Chapter Five - The Last Goodbye
1600 Words
The journey home felt longer than usual.
Choolwe leaned back inside the royal carriage, staring out of the window as the palace disappeared behind him.
The King's decision had bought them time.
Not forever...
But enough.
Enough to leave Earth Z.
Enough to protect the little girl.
Enough to give Chansa hope.
His hand unconsciously rested against the royal pass tucked safely inside his coat.
It wasn't given lightly.
Very few families were permitted to cross into the human world while keeping their powers.
The King trusted him.
That thought weighed heavily on his heart.
"I won't fail you," he whispered.
The carriage rolled through the countryside before finally reaching the entrance to the Phiri Estate.
Before it had even come to a complete stop...
The front door burst open.
Chansa ran down the steps.
She didn't care who was watching.
She threw her arms around her husband the moment he climbed down.
He laughed softly as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I take it you missed me."
"A little."
"A little?"
She smiled.
"Fine."
"I missed you terribly."
He kissed her forehead.
"I missed you too."
"So?"
She searched his face.
"What happened?"
He looked around at the workers nearby.
"Let's go inside."
She immediately understood.
Whatever had happened...
It wasn't something to discuss in public.
•••
Tamara quietly closed the study door behind them.
The room fell silent.
Only the crackling fireplace filled the space.
Chansa sat beside her husband.
She reached for his hand.
"What did the King say?"
Choolwe smiled.
"We've been granted permission."
Her eyes widened.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"We leave for Earth."
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
She threw her arms around his neck.
"Thank you."
He chuckled.
"You should be thanking the King."
"I'm thanking my husband."
"I know how difficult that must have been."
He kissed the top of her head.
"I'd cross every kingdom for you."
Tamara smiled quietly from across the room.
Everything was unfolding exactly as she had hoped.
"What about the Council?" Chansa asked.
"They'll appoint someone to oversee our region until we return."
Choolwe nodded.
"My brother volunteered almost before the King finished speaking."
Neither of them looked surprised.
"Mumba."
Chansa sighed.
"He never wanted to help us."
"He wanted our seat."
"And now he thinks he's won."
A comfortable silence settled over the room.
Then...
A tiny giggle echoed from the hallway.
All three of them turned towards the door.
A moment later...
The little girl waddled into the room.
Her tiny feet stumbled across the polished floor as she held tightly onto the edge of a blanket that was far too big for her.
She spotted Choolwe.
Her whole face lit up.
"Up!"
She stretched both little arms towards him.
His heart melted instantly.
Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms.
"There you are."
The little girl rested her head against his shoulder with a contented sigh.
Almost as though she'd done it a hundred times before.
Chansa smiled.
"I think she likes you."
"I think she likes being carried."
The little girl giggled as Choolwe gently bounced her.
Tamara watched them quietly.
Then...
She frowned.
Her fairy instincts had never failed her before.
Yet every time she looked at the little girl...
She felt something different.
Something...
Hidden.
She slowly walked closer.
"My Lord..."
"My Lady..."
"I'd like to examine her."
Chansa looked up.
"Is something wrong?"
Tamara forced a reassuring smile.
"I don't know."
"I simply want to make sure she's healthy before such a long journey."
Choolwe gently handed the little girl to Tamara.
The fairy held her carefully before closing her eyes.
A warm golden light spread through the room.
Tiny sparkling particles floated gently around them like dancing fireflies.
The little girl laughed and reached for them.
She wasn't afraid.
Not even a little.
Tamara placed one hand gently against the child's forehead.
Then another over her tiny heart.
She searched carefully.
For magic.
For illness.
For anything unusual.
Nothing.
The child appeared completely human.
And yet...
There it was again.
That strange feeling.
As though someone...
Or something...
Was shielding her.
Tamara slowly opened her eyes.
She smiled.
"She's perfectly healthy."
Chansa let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness."
Tamara nodded.
But deep inside...
She knew she hadn't told them the whole truth.
Because whatever was protecting the little girl...
Was powerful enough to hide itself from almost everyone.
Almost.
Tamara lowered her eyes.
"Who are you, little one?" she wondered silently.
"And who has gone to such great lengths to keep you hidden?"
Outside...
High above the estate...
A raven landed silently on the branch of an ancient oak tree.
A small scroll was tied to its leg.
Moments later, the bird spread its wings and disappeared into the evening sky.
It wasn't flying towards the Royal Palace.
It was flying somewhere much...
Much darker.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly.
News of Lord and Lady Phiri's departure spread across the estate.
Although no one dared question their decision, sadness lingered on every face.
For years, the Phiris had treated everyone with kindness and respect.
To many of the workers...
They weren't just employers.
They were family.
As the sun began to set, Choolwe gathered everyone outside the manor.
More than a hundred workers stood before him.
Farmers.
Healers.
Blacksmiths.
Guards.
Fairies.
Werewolves.
Witches.
Every race that called the estate home stood together.
Choolwe looked at the familiar faces.
Some had worked for his father.
Others had watched him grow into the man he had become.
Seeing them all together made saying goodbye even harder.
"My friends..."
His voice carried across the courtyard.
"As many of you already know..."
"My wife and I will be leaving Earth Z for a while."
A wave of whispers moved through the crowd.
"We don't know how long we'll be away."
"But this estate will remain your home."
"No one will lose their work."
"No family will go hungry."
"If any problems arise, the acting council members will continue managing the region."
Several workers lowered their heads.
An elderly woman stepped forward.
"My Lord..."
"Will you come back?"
Choolwe smiled warmly.
"I certainly hope so."
"If fate allows it..."
"I'll return."
The woman wiped away a tear.
"We'll be waiting."
The crowd nodded in agreement.
"We'll protect your home."
"We'll keep everything just as you left it."
"You have our word."
Choolwe bowed his head.
"And you have my gratitude."
Behind him, Chansa quietly held the little girl.
The child watched everyone with curious eyes.
She didn't understand what was happening.
She only knew the people around her looked sad.
One by one...
Several workers stepped forward to say goodbye.
An older fairy kissed the little girl's forehead.
"Take care of your mama."
The little girl blinked before reaching for Chansa's hand.
Everyone laughed softly.
"Looks like she's already chosen."
Chansa smiled through watery eyes.
"I think she has."
•••
As darkness settled over the estate, the manor became unusually quiet.
Boxes had been packed.
Clothes neatly folded.
Important family documents locked away.
Everything they couldn't take had been carefully stored.
Only a few bags remained by the front door.
Chansa walked slowly through each room.
The library.
The dining hall.
The music room.
Every corner held a memory.
"This was our first home."
She whispered more to herself than anyone else.
Choolwe found her standing on the balcony overlooking the fields.
"They're beautiful tonight."
She nodded.
"I don't know when we'll see them again."
He slipped his hand into hers.
"Home isn't a place."
She looked at him.
"It's wherever we're together."
She rested her head against his shoulder.
"You always know the right thing to say."
"I've had five years of practice."
She laughed.
"And you're still practicing."
"I'll be practicing for the rest of my life."
A tiny laugh interrupted them.
They turned around.
The little girl was peeking through the balcony doorway.
She had somehow escaped Tamara's watch.
Blanket dragging behind her...
She toddled towards them.
"Up."
Choolwe laughed.
"You've become quite demanding."
He lifted her into his arms.
The little girl yawned before resting her head against his chest.
Within seconds...
She was asleep.
Chansa watched them both.
Her heart felt full.
For years she had imagined moments like this.
She just never imagined they would happen this way.
•••
Later that night...
Long after everyone had gone to bed...
Tamara stood alone in the gardens.
Moonlight reflected from the small lake beside the manor.
She looked up at the stars.
Then slowly closed her eyes.
A faint golden glow surrounded her.
Tiny lights circled her wings as ancient fairy magic flowed through the night air.
"I know you're there," she said softly.
The wind stirred.
No answer came.
"I've felt you since the child arrived."
Still...
Silence.
Tamara opened her eyes.
"If you're protecting her..."
"Then show yourself."
For several long moments...
Nothing happened.
Then a cold breeze swept across the gardens.
The flowers bowed.
The lake rippled.
A voice drifted through the darkness.
"You ask questions..."
"...whose answers would change the future."
Tamara's wings stiffened.
She couldn't see who was speaking.
Only darkness.
"Who are you?" she asked.
A soft chuckle echoed through the night.
"You'll know..."
"...when the time is right."
The presence disappeared as suddenly as it had come.
Tamara remained perfectly still.
For the first time in centuries...
The fairy felt something she almost never experienced.
Fear.
She slowly turned towards the manor.
One window still glowed with candlelight.
The nursery.
She smiled sadly.
"Sleep well, little one."
"Tomorrow..."
"Your journey begins."
- Writer
