The Fairy King stretched long fingers toward his brother’s face.
But Rowan grabbed his hand, flinching at the icy cold of the Fairy King’s flesh. “Take my hair instead.”
The king hesitated.
Ash blinked. “Are you sure, Princess?”
Rowan glared at him. “Do you wish to be blind?”
A small smile tilted the corner of Ash’s mouth. “No, I confess I do not.”
“Well, then.” Rowan took a deep breath and glared at the Fairy King. “Will you take my flame-red hair instead?”
The Fairy King shrugged. “Done.” He reached for Rowan’s hair.
But this time it was Ash who stopped him. “A minute, dear brother.”
The Fairy King looked at him with something like exasperation in his silver eyes. “What?”
Ash stood. “You will let Marigold go?”
“Yes.”
“You will let the Princess Rowan go?”
“Yes.”
“And you will let me go.” Ash smiled ironically. “In return for Rowan’s hair, you will let us go with no reservation, caveat, or trickery?”
“Yes,” hissed the Fairy King, his silver eyes narrowed. “This I do swear.”
Ash bowed. “Then so be it.”
A wind blew through the clearing, pulling and snatching at Rowan’s hair. She screwed tight her eyes.
When she opened them again the world was filled with color and she, Ash, and Marigold stood in the castle gardens.
And her head was completely bare.
Before Rowan could hide her baldness, Marigold hugged her.
“Thank you!” cried Marigold. “Oh, thank you, Princess Rowan, for rescuing me from the Grey Lands.”
“Well,” Rowan said, oddly touched. “It was nothing for a friend.”
Marigold stepped back and looked at her in wonder. “Am I your friend?”
“Of course,” Rowan said. “You are my dear friend, now and always.”
“Now and always,” Marigold whispered, and smiled like the sun rising for a new day. “I must see my mother and father now. If you will excuse me?”
Rowan nodded, trying not to feel self-conscious about her bald head.
Marigold walked toward the castle, and Rowan turned to see Ash watching her with a smile.
Her hands flew to her head. “Don’t look at me.”
But he came to her and took her hands and drew them away from her crown. “Why not? I have eyes to see, thanks to you.”
“But…” Rowan stared at him in wonder. “But I’m ugly now.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Your hair is gone, but you’re just as beautiful as you’ve always been.”
And Rowan might’ve argued the point, but Ash covered her mouth with his and kissed her.
When he raised his head again he said, “Will you let me wed you, Princess? For I find that I may have kept my eyes, but I’ve lost my heart to you.”
“Yes,” Rowan whispered. “Oh yes.”
So they did and lived quite happily…
Ever after.
—From The Grey Court Changeling