The chapter everyone has been waiting for! It's a new perspective, but I think my readers are going to like this one. Please enjoy and don't forget to vote and comment! (Happy Birthday, June! Lol)
-Lucinda Croft
Change of POV
We had been waiting for over an hour. I knew that the fae were neutral, but I couldn't comprehend showing such disrespect towards the angels. Did they not understand that angels were as powerful and frightening as demons, but it was by their good graces that they didn't weaponize it as their evil counterparts did? They had explained that the queens were called out on urgent business, but I was starting to question. The person who told us was not lying, but that didn't mean that he wasn't lied to. Fairies were tricky like that, and we unicorns could not stand them.
I started to pace, but a gentle chuckle made me stop. "Hildegard, calm yourself. You're always so impatient." My companion and patron said calmly.
I snorted and took a slow breath. "I'm sorry. I just know how important this is, and the fae never take anything seriously."
"We did come unannounced." He reminded.
"Yes, but we didn't have much choice." I lamented. If things were up to me, I would have skipped by the fae entirely, but he reminded me that there was a little angel in everyone. It was what I loved about my patron the most. Unlike the others of his kind, he extended his care and gifts to all. There was only one species that he could not tolerate, but that was why we were working with the dragons for the past few years. I could only hope that there weren't any of them here, because I knew the fae often mingled with them.
A walking fox strode into the clearing we were told to wait in. He was dressed in a blue waistcoat with a clipboard and pen in his articulated paws. A monocle sat in front of one of his yellow eyes, and his red fur was brushed and quaffed professionally. He was our handler. At least that's what it felt like.
"Miss Hildegard, the queens have returned from their urgent business and are willing to see you now. Although I shall warn you that it will not be a private audience. They have some guests for an upcoming trial, you see." He said politely. It was downright adorable to see his thin muzzle say such proper words. I was a fan of foxes naturally, and I wondered if this was another trick to get my guard down. The fae were supposed to be neutral, but with the chaos of the Minister breaking out of his cage early, one could never know.
"I see. That will be fine." I said with a nod.
The fox nodded and swiftly turned with his puffed tail behind him. "Please follow me." He said.
I did as he asked, but I wanted to be in my equine form. I felt more secure that way, but it may come across as rude to the queens. Unicorns and fae have not had the strongest of relationships, and this wasn't about unicorn or fae. It was about demons, and they needed to listen. As we walked, fairy homes started to emerge betwixt the trees. Some small and hanging from branches like bird's nests, and some like quaint cottages. Despite their humble appearances these were homes to high ranking fae. To live this close to the queens was a privilege given only to those in their courts. This only made the stares I was getting more ominous. I was being judged before even standing before their queens.
Eventually we reached a part of the forest that was without houses, homes, or other dwellings. The raw power beneath my feet told me that we were going the right way. A decorated and well-traveled path cut through the last batch of trees and then we were there. Standing in an immense clearing with the mighty cenderion tree at its head. The ancient tree put sequoias to shame as it towered above with broad elegant branches that covered the entire clearing. The clearing itself was outfitted like any court. Guards of two kinds lined the perimeter. On the left they were dressed in blue elegant uniforms with weapons that were more for show than use. They led to a giant open primrose that the fae queen Celeste was delicately sitting upon. Standing by her side were members of her court, and sitting on a wooden bench were some young fae. Most likely the guests the fox fairy was talking about.
On the right the guards were shrouded in both black garb and mystery. They lined up to wooden throne laced with thorned red roses. The dark fae queen Ebony sat with her legs crossed and her eyes intense. Her court stood beside her, and similar to the other queen she had her own host of young fae sitting at a bench. Their clothing screamed human continents however, and I nervously looked behind me to check on my patron. He seemed unbothered.
"Announcing, the unicorn Miss Hildegard of the AFC!" The fox fairy bellowed before ducking back and vanishing into the woods.
I cleared my throat and strode forward to a circular stone pedestal placed at the center of the clearing. It was twenty feet in diameter, but it still felt small in my opinion. "Greetings, Your Majesties. I've come from the Dragon Lands, and I wish to speak with you on a matter of great import." I declared using all my experience with these formal meetings.
"It must be urgent to break into our forest like this." Queen Ebony hissed.
"What Queen Ebony means is that we are accustomed to more planned visits." Queen Celeste explained.
"Understandable, Your Majesties. If it were any other situation, I would have followed proper protocol, but as Queen Ebony has stated, it is quite urgent." I reassured.
"Then get on with it." Queen Ebony snapped. Her yellow eyes taking me in, and I could feel her trying to charm me. With my patron with me, it would be pointless, but she was trying to strike fear in me all the same.
"The demons have anchored their position in the Dragon Lands. Devil's Teeth grow in abundance, demons and their hosts have made positions in their society, and they have been nurturing shades strong enough to take a willing dragon. We have tried to stop them, but we have little support there. We have come to ask your aid in restoring the balance before it is too late." My voice echoed through the clearing, and I prayed the import of my words would linger in their minds if only for a moment.
Queen Celeste and Ebony exchanged a look. "What is your rank with the AFC, Miss Hildegard?" The light fae queen asked.
I bowed. "I am an angelic host, Your Highness."
She nodded as if expecting my answer. "Then you or your patron angel should know that we fae do not take sides. It is how we maintain balance, and how we honor our progenitors. The dryads have taken a neutral stance as well. This is not an issue that we can weigh in on."
"This isn't a matter of taking sides, but of self-preservation!" I shouted. "Avalon is the closest to the Dragon Lands, and would be the first to fall if the dragons are consumed by demons without a fight! What we ask is only a temporary alliance. Once the threat in the Dragon Lands is secured, you can retain your neutrality."
"Enough!" Queen Ebony asserted while coming to a stand. "Do you have any evidence that the demons plan to attack Avalon?" She demanded.
"It would be reasonabl—" I started.
"Do you have evidence?!" She interrupted.
"No." I admitted.
She smirked knowing she had won. "No evidence. The demons may very well be tampering in the Dragon Lands, but there is no reason to assume that they would come for us. Whereas you and your patron trespassed into our forest, grew unsanctioned Angel's Hearts on our land, and demanded we aid you with slander. I perceive you to be a larger threat than they."
My mind halted and struggled to start. "We never grew Angel's Hearts..." I said.
"And now they lie!" Queen Ebony chuckled dryly. "Typical."
I narrowed my eyes. This must be some ploy by the dark fae to turn the light fae against us. "I am a unicorn. I do not lie, nor would I dare try to outwit fairies. We never grew Angel's Hearts. To even commit an act in such a place as this would require at least three angels and their hosts."
"I'm sorry, Miss Hildegard, but we did see Angel's Hearts not far from here. If you did not personally grow them, then someone else must have." Queen Celeste informed. Her eyes were cold and steady. Somehow we had already lost the light fae's support, but what they were saying couldn't be true.
"No angels have been given orders to grow Angel's Hearts on your land." My patron assured. His voice could clearly be heard, but the fae looked in different directions unable to see him.
"To whom are we speaking?" Queen Celeste asked.
"I am Eros." My patron said making me swim with pride. I still couldn't believe that my patron was the Eros.
"The angel who gifted love?" Queen Ebony asked with an amused smirk that made me huff.
"Yes." Eros said before I could fix the queen's attitude. "Is there a chance that Your Majesties were confused? I am the only angel who has visited here for quite some time, and Angel's Hearts do not simply sprout up on their own."
"We are certain. The purity of the plant is potent and plain." Queen Celeste said.
Queen Ebony rested her elbow on the arm of her throne while propping up her head. "We have several witnesses. One who supposedly saw who did the deed."
"We would like to speak to this person." I said stepping forward.
Queen Ebony's smile turned vile. "Are you sure about that? I've heard about your patron's aversion to humans, and our key witness just happens to be human."
I observed Eros. He looked pristine as always with his long pale pink hair and white glowing eyes, but his brows furrowed just slightly. This had to be a fae trick. We should go. These fae were not worth the sacrifice and benevolence of Eros. It was cruel of them to pick at his wounds like this.
"I would still like to hear from this... human." Eros said before I could excuse us from this circus.
I whipped my head in his direction. "Eros, are you sure?! You don't have to do this. You owe these fae nothing."
Eros turned towards me and his eyes creased in the only smile he could show without a mouth. "I have a duty to the angels and to the After Realm. I cannot allow my pain to speak for me."
"Well, it appears you do not need to wait any longer." Queen Ebony suddenly said. A small spindly sprite was whispering in her ear and bowed before flitting away faster than it had appeared. "The witness is ready, but we ask you to be patient. This witness is also on trial for another matter. Please step to the side." She waved her hand in the general direction she wanted us to move in.
I moved as she directed, but things were starting to get convoluted. Was it by some coincidence that the trial's perpetrator and the Angel's Hearts witness were the same person, or were the fae dragging out Eros's discomfort. Either way I didn't like it. I stood near the blue-uniformed guards and crossed my arms while I watched the clearing's entrance for this human.
Soon a sole figure strode through the shade of the canopy. A large hooded green dress adorned her, and she floated forward keeping her head down and hands crossed in front of her. This couldn't be the human they were talking about. Her clothing was too elegant and looked to be of fae origin or something similar. The dress was more a cloak and concealed every detail of the woman who wore it. All I could tell was that she was shapely, and that she walked with decent grace and poise.
"What is this?! Who are you?" Queen Ebony shouted out surprised.
The woman continued forward until she was on the stone pedestal, where I had been standing. "I am June Jackson, Your Majesty. We rode on your carriage together." Her voice was young, and held an amused edge to it.
"You present surprisingly well for a human." Queen Celeste said surprised. So she was a human. Odd.
"Why the cloak? Are you trying to hide from your crimes?" Queen Ebony pressed.
"No, Your Majesties. The dryads wished me to dress this way." She responded unbothered. The dryads? I had heard that they were starting to reemerge, but what did they have to do with her clothing?
"Is that why they sequestered you away as soon as we arrived? For a change of clothes?" Queen Ebony said bothered.
"They probably wanted to hide her face out of shame." Whispered one of the young fae by the dark queen. It was loud enough for the court to hear, and caused a couple chuckles in their group. Their guardian quickly shushed them however.
"Among other things. Yes, Your Highness." The figure said.
"Right. Well you are here before us for two reasons. To prove your innocence and to provide testimony. The consequences for failing to do either will be death. Understood?" Queen Ebony said bored. Death? I had no idea this case was so severe.
"Yes. Understood." The human replied calmly. Too calmly for a girl facing her judge and executioner.
"Your name again, Dear?" Queen Celeste asked.
"June Jackson." The figure repeated.
"June, you have been accused of fabricating a union with the dryad king, Cenderion, through marriage. How do you plead? And please keep in mind," The light queen gestured to the large tree behind them. "He can hear you."
A marriage? To the dryad king?! No wonder she was so calm. She was delusional. There was no need to stay for this. Whatever testimony this crazed human would have to share would be useless. "Eros, let's leave." I whispered.
Eros did not tear his eyes away from the hooded figure. "No. Something about her is not normal... Almost familiar..." He trailed off.
"Not guilty." She said strongly. "My marriage is legitimate. My wedding band is made of cenderion wood, because Cenderion was the one who bestowed it on me."
"Nonsense!" The guardian of the young dark fae snapped. "The dryad king would not lower himself to marry a below-average human girl! There is—" The ground shook slightly and the tree branches rustled as if a heavy wind was darting by, but there was no breeze.
"I'm sorry, but I ask you to speak kindly to me. The dryads are not as tolerant as I am." The human said strongly.
All of the fae stood immediately. I stepped back as well. I knew that the human was not lying. In fact, she never once told a lie, but truth was subjective. I reasoned that she was simply insane or deluded into some fantasy, yet there was no denying the dryads' involvement in this. Could she really be married to the dryad king?
"This isn't possible!" One of the young male fae shouted. His red hair shook with his disbelief. "That ring can't be real! You only had it to escape from us! That's the only reasonable conclusion!"
"Silence!" Queen Ebony scolded causing the boy to wither and pull back. "Lower your hood." She demanded of the human. The human did not move, and the trees shifted. "Please." The queen grimaced.
The figure then delicately slipped the hood off of her head revealing a brown-haired and brown-eyed woman. Her hair was partially pleated in soft braids that tapered off into free-flowing hair, and her eyes shone against her pale skin. She was beautiful, but obviously human with rounded ears and soft features. It did not pass my notice that flowers were woven into her braids in the typical dryadic fashion that the fae often tried to recreate, and she held herself confidently despite the two queens looming above her.
"June?!" The young fae by the dark queen gasped.
"You look wonderous!" Queen Celeste said more in surprise than praise.
"Yes, but even with this makeover it is obvious she is the girl that we brought with us. Are we to believe that you are the dryad queen then?" Queen Ebony sharply asked.
I studied this June for her response. Beauty was only skin deep. Under it all she was human, and humans were foolish and selfish creatures. Was the dryad king really that blinded to choose her for his queen? A mistress perhaps, but queen? Unicorns were much more discerning with their choice of partner, because it was to be your perfect match. Whether through the Destining or finding them for yourself. I had to remember that dryads were not unicorns, but still...
June shook her head. "Not yet. I am only a queen-in-training, but I am married to Cenderion. He is my husband, and I look to the dryads for guidance and protection."
"But why?" Queen Celeste asked.
June smiled. "I think that's more a question for him, than for me."
Queen Ebony shot her yellow eyes towards the cenderion tree behind her. "Then explain yourself, King Cenderion. Why her? We fae queens have asked for your flower for many, many, years. Was this your way of stopping our advances? Was your silent neutrality not enough?"
At first the clearing was silent. Everyone watched the still tree in anticipation, everyone but June who simply seemed amused by all of this. Then coming forth from the bark itself a tall toned man emerged. His tunic matched his tree's bark perfectly, and a red moss cloak billowed behind him. Upon his head of grassy hair was a large crown of branches that made him look both regal and imposing. Deep brown eyes observed us all. He calmly walked forward and out into the clearing beside the two queens. Every fae watched him in both awe and confusion. It wasn't until he stood in front of June that he stopped. The fae court could not see it from their angle, but we clearly saw the two exchange a smile before he turned to address the others.
"They are in love." Eros whispered softly. I turned to meet his warm gaze. "Deeply and beautifully in love."
"I was not aware that the fae now had the right to question my actions." The dryad king called. His voice was strong and resonated clearly through the clearing and forest. The young female fae giggled to themselves and tried to hide their obvious attraction. The queens stiffened being struck by his words.
"We are not questioning, King Cenderion. We are merely seeking to understand. She is a human girl. A human girl that was once the prey of those young fae. Being your queen is a large undertaking, and we worry that your intentions may be..." Queen Celeste stalled trying to think of a delicate term.
"Completely insane." Queen Ebony bit out.
The king settled his gaze on the young dark fae who glanced at one another nervously. "The wrongs that have been committed on my future queen aside, my decision was supported by the dryad community. That is all you need to know. Whether or not you accept it, is of no consequence to me, but the truth stands that she is my wife. I demand she receive the accurate level of respect and care that my queen deserves. Otherwise, we dryads may no longer remain neutral. We will always side with June, My Lily."
There was nothing to say after that. Hushed whispers and scoffs of disbelief dotted the astounded silence. This human was to be the dryad queen. The king himself confirmed it, and any complaints would either fall on deaf ears or be met with repercussions. She seemed mature and capable, but she was merely a girl. Perhaps that was why she was still in training.
"We should alert the AFC of this." I sighed. "A human as the dryad queen... I never thought I'd see the day."
Eros shook his head. "Wait." That was all he said. Nothing to explain what I was waiting for. His focus was fixated on the girl, as if he had never seen a human before.
The queens eventually sat back down, followed by their court. "I guess that clears the charges against her." Queen Ebony sighed.
Queen Celeste nodded. "In fabricating a union with a royal dryad, we find June not guilty."
Queen Ebony's eyes shot in our direction before a twisted sneer came to her. "Now onto your witness statement. During this whole debacle you claimed to know who grew those Angel's Hearts. You saw the whole thing." Her eyes turned back to the human. The king stepped to the side so that she could step forward.
"Yes. I know who did it."
"Was it that unicorn you saw?" She said pointing her manicured claw in my direction.
The human glanced in our direction dismissively at first, almost as if she already knew I wasn't involved, but when she caught sight of me her calm demeanor completely fell. Her eyes widened and stared at me as if I were some monster or ghost. I even glanced behind me to be sure it wasn't something else that was spooking her. I mean I was a unicorn. What was so scary about that? There was no one else but my patron and I, and knowing that my patron would be invisible to others it must have been me she was gawking at. Even the dryad king turned and stepped between us as if to protect his future queen.
Eros stepped forward and flapped his wings agitated. "She saw me." He said stunned.
"No, Eros. That isn't possible..." Yet insisting she was freaked out by me was even more unlikely.
"Well, we're waiting." Queen Ebony insisted.
"No, it wasn't them." June said after steadying herself. "It was—" She froze almost exactly at the same time that Eros did. Then both of them eerily turned their heads to be searching up into the canopy.
"Shades." Eros informed, but it was too late. The king grabbed June and jumped out of the center of the clearing as the sound of cracking boughs and shattered leaves shook the very air. Fae scattered, guards drew their weapons, and the queens swiftly dismounted from their thrones. Screams were muffled by the continued wreckage of the canopy above until a large, completely black dragon managed to claw himself out and lower himself to the ground like a gigantic salamander. His wings could not fully extend in the cramped forest and he easily filled the clearing, but his solid black eyes scanned the chaos he was causing with indifference.
Through Eros I could sense that this dragon was not only shaded, but was carrying dozens if not hundreds of shades ready to corrupt whatever poor creatures they could find. Acidic saliva dripped from the dragon's jaw and he clicked and grunted still searching his surroundings. I took my equine form and shook out my mane and eager hooves. I had no idea why the demons would send a loaded dragon like this to the Fairy Forest, but at least the fae couldn't deny my claims after this.
I leapt and galloped over large broken branches and other debris to get close to the queens. On my way I noticed the dryad king arguing with his wife. I only caught one sentence before I was past the frame of hearing.
"No, Cenderion! I will not leave again! I can help!" June had said.
I knickered amused before anchoring myself between the queens. Eros released his magic into me and I focused on creating the largest barrier that I could maintain. There was nothing that a human could do here. This was a job for angels and their hosts. I could only pray that Eros and I will be enough.