Epilogue

by Wolfic

Sometimes, when all the plants, the onions and carrots, lettuce, turnips and peppers, have been watered, and the garden tended to by rake; when he has worked through all of his drills and exercises and his sword still swings with the same grace and fluidity of when he first crafted it, he would seek Yggdrasil for comfort. Finding a small nook near the base of the thick trunk, he would relax his back against the smooth wood and close his eyes.

Whether or not he actually slept never occurred to him, but sometimes if he lied still enough and unfurled his long thin ears, and the air stilled and the birds paused in their playful melodies, it was as if he could hear voices, cheerful and teasing. It was as if the tree were talking to someone.

As if Mercedes were talking to Ingway.

And their voices seemed so real, so alive, he couldn't help but wonder if the tree actually spoke to the man tied to it. But such matters seemed nonsensical and he would conclude it to be fabrications bred by dreams and fatigue.

He leaned against the bark, snuggling his shoulders into the dips and curves. Closing his eyes he placed his head against the wood and listened.

And this was what he heard:

"You know, there's always been this question that's bothered me for some time now."

"What?"

"When you returned your name, well, you became a tree, of all things, and then your roots came and picked up my rotting corpse and your Psypher, both of which are now entangled with you."

"Where are you going with this, Ingway?"

"What I want to know is, which did you go for first?"

"What?"

"Did you go for your mother's bow, the symbol of your right to Fairy royalty and the duties you were pledged with, or did you go for me, your love?"

"I don't believe this. Ingway, are you… jealous of a weapon?"

"Now I wouldn't go that far, 'tis a mere curiosity, nothing more. I know I love you very much Mercedes, after all I have no complaints about being tied to you for all eternity. But I'm sure I'm not the only spouse of royalty to question if my significant other would choose her people over her lover."

"…"

"You haven't answered my question. Which was it?"

"…"

"Mercedes love, though I find you adorable when you pout, I'd prefer words instead. You wound me with your hesitation. Perhaps I shall assume you went for your bow and I was a mere afterthought."

"I love you too, okay? Why don't you admit you just wanted to hear me say it?"

"Because that's no fun."

And though the sleeping Pooka couldn't see it, he imagined Queen Mercedes smiling, right before she went in for a kiss.