Theodosia
Theodosia didn’t care for her name. She never thought it suited her and had quickly shortened it. Her parents had been resistant, but eventually they called her Theo and everyone else followed suit. Granted, she still had to tolerate being called “Lady Theo”, but she picked her battles.
“Lady Theo, you have some letters,” a maid said as she found her sitting on a branch, reading a book.
Like many fairies, Theo’s home was high in the treetops. It would be nearly impossible to reach without flying, so she and the other fairies we safe from most attackers. She lived in a small treehouse by herself, but it was connected to her parents’ larger home by a bridge. Externally, the houses didn’t look like much. They blended into the trees for added security. Inside, however, they were usually decorated with bright colors.
“Thanks.” Theo took the letters from the maid and balanced her book on the branch as she opened the first one, her eyes widening as she recognized Morganite’s flowy script. It was a long-winded letter that almost sounded like an apology, but was just vague enough not to make it clear she was accepting responsibility for anything. At the end was a note that Morganite wanted to be friends again.
Theo snorted and tucked it into her pocket, figuring she’d come up with a good response later. She opened the next letter, which was from Amatus. She hadn’t heard much from him since the school closed down. His letter was even more shocking than Morganite’s as Theo read that he and Arabella were getting married. She nearly laughed at the absurdity of such a match.
She grabbed her book and returned to her room, which was decorated with black curtains interlaced with silver. Her bedding matched. Her parents didn’t care for her style, but they encouraged her to express herself, so that was what she did.
She was rereading the letters when there was a knock at her door. She tucked them under her pillow before answering. She smiled as the fairy who stood there. “Hey, Sophie.”
Sophronia was a slender fairy with soft, blonde hair she kept short. She and Theo had grown up together. Theo wouldn’t consider her a close friend, but she liked the girl well enough. Sophronia was wearing brown leggings and a green tunic. “You seem to be in a good mood.”
“It’s an interesting day.”
Sophronia entered without being invited and took a seat on Theo’s bed. “Want to make it more interesting?”
Theo closed the door, taking in the girl’s mischievous smile. “Do you have something fun planned?”
“I heard about a place where fairies meet up once a month. It’s supposed to be life-changing.”
“Who’d you hear about it from?”
She twisted a lock of hair around her finger. “I got an invitation.”
“Yeah?” Theo crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. “What’s his name?”
Sophronia bit her lip. “Castor.”
“Do I know Castor?”
“He’s not from around here,” she explained. “I met him in town a few weeks ago and we met a couple times since then. This thing happens on the full moon each month. The location is super secret, but he says he can get us in if we’re interested.”
“Us? Why not just you?” Theo couldn’t help thinking the whole thing sounded suspicious, but she wasn’t ready to say that just yet.
“I told him I’d feel more comfortable if I brought a friend.”
Theo pointed at herself. “And you picked me?”
“It seemed like something you’d enjoy.”
“How so?”
“He said there will be music and dancing.” Sophronia jumped up and grabbed her hands, swaying with them. “He promised great food and drinks.”
“So it’s a party,” Theo surmised. “Your big, life-changing thing is a party and somehow, you though I would be the person most likely to want to join you for it.”
“I’ll feel safer if you’re there,” she said. “Please? I really want to go, but not without you.”
Theo didn’t have much interest in parties, but she wouldn’t forgive herself if Sophronia got kidnapped following some handsome male off into the woods without her. “Fine. What’s the dress code?”
Sophronia squealed and pulled her into a hug. “You’re the best!”
“That’s true,” Theo agreed. “Don’t make me regret this, okay?”
“I won’t!” she promised. “This is going to be so much fun!”
Arabella stood on the deck of their ship, eager to see her new home. Amatus was beside her, looking even more eager. He’d been describing the palace and grounds to her excitedly, giving the most details about the palace gardens. She couldn’t wait to see all of it.
As they drew close, she saw the gleaming, white palace rising up in the distance. The gold roof caught the sunlight, nearly blinding her, but she couldn’t look away. Dozens of people waited on the shore, presumably for their returning king.
The boat docked and she stepped down onto the pier. She turned back to see Amatus wasn’t following and asked, “What’s wrong?”
He looked out over the crowd of people. “It’s just…been a long time.”
Arabella offered him a smile and reached out her hand. “I’m with you, okay?”
Amatus accepted her hand and stepped down onto the pier. Together, they walked onto the shore. He stared at the palace, which was just a short walk away and she tried to think of some way to convince him there was nothing to fear.
“Ami!” someone shouted right before a figure tackled Amatus, knocking him into the grass.
Arabella was too stunned to react and just stared down at them. The attacker was an elf with long, brown hair that fell in waves. They wore clothes that were much too fine to be tackling people.
“Cor, I told you not to do that!” a female elf scolded from nearby. She was a beauty with strawberry-blonde hair, her curls done up elegantly. She was heavy-set and had a round face that looked surprisingly stern as she reached the two on the ground. “You could have hurt him.”
The brunette elf sat up, allowing Amatus to do the same. The former held onto the prince’s arm as they looked up at the female. Their face was covered in freckles and they wore a mischievous grin, clearly unbothered by her reprimands. “You’re just jealous because I greeted him first.”
“Are you a child?” she asked. “Get off the ground.”
“Hello, Dami,” Amatus said to her. He wore a genuine smile, now. “Long time, no see.”
“I told them not to pounce on you like that.” She held out a hand and pulled him to his feet. “You know they never listen.”
The brunette elf maintained their hold on the prince’s arm and Amatus made no move to shrug them off as he said, “It’s fine. I’m glad to see you both.”
“And we’re glad to see you.”
Arabella looked between the elves. “Corwin and Damica?”
All three looked at her and she could swear her betrothed’s ears turned red as he must have known that she’d made the connection between the names he’d given them undercover and the two elves before them.
“We should have proper introductions,” he said, at last. “Arabella, these are my friends, Corwin and Damica. Corwin and Damica, this is my bride-to-be, Arabella.”
Damica looked her up and down. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“This is quite the commotion,” Rosabella commented as she reached the group.
Cadeyrn was right behind her, his face stern as he looked at the trio. “When I said you could be here to greet him, this wasn’t what I meant.”
“Apologies,” Damica gave a curtsey. “My spouse can get a little over-excited.”
“I’m sorry,” Amatus said. “We didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
“Don’t you take the blame.” Damica grabbed Corwin by the arm, pulling them off the prince. “It’s this one’s fault.”
“At any rate, we should be off to the palace,” Rosabella said. “I’m sure we all need rest after our journey.”
“Of course. Your rooms should already be prepared.” Cadeyrn led the way to the palace, clearly expecting the others to follow.
“I’m sure you’re exhausted, as well,” Rosabella said to her daughter.
“I’m fine,” Arabella assured her, but she followed her mother nonetheless.
Amatus and his friends fell into step beside her. Damica and Corwin would occasionally glance her way, but neither spoke to her. She tried not to take offense at that, figuring they just hadn’t seen their friend in a while and she was a stranger to them.
As they walked, she noticed several glares were cast at her fiancé, but his friends kept him so preoccupied, he didn’t appear to see them.
The inside of the palace was even more beautiful than the outside. The ceiling of the foyer was a deep blue, spotted with white stones to resemble the night sky. A grand staircase wound up either side of the room, shimmering white steps with a golden banister. Two female elves greeted them at the door, giving a deep curtsey to the king.
“Please show the prince and his bride to their rooms. Take Lady Rosabella to the guest wing,” Cadeyrn said. “I have some work to do in my study.”
“Of course, your highness,” they said it in almost perfect unison and he walked away.
One of the maids turned to Rosabella. “If you’ll follow me.”
She looked at her daughter. “Will you be alright?”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me in the palace,” Arabella assured her. She’d seen enough guards outside to be certain she was safe. If that many were visible, she could only imagine how many were hidden.
“We’ll eat together later,” Rosabella promised before allowing herself to be led away.
The second maid turned to Arabella. “I will show you both to your rooms, if you’re ready.”
Arabella looked around for Leandra, but realized she was following Rosabella away. She figured it was probably good for the maid to stay with her mother for now. They were in unfamiliar territory, after all. Even so, Arabella wished her friend had stayed by her side instead.
“Are you ready to be shown to your rooms?” the palace maid prompted.
“We’re ready,” Arabella said, noting that Corwin and Damica were still with them. The pair followed them up the stairs, making it clear they weren’t leaving. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of them.
Arabella and Amatus had rooms side-by-side.
“There’s a closet that connects them,” the maid explained. “This will allow you to have your privacy but see each other when you wish.”
She tried not to show how relieved she was not to have to share a room with him. He’d promised she wouldn’t, but she hadn’t fully believed that.
“If you need anything, you can ask any of the staff,” the maid said. “We’re all happy to have you here, Lady Arabella.”
It was then that she realized the maid hadn’t addressed Amatus. Everything she said was carefully directed at her. Arabella wanted to comment on it but feared that would just cause trouble. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
The maid gave a brief curtsey before walking away.
Arabella heard a door shut and turned to discover the other three had vanished, presumably into the prince’s room. Lacking anything else to do, she entered her own room.
She stared in awe at the size. It was twice as big as the one at home. A large vanity was pressed against the wall. Wardrobes and dressers took up a fair amount of space. There was a window taking up most of one wall. The bed looked like it could hold five of her. Arabella flopped down on it and stared up at the ceiling as she processed the fact that this was where she would live from now on.
“We probably shouldn’t just leave Arabella alone,” Amatus protested after his friends had dragged him into his room and shut the door.
“She’ll be fine,” Corwin said. “She probably needs some time alone, anyway, and you need time with us.”
Amatus couldn’t bring himself to argue. He realized Damica was staring at him rather intensely. “Is something wrong?”
“You’re not hurt, are you?”
“Of course not. You know Cor doesn’t weigh anything.”
She gave an exasperated sigh. “I told them not to do that. I was worried you might be hurt when you got off the ship and that would make it worse.”
“I made sure he didn’t look hurt before I jumped on him.” Corwin sat on the foot of his bed, swinging their legs back and forth. “Give me a little credit.”
“I’m really not hurt,” Amatus said. “You don’t need to worry so much.”
“You suddenly disappeared and we didn’t hear from you for decades,” she reminded him. “Of course, I’m going to worry.”
“Right.” He took a seat next to Corwin. “Sorry about that. They didn’t really want me communicating with people, so I wasn’t allowed to send or receive letters.”
“We heard.” Damica sat on his other side. “It doesn’t matter, now, though. You’re here and the three of us are together.”
“Didn’t feel right without you.” Corwin laid their head on his shoulder.
It was all so easy and familiar. Amatus could almost pretend the last century had just been a bad dream. “It’s not exactly the same, though. I’m engaged, after all.”
“We heard.” Damica wrinkled her nose. “Your brother sold you off so he could get what he wants.”
“Don’t say it like that. Arranged marriages are normal for us. You know that. You also know that they can work out pretty well.”
She glanced at her spouse. “Debatable.”
“I love you, too,” Corwin said with a grin.
“So what’s in it for your fiancé?” Damica asked. “She gets to be a princess and have you whenever she wants?”
Amatus couldn’t help laughing at that. “Oh, trust me, that won’t be happening.”
“Even though you’re her husband?”
“We came to an agreement,” he said, figuring it wouldn’t be fair to tell them more than that without her permission. “I wanted to come home and she has her own reasons for agreeing, but you don’t have to worry about me being pressured into anything.”
“Good.”
“I think you’ll like her,” he said. “You should give her a chance, at least. This place is new and she doesn’t know anyone.”
“You want us to be her friends?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“She is pretty,” Corwin said.
“Not those kinds of friends.”
“Are there other kinds?”
“You know there are.” Amatus shrugged their head off his shoulder. “I mean it. I’d really like if you all could be friends.”
“Fine.” Damica smiled at him. “You know we’d do anything for you, Ami.”
“Can we do the gifts, now?” Corwin suddenly asked.
Damica rolled her eyes. “I thought we weren’t going to say anything and he would just find them on his own. You seemed excited by the idea of him being surprised after we left.”
“I changed my mind.” Corwin jumped up. “I want to see him open them.”
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” Amatus told them.
“You’ve been gone for decades,” Damica repeated as she stood. “Of course, you get welcome home gifts. We convinced the maids to let us hide them in here while they were getting the room ready, but I guess that’s wasted effort.”
Corwin opened one of the drawers and withdrew a box, placing it on his lap. On it was a note that said, “To Ami. Love, Cor.”
Amatus lifted the lid to find a white shirt with vines embroidered on the sleeves. It came with a green doublet that matched the color of the vines. “I love it. Thank you.”
He embraced his friend before turning to Damica who had withdrawn a bottle from one of the cabinets. Amatus tried to remember the last time he had a proper drink. He wasn’t allowed alcohol on the island and didn’t drink when undercover as he wanted to keep his wits about him. The one glass of wine he’d had recently connected to a memory he’d eagerly drink to forget.
“I hope your tastes haven’t changed too much,” she said as she handed him the bottle. “It’s sparkling as I figured that was best suited to a celebration.”
It was strange to him to realize that he was safe with friends. He could relax and didn’t have to worry about being attacked. He released tension he hadn’t realized he was holding onto. “I really missed you two.”
Damica smiled. “We missed you.”
“Try on my gift,” Cowin commanded. “I want to see it on you.”
“So pushy,” Amatus teased even as he pulled off his shirt and reached for the new one.
“Ami!” Corwin exclaimed and the distress in their voice made the prince pause.
He turned to see what had upset his friend so much and realized Corwin was staring at his back. He mentally cursed as he looked at Damica, who had stepped back to take a look as Corwin was. Amatus yanked his shirt back on, but it was too late. He’d relaxed and forgotten that there were still thick stripes across his back from where he’d been whipped. They had healed enough not to cause him pain, so he’d tried not to think about them. He realized he should have been more careful as both his friends were clearly upset, now.
“It’s nothing,” he said, but he couldn’t look at either of them. “I was hurt during a mission, but I’m fine, now.”
There was silence for a few seconds before Damica sat next to him once more and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “We’re really glad your home.”
Amatus swallowed a lump in his throat. “Me, too.”
They didn’t ask questions. He should have known they wouldn’t. They never pushed him to say more than he was comfortable with and he loved them dearly for that.
