Dryad

High court

We received an invitation to the court which, I assume, came from the king at Pavel's persuasion. Tarlow didn't want to go, but he couldn't really stay when he saw that I had already made up my mind to go and there was no such force that would stop me. I didn't need anything except my baby and Celestina, who would have come even if I hadn't told her I was going. She found the letter, it's not like we could hide it from her. Vadim was willing to lend us a horse (he was willing to lend it to me, but Tarlow came in the package) with which we went all the way to the royal city. I could talk any centaur into taking me, but no centaur could match with Tarlow. I don't want to say it, but it seems to me that Tarlow has a negative effect in most situations.

Pavel met us at the entrance after we arrived and took us inside before Tarlow could argue with all the guards and get us banished from the city for good. The poor little guy must have been waiting in front of the entrance day and night just so we'd come across him first:

-I wasn't sure if you would come.-he said and had to hug me just a little bit more along with his little brother:

- I'm not happy with the fact that you dragged us here, but Klarissa would come with or without me. Sometimes I think she's sorry she wasn't the one to give birth to you and proceeded to spoil you like she does with all those fairies that infest my house.

-I will tangle your hair and stuff dust in your clothes. You're gonna shine like the sky on a clear summer night.-Celestina threatened him.

At the other end of the long corridor, the king himself appeared and gracefully walked up to us. It can't be said that he's that old, he certainly looks younger than Tarlow, so I don't know why he has such a strong need to find a successor so quickly, but only he knows the reason . He doesn't seem to be in a particularly good mood, but even so gloomy he has that beauty and elegance that elves have. He reminds me of Vadim. Something always annoyed him, but no matter how moody he was, his temper was always under control:

-You decided to come anyway. I expect there will be no problem with you.

-I will take care of them.-Pavel said immediately:

-You wanted them here. Don't regret it.

-You take my son away from me and then it bothers you that I visit him?-Tarlow got offended:

-Your attitude and behavior don't suit this kind of place. You remained as defiant as before.

-I'll take Pavel back with me if I just think he's having a bad time here, and you go look for the other children she left behind. He doesn't deserve that kind of mother.

-Pavel is a surprisingly kind and well-mannered creature. A person wouldn't say he's yours. And as for my wife... you won't have to meet her. I didn't even tell her you were coming over. She's ill and doesn't need your negative energy. You will only prolong her illness.

-I will pray for a quick and very soon shortening of her suffering.

-Let's settle you down.-Pavel said and pulled Tarlow away before he continued to speak and gave the king a reason for public execution.

Pavel had to show me the room he got for himself, and I'm not sure if he brought me to present to me everything he has or if he's still convincing himself that all that space is his. I would tell him that the size of the space doesn't fill all that silence you hear when you are completely alone for years, but luckily I can't speak, so today I won't drown anyone in depression. Celestina flew around to see if there was anything beautiful that she could take with her back to the meadow, and I started looking at all the plants he has for himself. I had to study every leaf and flower until I came to the pot of ivy I had given him when he left. It grew, but I couldn't help but notice the missing leaves:

-Klarissa?-Pavel addressed me and realized that I was staring at his ivy:

-It's not what you think. I came here with good intentions. But I had some things to sort out. I wouldn't hurt anyone else.-he said to me with a hint of fear in his voice as if he was afraid that I would give him away to others even though he knew that I would protect him in any way I could:

-This can stay between us, right? She would never loveme anyway. And I've had enough of her looking at me with such contempt andcomparing me to children who obviously deserved to have a mother who didn'tleave them.-so much pain in his voice, and he was always in a good mood whilehe ran wild with us in the forest. He shouldn't have committed such a thing,but what's done can't be undone now.