Deception (12 page)

“It’s time!”

Danella and Tren skittered in front and stopped at what I assumed to be an entrance.  A second to look up and notice stars in the sky not realizing it was that late made me yawn.   I’ve never seen the sky that bright and with so many stars.   

I had a panic attack moment.  I hated when I had one of those.  My breath would leave soon and my head would be between my knees.  Except, I didn’t think I could get my head between my knees and not rip this dress into two pieces.  Ha! I couldn’t help but laugh. Danella looked up at me in a frown.

“Be serious now, Miss Grace.  Get a hold of yourself.”

She sounded like my mother!

I straightened my shoulders telling myself I could do this.  The girls gestured for me to go.  I still wished I had more information to go on.   As soon as I took two steps, the girls disappeared.  Peeking  around the corner and feeling very uncomfortable, I stood longer than I knew I was supposed to.  Was I the only one?  Did I have to go by myself?  Couldn’t Ian walk me there at least?  This was all for him.

Someone poked my back.  My slippers or even my sneaks would be good right about now.  The heels they put me in shimmered and sparkled in all the right ways, but who can really walk in them.  I took the first three steps into the giant garden like room I’d started out in earlier but much more elaborate now.   Twinkling lights were suspended high in the air and flowers of every kind were everywhere, but no weed infesting dandelions.  The fragrance wrapped around my skin and the whole picture was like a blanket of swaying breezy snow moving around my feet.  Two very, tall, brutish men were standing on either side of me.  If this were a Hollywood coming out party they would be the first hired to be the bouncers.  All dressed in brown leather and most likely more weapons than clothes—no one would harm whom they protected.  And since that seems to be me, I am more frightened than ever about what dangers are so unforeseen.   Their names were definitely not “Smiley” and “Happy” in any way. 

I was poked in the back
again
.  When I frowned I heard the stabber say “NO FROWNING!” in my ear.  I peeked sideways seeing nothing there, but heard a very distinct giggle that I recognized of late.  They can go invisible too.  What else?

I took two more steps. A huge sigh came from the larger area with the twinkling lights.  People, no…Fey people in every direction.  They were all glowing and shimmery from the glare.

I found the twinkling lights somewhat blinding, but kept my hands on my sides and squinted sideways glances away from them, only seeing right in front of me.  Intricately woven vines meandered over the entire garden and maple tree.   In front of me was a walkway much like the “red carpet” treatment but made of flower petals.  One step forward.  Two more steps.

My eyes were circling the area of the garden and swept over the end of the flowery carpet that seemed to lead somewhere, but nowhere.  Two more steps forward.  I let my eyes sweep up to the end of the “runway” as I seemed to be equally symmetrical to it.

And then… my eyes snapped back to the left.  There he was! My heart leapt.  I tried to be graceful, but my clumsy heart made me jump a little off the ground like a teenage concert groupie eyeing the stage.  I recomposed myself but knew my eyes went wide.  I would be utterly speechless if I’d been asked to speak.  He looked absolutely amazing.  He was dressed in a very elaborate dark green tuxedo like thing and smiling straight at me.  He had a long, shiny sword extending from his belt.  He was still twenty feet away, but I swear he said my name.  When I picked my jaw back up off the ground, I found my footing and took a step.   I could have sworn I saw his head move slightly as if he were amused.  His eyes were definitely glowing, I was sure of it.   

He just stood there, not moving an inch.   I took another step and remembered I was to bow to each clan of the Seelie Court who traveled far and wide to see the new girl.  Danella had at least filled me in on a few details that Ian left out of tonight’s
feast
but not why they were really here.  Danella was a lifesaver.

I felt like I was walking on air in a cloud of someone else’s heaven.  I continued to stop and bow every few feet easily recognizing the maple leaf emblems that each lord of the clan supported on the sides of their shoulders.  Though some, I had to search for.

I now realized that the queen, who I now knew I’d met earlier, was at the end of the runway.  Ian was just to her left.  I stopped just in front of the queen and bowed my head with one bent knee.  Whoever thought I’d be able to bend a knee in this dress was insane.

Suddenly, the entire crowd began to chant, “Queen La.zyr.a!”  The queen nodded but her eyes were on me the whole time as I dared a peek up at her.  All fell silent with the nod of her head.  Her voice sounded just as it did earlier, but it felt more like tingly bells to the ears. 

“Today, we bring forth the fulfillment of the prophecy made eighteen human years ago.  You have chosen, Grace Aren Starmen, of the Firebearer Ginera, of the Firebearer Leven, of the Firebearer Laren, to lead our people.  Do you know what awaits you?”

I looked over to Ian for help.  When he didn’t move at all,  I looked back at the queen, “No, should I?” The crowd’s murmuring could be heard. 

“Silence!” the queen said sharply.   They hushed quickly.  “Speak, child.  For do you know why you are here?”

“Ian told me that my grandfather was the Firebearer of the Seelie court and I am part of the Fey.  He died trying to save me and Ian brought me here for safety.”  I had managed to get all of that out with limited stuttering.  I turned my head towards Ian who didn’t budge.  She, the queen, however, showed the first emotion I’d seen on her face.  A frown.

“Dear child, I am afraid it is much more than that.  You…” she paused and raised her head a bit to make her voice carry, “are to be queen.”

I nearly fell where I stood knowing even as my heart dropped to my feet that it was the truth.  At the rate my heart was speeding lately, I wouldn’t be surprised if I gave myself a full-fledged heart attack. The panic hit me, but I punched it back down and stood taller.  The crowd began to murmur again. 

“I’m what?” I knew my voice was barely audible.  I looked to Ian for help.  He was in huge trouble for
he
left out a lot.  I wanted to string out a list of profane words to him, but I had a feeling something worse might happen to me right then if I did.  Ian still didn’t move.  What was I going to do?
I
couldn’t be a
queen
.  I couldn’t act like that woman.
Were they blind? 
I was nowhere in that woman’s league, nor did I want to be.

“Your birthday moon is in two days time.”  That seemed like a statement, but I got the hint that she wanted a response. 

“Yes!”

“On that day, you will be crowned the new queen of the Seelie Court.” 

Paralyzed with fear and searching out Ian again for help thinking a
rescue would be good here,
this time he stirred.  I caught sight of the queen turning her entire body to face him whereas he also turned and faced her.  He bowed, then he turned to face me.  He bowed, raised up, and for the first time I heard his voice tonight, “It will be an honor, if she will have me.”  He walked from his perched spot, bent in front of me, and bowed again.

“She already has, she just will not admit it aloud.”

Everything was happening so fast.  My head spun out of control with each step he made towards me. And worse when he bent close to my ear.  I could feel his hot breath pouring into my ear, “Grace, I wanted to tell you for so long in so many ways but I really didn’t know how.  I was so afraid of what you might say or do.  I am sorry I left you in the dark, but I never left you.  I was there, everyday.  Always.  I couldn’t tell you even much of what I wanted.  They wouldn’t let me.  I can possibly rescue you still if you need saving.  Just say the word.”  He said all of this so fast I was having trouble putting it all together.  He wanted one thing, but was offering another even after putting me through this. 

I looked into his eyes when he stepped back a touch with the “I’m waiting for an answer” look.  I didn’t dare move an inch of anything on my face or body in fear he would take that as a rejection or
worse
.

He took my hand, but with a seriously calmed face, “Grace, you have always been more than just my best friend.  You amaze me in so many ways.  Even when you finally saw the real me, you still amazed me.”  He looked me over with the eyes of a new groom relishing his prize,   “You don’t see how beautiful you are.  Everything about you. ”

Just then I remembered the many ears that were listening.

“Who cares if their listening?” he whispered urgently throwing caution to the wind.

I realized he’d read my thoughts and gasped in horror at him admitting it.

His face softened, “Yes, but I am careful to respect your privacy unless you are in danger.  I had to protect you.  I can block out your thoughts as well as I can read them.”

That was little comforting.  Little!  Danella said he was quite the gentleman but I still blushed. That wouldn’t do!

“If I could have told you many human years ago, I would have.  Now, will you stand beside me?” He held out his hand. I reached for his hand and took a step stopping midway not sure I could handle the reading my mind, or this queen thing, or what would happen next, but I was sure about him. 

“Wait!” I said a little too loudly dropping his hand.  I looked from Ian to the Queen and back, then scanned the front area of where the three of us were standing.  No one else was anywhere near where we were.  “If I am to be this queen,
what
are you?” I whispered fiercely to Ian.

He smiled and stiffened his back a little.  He bowed.  The queen’s precarious eyes followed me as she stepped up closer, “Dear Grace, I give you, my son, Prince Ian.”

I searched for my lungs to react, but my head felt lighter and lighter and…I lost my balance, and I fell.  He caught me, of course.  What was a girl supposed to do with that kind of shock?  That kind of stuff only happens in story books. 

When I woke, I was lying on the ground with Ian and the two brutes looking down at me.  Ian cradled my head with one arm behind my back.  The back with no clothing attached to it.   Backless dress, definite bonus!  No one had ever touched my bare back.  The sensation was amazing.  I adjusted and raised myself to a sitting position, and when the dizziness had subsided a bit, I found a crisp tailored collar and followed it up to his eyes.   This is the second time I found myself lying prostrate with Ian above me.  And both really did happen, neither  a dream. 

This was one of those purse moments, I like to call them.  You know, when the old lady hits you with her purse “just because”.

“You’re a
what
?  You never told me! Ian, didn’t you think it would be the slightest bit important to say, “
Oh by the way, I’m a prince where I come from and you’re going far, far away with me to be my fairy queen
.”  After the words spilled out, I paused and then burst out in laughter. It sounded too unbelievable.  I’d never have believed him back then or even yesterday.   His face looked so distressed.  Still laughing I added, “No, I guess saying that wouldn’t have fared well.  Point taken!”  And I laughed again no doubt playing every bit of the part of a crazy human girl they took me for.  I felt like I was talking to myself since he wasn’t responding to anything I said and everyone just stared on.

He watched me laugh probably unsure what kind of laugh to label it and just seemed to be waiting to see what I would do next.  I swallowed and stood up again thinking I seem to be good at embarrassing myself, which seems the theme lately.

Ian put out his hand and asked, “Would you dance with me, in honor of you?”               

“Here?” I looked around at all the staring eyes.  I’d never danced, much less with a boy or in front of a crowd.  He knew this too.

“Here!” he said.

I lingered immobile for a second, pondering running out and what that might cause.  “No!” 

He was taken aback. He frowned and started to move his hand. 

I grabbed it, held on, and mustered enough courage to give him what he needed at the moment.  I couldn’t really decide if my head was talking or a dreaming version of myself was talking through me. 
  
I had to react for him soon to keep him from doubting what I truly want. 

“Not for me, but I will for us!”   I’d never done or said anything so bold. 
Us! 

Nothing else made sense, but that did.  I found that so comforting.  And he accepted it.  I didn’t want to ask another question.  For I could worry about tomorrow…
tomorrow
! 

The next morning, I woke up in a strange feathery bed in a room far, far from home.  Sunlight was streaming through the beautiful trellised vines across the corners of my room.  I could smell the earthy scent hovering in the air like a new bottled air freshener.  Whoever had been responsible for decorating my bed area had done so with the knowledge of the future occupant.  Obviously, things had been brought from my bedroom back home, as well as everything that favored the shade of green I loved so much. 

The crumpled sheets were smooth against my skin; their texture a mystery. 
Silk?
 

I opened my eyes and stared straight up out of the covers.  I didn’t even remember putting on the odd night-clothes that were wrapped around me, but they were like wearing nothing at all. My ceiling enveloped me above with twisted vines and what I felt like was the scent of jasmine.  My mother had grown jasmine in our yard for as long as I could remember.

Suddenly Danella bounded into room chattering away and moving with lightning speed towards the side of the bed.  She was mumbling something like, “I thought she would never wake up.”

“Up, up!  A busy itinerary ahead!” she told me.

I moaned something bitter, covered my head, and just when I felt Danella coming to yank the covers, I flew up out of the bed to stop her.  Danella and Tren both gasped when I stood up in a fighting stance on top of the bed.   “What?” I asked.               

“Nothing, Princess!  We’re just curious.”  They were staring at my eyes.

I loved being called Princess.  I will not lie.  But the thought scared me more than anything.  I took advantage of my newness.

“Danella, can I ask you a question?”

I didn’t wait for her to say no.  “What is Ian doing when he is not with me?”  When she got the deer in headlights look I added, “Puhlease!” I batted my eyes.

“Silly girl.  He has things he has to do.  He has to patrol the grounds, check on the guards—”

“Oh, he really does have things to do.”  I held my finger to my chin.  “So who did all that while he was with me for years?”

“Pike!”

“Who?”

“You will meet him soon enough.”

Very guarded answers, but revealing enough.

I was dressed in green again. Not a formal gown, but still not what I felt comfortable in.  Where are my jeans and favorite tie-dye t-shirt?  I had them on underneath my costume when they arrived here. 

I’d asked Danella twice about them, but she always seemed to ignore the question.  For all I knew, they burned them.  That sounds about like what I’d heard in the fairy tales, right? 

I was supposed to be at the queen’s table at first light.  I…
was late
!  When I walked out of the little room I was in, if you could call it a room, Ian was leaned against the ivy wall waiting for me.  I couldn’t stop the smile escaping my lips.

His arms were folded and his legs neatly crossed one over the other.  My heart sped up too quickly at the sight.  He’d done this for years, but it felt like my heart might just blow up with all the fluttering he was causing right now.  Surely he could hear it.  His lopsided smile proved that much was true without any sign of resignation or fear from the night before. He was tantalizing sure of himself.

“I am here to save you, princess.  Did you need saving?”

He was wearing some kind of military battle shirt right out of Robin Hood or something.  His usual black Levis and doc martins were still there, but he had a different belt presumably to hold the sword still at his side.  Seems to be a standard issue! 

“Definitely, by you!” That was bold, I thought to myself, but gained a wider smile from an already grinning Ian.  I was trying very hard not to think about him kissing me right then. 

The perfect way he could move just a little closer and…

I knew he could read my thoughts now even if his left eyebrow rose just slightly.  I closed my eyes and balled up my fists knowing he’d known every time I ever thought about kissing him or stared at his lips a little longer than I should have.  I looked down in embarrassment pretty sure I detected a half laugh from those lips.  I was trying very hard to think of something else, but it was proving very difficult.

This just is not going to work!  I cannot do this.  Think about something else.  Look at the flowers.  That’s it.  Flowers.
 

He began a particularly exaggerated lean to point out my staring problem.  I wondered if he did it on purpose just to make me swoon. 
Dog!

“Rescuing now would be good!” I begged.  I would kill for a deeper tan right now to hide what my pale cheeks were revealing about my blush so easily.  I couldn’t get mad at him.  I just couldn’t!

“We are expected.”  He took my hand and led me to the same great room where I’d learned how my life was seemingly already planned out for me. Well, sure, some of it I could totally sink my teeth into, but the whole queen and making peace in the land thing was still way off the Richter scale of normal for a girl who just found out she is part Fey, getting hooked up with a prince, and becoming queen of an unknown land all in the same forty-eight hours.  What did they expect?  Just that, I figured.