Chapter 12

Introductions

I was still on the forest floor, where Wen had left me, after that blinding light had faded. I was frozen with shock from my sister's uncharacteristically violent actions. I had forgotten Leander in my preoccupation with Wen's safety and now scanned the clearing for him. Still on the ground I was about eye level with his feet, and my gaze fell on discarded red-stained bandages.

Confused, I lifted my eyes to his beautifully smiling face, "Oh, Lyn," his lips moved and I heard his voice for the first time. It was low and deep, soft and full of love. I pulled myself to my feet, swiftly as he grasped my hands with his own. I looked down at his restored hands in wonder, fingering them for a moment before raising each one to my lips and planting soft kisses. "Leander…how…your wounds…" I found I could not complete a sentence before kissing one of his perfect hands. My thoughts were jumbled with unanswered questions, but thankfully he did not remain silent for long.

"…were caused by the Dwarf King's scepter, that your sister has shattered," he finished for me, his voice warm and magical, oh how I loved the sound of it. "More than one spell has been broken by Wen's bravery," he continued, using his hand to guide my gaze across the Duchess' clearing to see my mirror striping the fallen dwarf's cloak and tenderly placing it over a crouching naked man. Wen helped the man to his feet and he began speaking softly to her. Leander continued as I turned my gaze back to him, "She has also freed my brother, Mahon, who you knew as Thanos the Bear. I am Tiernan, Crown Prince of Eisgairdin in the south, and I am very pleased to have my tongue back, for a number of reasons."

I smiled at him, relief and happiness flooding through me, "Thank God she doesn't have to wait three years for him," I said without thinking, but he laced his fingers through mine and laughed merrily. I had never heard him do such a thing, and the sound filled me with wonder as he lifted my hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss upon my knuckles.

"And how long must I wait for you?" he said softly and I could not resist the urge to have more fun.

"If you cannot recognize when you have had something in the palm of your hands for nearly a week, then you don't deserve me," I said with a pout, trying to remove my hand from his grasp.

He smiled wickedly, "I have only recently regained feeling in my hands, my dear. What is it that I have?"

"My heart, silly Prince," I returned softly, reaching around and pulling his head down to kiss him soundly.

He broke the kiss after a moment, still keeping our faces a hair's breadth apart, "Ah, however much I would like to be distracted by this, I must speak with my brother." I pulled away reluctantly, stepping back to allow him some time with his brother. But he clasped his hand in my own and together we walked across the clearing.

"Tiernan!" the young man who had until recently been Thanos cried, "I thought I saw you but I wasn't sure."

"Well, you were busy," Teirnan smiled again. Before when he smiled it was to answer a question, to make a statement, now it was to express his happiness, his joy. It was a different type of smile, one that I loved. The sun shone through the Duchess' green branches, his hair glistened, waving raven black and ruffled by the breeze. He idly wrapped his arm around my waist and I leaned into him, finally turning my gaze to Wen. I met the eyes of my sister, so different, yet the same. She leaned into the younger prince and we only smiled at each other, not needing to speak.