Three: One Moon After
Holly's heart raced as she soared beneath a star-studded sky. The full moon loomed over the horizon, a lustrous white disc whose magic sent goose bumps prickling along her skin. The air was cool, and already the scent of the sea wafted to her nostrils, though she soared over wide, green fields still. Below, the lights of human dwellings pockmarked the countryside, but for once their presence did not trouble her thoughts. There was only room for one thought tonight.
I'm going to see Artemis!
The moon magic, the heady mixture of surface scents and speed, the thrill of a night's freedom from her responsibilities, none gave her as much joy as that single thought – even if the realization of it made her feel like a silly schoolgirl.
But a schoolgirl would not be doing what she and Artemis would in a few hours' time. When Foaly had gotten word of her plans, he'd made a snide remark about a "booty call." She was only thankful that Mulch was unaware of the whole thing; the jibes she'd have gotten from him would have been maddening.
Yet none of that could touch the joy that bubbled up in her like a underground spring breaking to the surface. All this over Artemis of all people. It seemed ridiculous really. He was conniving, manipulative, a liar par excellence, a criminal since the age of ten and yet... And yet he was more than all that. He was Artemis. And that thought brought a smile to her face.
Her heart leaped into her throat as the black bulk of the manor rose up in the night sky. Fearsome carved gargoyles glowered down from its heights and Holly knew she must be one of the few people to find the edifice the least bit inviting, and in her case it was an irony indeed as it had once been her prison.
She alighted in a grove of horse chestnuts and ash and settled herself beneath a lone willow to wait for him as he had asked her to. Within moments she found herself fidgeting – like an adolescent waiting for her date to pick her up. Mulch would have had a field day had he known.
Pulling off her helmet, Holly massaged the tips of her ears to get the circulation going and drew in slow, deep breaths of evening air. He did not keep her waiting long.
She heard his footfalls before she saw him, and got to her feet. And then there he was. He came to a halt beneath the drooping willow boughs, and for a moment they simply stared at one another as if startled to find each other there. He was dressed in a navy sweater, grey woolen pants, and Gucci loafers. This was his "casual" look, she knew. In spite of all their adventures he was still deathly pale and so reedy that she wondered if he ever ate, but somehow the sight of him still set her pulse racing. He was slightly winded as if he had hurried; she smiled to herself.
"Artemis."
"Holly," he said, smiling. "I've been looking forward to seeing you."
"I'll bet you have," she said, and winked at him. He licked his lips and she laughed at him, activating her wings and flitting up to an overhanging branch. She sat there, legs dangling, crossed at the ankle, and looked down at him from her lofty perch.
He craned his neck to look up at her. "What did you tell them to get your surface visa?"
"I told them I needed to perform the ritual – which I do," she said as she reached into her belt and produced an acorn. "And I said I'd check up on you while I was at it."
His lips quirked. "And I'm sure you'll do a very thorough job of it."
"You're awfully presumptuous for someone who's only gotten lucky once."
He sniffed. "I'm confident that luck had very little to do with it."
And before she could make a smart retort, he caught her eye and she was pulled in by the tide of that blue and hazel gaze.
"Are you planning to come down anytime soon?"
His impatience only amused her. She grinned and kicked her feet out. "You could always come up here."
Artemis stiffened. "I do not climb trees."
Holly shook her head. "If I'd grown up in a place like this," she said, sweeping her hand to indicate the forested grounds of the estate, "I'd have climbed every one."
Artemis's brow crinkled. "You would also have had the benefit of magic to heal you should you have fallen down and broken your neck. As it stands," he continued, drawing himself up, "I was neither inclined nor permitted to indulge in such an activity."
"Not permitted?"
She watched as he glanced down and brushed an insect from his sleeve. "My father," he replied without looking up, "felt strongly that I should spend my time in a more constructive manner."
Looking down at him through the shadow of the branches that slanted over his features, Holly's heart ached. This man she loved and had known since he'd been a boy, had never really had a childhood. Even when he'd not been an adult, he had shouldered the burdens of one. She activated her wings once more and flew down to his level to embrace him. He stiffened, momentarily uncertain as if the ghost of that awkward child had risen up between them, but then he relaxed again and wound his arms around the small of her back, her affection welcome and accepted.
When she kissed him, the earlier giddiness of her flight reasserted itself and she was smiling – a little foolishly, she thought – as she drew away from him.
"Now," he said, gesturing in the direction of the manor, "please come in. I've had Butler fix us a dinner that's completely vegan and entirely organic."
"You realize that for me this will be brunch?"
He waved a hand dismissively. "That's beside the point. I thought it might be pleasant to enjoy each other's company in a normal manner for once. I have it on good authority that most couples' courtship does not involve time travel or being chased by trolls."
They walked a few paces from beneath the drooping boughs of the willow before Holly came to a halt. "Hold on. My acorn," she said, drawing it out again. She glanced around for a moment and then moved towards an open patch of ground. Kneeling, she dug a small hole, dropped the acorn in, and covered it with loose earth.
She inhaled deeply as the magic seared through her veins, warm and electric, and utterly joyful. She could feel it sparking through every sinew, nearly bursting through her pores. All at once she wished she could share it with him. How awful it must be not to have magic, not to have that connection to the earth, that deep-rooted sense of belonging. No wonder humans made such a mess of things; it was like they were missing one of their senses, blundering around like a blinded gnome. Looking over her shoulder at Artemis's tall frame, she did the only thing she could think of and took to the air.
Bursting with barely-contained magic, Holly pressed her lips to his, feeling it spark between them, jolting through him for an instant. A taste of it was all she could offer him, but for a moment she felt the ghost of that connection they had shared in the time stream, that closeness she could hardly fathom.
They were both breathless as they broke apart but Artemis managed a crooked smile. "Is there any way we could arrange for you to visit on every full moon?"
She laughed and punched him in the arm. "Come on. I was promised a meal, remember?" She dropped to the ground and together they made their way to back to the manor.
ooo
They ate in a lounge on the ground floor at a low, Japanese-style table rather than in the Fowl's dining hall or kitchen. When they knelt on the floor on either side of the small table, Holly realized that Artemis had wanted to avoid her having to deal with ill-fitting Mud Man-sized furniture. She was unused to such considerateness from him and it touched her that he had thought of such a detail.
Butler arrived moments later carrying a tray with two steaming plates. "Hello, Butler," she greeted him, feeling a little flushed. It was strange to be here not as an LEP officer or a visitor, but as... Artemis's girlfriend.
"Holly," he said with a smile. "I'd ask how you've been doing, but Artemis makes a point of telling me all your news. It's Holly this, and Holly that."
Artemis's cheeks were suddenly much rosier than normal and he cleared his throat.
Holly had mercy on him and turned her attention to the meal. "Frond! that looks amazing. Did you become a chef in your retirement, Butler?"
At the centre of each plate was a half acorn squash stuffed with quinoa grain, dotted with burgundy-coloured dried cherries. An asparagus and mushroom risotto flavoured with saffron took up one side of the plate, while the colourful hues of a grilled pepper salad adorned the rest.
"Cordon Blue cooking is part of our training. Though I had to read up on a few things to put this menu together."
Holly smiled. "Thank you."
"I'll leave you be then," Butler announced summarily. "Let me know if you need anything."
Holly's eyes followed the retreating form of the bodyguard, all at once abashed that he should leave simply so that she and Artemis could be alone. It was not something she was accustomed to. Most of the time it seemed she and Artemis were thrown together, tossed about on the winds of fate. To have successfully planned and executed a meeting that did not involve some form of disaster seemed well nigh miraculous... and a little strange.
She turned back to face Artemis and for several moments they were both silent. "We should eat," he said. "While it's still warm."
She picked up her knife and fork, both smaller than his, she noted, and much more suited to her elfin hands, and started in on the squash. The first mouthful was a taste of bliss. She closed her eyes to savour it and mmed appreciatively. When she opened her eyes she found Artemis staring at her with a certain look on his face. She raised an eyebrow.
"If I'd known I could coax sounds like that out of you just by feeding you, I'd have sent out a dinner invitation years ago," he said, flashing his vampire smile.
She resisted the urge to toss her napkin at him. "I haven't had food this good in... years."
"You don't cook?"
Holly shrugged. "I use a blender a lot. Nettle smoothies make for a quick meal before a shift. I don't suppose I could borrow Butler?"
"I don't imagine he'd fit into your kitchen."
She smiled, trying to picture the tall Mud Man, hunched over and attempting to operate the kitchenware with his huge hands. "No, probably not."
The risotto and grilled pepper met with equal approval and Artemis looked as pleased as if he'd cooked it all himself. She was about to make a snide remark when the first raindrops pattered against the window, stopping her mid-bite. "Is something the matter?" Artemis asked.
"Rain," she whispered. He raised an eyebrow, awaiting further explanation. "I live underground, Artemis. You have to go to the weather simulation park to see rain. It's not the same, though. Not really." She shook her head. "Whether they admit it or not, everyone misses the surface. You can buy nature recordings – rain, birdcalls, sea lions–
"Sea lions?" Artemis cut in.
"Some of the water sprites in Atlantis find them soothing," Holly explained. "It's not the same as the real thing, though."
"No, I imagine not."
The scattered drops turned into a staccato rhythm and for a while they ate in silence. It always amazed her how he took these things for granted, the sights and sounds and smells of the surface. Artemis could probably live underground and never miss these things. It was ironic really.
She was polishing off the remainder of the risotto when she finally asked the question that had been nagging at her all evening. "What about Opal?"
"What about her?"
She huffed in irritation. "Don't play games with me, Artemis," she said, brandishing her fork.
"I thought we were going to avoid business tonight."
"I'll need to make a report when I get back. I have to at least have asked the question."
He drew himself up and his features reformed themselves into a chill mask. This was no longer Arty, her dear friend; this was Artemis Fowl II, criminal mastermind and a force to be reckoned with. "I've made no significant progress in my research since the Council last enquired. I assure you, if I had, I'd have used that as reason to have them send you up here." He smiled then, revealing an incisor. "Twenty-eight days, Holly. It's been very trying having to wait." He licked his lips and she could feel her pulse speed up under the heat of his gaze.
"I'll leave that part out of my report."
Holly was a smidgen embarrassed when Butler arrived some moments later to clear their plates and offer dessert or refreshments. He was a bodyguard; he could have snapped either of them in two; it was strange to have him playing waiter.
"I'm fine," Holly assured. "If I ate another bite I wouldn't be able to move."
"That wouldn't bode well for the rest of the evening," Artemis noted archly, and she felt herself flush, more due to Butler's presence than anything else. Not that Butler would be unaware of their plans but... This would all take some getting used to.
Butler brought Artemis a cup of coffee and then excused himself. She knew it was late by Artemis's reckoning, but she had no intention of rushing; he could sacrifice a few hours of sleep for this.
She sipped at her fruit juice with deliberate languor. All the while, she could feel his gaze on her like a leopard eyeing its intended prey. "You know, Artemis, I'm not sure how it is with Mud People, but among elves, a woman can always tell when she'd being mentally undressed."
"It seemed a way to occupy myself until such time as I can undress you in fact."
"The more you stare, the longer it's going to take me to finish this," she said, holding up the crystal goblet of cranberry juice.
He stared at her for while longer and she was almost startled when he spoke again "What do you wear normally?"
She titled her head and peered at him. "What do I wear?"
"Yes. I only ever see you in uniform. What do you wear when you're not on duty?"
"Trousers and a shirt, what else? An emerald-coloured frock coat?"
A sly smile played across his lips. "Have I mentioned recently how very appreciative I am that you're such a far cry from the folkloric leprechaun?"
She downed the rest of her juice and, rising to her feet, came to stand next to Artemis. Kneeling as he was on the floor, she could look him in the eye without craning her neck, and she could easily lean in and brush a kiss over his lips. "No, but feel free to be as appreciative as you'd like."