Godmother of The Seven

The Third

It had been a year, a whole year and some change since Sophia had been taken by the fairies, and Sigal had left for school not so long after that. I was beginning to regret all my medaling, not because I was wrong, or even worried about managing the kingdom, but simply because I missed my godchildren. Even with the others still here, I wished to see them, and that's how I got myself into trouble.

It was easy to think, I knew where the cottage in the forest was, and where I could slip away, noone would even notice I was gone, it wasn't as though I was necessary as anything more then an advisor to the king, and he didn't like my opinion these days. And so I let myself slip, sneaking off one day and forgetting, that even in a castle of inattentive kings and far to busy to be nosy servants, there were still those who would follow me.

And so that is how I wound up at the cottage in the glen, at the base of the cliff, staring into the all to familiar eyes of my eldest niece. Alice was sobbing as she stared at me; cloaked, dressed like some common traveler and holding a squirming Sophia in my arms.

"Hello dear," Adelina said happily, "how have you come to be this deep in the woods?" Alice stared at me,

"Do you want to explain this," She asked. I sighed passing Sophia back to Adelina,

"No, not really," I admitted, "But I will, if you'll listen." She waited, Adelina picking up the social cues headed back to the cabin. "I don't know if you remember who I really am, your mother didn't really bandy about with the connection."

"You're my aunt," Alice said, "I remember, so does Stephen." She wiped away at her tears and I reached into my pockets for kerchief.

"Then you will also remember that by rights I can challenge your fathers claim to the throne." She watched me carefully, "I did not want you in the way. Your father is not the man my sister married, he's consumed by grief and anger. I do not see prosperity when I look into the future of our kingdom under his rule."

"So what, you want to fight him, and get rid of all of us in the mean time, so you can rule and have your own heirs." I couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped me,

"Heirs," I laughed, "What do you think you are, Alice, I don't have children, I never will, and I a long time ago knew that. You, your siblings, you are the heirs. But I can not allow you to stay within the confines of our kingdom if it is to grow, and prosper in the future. Only you can help it do so, and to do that you need to grow up without someone telling you you're wrong all the time because your breathing." Alice looked down,

"I,"

"I don't have a better way," I admitted, "it's this or nothing, but here and there, they're safe from him, and maybe, you could all find one another."

"But won't I be putting Sophia in danger," Alice asked.

"I don't think so," I said.

"The witch," she said.

"She's not a witch," I said.

"She is wondering what you're doing here," Nissa said. Alice jumped back from the silently appearing fae, "You were not exempt from the boundaries I've set, you were supposed to stay away too." Alice looked out from behind me at her and the reality of our acquaintance dawned on her.

"I couldn't help it," I admitted, "You get to look after her all of the time, why can't I have a day?"

"Because you will give her away," Nissa said.

"Excuse me," Alice said, "But didn't you curse my sister."

"Yes, though it isn't a serious curse, not seeing peoples flaws could be considered a blessing," Nissa said and for a moment our eyes met again, and we stepped away from one another.