Chapter 12: The Heart of the Matter

Initially, the people of Al-Mamoon were a little alarmed when the airship of Queen Cassiopeia hovered over the capital a few days before their queen's Diamond Jubilee. It reminded them of the White Witch's floating fortress in not so distant memory when the falling ash of mana was turning people into zombies. Many were asking about it or reporting it to the authorities. The local guard in the capital continuously had to keep people calm by saying it was Queen Cassiopeia of Nazcaa who had been invited to the Cowlipha's Diamond Jubilee and not an attack on the capital.

In the days following, representatives of the tribal leaders in Yule, as well as the son of the governor of Paradise Cove entered the city with their respective entourages. When King Tom's parade of colorful banners and feline acrobats came to join them in the capital and none of the outlanders were batting an eye at the floating ship above them, it was then that the people of Al-Mamoon started to relax again. Now, they were well into their second day of full revelry without anyone making a single reference to the floating ship in the sky.

Having turned in her report to Queen Cowlipha and having provided the entire manuscript of the Encyclopedia of Creatures and Spirits to the royal publisher that morning, Esther finally had a chance to take a breather. She parted ways with Derwin cordially, glad to be rid of him after a whole year of traveling with the insufferable man, and politely declined his invitation to go together to the Diamond Jubilee. She was determined, despite Cassiopeia's protests, to just turn in early and not go to the celebration at all. Her father could make excuses for her and she would finally get the chance to sleep in. Perhaps an extended trip to Paradise Cove was in her immediate future.

But with the entire city in a celebratory mood there was nowhere she could go to avoid the noise. Eventually, she repacked the tent and gear she had just unpacked the day before and left her father's house to head for the desert in search of peace and quiet. As she made her way through the bazaar she thought she heard someone calling her name and before she could see who it was, someone took hold of her arm and pulled gently.

Esther turned and saw the face of a friend she had not seen in a long time. He was taller now and so she was not accustomed to his height, and his features were stretched out into more adult proportions, but he still had the same kind eyes and boyish grin.

"Oliver!" she exclaimed in shock.

"Hi, Esther," he said shyly. Without another word she gripped his arm tightly and pulled him close for a hug. Years ago they had been the first to brave the journey against the enemy, so there was also an affinity between them that was not shared with the other adventurers who battled the Dark Wizard and the White Witch.

"Don't forget me, mun," said a voice from below and Esther smiled at Mr. Drippy.

"Thank you for bringing him, Mr. Drippy. It's so good to see both of you again," she smiled.

"Is something wrong, Esther?" Oliver asked in his usual straightforward manner. She paused momentarily.

"I'm a little tired from traveling for a year, but why do you ask?"

"I overheard youer conversation. Maybe 'twas something I shouldn't have heard," said Mr. Drippy. "On de island." Almost immediately she thought back to the conversation she had with Swaine before she parted ways with them.

"You heard my conversations with Swaine?" Mr. Drippy looked away uncomfortably.

"I was just at the palace a few hours before where I met up with the others," Oliver interrupted. "Swaine is worried about you. Pea also asked me to speak with you. Is there somewhere we can talk in private?" Esther mulled over her desire to talk more with her friend and the desire to leave the noisy city and made a decision.

"Very well," she said, gripping his hand in hers and leading him out of the bazaar and back to her father's house.

They made their way around to the residential area of the city and as she opened the door to the house of the Great Sage she turned to eye the fairy suspiciously.

"Mr. Drippy what else have you been eavesdropping from my conversations?" demanded Esther. The fairy looked away and started to whistle.

"He already told me about how the Emperor proposed and you turned him down flat," sighed Oliver. Esther made a grimace. She hardly wanted that broadcast to the public.

"When I discussed the situation with Pea we both came to the same conclusion that maybe there's something missing from your heart, Esther." He took out his wand and tapped it lightly against her forehead and the tip began to glow as he moved from her head to her heart. "It's definitely gone, whatever it is. Has it been this way since I broke Shadar's spell?"

"I'm not sure," she sighed.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel odd inside. Like I can't connect to anyone with my feelings because my heart is numb. I can smile when I feel glad. I can laugh at funny things. I feel emotions like sadness, anger, regret, concern, loss and pain, but I can't feel truly happy and I can't feel…." she paused. Love… "I can't feel any stronger, positive emotions. I don't know how I can fix it or if there's even a cure," she sighed. "I felt it really strongly when I was traveling in Autumnia. Every day it was like I was sinking into a new level of depression and I couldn't shake it until…" Esther forgot the despair when she had entered Hamelin and Marcassin had healed her. That was after she shared a rapport with Xantus. Perhaps it was a combination of both.

"Until Marcassin was there to protect me," she acknowledged. "I felt so much better when he was there with me. But I know it would have been selfish to ask him to stay."

"Perhaps you should have just said 'yes' then," Oliver shrugged.

"Oh, don't start. It's a lot more complicated than that," said Esther in exasperation. "Besides, it would not have been fair to him. He deserves someone who can love him whole heartedly. I can't. Marcassin deserves much more than that after what he's been through."

"Don't you think you deserve to be happy too?"

She looked up at his question and smiled. "Are you happy, Oliver?"

He grinned back at her, "I am. That's why I want my friends to be happy too. Let me help you search for a cure," said Oliver in earnest. "Perhaps what you're missing is actually closer to you than you realize. I know you probably didn't want to go to the Jubilee, but I think you should. We need to look for a heart to cure you. What better place to look than a hall full of celebration?"

"I don't want to go," she said, her hesitation bubbling up inside of her.

"Oh geez, mun," sighed Mr. Drippy. "He ain't married yet. Youer chances are still high." Esther's face blushed deeply to the roots of her hair and she turned to look out the window.

"He probably doesn't want to see me, I think."

"I know Marcassin. He's strong and he's confident and he doesn't hold grudges," affirmed Oliver. "And judging by the way he keeps looking around for your face in the crowd, I'd say you're still high on his list of distractions."

He beamed at Esther as she turned a unique shade of pink. "He's…looking for me?"

"He doesn't seem to be listening to anything Swaine or any of us have to say. When Queen Cowlipha invited him to her court the first opportunity he had he asked your father where you might be. I heard your father say you were resting at home so I came to look for you."

"Ya can't just leave him like dat," exclaimed Mr. Drippy. "Not while he don't know tha truth."

"Mr. Drippy's right," grinned Oliver. "Pea and I both want you to try. So does Swaine."

"So let's get gone!" cried Mr. Drippy. "Before he has a change of heart." With a wave of his lantern, a strong light shone onto Esther and her traveling clothes transformed into a shimmering gown of pale pink decorated with tiny pink silk flowers. Esther pulled up the hem of her gown and saw she was wearing delicate pink dancing slippers. Her hands reached up and felt her hair coiled on her head in braids and curls held in place with pins adorned with matching pink flowers. A silver veil in Al-Mamoon fashion draped from her coiled bun down her back and wrapping around her shoulder to partially cover her face.

Esther checked herself in the mirror and marveled at Mr. Drippy's handiwork.

"My, Mr. Drippy," laughed Oliver. "You're just like Cinderella's fairy godmother."

"I'm not even gonna pretend to know what dat is," sniffed Mr. Drippy, "But this is my finest magic yet. Me Mum would be proud."

-000-

And so, the three of them entered Queen Cowlipha's audience hall, presently filled to the brim with her guests and dancers and musicians along with servants and tables and food.

They made their way to her father, who was glad to see she decided to come, and relieved that his daughter was not as anti-social as he originally feared. Swaine came to meet them further in the hall, and they were joined by Queen Cassiopeia soon after. It was if those involved in the original adventure had a bond that made them naturally gravitate to one another. Esther and her friends turned a few heads in the crowd for most of them recognized the heroes celebrated on Heroes Day.

It was not difficult to spot Marcassin near the dais of the throne being monopolized by the Queen. Esther smiled wryly and could not help feeling a little sorry for him. Cowlipha, after all, did have a soft spot for him and now that he was here, she would not relinquish him for the world. She was very loud, and very open about how pleased she was to see him again, so much so that she had attracted a group of other female admirers who hung onto his every word. Esther watched him quietly as he smiled and laughed and flirted with the Queen and the other ladies fawned over the entire scene.

Though he was there, she still felt miles away from him. He makes them fall in love with him wherever he goes, she smiled to herself and caught herself inadvertently taking a step towards him and stopped. Esther's lack of confidence got the better of her, certain things could not be the same between them now.

"Cast the spell, Oliver," suggested Mr. Drippy, observing the room of people "Find out if there is anyone here who can help fill tha missin' part." Oliver did so and scanned the entire room for anyone who could help.

"I don't sense anything," sighed Oliver as he looked around. Each person gave off a distinct glow of emotions that only Oliver could see while the spell was in place. Couples glowed pink or red with affection for one another. Some glowed green with jealousy and others glowed orange with pride. Queen Cowlipha glowed golden with exuberance and the women all a-twitter around Marcassin glowed purple with admiration.

"I will create a diversion," volunteered Queen Cassiopeia. "I believe the one you need is being distracted."

"I'll grab Marcassin the moment he's free," said Swaine, catching on to her plan.

Esther watched in wide-eyed awe as her friends were suddenly on the move. One of Marcassin's ministers wanted to lead the emperor to converse with his pretty daughter, but Drippy was immediately underfoot and tripped him up. Queen Cassiopeia, herself a rare guest that sparked the interest of many present, walked up to the dais undaunted. The crowd dispersed naturally before her, quieting down to observe the pale, beautiful queen with flowing green hair and ethereal white gown approach their monarch.

"Ah, my dear Cassiopeia," beamed Cowlipha.

"Queen Cowlipha I must compliment you on the Al-Mamoon delicacies and sweets I have tasted tonight. They are splendid and I must know the recipes." With that, Queen Cowlipha forgot about Marcassin for a moment and went into great detail about how to prepare the best sweets and cheeses using the freshest milk from Al-Mamooni herds.

Just as Marcassin was freed from Queen Cowlipha's attentions, the swarm of finely dressed ladies hoping to catch his eye and engage in conversation with the yet unmarried Emperor of Hamelin started closing in immediately.

As if taking part in some intricate and choreographed dance, his brother Swaine gracefully maneuvered around them and appeared in their midst just to usher Marcassin away on some pretense of needing to speak with him urgently.

"What is it, Gascon?" wondered Marcassin. "What's so urgent that you needed to pull me aside?"

"It's not actually something I wanted to talk about but something I wanted you to see. Or rather, someone who is here to see you." Marcassin followed his brother's line of sight and spotted Esther immediately.

Without even thinking Marcassin took long strides to close the distance between them. As he approached Oliver smiled as he noticed Marcassin's heart glowed a brighter and more brilliant shade of pink with every step. As he approached a pale light started to emanate from Esther's heart.

"Esther," he said with a voice that unsuccessfully suppressed his eagerness. He almost reached for her hands but stopped himself.

"Marcassin," she answered uncomfortably at a loss of what to say or how to even begin to apologize.

"This is it," smiled Oliver, pulling out his wand. "Pea was right. It's a perfect match."

"What is?" asked Marcassin, realizing for the first time that all his friends surrounding them were staring intently at him.

"Your heart," answered Oliver simply. "It's a perfect match for what Esther's been missing all this time." Oliver turned to Esther with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry you've waited a while for this. But with Marcassin's permission, I'd like to try now."

"Esther?" asked Marcassin searching her face for an explanation but she shook her head gently as if to tell him that she did not understand it wholly herself.

"She was permanently damaged by Shadar's curse," said Swaine, leaning on a pillar in the shadows. "It's been eating away her heart all this time." Marcassin's eyes went wide with concern and this time he did not hesitate to take her hands and squeeze them tightly.

"Lend me some of your heart, Marcassin. So I can heal Esther, please," smiled Oliver.

"Gladly," answered the emperor without hesitation. He placed her hands on his chest. "I would gladly offer it." Esther remained speechless and felt her face grow hot.

"Marcassin," she began. "I -"

He placed a finger over her lips and shook his head. The way he looked at her told her everything she needed to know.

Oliver tapped his wand against Marcassin's chest and the tip began to glow a fiery pink flame.

"This is the flame of love," smiled Oliver. True love, in its purest form shined brightly against all other hearts. Oliver recalled the glow of his mother's heart was very similar. Marcassin's love was cultured since childhood, growing pure into adulthood, and now shining brightly against the darkness within Esther.

He touched his want to Esther's chest and she felt a warmth slowly seep into her very core. She breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy blight had been washed away and the world looked different now as she breathed it in. It was brighter somehow.

Esther looked at Marcassin and felt the tears building. He held her hands close to his heart.

"How do you feel?" he asked cautiously.

"I…think…." she hesitated and a fierce flush rose in her cheeks as she looked down at their joined hands. Esther took a deep breath and met his gaze. "I…love you," she said in a hushed voice.

Her friends all breathed a collective sigh of relief amongst themselves. The revelry continued around them, heedless of their small victory, but the circle of friends closed in around Marcassin and Esther with joyous smiles. Cassiopeia returned with Rashaad and Esther's father raised an eyebrow at how the Emperor of Hamelin was gripping his daughter's hands to his chest as they exchanged shy glances. Marcassin noticed her father at last and let go of Esther immediately to bow to the Sage of Al-Mamoon.

"I seem to be out of the loop on something," said Rashaad cautiously as Marcassin pulled him aside to discuss things further in private. When her father was thoroughly informed, he beamed at his daughter and joined her hand with his future son-in-law's, clasping his hands over them as he expressed his joy for them both. Their friends came forth again to tease and congratulate them simultaneously.

With purpose, Marcassin pulled Esther away from them for a quiet moment alone and escorted her to a nearby alcove hidden from prying eyes and ears.

"Esther, I think I have loved you ever since we said our goodbyes the first time, when I was still a boy. Do you remember?" he asked quietly. She thought back to the time and slow smile spread across her lips. "Yes, I do remember."

"Now I truly need to hear you say it. Do you love me?"

"W-what?" Esther stammered with embarrassment. "You do like putting me on the spot don't you?"

"Please," he squeezed her hand again. "Will you answer?"

"Of course I do. You must believe me." She leaned into him and brushed her lips lightly against his cheek. "I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you."

"So all this time, you were incapable of reciprocating? How awful that must have been, and I did not even realize."

"You're the one who made me see that it was broken all along. I didn't know it myself until your feelings reached me and I was forced to face it. With you I actually felt...alive. But like that, I couldn't make you happy."

"So you did not accept me then," he concluded thoughtfully. "Can you accept me now?" he asked suddenly.

The increasing warmth in her heart told her there was really only one answer she could give. "Of course, but…are you asking me to marry you?" she asked shyly.

"I am, and I would continue to ask until you give me the answer I seek," he grinned impishly.

"This is the only time you will need to ask," she said in an almost whisper. His eyes went wide and he lifted her by the waist and spun her around once off her feet and she cried out in surprise and burst out laughing with him. Their friends were watching them very closely now and exchanged knowing grins.

"Yes?" he asked as he beamed at her.

"Yes," she answered and all their friends came back to interrupt them again with congratulatory cheers.