Rowans Choice

Chapter Seventeen- Hell froze over

We return from the field trip before dark, my neck ached from holding a pose so damn long, and Andy complained that she had splinters in her rear all the way back to the Oak.

"Where have you two been" Cricket asked as we walked from the lift into our branch, flanked by the guards.

Robin jumped up from the small drawing room where they had been lounging and followed suit "shall we draw you a bath" she asks.

I throw my head back and moan "god yes... a deep and soapy one"

"That sounds heaven" Andy remarks.

"Make Andy one too will you Cricket" I ask looking back over my shoulder.

Cricket looks to Robin with a frown and then picks up her step to walk beside us "Draw Andy a bath" she whispers through closed lips.

"Yes" I return

Crickets urgent yank of my arm as she pulled me into my chambers and away from Andy made me yelp.

"See you at dinner" Andy called from the hallway.

Our guards stopped outside of our doors and took their places.

Robin and cricket manhandled me into my room and shut the door.

"Do we like her now... what's happened... we've been kept out for three days so you could attend couples therapy and now...all is well?!" Cricket asks, almost hysterically.

"What is that lady putting in your tea" Robin asks checking my forehead for a temperature.

"Days ago you were crying into your pillow and blowing holes in walls... you told us we were right and you were done with her... Rowan this relationship is so unhealthy" cricket argues.

"I will not run that fire fairy a bath" Cricket says defiantly.

"Me neither" Robin adds.

They both walk away from me to the loveseat beside my balcony and fall into it, their gowns slowly deflating from puffed up skirts to limp looking drapes.

"Cricket... Robin... I love you... but...your future Queen is asking you to do your jobs and assist the Queen consort to bathe and dress for dinner... if you do not get up off of your butts right this second and draw us both a bath... you are going to know what it feels like to be on my bad side"

"I am your lady in waiting" Cricket reminded me "not hers" she says like a petulant child.

"And tomorrow...we shall pick her out her own ladies maids, but tonight I need you to obey my orders for once in your lives and do this for me"

"Grrr" Cricket growls "I hate that you own my ass. Fine, Robin will have to do Andy's though, because I'm not sure I wouldn't attempt to drown her for the way she's made you feel"

Robin doesn't appreciate the offer of her help "Wait... why do I have to do it"

"Actually Robin that works out best. I have another job for Cricket tonight that requires her to be out till late"

They both swivel their heads like demented little dolls on a shelf, toward me.

"Hate to ask" Cricket groans.

I sit on the end of my bed and lie back, resting my hands on my stomach.

Cricket and Robin struggle out of their seat and swish across the room. The bed dips as they both lie down either side of me. We all look up to the white canopy above the bed.

"What must I do" Cricket asks quietly.

I nip my lip with my teeth. I don't even want to say it. I'm not entirely sure why I suggested Luna could come here, it would be torture to watch them together and have them in my face day by day. I would consider myself a raving lunatic ... if not for the fact I loved Andy, and love made you do crazy things. Love was the only force strong enough, to override your instinct of survival and have you do something that might kill you, to save them. I would do that, make her happy, even if it killed me in the process.

I turn my head sideways and Cricket looks to me with her deep brown eyes, the summer heat had pinked her usual warm brown skin. The oak didn't ventilate well in humidity.

"Travel into Olamoore and take a letter to Luna for me. I am requesting her to be brought to the Oak first thing in the morn. I want her to be ready and waiting for the guard to escort her"

Cricket turns onto her side sharply, her dark locks tickling my cheek as it fell over me "To be executed I do hope"

I roll my eyes "To become Andy's Lady in waiting"

Both Robin and Cricket both appear to levitate from the bed in shock, before jumping to their feet and pulling me onto mine, one hand in each of theirs as they yanked me upward.

"Have you lost your damn mind" Robin asks. "Has hell frozen over"

I stumble onto my feet between them and force myself to sit down on the end of the bed "Sycamore was right" I confess begrudgingly.

"Sycamore is never right" Cricket interrupts.

"That little troll needs to be sent back to Windlere...didn't your father banish him there once" Robin asks.

"They would send him straight back... Windlere is much too care free for Sycamore. He would be better off in Valendoor" Cricket suggests.

"Stop talking both of you" I demand as my head began to throb with a headache.

"Sycamore isn't going anywhere... despite how I would love to banish him and his squeaky little demands. He's right. If I take away what Andy loves... she will never look to me with love. I can't make her life miserable just because she doesn't want me. If I find it impossible I will have them moved to the opposite side of the Oak after the wedding"

Cricket stamps her feet "But Rowan that girl is awful. I've never heard anything good about her. I'm warning you now... letting Luna in the Oak is like letting a wolf into your home and expecting it not to eat your family when it gets hungry"

"Andy loves her" i argue. "I trust that she wouldn't love somebody like that"

"You are blinded by the fact that you love her" Robin accuses. "You are not thinking straight"

"Mark my words" Cricket says loud for all to hear "Luna will be the undoing of you" and she strutted off, grabbing the water jug and dragging the tin bath to the centre of the room.

Robin shakes her head slowly at me, a look of disappointment on her face. She tucked her dark hair behind her ear and widened her almond eyes "it's your funeral Princess... I think you had it right two days ago... be angry at her... and withdraw your affection. It's the shock to the system she needs" she says, before turning and leaving for Andy's room opposite.

Robin was right to a point. I did need to remove myself from Andy, but not with anger...

I would give her Luna on a plate, serve her up with a side salad and hope to god Andy got bored of eating the same damn meal day after day and night after night. A dish isn't so desirable when it becomes mundane. Let her taste her choice ... and see how it doesn't satisfy her craving.

The real snack was across the hall, the midnight craving but a door away... and once our magic touched... and I filled every inch of her with its power on our wedding night...I knew Luna would be ruined forever for her anyway. No magic would ever feel the same as mine, and no magic that touched her thereafter would feel as intense to her, not ever again.

I was the banquet, and Luna was the dogs dinner.

I was playing the long game here... and god knows I had time... centuries of it.