3. The Fae King
Ihad little time to act on the startling revelations of the evening. I hadn’t even decided on a course of action. Part of me hoped the problem would simply go away.
It was still early in the morning. Day had not yet broken. Despite that, someone was pounding on my chamber doors. Who would dare wake their king?
I wiped the sleep from my eyes. Only a select few had access to my personal quarters, and only one would dare disturb my slumber.
Harry.
Sure enough, his familiar voice rang out, ”It’s urgent.”
I pulled on a dressing gown and grumbled, ”Enter.”
Without hesitation, he threw open the doors and panted, ”Queen Liliana of the Sun Court has arrived. She awaits your audience.”
”Queen Liliana?” I repeated.
He nodded. ”She’s only just arrived.”
”But why? She’s not on my schedule.” And even if she were, I’d have never scheduled her at this hour. I stared at him pointedly. ”Are you aware of the time?”
I had more troubles than just the soul rot that might kill me. I was twice cursed, and there was a troublesome time limitation involved in the second.
”Forrest, I know.”
”And yet…”
He sighed. ”She is of the Sun Court. You know they retire at sunfall. If you are to accommodate her, it must be now.”
”We have but minutes,” I insisted. ”Send one of the advisors instead.”
He bit his lip. ”I considered this. Unfortunately, the first to volunteer was Hawthorne. The others approved it.”
I groaned. ”We can’t send him.”
”I know,” Harry repeated.
I took a deep breath and then released it all at once. ”Fine, but we must move quickly.”
”The kitchens have already been alerted. Her ladies-in-waiting as well. She will meet you out on the Sunrise Veranda. You need only get dressed.”
The Sunrise Veranda was a part of my private wing. That meant I could return to my chambers quickly, and should something go wrong, few would see. Harry had truly thought of everything. I nodded my agreement.
”I’ll serve the ladies tea while you dress,” he said.
”Move swiftly,” I warned.
”Same to you,” he said as he disappeared out the door.
Not ten minutes later, I was sitting in twilight. Will-o”-the-wisps vanished and reappeared like lightning bugs on the dark horizon. Candles burned on an elegantly dressed table.
Queen Liliana was waiting. She rose as I approached. ”My dear, Forrest,” she greeted me. ”I am surprised to be welcomed so early in the morning. I was under the impression your court slept in.”
I kissed her hands and gave her my most charming grin. I am a fae, so of course, I couldn’t lie. However, the right truths found their way to my lips with ease. ”Queen Liliana, when I heard the news of your arrival, it was all I could do to stop from running down the hall.”
Indeed, I did force my footsteps to remain slow and steady. For, I had minutes, not hours, before this entire sham fell apart.
Upon the sun’s rise, I would turn into a frog.
Many fae changed forms. The selkies changed from women into seals. It was rumored a nearby court’s princess changed into a swan. However, my change was not elective.
I bore a witch’s curse.
From sunrise until sunfall, I became a frog.
If I were discovered, my rule would be over. Our realm would fall to the unseelie. They would enter us into a millennium of terrible storms, ruthlessly battering the isle, the coral reefs, and the human settlement too. A fate I could not allow.
My heart beat frantically, but I listened to the steady crash of ocean waves in the distance. It calmed me, and I smiled pleasantly at Queen Liliana. ”To what do I owe this unexpected visit?”
”I’d like to be frank with you. I know my visit is unplanned, and I do not wish to take up more of your time than is necessary.”
”Speak freely then.” And quickly, I thought.
”My youngest sister is to be married to one of the Autumn Court.”
I nodded. ”Go on.”
”She will travel through your harbor.” She paused.
I frowned, cocking my head to the side. ”You needn’t have made the trip for such a minor request. You know we’ll permit your sister safe passage across our waters. Our courts have been at peace for a long time now.”
”Yes, I know, but…” She trailed off, looking uncertain.
I was running out of time. I needed her to get to the point, and at this rate, she never would. ”Liliana, how many years have we known each other? Simply make your request.”
She nodded, seemingly summoning her courage.
I have to admit I was curious what required such secrecy. It wasn’t Liliana’s way. Court politics had never been her strong suit. She was too kindhearted for fae royalty. Yet, it endeared her to many, and her cabinet fiercely defended her from those who sought to take advantage.
Finally, she blurted, ”I need her trip delayed!”
Ah, it was a family matter then. Something about marriage. I didn’t see any reason to deny her. I doubted the Autumn Court would hold me accountable for a runaway bride, and my acquiescence would likely end this meeting. ”How long?” I asked.
She sighed in relief, and I noticed even her shoulders seemed to relax. ”Only two days. That will be enough.”
”Consider it done,” I said, beginning to stand.
”Really?” She squinted. ”You have no request in return?”
”We have been friends for more moons than I care to count. I won’t ask you why. One day I may ask a favor, and I ask only that you graciously listen.”
She leaped out of her chair and kissed both my cheeks.
I gave her a fond smile and pushed my chair back from the table. ”Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have a prior engagement.” It was true, if unspecific.
Once rushed farewells were exchanged and I was through the doors, it took everything I had not to transform right there. I could feel the change ripping through my body. Holding it off was excruciating. Pain tore through my nerves, starting in my fingers and trailing up my hands and arms.
I staggered down the hall, and a sheen of sweat broke out across my forehead. More dripped down my neck, sticking my white tunic shirt to my back.
By the time I made it to my chamber, Harry was close behind.
I collapsed onto my bed. I was briefly in and out of consciousness when I felt his hands on my shirt, loosening my collar. A welcome respite except…
”No!” I said, clamping my hand on his. My grip was steel.
I was too late. Harry sucked in a rattling gasp. His mouth dropped open in an expression of grief and horror.
I followed his eyes to my own chest. Small black dots formed on my skin, encircling my heart. The telltale signs of soul rot.
”It”s true,” he whispered.
”Yes,” I said, unwilling to bother denying it or rising from my bed for that matter. ”Why did you return?” I prompted after several still minutes.
”Hawthorne. He demands a reply to a bit of paperwork, but I will put him off. You rest.”
Just then, the sun broke over the horizon– bright and triumphant. Its victory over me was immediate. The change ripped through the very core of my being, and I couldn’t hold it off any longer.
I transformed from a powerful fae king into a common bullfrog– the sort of frog that often inhabited our marshes. My skin was a rich, varied green, my legs were strong and made for leaping, and I had a long, sticky tongue for catching insects.
I groaned and buried my tiny face in my sheets. I tried not to let my daily change distract me from my annoyance with Hawthorne and his probing. He didn’t really have urgent paperwork. He was testing me. Aloud, I grumbled, ”Can”t we just stab him and have done?”
”I suppose we could, but his connections may prove useful.”
I slowly lowered the pillow and nodded. ”Then I”ll meet with him.” I rose.
”Sir,” he stopped me.
”Do I look that bad?”
He bit his lip.
All the answer I needed.
”You cannot lay here like this. You cannot lose hope. You are needed.”
Through my exhaustion, anger reared its ugly head. I snapped at him, my only remaining friend, my only true ally. ”Then should I brush my hair one thousand times in the mirror? Bathe in the finest sea salts? Adorn my skin with pearls? Ask the selkies to procure me a mermaid’s scale for vitality?”
”No but-”
”Then what”s the point?” I demanded.
He stared at me, and I could see he was about to lose his temper. Finally, he burst out, ”You fool. You are dying.”
I sighed. ”What would you have me do? The witch is dead. I”ve consulted dozens more. Not one of them can break the curse.”
”The curse is not what formed those marks,” he hissed.
”You want me to find joy? If only I could. Reach out my hand and grasp it. Like a will-o”-the-wisp, warm and bright, its glow to keep me whole. But alas, it is not so.”
”You will die,” he repeated.
I clenched my jaw. ”Maybe I shall.”
”You selfish, arrogant ass. If you die, what becomes of us? Do you think the unseelie will rule as you do?”
”Go see to Liliana and her court. Make sure they’re well treated. Keep Hawthorne as far away as possible.”
It was an order, and he knew it.
He bowed and left the room.
I was alone with my thoughts once more. There was no worse company. Harry really was a fine servant, an even better friend. It was too bad about the iron band around his heart. I hadn’t been the only victim that terrible day. Harry had been cursed too. As long as the band remained, he would never fall in love.
He had been right, too. I was being selfish. Giving up on myself, giving up on my life–it was a luxury I didn’t have. The island needed me. My people needed me. Even those wretched humans needed me.
There was only one choice. Change or die.
Many hours later, Harry returned, looking worn and tired. ”Liliana and her visiting court members have enjoyed a full day of activities. They’re retiring to their rooms for the evening.”
”Well done,” I said, clapping him on the back.
His eyes raked over me, regarding me with surprise. ”You’re dressed.”
Had it really been so long since I had dressed properly? I supposed it had. Nonetheless, I ignored his pointed comment. ”I’m off to find a bride. I”ll be back in a few days. See to affairs here.” I stared at my fingernails, attempting to give off an indolent, unconcerned air.
”A bride?” he echoed.
”A bride,” I confirmed. ”And an end to this wretched curse once and for all.”
I started to stride away when he called out, ”Where will you stay?”
I chuckled. ”Oh, I assume they have ponds, too–the mortals.”