26. Chapter 26
26
BEATRICE
“Don’t even begin to feel guilty for not being there during the battle,” Niel told me with a heart-melting smile. “Your first role in the battle was taking on Winifred, Chicky, and Dodger, and you essentially guaranteed our victory when you promised to marry me. You’ve given of yourself far beyond any duty.”
I could only shake my head. “But . . . doing those things gave me the greatest joy!”
“And that is but one of the many reasons I love you to distraction.”
We may have paused around that time for an interlude of kisses with no fear of vanishing, but eventually communication with words resumed. “Shouldn’t we go to Faraway Castle to see if we can help?” I asked.
“The moment you promised to marry me, the war was essentially won. A few hair-raising moments followed, but thanks to our faithful company of mages and mer-warriors and heroic griffins and a lake monster, all is now well. No injuries that can’t be healed or reversed.”
“What is happening now?”
“Clean up, mostly. Soon the celebrations will begin.”
“Maybe I should change into something more practical . . .” I looked down at the silky jumpsuit, heels, and fur coat.
“Must you be practical?” He stepped back to look me over with evident appreciation. “Mm-mmm, you were wearing that outfit when I gave you the ring.”
Heat flooded my face as I dropped my gaze. “I hoped you would like it.”
“I certainly did, and it obviously made a lasting impression.”
“Then I guess I’ll just wear this.”
“Thank you. So, would you like to slip over to Faraway Castle now?”
“Yes.” I gripped his strong hand like a lifeline. “I’m still trying to wrap my mind around all that’s been happening, but I’m truly very happy.”
“Oh, Beatrice.” He pulled me close, and the profound emotion in his voice and embrace eased my insecurity. “I can’t begin to express what’s in my heart right now. I’m more than a century old, but I’ve spent most of that time alone, and . . . I mean . . . I’m a novice when it comes to personal relationships, let alone romance.”
“I’m a novice too, so we’ll learn together. Just as we learned how to raise griflets.”
We did end up returning to the palace to freshen up a bit, and then, at Niel’s suggestion, we used Auntie Bella’s magical path between gardens. To my surprise, its arbor gate turned out to be only a few steps away from where he’d lain on the path when I found him that morning.
A blend of wonder and relief filled my heart as the box hedge and arbor appeared before us. “You were lying right there—only a step or two away.” My voice choked up. “Were you trying to reach the gate?” I asked.
“I don’t remember, but it’s possible,” he admitted. “Bella showed me how to open it when you were fifteen, and the cinder sprites use it frequently.”
I huffed in mock frustration. “I looked everywhere for it, but no luck. And this morning we sat here, right next to it, right where the boy Othniel— you —stood when I told you goodbye . . .” I paused, frowning. “Which reminds me: whatever happened to Bo?”
“Bo? You mean, you don’t know?”
Before he could explain, the truth hit me. “Wait! Earlier you said something about lake monsters . . . Did you mean Bo was at the battle this morning?”
“Yes. Nelumbo. I call him Bo. He’s grown a lot in the past century.”
“Wait! Bo is the lake serpent of Faraway Castle? I’ve seen him many times but never realized that I’d met him when I was little! I hope he doesn’t think I’m rude.”
Niel chuckled. “Nelumbo likes you. He loves to hang around Faraway Lake. Sometimes he brings his family along.” Niel sounded like a boy again while speaking of his monster friend.
Shrill squeaks suddenly pierced our ears, and a small herd of cinder sprites poured through the gate. “Beatrice!” Moonlight cried. “Papa Starfire sent us to find you. Prince Briar is ready to tell the story of the battle, and he says he needs King Othniel and Beatrice to tell their part of the story.”
“We’re coming.” Niel’s tone was indulgent as he addressed the little sprite. “I’ve invited all the magical creatures in the Forbidden Lands to come and hear the tale of the Battle of Faraway Castle. After all, they’ve been effectively protecting its borders too.”
So it was that Niel and I followed a troop of excited cinder sprites through the garden gate and on into Faraway Castle itself, where cheers erupted on all sides. I couldn’t quite take in the throngs of people and creatures along the way, and my face felt ready to split from smiling so hard.
Prince Briar approached us first, his face beaming as he dropped to one knee right there in the lobby of Faraway Castle. “Your Royal Majesty! I learned only yesterday that you are both the last King of Adelboden and the Trollkarl!”
“No bowing, please. We’re equals.” Niel gripped the prince’s hand and pulled him up into a quick back-slapping hug. “Adelboden is a republic and needs to stay that way.” His words reached every corner of the castle though he never raised his voice. “Now, I’m aware that most of you have met Beatrice de Callen, but I would like to introduce her to you all”—he paused and surveyed our audience as if to welcome them into his inner circle—“as my future wife.”
“Hail to the Trollkarl and Lady Beatrice, his future wife!” a huge centaur shouted, and the excited crowd of humans and magical creatures eagerly echoed the affirmation. Niel took my hand in his, and we waved to the crowds together.
That day became a celebration filled with feasting and storytelling and congratulations and thanksgiving. After a mid-day meal (served by delighted brownies who occasionally did handsprings when their hands were empty) in the dining hall (which had stretched significantly to accommodate every guest), Prince Briar related the tale of the Battle of Faraway Castle, including how the Trollkarl had been “freed from a hundred-year curse by the love of a beautiful yet humble nanny who is also the niece of Lady Arabella de Wynter, the part-time fairy godmother, part-time wise old woman.”
Just then, the dining-room doors burst open, and a familiar voice called out, “That’s my nanny!”
“Eddi?” I exclaimed as two fterotá (winged horses), the stallion Snow White and his mate, Spring Flurry, entered the dining hall with their riders, Princess Edurne Zuri and her betrothed, Kai the mountain dwarf.
Cheers rose all around as I hurried forward to hug my dear friends with Niel at my heels. Eddi talked nonstop, voicing every thought that passed through her head in the old familiar way while Kai smiled and quietly congratulated us.
Somehow the brownies adjusted the head table to seat two more, and buckets of carrots and apples appeared for the fterotá, who had seemed to enjoy their venture into the castle but were better pleased to eat out on the sunny deck where they could observe their humans through the windows.
Before they were quite settled, I saw Dodger land on the deck and hurried out to welcome him with a big hug. “Where’s Win?”
His neck feathers fluffed, and he answered into my head. Win need Beeetrice. Chicky destroy the Mirror—now Win know she been bad.
“Where is she?”
“On the beach. I go stay with her.”
I felt torn. Win needed reassurance, and I was the only person present who knew her. I glanced back toward Niel and met his gaze through the wall of windows. He spoke into my head like the griflets did: Go to Winifred if you wish. I’ll be here.
Minutes later, I sat beside Win on the warm sandy beach and gazed out at the open water reflecting blue sky. “I’m thankful you’re here and safe.”
“Why do you care?” Her tone was flat.
“Because I know you were enchanted by that terrible mirror.”
She looked down at her hands in her lap. “It kept telling me how stupid and selfish you were. I hated you, and I really believed the Gamekeeper was an evil beast that killed the king. The Mirror wanted me to kill you, and I did try.” After a moment, she muttered, “Now I’m thankful I failed.”
My heart went out to her. “You’re not the only one to fall under its spell. Last summer, the girl who owned it tried to kill a princess and is still in rehabilitation.”
“Yeah. Princess Eddi and Kai told me that story after Dodger left me with them. They were really kind, but I can’t help thinking everyone here must hate me. I mean, I planned to give the griffin eggs to Mage Einarsson, and yesterday I tried again. Dodger went with me to the cave where the mages were hiding, and Vlad and Mirka were there—enchanted too. They tried to convince him, and Einarsson tried to enchant him with the Mirror, but he refused to be enchanted and snatched me away.” She paused, her face wrinkling as if she struggled to hold back tears. “He was so brave!”
“Dodger loves you, Win. I do too. And we both understand now why you were so angry and confused.”
She gave me her icy scowl. “You can’t possibly love me.”
“Oh, yes, I can.” I gave her side-eye. “And you can’t stop me.”
She dropped her gaze to her clenched hands, but I saw her lips twitch with a hint of humor.
I gently bumped her shoulder with mine. “I need to go back inside. Sure you don’t want to come sit with us and hear all the stories of the day?”
She studied her bare feet covered with warm sand. “No thanks. But . . .” She peered up at me through her pale lashes. “Can I stay with you tonight? And Dodger and Chicky?”
“We would love to have you.” I gave her a quick one-armed hug. “After all we’ve been through together, how can we not be friends?”
On that note, I brushed sand from my beautiful jumpsuit and returned to the dining hall by way of the deck. Niel pulled me close and spoke into my ear. “Any luck?”
I looked up into his stunning eyes and nearly forgot to answer. “Oh! Um. Yes. Win asked if she and the griflets could stay in my suite tonight. I’m sure Auntie won’t mind.”
“Excellent.” He kissed my forehead. “We’ve all been requested to disperse for a few hours to give the brownies time to prepare for a celebration feast this evening.” He chuckled. “I anticipate yet another celebration feast at the Forbidden Palace tomorrow, and the same stories to be told.”
I shrugged. “This is a historic occasion. We might as well enjoy it while it lasts!”
Many of the creatures and dwarves gave us farewells and thanked Niel for his protection and guidance over the years before they headed home, ready to return to everyday life. I noticed Princess Eddi chatting with a young ogress and a pretty girl centaur, but the horse-thing following Prince Briar around freaked me out . . . and when it transformed first into a creepy rabbit, and then into an even uglier man, I had a death grip on poor Niel’s hand.
“Bane won’t harm you,” he assured me. “Several pookahs take refuge in the Forbidden Lands since few creatures in this world appreciate their unique qualities. Their trustworthiness is questionable, but those taking refuge in my lands know to behave themselves. Bane is a good-hearted creature, loyal to a fault.”
I found this explanation less than reassuring, but I trusted Niel’s judgment. Next, two griffins approached him to apologize for their treachery—it took me a while, but I finally realized they were the infamous Vlad and Mirka. Niel forgave them both—they had been enchanted, after all—but I was relieved when they left without mention of their missing offspring. Did they even remember their eggs? How such a self-absorbed pair had produced my beautiful and beloved griflets remains a mystery to me.
From the time we arrived at Faraway Castle in the morning, everything about that day flowed naturally with no formality or stress. I was never sure of the time but didn’t mind at all. Niel gave an impressive speech of gratitude in honor of the mer-warriors before they returned to their side of the world. Rosa’s animated plants even strolled through the castle that day, with brownies following behind to sweep up their shedding leaves.
The stubborn resort guests who’d refused to leave during the crisis complained about the crowds at mealtimes but otherwise seemed as oblivious as ever despite seeing centaurs, fauns, griffins, and other magical creatures wandering about. “Some people see only what they wish to see,” Niel explained. “Might as well let them.”
The gathering that evening was significantly smaller, but the banquet was every bit as jolly. Many tales of valor and courage were told that evening, and I finally heard the story of “Chicky and the Mirror of Alviss,” which freaked me out. I hadn’t seen Chicky or my grandaunt anywhere, but no one else seemed concerned, so I didn’t worry. Dodger received his share of praise for attacking the turul, and when he obligingly bowed, the crowd burst into cheers.
Queen Pukai was sincerely thanked, and she spoke a few words of gracious solidarity with the Trollkarl, Lady Arabella, the newlywed royals, and the many faithful friends who’d laid their lives on the line to preserve magical freedom in our world. Even Prince Omar related firsthand accounts of the courage and valor of Prince Briar, Princess Rosa, and Crown Princess Marielle during the siege and brief battle.
After that banquet, everyone moved to the ballroom, where a buffet of desserts and hot drinks was available. Friendly faces and greetings came and went all evening, and I nodded and smiled until my face felt numb. While Niel sat at one of the round tables, talking with a stern-looking dwarf, and I felt ready to plant my head on his shoulder for a snooze, someone gripped my shoulder.
“Auntie Bella?” I mumbled, recognizing that almost painful pinch.
She dropped into the chair beside me where Princess Eddi had most recently been sitting, and her familiar brown eyes met my gaze . . . but the face was all wrong. I blinked hard. “Who? Wha—?”
She rolled her eyes. “My girl, you’ll have to get used to this. Of course it’s me. I decided to switch to my real face. I don’t feel ancient anymore, so why look it? My fairy blood will keep me kickin’ for many years yet.”
I had scarcely taken in this revelation before she sprang a new one on me. “ And I’m engaged to marry the one and only love of my life, General Kapono of the West Dynamic Ocean’s First Army.” She held out her hand to display a gold ring set with a gleaming pink pearl.
When I remained speechless with surprise, she rambled on. “We fell in love as teens, but he was betrothed at birth to a princess from the South Dynamic Federation.” She shrugged. “He was too honorable to desert his duty or break his parents’ hearts, and he eventually rose to become a General of the Oceanic Armies. I wasn’t quite as mature . . . You see, not long after he married, I made my foolish choice to help Othniel seek his happily-ever-after, and you know what became of that!”
“You mean when you changed him into the Gamekeeper?”
She winced. “Well, that wasn’t my original intent. Let’s just say, he tried to pull a fast one on us—”
I shrugged, giving my grandaunt a sympathetic smile. “He told me about that.”
“Did he? The spell was nearly finished before I realized what he’d done, so all in a rush I made him look and sound like a monster sort of thing. Then news of what we’d done spread. I was blacklisted for several decades but still did some clandestine fairy-godmothering. Once the scandal blew over, I rejoined the fairy-godmother league and made a career of it, moonlighting as a Wise Old Woman on the side. Niel had given me some key details you’d mentioned during your dream meetings with him, such as your family name and your Auntie Bella—obviously that had to be me—so I kept watch over my extended family until I learned of your mother’s engagement and marriage to a de Callen. I befriended the dear girl and became your fairy godmother. Your father never suspected a thing, and when your mother tragically passed away, I stepped in to help him raise you. He is a very good man despite his prejudice against magic.”
She gave me one of her puckish smiles. “The rest, you must already guess. Pukai and I plotted, conspired, despaired, and hoped through all those years, giving my beastly cousin some crazy coaching at times. But really, it was his faithful love for you that did the trick.”
My mind whirled from this deluge of information, but every fact clicked into place and made sense, so I nodded. “Yes, it did. I fell in love with him as the Gamekeeper more than as Niel, but now I can freely love both sides of him.”
And love Chicky too! The voice spoke into my head.
Starting in surprise, I turned in my chair to look up into bright golden eyes. Rising quickly, I wrapped my arms around my legendary griflet’s feathery neck and felt her heave a satisfied sigh while tucking her head over my shoulder. “You are amazing!” I whispered.
I know. Then she did her wacky chortle that passed for a laugh, flapped her wings, and squawked stridently enough to drown out every conversation around us: “Chicky loves Beeetrice!”
Once my ears recovered, I shouted back, “And Beatrice loves Chicky, the Golden Griffin of Faraway Castle!”
I hadn’t realized quite how much attention we’d gained, so I was thoroughly surprised when nearly everyone in the ballroom applauded.
Thankfully, Niel diverted attention from me when he rose and drew my weakly protesting aunt to her feet. “And another cheer for Lady Arabella, the Golden Griffin’s rider!”
It was nearly midnight when Auntie brought her betrothed to meet us. “Beatrice, this is Kapono, my dear friend and soon-to-be husband. We’ve already arranged a small ceremony in the resort chapel tomorrow evening.”
The General was a powerfully built man with the biggest shoulders I’d ever seen, and his expression was sober. But Auntie obviously adored him, so I took his broad, callused hand in mine and looked into his dark eyes, where I recognized a gentle kindness that won my heart. “I am so happy for you and Auntie Bella! Many blessings and much joy to you both.”
“Good girl,” Auntie observed before he could speak, then added in an offhand tone, “And this is my distant cousin Othniel—you know his story. He’s a good boy no matter what you’ve heard.”
“Hey!” Niel protested with a smile and gripped Kapono’s hand. “Call me Niel. And I’m only half as bad as she’s told you.”
An amused smile lit up Kapono’s face. “I am honored to meet the Trollkarl and Gamekeeper of Faraway Castle, and I wish you equal joy with your lovely Beatrice.”
“Ooh! I just had an idea,” Auntie blurted.
“Uh oh!” the men spoke in unison.
I burst out laughing. “You two sound like family already!”
Auntie rolled her eyes. “Listen before you judge! I merely wondered if you two would like to follow royal precedent and have yet another double wedding in the chapel. I’m quite sure we could pull it off with minimal fuss and a smidgen of magic regarding legal details.”
I looked at Niel.
“What would you like, Beatrice?” he asked, but I easily read his hopeful expression.
“If we can bring my Papa here in time for the ceremony, I’m all about it.” I took his hands and gently squeezed. “Would you mind if Eddi and Win were my bridesmaids?”
And so, it was arranged.
Morning light woke me, and I smiled. But when memories began to scroll through my head, I sat up so abruptly that I nearly fell out of bed. I was back in my guest room in the royal suite at Faraway Castle, and I wasn’t entirely sure I hadn’t dreamed the entire adventure . . . “Niel! Gamekeeper?” I whispered.
A clear sense that he was awake and pleased that I missed him flooded through me. “Good morning!” I added. “I love you.”
I knew in another instant that he loved me too. Just thinking about our last goodnight kiss made me smile and blush a little. And today, he would become my husband!
I washed, prepared as well as I could for upcoming events, and was still smiling when I entered our luxurious suite’s main room, where Winifred and Eddi had sacked out on the sofas. Chicky and Dodger occupied much of the floor space, with their wings draped over chairs and their tufted tails twitching beneath the sofas. They had grown far too large for indoor sleeping, but the spoiled creatures enjoyed being underfoot.
The aroma of percolating coffee filled the room. Curious, I followed it to the tiny kitchenette to discover a top-of-the-line coffee maker with a frilly white bow on its handle, and a note: “From all of us brownies and dwarves of Faraway Castle to our Gamekeeper and our Beatrice, with love and gratitude on your wedding day.” For the first time that day but hardly the last, tears filled my eyes.
I poured myself a cup, then sat down to enjoy and ponder.
I have no idea how she managed it, but sometime last night Auntie Bella had explained everything (I did not envy her the task) to my Papa, and he was scheduled to arrive at Faraway Castle well before the two o’clock service. For a “small and private” ceremony, the plans sounded to me like a major production, but I didn’t care, since my only “task” was to show up and enjoy.
Niel’s nearly endless responsibilities at the Forbidden Palace and Faraway Castle, not to mention the reeling World Magic Council, would fall on his shoulders as soon as our honeymoon weekend ended, but after today we would handle life’s challenges and joys together.
Both Win and Eddi were delighted to be my bridesmaids, although my spoiled princess did pout a bit that I would marry before she did—never mind that I’m six years older. She’s a case! I let Auntie make all the arrangements for tuxes and gowns, since I totally trusted her instincts where fashion was involved.
I didn’t have to wake anyone. The perfectly brewed coffee gently roused all human sleepers, even Auntie in her room. Coffee cake and fruit had also appeared overnight in our little refrigerator, and we discussed recent events once more, interested to hear each other’s stories.
Auntie promised to vouch for Winifred to be offered a position at Faraway Castle. Now, if she could just form some good friendships . . . Actually, she and Eddi chatted with animation, mostly about flying-horse racing and griffins. Although in appearance they were nearly opposites—Winifred quite pale and Eddi the definition of vibrant —the two girls shared many interests.
Chicky and Dodger slept soundly through our chatter, then abruptly woke at the same time, squawking, “I hungry,” for all to hear. I escorted them downstairs, giving Win a break, but halfway down the last flight of stairs, they started to jostle and chase each other. Thankfully, there were no guests in the stairwell at that early hour, and the brownies simply ignored my rambunctious griflets.
But they did need to learn indoor manners. “You two, straighten up until we’re outside,” I chided.
Almost in unison they hunched their wings, hung their heads, and apologized: “Sorry, Beeetrice!” Their obedience lasted until we were halfway across the lobby, when they made a dash for freedom. No other guests were around, so I let them go. Not without incident: they attempted to squeeze through an automatic door at the same time. That was something of a train wreck, but soon they were flying high above Faraway Lake, which reflected the surrounding mountains like a mirror.
Niel had confessed to me the night before that he planned to maintain this spring-like weather until most of the creatures and guests had returned home, and then he would allow winter to return in its natural cycle. We’d agreed to not see each other until I walked up the aisle to marry him, but nothing stopped us from magically communicating our love and anticipation. It was delightful!
I watched as several more griffins joined my griflets in the sky, and I particularly noticed Bogdan flying in formation with Chicky. Possible romance there? My magical adventure of raising griflets had passed so quickly, but even greater blessings lay ahead!
I don’t know how Niel managed to provide me time alone with my father before the wedding rush began—maybe Faraway Castle played around with time too?—but Papa and I were able to spend a peaceful hour together, strolling through the gardens, which seemed more beautiful than ever before. Papa appeared rather shell-shocked, but he asked me to tell him everything about Niel—how I met him and why I wanted to marry him—and he promised to keep an open mind. I did my best to fit years of my life into a brief explanation, starting with my first meeting with Othniel in the palace gardens and ending with my acceptance of the Gamekeeper’s marriage proposal and its world-changing consequences.
Papa did his best to wrap his brain around the magic and the time jumps and warps, but the fact that his daughter planned to marry a former king of Adelboden who had already lived more than a century nearly blew his mind. Even so, he listened to me and agreed that Niel had more than learned his lesson.
Eddi and Win helped me don my soft-white tea-length gown and blusher veil. Funny, how Auntie and I shared so many style preferences. She might have passed for an older sister rather than . . . but no, I must remember that she prefers to be described without quite so many “greats.”
The ceremony was everything I had never dreamed possible. Crowds aren’t really my thing, and the castle’s lovely old chapel was packed full of humans, magical people, and sentient creatures. Yet I stepped fearlessly through the doors on my father’s arm just as Auntie Bella reached the front and Kapono took her hand. After they turned to face us, Papa and I began our procession to the same time-honored march.
Our attendants already waited up front: my two bridesmaids were lovely in their peachy-pink gowns (which somehow flattered both Eddi’s vivid coloring and Winifred’s delicate complexion), and gorgeous Queen Pukai wore aqua. Prince Briar, looking sharp in a tux, stood as best man for both grooms. And Auntie Bella? She was stunning in an ivory-silk frock with antique lace panels.
But as soon as Papa and I took that first step on the aisle runner, I saw only Niel, my dearest friend and my only love, waiting for me beside the chaplain. Once we reached the front, Papa kissed my cheek, whispered his blessing, handed me off to Niel, and took a seat in the front row. Then Niel and I stepped aside to watch as Auntie Bella and Kapono spoke their vows. When I glimpsed the joy in Auntie’s eyes and the blend of tears and triumph in her husband’s as the chaplain introduced the newlyweds to our audience, I had to swallow hard and focus on my own vows coming up shortly.
By their own choice, Arabella, Kapono, and Pukai took seats in the front row to watch us take our vows. I handed Eddi my bouquet, and Niel and I faced each other, exchanging simple gold rings (mine had been his grandmother’s) and repeating the traditional vows “in the sight of God and these witnesses.” The ceremony seemed like a dream, yet my mind soaked in every nuance, every word spoken, and every joyful tear Niel shed.
Our wedding seems an excellent choice of where to end my tale, but I will add the happy news that after two years of wedded bliss, Niel and I are expectant parents. We do face the challenge of raising children in a palace so huge that I still get lost at times . . .
But our faithful servants make life so much easier. Especially my personal maids, Hortense and Geneva, who recently married Franz and Eric, the two hard-working footmen who’d guided Win and me around the house by means of lightbulbs. Our staff members are all fascinated by the modern world, but most of them prefer the old-fashioned ways, which suits me quite well.
The reorganized Magic Council unanimously asked Niel to remain as Trollkarl for another term, which he agreed to do. But Briar and Rosa are now the co-directors of Faraway Castle and share the Gamekeeper’s former responsibilities as well. In winter, Winifred lives with her grandparents where she can attend school, but she takes her summer position as gardener-in-training at Faraway Castle very seriously. Dodger, Chicky, and their families live near us in the Forbidden Lands, and I’ve become good friends with several of the other resident creatures and people.
Since Niel is no longer bound to the mountains, we frequently travel to see friends and family around the world. Among our favorite hobbies is helping my father restore Castle Iker to its former glory. Also, I will soon stand up as Eddi’s matron-of-honor when she marries her beloved Kai.
And Niel and I—and sometimes Chicky, Bogdan, and their griflets—frequently travel to the South Dynamic island that is now Auntie Bella and Kapono’s home, which doubles as the main hub of Arabella’s International Fairy Godmother Training Academy.
I can hardly wait for our children to hear Auntie Bella tell her version of “How I Helped the Golden Griffin Destroy the Mirror of Alviss.”
The End