Grimm Fantasies: Cinder Princess

Summer

   The Court was surprised to see Aden, the lost knight who failed to kill the Jynx as promised. The Summer Queen greets him warmly, his arrival made it clear that the Jynx was dead.

   "My son, welcome home." She greeted him with a smile. Aden bowed to her.

   "I'm sorry mother. I did not intend to vanish as I did, I got mixed up with some business and I used the portals to travel through the Mortal's Realm but forgot the consequences of that." Aden explained.

   "That is indeed troubling Aden." The queen said thoughtfully. "May I ask what this business was that you got mixed up in?" Aden hesitated, staring down at the polished marble floors and took in a hesitant breath.

   "Yes mother." He said, hoping she pick up on his reluctance and wouldn't push the matter. However after a moment of silence he wasn't so lucky.

   "Well?" Aden bit his lip and looked up at his queen.

   "I was trying to fulfill a promise I made to the Jynx before he took his own life." There was a chorus of shocked gasps from the Fae and Fairies listening in on the conversation; mummers soon followed. "I was injured; hunters had attacked and caught me off guard. The Jynx took advantage and we struck a deal." Aden tried to explain himself. The queen said nothing as she assessed him.

   "But if he's dead then his promise holds no weight," One of his fellow knights' spoke up then he over to the queen, "Right?"

   "Yes, in most cases." The queen said and shifted. "Aden, how was the promise phrased?"

   "It was a dying wish, mother. His death in return for the favor he asked." His queen narrowed her eyes as she stared at him.

   "Hmm, Yes you're promise was an exchange in goods, his death for the favor. Are you still bound to those words?" His queen questioned. Aden looked down again and let out a slow sigh before answering.

   "Yes, yes I am. I haven't completed my part of the bargain yet. I fear I may have doomed myself with the time warp."

   "What was the promise?"

   "I promised to find someone, to ensure their safety." Aden explained. "I've lost track of that person now." The queen was quiet long enough for Aden to begin to worry and chance a glance at her. The queen continued to stare at him with a measured gaze.

   "You've a lot of explaining to do Aden." The Queen said. "You are not telling me everything. I can see your avoiding saying who this person you're supposed to find is." Her eyes narrowed and her voice went cold. "Is it another Jynx?"

   "Of course not, mother!" He said quickly.

   "Tell me what I want to know Aden. Now." The queen demanded. Aden flinched and felt the tug of his vows to her pull at his chest as he found himself speaking without meaning to.

   "No, it's not a Jynx. It's...It's a Changeling; one that has no memory of his life. He doesn't know who or what he is." Aden looked glanced around as more gasps rose up from the gathering crowd. "I don't think this Changeling even knows his true gender. Or birth Court for that matter." The queen stared down at Aden in surprise and after a moment of shocked silence the queen spoke once more, an order.

   "Find this Changeling as promised by the Jynx's dying breath and bring him back to me. I want to see this...strange little Changeling." Aden's chest locked up at the sudden order that conflicted with another promise, he felt light headed from the feeling as he found himself nodding in agreement.

   "Yes, mother. I'll do as you say." He said instead of telling her the part about the Jynx demanding the Changeling have a normal life, bringing Ashley into the Fairy Realm would conflict promises.

   There was no way around it. He'd have to fulfill one promise only to kill himself by breaking another.

   Aden stared at the marble floor and found himself suddenly scared, truly scared for the first time in what felt like ages.

   Later in the day Aden found himself suddenly surrounded by his fellow knights. He glanced around at the four that had cornered him.

   "So you killed a Jynx huh?" Lapin asked, he was always at the queen's side it surprised Aden he was even standing in a different room as her without breaking out and worrying over her safety. Aden shook his head but said nothing as he noticed the atmosphere was heavy; his brothers had dark motives for cornering him.

   "What's that supposed to mean? What is the Jynx still alive?" Coral demanded as he nudged Aden roughly, jostling his sore shoulder. Aden flinched and glared at Coral.

"No, the Jynx is dead. But I didn't kill him he committed suicide." The four started laughing at Aden's answer.

   "Yeah, like a Jynx would kill himself for anyone's sake. Let alone a Changeling their practically sworn enemies." Aden looked at Lapin with narrowed eyes as he asked,

   "Are you calling me a liar?"

   "Yes, as a matter of fact I am." He said as he took a step closer to Aden. "There's no way you tricked a Jynx into killing himself. It just doesn't happen." He snarled in Aden's face. Aden stood his ground.

   "I didn't trick the Jynx into doing anything. He did it of his own free will. He took my sword when I couldn't move and stabbed himself through the heart!" Aden shoved Lapin. "Now fuck off before I get really angry!" Lapin stumbled back and glared at Aden.

   "Oh you think you're so special don't you, just because our queen calls you by name!?" He spat out his voice full of bile. Aden frowned at Lapin and glanced around at the other three.

   "I am eldest, and I am to be her king if anything should happen to her. Of course she favors me." Lapin cried out in anger and punched Aden then shoved him to the ground and kept swinging.

   "You good for nothing piece of trash! I should be her king!" Lapin screeched out. Aden struggled with Lapin trying his best to get the upper hand but the other three knights jumped in giving Aden no leeway. He gave in and let Lapin use him as a punching bag. Once Lapin had tired himself out and recomposed himself Aden was lying on the floor bleeding and sore. He felt a sharp pain in his side as he cough out for air and panted.

   "...She'll never love you." Aden said as Lapin moved to walk away. "Not the way she loves me." Lapin returned and kicked him in the gut. Aden saw it coming the moment the words slipped from his mouth but that didn't mean he was prepared for it. The sudden jolt and impact into his side he knew the sound of a crack was one of his ribs as he cried out in pain.

   "Stay down, you pathetic failure." Lapin sneered before finally walking away and let Aden deal with the throbbing pain alone.

   Aden let out a slow sigh and tried not to let Lapin's words get to him but they did. Aden was supposed to be the queen's heir, but even though his egg had been fertilized he'd been born a male, wingless and powerless to take the throne in his mother's stead. It was the reason he called his queen mother instead of queen.

   Aden had been born for one purpose and one purpose alone; by pure chance that destiny was taken away from him.

   He was a failure as Lapin had said.

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So now we're getting into some more character back stories. Looks like Ashley isn't the only one with gender problems. Don't forget to comment and vote you know I love it. <3