Deception (31 page)

To the seer to solve our binding issues.  Whatever boldness I found inside myself the last day or two disappeared for I could only shy away and blush every few seconds when the same thoughts kept reentering my brain.  I spent most of that wondering simply about what he was thinking about and I dared to think what that could be.  From saving me, to the sweet words he liked to weaken me with, he had my undivided attention.  That much I knew.  But today, we’d focus on the seer.

However, I finally let my curiosity give me enough courage to ask the seer what his real name was.  I was sure it couldn’t be Al.  He roared with laughter when I asked.

“Young one, it is an absolute wonder that no one in our own court never found the answer to that question, but you being from among the humans, have the courage of a lioness.  My real name is Altheon.  Now, wouldn’t you go by something else with a name like that?”

That revelation alone was worth being here at that moment though I heard Ian use it at Pike’s camp.  “Well,
MY
name isn’t very original.  At least no one will mistake you for another.  I have no distinctive stand out points.”

Ian scoffed, “Told you she doesn’t see her own beauty.  She doesn’t see herself.”

I rolled my eyes in full blown goddess mode.  Still great to hear it even if it’s total crapola. 

“My dear green eyed queen, NO one will mistake you for another.  Your glow alone stops one in their tracks.” 

I secretly beamed for a second frowning on the outside for them. 
Did I glow?

“You do my queen.  The beacon that lights you stands beside you now.”

Ian cleared his throat.

“The two of you, sit!  You have something to ask me?”

Al motioned to let me start.

“At the meeting with Kin of the Nyms discussing negotiations with land treaties, Kin grabbed my arm and did a binding on the treaty.  I’m unfamiliar with most of this, but Ian explained that a Seelie or Unseelie queen should be bound first with a marriage ceremony before all other bindings.  What did he do by binding to me, and why?  What can we do?  Is it too late?”

He put his hands up.  “One question answered at a time.  First, I am correct in that it is a binding for land treaty, right?”

We both nodded.

“He asked permission for the binding, correct?”

Ian and I looked at each other for confirmation.  “No,” we said together.

“Kind of, but he never got a confirmation back.”  I said slowly.

“It’s invalid.” 

Once again, we looked at each other.  Too simple!  At the same time, “It’s invalid?”  Same exact words.

“Yes, it’s that simple, young ones.  Young Prince Kinsler may not know history as he should, but I do.  May I see your arm?”

I held it out to him.  He turned it this way and that and then back to the scorched, tender skin.   And he’s not a prince anymore from what I understand.

No answers.  To anything.  He is so cryptic!

“It’s not valid.  I’m sure of it.  If it was, a defined maple leaf would be edged in the skin.”

“You’re sure?” Ian wanted to feel confident.

“Yes, young Ian.”

Ian rolled his eyes.  “I’m aware of how young I am, but how sure is the validity of the mark on her arm?  Can she still have a marriage binding…to me?”  Ian swallowed hard.

Al could see the anticipation in our faces.  “Yes!  Unless she doesn’t want to get married…to you.” He raised his unusually hairy eyebrows pausing his words to mimic how Ian had said it.

Ian took my hand and squeezed then threw daggers towards the seer.

“Yes, yes, however, there is the matter of what Kinsler thinks.  Who, mind you is still a prince, exiled or not.  It was still a binding from his end.  That’s why it left a mark.  The binding was never finished from the other party involved.  That makes it invalid.  It is what you call a one way binding.”

“He
thinks
that they are bound.”  Ian guessed the seer was going to make him say it.

“This part is important.  Whatever he is planning, and I assure you he’s planning something nasty and vile for the young queen if he’s forcing a binding on her without her permission, it is highly probable that he thinks his plan is in motion.  It will only hinder you to act irresponsibly and inform him of his mishap.”

“Pike and I had two possible motives for him doing it.  To keep her from marrying in the Seelie court and bring her to the Unseelie court for his own gain.”  He didn’t peek at my reaction, but continued to squeeze my hand.  “He would beg the mercy of his court and gain a queen or destroy us and take her and both our land and the Nyms land.  Or he could take on both courts by gaining her.  There are several loopholes in each theory that I’m sure you are aware of,” he made the seer see them nonverbally to not scare me most likely.  “It’s all theory with little evidence.”

I briefly considered entering the seer’s mind to find out what they’re not telling me.

“All kinds of hairy beasts to tackle in there, my lady.  Best not!”

Blank!  Blank! 
I turned back to my protector who was hurting,
“You’ve thought on this…a lot?  You two didn’t share everything at camp.”

“I have to.  I will not lose you,” Ian replied.  I wondered if he chanted that in his mind with the regularity he said it.  He hated letting me know the danger I might be in or that he thought about it so often.

“But yet you’re still hiding things from me.”

“Only the possible reasons Kinsler could have to take you.  You have to understand I fear the worst and contemplate everything to make sure you are safe.  I can’t let anything happen to you, Grace.”

The seer watched our exchanged replies and waited patiently.  “I don’t know his intentions, but I know Kinsler’s past transgressions well enough and that they are probably not good.  For now, let’s play out the part he wants you to play and maybe you’ll discover what he is plotting.”

“And we can go forward with wedding plans?” I asked.

“I believe…if you want to find out Kinsler’s plans, you’ll need to let word fester out that you are incapable of a marriage ceremony at the time until further investigation is completed.”

We both sighed and cued our understanding.  The seer was right. 

“You both will bring the Seelie court back to its great splendor of what it once was.  And there are other prophecies at work here.  Sometimes patience brings about glorious things worth waiting for.  If I may be a little more ‘cryptic’ for you,” he said eyeing me and smiling sheepishly, “stop dwelling on those things you haven’t yet encountered, leaving the future to unfold on its own, and you may save more than one person’s piece of mind.”  He looked at Ian on the last part.  Indicating him, I guessed.   

We left holding hands and went to our garden spot where we had some privacy.   

“What did that all mean at the end?  He talks in riddles.  He seemed like he was talking just to you, but now I’m not sure.” I inched closer to make my legs lean against his. 

“I think it was meant for mostly me, but intended for both of us also.”

“We need to stop worrying and enjoy the moment, basically, right?”

“Do you regret coming here with me?” He was always in the regret zone.

“No!  I miss my family, but I can’t live without you.  I’ve told you before, but I think I’ve always known you were not
human
. You just couldn’t be that perfect and be human.”

“I’m most definitely not perfect. And I certainly don’t deserve you,” he sighed.

“You’re not taking his advice I see!  Why do you talk that way?  You deserve to be happy too.”

“You
don’t
realize how
hard
it is to know I could mess up one time and lose you forever,” he had such a hard time saying things like this.  It was getting worse.  He didn’t talk like that before.  I think our open feelings get in the way now that they are revealed.

“Why didn’t you tell me about what you actually think about Kin has planned?”  I knew this kind of talk was hard for him, but well, men can be
so
frustrating sometimes.  If men are from Mars and we’re from Venus, where are the Fey from?

“I don’t want you to worry.”

Bingo!

“But we can figure things out better together rather than bearing the burden alone.  It’s not fair to the other one.  We said we are a team.  You can’t protect me from everything.  I’ll have to make some decisions on my own.”  The campfire still had a fresh scent surrounding us both. I leaned my head on his shoulder to smell the woods on him.  “I feel well protected.  But I also feel like you’re not free to give me everything you need…and what I need.  You won’t slow down to just enjoy.  I know we’ve been on the run since we finally
found
each other, but, well, I want your full attention sometimes without distractions.”

He squirmed a bit.

“We used to lay on the trampoline and dream.  I once heard that when one dream comes true, you make another dream.  I want to make the dreams together.  Yes, we have business, struggles, etc.  That’s life.  Yes, we’ll have time to worry.  There’s no avoiding it.  But I think Altheon has a point, let’s just sit back and enjoy life for a little while.  The other part will catch back up to us.”

“Are you finished with another monologue, my love?”  His warm face turned from the fire to me. He saw that I quickly felt injured by the comment.  “My turn,” he said.

“I will try-
try
not to worry so much.  I have a list if this is going to work.” He told me once that I needed to know more if I was to be a diplomatic queen.  I’d just have to trust him to tell me what I need to know.  He has his fears for a reason.

A list?
I raised my eyebrows realizing he was the one handing out condition now. 

“First, you promise to wear the green emerald dress again.  You know which one.”  I swallowed. I knew, and smiled.   “Second, you spend time with the historian learning more about your family from our world.  There is so much you don’t know still.  I’ll tutor you on the rest.”

“I like this list so far—“

“Shh!” he put his fingers to his lips and then mimicked it on mine.  We were only inches apart anyway and I felt the air move from his fingers go side to side until he was simply teasing me.  I pulled his hand down to my lap to make him continue.  His eyes followed my hand.

“Third, you accompany me on the shooting range.  You could use the practice.”  He looked up sharply.

I huffed.  Oh no, not the eyebrow thing.  He was good.

“You don’t agree?”

I didn’t speak, but squeezed his hand tighter.  I was way too much of a coward to tell him no right now.  I pursed my lips to hide the expression of any other emotion.

“And fourth, you practice your “persuasion mojo” on someone outside of your emotional pool.  You can’t be caught off guard again.”

Not Pike, he meant. “Crazy man, it doesn’t work on you so it’s so not worth the effort.”

“It doesn’t?”

I was confused.

“On the contrary, I think your
mojo
has worked on me for years.”

His eyes were smoldering silver in the moonlight at me again.  He knew just what he was doing. 

“Deal?”

“Deal!  But I can’t help the “persuasion mojo” as you call it.  Sometimes, it just kind of flows out like a river when someone gets me all riled up.” I saw his expression darken.  “But I’ll try.” 

“Alright, I have something I need to go do.  I’ll be back in a while.  Will you meet me back here in about an hour?”

Uh, I didn’t want him to leave.

“Shh!  No worries, remember.  You’ll see me in an hour.  I think Danella has something she’s been dying to tell you anyway.”

“Too many mysteries, mister!”

“Mr. Mystery will be back soon. I’d walk you to the door, but I need to get going if I’m going to make it in time.” 

Now really curious, I watched him walk away when we were at my room.  He was being way more honest and open about a lot lately.  Thank the heavens! 

When he wasn’t visible anymore, I rushed to Danella to find out this secret she was dying to tell recognizing the giggles before I turned the corner. 

“Da-nel-la.” I drew her name out a long time.  “What is this big secret you’re allowed to tell me now?”

“Oh, my lady, it’s a wonderful tale.  Come sit down.”  We were on the edge of my bed. 

"Once, Tren caught Master Ian hiding a shiny object in the little cubbie hole pocket of his coat.  She just knew what it was and hurried to come tell me.  I couldn’t tell you because he caught Tren sneaking and made her promise to stay silent.  Here is the best part, my lady.  It was a ring, one I saw him with once before.”  She paused just enough to make me yell out, “Well?” 

“He had that ring on the night you talked in your sleep the first time you said it.”

What?  “Talked in my sleep, when?”

“Oh, Miss Grace, you do that a lot.” Danella acted as if she were scolding me.

“What?  And how would you know?”

Danella was a little defensive, “I’ve watched over you as well, Miss Grace.  I waited a long time for you too.”  I couldn’t help but realize right then how much I’d befriended and come to rely on her.  

“I’m sorry, Danella.  You have become a great friend to me.  Do I really talk in my sleep?”

“Oh yes, almost every night.”  I was horribly embarrassed.  “Don’t be embarrassed ma’am.  Master Ian thinks it is the most wonderful thing.”

“IAN!  How would he know?”

Danella was confused now.  “He was protecting you.”

“Was he in my room?”

She was offended.  “No, Miss Grace.  I’ve got better eyes than that.  I would never let him in your room.  And never have in all your years.”

“You’ve been there all these years, too.”  More shockers every day!

Danella stood up and looked at me.  Right before my eyes, I saw who Danella had reminded me of all along.  And she transformed herself to show me. Grabbing her tight, the hug meant more to me than she could know.  Another piece of home.hug meant more to me than she could kn “Miss Dan? You are Miss Dan, our maid.  I can’t believe it.  You guys were all over the place.”

Danella smiled sheepishly and brought back her true form. “He has never been in your room without permission.  He is a solid gentleman through and through.  I’m referring to the many nights of the two of you on the trampoline where you fell asleep and talked.  A lot!”

“He did too!” But I realized as soon as I said it that he doesn’t sleep much.  “He was never sleeping.  That dog!  He is
so
in trouble.”

“Wait, before you get ideas in your head.  You talked every night in your sleep as I kept watch.  But one night, when you were rolled up sleeping sound on the trampoline when you should have been in your bed,” Danella raised both eyebrows and ended the declaration.  “He was being selfish, you know.”

“Go on!”  I was dying to know what I’d said.

She smiled, “You said you loved him.  And he has never been the same.”

I was undone.  “So he made you keep this secret until now.  Why?”

“Because he finally let me tell you who I was and what I know.  I have my ways of badgering,” she giggled.  I knew from the past and present she could badger.  My clothes were never allowed on the floor when Miss Dan was around.  My clothes!  I would ask her about some later.  I knew now Danella, Miss Dan, would be able to get me a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Ha!

“Why?” I repeated.

“Because, Miss Grace, he had that ring the night you said it.  After you slept he went to have it made.  It’s not a claiming, but just as good I tell ya.  I watched the way you looked at him.  Listen to the way you adored him in your head.  I believe a word you would use Miss Grace to describe it would be captivating.  Am I right?”

“What?  When did I say that?  And yes, I surrender to him more often than I should.  I just can’t resist.”

“In human time, that was two years ago.”

I came undone, again.  I didn’t know what to say.  Wait.  The embarrassment was mounting.  “And he knows you're telling me this right now?”

She giggled.  “Yes, Miss Grace.”

“And you probably know where he is right now.”

“Yes!”

“And you won’t tell me?”  Exasperating woman, but I love her!

“No I can’t, I told you.  I can’t disobey Master Ian.”

“Why do you call him Master?”

Danella was confused again by my odd questions though she spent all my life living in my human world, or at least my home.  “He is the Seelie Prince.  I can’t disobey you either, Miss Grace.  I’d be banished for disloyalty.”

That was a shock for me.  “You mean I could have demanded you tell me all these years.”

“No. You were not the queen, yet.”

We watched each other for a little while.

“Miss Grace, he is back.  Would you like to go see what he has brought you?”

“I thought you couldn’t tell?”

She put her hand to her mouth.

“Relax.  Help me get ready.  Where is the lavender perfume?”