I Came Home
It's bigger than I remember. The hulking building where Meghan is residing looms above me, gleaming bronze cogs adorning the side of the palace. I don't remember those being here the last time, although I'll admit, I was a little distracted. Perhaps this is Meghan's ode to the Clockmaker that we met on our trip here. I eye the drawbridge warily. Iron Knights guard the entrance, their armour gleaming in the sunlight. Being here is making me nervous, despite knowing that this realm will no longer harm me, it's hard to undo centuries worth of paranoia when it comes to being in close contact with iron. Just beyond those doors, somewhere in this monstrosity of a building, is Meghan Chase. The woman I love more than anything. The woman I went to the End of the World for. The woman that gave her life to protect me. Who thought I would choose the love I had lost years ago, over her.
Yes, the iron is making me nervous. The thought that she is so close and yet, possibly so far away, is worse.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for this final part of my journey, before forcing myself to head towards those armed Knights. It takes them seconds to draw their weapons and I stop halfway across the drawbridge, trying to make myself seem less of a threat. The fact that they're protecting Meghan from me both irritates me and relieves me. I haven't wanted to admit to being worried about the security of the Iron Kingdom while I was travelling to the End of the World. The fact that the realm is poisonous to Summer and Winter fey has done little to alleviate that niggling worry in the back of my mind.
What can I say? I know Meghan Chase. If there's trouble to be found, she's normally right in the middle of it.
"State your name, and your intention here today," one of the knights says, his sword pointed at my chest.
"My name is Ash, former prince of Tir Na Nog. Son of Queen Mab and Knight to your Queen, Meghan Chase. I'm here to see her." The knights share a look with each other.
"Prince Ash has been exiled from these lands. On orders from Queen Meghan herself." They take another step closer, and I fight the urge to withdraw my own sword. Drawing my weapon is not going to help the situation. However, if they keep me from seeing Meghan much longer, that sliver of patience is quickly going to close. I rack my brain, trying to think of someone, anyone, who will vouch for me. And then, it comes to me. If he's still around (and I'm pretty sure he will be. He's too obnoxious to have left), then I should be able to convince him of my intentions.
"I fought in the war alongside the first lieutenant of the Iron King Machina; Glitch. Bring him here and he'll vouch for me." The knights share another look, silently debating on finding the irritating lieutenant.
"Wait here," the knight, who is obviously in charge says, turning and striding off back into the tower, leaving the other knight staring me down. I try to ignore the slight shaking of the sword he holds, the nerves that are obvious even now. I try, but I can't. Centuries of sword drills being beaten in to me hit hard. Every knight I've ever met takes pride in their position in their courts army. There are no nerves, no worries that are translated in battle. There can't be. The second you start feeling sorry for someone you've killed; is the moment you suffer the same fate. Perhaps my worries about Meghan's protection detail are well founded after all.
"Hey," I say, resisting the urge to shake my head as the knight in front of me almost drops his sword in fear. "How old are you?" He stares at me like I've lost my mind. Maybe I have. "Seriously, have you had any training to do this?" He blinks at me and I sigh. Where the hell is Glitch?
"I've had a couple of training sessions," the young knight in front of me answers quietly. "I haven't been here long to have much more than that."
"And they've put you out here? As the first line of defence to the Queen?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Not many people pose a risk to the Iron Kingdom. I think the general thought being out here would require little to no training at all. So far, he's been right." He shrugs, like it's no big deal. Like he's not risking the safety of his Queen by not being able to do his job properly. I push down the anger rising in me.
"And if I wasn't here peacefully? If I had come to the Iron Kingdom not to see your Queen, but to harm her, kill her? What would you have done to stop me?" He doesn't say anything, though his face does darken slightly as my words register. The silence between us is answer enough. Behind the knight, I heard the familiar sound of the Iron Kingdom's lieutenant coming closer. "Just, think about it," I tell him quietly. The knight nods, standing to attention as his fellow knight and lieutenant come to stand next to him.
"Well I'll be damned, it is you Prince," Glitch says with a grin. I roll my eyes at him.
"Can you get your knights to stand down now Glitch?" I ask him. Glitch just nods at the knights who both sheath their weapons once more.
"I thought Meghan told you never to come back here Prince."
"She did. And as the fey Prince of Winter, I had to uphold that. It was either that or I'd be killed. As I am now, I don't think it applies." Glitch raises an eyebrow at me.
"As you are now?"
"I'm no longer pure fey. I am like Meghan – half fey, half human. Human enough to be able to stand here and talk to you with no ill effects." The knights gape at me.
"How?" The young knight asks. "How is that even possible." I offer them a smug grin of my own.
"If you travel far enough in the Nevernever, anything is possible."
"Something tells me that there is a long and complicated story behind all of this, but I can wait until you've been reunited with Meghan to hear it." Glitch says. For a moment, I channel Goodfellow and bow mockingly at him.
"Much appreciated Glitch."
"Come along Prince. Your Princess is currently holding court in the Throne Room. I can't think of anywhere better to make your grand entrance." I gesture to him to lead the way, the mere mention of Meghan enough to dissolve the sarcastic comment I was planning to make.
"How is she?" I ask as we walk through the halls. He shoots me a glance.
"She's tough. She thinks she has us all fooled, but she doesn't. All of us who work closely with her know how hard she's found all of this. How hard she's found it, doing it all alone. We've tried to help her transition as much as possible, but I don't know if you know this, but your girlfriend is stubborn." I chuckle. Yes, yes she is. If there is the option for Meghan to do something herself, she'll do it. No matter the consequences. As we near the throne room, my heart starts to beat faster in anticipation. We pause outside the doors, the knights stationed there eyeing me curiously. I ignore them, focusing instead on the cloak that I produce from one of my pockets. This cloak has come with me to the End of the World, and you can definitely tell. It's covered in dust and tears and probably some blood too. I put it on regardless, ignoring the questioning look I get from Glitch. I want to surprise Meghan. I want to put on a show. Huh, Goodfellow would be proud.
"Follow me," Glitch says once I've finished, turning on his heel and striding to the doors. I follow him, tugging the cowl further over my face so that no one can see me. The knights stationed by the doors open them with a loud groan and, in silence, I follow Glitch in to the throne room.
I don't dare lift my head up, for fear that Meghan will see who I am. The waiting fey hurry to part, leaving a wide gap for Glitch and myself to walk down. The cloak swings with my strides and I grimace at the tears and the dust that cover it. I wish I were wearing something a little finer to see her in. Or at least something that didn't have dried blood on it. Oh well, it can't be helped. Glitch stops at the foot of the dais, bowing to Meghan. I wait behind him, keeping my eyes trained on him, rather than the beautiful Queen sat on the throne in front of us.
"Majesty," he says, a grin evident in his voice, despite the formal tone he uses. "This traveller has come far to request an audience with you. I know you are very busy at the moment, bust as he has come a great distance, perhaps you can hear him out." Glitch bows again before moving off to stand by the wall. I take a breath, trying to steady my nerves. Why am I so nervous? It's not like I'm greeting a foreign Queen – this is Meghan.
"Come forward," she says and I bite back a smile. Stressed and alone she might have been, but she definitely sounds like a Queen. The power in her words resonate throughout the throne room. I bow my head further as I sink to one knee at the foot of the dais. "Where have you come from, traveller?" Well, here goes nothing.
"I have come from the End of the World," I say quietly, smiling a little at the soft gasp I hear as she recognises my voice. "From the River of Dreams, through the gauntlet and the Briars and the Deep Wyld, in order to stand before you today. I have but one request – to take my place at your side. To resume my duty as your knight, and to protect you and your kingdom for as long as I draw breath." I raise my head and lower the cowl, taking in the beautiful girl in front of me. The shock on her face as I kneel before her. "I am still yours, my Queen. If you'll have me." I watch her, taking her in as she slowly stands from her throne, her eyes trailing over me, taking in the dust covered cloak, the glamour that still pulses inside me. I don't move, letting her come to me.
"Ash," she whispers, reaching down to help me to my feet. The feel of her hand in mine brings an overwhelming sense of relief. She's here. In front of me. Alive and well. I can no longer see the other fey in the throne room, or the guards standing at the walls. All I see, is her.
"You're here," she whispers, her hand ghosting over my face. "You came back." Those three words hit me like a punch in the gut and I suck in a breath. After our last encounter, when Ariella interrupted and staked her claim on me, Meghan honestly believed I would choose Ariella. She thought she'd never see me again, even if she revoked her order to me, even if I accomplished my mission. My heart aches for her. How she's made it through all this time, thinking I'd chosen someone else, I honestly don't know. I knew I was going to find a way to come back to her and these last long months have been torture. I place my hand over hers, holding it in place.
"I came home." She steps forward, wrapping her arms around me and I pull her in close. I breathe in the pure scent of Meghan, of roses and honeysuckle and long summer days. I've missed her. I've missed her so damn much. How did I survive without her? Those long years after Ariella 'died' pass through my mind. Long, bleak, cold days until the whirlwind that is Meghan Chase entered my life and turned it upside down. Applause and cheers echo off the wall off the throne room as I make myself a silent promise. I'm never leaving you again. Not if I can help it. I never want to go through this again. After a few moments, she pulls back to look at me again.
"How?" She asks and I smile at her.
"I told you I'd find a way, didn't I?" I tell her, chuckling at the look of disbelief that crosses her face. I take her hand, moving it to rest over my heart. My now human heart. "I became human. I went to the ends of the Nevernever and found my soul."
"What?" She pulls back a little more, gazing over my body in disbelief. I take the moment to take her in myself. The circles under her eyes, the small amount of weight she's lost since the last time I saw her. Hmm – things are going to change around here. Starting with how much the Iron Queen is working. I lean in a little closer to her to whisper,
"Do I pass?"
"Wait a minute," she says, frowning. She pushes back my hair, revealing a pointy, fey ear. Definitely not the mark of a human. "If you're human, how do you explain that?" I grin at her. I've missed her constant questioning.
"Apparently, I still have a little fey magic left in me," I tell her, running my fingers through her hair, reminding myself of its softness, before stroking her cheek with my thumb, marvelling at her even as I speak. "Enough to keep up with the rest of Faery anyway. Maybe enough to keep from growing old." I can't help but laugh at the idea, as I remember the last trial of the gauntlet. At how I might have found a way to cheat the future I saw of myself. "Better get used to this face, your majesty. I plan to be here a long, long time. Probably forever." Her blue eyes shimmer with unshed tears and the only reason I know they're tears of happiness is the pulse of glamour that radiates from her. I expect her to say a lot of things after that, but
"Aren't you already centuries old?" isn't one of them. I lower my head to hers, pulling us closer together with a smile.
"I went to the End of the World for you, and all you have to say is how well I've aged?" I've never felt like this before. Light, as if the weight of the title of Prince of Winter has been lifted and with it, a sense of relief. And, it seems, a more open sense of humour.
"I didn't say anything about aging well-" Meghan replies with a grin that lights up her whole face. I don't let her finish her sentence as I lower my head those last few inches and press my lips to hers. It doesn't take her long to kiss me back and I smile against her. This. This moment, right here, amidst the cheers of our court, make all the trials and the nightmares worth it.
Meghan Chase. The half human Summer princess, who took on two Iron Kings, defied both the Summer and Winter courts and became the Queen of the Iron Court. The girl who thawed a Winter prince's heart, and brought two friends back together. We break apart and I rest my forehead against hers.
Yes. Meghan Chase is worth all of it.
Yes, our second deleted scene is of course from the epilogue of the Iron Knight. I hope you guys like it. There are 3 more deleted scenes to come in this fic and the dialogue in these won't be from the books, it will be my own, and they all take place after this chapter. Let me know what you guys think - we're almost done you guys! xxx