A Kind of Magic

Seventy-One

Fiona stormed into the Great Hall faster than the two guards stationed by its door could understand what she was about to do when they discerned her petite figure at the bottom of the long, gloomy corridor, finding her fathers and three young men she had never met chattering amicably around what she could only call a starter, waiting for the lunch that would not be served for at least an hour yet.

"Where is he?" she called, coming to a stop in front of the long wooden table behind which all the men were seated, her fast movement sending the candles set in an elabourate silver candelabrum into a tremulous flutter.

Her eyes flashed between her two fathers before she dropped into a curtsy when the visitors stood up and bowed to her politely.

"Where. Is. He." She repeated as the men sat back down, observing the king and his wizard who were now exchanging looks, as intently as Fiona.

"Who are you talking about?" Alaric asked even as Emrys spoke, his words obliterating the king's, "This is not the right moment to talk, Bells."

Fiona shook her head vehemently, the movement dislodging a few more curly strands from her chignon, her loose hair framing her flushed, angered face in a crimson warning. She had no mind for patience or politeness now.

"Oh, this is the best moment to talk, seeing that either of you two found the time to tell me anything the whole morning. Please, do follow me," she demanded, not paying the visitors the slightest attention as she stormed out of the room again, rushing towards a door leading into a series of interconnecting chambers running parallel to the corridor she had come from.

She crossed the first chamber, closing the door in the opposite wall through which she could see a row of magnificent rooms void of courtiers this time of the day, then turned to the two men who looked like life-sized cut-outs from some tolkienesque universe and motioned for Emrys, who entered as last, to close the door separating them from the Great Hall.

"Botheration," Fiona said, pronouncing the unladylike word loud and clear. "Where is Peregrine? Where did you send him?" she asked, voice rising as she turned to her father, the king.

Alaric replied, frowning in confusion, apparently not understanding her concerns. "Why, just on an errand as usual, he should be back in a few weeks, or a couple of months..."

His words seemed to fade away, vanish into a blanket of comfortable darkness as Fiona closed he eyes in an attempt to overcome the lingering nausea threatening to turn into a fainting spell.

Emrys' arms were on her shoulders before she could re-open her eyes, guiding her into an armchair placed by an arched, diamond lattice window, opening it a little to make her breathe some fresh air even as she collapsed into the offered seat.

There was so much snow outside, it must be freezing, Fiona noticed, her eyes sweeping the castle's gardens lying beyond the glass momentarily before she looked again at Alaric who now stood in front of her, while Emrys sat onto the wide window ledge.

"What errand?" she asked, voice shaking as she, for the second time today, dabbed at the tears she didn't want to shed with the ink blue sleeve of her velvet gown. She was so emotional today... Botheration, it was just another symptom confirming her suspected pregnancy. And he vanishes now, without a goodbye... She sniffled, wiping her whole face with her sleeve-- the deep blue velvet held the faintest trace of Peregrine's scent from the other night when he held her in his arms on her bed while she read to him-- then looked into Alaric's eyes again, expecting answers.

"I received news about a... so far, small army of dragon shifters being gathered in the Highlands by a Highlander. The messenger didn't know any more details and so I sent Peregrine to investigate. There's no one more adapt for this task, don't you think? But what's all this trouble and confusion you are making, Fiona? It's not the first time I sent Peregrine on a mission, and there's honestly no reason why he should be staying at my court anyway. I'm surprised that he had stayed so long this time; he had never wanted to live here before. He has his own life out there somewhere. It's only you and Freddie whom I want to remain here, and Lexie, of course," he added with a quick glance at his best friend. "You'll be married soon and..."