27. Epilogue I
Chapter 27
Epilogue I
Timas
“ I appreciate all you have done for us, King Timas. I know when we first met I might have been a little abrasive, but I appreciate you not holding that against me.” It’s been a couple weeks since our fight with Oberon. Queen Neeve sits across the small table from me as we finish up some of the agreements for our newfound partnership. We have decided to have an equal partnership where we work together to rule the Fae people. It has a long way to go, many policies we will need to go over and agree to, but we will take one step at a time. Those long meetings are for another day.
“If I was in your position I would not have been the most pleasant person to be around either. How are your people settling in on the islands?”
“Very well, though some are still shocked at what it looks like outside the forest. Many of them hadn’t seen the sun before.” Neeve says somberly .
“I will send a representative back with you and arrange several ships to drop off materials for you to build new homes and start new farms. I also hear congratulations are in order. You have recently been bonded.” The smile on Neeve’s face is blinding; I don’t know if she has ever really been this happy before.
“Thank you. Since the political bonding wasn’t required to save my people, I was able to bond with my spirit bond.”
“I can’t believe you would sacrifice such a bond.” Her smile dims slightly.
“I told you. I was willing to do anything to protect my people.”
After the meeting, I go in search of my bonded. Emilia decided to take Alette on a tour of the palace instead of sitting in a meeting room for hours on end. Looking over my shoulder at one of the guards following behind me, I ask,
“Where is Emilia?”
“At the cherry blossom grove, Your Majesty.” Wasting no time I head for the cherry blossom grove behind the palace.
Emilia has brought out a blanket and basket full of treats from the kitchen and laid it all out for Alette and herself. The women are laughing with one another as I approach. It’s nice to see Alette smile. After the ordeal she and Emilia went through, she took a long time to heal. Lowering myself to the blanket, I sit right beside Emilia, pulling her into my lap and just because I can, I kiss her.
“How was your morning, my flower?”
“It was wonderful, we went to see the gardens, the horses, the kitchens.” slightly shocked, I look at Emilia.
“Of all the places in the palace you took her to the kitchens?” She just smiles like there is nothing wrong with that statement.
“Of course! I had to introduce her to Bilna. He was so excited I think he skipped around the kitchen for the rest of the morning after we left.” I can’t help smiling at her kind heart. Not every Queen would go out of their way to say hello to the cook. Milori wanders over to our makeshift picnic and plops on the ground beside me.
“Is this what I have been missing all day? Fancy snacks and cider!” He reaches over and grabs a scone from the treats sitting on one of the plates. “I need to get a new job.” He says, around a mouth full of food.
“You’re barely good at your current position. What else could you possibly do?” I retort.
“I don’t know, but whatever I choose it better include these scone things.” He grabs another one and shoves it in his mouth.
“Ignore him. Alette, I received another letter from your father requesting you return to the Human Kingdom.” Her face falls, and she starts chewing on her bottom lip. “Like I said before, you are welcome to stay here as long as you like. You can stay forever if you wish, I know Emilia would appreciate it.” I try to make the conversation happier.
“If I don’t go back, he will just become more and more persistent. He doesn’t behave well when he doesn’t get his way.” Something tells me there is more to that story, but Emilia says Alette needs time to heal, so I trust her judgement.
“Timas will protect you, Alette. I promise.” Emilia’s confidence in me always makes me happy.
“I just don’t want to put anyone in jeopardy. It would be safer if I returned I just… I just don’t want to go back.” She whispers that last bit. We sit quietly for a moment before Milori decides to break the tension with his unfiltered comments.
“So what’s creeper doing over there behind those trees?” He points to Garrick, who has been lingering at a distance, watching us but never coming over. It’s curious he always does this when Alette is around. Alette looks over, and something passes through her face, but I can’t name it.
“He’s been doing that a lot, acting really awkward. I tried talking to him about it but he won’t talk to me.” I’ve been wondering for a while whether he had stumbled upon his soul bond, and if I’m not mistaken, it might just be our little Human princess, Alette. But something is holding him back. Whatever it is, he needs to work through it on his own.
“Anyways, what is our plan for the rest of the day?” I squeeze Emilia tighter to me. “I’m not taking any more meetings.”
“I was hoping to go swimming at the lake! Alette’s never swam in a lake before.” Emilia says excitedly.
“Sounds wonderful,” I say, kissing the side of her head. I don’t know what else is heading our way, but I know that whatever it is, I will face it with Emilia by my side.