I Will Always Love You - Empires SMP S2 AU: Nature Wives

Chapter 4: Storm (Shelby)

"We're nearly there," Shelby shouted to Katherine over the whistling of the wind.

Katherine squeezed Shelby's waist in reply, to let her know that she had heard her, preferring not to holler over the roaring wind.

Shelby focused on steering the broom towards Glimmer Grove, the broom pelting through the wind like a steam train.

The broom dipped below the clouds and Glimmer Grove's towering castle turrets came into view, gleaming in the late afternoon sun.

Shelby guided the broom down onto the small balcony outside Katherine's bedroom, Shelby let Katherine dismount the broom, making it hover so that she was eye level with Katherine.

"D'you have to go?" Katherine asked looking pleadingly at Shelby.

"Grandma says that tonight is peak time to see what my primal magic is," Shelby reminded her princess, "I'll come over tonight though,"

Katherine still looked bummed out.

"I'll make it up to you, I promise," Shelby swore, putting a hand to her chest.

"I know you will," Katherine reached up to cup Shelby's cheek, bringing her in for a kiss.

They parted after a minute, eye locked and a delighted smile playing on Shelby's lips.

"Tonight." Shelby nodded.

Katherine nodded back.

Shelby turned to leave, guiding her broom forward.

As she took to the sky, she couldn't resist but to glance back to where Katherine was left standing, gazing after her.

Shelby turned back to her flight path, thanking her lucky stars that she had such a fabulous woman in her life.

*

"What time do you call this, deary?" Guinevere exclaimed as Shelby touched down in the centre of the Evermoore a solid five minutes late.

Shelby's cheeks flushed red, "Sorry, Grandma, I lost track of time,"

"I know I said Katherine was good for you," Guinevere gestured with her wand at her granddaughter, "But if she's gonna make you late for everything, you're better off choosing another missy,"

Shelby's head reeled at the thought. A world without Katherine? What sort of world was that? "It won't happen again Grandma,"

Guinevere's kindly smile returned to her face, "I know it won't, deary, I was just teasing, I know what it's like to be in love," she reassured Shelby giving her a wink.

Guinevere then turned her attention to the sky as Shelby's cheeks turned an impressive shade of red, squinting up at the dipping sun.

"Right, deary," Guinevere instructed, hobbling into the centre of the Evermoore where a circle of glinting amethyst crystals lay, "Step into that circle for me,"

Shelby stepped tentatively into the circle, as per her grandmother's instructions.

As soon as she stepped into the circle it lit up, sending a radiant purple glow into the darkening sky.

"There is hope for you yet,"

Shelby flashed her grandma a look, "You didn't think I had magic-?!"

"Hush, deary, let me work my magic," Guinevere shushed her outraged granddaughter.

Reluctantly, Shelby shut up, watching her grandma, still in disbelief. Guinevere began to mutter a series of complicated spells into the air and as she did so, wisps of blue light emerged from the swampy forest to watch the magnificent spectacle.