Cruel prince one-shots

The apology

Taryn was anxious. She knew she should've done this long ago, but she hadn't managed to gather the courage until now. "Jude would've apologised long ago," was a phrase that had echoed in her head over a thousand times.

But the unfortunate thing was that Taryn was not Jude. She had not dared to fight against Madoc or the other Faes. She'd gone with the safe option, she always had. Look where that got her, a girl who did not know what to do with herself after she murdered the man who caused her and her twin's falling out in the first place. Not to mention, she was pregnant with his child and had just barely gotten out of the issue, to begin with.

But there was one person to thank for her comfortable life after the murder. One person who might've not done it for her, but to get back into the castle, but was still to thank.

She needed to apologise to Jude. She needed to apologise for being so blind to Locke's manipulation, and she needed to apologise for all the trouble she had caused.

She thought Cardan deserved some thanks as well. At least he'd taken good care of Jude after all that happened.

Cardan was away when she finally arrived at the large palace of faerie. Jude, almost as if she'd expected her to come over, was already standing by the gate as Taryn walked closer. And it was almost as if Jude knew.

"Taryn!" Unexpectedly, the high queen brought her into a hug. They hadn't talked much since all the chaos quietened down, but Jude was acting as if nothing had happened. As if she hadn't been bleeding out in the throne room and in the forest a couple of days ago. As if she hadn't been crowned queen and killed the snake version of Cardan.

"Let's go for a walk, shall we?"

Jude's sword still hung by her side, but the queen didn't seem to be on guard. Taryn gladly accepted the offer and the two Duarte girls walked away from any public eyes. They had to make up now. Twins, they were. A fairly uncommon incident in Elfhame. Though they were not Fae, only two mortals raised as if they were. Through their life they had each gone different paths in the fae world. Taryn had gone with them, trying her best to stay invisible and out of harm, while Jude had become both better and worse. She'd managed to become the high queen, and Taryn was fairly sure she had a higher body count than most of the Fae Taryn had ever met. So different, yet, the two of them were the same. Mortals tricked into the world of immortals.

"What's on your mind, Taryn," said Jude calmly, realising her sister was not listening to a word that was being said. There was a reason for the visit, that much was obvious.

"I'm sorry." the words slipped out without a thought passing her mind. Taryn stood still in her tracks. They were in the gardens now, not a single fae around. "I am sorry for the whole Locke situation, I'm sorry for siding with Madoc at the start, and I am sorry for all the pain I caused you. I'm sorry, Jude."

Taryn thought Jude would surely change in mood. That she would kick her off now that vv she was reminded of all that Taryn had done wrong. But Jude's smile didn't drop, it only became more real.

"We've both done wrong, have we not?" Though they were only eighteen, it seemed as if they were older. So much had happened in the past year.

"I suppose so," Taryn replied, though her voice was a lot more quiet than Jude's.

"I mean," said Jude, "I should've realised too - the thing with Locke. He was a manipulative bastard from the beginning. It's not surprising he lured you over." Taryn wanted to protest, but the high queen held up a hand. "And Madoc is a complicated figure. He raised us. At least you realised he was in the wrong eventually. And I have brought you some pain too, even if it may not have been intentional."

The two sisters stood silently for a moment, enjoying the garden as they both thought over all that had been said. "Still," said Taryn after a minute. "I really am sorry."

A/N

Wow, I updated. Surprising, I know. 

I needed an apology from all side in the books. Vivi too. All three siblings were like different sides of a triangle. A little alike but can be so different you don't reccognise them as a whole