Sorry, it has been a while. I have been sick and it has been really hot here, so I couldn't really stand sitting indoors.
But anyway here's a chapter
Two years later
"Grandpa." Brian giggled as he leaned onto the old man, who smiled down at him.
"How are you doing, young man?" The innkeeper said.
Wendy smiled from the blanket as Brian and Edward's daughter, Melanie, chased each other around their grandfather's rocking chair.
Brian stumbled and fell at the old man's feet as he ran.
"Here let me, father," Edward said and got up from the blanket when the old man tried to bend down to the child.
He pulled the little boy to his feet and the little boy ran and clung to his grandfather's legs.
"Edward!" The old man scolded.
"Let it be, Father," Wendy said loud enough for him to hear.
Her mother put a hand on her shoulder, as the older man looked at his son with sharp eyes before the children continued their game. Suddenly an older redheaded girl joined them in their game.
"Do not be too hard on him, my sweet. He is having a bit of trouble being old."
She said the last part in a low tone, but Wendy's father still looked in their direction before he turned back to Brian, who giggled and sputtered at him.
"Daddy up!" Edward's daughter squealed and ran at her father.
"There you go, sweetie," Edward said as he hoisted his young daughter into the air. She giggled delighted.
Wendy smiled as Brian and Eva jumped around at Edward's feet, begging him to pick them up as well.
It reminded her of when she played with her siblings there with their grandmother sitting in the rocking chair.
"By the way my sweet, did I tell you?" Her mother said as the children continued their game.
"Tell me what?" Wendy asked.
"David was thinking about asking that painter friend of yours for lessons…" Her mother said.
"Elias?" Wendy raised an eyebrow. "Whatever for?"
Edward's wife, Helena, giggled beside her. "You know Mrs. Wendy. David has always been a dreamer."
Wendy smiled at her sister-in-law. "I believe we all are..."
"Madam," The coachman said with a bow as he came closer. "It is about time for us to return to the estate."
Wendy sighed. "Already? But Brian is playing so well with his cousin and I have not even seen all my brothers yet."
The coachman bowed his head again. "I apologize, Madam, but you have another appointment in the evening."
The shadows weren't even getting long yet, and the ride back to the estate wouldn't be so long.
Wendy sighed again and got up.
"Do not be too sad, my dear." Her mother said and got up from the blanket and held her hands. "You can come again another time, and this time we will make sure all the boys are home."
Wendy looked at Edward with envy as he twirled the children around.
"He is taking really good care of the inn, is he not?"
Her mother smiled gently. "Yes, he is taking good care of all of us." Her mother squeezed Wendy's hand. "Next time you come, you can bring Eric with you. It has been such a long time since we have all eaten together."
Wendy smiled and called for Brian.
The little boy toddled towards her and hugged her skirt. She patted him on the head.
These days she would not be able to get Eric to go anywhere. Unless it was an important event, he spent his time with businessmen, or in his office. At least Brian didn't seem to have noticed that his father was only around during dinner and the evenings.
"I will do my best, Mother, but you know how busy he is." She smiled as she let her son toward the carriage.
"Wendy." Her father called as he hobbled closer.
She turned to him with a smile. He rarely ever called her by her name.
"Remember what I said, my little one?" The old man said that he patted Brian on the head. "If there is ever something wrong, you can come back."
Wendy was careful with her expression. "Father..."
"We would be more than happy to have you back if there is any trouble." He interrupted her. "not to mention I will get to see my grandson every day."
Brian giggled, as he took his grandfather's hand and pulled at the fingers.
Wendy smiled. "It is just a small hurdle, father. Besides, I have Brian to take care of."
She said a final goodbye before getting into the carriage with Brian.
As the carriage started moving, Brian waved at their family.
She hadn't really lied, but Eric could be so difficult sometimes. His work and her appointments made it hard for them to spend time together, and when they were, he often discussed their work.
"Mommy, story." Brian crocked as he climbed onto her lap, while they passed the inn.
Wendy smiled, no matter her problems with Eric, she was always grateful for Brian. "Of course. What kind of story, my dear?"
"Fairy story."
She smiled.
Three years
"May I come in?" She said after knocking.
"Of course, dear," Eric said from behind the door.
Eric always looked so strict as he sat in his office and worked.
"Was there something you wanted?" He asked as he glanced up from a piece of paper he was writing on.
"I would have brought it up during dinner, but this is where rather urgent." She said and fidgeted with the letter in her hand.
"What is it? Is it Brian?" He asked and looked up.
"No," She shook her head. "He is fine. It is about Lady Crestford…"
Eric's eyes immediately narrowed, and he looked down at his papers again. "Baron Crestford's wife? What about her?"
"She wrote to me asking for help," Wendy said and fidgeted with the envelope. "They are having some financial issues."
"You should stop corresponding with her," Eric said without looking up from his papers again. "They are no longer worthy of our friendship."
Wendy froze for a moment. "But Lady Crestford has been a friend of your mother for years!"
"Then why did my mother not receive a letter?" Eric said under his breath as he continued to write something.
"Eric!" Wendy snapped. "Crestford family has been nothing but kind to us … and they are in trouble…"
Eric sighed and looked up at her. When they didn't like the look in his eye, he looked at her like she was a child.
"My sweet, I love your good nature, but it will only reflect poorly on us if we continue this." He said with a loving smile.
Wendy remembered how Lady Crestford had been so nice to her after she had cleared up a misunderstanding between her daughter, Catherine, and Elias.
"Quite frankly, the downfall is their own fault." Eric finished and continued writing.
"How is this any of their fault?" Wendy snapped and crumbled the envelope in her hand. "How were they supposed to know their daughter would run off with a servant a year into her marriage? And now everyone is turning their backs on them!"
"Of course they are," Eric said like it was a matter of fact and looked up at her with pity. "And that is why they wrote to you and not my mother because they know you are good-natured about these things." He sighed and shook his head. "Let it be my sweet, they are responsible for their own downfall."
"How is this any of their fault?" She tried to reason. "Everyone is pulling away from them now, because of what happened with their daughter."
"If they did not want this to happen, they should have taught their daughter better." Eric sighed again and turned back to his writing.
"And maybe I should have found myself a better husband!" Wendy did not know where the words came from, but they spewed out of her.
Eric looked up at her stunned.
Wendy was a little taken aback by what she had said too, but it was the first time in a long time that she had been able to talk without him interrupting her.
"Sometimes, sometimes I wish I had never married you. You cold, heartless man." She yelled at him and ran out.
She ran past staff on the way to her to their chamber.
She pulled open the door to Brian's playroom and saw the baroness and Brian sitting there.
"Oh, my dearest…" Her mother-in-law breathed and got up. "Look at you, you are crying and shaking."
She collapsed in the older woman's arms.
"What happened, Wendy?" The Baroness's words were mumbled by Wendy's sobs.
As she explained, the older woman just patted her back. "Oh, my dearest, sometimes couples have disagreements and say things they don't mean."
Wendy hiccupped, as she pulled away from her mother-in-law. She could not remember the last time she had cried like this.
"Mommy," Brian hugged her and she put her arms around him.
She rocked him quietly, both to calm herself and him.
She never wanted to show this kind of side of hers to Brian.
"Are you fine, Mommy?" The little boy asked and looked her in the eye.
"I am fine, my sweet," she said and wiped the tears away. "Mommy was just a bit sad because of something Daddy said."
The little boy got a stern expression. "I will go talk to him."
Wendy laughed. "That will not be necessary, Brian. I will go talk to Daddy." She hugged her son again. "But you made me feel better, my little boy."
Brian protested that he was getting big.
Wendy smiled and patted his head.
There was no better time than the time she spent with her son.
She caressed his face slowly.
She has so many good memories with Eric and him. Eric had been so much more present the first few years of Brian's life. He had barely left her alone during the pregnancy.
Wendy really wanted a lot of children. To be happy like her parents were, with lots of children surrounding them.
She was overcome with images of small children, as she continued to caress her son's face. It would be wonderful if he could have at least a few siblings.
"Everything will be fine, Mommy." Brian smiled at her.
Wendy smiled back. He looked more and more like his father.
A few days later
The maid sat down two teacups. "Madam, who will be joining you?"
Wendy smiled at the confused maid. "That will be all. Thank you."
"Apologies Madam, I am just concerned." The young woman said.
"There is nothing to be concerned about," Wendy said pleasantly but felt she could only breathe when the maid walked away.
Why not … tell them the truth? The Elven Queen asked as she sat down in the chair.
"That one in particular is very concerned about my mental state," Wendy said and nodded at the figure, which slowly getting smaller, as she made her way back to the estate. "When I say, I am having tea with you, she gets rather worried."
The Queen turned her endless eyes on Wendy. Could you not explain … that I am no danger to you…?
Wendy laughed as she poured tea. "It is not you they are worried about."
There is no reason … to worry about you… The Elven Queen lifted the cup with a natural elegance. It will all … be fine…
Wendy poured herself a cup of tea. "Well, I suppose it is as good as it can be."
No… The Elven Queen's dissatisfaction hung in the air. Your child is … nowhere to be found…
"He has begun taking lessons." Wendy sighed. "But trust me, he is as dissatisfied as you are with missing play time."
He is like you … He loves us … and we love him… The Elven's eyes glittered as she spoke.
Wendy smiled. She had been in a bad mood for days, and even though she had apologized to Eric and they had made peace, Things were still not going well. But no matter her mood, The Elven Queen could always make her smile.
"I do think that you forest creatures adore all children," Wendy said and took a handful of fairy bread from the bowl on the table and held it out for the green children hiding in the tree line.
We do… Her majesty's words echoed all around her as the little green children waddled closer and ate the sweets from out of Wendy's palm. But we adore yours the most….
"I am sure Brian will be happy to hear that." Wendy smiled as the little green creatures tried to look for more sweets in her empty hand.
Yes … yes …. He will be very happy….
Thanks for reading, please tell me what you think.
I had a bit of a hard time writing this chapter, but I hope the next one will be better.