A Fairy Tale

CHAPTER EIGHT: A Way to a Mate's Heart

Adina's eyes widened as Malory was enamored with her mate that she was not even hiding it from the onlookers. She stood up slowly and held her broken arm gingerly. She knew that she also had the chance to have this kind of bliss with her own mate but she knew ruefully that such a thing would be difficult. Her mate was a human and she didn't know how he will take this bond they have.

"Hey!"

Adina snapped towards the sound and saw her mate running towards her, concern written on his face. She slowly stood and looked at him in wonder. His black hair shone wondrously on his head, while his blue eyes clearly focused on her. He immediately took her uninjured arm and helped her up. She remained speechless as he checked her for other injuries.

"Is your arm broken?" He asked huskily as he looked at Adina worriedly. Just hearing his voice was enough to set her voice howling.

"Ah uhm.."

"She needs to have that arm reset. You want me to do it?" Deacon butted in, his emerald eyes crinkling in amusement. Adina grimaced.  She knew perfectly well how to set her arm right and she knew why Deacon was asking her this question but she wondered if her mate will take the bait.

"Uh, I know how to set an arm back." Connor quipped, blushing at how that sounded.  He was a king, for crying out loud. He stood straighter and levelled Adina with a look. 

"Let me set your arm back, Lady Adina.  I would gladly do it for you." He muttered with a kiss on her knuckle.  Adina was dumbfounded.  He actually fell for it.  She looked at the king with her jaw slackened.  She couldn't believe that her mate was actually willing to come near her.  Deacon gave her a two thumbs up sign before he and the rest of the onlookers returned to their own businesses.

"See you later, Adina, Malory."  Rose called out as she made her way back inside the castle with Deacon right next to her.  She carried the huge mace with her while Deacon slung the bow and its quiver of arrows onto his own arms.  The two couples were left outside.

********

"I need to take a bath first.  I'll see you later then?"  Rose tilted her head a little as she waited for Deacon to reply.

"Yeah, I guess I need to get this looked into."  He replied while grimacing in pain as held his bruised torso.  He placed the bow and arrows onto the console table near the hall as he made his way to the infirmary.  Rose nodded and went her way towards her room which was in the opposite direction, closely followed by Adam.  Deacon smiled.  The mate pull will definitely be harder to resist and he wished his mistress to have a chance at happiness.

He opened the doors towards the infirmary but the pack doctor was not there.  Sighing heavily, it seems he had to do some healing of his own.

He gingerly approached the herbs placed in a glass shelf and started to mutter the healing incantation that he had learned from his own parents.  Slowly, he called upon nature's spirits to give him the healing he needed.  He then gathered the herbs that will help him heal.  His eyes were closed so he did not notice that he was no longer alone.

Shiela breathed in deeply the king's scent.  She could not believe that her leannan was the elf king himself.  She gasped at the number of bruising that he had after the sparring match he had with his friends.  It was a wonder that he did not pass out from the pain.

She was interrupted from her thoughts when the king suddenly stooped and bent over in pain.  She immediately sprang forward and held him up.

Deacon's concentration was shut down when Shiela's touch made contact with his skin.  The abhorrent pain was immediately diffused by her touch.  His eyes widened when he felt the electric touch coursing through his body.  He took note of his leannan. 

She was dressed in simple flowery dress but nothing could deter from her regal countenance.  But the only thing alarming about his mate was the pixie angle of her face.  She was obviously not an elf or dwarf but she belongs to the most treacherous of creatures. 

Fae

No, goddess please no. - He closed his eyes in pain.  Why would the goddess give him a fairy for a mate?

Who in their right mind would love someone as frigid as you? - a voice crept in his memories.  He shuddered at the remembered pain.

You always had to look out for the people. Your people.  When will it be just about us?

I am sick and tired of staying here all day with nothing to do.  I am a fairy for goddess' sake.  I need entertainment.  I need to fly.  I need to be free.

You can never be Wilhelm.  He can satisfy me.

In the end, he had to banish her.  When Wilhelm had raised his army to destroy him, she aided her lover to the point that she almost succeeded in killing him.  He owed Rose his life, his crown and his sanity.  She gave him the push to end his brother and banish the woman who would have been his queen.

But this was different. Katarina was his betrothed, the woman whose ambition almost cost him his life but he felt nothing from her.  This woman, this fairy was different.  The touches that came from this woman inspires desires that he had not felt for a woman in a long time. 

But why did it have to be a fairy? He thought and raged against the heavens.  Hadn't Katarina's spoiled ways enough to last a lifetime? How could he even love his leannan if he himself was incapable of loving her in return?

He pushed the female slightly from him, almost groaning at the contact of her skin on his.

"Pardon me, my lady but you shouldn't be with a half naked man alone and in a room.  It would be inappropriate-"

"How can it be inappropriate if I am with my leannan? I am here to help you, whether you are willing or not." She retorted heatedly.

He raised his brows at her sudden blush.  She pushed him to sit on a nearby bed and then opened her palms up and heat was emitted from her hands.  Soon the bruises were fading and the king was able to breathe easily.  He turned towards her but was alarmed when she suddenly doubled over as if in a faint.  She lost consciousness and he had to carry her out of the infirmary.

Once he reached the hall, he was hit by a new dilemma.  He did not know who his mate was and where her rooms maybe.  He grimaced in distaste.  Will he reject his mate now?