Chapter Twenty-Nine
“When the stars are aligned, anything is possible.”
~Chronicles of the Fae
Leaning against a pillar in the Hall of Remembrance, Conn stared at a paneled mirror. Though golden light reflected all around its borders, he gritted his teeth. He’d saved Ivy, but the other he had failed. At least that’s what he kept telling himself. The seer refused his request to witness the events afterward for Ivy’s ancestor, saying the O’Callaghan clan had once more taken their place in the light.
The image wavered and flowed and time moved forward. Nevertheless, it would never continue with him.
He’d hardened his heart from all emotion, even when he visited the royal house of Frylnn. His decision to wed the eldest daughter was granted by her father. Instead of sealing the pledge with a blood rite, he left the palace. Conn had no desire to set eyes on the woman until the wedding ceremony. He knew her well and deemed her to be an excellent choice for his people. His father would be pleased.
Conn glanced at the summons in his hand from his king. No doubt to discuss terms of the union. Crumbling the missive, he tossed it into the air and watched as the paper vanished.
But the idea of marrying without the bond of love left a bitter angst within him. For as long as he lived, there would only be one who claimed his heart. She might be departed from this world, yet, her essence still lingered. Her voice, her scent filled him each time he stepped through the door to his chambers.
“Ivy,” he whispered, her name on a prayer.
Cautiously moving forward, Conn raised his hands outward and a group of mirrors appeared. He had sealed them off the moment she’d left the Fae realm. Deep sorrow had filled him in the beginning, and he sought refuge inside the hall—reliving every detail of their time together, and then cloaking them.
His hand wavered, aching to unveil them one more time. But he closed his fists and turned away. Too many memories haunted him here, ripping apart his soul. Clenching his jaw, Conn stormed out of the room.
As soon as the doors were sealed, he made his way through the marbled archway and across the bridge. Approaching the palace of his parents, he nodded to a guard as the Fae opened the gilded doors.
Stepping through, he went directly into his father’s solar. Placing his hands behind his back, Conn waited to be acknowledged.
His father glanced up from his reading. “Why are you standing thus? Take a seat.”
“I have other appointments to attend to.”
King Ansgar’s eyes hardened. “What angers you, Conn?”
“I have no desire to speak about my emotions. And for the record, I am not angry.”
His father rose slowly from his chair. “Is this how we shall be from now on? With our conversations consisting of clipped sentences? I have no wish to see you become a martyr.”
“Martyr?” echoed Conn. “Have I not done what you have asked of me? I am fulfilling my duties. A bride has been chosen, and I’m positive we can come to terms with a date by next full moon.”
“And can you be happy?” uttered his mother softly coming into the room and standing beside his father.
Conn held her gaze. “I have given my pledge, but desires—happiness was not on the bargaining table.”
“So you’ll rule as a hardened king once I am gone?” snapped his father.
Fury crawled to the surface within him. “I will do my duty, but do not ask me to be happy.”
“What of love?” asked his mother.
“The only woman I ever loved is forbidden to me,” snapped Conn.
His father pointed a finger at him. “Another poor decision on your part.”
Conn clenched his jaw so tight he feared it would snap. Unclenching his hands, his voice took on a chilling tone. “She was the best decision I’ve ever made in a millennium. Be content with your marriage pact and an heir to the throne.”
Without asking for permission, Conn flashed his hand in the air and vanished. Entering his chambers, he removed his royal tunic and tossed it on the floor. Flinging open the doors, he halted. Ivy’s presence surrounded the entire area—from terrace to the garden paths and even the waterfall.
On a groan, Conn transported himself to his stables. Seeking out his horse, he mounted the animal and took off to the only place he could find solace.
****
“You may be the King of the Fae, but you are as stubborn as your son,” protested Queen Nuala.
“Stubborn?” he barked. King Ansgar paced in front of his desk. “Did I not allow his woman to live?”
“The woman has a name,” she corrected, clasping her hands in front of her. “You make her sound meaningless. Since when did humans become lesser than a Fae?”
Taken aback, King Ansgar halted. “Have I ever stated they were?”
“No, but your actions prove otherwise.”
The king wandered over to a large window. Placing his hands on either side of the stone, he cast his gaze outward. “It was not my intentions. I have only wanted the best for our son. He never listened to me in his youth. Joined the Brotherhood over my objections. Our conversations were always fraught with terse words. Each time a suggestion or order was given, he countered it, or bent it to suit his needs.”
“He may have disregarded your orders as a father, but he would not do so with his king.”
King Ansgar turned around and folded his arms over his chest. “Are they not one in the same?”
Queen Nuala smiled. “Not for our children, dearest.”
He groaned. “Do not speak to me of Abela. I still have misgivings about her becoming a priestess. A royal princess has never undertaken such a cause.”
His wife moved toward him. “Did it ever occur to you that our children were destined for greater? The loom of the Fae has come to a crossroad within the stars.”
Narrowing his eyes, he glared at his wife. “You’ve spoken to the seer.”
She held her head high. “Yes.”
“Yet, she refuses to speak to me?”
Queen Nuala placed a hand on his chest. “Because you refuse to see with your heart, my king. You’re ruling our children with your mind. Controlling their actions. Wanting to carve out their futures. It is not yours to do so.”
“I only wish for the best,” he uttered softly, looking into the eyes he loved so well.
“Must I remind you that twins have never been born in the Fae realm? They were destined for a greater purpose. One dark, the other light. A balance of both realms.”
“Is this what the seer has told you? Are you able to share her message?”
She nodded. “If you pull too hard on Conn’s thread, the entire kingdom will suffer from this unsteady path. Our son met his destiny the day he made the decision to save Dervla. If he had chosen another, his quest would have never seen him return to take his rightful place as the future king.”
Stunned, the king leaned against the stone wall. “So all of this—his trial, his failure to save the right human all had to do with Conn?”
Tears glittered in her eyes. “Yes.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “But she—Ivy is a human.”
“And what about the Dragon Knights? They are part human and Fae.”
“It was different. We required guardians for the dragons. Mother Danu gave her blessing.”
She cupped his face. “Our children are unique. They will change both worlds for the better. The Dark One may have been vanquished, but I sense another presence looming far out there. We shall need the strength of a stronger Order of the Dragon Knights and Fae, including the humans.”
King Ansgar grasped her hands and placed a kiss inside each palm. Releasing them, he tipped her chin up with his finger. “The seer did not see this. You, my love have had the visions.”
Her smile spoke volumes. “You know I cannot speak of this.”
“You are my queen, but also the daughter of a seer. Tell me, what am I to do?”
She brought her arms around his waist. “I would never begin to tell my king what to do.”
He leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss over her mouth. “Then tell your husband—your lover what he should do.”
“Go speak to your son as a father and not as his king.”
****
Conn let his horse set the pace, galloping over open hills with the sunlight streaming all around him. A cool autumn breeze invigorated him on his journey. The vastness of the place poured out before him, urging him onward.
Heading toward the southern gate, he nudged the animal away from the giant oaks and toward the flowing stream. Bringing them to a place shaded by several birch trees, Conn dismounted.
“Go drink, my friend. You have earned it.” Giving his horse a firm pat, Conn fisted his hands on his hips and drank in the scene. The stream lapped gently over smooth stones on its passage to the western ocean. The gateway to Tir na Og.
Striding over to one of the trees, he collapsed onto the soft grass. Bringing his knees to his chest, he stared outward. Swans glided past him, oblivious to his presence. He tried to clear his mind—to bring himself to center within his body, mind, and soul. Yet, there was too much chaos and his emotions clouded.
Would he ever find peace? If turmoil were the price for Ivy’s love and saving her life, he would gladly do it all over again.
A lone doe ambled on the other side of the water. Her lazy movements settled a small part of his inner battle. He brushed a hand over the ground and wildflowers bloomed, reminding him of another.
“Serene and beautiful,” commented his father taking a seat near Conn.
He eyed his father skeptically. “A place of solace.”
“Yes. Often times we would find you here when you were very young.”
Conn frowned. “How young?”
His father rubbed his chin in thought. “The first time, you were five summers.”
“I don’t recall the memory,” he stated and turned his sight back to the swans.
“You were angry. I refused to let you go to the lists with the other warriors. You stomped your foot and vanished before my eyes. It was the first time you defied me.”
“And not the last,” Conn replied dryly.
His father chuckled. “No, though I would not expect anything else from my son.”
Conn stood. “I have no wish to displease my king.”
“I have always been proud of you.”
He turned toward his father. “Why are you here?”
The king stood and placed a hand on Conn’s shoulder. “Cannot a father wish to speak to his son?”
Conn arched a brow. “Speak plainly, father. Mother might be used to you answering questions with a question, but I refuse.”
Releasing his grip, his father surveyed the area. “Tell me about your Ivy.”
Shocked by his words, he narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
The king moved toward the stream. “I shall like to hear how a Fae prince and Fenian Warrior fell in love with a human.”
Confused, he snapped, “What purpose would it serve? She is no longer a part of my world.”
His father glanced over his shoulder. “Nonetheless, she will always remain a part of your heart. Did you not state that you spoke the binding words to seal your souls together?”
Conn fought the wave of pain threatening to spill forth. Unable to answer, he clenched his hands.
“If you did so, then you know the battle you shall always face.” His father turned back around. “It will tempt, torment, and create havoc within your very being. We are Fae. When we love, it consumes us at times.” He took a step closer. “Again, tell me about the woman you love.”
“She is my breath, my heart, my soul,” uttered Conn in a strangled voice.
“As well as your blood. Yours mingled with hers when you saved her life.”
“Why are you doing this?” demanded Conn.
“Because your father has been a fool. Yes, I was furious upon your return. We had not seen you in so long and then you arrive under guard. We—no, let me rephrase. I had hoped this final quest would make all right between us. You’d come back and accept your place here.” He let out a sigh. “You can imagine my fury when I heard you’d secretly entered the realm with an injured human. I was not pleased. I forced you to make an ultimatum.”
Conn held his arms outward in exasperation. “What do you want me to do?”
His father gestured toward the trees. “Go bring home your future wife before it destroys you.”
Stunned, Conn gaped at his father.
“It does no good standing there like a forlorn goose. Do not step foot back in this kingdom until Ivy O’Callaghan is by your side.”
“What about the house of Frylnn?”
“Let me deal with the repercussions. It would have made a miserable match.”
Conn couldn’t move. He raked a hand down the back of his neck. “I don’t understand. What changed your mind?”
“A conversation with the woman who holds my breath, heart, soul, and blood. Your mother. She reminded me of the true nature of our people.”
“And that is what?”
“Love. Without it, we are a hopeless race.”
Holding out his arm to his father, he waited. However, he surprised Conn by embracing him. “I only have one request when you both enter the realm.”
“Anything.” Joy infused his words.
“To meet her alone. If she is to be the future queen, I must speak with her first.”
Conn laughed, the tone sounding foreign to his ears. “I can assure you, Ivy will charm you the moment you see her.”