Chapter 13

Homecoming

I sat silently in the King's sitting room, Wen's small white hand in mine, wondering how circumstances in Eisgairdin could be the same yet so different, how they had changed so quickly. I had spent nearly a year of my life as a creature of the forest. The transformation to and from the form of a bear had happened in an agonizing blink of an eye, but there had also been a gradual change to the mindset of the beast. I do not think anyone except Wen truly understood the nature of the Dwarf King's primitive spell and how close I had been to completely forgetting my humanity. I would not have them know anyway.

Tiernan would never forgive himself if he truly understood the danger I had undertaken, he thought that he should have been the one. I remebered when he told me all that had happened after I left Eisgairdin. He had looked so sorrowful and dejected as he literally begged for my forgiveness in the private darkness of the cottage's loft bedroom. It seemed as though he were apologizing for even the Dwarf's bargain and the transformation itself. I knew why he acted the way he had and he knew and regretted his own actions. There was nothing else to forgive and I told him so.

I understood that it had to have been me. I had used what methods I learned in my years of solitary study to keep the spell from completely transforming me as long as I could. Tier would not have been able to. In the spring it grew increasingly difficult to keep to my task. It was only by thinking of my beloved that I was able to cling to myself.

But my task was now over and Tier and I had returned to confront our Honored Father with his deceit and his greed, only to find a senile old man, coughing and moaning on his death bed. We went into the royal chamber together and spoke quietly of what had happened in the north. He did not recognize us at all and only responded to the tale when we told him we had found Myrna, our Mother's companion.

When we revealed she had returned with us and Conlan's daughters he began thrashing about, screaming that the traitors would expose his secret, demanding they be brought to him, sentencing execution for breaking their banishment. The doctors rushed in, Tier stormed out. I watched him go, waiting for the report from the physicians. Through the swung open door I saw Lyn walking swiftly after him. She was his perfect match, an indomitable spirit. I knew she would make a good Queen.

Tiernan had her by his side when our return and respective betrothals were announced. Wen and I stood hand in hand to their right, Myrna on their left. Many of the old nobility remembered Myrna well and all the announcements were surprisingly well received by the court. Conroy explained to me later that they had gone through a remarkable transformation after the fall of our father and even more after Tiernan had gone after me. Many Lords and first sons had come in from the provinces, shocked to learn how Kail's government had been run. Luckily, Tier and later my old tutor had been able to placate them and ensure such mistakes would never be made again, steering the country away from civil upheaval.

Lyn, Wen, and Myrna wasted no time in taking the household in their iron grip. The daughters learned from their mother what was expected of them and nearly twenty years away from life in a castle had not affected Myrna's formidable skills. One of Lyn's first undertakings was to have the twin rose trees transplanted from the cottage to the castle gardens. She planned and planted herself, taking charge of the royal gardeners with little trouble. In this way Lyn gained the respect of the household staff and through gossip the interest of the court. Tier told me often how proud of her he was. I could not have been happier for them.

The door to the royal chamber swung open, softly creaking as Tiernan stepped through looking gravely at the private court assembled outside the King's sickroom. Conroy and my brother's new small group of advisors looked up from their subdued conference. Myrna quietly dismissed the servants and silently closed the door behind them. Lyn, who had been sitting at the window, surveying the progress of her gardens, swiftly stood and began crossing the room. He spoke before she reached him, Wen's hand tightened about my own, "He's dead." I looked away, I would not mourn him. He had not cared for us, only for his greed. His tyranny had cost us our Mother. An unwanted tear rolled down my cheek, I mourned for her and the family life I would never know.

Wen's arm reached around my shoulders and she leaned against me as Lyn went to Tiernan's side. He took her hand, softly caressing her cheek gratefully but quickly assuming his public mantle as Conroy stepped forward to speak, "My Lord Prince, when shall we schedule your coronation?"

"We shall hold a combination wedding and coronation in a week's time, Conroy. The Lady Myrna will be in charge of planning mine and her daughter's wedding and I place you in charge of preparation for the following coronation. Let all know I would rule jointly with my wife, an honor and privilege that was unjustly denied our previous Queen," at that he turned to Lyn with a mildly sheepish grin on his face. They had obviously not previously discussed that aspect of their impending public nuptials. She gave him a beatific smile and inclined her head slightly in mute acceptance. I smiled, again thinking what a good Queen my brother had chosen as his hand tightened around hers. He spoke again, this time in dismissal, "Preparations are to begin as soon as possible."

As Wen and I stood to follow the others from the room, Tier motioned for us to stay. He and Lyn settled themselves on the plush divan opposite from where we were sitting. I smiled ruefully at my brother, "What plans are shaping in that kingly head of yours, Tier?"

"Not kingly quite yet, Mahon," he chuckled, continuing with his mischievous smile, "We were just wondering about your plans, brother. When do you plan on marrying this fine lady? What will you do afterwards?"

"To tell you the truth, I had not really thought about it. Things have been changing rapidly around here and I…" I paused, trying to find the right words, "I am not really sure of my, of our place in it."

"I am sure that we do not desire as public a wedding that you two must have. We should wait until after the coronation to hold our ceremony. Something small, only family," Wen put in, placing her hand on my arm.

Lyn laughed, "Well then, it will be very small indeed, sister. But still, what will you do afterwards?"

"You will have an indefinite welcome in Eisgairdin, of course," Tier continued, "but you must want to set up a household of your own. You will not want to live under our shadow."

"I have been doing that my whole life, Tier," I returned with a chuckle and he rolled his eyes. "But I understand what you mean. You must have something up your sleeve. What is it?"

He smiled mischievously again, "I want to give you Hafodan."

"What?" I had not expected this.

"I want you to govern the province. Establish your household there. Lyn and I will still hold court there in the summer, it is tradition, but I need someone in charge throughout the year, to govern the people, to encourage commerce and trade. Father used to keep it shut up in the winter, leaving the citizens to the whims of the local town council and as I understand it, they are quite corrupt. You will have a large task on your hands but we will see each other often and you will have a place of your own," I smiled again, he was obviously desperate to sell me on the idea. Well, who else can he trust to do it? I thought.

I turned to my betrothed, "What do you think, beloved?" I asked with an uncertain expression that she saw through right away. I wanted to laugh out loud at Tier's crestfallen expression.

"Don't tease him, Thanos!" Wen exclaimed, using the bear's name in exasperation and cuffing me lightly on the arm.

"If I do not, then who will?" I promptly returned, rubbing my arm where she hit me.

She spoke sympathetically to my brother, "Of course we will go, Tiernan. We would not leave the people of Hafodan without governance. It is a splendid idea, thank you."

Tier smiled brilliantly at her, "Good." Turning to me, he frowned regretfully, "At least Wen holds the proper respect for me."

At that point, Lyn finally broke into hysterical laughter. It seemed she had been holding back for a while, "Do not fret, Mahon," she gasped, trying to stifle her giggles, "I will keep the great king humble when you are off doing his royal bidding." Tiernan chuckled softly, eyeing Lyn with feigned concern as she struggled to control herself. I wondered what the servants listening at the door thought we were doing.

Tier sighed, again turning to plans for the future, "Take as much time as you need after the coronation to depart for Hafodan. It would be easier to establish yourselves there if you are married when you arrive. You could find a priest or a notary on the journey." He smiled again, "Give us a few days notice and we will ride out with you, to attend the ceremony."

"We would not miss it for the world," Lyn interjected.

Wen smiled at her mirror as Lyn and Tier stood to leave, "A long way from the forest, sister. How do you think the plants are faring without you?"

Lyn raised her head haughtily, "As much as Mother admonished me for it, I never coddled those plants. They are thriving without me. Now if you will excuse me, I have a new garden to plan."

"And I have a new government to run," Tier added, "We shall leave you two to your own preparations." They exited the room hand in hand, still chuckling to themselves.

I turned to Wen as the door shut behind them. She had walked to the large window, overlooking the gardens. From behind her, my vision was engulfed by her curling flaxen hair, hanging loose to her waist. I stepped around, to her side. Myrna had ordered an entire wardrobe for her two daughters from the castle seamstresses and today, Wen had chosen a simple pale blue dress, trimmed at the bodice, sleeves and hem with delicate ivory lace. The pink-orange light of dusk reflected her form, casting the dress a somber shade of lilac and giving her skin a vibrant rosy flush. She looked other-worldly. Wen did not possess the bright flame of passion that Lyn would make a beacon for our people, but she burned with a quiet intensity that I would rely on for the rest of my life.

She turned to me, new resolve in her sky-blue eyes, "It is a good plan, Thanos."

I smiled, taking her hand in my own and raising it to my lips, "Yes. More than I had expected, sooner than I could have ever hoped." A thought struck me, and I mentally kicked myself for not mentioning it before, "Will you miss the forest and the mountain very much?"

"Not if I am with you," she replied immediately and my anxious countenance broke into a satisfied grin.

"Then we shall never part, my love," I vowed.

It was her turned to grin madly, "And there are trees at Castle Hafodan, are there not?"

"Oh, yes," I answered, "Father ran his hunt through it at least once a week during his stays."

"But the forest is not only used for hunting?" she asked as she raised her delicate eyebrows.

"You do know I have never been there?"

"Then we shall have to explore it together," she replied with that familiar dazzling smile as I wrapped my arms around her. At Hafodan there would be a myriad of things to change, to make better, a myriad of obstacles before us and we would meet them, together.

A/N: Now that you are done...TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!