I exercise all my willpower into remaining calm. I alert John over the com's of where I will be and to notify me if anything changes. A quick confirmation and I love you is exchanged between us, before I snap myself to Bavarthos and his workroom.
"B, is she here?" I ask quickly scanning the room, but see no one. Bav waves a hand over to join him and then he does a little spell, cleaning off my entire being.
"The smell and sight of blood and gore will be alarming and disrespectful to her. Remember who she is, respect her, and no sassy remarks that you seem so fond of handing out."He instructs me, as he fixes any thing that might look disheveled on the both of us.
"Very well. Follow me." We make our way down the halls and I notice something, Bav will touch the corners of the walls every so often. After he touches another one, I touch the same wall and feel a mark. I rush to catch back up with Bavarthos, smiling that I think I figured out how they don't get lost in this maze like place.
We stop in front of some double doors, where I see Alex waiting there for us. "You ready for this, Sin hermosa?" He asks me looking serious and a little concerned.
"Yes, I have been ready for a long time." My lips set into a thin line, as I am determined to get some answers and hopefully results, after years of them building up. "Thank you, Alex."
"No pasa nada." (No worries) He shrugs like it's nothing and opens the door for us to walk into the hall. Bavarthos joins us as we approach the raised dais that has a figure facing the opposite direction, speaking with Viekar's mother who seems to be crying with joy, by the smile on her face. Seeing us approach, Viekar's mother bows to the one sitting and leaves quickly.
"Ça fait longtemps, Sin. Le péché éternel, le punisseur des sept autres. (It's been a long time, Sin. The eternal sin, the punisher of the other seven.)
Bavarthos drops to a knee and stays down, Alex and I follow his lead. The chair turns around but we keep our heads down as tempting as it is to look up, I keep my eyes focused on the floor until I see a pair of youthful feet in the most stunning and lethal looking stilettos I have ever laid eyes on. The thin heel was metal, with decorative leaves that looked like they could cut leather easily. The shoes were pieces of art, that laced around each of the feet in front of me and it slipped from my mouth without me even realizing I had said something.
"I love those shoes."
Everything became deadly quiet, when a chuckle burst out of the woman in front of me.
"Please rise and greet, we should attend to the matter at hand. The interest in my foot apparel is non-germane. Je suis fatigué. (I am weary.)" Her voice is commanding, powerful, but aloof.
The old woman's voice is not here. IS this really the Queen?
As I lift my head to look at her, I'm surprised to see her grinning at me with a twinkle of something in her eyes, I could not quite identify. This woman is youthful, around her mid twenties in age, with glossy black hair, red lips and not a wrinkle in sight. I almost said something to Bavarthos about not thinking this was the time for jokes but I could tell by the facial structure this was the old woman from so long ago, just younger.
"Francais ou anglais?" (French or English?) I attempt to be polite and make sure which language she prefers to converse in.
"Est-ce que ça importe? (Does it matter?) I know you are fluent in either language, mon phénix, Sin." (my phoenix Sin.) She leans forward and rests her chin in the palm of her hand, analyzing me from head to toe.
"No, it does not, your majesty." I reply with a bow of my head.
"Very good. An ever watchful eye has gazed upon you and those close, finding this curious new creation a glorious hero and another to hold onto."
She turns her attention to Alex, addressing him. "Like a changeling, but mortal through and through, pride should be abundant with the honor placed upon you. Your heart I know, for Farel's was just the same. Evidence is clear, dear little Alejandro, I offer you this orb of desire, to help full fill your wish." The Queen picks up her other hand flicking her wrist lazily and offers it out to Alex to take.
He hesitates before correcting himself and stepping forward and accepting it, "Thank you, your Majesty." He steps back and looks at it, curious but a little wary. A gift from the Faerie Queen could be more than what it at first seems. I was proof of that.
The Queen chuckles at his apprehension over the orb. "Fear not, though fear is good, no misfortune or trickery is contained within. You have voiced your heart time and time again, to have a way for your family to talk with him. You talked, I listened, thus gifted your desire from within."
Alex bows again hurriedly, "My apologies, your majesty. Forgive me for doubting your generosity."
"Pardonné, l'inquiétude est nécessaire avec un cadeau des Fae." She waves her hand like his words were a fly needing to be shooed away. Alex glances at me not understanding French.
"She said you are forgiven. That concerns with Faerie gifts is necessary."
Alex eyes flash relief and say thank you without having to say anything.
The Queen claps her hands together and a familiar looking toddler sized elf walks out from behind the throne.
"Yes, Mistress?" The Elf asks, remaining subservient even after the question is asked with a bow.
"Escort Alejandro home, safely to his family."
"Yes, Mistress." The Elf snaps next to Alex and takes a hold of his hand and disappears again.
"Now.... Phoenix... What should we converse about?" She motions for me to take a seat on a chair that appears. I take the chair offered and notice B is sitting in a chair as well.
"Thank you, your majesty." We both say as we get comfortable.
Suddenly the Queen begins to age. Her face while still beautiful, has some wrinkles in the corners of her eyes and around her mouth. Her hair is not as glossy and gray hairs can be seen scattered lightly.
"Oh, I guess it is that time again..." The Queen mutters looking at her hands. "You have many questions, so I will speak plainly as no one appreciates the art of Fae court speech anymore." She shakes her head at the thought. "So ask."
I almost choke on my breath as I look on in shock, not ever thinking I could actually ask the question I wanted to, but I had others that needed answers first.
"How do we stop your husband, the Erlking, from continuing this war of enslavement and genocide?" I inquire.
She looks over at Bavarthos in thought before returning her attention back to me. "There are many ways to stop him. I will help you to choose the best option. Now, Sin, ask me something else."
My question is burning at the back of my mind, nagging me to ask but I can't waste this time when so many other lives are at stake.
"How soon can we kill the Erlking? People are dying and our magical users are doing their best but even Thietian is worn down trying to figure out a way to end this soon. People are losing hope along with their loved ones, this includes both Fae and human alike." I explain my question to her and am startled by her reaction
"Kill?.... Kill the Erlking?! My mate will not be killed little phoenix, so remove that thought from your mind right now!" She slams the arm of her throne with her palm splintering the wood underneath it.
"Apologies, your Majesty, I misunderstood and worded my question incorrectly." I am confused on her reaction. She's been running hiding from the Erlking all these years, yet she doesn't want him gone like that?
She sits back, seeming relaxed but the tightness in her shoulders and eyes gave away her annoyance. "Eh... You know nothing of what it means to be a Fae's mate. I will forgive you this one time." She holds a finger up to emphasize her point.
I just nod and look to Bavarthos, who looks worried for me. Taking that as my cue to just be quiet until asked to speak, I do just that. Sit back and keep my mouth shut.
It's quiet in the room, it stays quiet too as the Queen stares intently at me. After a quarter of an hour she finally sighs, "So, my phoenix, have you enjoyed your gift? Is it an awfully big and difficult gift, not needing to fear death?"
Not knowing if she was merely baiting me, I kept my wits about me and answered her truthfully, but politely. "It has been useful over the years, only at certain times was it hard to handle the gift you gave me in France."
She smiled at me wickedly before her eyes going wide and shaking her head. "My body is fatigued.... my memory becomes whitewashed of the fine details.... Bav.... My son..." She motions Bav to come to her and he quickly does so.
"Hello Mother. I've missed you." He says lowly, but I could still here his words to his mother. My brow arched in question at Bavarthos, but he was paying attention only to his mother.
"My son, you look older." His mother, the Faerie Queen, clutches her sons cheeks like a mother who's not seen her son in years. Tears forming in her eyes as she kisses his cheeks and pulls him into her arms holding him close.
She pushes back from him and looks around, "Where is Rakara? I want to see her too."
Bavarthos clears his voice but still sound choked up and hoarse with emotion, "She is at her home of Jakesha, still mother. I had to leave to help you here, remember?"
"Oh.. that's right. My memory...." She finally notices me and her eyes go wide, "Mon Dieu! (Heavens!) Mary, es-tu là pour nous aider à capturer mon mari ? (Mary, are you here to help us capture my husband?)" She walks toward me and takes my hand and looks it over.
I glance at Bav who encourages me to speak, "Yes, your Majesty. He's waged war against the inhabitants of Earth, both Fae and human alike. We're putting up our best efforts, but people are losing hope, even with pushing his troops back, because it's taking so many lives to do so. We need help. We need your help." I fall to my knees to show her my sincerity, realizing that she must suffer from some form of multiple personality disorder, but that this one before me was the true Queen.
"I would have thought you would still loathe me after these years..." She pulls up my arms for me to rise, "I am glad to see you do not harbor such hate that you would avoid me. I will help, but we must hurry, I can never tell how long I will be lucid and in control. Bav, dear I need you to go somewhere for me..."