Chapter 39
Lauren got up and went to class the next morning. Demeatral and Edmon are still in the Elf realm, Cartrell is in the Animal realm, Gerald and Jon were still in the dragon realm, Levi was with the alicorns and she felt a little alone. She knew she was not but she missed them.
Demeatral was not there to meet Lauren at the bottom of her tower, but MaGayla was. She waved and smiled at Lauren. Lauren smiled back. "Good morning, my lady. Ready for class?"
"Yes, thanks for being here."
"Of Course."
They walked to class and were greeted by everyone in Lauren's entourage. Lauren gave out hugs and went to her seat in the middle of the room. MaGayla, Tom, Antonus, and Carlton sat near her. Everyone else sat in their usual seats.
Prof. Gavin entered the room and moved to his desk. "I am still getting reports from your last mission and all of the events. It seems you did an okay job but there are a few improvements you could make. Today, you will work with your entourage and create a list of things that you could have done better."
"Success without learning is not true success." Lauren said.
Prof. Gavin smiled. "Yes. I see we have new members. They need to introduce themselves."
Carlton stood and introduced himself first, then Antonus.
"Wow. Gods. Never knew of god's being part of the keeper's entourage." Kento said.
"Well, things change. It just means we have an extra strong Keeper and that she needs powerful beings in her life to keep her strong and grounded." Prof. Gavin says. Lauren felt weird because they were talking about her like she was not there. "Continue to create your list and we will touch on those points for the next few weeks so we can become stronger as a team." So that's what they did for the rest of the class.
In computer class, Lauren decided to use her magic to make her first change to the keep. She gathered power and sent it through all of the electoral wires. She warped them and added to them until the imagination realm had online capabilities, cell phones, computers, televisions and the surveillance systems were updated and placed in everyone's hands. Ezra was shocked and then had to reboot so he was on the new level with the technology of the keep. "I thank you for the challenge and the upgrades."
They went to their next class and we're greeted by the laughter and singing of an Earth fairy. Everyone settled in their seats and joined in with the fun. "Oy, my lady, so good to see ye again." Shild says. "This wonderful lady asked if we could come and see you so you can learn more about us. I wanted to see Tom again. I miss that boy. Ah, there ye are." He jumps off the platform and right onto Tom's shoulder. "I'm not going to embarrass you by telling all of your childhood tales but I am proud that ye are here and healthy. We were worried ye were captured by that old devil. This unicorn is very special to us."
Valentine tried to get control of her class but decided against it. She just sat and listened to Shild tell his tales and sing his songs.
Shild joined them in their combat class. Lauren wondered who would be teaching the class since Tosh and Cosh were with Evandalyn. In the middle of the arena stood a huge man, larger than Cosh and Tosh put together. The class took seats in the stand. The man was going through a series of moves, Taichi or something, that was so smooth and elegant. Weapons were pulled to him and he would do a few moves with it then a new weapon came to him and he did moves with it. It was pure grace and divine beauty. When he finished his demonstration he turned to the students. "I am Hesosh, Tosh and Cosh's father. I am here to act as your teacher until they are able to return. Unlike my sons, I will look for the grace and skill you have already and how to improve and perfect those skills. You don't need to be able to use a bunch of weapons. You just need to be beautiful using the ones you already know. Now, I have been told you inherited your Grandmother's ability to use that fancy whip of hers. I would love to see you dance."
Lauren smiled and got up with the whip. She performed with the whip and riled her magic and the wind up. Sparks of lightning, light, and clouds whirl around with Lauren's every move. When she finished her moves, she looked at Hesosh. He was crying and all he said was, "Beautiful."
Hesosh regains his composure. "I need all of you to be just as capable as she is with that whip with your main weapon. It would be nice if there were two or three main weapons you have mastered. So that is our goal while I am here. So, starting tomorrow, we will begin becoming weapon masters and not just warriors. Okay, go for your two mile run and then a mile walk."
"He's different but he is cool." Sari says. "It will be nice to truly master a weapon. I have always wanted to master the bow and arrow. It would be cool to have a team of bowmen."
"Yeah," Tayla joined Sari. "We could shoot the enemy from afar while the rest run in. Harpies would be good at that. We would follow Sari as our squad leader."
"Mo likes big ax. Master ax to be strong." Mo said.
"It might be helpful if groups specialize in different weapons. We will see how things work out." Hosesh agreed. And that's how the class continued, Everyone grabbing the weapon they were the best at and creating groups based on their weapons. They sparred with each other and at the end of the class, Hosesh joined them for the two mile run and one mile walk. "My Lady, may I speak to you for a few moments?"
Lauren stepped over to where the new teacher was. "Yes. How can I help you?"
"I hear you are with child? Lauren nodded. I don't usually bring this type of stuff up with people that I train because, well, I usually train only men. I just want to make sure that you are being extra careful in your condition. My wife couldn't move when she was pregnant and most of our women take to their homes until the birth. I am not trying to be chauvinistic, or rude. I am just concerned."
Shirley materialized from within Lauren's skirts when he stopped talking and she was angry. "I have you know, it is my duty to monitor and assure the Lady's health and I will sit her down when it is time for her to sit down. A good workout or run is good for the mother and the child. Just because bears go home bound when they are pregnant doesn't mean that all pregnant women should."
"I…I Meant no disrespect. I am happy that she is being so well taken care of and will stay in my lane from now on. You don't know how hard it was to even ask her that. Please accept my apology." Hesosh bowed in reverence to Shirley.
"Well, it's best you don't get in my lane again." Shirley said and then she disappeared back into Lauren's skirts.
"Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?" Lauren asked.
"Well, no. You set a good pace for your team and you listen well to the instructions you are given. You are being smart in allowing your team to determine how they will work together and you are beautiful with that whip of your grandmother's. Overall, I feel you are on your way to becoming a very good Keeper." Hesosh stated.
"Thanks." Lauren replied and then she went to join the others.
"Ner' thot that bein' in school could be this fun. I would like to send some of my youngins' to join ye troup so they can learn." Shield says in his broken Irish tongue.
"Um, I don't see a problem with that but give me a chance to get everything in order first. They should be able to come with Cartrell when he comes back. I can't travel right now, in my condition, so I hope that will be alright.I can also help you set up training facilities and schools if you would like." Laruen replied.
"That will be fine." Shild said. "Now, I must be gettin' back to Earth and my Love. I came here with your troup when ye recalled them. Could ye be so kind as to open a wee door for me return?"
"Why certainly. I am glad you came to visit. You made today interestingly fun." Lauren formed a door in the base of an oak tree. She put a key in and opened the door. It opened to the glade where Shild's henge was. He waltzed right through. Lauren then removed the door and sent it to the door room.
"You are getting to be very good with your magic." Lauren looked up and saw Edmon and Demeatral walking up to her. She gave them a big hug and they walked down to the cafeteria to eat.
Demeatral knew Lauren wanted to know what happened while they were in the fairy ring, so once she got her plate, she began. "It didn't take long to get to the fairy ring. Edmon was able to open it for us easily. It's beautiful Lauren. I would never have guest that such a small place could look so enormous. Of course, Edmon had shrunk me down to fairy size and it took me a minute to realize it."
"It was so cute and so funny at the same time." Edmon said. "She even was blessed with wings during the process. It doesn't happen to all fairies. I believe it was because of our bond and the fact that she is a royal. She didn't know how to put them away, so she walked around with her beautiful gold and red wings behind her."
"Yes, well, they were new to me. So, when my parents saw me, they were kind of shocked." Demeatral said under her breath.
"Sort of?" Edmon added. "They were ready to declare war because we changed their daughter without signing the marriage contract or having the actual wedding." He laughed at the end of his statement and shook his head. Demeatral just stood there until he cleared his throat and stopped laughing. "I will just let Demeatral finish the story." he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Anyway, my mother stared at the wings. She understood the size thing because Fae can be whatever size we want also, but she just kept staring at my wings. Finally, Edmon's mother had to magically help me put them away so we could have a decent conversation." She let out a deep breath. "Our dads came together and conducted the compatibility test and the bonding test. Of course, we passed. Then they started talking about dowries and dividends. It became boring, so Edmon and I left. He showed me the fairy ring and all he loved about it. He took me to meet the high fairy and she blessed our union. Everything was lovely until Edmon's sister and ex-girlfriend came into the picture."
"She was not my ex-girlfriend!" Edmon exclaimed. "I have never had a love interest until you and I said as much. Just because someone claims you and tries to force your hand into a marriage contract doesn't mean you have the same feelings for them. I actually detest the shrew! I'm going to hang out with the guys before I say something I shouldn't. I love you, Demeatral. Please know that."
"I do know. I didn't mean to upset you. That was just what they introduced her as. I love you too much to listen to the whelms of women. I hope you would do the same when some random male fae comes and tries to convince you that I am their mate." Demeatral replied.
"Okay. See you again in a few. I really am going to hangout with the guys. I haven't seen them in a minute and I want to go spare or something." He leaned down and gave Demeatral a passionate kiss then walked away.
"That's beautiful." Lauren said.
"He is wonderful. He's a little wound up because of the girl that claimed to be his girlfriend actually not ex. I called her his ex to handle the situation with dignity and not cause a scene. She was definitely trying to create an ugly uproar."
"Really?"
"Yes. She waltzed in with his sister and grabbed Edmon. She gave him a tight hug and tried to kiss him."
"In front of the court?"
"Yes. He blinked out of her arms and into mine before she was able to make skin contact. She was shocked when she saw him in my arms. She demanded a challenge because she had a letter or something that proved he had committed to her in their youth. He denied writing anything to her but she pulled out the letter and began reading it. It was a childhood "Do you like me? Yes or no" letter. She answered yes and he answered, "I like you too". She claimed that they were together since the letter was written and that they would talk about their future and weddings. It was a mess. His sister backed her up and said she was around when they would talk and that the girl had a wedding book full of their plans."
"Wow. So what happened next?"
"Everyone was arguing and it actually got on my nerves so I accepted her challenge."
"I knew you did. How did Edmon react?"
"He was upset because he didn't want her to have any claim. He kept saying that I was his first and only love. I gave him a kiss and told him that I believed him but it didn't matter because I was going to accept the challenge so that no one will ever challenge our love again. That brought a smile to his face and he shut up."
"I bet. So what was the challenge?"
Demeatral smiled and then laughed out loud. Finally, she sobered and replied, "She challenged me to a weapons competition. This girl is supposed to be a weapons expert in their society. Since she could beat everyone in Fairy, she thought she was the best."
"Until she met you."
"Until she met me. I wiped the floor with her. I split her arrow, took her sword, and out shot her with a gun. She left the court crying."
"Poor girl." Lauren said sarcastically.
"My parents were proud and his parents were appeased. They apologized for the misunderstanding and announced our royal wedding in front of the entire court. I have so much planning to do."
"Well, it wouldn't be such a hardship if you would use your royal pixies. You are putting the poor girls out of work and making them vulnerable without your protection." Shirley stated as she appeared from Lauren's skirts.
"I have accepted them. I just need to figure out how to keep them with me. You have seen the clothes I wear."
"Don't give me that as an excuse." another pixie stated. She and a group of pixies were standing in front of Demeatral. "Hello, Lady Lauren. Sorry to interrupt but we have been looking for Lady Demeatral and it is scary out here. Please stop leaving us unguarded. We can help you with the wedding planning and decorating. And it doesn't matter what clothes you wear, we can hide in anything comfortably. You won't know we are there. We just ask that you don't reject us. We will be exposed and anyone would be able to capture us. Especially while we are chasing you down."
"Demeatral, you can't leave your pixies exposed." Lauren admonished her. "I didn't know you had pixies, but they rely on you as much as they want to help you. I have learned to work with them and accept them. You have to also."
"I know. I'm sorry and I won't leave you again."
"Good. My name is Clara by the way. I'm your head pixie. Now please tell us what your dream wedding would look like. Be detailed and we will make it come to be." They spent the next few hours talking about wedding stuff.