Chapter 23
Avalon part 2
Alex's POV
I stepped into Talia's room. Adri was lying with Tai again. Puck stopped me. "Not another step toward my baby, you reek."
"I showered." I muttered.
"With human soap, they don't have good noses. And brush your teeth. Actually, brush your teeth and mouthwash." He added.
"Alright, bossy elf." I frowned.
I went in the bathroom. He would never let me be if I disobeyed him. The bath was a wooden tub. A fire was lit under a cauldron. I guess that was hot water. I filled the tub, took my clothes off, and then they were gone. So much for that. Puck floated in as I got into the large bath.
"Must you?" I asked.
"I insist." He poured several cups of hot water in my bath, added some herbs. "So, how was your day out?"
"Good, fun. Renee and Sanuye were great." I hummed.
"That's my boy." He grinned.
"So, now you acknowledge me." I yawned. The warm water soothed my muscles.
"Talia is my chick, you're my student. Anyway, dinner is soon, you better not of spoiled your appetite." Puck washed my hair.
"Nah, just some cereal about half way through." I reassured him.
"Good." He nodded.
He rinsed my hair and washed my shoulders and back. I grabbed some body wash, it smelt like mint, and lathered it on. Puck added more hot water. I washed then I decided it was time to dry off. He pointed out where the towels were and left. I dried off, wrapping the towel around my waist.
After my hair dried, I combed my hair. Then I brushed my teeth and found the mouthwash. I gargled it then spit. My nose scrunched up at the taste. I drank some water. My eyes drifted to the fairy made clothes on the cabinet. They sorta resembled mine. I got dressed and stepped into Talia's room.
Tai was awake, playing with Adri's hair. I was allowed to go to them. Her eyes flicked toward me then forward.
"You hungry, Tai?" I asked.
"'Unno." She said.
"You wanna go outside?" I asked.
"Nu huh." She lied back down.
"You don't have to do anything, angel. We can just lay in the grass." Adri told her.
"Ok…" Tai droned.
"I'll be back in a bit, you know how the necklace works if you need me." Puck disappeared through Adri's door shaped pendant. It snapped shut.
"I'll get something for her to eat later. I don't think she should go to dinner." Adri whispered.
Grandma's servants came and some of them took me to the dining hall. The rest escorted Tai and Adri to the garden. I was seated next Grandma. Oberon's opening words were about how good it was that I was here and stuff. Then everyone was allowed to eat. People chatted and drank. My mind wasn't really on any pranks while I snagged a bit of quail from Anansi. His eyes narrowed and he assumed Coyote had done it. Then a small food fight broke out. I took the opportunity to nail Raven and few others.
"ENOUGH!" Oberon bellowed.
We put our food down. He snapped and everything was cleaned up. The rest of dinner went ok. We watched a full length play in the amphitheater afterwards. I didn't recognize it, but the others did. I smelt Tai's magic on the wind. It was a little bit better. Being outside must have improved her mood. Then it was bedtime. I was lead to my chambers. It was similar to Tai's. Someone knocked on my door. I opened it.
It was Adri and Tai. Tai bumped into me. I let them in and we cuddled. The servants woke us up in the morning. I yawned and shook them awake. They groaned, but decided it was worth it for food. We ate the small feast. There was eggs, toast, mini waffles, bacon, and berries, plus juice and milk for Tai and me. We made sure Talia ate some.
"Our Queen shall send you home after lunch." One of the servants said as they took our trays.
"What'd you wanna do now?" I asked.
"I dunno. I don't think Tai wants to go outside so soon." Adri looked at her.
"What about the library?" I asked.
"Eh." She grunted.
"Ok then, library it is." I said.
We got dressed, I'm pretty sure Tai could have gotten away with staying in her nightgown, but Adri convinced her otherwise. It took a bit to find the library. So I hadn't paid super close attention, but in my defense, I was worried about Tai.
It reminded me of the one back home. Rows and rows of thick books lined the room. I found a little nook and it had some soft bean bag things. Tai claimed one as hers. I waited as Adri looked for something to read. She came back with a small stack of chapter books.
"I didn't think Avalon would have kid's books." I said.
"I wanted something fun to read to Tai." She answered.
"Ok, don't wander off. I'll be back soon." I told her.
I wandered through the shelves, trying to figure out the system, when my feet started taking me further into the library. I didn't feel any magic compelling me, but I wasn't totally sure. Avalon was much stronger than me after all. I stopped at a section of spells. I grabbed a few and headed back.
"Hey, what's that?" Adri asked.
"Bunch of spells." I put them on the table.
"Just don't cast any." She told me, going back to the book in her hand. Tai was the most relaxed I had seen her since we left. She leaned on Adri's thigh and closed her eyes.
We read, I read; Adri had stopped some time ago and was holding Tai, until Grandma came to get us. I frowned at the thought of losing all the spells before I could cast any when Grandma said I could take them home. I sent them to my room. Then she lead us to the kitchen. She took a basket and we were in the courtyard.
"Children don't need to eat as often humans do. But it does take some time to break the habit of pretending." She smiled as she passed out the sandwiches.
"It's pretty here." Adri said.
It was sunny and warm. We were in a shaded spot. The trees rustled in the wind. Some birds sang. I smelled the flowers in the distance.
"Yes, it is." She agreed.
We had some chips, carrot sticks, and cookies after we finished the sandwiches. Grandma packed everything up and sent it away. We were taken to our rooms to get our clothes and stuff. Lord Oberon was waiting for us in the Great Hall.
Oberon pushed past me to touch Tai's cheek. She froze for moment. "Mourn, little one, for as long as you need to. Then you will start to heal."
"Ok." She said softly.
He kissed her forehead then stepped back. "Farewell, children. I do hope you enjoyed your visit."
"Bye." Adri waved.
"Yes, we did like our visit." I answered.
"I'll see you soon, Alexander, and you as well, Talia. " Grandma made a portal. We stepped through of the portal.
Two foxes, one brown and the other white and black, ran to Tai and jumped on her. Tai hugged the white one and it dragged her to our parents. The brown one followed close behind. I now noticed that there were a few more people beside them. In front of Owen, Renee and Sanuye petted the foxes.
Sanuye's hands were very noticeable next to Zara's fur, being copper with a yellow undertone. Her black pony tail slipped over her shoulder. The freckles across her nose and upper cheeks drew attention to her light brown eyes. The mole near the left side of her mouth moved as she smiled.
"Good girl, Zara. Now, give her to Owen." Sanuye told Zara.
Zara whined.
"Owen is her daddy." She explained. Zara huffed and gave Tai to Owen. The brown fox jumped up and nipped him.
"Not your turn, Ragen." Owen told him.
Ragen's body shifted and he turned human. He was the same shade of dark brown as Renee. They both had brown hair, Ragen's medium length and was cut to stop around the bottom of his neck. He had a mole near his left eye. They were hazel. "My turn now!"
"Ragen, behave!" Renee scolded. Ragen whimpered.
"Uh…" I looked at them.
"Alexander, these are your spirit children. Your magic impregnated Sanuye and Renee." Owen explained.
Alex's POV End
