Half of Ruby

Chapter 50

This is the last chapter of Half of Ruby! Thanks so much for all of your support--I love you tons! 

"Let us welcome Princess Constance, daughter of Queen Delcah and true heir of the Giant throne, to the Alliance of Constance!"

Cheers thundered through the audience as Ruby slid off the stool, eyes roving anxiously around the audience as she saw more than one hostile gaze staring up at her. Chills shook through her as she remembered what Time had said.

Those you started off on the wrong side with....

She needed to gain their trust. She needed to do so quickly.

Quickly, she took a clumsy bow, then stood off to the side as Vyella stepped up to the stage.

"Have dinner," she said. "Then proceed to bed. Except for dish-washing duty, the evening is off to welcome our newest member."

Cheers shook the room as the Giants as several Giants emerged from the side doors, bearing enormous platters of food.

"They...they cooked all that?" exclaimed Ruby, as Vyella swept to her side.

The Giantess glanced at Ruby. "Yes. With magic, of course. We have around ten cooks for one-thousand Giants. That's plenty."

She nodded, swallowing. Magic. Giants seem so much better at it than Fae, and we are supposed to be the masters of magic.

"Anyways," said Vyella, "you must be starving. Let us all eat in a separate tree house—you, me, and Rafael. Shall we go?"

She nodded again. "I—all right." I don't have anywhere else to sit, anyways.

Vyella beckoned to her, then headed off the stage, head held high like the princess she was.

Ruby followed. Behind her, Rafael exited out another door.

"So," said Vyella, as they emerged onto the bridge, "did you see anything that could help us?"

Ruby started, unsure of what to make of this comment. "What do you mean?"

"You were accepted into the Alliance; your intentions are pure. Surely Time rewarded you. You know, the thin, gaunt man? With the dark hair and the ghastly face?"

Ruby couldn't help but laugh at Vyella's description. "Yes, I saw him."

"And you saw the Past, Present, or Future, right?"

More like 'and,' thought Ruby, lowering her head as she stared down at the bridge beneath their feet. Sunlight played through the planks of the bridge, bathing the wood with gold.

"I...I saw all of them."

Astonishment blazed in Vyella's face as she turned to Ruby. "All of them? Past, present, and future?"

"Yes."

"How did he allow that?"

Ruby swallowed. "He—he just did."

"You didn't need to make a bargain? You didn't need to—"

"No."

Vyella narrowed her eyes, but didn't say anything else. With a chill of foreboding, Ruby realized that she knew she was lying.

"Anyways," said Vyella, clearing her throat. "What did you see in the Past?"

"I saw...I saw Sir Vaelan, your father. He was coming to Queen Ovenya of the Fae to ask for help. To ask whether or not the Queen would take me."