24. Nelle A Special Day, Ruined
Nelle: A Special Day, Ruined
Nelle’s body tingled all over, but it was pleasant, like waves lapping at her skin.
She took a deep breath in, keeping her eyes closed so she could focus on the sensations.
For the first time she could remember, she was certain that she was free of the mysterious voice that had plagued her for so long.
Kit released Nelle’s temples, and she sensed, rather than saw, him crouch before her. He reached out and began stroking her jaw. “Nelle? Can you hear me?”
Nelle’s bright green eyes opened, and her relief mirrored his own. She yearned to reach out to him as she whispered, “Kit…can you believe it? I’m free!”
Kit’s face broke into a grin. “Yes, you are, my snowdrop. You are free.” Quickly, he unbound her hands and pulled her into his arms. “She will never touch you again.”
Happy tears streamed down Nelle’s cheeks as she leaned against him, soaking in his warmth. Warmth. It had been so long since she’d truly felt warm, and yet, right now, with Kit, it was better than soaking in the afternoon sunshine on a mid-summer day.
“Hey. Hey, don’t cry,” Kit said, tightening his hold on her. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
She pulled away slightly to look up at him. “I know. I’m safe because of you.”
A rumbling sound came from Kit’s chest as he muttered, “Well, I don’t know about that.”
“I do.” Nelle rested her cheek on his chest once more. “Thank you, Kit.”
“It was my pleasure, snowdrop,” Kit murmured.
She wasn’t sure how long they stood like that. For her part, Nelle wouldn’t have minded if they’d stayed there for the rest of time. But far too soon for her liking, Kemma said, “Alright, alright, enough of the mushy stuff. Let’s get out of this room.”
Kit just stared at her. “Out of this room? Why?”
“I don’t know. I think the two of you could use a day out. Maybe enjoy the last of the warm weather and go have a picnic. It won’t be dark for a few hours yet,” Kemma pointed out.
Nelle looked up at Kit. “What do you think?”
Kit shrugged. “Sounds like a fine idea to me, as long as you’re happy with it.”
Nelle smiled. “I’m perfectly happy with it.
In fact—” She pointed at the fruit bowl at the center of the room and murmured one of her favorite spells.
Immediately, the fruit bowl transformed into a picnic basket, complete with a red checkered blanket.
“There. Now we don’t even have to pack the food. ”
Kit smiled fondly at her. “Such a talented woman.” He released her and grabbed the picnic basket. Then he held out his hand. “Come. I know the perfect spot.”
Nelle took his hand willingly. “Lead on, your highness.”
Kit’s smile disappeared. “None of that. With you and me, there are no titles or formalities.”
“As you wish,” Nelle said, letting him lead her out of the room and from the castle. When he took her out of the gates, she bit her lip. “Where are we going?”
“I told you, the perfect spot,” Kit said, squeezing her hand. “Don’t worry; it’s not far.”
Nelle nodded. “I wasn’t worried.”
“It’s actually got special meaning for me,” Kit told her as he strode through the forest. “This was the spot I was hiding when I came across Gretyl. And if I hadn’t found her that day, I might never have found you again.”
“Yes, you would have,” Nelle laughed. “You’re like a gryphon when it comes to focus—once you set your sights on something, you don’t give it up for anything. And you were determined to find me.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” he acknowledged before grimacing. “Let’s not talk about that now. Right now, we’re celebrating that we’ve broken at least one of our curses.”
Nelle’s smile faltered, and she paused for a moment. “Do you think we’ll ever break yours?”
Kit’s smile seemed forced. “Let’s not dwell on that.” He pulled her onwards. “When you were at Robin’s camp, did you have a favorite spot?”
Nelle shrugged. “I don’t think it will surprise you if I say that it was the kitchen in the Big House—that was the main building where everyone would gather for meetings and celebrations and the like.”
Kit nodded. “Makes sense. Robin was always one who liked his celebrations and feasts. As a kid, he would always throw little parties for our friends. It’s one reason he was more popular than I.”
Nelle cocked her head curiously at the sadness in his tone. “You weren’t the popular one? But you were the crown prince!”
“Yes, but that meant I had to be the one at center stage. I was the one who sat in on meetings with the Fey, with ambassadors from other kingdoms, even with other members of my father’s court.
He wanted to be sure that I knew how to conduct myself,” Kit said with a frown.
“That left very little time for playing and being with children my own age. Especially after…” His body tensed.
“After what?” Nelle asked softly.
Kit ran his hand over the ridges on his head. “I don’t know how much I should tell you. I don’t want to change the way you see me.”
“Nothing could change how I see you,” Nelle assured him. She hesitated, then asked, “This is about your mother, isn’t it?”
Kit nodded wordlessly. “My mother was one of the Fey. She married my father for diplomatic reasons, but he wasn’t her first husband. She’d been married three times, but each time, her husband mysteriously sickened and died. No one knew why, until…” He took a deep, shuddering breath.
“Until…” Nelle prodded.
“I was a child, not much older than little Gretyl. I went to my father to ask if Robin and I could go to the river. And, instead, I found my mother there, taking…some type of energy from him. Later, we found out she’d cast a spell of dominance on him.
I cried out, and cast an energy spell at her—not to hurt her, you understand, but to get her away from my father.
But the spell went awry. It knocked her backward into the mantle’s ledge, and she hit her head.
While I was checking my father, she bled out on the floor. ”
“Oh, Kit…” Nelle whispered.
“My father never blamed me, but rumors got around the castle,” Kit whispered. “People didn’t look at me the same way. To turn their attention away from the incident, my father started training me as his heir.”
Nelle resisted the urge to loop her arms around Kit’s neck. “I’m sorry.”
He gave her a smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes. “No need to be sorry. It all worked out in the end. And it was going to happen, eventually. It’s tradition when you’re the oldest son.”
“Is that what my mother…the queen, I mean, meant by her comment about you being a murderer? Because she’s wrong, if so,” Nelle said, her green eyes growing brighter in her anger. “It was an accident. Not murder. And you were no more than a child. No one could or should blame you.”
Kit smiled down at her. “Are you going to defend me?”
“Without hesitation,” she said, returning his smile.
“Well, I appreciate it, snowdrop, but I don’t think there’s any reason to go to battle quite yet.
No one except the two of us is here,” he pointed out with a grin.
They drew close to the river. Sunlight reflected on the water made it sparkle, and, with the birds singing in the air and the quiet burbling of the water, the scene was idyllic.
“It’s beautiful,” Nelle breathed. “Like something out of a storybook.”
“I agree. That’s why it’s one of my favorite spots in the forest,” Kit said, giving her a wink.
“And I’ve always thought it was the perfect place for a picnic.
I’ve never had the opportunity to test out that theory, though.
Until today.” He pulled the blanket from the basket and spread it on the ground, pausing to pick up a stone that was where he wanted to lay the blanket.
He handed it to Nelle, who, without thinking, slipped it into her pocket, as he continued, “Now, tell me, do you know what’s in this picnic basket, or is it going to be a surprise for both of us? ”
“I—” Nelle cut herself off when she caught sight of half a dozen figures emerging from the forest on the opposite side of the river.
“Nelle? What’s—” Kit’s voice died when he saw the intruders.
He stiffened slightly as his eyes took in the newcomers.
Nelle recognized Will’s lean form and Guy’s bulky one.
Behind them, she saw Friar Tuck’s horrified face and Saphira’s expression of rage.
Alan A’Dale and Gilbert Whitehand, the last of Robin’s lieutenants, rounded out the group.
“Well, well. This is a surprise,” Guy growled when he noticed them. “I would have thought the beast of Sherwood Forest would have eaten the ice witch by now.”
“Sorry. My tastes don’t run toward human flesh. And don’t call her a witch unless you want me to reconsider that stance,” Kit growled, stepping in front of Nelle, as if to protect her. She rolled her eyes at the empty gesture and put her hand on his shoulder, peeking around his bulk.
“What are you doing here?” Will called. His eyes glittered with malice and something else Nelle couldn’t quite name. “This is a bit far from your lair, isn’t it?”
Kit’s lip curled in disgust. “Not at all. And we were just about to enjoy an early dinner together.” He waved to the picnic blanket. “Is that a crime?”
“The monster and the beast. What a joke. At least they suit each other,” Saphira scoffed.
“Be quiet, Saphy,” Will muttered before shouting across the river once more. “Well, it was…good to see you again.”
“I wish I could say the same,” Kit muttered, keeping his words low so only Nelle could hear them. She couldn’t help but agree. Somehow, seeing Robin’s lieutenants had tainted the beauty of the river.
Though he couldn’t hear Kit’s words, Friar Tuck seemed to sense their unease. He gestures for Gilbert and Alan to follow him as he said, “Yes, well, as lovely as this was, we should be going now. We ought to be back at camp before nightfall.”
“Er, quite right,” Alan said, tearing his eyes away from Kit. “We don’t want to get lost in the forest after dark. We might get attacked by dra—wolves and bears and the like.”
Nelle rolled her eyes. Everyone in the group, even Saphira, carried bows, and Gilbert’s archery skills were almost as good as Robin’s, so even if they were attacked, they could handle themselves.
Kit crossed his arms. “Well, don’t let us keep you.” He picked up the picnic blanket and draped it over his arm. “We’re going to return home as well.” Nelle blinked in surprise, but, hidden behind him as she was, she couldn’t see his face.
Will jerked his head. “The rest of you go on ahead. Guy and I will be along shortly.” Friar Tuck didn’t have to be told twice.
He scurried off into the forest, along with Saphira, Alan, and Gilbert.
However, Will and Guy remained where they stood.
Once the others were out of earshot, Will called, “Before we go, sir, could Gisbourne and I have a moment of your time?”
Kit glanced over his shoulder toward Nelle, who simply shrugged.
What could Will and Guy possibly want to talk to him about?
She couldn’t imagine. He hesitated for a few moments more, then said, “Very well. I’ll come to you.
” He handed the picnic supplies to Nelle and said, too low for the others to overhear, “If they make any sudden moves, send them on their way.”
“Gladly,” Nelle whispered back, shooting the two suspicious glances. What were those two planning? Something about the situation made her sick with worry. She just wished she knew what it was.