10: Darken, DarkHeart

Chapter fourteen: James

i arrived in the palace of Drakaria rather easily. but getting in was the issue. there were tons of bee-looking fairies guarding the gate and running around the courtyard. 

"turn around friend." one spoke to me. "light fairies are not welcome."

"i will be entering this palace," i warned them, "i have called this place my home since before you were ever even thought of. Tell Queen Astraea that her father has come to visit."

the guard looked to another, "Go let King Oberon know."

"Do I have something wrong here?" I asked, annoyed. "As I recall, my daughter is the ruler of this kingdom, not Oberon."

"doesnt matter." he told me, "Oberon is calling the shots now."

"he is certainly not." Lunar came down from the palace. "they are equal in all things as fairy law dictates." he looked to me as he approached and bowed, "Welcome King James."

"you finally decided to live up to serving her." i smiled. "you said you wanted to, but it has been quite some time since then."

"indeed." he smiled then looked to the guards. "let him in or her majesty will not be happy. this is King James Heartfire and he could end all of you before you even have the chance to draw your weapons."

they moved aside and allowed me in, i followed Lunar into the palace. he looked around then turned to me, "your daughter is in grave danger. she tried to end her own life only a few days ago."

"she did what?" i asked, anger in my voice, "the baby?"

"alive and growing still." to answered. "but she is refusing to eat now."

"shes too much like her mother." i rushed up the grand staircase, to her room. 

Oberon was standing just outside the door. 

"Oberon." i said, not as a greeting as it normally be, but more as a threat.

"Heartfire." he spoke back as i approached.

the then clenched my fist and punched the man. he turned away, accepting the punch. "fair enough. for the record, i dont attend to kill either of you."

"i know." i answered. "why do you think i allowed her to come home? but i wouldnt have if i knew that this is what would happen."

"she tried to kill her child." he said. "she was looking for an herb to end it."

i looked to Lunar and he gave a nod, confirming what was said. 

Lunar knocked on Astraea's door, "Your majesty, you have a visitor."

"You can tell that fucking pretentious self serving asshole to go aw...." she opened the door and stopped when she saw me, "father.... i swear i was not talking about to." she saw Oberon, "i was talking about you."

"we are all aware." Oberon said between gritted teeth and turned to walk away, "i will allow the two of you to talk, maybe you can stop her."

we entered the room, Lunar waiting outside. we then sat in the sitting area. 

"you tried to kill the child?" i asked. "why would you ever do that?" 

she held up one of the books i gave Oberon, "have you read this?"

"i have," i answered.

"the passage about how i could die birthing this child?" she was tearing up, "or that the child may not live long?"

"the difference between you and the past, is that you are stronger." i told her, "i know that you will be fine birthing this child, which is why i never told you."

"what if i am not though?" she pulled her legs onto the sofa and hugged them. "what if i cant do it?"

"i know you can." i put my hand on her shoulder. 

"hes going to sacrifice himself." she told me. "i cant let that happen, i have to be the one to...."

"no." I stopped her, looking into her eyes, one blue and one violet. "there is another way to end all of this without anyone dying." 

"but how?" she asked.

"by making you the light fairy queen." i answered. "by passing my powers onto you."

"father...." she looked like she was thinking, before she could go on there was a knock at the door, "enter." she yelled out.

A fairy girl, clad in all black, entered with a tray of food and tea, setting it on the coffetable. Her wings resembled spider legs, veiled in webs. "I was asked to bring some refreshments for you and your guest," she said.

"thank you." Astraea said, always kind to those who served her, she motioned to me, "this is my father, King James Heartfire of the Light Fairies." 

"it is an honor to meet you," the fairy bowed to me. 

"father," Astraea spoke, "this is Aranea, shes my f...."

"first made fairy." i interrupted her. "it is amazing that you were able to do that as an incomplete fairy."

she looked to Aranea, "thank you for bringing us refreshments, can you leave us for a bit?

"as you wish." she bowed to my daughter then to me, "i was asked to ask you to make sure you get food into her." with that she left. 

"eat." i motioned to the food, "you are feeding two, and if we are going to make you the light fairy queen, you will need strength for that."