Nightshade: Chapter Eight
It's the penultimate chapter...
“I accept. Thank you, Rowan.”
He stood up. “Shall we find the magus now?” The light from the nearby lamp made his eyes shine brighter.
“Yes. We should.”
Erebus served as the magus when it was necessary, and I knew exactly where he would be. As we hurried through the palace, Rowan’s hand was strong and warm in mine.
Ahead of us was a group of lords and ladies wearing robes in different shades of dusk: indigo, deep rose, amber and a deep midnight blue.
“Counsellor Erebus.”
All gazes turned to us as we approached – and fell on our joined hands.
“We must speak to you in private.”
The moment we were a safe distance enough from the courtiers, I said: “Prince Rowan and I have decided to marry. Will you perform the ceremony for us now?”
“It would be an honour, my queen.”
Still holding hands, Rowan and I walked into the memorial garden until we stood before the fountain.
“Please face each other and join your left hands together,” Erebus said solemnly.
Out of nowhere, the nightjar landed on my shoulder; her tiny weight gave me the courage to look into Rowan’s eyes. There was no fear there, or resentment.
A ribbon of shadow magic wove around our wrists.
“We are here to join Prince Rowan of the Spring Realm and Queen Amara of the Night Realm in the sacred bond of marriage…”
This was it. There was no turning back now – and I wouldn’t even if I could.
“Rowan, do you take Amara to be your wife?”
“Yes.” Rowan held up his right hand; a fine mist formed between his fingers before solidifying into a flower with six red petals. As I took it with my free hand, I caught a scent as sweet as autumn fruit. Using my own magic, I pinned the heart’s token to my gown.
“Amara, do you take Rowan to be your husband?”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes and moved my right hand in a small circle, focusing on the image in my mind. When I opened my eyes, a circlet woven of nightshade flowers rested in the air. Rowan bowed his head; it felt slightly awkward crowning him with one hand.
“I now declare you to be husband and wife. Please seal your marriage with a kiss.”
Neither of us hesitated. The very moment our lips met, the ribbon around our wrists burned and a surge of power flooded my veins. Suddenly I was aware of my realm – every tree, every garden, every gate to the human world. But I could sense the spell too. It was like a thin dome of glass over the land that was slowly smothering it.
Rowan’s lips left mine and he looked into my eyes. “Amara?”
Slowly, I raised my right hand and clenched it into a fist. I concentrated, then brought my hand down sharply. There was a terrible crack and the spell broke.
It was like taking a deep breath for the first time.
Cries of alarm filled the air, then cries of joy.
“It’s been shattered! The spell has gone!”
“We’re free!”
“Where’s the queen? Where’s the queen?”
Rowan and I threw our arms around each other. “We’ve done it!” I sobbed. “Thank you, Rowan, thank you.”
I turned to my Counsellor, who stood watching with a beaming smile. “Erebus, find as many guards as you can. We’re going to the Spring Realm.”
“I don’t believe I’ll need to, Your Majesty. They’re already coming.”
Moments later, the garden was flooded with night faeries. Some were laughing, others were weeping, and several were doing both.
“I’ve never opened a gate to another realm before,” I whispered to Rowan. “I don’t know what to picture.”
“I do.”
An image of a white palace surrounded by blossoming trees entered my mind. I smiled and raised my hands; a swirling purple circle of magic appeared in mid-air and slowly widened until the palace of the Spring Realm could be seen in the centre.
There was one thing missing. Quickly, I used my magic to summon my circlet from my chambers to my head.
Everyone surged through the gate. Rowan and I led the way, right up to the guards in front of the palace, who stared at us in shock.
“Prince Rowan! You are safe!”
“Is my mother inside?” Rowan asked.
“She is speaking to the Winter Queen at this moment, Your Highness. But…what are these night faeries doing here?”
Now it was my turn. “I am Queen Amara of the Night Realm and I too seek an audience with Queen Demetra.”
The guards led us through the palace and towards a pair of oaken doors, which were open, revealing two majestic figures. One was clad in a gown that looked as if it had been crafted of living flowers, the other in a glittering blue dress that trailed on the floor. Both were shouting at each other.
“Rowan?”
There was a blur of green silver, and the next moment Rowan was being embraced by a taller version of himself.
“Where have you been? Where…” Rowan’s brother gripped him tightly by the shoulders, eyes blazing with anger. “Never scare us like that again! Ever!”
“I won’t, Aspen. I promise.”
“Where did all these night faeries come from? And why are you wearing a crown?”
Rowan took my hand again. “Aspen, this is Queen Amara. My wife.”
“We can explain everything,” I said. Behind Aspen, the two queens were staring at us in shock.
“I think you’d better.”