The Fae King's Ruin

Fresh Air

The tour of the castle was quite the experience for Aislin as well, despite already knowing the place by heart. After being away for so long, it was like looking through a whole new lens— one that was not as grayscale as the one before. It was brighter, more vibrant and in full color than how she used to look at her brother’s court.

Now, it was hers. That thought made Aislin giddy with excitement.

She started from the top down, from the astronomy tower commandeered by the scholars studying the skies of the new realm, to the various rooms and chambers of the castle. Most of them were left unused and others— those with unmentionable things within that had not been cleared yet— were closed off to them for access. At the lower levels, Aislin also avoided the dungeons completely, entering the northwest gate that would lead them instead to the impressive cellars they kept.

They had made quick work of the grounds by riding in an open carriage. They visited the five gardens that surrounded the lands, stopping by the private aviary and stables to show them the animals that they had successfully domesticated.

Avery tore his eyes from the jarkat, a gentle, flightless bird that was almost to his height, quietly purring against his hand that brushed down its soft feathers to look at her.

“It likes you,” Aislin told him with a sweet grin. “That one used to bite its caretaker.”

“Maybe he just has not met his match, yet,” the King replied, looking back at the creature with a kind of charmed wonder. “He’s a beauty.”

Aislin watched the way the bird preen, seeming to understand what had been said about him. It let out a cry, flapping its short wings as another pair of footsteps approached. Aislin and Avery looked behind the bird to see Catteline, surrounded by a gaggle of purple hayries that flew in lazy circles around her head as they chirped loudly.

“What are these cute little things? Never mind. Can I keep them?” The Lady of Montfoltier pleaded, “Please, please, please!”

“And where on earth would you keep those things in the palace?”Avery shook his head but was smiling at the ridiculously wide smile on her face. “Those look like a menace, Catt, not like the magnificent beast I have here.”

His cousin gasped in affront. She reached up and huddled the hayries to her even closer. Aislin giggled as the hayries let her, obviously content being with the Lady as well.

“It’s okay, little ones,” Catteline soothed them, turning away. “Don’t let the bad male offend you. He simply lacks taste.”

“Hey!” Aislin protested.

“Oh, not you,” she assured her with a grin. “In a sea of bad choices, my cousin finally got it right with you.”

Avery winked at them. Catteline laughed as she bounded away with her cloud of bright purple, leaving the two where they stood, a little ways separated from the rest of the staff. Aislin chuckled at the distant yelps of pain from Res who must have been visiting the Mhorygan horses in the stables next door.

She moved closer to Avery, sidling up to him as he lifted an arm to wrap around her. Amidst the smell of hay and animal feed, Aislin had no problem picking out his clean scent that she inhaled deeply.

Then, regretted as she coughed wildly.

He chuckled, rubbing her back in soothing circles. “Maybe we should head out where there is open space and fresh air?”

Aislin nodded, eyes watering. Once the both of them were outside and a fresh breeze from the sea came sweeping away the sharp stench that was her miscalculation. All throughout, Avery's hand kept at its calming motion.

"Better?"

"Much," she said with relief. "That was so stupid of me."

Avery grinned. "What was it you were trying to do in the first place?" Automatically, she blushed, earning the king's further interest. "Oh, you can't say that it is 'nothing’ now that you have got that reaction all over your face."

"Ugh, the truth is so embarrassing for me!" she moaned.

"Come on, I won't laugh," he promised.

His gold eyes turned into that molten, honey pools with bottomless pits that reeled in all those who looked into it. She was captivated by them all over again, encouraging her to be forthcoming— something that would no doubt be a regret of hers in the near future.

She made a face. "You know I missed you," Aislin said a little more forcefully than she meant to. "And having you so for away...” She shrugged. "I had to take in your scent all over again. I only miscalculated about how overpowering the scent of the environment would be."

True to his word, the King did not laugh. Instead, he stepped closer to her and brought his hand to her face to push her hair back. His eyes seemed to twinkle as he stared down at her while standing so close that all she could really see was him.

"Not a single day went by that I did not miss you too," he murmured. "Your staff and the rest of court back home can attest to how… not myself I had been without you. I am not proud of it, but it is the truth."

Aislin pushed together in concern. “We seem to be really miserable apart,” she half-whispered, remembering her own difficulties without him. “How will we deal with this in the future?”

He smiled. “Your people’s village in Alfheim helped so much for me. I checked in on them and made sure everything was fine.”

“Really?” Aislin did not bother to hide her tears. “Avery, that means so much to me.”

“And to me,” he said in earnest. “Look, we will figure something out. I am sure of it. And if it so happens that we are really just better together than apart, then we will have to reprogram and rethink how we plan to run two kingdoms between us.”

“I don’t think—”

But he cut her off with a chaste kiss. “We can,” he insisted, “and we will. Don’t worry about it.”

She did not bother saying that it would be impossible for her not to overthink this matter but she let it go for now and instead just let herself be happy with the moment. He was here, in her realm and court, and there was plenty more to worry about without the future adding to their list.