This is coming in a bit late, due to that I recently had a cold :( , and was too tired to write until now. I am planning to maybe write a Vampire Diaries fan fiction after I am done with this Iron Fey one, so please voice your opinions on this by reviewing :) It will defianetly put a smile on my face.
/Mininski aka Daughter of the Moon Goddess
Chapter 9: Decisions, Decisions
Meghan POV:
The grave expression on Ash's face told me something was wrong. I spent ages trying to annoy the info out of him, and when he finally confessed to what was going on, I sat there, numb from his words. Marriage? Offspring? Impossible. Why were the courts expecting this of us? I was barely seventeen, for crying out loud. Then of, course, age didn't matter to them, nor did our opinions on the situation. All they craved was permission to put our futures into their decisions. That's all, I thought with as much sarcasm and bitterness I could conjure up.
"How long?" Ash looked up. "How long do we have to make the decision?"
"Well, the Queen only required my voice on the matter. But we have until tomorrow to decide."
Oh right. I was a nonessential half breed human. How could I forget? "Tomorrow?" I exclaimed as this news dawned on me. "That's ridiculous!"
"You try telling Mab that," Ash said stonily. I glared at him, but knew he was right. No way did I have the power to confront the Queen of Icicles about this.
"Anyways," he said icily, "I vote with whatever you're deciding on this."
Gee thanks, I thought bitterly, giving me all the responsibility like I'm supposed to be grateful for it. I thought Ash was done with being unfair towards me. I guess we weren't done with that adventure, either.
When the Winter Prince saw my expression, however, his face became softer. Some of his icy expression seemed to melt away into one that was far more serene. "Look," he spoke, taking hold of my hand. The action surprised me. Only a few days ago, Ash was sometimes acting as if I were a complete stranger, and now he was grabbing my hand? It was nice, but took some time to get used to. "I'm not abandoning you, or anything. I'm just saying this is going to play a big part in your future, and you know that for fey and for humans the future are two different things entirely. That's why I want to support you in whatever choice you make."
"Ok." I swallowed the words I was about to speak, and considered. What was the right answer here? Throw away my entire future to save the Nevernever or disagree with the deal? What should I prioritize? Myself or the kingdom of Faery? Should I care more about my own happiness or see to it that Faery had two united, peaceful courts and no more battles between the two? Could I let the Nevernever destroy itself as the Iron Realm ruled the land in order to secure that I was not miserable in an unwanted marriage?
Decisions, decisions. So easy for one person to ask another, but so difficult to make. I looked up at Ash's eyes desperately, hoping to steal strength from them. Only then did I realize his eyes were storms, storms reflecting the battles of life and what things were necessary to sacrifice in order to survive. And then I knew. Of course I knew. The answer stood right before me.
I called for the troll guard, standing meters away from us. "Guard," I spoke evenly, and looked him straight in the eye, never wincing from his watery gaze or his ugly appearance. "Tell Her Majesty that the deal is sealed."