It had been three weeks since her father had died, and Blissa had made a decision. She’d spoken to Dwennon recently, and he foresaw she would be happy in the world of men. Here, without her father, the notion of trying to rule a kingdom alone felt overwhelming.
But in the days since her father died, she’d seen Maurelle take charge and lead well. With Eldred by her side, she could do good things for the fairy kingdom. She’d told Edmund of her decision already, and though he was hesitant about her returning her powers to the Sacred Pool, he seemed happier that she wanted to spend her life with him.
Now, there was only one hard part left: telling Maurelle. Dwennon was a good seer, but he had never been particularly attuned to Maurelle. Even for Blissa, she was hard to read some times. He said the path to parting well would be difficult, but given time, Maurelle would understand. At least, Dwennon thought that was the likeliest path. But, predicting the future was more art than science. Not because the oracles were inept, but because there were too many variables at play. Dwennon had once told her that time was like a river, and the direction of any droplet of water could vary greatly based on a rock in its path or a fallen tree branch. Things could look calm one minute, but then drastically change.
Blissa walked to Maurelle’s bedroom door. She had a lovely room on the corner of the castle with many large windows that were often left open. Due to her affinity for birds, the creatures often swooped in and settled in her room, bringing her news or simply sitting to chat with her.
Blissa knocked on the door.
A moment later, she heard her cousin call for her to enter. Blissa did so, finding her cousin at one of the large arched windows. Blissa walked over toward her cousin. Maurelle turned and smiled at her.
“You look well,” Blissa said.
“Thank you. As do you. I take it things are getting a bit easier now. I mean, day to day. Not that I don’t still miss him terribly.”
Blissa nodded. “I miss him terribly, too. But, each day that passes makes it seem like it's more bearable.”
“I take it you’ve come to discuss your coronation,” Maurelle said, her eyes full of kindness. “I know Dwennon has been adamant that it should be done soon. I’ve asked Eldred to delay him with pushing you. But, Eldred tells me you and Dwennon had a long discussion a few days ago. So, I assume you’re ready to move forward.”
This hadn’t been how Blissa had planned to discuss things. She should have taken better care to guide the conversation. “Can we sit?” Blissa asked.
Maurelle stared at her uncertainly, and then the two moved to a long cushioned bench beneath a smaller window.
“Maurelle,” Blissa said, trying to modulate her voice. “You are my cousin and my best friend, and I love you dearly and I would never do anything to hurt you.”
Maurelle put a hand on top of Blissa’s. “Cousin, what’s wrong? I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”
“I wouldn’t. I just ... I’m concerned you might feel as if I’ve done something to hurt you when what I’ve done has nothing to do with you.”
Maurelle’s eyebrows crushed together. “Blissa, you’re not making sense.”
“It’s about Edmund.”
“The fairy you’re dating?”
Blissa was stunned. Before she could correct her cousin, Maurelle grinned.
“Eldred wouldn’t tell me anything about him,” Maurelle admitted. “I didn’t know any fairies named Edmund, but I did some research and learned one of the fairies from the Southern delegation is thusly named, and realized you started disappearing right about the time they came. So there’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m very happy you’ve found a fairy who makes you happy.”
Blissa couldn’t let it go on a second longer. “Edmund isn’t a fairy,” she said. “He’s a man, a human.”
Maurelle’s smile faded and her eyes narrowed as she began to comprehend what Blissa was saying. She bit her lower lip, and asked, with strain, “Is this a joke, Blissa? Because it’s not funny. I’m not sure why you would think this was a funny thing to say, but it’s not.”
“Of course it’s not a joke, Maurelle. I love Edmund.”
“A man?” she asked venomously.
“Yes, a man. A kind man.”
“They’re monstrous, murderers.”
Blissa shook her head. “He’s not like that. He wouldn’t hurt people the way Errol did. He hated what King Errol did and he’s gone out of his way to be the opposite of that.”
Maurelle stood and paced the room. Blissa watched, but said nothing. Her cousin enjoyed time to think before she spoke. It seemed best to let her, especially since she felt such anger at the moment. It radiated from her in long waves.
Finally Maurelle turned back to her. “So this entire time, you’ve been with this man? You know nothing can come of it, right? It’s against the law, Blissa.”
She sighed. “I know it is against the law right now. My father and I talked before his death. He was going to change the law.”
Maurelle’s mouth sprang open. “So you could be with him, he would change the law? I don’t believe that. Uncle Roldan was a fairy of integrity.”
“Yes, he was,” Blissa said standing and walking toward Maurelle. She put a hand on her cousin’s arm and sent out a wave of calm.
Maurelle snatched her arm away. “Don’t you dare!”
Blissa nodded. “I just thought you’d feel better if you weren’t so angry.”
“No, you thought you’d feel better if I weren’t so angry. Why would you lie to me? Uncle would never do that for you.”
Blissa shook her head. “I’m not lying to you. And you’re right, my father wouldn’t change the law for me. He wanted to change it because he thought it was right. He told me that Edmund and I could marry if I gave up my fairy powers, returned them to the Sacred Pool we received them from.”
Maurelle stared at her cousin, her eyes looking as if they’d never seen Blissa before. “You will give up your wonderful powers to be with this man? Don’t you see how wrong that is, Blissa? Don’t you see how twisted this human is? He cares nothing for you. Only for himself.”
“This was my choice, Maurelle, and Edmund suggested I not make it, but I think this will help. My father had planned to rescind the law banning fairy-human mating. And if I left to be with Edmund, it would be like me being an emissary, showing that we fairy and humans could be together without harm.”
Maurelle turned away from her cousin. “I think you’re still grief stricken,” she said before turning back to her. “You shouldn’t make any rash decisions. Let’s just table this for now. We can discuss it later.”
“We can’t,” Blissa said. “I’m returning my powers to the Sacred Pool tonight, and I plan to wed Edmund soon after.”
“And your kingdom?”
“It is the kingdom of the heir, and that would be you, Maurelle.” Blissa smiled. “And you’re good at it. I’ve seen the way you’ve taken charge, I can see your kindness with the creatures you speak to. You will be a just ruler, I know.”
“So you plan to abandon your kingdom and abandon me.”
“No, I’ll come visit. We can still spend time together, but not with me as a fairy. With me as a human.”
Maurelle closed her eyes and Blissa could feel the frustration coming from her.
“I’m sorry about telling you all this at once. I’d hoped to give you more time, to ease into it, but then my father died and no place or moment have felt like the right time to tell you.”
“But now you’ve had to, because Dwennon wants a Queen installed.”
“In part, but mostly because I want you to meet the man I love. I want you to give him a chance.”
“And what does he do, this human of yours? Does he run an inn, or is he perhaps a lumber man?”
Blissa frowned. “It matters not. I’d just like you to give him a chance.”
“Then why do you refuse to tell me about him.”
“He’s a prince,” Blissa admitted.
“From one royal family to another,” Maurelle snarled. “And which kingdom is he from? Perhaps Jastenland. The royal line there has fairy blood, a great great grandmother, I think, was from our realm.”
Blissa shook her head. “I’d like you to meet him,” she said. “I think if you just give him a chance, go in open minded, you’ll like him.”
Maurelle narrowed her eyes. “I would like to know which of the human kingdoms he hails from, Blissa. The birds are great carriers of news. I’ve heard varying things about the peoples of the different lands. Which kingdom is he from?”
Blissa hesitated a moment, and then said softly, “He’s from Epesland.”
Blissa wished immediately she hadn’t said that. Her cousin had gone from a tolerable level of anger to one that threatened to destroy everything in its wake. She felt the anger dim, ever so slightly, as Maurelle fixed her eyes on Blissa.
Maurelle spoke with forced calm. “You must be mistaken, cousin. Epesland was the kingdom of Errol, the man who murdered my mother. Epesland’s prince is Errol’s son.”
There was nothing to do but confirm it. “He is Errol’s son, but he’s nothing like him.”
The explosion of anger within Maurelle was like a supernova. Its emotional strength shocked Blissa, forcing her to take a step back. Maurelle’s eyes were filled with pure hate as she poked her finger at Blissa and said, “You don’t deserve fairy power.”
“Maurelle, you don’t mean that.”
The angry cousin nodded. “I do mean that,” she sneered. “You’ve broken the law. You mated with a human. I suspect physically, but definitely mentally. You should give your powers back to the Sacred Pool and go. You don’t deserve to be here.”
Blissa swallowed and tried to speak calmly. “I can see you’re upset, and I’m sorry for not telling you any of this earlier, but Maurelle, my choice in mate doesn’t have to come between us.”
“You have chosen a man over your people.”
“He’s a good man. Good like Eldred’s father. Good like Eldred, who himself is half human. Yet, you see his goodness. You love him.”
Maurelle turned away.
“Eldred loves you, Maurelle, and the two of you, I think, will be happy. He can help you rule here.”
Maurelle turned back to her cousin. “I am not you,” she spat. “I will not have humans and Halflings ruling our realm. I will not abandon my people and my duties for a relationship I am forbidden from having. Do you understand?”
Blissa stared at her cousin, shocked at what she just said. “Maurelle, you love Eldred. You shouldn’t deny yourself his love because of his parents, just as I shouldn’t deny myself love because of Edmund’s parents.”
“Leave,” Maurelle said. “Leave and never speak to me again. From now on, I will remember the death of my uncle as the day both Roldan and Blissa died.”
“Maurelle, please don’t be like this.”
“Leave.”
Her eyes were cold and black, blacker than Blissa had seen them before. She hesitated a moment, uncertain if now was the time to push the issue, to try to make her case again. But, she had a feeling Maurelle would be intractable at the moment. She’d try again later.
“Alright cousin, I’ll go for now. Just remember I love you and I want nothing more than for you to be happy.”