The Fae King's Ruin

The King and the Promise

Despite facing an inquiry from his advisers and having no answers of his own to give, Avery still spent the past two days keeping his questions to himself whenever he was with Aislin.

It wasn’t that there was no curious bone in Avery’s body. Of course, he wanted to know what had gone wrong that day for Aislin to react in such a way, but he was staying true to his promise to her. He wanted her to come to him of her own volition and allow him to help in the capacity she dictated. So far, however, he was still waiting.

He tried his best not to let it get to him. To some degree, Avery understood that Aislin was not the same as him. They grew up differently, had a different frame of reference in response to a number of situations, and he had gathered that there was some unlearning she had to do with some responses. 

In fact, he had noticed that she no longer looked at him critically with those midnight eyes like she used to. They had thankfully de-escalated to soft skepticism now but it was usually gone with a blink of an eye.

Besides, knowing that Aislin was the source of the earthquake and shockwave that rocked the whole of Alfheim was enough for him for now. At least he was not completely clueless about it and could reassure his advisers that they were not under attack. 

Though it did cause him some worry. When he’d worn similar metal bindings, no amount of rage or power from him could get through or manifest itself. The bracelets given to Aislin must have been faulty.

He'd written a letter already and sent it to Akū , asking for advice, but he doubted that the Orc Chief would be able to send him a reply anytime soon. Akū tended to answer all their missives in person, so really, Avery didn’t know why he sent the letter at all in the first place. 

After lunch with Catteline, he put on his jacket and went to Aislin’s room to escort her to the Great Council meeting. It would be the last one they would have for the remainder of the year in order to make way for the winter season and festivities. Their own engagement party was set just a week from now, followed by Safiya and Xaero’s wedding the next day.

He smiled at Aislin when her door opened. She was dressed in a crushed velvet black gown that silhouetted her curves and made her seem fairer. Her hair tumbled down in loose waves, its color pale and silver like the moon. Her crown sat atop her head, fashioned in black this time, with her lips as red as blood.

If he was being honest, Avery felt a jolt of fear run through him when he saw her. She looked like a vengeful goddess of the moon that could smite him down if she wanted to. And she really could. Knowing that something wasn’t working right with her bracelets gave cause for fear as well.

But she smiled back and it wasn’t malicious or fearsome at all. Her sharp features softened along with the curving of her lips and it rather felt like a deity was smiling down at him in blessing.

“You look marvelous,” he said to her, unable to help himself from kissing her red lips. Just a small peck that brought out color in her cheeks. “Really. Every time I see you, I feel like you’re more and more unreal.”

Those wide, childlike eyes narrowed at him playfully. “And you are too generous with your compliments that I keep having a hard time thinking all of them are true. Tell me, Your Majesty. What gives?”

“Can’t I shower my future wife with affection?”

Aislin chuckled, soft and melodic. “Save some for when we’re actually married, Avery,” she said, patting the hand he had over hers on his arm. “Will you be presenting today?”

He looked at her with curiosity. “No. Are you?”

An anxious expression crossed her face like a shadow. “Yes,” she said quietly. “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time and I just finished with it yesterday.”

That raised his brows. While Aislin had all sorts of wonderful, ingenious ideas that she put forth in the Great Council all the time, he had never heard her speak of one like this to him. It was clear that she was nervous about whatever project she’ll be bringing up today, enough to bring it up with him. It intrigued him but he was not going to push it. He clutched her hand and warmed her cold fingers.

“I’m sure you’ll do well. You always do whenever—”

She cut him off, “Will you support me in this?”

Avery paused in his tracks, bringing the princess along with him. “Why do you think that I won’t give you my vote? Aislin, should I be concerned about this?”

Silver locks danced as she shook her head 'no' vehemently. "No, no. You don't have to worry. I just– I feel like it will be a big discussion and I want you to know that I only mean what's best for our futures."

He frowned, not understanding why she thought this particular proposal of hers would lead to a 'discussion'. Avery stared at the worry lines that seemed to be creasing her usually flawless face and decided that perhaps this was just her stress talking. He began to nod but she grabbed his hand with urgency.

"I know I'm in no position to ask this of you," Aislin whispered. "But I need you to promise me you'll vote for me."

"Aislin, I–"

Her dark eyes widened, pleadingly. "Please. It's important, Avery."

He blinked at her in surprise, wholly taken aback by her insistence. Avery knew he should have thought about it more. That perhaps he shouldn't have given her his word. Except he did. Though it was not for a lack of common sense, it was because Aislin had never begged like this. Actually, she never seemed to want for anything except that leatherbound journal that she’d ask for all those weeks ago. 

 And dammit, he wanted to be able to give her this, even if it wasn’t wise.

“Okay.” He kissed her forehead. “I promise you’ll have my support.”

If he weren’t standing so close to her, he would not have felt every muscle in her body relax. “Thank you.”

They walked the rest of the way to the Silver Hall in silence, mostly because Avery was distracted by Aislin’s earlier behavior. He didn’t know exactly what was going on, what was so important to her that she needed to secure his vote before they were even before the Great Council, but he could feel that whatever it was, Aislin had a good reason for it.

He only hoped she would bother to try and explain it to him afterward, if only to see if he’d made some kind of irreversible mistake. And gods did Avery hope that he didn’t make a mistake.

Res and Aelthrys were quietly speaking to each other when they arrived outside the hall. They only bowed and took their spots behind Aislin and him before the heavy, wrought doors opened. As one, the delegates stood, and they made their way to the two thrones sitting above the dais. Aislin removed her hand from over his and, through the reflection of the walls before them, saw her slip a hand into a hidden pocket in her dress and retrieve a scroll of parchment.

Her proposal.

Avery kept his mask firmly in place, his mind racing with all the possibilities the scroll might contain. Aislin said that she had worked on it for a long time. How long? Since the beginning? Why would she submit it to the Great Council just now?

Side by side, they stood. Side by side, they sat on their thrones. His made of vines and precious metal, hers made of sparkling adamant. And when he looked over to her, Aislin’s eyes were already on him, a silent plea still in her eyes despite his promise.

But there was something else within those dark depths. Something that bothered him greatly.

Because it also seemed to Avery that Aislin was saying sorry in advance for what she was about to do.