War of the Seasons, book one: The Human

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: Home

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: Home

A gentle clearing of the throat immediately garnered Eirnin and Story's attention. Momentarily embarrassed, they both approached the council, hand in hand. Once they reached the dais, Story released his hand and stepped before the queen.

"I bring you an apple from The Ailes." She placed it in Eánna's opened hands and inclined her head respectfully.

The queen's eyes widened as she beheld the apple. "It's red? Curious."

"Yes. I'm not really sure what happened, but it seems as though the tree and I exchanged a few things in addition to blood." Story smiled ruefully at her.

Eánna's face turned thoughtful, and she nodded her head as if that made perfect sense.

"This is insulting! How long will you allow this sham to go on?" Eáchan was still standing before her throne, as were her other three clan leaders. Eíswin looked like he was torn between standing and sitting as his gaze ticked between his fellow council member and his queen.

The queen raised a querying eyebrow at Eáchan, who was doing a remarkable job at not letting her emotions show.

"My queen, how can you listen to these falsehoods when the evidence lies before us?"

Eánna gazed at her with impenetrable eyes. "Council, it is the evidence before me that leads me to know that the Ailesit was indeed successful."

Eáchan scoffed and pointed at the throne were Eídolin sat, or rather where he should have sat. In the overwhelming presence of the Summer Queen, Story had failed to notice that a different elf now occupied the seat of her dotty old champion.

"The Ailesit was supposed to restore not just our magic, but also our immortality. How then, do you explain Eídolin dying of 'natural causes' three days after the great earth shake?"

The council burst into a torrent of yells and angry voices, the two factions trying to shout each other down to prove their point, and all Story could think of was that Eídolin had died. It should have been impossible. He was immortal now. She knew she had restored The Ailes, she knew it with every fiber of her being.

"It's true, you did save the elves, but maybe not in the way y'all thought you would." Her father's words haunted her, and she struggled to understand him. What did he mean? If they weren't immortal, then they would still die out as a race. She hadn't saved them at all.

The queen came to her feet gracefully, and all conversations and arguments ceased when she raised a single hand. At a glance from her they all took their seats quietly.

"While it is a fact that Eídolin has sailed across the Ailes Sea to join his loved ones, he knew-as I do-that our race had been saved, and he died content and happy." She raised her hand again when Eáchan opened her mouth to speak. "Story was correct when she said that The Ailes took more than just her blood. In fact, it is her human blood that gave us immortality of a different sort."

The entire council was staring at her now, riveted. Story was confused. What could she mean? Immortality of a different sort?

"Eilath has sired a second child." The queen's hand drifted down and rested gently on her abdomen.

Story's jaw dropped. Eilath and Eánna! Of course! It all made sense now, and she wanted to smack herself on the forehead for not seeing it sooner.

Eánna smiled over at Eilath, who beamed back at her. Their love for each other was palpable. "We are bonded. It was witnessed by Eídolin and Eásphor. It is done."

Adair looked from her father to the queen and let loose a loud squeal as she ran into Eánna's arms. "I get another sister!"

Her stepmother laughed and patted the girl on her back. "So you do, young one. So you do."