The Seelie Curse

Chapter 67

"Ah. I'm assuming that's a shortened version of a chosen name, easier to say?"

Rowan frowns. "Umm. Yes." She pauses and looks down at the water, watching it lap over her skin. "What am I supposed to call you?"

The Unseelie King looks taken back for a moment and he sits there in silence for several seconds. "What have you been calling me?"

Rowan's voice is quiet. "I've been calling you Unseelie King in my head. I don't know what else I could use, I can't- I can't call you-"

His voice is soft in understanding. "You can't call me father." Rowan nods mutely. He sighs. "You think I don't know what is happening in your head? You barely know me. I wouldn't expect you to immediately jump to calling me that."

"I still feel bad though. You didn't have a choice."

The Unseelie King tilts his head to the side. "But I did have a choice, in a way. I just didn't believe the risk to you was worth staying."

Rowan shakes her head. "That wasn't a real choice, not with that risk. Was there a realistic chance you would have chosen to stay?"

He hesitates. "I- I truly debated staying, I didn't want to leave. But I couldn't- I wouldn't let either of you come to harm, not from my people."

"Then you didn't have a true choice. An option, yes, but there was only one path you could ever had taken."

The Unseelie King smiles and nudges her. "Since when have you been so wise? You're eighteen yet you are wiser than my centuries have given me in this moment."

Rowan just blinks at him. "I'm not sure exactly what you just said there. Also, I'm not eighteen." She chokes on the last word, not entirely sure why.

The Unseelie King smirks at her. "It seems your change of topic worked better for you than it did me."

Rowan's eyes widen and her face turns red in embarrassment. The Unseelie King just smiles. "Shall we speak of what you fear or stay distracted for a few moments more?"

Rowan's words come out in a whisper. "The second?"

"As you wish." he points a finger at her, lightly tapping her nose. "But only for a moment more, Rae."

Rowan nods. "I understand."

"Do you remember what your mother called me?"

"Coillen. You told her your name was Coillen."

"Yes. That is what you may call me until such time as you choose to adopt another name."

He doesn't need to specify it for her to know what other name he is referring to, the one she can't yet say. Perhaps she'll never be able to say it, but she doesn't think that is how this is going to go. One day, she will likely use that name for him. But not yet, not now. Rowan looks down at the water, taking a breath.

"I suppose it's time to really talk now?"

'Yes, it is. Your attempts at hiding it were valiant, but you can't escape the truth. Tell me, what is truly bothering you?"

"Today. Today is what is bothering me."

"Why?"

"Mabon."

The word burns slightly on the way out, it isn't the entire truth. Coillen frowns at her, his gaze sharp. He knows what the word did to her. He must, based off of that look.

"Because today is Mabon, or something else?"

Rowan swallows nervously. "Like what?"

"Like your birthday."

"How exactly do you know that?"

Coillen raises an eyebrow at her. "I kept track. It was hard to not find out over the years, you always enjoyed this day. You did in the year past as well, so why does this day bring you fear now? Is it what it means?"

Rowan jerks. "What?"

"This day gives you power, the responsibilities brought when you come of age."

"Oh." Rowan shakes her head. "That's not what it is."

"Then what scares you?"

"We found something else about the prophecy. We found a Bean Síde and she told us what to do. And . . . And I'm scared."

"There is nothing wrong with fear. You just can't let it control you." Rowan nods, flashing Coillen a look of gratitude. "What did the Bean Síde say?"

"When new and ancient meet as one. When all three together bound, meet the blood of cursed magic found. A brimming storm awaits within. Barriers will break and curses shatter." Rowan sighs. "Then she said to look within."

"Did you find something there? I would assume so, nothing was said about this day."

"I'm not sure what exactly spoke, but it told me while I was inside the core of my mind." Coillen jolts at that and Rowan winces. "I used the runes to get there. I could see memories inside my mind." Coillen looks like he wants to question this further, but he stays silent on that topic.

"What were you told?"

Rowan shudders. "When day and night are one, new and ancient powers will battle. Let the world you love guide the players where you need to go."

"Was it the mentioned battle that scares you?"

Rowan nods.
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What do you think of this? Is something going on with Rowan besides normal fear? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out