The Fox’s Tale

I typically slept in my boxers so after brushing my teeth and stripping I was ready. Ellery took about ten minutes longer, and I was waiting for her, sprawled out on our bed. She emerged from the bathroom in a pair of pink silk short pajamas and shot me a smile.

“I’ve missed the feel of clothes after four months.” A small growl escaped me as I thought of how it would feel to hold her while she wore those pajamas. She flashed me a flirtatious smile and walked over to a writing desk in the corner of our bedroom.

“Oh no,” she groaned.

“What is it?” I asked, propping myself up on my elbows.

“Invitations.” She said it the way someone would say boils or perhaps feces.

“Invitations to what?” I asked sitting up fully.

“This one,” she said picking up a white envelope embossed with gold script, “is from Papa and Mumsy.” She sighed as she set it down and then she picked up another envelope. This one was black and embossed with silver script.

“This one is from Mathair Mhor,” she said in a flat voice as she glanced around the room. “Nothing else seems to have come with it, so maybe we aren’t going to the palace.”

“Why would going to the palace be an issue? I’m curious about what the Unseelie realm looks like.”

“It’s complicated,” she said as she slid a letter opener through the envelope. “I can tell you that the Unseelie realm is Tim Burton’s wet dream. You’ll understand my concerns whenever we do…oh, oh no.”

A silver shirt box tied with red ribbon appeared on the desk once she finished slicing open the envelope. Then a second box appeared, larger than the first, then a hat box.

“Damn it. Okay, it’s only three. Maybe she’s taken pity on you.”

She pulled the invitation out and more boxes appeared, in various shapes and sizes, all silver with red ribbons, until every flat raised surface in our bedroom had at least one on it. We heard a thud and turned to see a black leather trunk with silver hardware at the foot of the bed.

“Fuck,” Ellery whispered. “Fuck,” she repeated in a louder more irritated voice.

“What the hell is all of this?” I asked; bewildered as I wondered how I was going to adjust to things magically appearing for the rest of my life.

She looked at the invitation and groaned. “Most of it is what we are expected to wear when we join Mathair Mhor and her council for dinner Sunday evening. I’m so sorry, Alexander, but I did tell you they were beyond excited to meet you.”

“We have to wear all of this? Ellery, there’s got to be at least fifteen boxes here, not to mention the trunk. How can we possibly wear everything that’s inside?”

She looked at the invitation again. “Oh, the trunk is a portal. All future attire and gifts will appear in it. As for the rest she says there are directions in one of the boxes.” Ellery shook her head and threw the invitation down on the desk.

“Don’t worry, you’ll only have to wear about a fourth of this. I’m the one who is going to get screwed without any of the pleasure,” she grumbled. She picked up the first invitation.

“Don’t open that or we’ll never get out of here! Only the floor is left and not much of that.”

“It won’t be an issue. Mumsy and Papa don’t require elaborate dress, even if it was at court, which it won’t be.” She read the invitation and smiled. “Brunch tomorrow; Sabbath attire. Basically what they’d expect at an away game or church service. Your parents are also invited to this one.”

“But not the other one, right?” I asked, alarmed. “I don’t want my parents getting seduced.” I shuddered just thinking about it.

“No, the Unseelie Council is distrustful and rarely invites outsiders into their realm.”

“Good. Hang on; you said they might want to keep my parents forever. Are they going to try and keep me?”

“You’re my Other. If they value their lives they won’t touch you, but I imagine they will want to.”

“Good to know you’ve got my back, babe,” I laughed as I looked around the room. “I can’t believe you’re going to have to wear the contents of almost all these boxes.”

She heaved an exasperated sigh. “I hate Unseelie court dress. It’s so uncomfortable and borderline degrading. When I am queen I intend to modify it.” She put her hands on her hips.

“You better send us some attendants on Sunday, Mathair Mhor.” She looked around and sighed again. “Let’s just stack the boxes that are on the bed on top of the trunk and go to sleep.”

I stifled a yawn. “You’ll get no arguments from me. Do we need to set an alarm for tomorrow?”

“No, someone will be sent to rouse us in time.” We finished stacking everything and then climbed into bed. As she snuggled against me under the covers I felt more fully at peace than I had ever felt before. We were in our home, together, with the full blessing of both of our parents.

“I don’t deserve you,” I murmured into her hair. Ellery’s breathing was deep and even, so I wasn’t sure if she’d heard me. I closed my eyes and as I began to drift I heard her reply.

“You say that now. You might change your mind once you experience court dress.”

I chuckled. “It can’t be that bad.”

“You’ll eat those words, my love.” I opened my eyes to look at her, but Ellery had fallen asleep and had begun snoring softly. I smiled to myself as I closed my eyes again, and then I was gone.