Small Twists of Fate

Chapter Twenty Four

Persephone smiled softly as she looked down at her daughter as the two of them stood in front of the door to Eric and Ariel's castle; a strand of her newly pink hair falling out of her ponytail that she'd hastily put up. Her mother had been shocked to say the least when she saw the change but to Persephone's relief, there had been no comments other than a note that most mortal mothers cut their hair rather than color it but the color looked good with Persephone's complexion. Malinoë smiled back up at her, well at least as much of a smile as a baby her age could smile.

Then again, she was a Godling so the odds of her developing faster than a mortal baby were rather high. After all, her cousin Athena came out of...the brain fully formed as an adult.

"Are you excited to go visit your cousin Elle?" Persephone asked, keeping her voice happy even if she was worried. Eric hadn't mentioned how Elle was doing, just that both Persephone and Malinoë were more than welcomed for a visit before Persephone had to go back to the Isle.

And Persephone wanted Malinoë to meet her new cousin before they had to be separated by time and the Strait of Ursula. And the barrier. The barrier did help in terms of separation.

That wasn't to say that Malinoë didn't have any friends...I mean alliances in Auradon. They'd been invited over to King Beast's castle more times than Persephone could count. And King Charming and Queen Ella seemed to always be over at the same time so Malinoë was able to meet their son as well. Prince Chadwick...though they called him Chad for short.

Occasionally Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip would be over at King Beast's castle as well , with their daughter, though Persephone wasn't too sure Malinoë liked being around Princess Audrey. Then again, maybe it was just the tension brought on by the...joy of being around Queen Leah. Either way, the visits weren't the calmest.

"Lady Persephone?" Carlotta's voice brought Persephone out of her thoughts.

"Ah yes," Persephone nodded. "It's nice to see you again Carlotta. How are you and Louis doing?"

"We're doing just fine your Ladyship," Carlotta said, giving Persephone a kind smile. "Louis has been in his element, making up recipes for purees when the little Princess gets old enough to eat more solid foods."

Persephone couldn't help but smile as she heard that. "I'm glad...and...and how is Princess Elle doing?"

"Oh she's doing just fine," Carlotta said, the smile never leaving her face even if her eyes did grow a little sad. "Lady Persephone....do you mind if I speak candidly to you?"

"Of course not," Persephone said as she walked through the door.

"I'm more worried about Eric and Ariel than I am about Princess Elle," Carlotta said, her voice growing soft. "Even though the young Princess shows no signs of her health deteriorating, they've been hovering over her night and day. They barely sleep, Grimsby and I almost have to force them to leave to eat."

"They're new parents, it's understandable that they'd be worried," Persephone said though she couldn't help but frown as she heard what Carlotta was saying. The last thing she wanted was for either Eric or Ariel to run themselves ragged. "Are they going to be okay for the playdate?"

"Of course, they would be so disappointed to miss the little dear especially since you haven't much time before you go back to the Isle," Carlotta said as Malinoë cooed softly in Persephone's arms. "And I'm sure Princess Elle's excited about the chance to meet her cousin."

"Of that I have no doubt," Eric's voice called to the three of them. Persephone smiled as she turned around to see the high King of Auradon.

"Eric, you're looking well," she said.