The Fae Princess' Hidden Fate

16.

Bastian.

It took me a while before I was able to stand on my own two feet. Compounded with my already existing wounds, I was a sorry sight for anyone who laid their eyes on me.

I could hardly stand for longer than a few minutes, and even then, it was with great difficulty. Regan would try and encourage me to take a few steps everyday, but I only managed a step or two before I would be forced to return to my bed. None of us were certain whether it had been from the explosion, or perhaps it was because I was already carrying old wounds which still hadn't healed before it happened.

The infirmary became my home, and I became so familiar with it that I could have sketched a perfect replica of it with my eyes closed. I hadn't gone anywhere in nearly two days, and I had barely moved from my bed the entire time. I felt absolutely horrible, having to sit here all day and not do anything. Regan advised that it was the best way to ensure that I would recover quickly, and even though I tried to object at first, I was forced to comply.

Layla came to visit for hours on end however, and that was the only thing I was happy for. She would sit with me until late at night, when she would have to return to her room. She always came with her handmaid - Abigail - who was still terrified of me. She kept her distance, sitting on the farthest bed she could manage while Layla and I talked.

Mostly I tried to get Layla to talk, but she was more interested in listening than talking. She would ask me several questions, most of which I didn't have the answers to. She wanted to know everything I could remember about my past, and even thought I explained to her that I couldn't remember much, she kept pushing for more answers, most of which I couldn't even answer. She would stare at me intently, and I would feel so useless for not remembering anything that I would force myself to remember any little detail which would satisfy her.

By doing so, I was able to remember a few things. Even I was surprised by how much this seemed to be working. I wouldn't even be trying sometimes, and a brief image would flash in my mind that would remind me of something which I didn't think I could remember.

I remembered how comfortable my bed had been, and I could remember someone chastising me about why I kept it tucked in the corner of my room like children would. I remembered laughing at the statement, even though I couldn't remember who I had been speaking to exactly. Just as the image began to form in my mind, it would disappear in a puff of smoke, and I would be left confused and feeling slightly irritated.

On the third day of Layla's visit however, I felt strong enough to actually go for a walk. As soon as she and Abigail stepped into the infirmary, I bolted out of the bed, surprising both of them.

"I want to go for a walk," I announced. "I've been cooped up in here for three whole days now. I want to be able to feel the sun again."

"Is that a good idea?" Layla asked. "What if you're not properly healed?"

Even though I found it incredibly sweet of her that she cared about my health more than anything, I still couldn't resist the need to explore. I hadn't gotten the chance to do that ever since I wound up in Nibiru, and I felt like today would be a good day to try it. The sun was shining brightly outside, and I could feel the magic in the air, pulsing with a life of its own. I wasn't used to this feeling, but neither of them seemed bothered by it. I couldn't resist such a beautiful day. I needed to go out and experience it for myself.

"I'm perfectly fine, Your Highness," I said, squeezing as much flattery as I could into the statement. And even though she didn't seem like she was buying any of it, I did notice her blush slightly. Due to the green tint of her skin however, when she blushed her cheeks turned a slight shade of yellow. And she seemed to glow with a strange light which made me feel happy that I was the one who made her feel this way.

"Alright, if you insist," she said. "I was planning on visiting a mage in the city to check on her today, since I found out she was sick."

"Billie?" Abigail asked. "I didn't know she was sick."

"I also just found out this morning," Layla admitted. "I wanted to see if she was fine, since she lives alone. If the sickness is as bad as I imagine, then I think she needs me to check on her."

"Check on who?" Regan suddenly asked as he stepped into the infirmary with several bottles which contained a thick brown liquid. He looked around curiously at the three of us, and he was surprised to find me standing in the middle of the room.

"Billie the mage," Layla replied. "You know she lives alone, and I just heard she was sick. Sebastian wants to come with us."

"The queen agreed only because you said you'd want to check up on Billie. You know she'll get angry if she finds out that you are taking him," Abigail tipped her head towards, a slight irritation in her voice. "And I'm sure the king wouldn't be pleased as well."

"When have I ever followed the rules set around, Abigail?" Layla said with a smug smile. "Don't worry, I'll handle them."

"Well I'm glad to see you up and running," Regan said to me, "but are you sure you can bear it after being in bed for the last two days? I don't think it will be a wise choice, given your condition."

"I'm fit as a fiddle," I said, trying and failing to look like I was absolutely fine. Even though none of them were buying it, I was not going to let any of them ruin my chances of finally getting a change to get away from the deafening boredom which surrounded me in the infirmary.

"Fine," Regan said, even though it was obvious that he didn't believe a single word I said. "While I certainly do not think it is a good idea, I wouldn't cross the princess words. Layla, you do know I'm coming along, right?"

"Would I dare to step out of the palace without you, Reggie?"

"I thought you'd dare do that now," Regan replied.

Layla laughed at that, and I found the sound enchanting as she led us all out of the infirmary. Regan dropped the bottles on the nearest table, and he hurried along so he could stand beside Layla. I found the sight extremely irritating, and I wanted nothing more than to slice his kneecaps for coming between us. I hated not being close to her, and yet both Abigail and Regan were standing beside her, so that I was forced to walk behind them all like a third wheel with two guards trailing behind me.

I didn't have time to be angry however, as we stepped outside and into the warmth of the sun. I was grateful for the fresh air after the stuffiness of the palace. The bright blue skies made me feel a sense of relief, and I kept looking at the clouds which were drifting overhead. We walked out of the palace, which I had slowly gotten accostumed to it's tall buildings and the buzzing sound of bees all the time. I gasped as I saw the city for the first time.

It was like a giant garden which had come to life, with several bright and dazzling colours everywhere. The roads crisscrossed like trails of dirt winding down a mountainside, and the spread between the houses and many buildings. It was like a gigantic painting, and at first glance, it would seem almost frightening until one took the time to actually admire the beauty of it.

Even more than that however was the magic I saw all around me. I had never seen magic up close, or at least I didn't remember if I ever had. Seeing it presumably for the first time however was a shocking sight, and I was in awe as we walked down the path.

There were a group of faes gathered together by a small clearing beside some houses, and they seemed to be controlling several birds which had gathered near the spot just by waving their hands. The birds seemed to be following the movements of their hands, but it was much too precise to be mere movements. They seemed connected with the faes who were controlling them, and I was so in awe of it that I almost forgot I was supposed to be following the others.

"Those are animal faes," Layla explained when she followed my line of sight. "They are the faes responsible for keeping animals safe and instructing them on what to do."

"In other words, they are the nutjobs of Nibiru," Regan said with a chuckle. "You should see them talking to snakes and bears, and all sorts of wild creatures they come across. I can never understand what they are doing."

"Just because you don't understand them doesn't give you the right to call them nutjobs," Layla scolded him. "I agree they can be odd at times, but they are still just like us."

"I still stand by my words," he said. "The animal faes are the most unsettling faes you'll ever meet. Them, and exiled ones."

"What other types of faes are there?" I asked, genuinely curious. I didn't care that the animal faes were considered weird. I still found them fascinating. Everything about the kingdom was fascinating, and I was left gawking at everything before me. As we walked deeper into the city, more and more faes began to appear. They all bowed before Layla, and the smiles were everywhere as they admired their Princess.

"Well, there's the water faes," Regan explained. "You can usually find them around the lake or by the river, messing with the tide and creating giant waves of water. I always avoid them whenever I can save myself, because they always tend to get your best clothes wet."

"Then there's the light faes," Layla added. "They are the ones who use light magic to protect or develop everything you see around us. Light magic is what keeps our kingdom and life forces working, so they are perhaps the most important faction of faes in Nibiru."

"Then there's the air faes," Regan added. "They control the weather, and if a storm is coming, they will be the ones who handle it. They keep nature's balance, because air is essential to all our lives. They mostly keep to the woods, where the are in harmony with the plants because they claim there is air within them. I still don't understand how plants can breath just like humans. But they seem to think it's true, so who am I to argue?"

"Do you have to insult every faction just because you don't belong to it?" Abigail snapped at him.

"I don't have to," he replied sarcastically. "I choose to, actually."

"You're impossible," she said through gritted teeth.

"I've been called worse," he chuckled.

The result of their arguing was that they dropped off a little bit from Layla's pace, and I quickened up so I could catch up to her. Now that I was walking beside her, I was feeling even better about myself. When she looked at me and smiled, I felt my heart soar from pure joy.

"So what type of fae are you?" I asked.

"A royal," she replied. "We are blessed with all sorts of abilities, unlike the others who only have one gift. I'm still trying to master some of my abilities, but it will take a while before I'm able to control them."

"Why..."

"I'm sure you are wondering why I agreed to tell you all this. But you and I are almost like same person. You try to harm me, you end up harming yourself as well." Her eyes stared at me as though she was staring deep into my soul. As though she was telling to think of who I really am. Of why I came to Nibru.

I had no time to reply, however, or think about what she had said even more when we came to stop at a small house tucked away in the corner of a lonely street. Layla raised her hand and was about to knock when the door swung open.

A low voice beckoned us to step in, and I felt a chill run down my spine as Layla stepped in first, then Abigail and Regan. I was the last to walk in, and I still felt like it would be an uncomfortable experience.

Inside, we stood in a small room with a single bed in the middle of it, and some bottles lined up on a shelf which hung over the bed. A woman was lying in the bed, and she looked up slowly with dark eyes which scanned all of us curiously.

"Princee," she greeted. "It's a pleasure to have you here."

"Hello, Billie," Layla greeted with a smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Worse than I look," she confessed. I suddenly noticed that she was looking directly at me, and the darkness in her eyes was brewing even more. I felt another chill run down my spine, and I almost took a step back.

"What is he doing here?" she asked bitterly.

"He's a friend," Layla spoke up immediately. "He's here as an escort."

The woman shifted her eyes slowly towards Layla, and when she spoke, her words nearly caused my heart to stop beating. Her words, though few, were enough to throw my mind into disarray.

"Why would you bring the man who will bring about your death into my home?"