Jupiter Rising

Chapter Forty two- All hail the Queen

Peace returned to my Kingdom, and my people rejoiced as the dawn arrived morn after morn and brought with it a new day and a fresh start.

The Gloam was defeated, and Cereus was gone. The past had been uncovered and my Mother was reunited with her daughter, a daughter she gave her life for when it came to the end. A Mothers instinct.  I only found comfort in the memory of her touch, which I frequently replayed in my mind, feeling it all over again. Her words of love and affection echoing in my mind. I didn't dare to dream she would be so perfect either, but with her journals found within her cottage before she left, I had all of the answers I sought. I never got to ask her what had transpired with the Gloam, or how she had survived after her death, but her words she left behind told me all I needed to know. Journals upon journals of letters to me.

The mistake my Mother made that had changed her entire trajectory in life, was to fall in love. So simple and yet so damning. She fell in love with the wrong race. Who could damn a soul or a child because of something as pure as love. It was something I sought to look into and change. I knew Leda was already in this predicament, and I couldn't lose my daughter to another world. This story could not repeat. I didn't know how I could change it or who would stand with me to change our world, but for the better it needed to be.

Jupiter was relieved when we returned, her small brush with the crown had allowed her to see its weight and responsibility was a heavy one. I gladly took it from her head and told her to go enjoy her youth. She did just that. Her hearts desire sending her on a merry dance to Valendoor, where she and Leda, Demelza and Anwen, assisted young Emerald to take back her throne and fix the mess of the Gloam. King Caspian was never discovered, his whereabouts gone with the dead. Prince Arthur her brother died in the fight to retake the throne.

The Islanders were also assisted to retake their kingdom by Mirren, Willow, Andromeda and I. Queen Anemones eldest daughter Buttercup was now the Queen.

Murgloom was sent back to the darkness. I wondered often how I could put that right. To bring all Fae together, rather than divide us. There was a reason that the Gloam could control these poor creatures, they felt unwanted and banished, their land stolen and kingdom destroyed.

All of the Fairy Kingdoms were at peace for a moment, their connections now strong, forged by the merging of Kingdoms.

Merging was the current conversation had at every dinner, and if I never heard the word again I wouldn't complain. Mirren declined Lindens marriage proposal the day we returned, and yet she had not left us yet. She had assisted us with the Islanders but now that the fight was done I wondered when her exit would come.

Linden and Eris were now engaged. The kingdom did roll one's eyes that they finally got it together. A wedding would soon come. The winter equinox called their name. Shortly we would celebrate love once again.

Jupiters hand was next to be asked for, and there was many a kingdom looking to the Princess with hungry eyes, for her wings were rare, and every kingdom wanted them in their gene pool. Jupiters heart though, seemed to already have been claimed... and I awaited that sealed envelope from Valendoor with a request to meet.

Leda was luckily too young. I had a few years yet to worry about her hand being asked for. It would be a fruitless task to try and attempt to take my daughter's hand, not when it reached for another, a veil away. Something I lie awake thinking about, how she will soon attempt to leave us. It was coming... I knew it.

Andromeda and I were finally at one, and our marriage truly did restart and come back to life. My mates love was all I ever wanted and needed. Together we were strong, stronger than ever, and let me tell you... the Oaks walls tried to withstand it.