The Fae King's Ruin

No Goodbyes

She returned to the King’s suite, almost running the whole way there in her high heels. She felt a mixture of thrill and excitement that was slightly overshadowed by a hint of uncertainty. Despite the fact that Avery had already expressed his support if she decided to go back to Mhoryga, Aislin had to admit that some of her advisers’ words had gotten through to her.

What if proximity played a major role in the King’s affections for her? They have not been romantic for very long and every single thing between them was still a new wonderland. What if all that somehow faded during the time she was away from Alfheim? 

Aislin was embarrassed that she was feeling this insecure about the King’s feelings about her, especially when he had not given her a reason to doubt him thus far. It was unfair to him that she was being this way, but how could she not entertain such thoughts? She did not really know what to expect; this was something new that they both have not experienced yet.

Would this… separation do them any good? Would it strengthen them? These were all questions that she felt as if she should know. If anything, it all felt like a gamble to her.

Her steps slowed as she neared Avery’s door. It opened, revealing a maid carrying out a tray of tea. Her gray eyes spotted her, curtsying as she paused.

“The King left, Your Highness,” the maid informed her, voice squeaking. “Ten minutes ago.”

Aislin felt her shoulders deflate, both from disappointment and relief. “Oh. Did he say where he was going?”

The maid regretfully shook her head. “No, milady, I do not. Should I find out where he is, milady?”

She pursed her lips but nodded. She knew that he probably had a million things on his to-do list for today that he needed to complete before the day was out, but her departure could not wait and she did not feel right with just leaving him a note to explain her absence. 

Aislin thanked the maid profusely before heading for her suite, her thoughts and worried preoccupying her. So she was caught by surprise by the amount of activity and noise happening inside of her chambers, which was apparently directed by none other than the Lady of Montfoltier.

“... no, that color will make her look too pale. We need warm and bright tones. Yes! That cobalt is perfect!” Catteline exclaimed as she happily clapped.

Aislin paused by her door, mouth agape at the hundreds of clothes piled up on almost every bit of furniture that she had. All three of her girls were helping the Lady Catteline sort through it, offering their opinions, while another two pairs of extra hands held out dresses of every fashion against their chests for her to choose from.

“Er, am I missing something?” Aislin shouted over the noise, almost too afraid to ask. She eyed all the clothes and the monstrosity of a pile in the middle of her parlor and looked up at a proud-looking Catteline beaming at her. “Catteline, what is this?”

The smile on the Lady’s face fell. “Uh-oh,” she said, biting her lip. “Am I correct in assuming that Avery has not told you anything yet?”

“Told me what?” she demanded, taking a wary step towards her.

She pointed to the piles of fabric behind her. “These are all your ‘Coming home’ clothes! Avery decided to bump the surprise trip to Mhoryga that he had been planning for you to five days from now.” Catteline grinned, her green eyes bright. “Isn’t that exciting?”

Aislin shook her head. “No, this cannot be happening.” Her words made everyone pause and glance at each other. 

Periwinkle immediately made a subtle gesture to the others and they all filed out of the room quietly as Catteline shook her head in confusion.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand. I thought you would be happier.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Under normal circumstances, I would be. Trust me on that. But… Catteline, there is an insurgency that we are trying to dissolve in Cetha. Actually, Aelthrys had just left a few hours ago to deal with it. I only got approval from my advisers moments ago to follow him to Cetha.”

Green eyes widened in fear. “There are rebels in your hometown and you are going back? Now? That’s crazy, Aislin! You could get killed!” she cried, rounding the sofa and taking both of her hands to shake her.

“I will be safe,” she assured her, even though there were no guarantees regarding her safety once she returned. Aislin hoped that she did not read that uncertainty in her eyes, even as she continued. “Besides, I am needed, and I have already been gone for far too long. How could my people stand with me when I need them when they cannot see me present during calamities?”

“And Avery is okay with you going? Is General Aelthrys?”

There was no way to answer her questions without lying, so she told her the truth. Sighing, she said, “The King is always supportive, no matter what I do. I just do not know what’s running on his mind to choose an earlier date for this vacation he had been hiding from me when he knows full well that Cetha is not safe yet. I still need to talk to him but he wasn’t in his suite.” She sighed before adding, “With regards to my cousin, of course, he is not okay with it. He does not even know I am following him.”

“You must be mad if you are willing to suffer General Aelthrys’ anger,” Catteline murmured, her face suddenly flooding with worry. “Is he any good? At fighting, I mean. I know people call him ‘infamous’ for a reason, but will he be okay?”

It was only due to intense practice that Aislin managed to keep her surprise fully to herself. Up until today, Catteline had never shown concern for Aelthrys in any shape, way, or form. It made her curious to find out what, exactly, did she talk to him about earlier this morning and how much of that conversation actually changed the way the Lady of Montfoltier viewed Aelthrys. 

But Aislin swallowed the urge to ask. It was not her business. Not yet, at least, and there were more pressing matters to attend to.

“You don’t have to worry about him,” she said in what she hoped to be a comforting manner. “Aelthrys is the best fighter in the land; no one has been able to best him for fifty years. He’ll be fine.”

A war seemed to wage internally for the Lady of Montfoltier, reflected by the tiny slits of her eyes. But it did not seem to last very long. Catteline nodded and sighed, looking up at her with resigned determination. “If he is as competent as you say he is, I won’t be worried anymore. And I think that’s also why the vacation has been pushed to five days from now. Avery believes General Aelthrys can finish whatever it is happening in the south in that amount of time.”

“I do,” said a low voice behind the two females.

Aislin spun towards Avery, his hair windswept, wearing an emerald jacket. She barely noticed Catteline's curtsy quickly as the King moved closer to her. He held a hand out and she put hers in his, his golden eyes knowing.

“You’ve been cleared?” he asked, even though he suspected the answer.

She nodded. “I leave in an hour. I wanted to say goodbye.”

But the King shook his head. “No goodbyes, Aislin,” he murmured, caressing her cheek. “I will see you in five days and you will show me your life before you came into mine. Wait for me?”

Her heart warmed with the thought. Catteline was right. Avery was indeed that confident that they would be able to fix the problem in just five days. Maybe even less. She smiled, reaching up with her toes, and kissed him on the cheek.

“I will,” she whispered, letting herself be pulled by his hypnotic gaze one last time. “Meet me in the Capital five days from now.”

Avery gave her a cheeky grin. “I will,” he promised.

Then he pulled her to him, not caring if they had an audience or not, and crashed his lips down on hers. Everything else that had been left unsaid between them was expressed in every touch of their lips, every clutch tighter that they held on to. It did not take long for her senses to be fully overwhelmed by him. She memorized his scent, the feel of his curls wrapping around her fingers when she ran through them. She took note of how warm he felt this close to her.

For a split second, she considered going back on her word and not going, but that would have been a betrayal in and of itself. 

With all the strength she could muster, she pulled back. His eyes, a dark amber now, fluttered close as he rested his forehead on top of hers. 

“Someday,” he whispered. “I won’t have to say goodbye like this to you.”

Her heart ached. “Someday,” she agreed, fighting off the tears that threatened to fall down her eyes. 

And it was that little promise, one that she had also made to him the day she received the ring on her left hand, that gave her hope and optimism that she would, in five days, see him again. But for now, she had to think of her people. And if she could just strain her ears hard enough, Aislin could imagine their voices crying out for her.