Chapter 15 - Give him time
990 Words
As King Florian watched Elise with the children, their earlier conversation came to him. They would need the human, whoever he or she is, to have a reason to help them. If said humans are these… He inhaled deeply at the realization. He heard so many stories about her husband, but he still didn’t think a king from the human world would be able to help them. He doesn’t have magic, so he can’t come here. But the children are still too young. It would seem they are trying to bring the king of the north into this dimension.
When the meal was over, Elise took them up a tower for a private conversation. It would seem towers are good for such activities. Nate was reminded of the time her parents took her and Vince separately. She was prepared to stand behind them as they talk, but Queen Elise wrapped her other arm in hers. The queen stood between them.
Her wings fascinated Nate and she can’t help glancing at it every now and then. Elise noticed. She didn’t think she’s being rude. She stretched them and Nate gaped at the glitters.
“It’s beautiful.”
The queen smiled at her reaction.
Just then, bright lights appeared and Vince quickly reached for Nate’s hand. The queen was startled. It took two seconds before she realized what’s happening.
“Tell your father…”, she reminded.
“I know, mother.”
“I love you.” She reached for his face again.
“I love you, too.” As he was about to lean into her embrace, they disappeared.
Elise isn’t sure what to feel. She’s happy to have met her son. She’s happy to be able to send a message to Edward. Now, the dread of waiting. How would Edward respond to her letter?
They were gone for at least two days. When the king remained as they disappeared, he wasn’t too disappointed. For one, the counsel didn’t know what they were doing. If he suddenly disappeared without anyone knowing, the kingdom would be in chaos. He had to choose someone he can trust from the counsel if he were to successfully go to the fae world. He was considering Sir Quin.
It was morning of the third day when they re-appeared in the recreation hall. He has been waiting for them. He stood up and walked over.
“Well?” He asked, desperate for news.
Vince grinned as he reached for his mother’s letters. He looked through the names and presented one to his father.
“Mother wrote this. It’s for you.”
“She wrote me a letter while you’re there?” His hand trembled a bit as he reached for it.
“No, she already wrote them before we appeared. She handed them to me as soon as we came.” Nate explained and he exhaled. In relief? He couldn’t be sure. Does it matter when she wrote the letter?
“She must’ve written it after she met Nate the first time.”
“Let’s have a seat. We’ll tell you what we learned.” Vince invited, but Nate was watching the king.
“Maybe we should take a rest first. You can read the letter first, my king.” She bowed before pulling Vince out of the room. He watched his father standing very still, staring at the letter.
When Nate closed the door, he turned to her.
“Give him time. We’ll meet him later.” She stated as she pulled him forward.
They went straight to their quarters. Vince’s quarters, to be precise.
When they came to his room, he remembered something he had been meaning to ask her. The enchantment she used on him.
Nate didn’t mention the enchantment to anyone because she found it from a forbidden book, locked in her father’s library. She was only able to access it because of her ability to pass through solid objects. She was able to take the book out and read the pages. She can understand why the enchantment would be deemed forbidden. It gives one the ability to allow others have magic. She can make an army if she wanted. But then, the enchantment came with a warning. The other effects of using it are not known. When she used it on Vince, she didn’t feel anything. She didn’t experience a drain in energy. All the other enchantments drained her, from varying levels.
Vince stared at her, mulling over her suggestion. She didn’t want to tell the king the truth, and he can understand why. But still…
“Maybe we can tell him it would allow him to have a little magic and then he can come with us to visit the fae?”
“He would still ask the why and why we didn’t tell him sooner.”
“I don’t have an explanation as to how it works, but… you know what, let’s just tell him the truth. The king is wise. I was wrong. I’m sure we can trust him.” In the end, she relented and gave up trying to keep it hidden.
He exhaled. He was glad to hear it from her. He didn’t want to betray his father’s confidence.
Nate realized that she should start trusting that the king won’t harm her. In a way, she’s still afraid that she would do something he doesn’t like, treat her as an enemy, and have her executed. Maybe be afraid of what she can do, as the whole kingdom was before.
“Alright. But I would ask you to explain it to him.” Nate pleaded. She’s still not comfortable speaking directly with the king. Vince is their middle ground.
The king sat on a chair as he carefully unfolded the letter. He took a deep breath before seeing the contents. Her familiar handwriting came to him and he ran a hand over the page. It is her. What does she have to say? What would she want to tell him?
My dearest Edward,
I love you…
Those two lines alone are enough to make the king cry silently. She still loves him, doesn’t she?
Maybe he should read this letter in his quarters after all. He carefully folded the letter and walked towards the direction of his rooms.
- Writer
