, who had according to the bare history told by the stones, lost her husband when she was a young woman and her daughter only a few years later, then lived on by all appearances alone afterwards until her death.

  Shaking herself out of her sad thoughts, Allie knelt down in front of Esther’s grave and used the spade to clear away the several inches of snow until the frozen ground was revealed. She did her best to dig with the spade but it was slow, difficult work and she quickly grew frustrated. Just when she was about to give up Luath appeared at her side, nosing in to see what she was doing, “It’s okay puppy, I’m just trying to dig a hole. Not having much luck though.”

  The hound’s odd completely black eyes turned up to regard Allie for a second and then Luath pushed in and started digging at the spot Allie had been fruitlessly working at. The hound was much better at it than Allie had been, quickly getting down into the hard ground. Allie let out an excited noise and clapped, forgetting the spade in her hand and rapping her fingers on the wooden handle. She winced at that but was still too happy to care. “Oh you brilliant wonderful baby, yes, just like that.”

  She let Luath dig until she’d gotten down almost a foot, then gently pulled the hound back, hugging her fiercely around the shoulders and receiving an enthusiastic lick to the face in return. She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out the cloth wrapped necklace that she’d recovered from the theater the night before, and before she could lose her nerve she dropped it in the hole and used the spade to shove the displaced dirt back in. As she was smoothing the last of the dirt over the top she felt a whisper of wind across the back of her neck which made the hair go up and Luath whimpered, pressing in against Allie’s side and almost knocking her over.

  Allie looked up and there was Esther. The girl’s face seemed almost angelic, peaceful and also happier than Allie had seen her, even than when she’d found the necklace. As Allie opened her mouth to speak a second figure suddenly appeared a few feet away to the right, a brown haired woman in a long dark skirt and ruffled blouse. Esther saw her and ran to her with her arms out, crying “Mother!”

  The two silently embraced, the woman wrapping the girl in her arms so tightly that she lifted her up, and then they were gone, and a second strong breeze was passing over Allie, this time scented with something that reminded her of baby powder and roses.

  Allie didn’t realize she was crying until Luath started licking the tears off her cheeks, and for the second time she hugged the fairy hound, this time holding the animal close as she wept. After a long time, when the cold started to seep into her despite her warm jacket, she finally let Luath go and struggled up, kicking snow over the disturbed spot on top of the grave. “Okay Luath, we did what we came to do, let’s go home.”

  **************************************

  Bleidd stood alone in the room he shared with Allie and Jess, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He could not remember the last time he’d been in high formal wear. Probably not hundreds of years at least. Looking in the mirror now though he wouldn’t deny that it suited him well.

  The tunic was long sleeved and square necked, the deep hunter green close enough to black to please Bleidd’s aesthetic, the embroidery of rowan leaves and berries standing out cheerfully against the dark fabric. The matching hunter green leggings were skin tight, showing off his legs to the knee where they met the tops of his black boots. He wore a heavily tooled black leather belt and his sword, a courting gift from Jess, hung on his left side in its ancient scabbard. The only area he’d defied custom in was his hair, which should be worn loose for formal occasions but which he’d pulled back in his usual ponytail instead.

  His self-admiration was interrupted when the door opened a crack and Shawn peered in, “Everything’s ready. Samara says come down as soon as you’re set.”

  Bleidd nodded and reached over to the dresser top, scooping up the rings that had been sitting there.

  Time to do this.

  ************************************

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Allie said, reaching up and smoothing her hair forward only to have Jason push it back again.

  “Don’t start with that now for fuck’s sake,” he whispered franticly, glancing around the kitchen as if it gave him a sense of strength in dealing with Allie. Then again knowing Jason maybe it did. “You said you didn’t have cold feet. And don’t touch your hair, Wendy spent an hour making it look like that, so leave it alone.”

  Allie dropped her hands down to her sides, smoothing the cloth over her hips instead. She wanted to argue but Jason had a point: Shawn’s girlfriend Wendy had spent a lot of time and effort on Allie’s hair. It would hardly be fair for her to ruin all that work with her nervous tugging in the ten minutes before they walked out. Gods she hated knowing people could see her ears though. She’d wanted her hair to cover them but Wendy and Jason had been convinced that leaving her hair down, braiding the front part and pinning it back to create a natural crown effect, would be ideal since she didn’t want to wear a veil. And how could she explain that her only argument against that was that it left her poor partially pointed ears exposed? That thought made a semi-hysterical giggle bubble up and she fought it back desperately.

  Jason jabbed a finger into her ribs, hissing, “Allie! That’s the music. Come on, its time.”

  She felt a wave of raw panic, and then Jason was grabbing her arm and hooking his arm through hers, forcing her to move forward with him. And she did.

  And she kept moving, almost instinctively, along with him down the hall and into the living room where everything had been set up for the ceremony. Hannah had decorated the room with a winter theme and when she first stepped in that was all Allie saw, the glitter of white on the tables and furniture - even the couches and chairs which had been pushed back against the walls - then the candles, the subtle snowflakes. The holiday tree was lit up and shining in the corner. It really was magical, and Allie took a deep calming breath, feeling slightly better.

  Only then, after she and Jason had already stepped into the room, did she look forward. Samara was standing next to the fireplace behind the small table that had been set up as an altar, wearing a simple black ritual robe. In front of her on either side stood Bleidd and Jess, both in formal wear. Bleidd wore dark green and Jess wore light, the styles of their clothes slightly different yet oddly coordinated. She could feel their happiness even from across the room and that lifted her own mood as she crossed the remaining distance to join them. Jason stepped back as she reached the little altar and went to sta
nd with her other roommates and assorted guests.

  She stood between Jess and Bleidd, facing Samara, the rings clutched in her right hand. Behind her she was suddenly aware of the click of a camera and knew that Shawn was taking pictures, as she’d asked him to, and that relaxed her even more. Samara smiled at them all, her teeth flashing white, and began with the opening of the ceremony, but Allie barely heard it. The words were a blur, as she found herself focusing on the emotions of the people around her, Jess and Bleidd’s happiness, her guests’ excitement. Even Jess’s family, his mother and brother and Brynneth, were pleased by all this although she doubted they fully understood what was happening.

  Allie shook herself out of her reverie when Samara held her hands out in an inclusive gesture, saying “This wedding, like this marriage, is a fusion of elven and human customs. To begin Allie, Jessilaen, and Bleidd will sign the legal contracts which solemnize their marriages in elven society.”

  She nodded at the three of them, and as they’d discussed Allie stepped up first and carefully signed both contracts, proud that her hands didn’t shake too much. She stepped back and then Jess stepped up and signed his contract, then he stepped back and Bleidd took his turn. There was a rush of magic as the signatures finalized the contract and they were each bound to the contents. Allie felt the surge of joy from Jess’s mother then, as soon as she knew that her son was wed as far as her own people were concerned. The two elves standing to either side of her relaxed slightly and she knew that they also felt that from this moment they were married.

  Samara nodded at Allie then. She turned first to Jess, “Jessilaen of clan Fírinne, you are a source of joy to me and I cannot imagine my life without you in it. Although I have not known you for too long you have become a part of me, and I value that immensely. It is my pleasure to take you as my husband, and for as long as we are together I pledge to do my best to be a good wife to you, to care for you, and to protect you in whatever ways I can.”

  “Do you have a ring to symbolize this vow?” Samara asked.

  “I do,” Allie said, swallowing hard. She reached out and took Jess’s left hand, sliding the ring she’d picked out onto it. Before she let his hand drop she squeezed his fingers. Then without being prompted she turned to Bleidd. “Bleidd once named Morighent of clan Soileireacht, you are a source of great happiness to me and I cannot imagine my life without you in it. You have been a part of my life for many years and we were good friends before we were anything else, that matters a lot to me. It is my pleasure to take you as my husband, and for as long as we are together I pledge to do my best to be a good wife to you, to care for you, and to protect you in whatever ways I can.”

  “Do you have a ring to symbolize this vow?” Samara asked.

  “I do,” Allie said and placed the second, identical ring on Bleidd’s left ring finger. She was surprised to feel his emotions as a swirl of pleasure as the ring went on.

  Samara looked at Jess and nodded. Jess turned to Allie and unable to contain his grin, said, “Aliaine of clan Draighean, you are my heart and the light of my days. I pledge to you all that I have and am while we are wed, may that be for as long as we all will it to last. May my blade defend you, may my love warm you, and may my strength strengthen you.”

  “Do you have a ring to symbolize this vow?” Samara asked.

  “I do,” Jess said, he took Allie’s right hand in his, sliding a beautifully wrought silver ring onto her finger. It was a design of intertwining leaves and flowers and she thought of spring and Jess as soon as she saw it.

  Then Jess looked at Bleidd, Allie taking a half step back. He met the other elf’s eyes, his own expression still joyous. “Bleidd, once named Morighent, of clan Soiliereacht, you are my heart-companion and my love. I pledge to you my loyalty and love while we are wed, may that be for as long as we all will it to last. May my blade defend you, may my love warm you, and may my strength strengthen you.”

  Allie felt the genuine shock that rippled through Jess’s mother and brother, but what surprised her was that Brynneth wasn’t shocked, he was pleased. She wondered at that, but tucked it away to contemplate later.

  “Do you have a ring to symbolize this vow?” Samara asked.

  “I do,” Jess said, he took Bleidd’s right hand in his, sliding a beautifully wrought silver ring onto Bleidd’s finger, identical to the one Allie now wore. She fought a goofy grin at that, liking that they matched.

  Bleidd didn’t wait for Samara’s nod, but turned to Allie as soon as Jess released his hand. “Aliaine of clan Draighean, I have loved you for many long years, and I never dreamed that we would be standing here today, and yet we are. I pledge to you my heart and my skill, and whatever else is left to me that has value. You have always seen the best in me, may I be worthy of that vision.”

  “Do you have a ring to symbolize this vow?” Samara asked.

  “I do,” Bleidd said. He took Allie’s right hand in his and took out a ring with a single dark stone set in it. As Bleidd slipped the ring on her finger she felt the sensation of the strong magic invested in the metal but as she opened her mouth, forgetting for an instant where she was and what she was doing, he was already squeezing her hand and turning to Jess. She let the issue drop, but the tingling of magic distracted her.

  Bleidd looked at Jess the same way Jess had looked at him a few minutes earlier. “Jessilaen of clan Firinne when I first met you I thought we would never be anything but enemies. And yet here we are and you are as dear to me now as Allie, dearer perhaps than anyone else ever has been except for her to me. I pledge to you my heart and my skill, and my loyalty to you. You bring me joy, may I always be worthy of that gift.”

  “Do you have a ring to symbolize this vow?” Samara asked.

  “I do,” Bleidd said, he took Jess’s right hand in his, sliding a ring identical to the one he’d given Allie onto Jess’s finger. Allie could not deny that she was delighted that all their rings matched based on who had given them; there was a beautiful symmetry in it that appealed to her.

  With the vows said and all the rings exchanged they turned back to Samara who raised her hands in benediction, “May the Gods and spirits bless this union and those within it. May they be a shelter for each other in storms and a light to each other in darkness. May they be a delight to each other in good times and a support to each other no matter what comes their way. As we have witnessed these oaths may they be true to them and each other. So let it be.”

  She lowered her arms, smiling at them, “I now pronounce you married.”

  Several people cheered and Allie let out a sigh of relief. Now that it was done, the papers signed, the rings warm on her fingers, she didn’t know why she’d been so nervous before.

  *********************************

  An hour later hors d'oeuvres had been set out along with a selection of drinks and everyone was in high spirits. Jess was standing with his mother and brother discussing the ceremony with Samara, the fireplace a cheerful backdrop next to them. Shawn and Wendy were in the middle of an animated conversation with Jason’s friend James, and James girlfriend Kate over by the doorway. James looked odd in a suit and tie to Allie, with his tattoos and piercings, but she liked it. He stood close to the side of Kate’s wheelchair, towering over his girlfriend, who was wearing a teal satin dress that matched his tie. Allie had been delighted that Kate had been able to make it; the redhead had become a regular customer in the store after James had traded some computer work for a store credit and Allie genuinely liked the young woman’s wit and dry sense of humor. Jason and Tony were by the tree with Brynneth, and Allie hoped that wasn’t too awkward for her friend. The only person missing who Allie would have wanted to be there was Ciaran, but he had politely declined, saying that as much as he liked Allie he was not comfortable socially around so many elves. She couldn’t say she didn’t understand, although she wished things could be different.

  Allie was standing next to the window chatting with Hannah and Hannah’s sister Joan, B
leidd still sticking close to her side. Since the ceremony he had seemed reluctant to go more than a few feet from her, even walking with her to the bathroom and waiting outside. She reached out now and took his hand, liking the way that their rings clicked together. She smiled at Hannah, “You did an amazing job on the decorations, I can’t begin to thank you.”

  “No thanks needed,” she said. “It was fun to do and it’s not every day I get to help with a wedding. And this was such a wonderful experience to get to attend – thank you so much for inviting me.”

  “Yes,” Joan agreed. “I know I’m kind of my sister’s plus one here, but I really appreciate being able to attend. That felt really special.”

  “That is a very kind thing to say,” Bleidd said seriously and Joan, who Allie guessed was in her early twenties, blushed and reached up to pat her hair, obviously a bit flustered. Allie understood the young woman’s reaction; elves in general often had that effect on humans, especially humans of the opposite gender, and Bleidd was looking rather stunning tonight.

  She squeezed his hand, inexplicably proud to realize that he was her husband now. And who would have thought you’d be so happy about that when you never did care about getting married? she thought amused by her own pleasure at the idea. For that matter who’d have thought we’d be standing here now, surrounded by good food, holiday cheer, and friends celebrating our wedding – and not just our wedding but our wedding, all of us to each other? If anyone had asked me this time last year where I pictured myself at the next winter solstice I’d have said I saw my future spreading out just like my past – a couple good friends, working the store six days a week, but no romance, no relationship, and certainly nothing more exciting happening to me than reading the new fiction releases. And here I am a year later and everything is different. Some of it is bad different, but not all of it. There’s Jess and Bleidd, obviously, and the baby…and there’s how close I am to Jason now. There’s not working every day. There’s actually helping people, not just with the Elven Guard but on my own, like freeing Esther.