I couldn't tell if I was asleep or not. I almost felt like I was floating, roaming down and through the halls of Thayers estate while he slept in my bed. I didn't know how I got out of bed, how I had made it down the stairs - into this cellar I was now apparently in. I didn't even know if I could find my way back up to that bedroom - I hadn't paid any attention when I was lead to it earlier in the night. I looked down at myself, rushed with relief as I found I had a night gown on. I didn't know where I would find one, unless Thayer had slipped it into the room at some point before we shared the bed.
I looked around, taking in my surroundings. It was dimly lit, the only lights coming from along the hallway. I wondered down, my hand grazing the rough wall for some sense of direction as I did. Had I been sleep walking? I never have before. The walls that were white everywhere else in the castle were a dark stone here, like I was in a tunnel instead of a hallway I thought. Had I somehow made it to the bottom of the building? The only sound was coming from drips of water from somewhere along the walls and my breathing. The hair stuck up on the back of my neck as I approached a door at the end, and I pushed it open as quietly as I could, trying to see if it would lead me back above to where I could find a servant and ask for directions back to the room. The door lead outside, the night air cool against me. I crossed my arms over my chest, turning around to go back into the castle and find another way up.
When I turned to walk into the door, it was gone. I ran into the cold stone of the castle with a yelp as I frantically tried to find a door knob or a loose stone that could maybe hide the door. Had it been enchanted?
"You reek of him." A voice sounded from behind me, filled with pure disgust. I almost puked right then and there with anxiety as I recognized who was behind me. It was like my senses were on fire, screaming and clawing at me to get away. I froze in my spot, hands still on the castle as I waited. When he made no other sounds, I slowly turned around. As slowly as I could, as if giving him a chance to run away - go back to whatever hole he had crawled out of.
Except, there he stood. Arms crossed over his chest as he glared down at me. I straightened myself up, trying to look taller than I was. Not that it would matter, but, if he's finally come to kill me, at least he'd do so without me cowering in fear.
"What do you want, Silas? Haven't you done enough?" I snapped, not letting my voice crack this time. He only shook his head, not letting up the look of disgust on his face.
"I haven't done anything yet. You have seen nothing." Silas seethed, all but baring his teeth at me as he spoke. "You're the one that called me here. Why am I here, after you've just finished with my brother?"
I could feel my cheeks go red at the mention, but then I just felt sick at the realization that he had known - with no way to. I played coy, not letting him see my wonder. If I could pretend like I knew - then maybe he'd say something. Anything, that would hint at what he wanted. "How would I know you would come when called? I am to be his wife, what would it matter?"
He only clicked his tongue, not revealing anything as he spoke. "Why would it matter to me, little halfling?"
"I don't know, because you like to harass me?" I questioned, tightening my arms around myself, nails digging into my arm. He made no move to step closer towards me, no move to do anything. Not that he'd need to, he could kill me with a thought if he wanted to. As if reading my thoughts, he said, "I'm not the monster my brother paints me to be, Edith. Though - you should be careful of who you're sharing a bed with."
I gaped at him, the scene from just last night filling my mind. I shook my head, "Only monsters are capable of doing what you did. Killing those people - letting your own parents die. Leading monsters to the mortal realm for your own selfish reasons. Thayer would never hurt me."
"No - he'd just watch you suffer to fulfill his own selfish desires." His eyes darkened, his face going from disgusted to enraged. Probably angry someone was happy with their shit situation while he was stuck in the dark. Angry to think someone could take the shit hand they were dealt and try to make something of it - that's all I was trying to do.
"You don't know anything, you know nothing of what you're talking about. Neither of us have a choice in this." I snapped, taking a step forward. He backed away from me, one step away to match mine. As if I'd ever be able to do anything to hurt the man standing in front of me, the man capable of aging someone past their death - forcing someone to rot.
"Speak to Ilyan, if you don't believe me." Was all he said, those blue eyes burning into me. That's all he said before disappearing. I looked around, unsure of what to do next - how to even get inside and slip back into my room. How to even make sense of what just happened. I wasn't thinking of him, how the hell did I call him here?
I turned around to survey my options, but it was useless. I woke up in a thick, cold sweat, shooting straight up from my side of the bed. I looked around the bedroom - a dream. It had all been a dream. I looked down at Thayer, who didn't appear to be at all present as he slept with his back to me now. I laid back down, kicking off the sheets from my body as I rolled onto my side.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
My head pounded as I sat up out of bed, woken up by the matching thumping on the door.
"Come in," I called, but barely finished the sentence before Meva was bursting into the room like a bat out of hell. She had probably been more excited about my date with Thayer than I was, studying the different flower clips and earrings she'd dress me in for it all week. She and my father moved here without any complaints - of course not. They already knew that they would be eventually. That was three days ago. No other sign of Silas - no more dreams, thankfully.
I hadn't mentioned my dream to Thayer. It had only been a dream, after all. The next day, I went all through the castle and its grounds - there was no sign of the tunnel or door I had roamed out of during it. Silas would no way even be able to step foot onto the grounds since Thayer had put up a barrier before coming to bed. Thayer made no mention of that night - what Silas had done. I was equally ready to have no discussions about it. He simply told me I would start training with a mage after a few days, try to build up my mana to be able to create a barrier around myself. I was excited to start - to see if I would be able to do it. I asked him who Ilyan was, he only told me she was one of the Elders and when he had asked me why - I just said I had read her name in a book. It was probably true, I had read about the Elders in one of the stacks of books my dad had in his study. I just didn't recognize her name.
"You're going to make the prince wait if you take any longer to get to the bath I've made." Was all she said, frowning at me as she shoved me out of the room. I headed to the bathroom, not arguing with her as I slid my night gown off and sat into the large tub. She must've filled it with oils, as it smelt of lavender and rose in the bathroom. Not that I'd minded. I took my time in the tub, dipping my hair down into the water to wash it. I only had a few uses left in the shampoo and conditioner I'd brought with me.
I didn't have much time to dwell on it before Meva was pounding her way into the bathroom with a set of towels for me, not that I wanted to. I sat as still as I could as Meva brushed my hair, fussing over the way it curled at the ends. She, thankfully, went easy on me again with the braids and only did two small ones at each side of my head, tied in the back. She pinned small purple flowers in my hair that stuck out against the silver strands, and slightly painted my lips with a gloss and painted my eyelashes with a bit of mascara. She stood back, admiring her work before she ushered me back up to get dressed. The seamstress had done a beautiful job on the dress - it had long, billowy sheer sleeves that bunched together at the wrists, with a long skirt of the same material, small little flowers etched into them. I thought I would hate it, wearing dresses every day. I never wore dresses back at home. Although, there was something about being here, surrounded by magic and castles, that seemed right. That made the dresses bearable.
Especially the one I was standing in now. I looked at myself in the mirror, again surprised by how different I looked from just a month ago. I almost looked like I belonged here, even without the pointed ears. I thanked Meva for helping me get dressed as she gave me a tight smile, holding the bedroom door open for me. The dress swayed between my legs as I walked down the stairs where my dad waited for me at the bottom, beaming up at me.
It tugged at my heart a bit. The way he was smiling, fully happy. Finally back where he belonged - back in the realm he had left for me. To give me the smallest hint of normalcy he possibly could before I'd be crushed. I took his hand that waited for me and he pulled me into a light hug, whispering in my ear, "You look beautiful, Edith. Have fun."
I said thank you, giving him a quick squeeze before letting go. Outside in the front yard, Thayer was there, waiting outside the carriage. He wore the same outfit from the banquet, the white dress pants and button up light jacket with gold details and buttons. His hair auburn hair was wild atop his head in their natural curls as he gave me a bright smile. We'd been sharing the bedroom the last few day's I've been here - and he still smiled just as excitedly every time he saw me.
"Good afternoon, Edith. I hope you're as excited as I am."
I almost curtsied at the greeting, but caught myself. Every time I did, he would correct me. Tell me it wasn't necessary, or wanted now that we were living together, so close to the wedding now. I felt the invisible noose still, ever so gently tugging on my neck. I matched his bright smile to the best of my current abilities and took his hand as he helped me inside before following. "I've been looking forward to it all week!"
"Will your brother be there?" I asked, looking out the window that was between us. Rolling hills, tree's, and spring flowers were blooming outside of it, a clear sign that today was the beginning's of the turn of the seasons. Thayer nodded, "Nikolai will be there, yes. He's excited to meet you." I was nervous for the meeting - I knew it was coming, I knew that Nikolai would be there. I guess I had expected a dinner, or to meet him at the estate. He was informed of Silas and that night, but had just sent word back that he would increase the amount of guards throughout his country and that was all.
The carriage came to a gentle stop and Thayer gave me a wickedly beautiful grin as he opened the carriage door before his servants had the option to, hurrying to give me his hand as I stood up behind him. I took the two steps down before lifting my head, surveying the area in front of me. All sorts of Fae - children, adult, anything in between - ran along holding fair food of different kinds, the sounds of children laughing mixed with live music filled the air. All sorts of tents - small shops, games, and the Fae's version of food trucks lined the once empty field before us. I looked up at Thayer as he offered me his arm, and I looped mine into his.
Thayer lead me through the crowds, saying hello to everyone that past as we neared a small tent selling flowers. He handed the woman a coin and took one that sat in a vase on a table, handing it to me. "Although I am partial to Summer, this has always been my favorite festival." He said as we made our way along the path, passing tents selling jewelry, tapestries and woven rugs.
"Why?" I asked, studying one of the rugs that hung along the pathway. Intricate detailing in gold thread along a red base, weaving around in the shape of flowers.
"Spring is....A rebirth. A restart. It signifies growth after death - life itself. To see everyone out after the cold months, the flowers...It's energizing. It's exciting." Thayer waved his hands around as he spoke, his voice lined in excitement as he did. After he saw me watching, a small hint of color bloomed on his cheeks as he dropped his hand to his side. "I'm sorry - I just, I'm excited is all. I was so nervous about today, but, being here...Seeing you, it seems silly now."
I looked up at him and laughed lightly as we wove around a group of small Fae children playing with their new toys, coming back together as they past under our hands. "I don't think that's silly...any of it. Back in the mortal realm, guys get excited over video games or car's. It's nice to meet someone excited about...normal things."
Thayer smiled down at me, and for a second, I forgot about Silas. I thought for the briefest of moments, things could be figured out.
"I've heard many things about men from the mortal realm, and none of it too...enticing, if I must say." He shook his head playfully as he spoke, giving off such light that had me wondering how he was related to someone as brooding as Silas.
"The pickings are slim, my prince." I laughed again, examining the rose he bought me earlier. "What do you want to do first?" I asked, looking around at all the different games and activities in front of us.
"Ladies choice," Thayer chuckled, motioning with his hand towards the sea of booths around us. I looked around, trying to find something before tugging him towards the first game I saw.
Of course, I should have figured that a Fae - a Prince of the Fae, would win without issue. He knocked down the pins in no time, earning himself a stuffed animal from the prize shelf. I rolled my eyes as he handed it to me. "Well, of course, you would win." I joked, but he only motioned for me to stand next to him. "You try, then."
"Fine." I said, taking the heavy plastic ball from his hand as he offered it to me. I eyed my target, the three pins sitting on the counter on the other side of the tent. I wound my arm up behind me, aimed, tossed - and got the first one down. Second, down.
Third....missed. I blushed at the failure, looking up at Thayer as he watched. "It was a good try," He said, moving around to the other side of me. He gently laid his hand on my waist, the other hand, up my arm as he placed the ball back into my hand and held me as he guided my last throw, striking the ball down. Even though my face was beet red at the contact, I played it off by rolling my eyes as I picked out a small trinket from the prize bin I qualified for.
"Figures I would need a Princes help to win a carnival game."
"That was all you, Edith. I merely assisted with your stance." He waved it off with a dismissive flick of his wrist as he offered me his arm once again, carrying the stuffed animal - that appeared to be a bear, in his free hand as we strode along, stopping to look at the different booths and what they had. Finally, Thayer stopped us by a food stand, getting us a few pieces of a sweet bread with honey glaze before leading me away from the festival and up a hill. There, under a tree, laid a blanket with a basket.
"You planned this?" I asked with a tug on my heart. No guy had ever planned this far into a date for me before. Let alone a Prince, who probably had much better things to do or better women lining outside his door. Thayer offered me a hand to help me sit down before he took the spot next to me. Below, you could see the whole festival as it went on. The children in their flower crowns, the boys playing with wooden swords. People dancing in front of the music as it played, everyone just seemed so...happy. Content. Totally oblivious had five people had been murdered just a few days ago. I wondered how I looked down there, when my dad took me before we left. Had I been one of the little girls, flower crown woven in my hair? Had I begged to play games, or to get a new toy?
"Of course I did. It's not every day I get to take a beautiful woman to a festival." He shrugged, opening the basket sat on the blanket and pulling out a bottle of wine with two glasses. He filled one before offering it to me. I looked at it, thinking of how many sips I could take before I would start to feel the affects of the Fae wine. I took a small one, just in case.
"This is my favorite place to go during these. Being down there, it's fun, but....I love to watch. To see what I fought for - what I continue to fight for." As Thayer spoke, there was a glint in his green eyes. Pride. He was proud of himself - and for good reason. I knew just how much they had gone through to get to the peace there now was. The wars, the treaties. The pain. It was something to be proud of.
"Growing up, we never went to carnivals in the mortal realm. Or, at least, my dad didn't." I said, looking down at the wine in my glass and the ripples that broke against the glass as I twirled it in my hand.
"What were they like?" Thayer asked after leaning back on his elbow, taking a sip of his wine. I shrugged, thinking back. "A lot like this, actually. Games, food. There are rides. Little roller coasters or Ferris wheels - some rides fly you upside down. I never liked those - or the roller coasters. They terrified me -" I shuddered, just remembering the one time Anna had convinced me to get on one with her and I had sobbed so hard afterwards I threw up in a trash can, " - The prizes are a bit different, though. There are games where you can even win gold fish that are in tiny cups. You have to throw a ping pong ball into their bowls to win them."
"That sounds...Cruel. To the fish." He chuckled, taking another swig of his wine as he watched the festival go on below us. I hadn't realized how much time had past, the sun setting behind the large hills behind us. It painted the sky all sorts of beautiful colors, golden pinks and oranges above us, as if we were looking at one of the paintings hanging up in Thayers estate. "It definitely was. But, to be fair, I was also nine. I remember begging my mom to let me win one," I laughed, remembering the way she had scowled at me as I tugged on her arm, refusing to move until she let me try to win a fish. 'Fine,' she had said. 'But, you're going to be the one responsible for everything. Feeding it, cleaning the fish poop...all of it.' That's when I finally dropped her arm, and shook my head. I had no desire to be cleaning poop of any animal, even as small as a fish. She only laughed at me, taking me around to the next game so I could win a stuffed fish. 'Second best', she laughed.
I could feel the lump in my throat before the tears brimmed my eyes. I swallowed hard, taking another sip of wine and hoped Thayer hadn't seen the tears before they'd had a chance to disappear. Thankfully, he either hadn't seen them, or didn't say anything about it as he spoke, "When I was nine, I was in training. Every day. Swords, defensive spells, offensive...I hated it. I'd always beg my mother to not make me go, let me do anything else. I didn't see it back then, I guess." He shook his head as he poured more wine into his cup, setting the half - empty bottle between us.
"See what?" I asked, looking over at him. He seemed so...calm. His normally smiling face looking over the field in front of us as he watched, no line of worry or excitement on his face. It was a strange site, almost. "I didn't see that I would need to know. I didn't know then, about the prophecy. I didn't see the wars coming. I was glad to have the information, though, during the last one. I was only sixteen, but, according to my father that was the prime age to see such...carnage. Depravity. In a way, I am glad I saw it. It taught me to be grateful. That some things are worth fighting for - bleeding for. This is." He showed no hint of emotion in his face as he spoke, no hint of anything but calm in his voice. For a moment, it worried me. How you could talk about war or the things you'd see during it without any. I'd obviously never seen anything like it before short from movies Anna or an ex boyfriend would drag me to, and those were with guns. I couldn't imagine the ways the Fae would fight a war, so close together, face to face with their opponent.
I didn't think to ask Thayer, someone who had been in the trenches during it. Had lost friends. He had only explained a short bit to me - that the Winter Courts had been wanting to enter into the mortal realms and do...Whatever Silas was asking them to, I suppose. I had read up on it a bit the next day, trying to make sense of it. Try to see if it had mentioned anything they might have found. There wasn't much - just stating that they had taken a small group of humans back to the Fae Realm during their first raid, and that was when Thayer had to step in. There was a snippet about him, about his bravery during the war. He had saved countless members of the army, nearly completely depleting his magic in the process.
Unsure of how to respond, I took another sip of the wine. There was nothing I could say, nothing that would weigh close to soothing the thoughts that I was sure were swimming in his head at the mention of it. So, all I said was, "That - That must have been hard. Being a teenager, seeing those things....I'm sorry, Thayer." I reached out, a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked up at me, a smile on his somber face. He let out a deep sigh, "I didn't bring you up here to talk about such things, though. I'm sorry, Edith. I just...I'm so happy, seeing everyone down there. That's all."
Thayer finished his wine and I took the last sip out of mine - taking a bit more than I had been warned by my dad to ever have, but I was sure Thayer wouldn't let anything happen to me as long as I stayed close.
"I'm sure Nikolai is just itching to meet you down there. As I've mentioned, he's not a fan of large gatherings, but the fire is his favorite part of the night. Shall we make our way down?" He asked, offering me a hand as he stood up, all signs of somber out of his face and replaced by excitement for the fire. I took his hand, swaying a bit as I stood up and leaned into him to steady myself. He laughed, wrapping an arm around my waist as he led me down the hill, assuring me that someone would be up in a moment to pick up the blanket and glasses we left behind us.