Of Fae And Fire [#Wattys2016] √

(|] 5: audience [|)

A hand flies to my mouth. "Ferin, are you sure? I don't know if I'm ready for this. I've only been here a couple of days, and I don't even know what to say..." I take a deep breath like the doctor always tells me to. "Sorry."

She places her hands on my shoulders. "Meree, it's okay. He just wants to meet you and give you some advice, just like the Psychic Fae did. Relax. You'll do fine. And the three of us will be in there with you. You don't need to worry."

I press my hands to my heart, trying to convince it to slow down. "It's okay," I repeat, murmuring it more to myself. "So, when is this meeting?"

"Right now," Ferin says. "So let's go."

···

A few minutes later, the Few and I are standing in front of the lighter castle. The one that belongs to the King of Fire. My nerves are acting up again, but when Faas puts an arm around my waist for a moment, they stop rushing and slow down. I send him a smile, and he returns it.

We had taken the big brass knocker and banged it on the huge doors a couple times a few minutes ago. Now, the doors creak open and two fae in armor turn to face us. All I can see beneath their helmets are their eyes. "State your names," one of the guards says in a muffled female voice.

Farland clears his throat. "We are the Few, and here we have Meree Abbott, more commonly known as the Golden One of prophecy."

The doors open wider, and the guards usher us in. The one who spoke lifts her helmet and shakes out her brown hair. She's about my height, but looks to be a few years older. "Welcome. You may follow us to the Great Hall."

We head down the huge hallway. I see paintings lining the walls of a handsome young man who looks vaguely like Faas, but more regal. He's brandishing a sword in some, riding a pure white horse in another. We reach a huge white door, which the guards push open. The woman lowers her helmet again. "You may enter."

I walk slowly into the Great Hall, the other trailing behind me. The room truly is great, and at the front, a throne of gold and silver sits. The same man from the paintings sits there, a handsome smile on his face.

"Welcome, Ferin, Farland, and Faas. And who is this?" the King of Fire asks.

Farland and Faas drop to one knee, and Ferin sinks into a curtsy. I follow her lead, but I'm a bit more clumsy. The King's kind smile grows wider with amusement. I can't blame him for that.

"Your Majesty, this is Meree Abbott, the Golden One of prophecy," Faas announces. "She is here to discuss matters with you, as you requested."

The King nods. "Thank you for bringing her here." They rise out of their bows and curtsies, and I do the same, raising my head. The King lifts a hand and beckons to me, and I walk slowly forward, wondering if that's what he wanted me to do. He gives a slight nod, as if answering my question. I stop when I reach the foot of his throne.

He speaks in a soft voice, and I can tell he wants only me to hear this. "Meree, thank you so much for coming. The war with the Queen is getting out of hand, and I fear that it might soon enter the human world." He takes my hand, and I feel comforted. "I know that you can find a way to stop her. You're stronger than you know."

He releases my hand and speaks in a louder voice to the Few. "Is there anything else you wish to discuss while we are here?" he asks.

"No, Your Majesty, but thank you very much for your valuable time," Ferin says.

The King gives a curt nod. "Very well. You may go. Good luck, Golden One." We leave the room, and I take one last look at him before the door slams shut.

As the guards lead us out of the castle, his words replay in my head. You're stronger than you know. What does that mean? It seems like everything's a mystery lately.

We walk back toward home, and for some reason, my dress feels heavier than it did earlier. It feels like everything new I find out, the farther away I get. Will I even figure out how to stop this?

Back at the house, on my bed, I lay back on the pillows and look at the ceiling. I didn't notice it yesterday, but there are little pictures there, almost like a story, woven in gold. A woman. More like a girl, around my age. Two people who must have been her parents, yelling. But not at her, at each other. I'm reminded of my parents, and my heart lurches. I roll back over and shove my head into the pillow. Who is that girl? Is she real? Or is it just a story?

···

I wake up later without realizing that I even fell asleep. A plate of cookies sits on top of the wardrobe along with a note scrawled in a messy sort of cursive.

Meree-

Don't worry, I didn't make these cookies. Ferin did. But I noticed you seemed sad earlier. If you want to talk about it, you know where I am. Right down the hall. And just so you know, I'm an excellent listener.

-Faas

I smile and take a bite of one of the cookies. It tastes like the ones my mom used to make when I was ten. I would come home from school to a plate of them, and then Dad would come home and he and Mom would kiss. Then I would say, "Ugh! Get a room! I'm eating!" I smile wider at the memory and have another cookie.

I wipe the crumbs off of my mouth and open the door slowly. Nobody's in the hallway, so I figure it safe to go down and see if Faas is in his room.

I creep down the hall, my eyes trained on the floorboards the whole time as if daring them to creak and give away my presence. When I reach the end of the hall, I knock on the door with silver patterns. I've learned that all the rooms with patterns are bedrooms.

For a while, nobody answers. And then I hear, "Just a second, please." Soon, the door opens and I see Faas' silver eyes. The door opens all the way and I can see his goofy grin. "Hey, Meree. Decided to stop by, eh? Come on in."

He ushers me into the room. Again, it looks like mine and Ferin's, except it's got a long couch against the wall. Faas sits on it now and pats the seat next to him. I cautiously lower myself down, smoothing the dress under my legs, then crossing and uncrossing them.

"So, what's the problem?" I turn to Faas, looking at him. His eyes look genuinely concerned, so I decide I can speak.

I sigh. "I'm not really sure. I mean, it's one of those impossible situations where there's no way out. It makes me a bit... claustrophobic."

He laughs at the strange expression. "Claustrophobic?" When my eyebrows shoot up, he clears his throat. "Sorry. Didn't mean to laugh at you."

We sit in more silence, and the awkwardness is tangible. I can almost taste it, sour and bitter and gross. I almost gag, until I look at Faas' face again and I'm calmed.

He smiled, but this time it's not silly. It's sweet, empathetic, and caring. Maybe the slightest bit romantic...

And then he kisses me.

He moves his arms around my waist and draws me close. Now I know why other girls swoon at cheesy kissing scenes in movies. It really is magical. He presses his lips to mine, and I can feel a sort of soft energy coursing through them. It travels into my body and flows through my veins. I'm on fire.

When we part, his arms stay around me and he smiles the same smile again. "Better?"

I smile back at him. "Yes. Much."