The Light of My Hearts

The Lower Realm, Tegath…

Despite her dad menacing Gillam, Helia’s parents seemed to be very accepting that her apprentice was a fae and not a human. She figured her dad would be easy to convince since dealing with supernatural creatures was his livelihood. Her mother was a genuine surprise. Sure, her mother was very friendly, but typically she wanted to be as far away from the “slaying” aspect of her loved ones. But she viewed Gillam like he was the one thing she had to see before she died. Helia had to admit when she first saved Twillow years ago, the idea of a real fae was surreal.

So…she couldn’t exactly blame her star-struck reaction.

However, now her mother’s “mother hen” was activated.

“You be sure to always wear that mask and cloak of yours when you go out, Gillam. Who knows what will happen if people realize you’re a fae! Oh! And I’ll be sure to put away all of our iron things. Don’t want you getting burned again!” she rambled.

Gillam remained cordial as always, “Thank you, Mrs. Colborne. But you mustn’t trouble yourself.”

“It’s no trouble at all! You’re a very special guest and I’m going to make sure you’re comfortable.” She insisted suddenly noticing his untouched food, “Oh! Let me get you some more breakfast. That’s gotten cold.”

The fae tried to protest but she was already seizing up the plate and rushing back inside.

“Saying ‘no’ won’t do you any good I’m afraid.” Helia shook her head.

“She’s very…doting.” Gillam smiled.

Lachlan was a bit more relaxed now but he was still observing Gillam, “So what’s the difference between you and an elf? Just the wings?”

“Oh. Elves and fae are very different…but closely related too. Like cousins. We have most of the same abilities and weaknesses, but elves are more numerous, our skin colors are different, and their magical abilities are not as strong as ours. And…we can fly.” Gillam explained.

“So, you’re immortal, right?”

“Yes.”

“How old are you then?” Lachlan pressed.

“I’m…not really sure. We don’t really keep track after so long.” The fae admitted. “But maybe…ten centuries?”

Helia had once asked Gillam that question too and her father’s expression mirrored hers when she learned the fae’s age.

“You’re one thousand years old?” Lachlan’s bushy brows rose.

Gillam nodded and shrugged, “Somewhere close to that.”

“Ha!” Lachlan bit the stem of his pipe and puffed, “Don’t look a day over twenty.”

Helia didn’t think to ask before but her father’s statement made her ask, “So…your mom and dad didn’t look much older than forty. When you’re born do you look like babies…or…what? How long do you look like a child?”

Gillam smiled, “Well we age and develop much like most mortal species do in the first twenty to thirty years of our lives. Then our aging stops until we are much, much older. Some fae start to look older but they are many centuries old.”

“So, you don’t die of old age?” Lachlan asked.

The fae made a thinking expression, “Not unless we choose to.”

“Choose to?”

Gillam nodded, “If we stop eating magic infused foods or are away from sources of magic from our realm then we lose our immortality.”

Helia blinked, “Wait…you mean you’ll die just by staying in this realm?”

The tall fae reached under his shirt and produced the crystal he always kept on him, “This prevents that from happening.”

Helia nodded, remembering that little trinket never left his neck.

“Here we go. Fresh and hot.” Una returned with Gillam’s breakfast and placed it before him along with a bone fork.

“Oh. My thanks, Mrs. Colborne.”

“You are most welcome. And you can call me Una.”

Gillam nodded, “If you wish.”

Lachlan pointed to Gillam with his pipe, “Guess how old he is, Una.”

The woman sat and stared at the fae a moment, “Oh goodness. Fae are immortal, aren’t they? I couldn’t say…he only looks twenty something.”

“Nearly one thousand, that one.” Lachlan sounded impressed.

“Oh my! How amazing!” Una agreed, “And you aren’t married after all that time?”

Helia’s eyes did a backflip into her skull, “Ugh! MOM. Please.”

“What? It’s a legitimate question.”

The redhead gestured to Gillam’s plate, “Hurry and eat that, I’ll take you around Tegath.”

“Oh! And go see your sister too.” Una reminded, “She’ll want to see you after all this time. She’s up in the hills at the Grecian home.”

Helia moved her arms, “Yeah…maybe. We’ll see if she’s around I guess.”

Gillam ate his breakfast elegantly but rapidly, thanked Una and Lachlan, and followed Helia through the house and out the front door.

…

Helia had lived in Tegath since birth so most of the things she showed Gillam were mundane to her: the little shops near her parents’ home, the stone statuary of seafaring pioneers that dotted the city, the huge sailing ships far off in the harbor, the pubs and bars, and numerous other places. Gillam, masked and cloaked, took in the sights as they walked the streets amid the other humans. Helia was wearing casual Tegathan clothing; a long light blue tunic with a zigzag pattern stitched around the hem and dark pants. She had also thrown her thick shock of red hair up in a quick updo. It was much different than her usual slayer garb, though she still wore her sword and belt.

Gillam didn’t miss the ivory flash of Helia’s neck as he followed after her. It wasn’t often he got to see it behind her hair. In fact, it was pleasant to see her in something other than her slayer uniform.

“Where is your sister?” Gillam asked after a while.

“Well, she’s living with her fiancé, I guess. His family works at the docks but they live up on the hillside. Rich sector.” Helia explained.

She led him down the stoned streets until they started to hike upward into the hills bordering Tegath. Thankfully, both of them were in shape and though the walk was long, they weren’t winded by it. (Other people would’ve been strained for breath.) It had grown hot in the afternoon but as they ascended the hill the breeze off of the ocean and trees became welcome on their trek. Soon, Helia pointed to a stoned house set into the hillside with a small stone wall surrounding.

“There’s where Tyler Grecian lives; Sessinae’s fiancé.” Helia explained.

“Should we also tell her I’m a fae?” Gillam inquired behind his mask.

“Hell no. Sessy is the biggest loud-mouth I know. She couldn’t keep a secret if her life depended on it.” Helia explained, using her sister’s nickname.

He nodded. They walked up the stone path until they approached the sizeable home (It wasn’t the Birchwood mansion but it was still big.) Helia seemed a bit hesitant at first but knocked on the door. A pause followed, she knocked once more, and was about to leave when a young lady opened the door.

“Yes? How can I help you?”

Helia replied, “Hi. We’re here to visit Sessinae. I’m her sister.”

“HELIA! OH MY GOD!” a second young female voice all but squealed from inside.

The girl at the door stepped aside and Helia’s younger sister Sessinae threw it open wide before leaping into her sister for a hug. Sessinae was much more petite than Helia but she too had red hair. Her hair was shorter and styled more elegantly behind her head. She had blue eyes as well but they were darker than Helia’s. It wasn’t hard to tell they were sisters even though they were markedly different.

“Helia! You’re back! When did you get here? I’m getting married!” she thrust her adorned ring finger at her sister with excitement.

Sessinae was a lot like their mother and would talk and question in a rapid fashion when excited.

“Yes. We got into Tegath yesterday. And uh…congratulations.” Helia replied, eyeing the sparkling stone on her sister’s finger.

“Oh, this is wonderful! Now you get to be my maid of honor! Please say yes. Please!” Sessinae was all but bouncing like an excitable kid.

“I…I guess so. Ok?” the elder sister sounded overwhelmed.

Sessinae held her hands and said in a begging tone, “But you have to wear I dress.”

“It better not be pink.” Helia warned.

“It’s purple…with a pink bow.”

Helia rolled her eyes, “All right, Sessy. All right.”

She smiled and suddenly noticed Gillam’s masked form standing off to the right, “Oh! Who is this?”

“Sessy, this is Gillam, my apprentice. I’m showing him around Tegath.” Helia made a gesture of introduction.

Cued, Gillam removed his mask, his façade in place, and gave a gentlemanly bow, “It’s a pleasure to finally meet Helia’s sister.”

Sessinae’s dark blue eyes were orbs and her jaw hung. It took a moment but she snapped out of her thirsty stare.

“Oh! Oh, the pleasure is all mine! Please! Please come in!” she clucked like a busy hen, “Claire! Oh, Claire! Bring out some tea and snacks.”

The house maid who answered the door nodded and scurried off. Helia gave Gillam a look as if to say, “I told you she’d flip” and entered the home.

“So, you’ve got servants?” Helia inquired, staring around at the fancy, large interior.

“Oh, a couple. Tyler hired Claire specifically to be my lady in waiting. It can get so dull here when he’s at work.”

Helia stared around at the nice home with the ocean views out the side, “Tyler Grecian, huh? He still an annoying little turd?”

Sessinae slapped at her sister’s arm, “Helia! Don’t talk about my fiancé that way!”

Helia smirked, “Oh come on, Sessy. You know what he was like when we were kids. Kick us and run when we visited the fish market, make faces at us from behind his dad, and if I so much as gave him a dirty look for being a turd he’d tattle on us.”

“You gave him a black eye.” Sessinae accused, remembering.

“Of course. He took your doll and then denied it to his dad and we got called liars. So… I made him pay for it later.”

Sessinae huffed, “Well he’s not like that anymore. He’s a perfect gentleman and he’s so cute.”

“And rich it seems…or is this all daddy Grecians’ money?” Helia gibed.

“No.” her sister sounded annoyed, “He’s partnered with his dad running the fish markets. He just added a new ship to the fleet too.”

Helia nodded, “As long as he treats you well.”

Sessinae began gushing and talking about her fiancé whilst Helia and Gillam patiently listened while eating and drinking their tea and snacks. Helia didn’t miss the fact that Sessinae’s eyes were not diverting from Gillam for too long.

“So, Gillam, where are you from? How did you meet my sister?”

Gillam put down his teacup elegantly, “I’m from a land far from Tegath. And I met your sister when she befriended my sister about a year ago.”

“Oh! You have a sister too?”

“Yes, as well as two younger brothers.”

“Do they look like you?” Sessinae inquired, eyes hungry with imagination of seeing three men of Gillam’s attractiveness in one place.

“Somewhat…we’re still very different.”

“And you’re…a slayer like Helia?”

“Learning to be. I was a bodyguard before this though.” He explained.

Sessinae smiled, “You look like you’d be a good protector.”

“Well thank you.”

They continued to talk until Sessinae tapped Helia, “Will you excuse us, Gillam? I want to show Helia my dress.”

“Of course.”

Helia seemed loath to go but she tagged along with her little sister. The moment they were in Sessinae’s room she shut the door behind them like she intended to trap her older sister.

“OH…MY…GOD!” she mouthed in a gasp, “He is SO handsome!”

Helia sighed, knowing this was the real reason she wanted to get her alone. Gossip. Gossiping about boys and who was cute was a favorite pastime for Sessinae. Helia didn’t have much use for such talk.

“Yeah.” She agreed bluntly.

“He looks like an angel! And he’s so tall!” she gushed.

“Yeah.” Helia agreed again.

Sessinae blinked, “Do all men up north look like him?”

“Uh. No. He’s kind of…exceptional.” Helia laughed quietly.

Her sister whispered, “Are you sleeping with him?”

Helia balked, “Shit, Sessy! No. He’s my apprentice.”

How many times did she have to explain that to people?!

“Oh. Well…I mean you are getting older, I just thought…”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m so glad for your concern.” Helia held up a hand to get her to drop the subject. “Where’s your dress?”

She went to a closet and opened it to reveal a large frilly dress emblazoned with sparkly beads. It looked just like a “Sessinae” dress. For a few minutes she described all the little details about it. Helia listened patiently.

“We’ll have to get you measured for your bridesmaid dress. And you can bring Gillam as a date.” Sessinae offered.

“Uh…yeah. Great.”

....

The Parliel Realm...

When morning came, Gelilah entered Twillow’s room to check on her. Her wings snapped up upon seeing her bed empty and disheveled.

“Twillow? Twillow?!” she called, eyes darting as she rushed to the windowed door to the balcony.

She flung open the door but only saw Kendrick’s massive form reclined on the grass next to the house. He was breathing deeply, clearly asleep.

“Kendrick!” she shouted down from the balcony.

Her voice elicited no response. Gelilah huffed and fluffed her wings with irritation.

He was supposed to be guarding her daughter not sleeping like a useless lump!

The fae mother’s hand lit with pink light and she shot a bolt of magic at his cheek.

Kendrick was awakened by a sharp shock to his cheek. His amber eyes flashed open and his head turned toward the mansion.

“Wake up you lazy brute!” Gelilah berated him, “Where is my daughter?! You’re supposed to be guarding her!”

He squinted with annoyance but gently lifted his fingers to reveal Twillow curled up in his “soft spot”.

Gelilah gave an appalled look, “Why is she not in her bed? You brought her outside to sleep?”

“She has slept like this with me before.” He answered tersely, “This is how I ensure she is safe…and she is safe.”

His rumbling voice awakened Twillow, who sat up and rubbed her eyes, “Wha?”

Kendrick lifted his head to look at her and gently stroked her back, “Guess it’s time to wake up, my light.”

The little fae’s wing’s fluttered as she stretched and yawned, “Did you sleep well?”

He nodded.

“Twillow?” Gelilah called calmly, trying not to sound too perturbed.

She looked up, “Good morning, Mother.”

“Good morning.” She made a coaxing gesture, “Come inside. We need to make plans for your baby shower and send out the invites.”

Twillow nodded and flew up off of Kendrick’s chest to the balcony.

Kendrick’s brow furrowed and he sat up slowly, “Baby shower?”

“Yes. I told you about it.” Twillow assured him.

“You did…but that was before this Kraskol attack.” He sounded stern. “You should not be having any sort of guests.”

Gelilah shook her head, “The guest list will be limited and we will be using a transport invitation spell to bring them here. The gates will never open.”

“No. Holding any sort of party with outside guests is putting Twillow into senseless danger.” Kendrick argued.

The fae mother’s wings bat sharply, “This is a very important event and we only have a small window of time to do it. We will take every precaution.”

“Every precaution would be not allowing anyone in or out of the Estate until our baby is born.” Kendrick insisted, tone growing stormy. “There will be no baby shower or any sort of party until this creature is caught or killed.”

“That is not for you to decide.” Gelilah raised her tone as well.

“The Hell it isn’t!”

“Please! Don’t argue about this.” Twillow held up her hands in a placating way before looking at her mother, “I’ll be along in a moment.”

Gelilah gave Kendrick a last disapproving look, which he shot back in kind, before she reentered the home. Kendrick leaned in closer to Twillow as she stood on the balcony.

“This isn’t safe, Twillow.” He stated. “You must see that?”

Twillow sighed and gave him a longing expression, “But Kendrick, this baby shower means so much to me. It’ll only be for a few hours during the day and everyone’s eyes will be one me. Nothing can happen with you and so many others watching me.”

Though the pleading look in her eyes tugged at his hearts he still shook his head, “It is an unnecessary risk. I won’t allow it.”

“Kendrick…”

“No.” he firmed his voice. “You are not going to have this party.”

Twillow bat her wings sharply as she defended her stance, “It will be safe, Kendrick. I promise.”

“You can’t promise that. Don’t you care about your safety and the safety of our baby?” he sounded exasperated.

She frowned and crossed her arms while batting her wings again in an irritated way. Kendrick could smell the burning salt smell overshadowing her electric floral tones…she was mad.

“Of course, I do! You’re being unreasonable.” she declared.

“I’m being unreasonable?!” his voice rose, “I’m trying to keep you safe!”

“And I’m trying to live my life normally. I don’t need to be smothered.” She stood her ground, “One little party held in broad daylight amongst my family and friends is not unreasonable.”

Before Kendrick could argue further, she turned abruptly and marched back through her room to follow her mother. The giant’s head pulled back and his hand threatened to follow after her and stop her but he stopped himself.

“Twillow? Twillow come back here!” he demanded roughly.

“I have things to plan. Excuse me.” She answered back curtly, disappearing into the house.

He grit his teeth, growling in his throat quietly. His fist clenched hard, threatening to plant itself in the ground.

Was he…was he actually mad at her?

“I’m trying to keep her and our baby safe! Why doesn’t she understand that?!” his mind ranted furiously, “She’d risk all of that over a stupid party!? Doesn’t she care?!”

“Of course, she cares. Maybe…maybe you are overreacting?” his hearts answered.

“I did not overreact! Nothing is going to hurt her or our child! Nothing is going to threaten that! I won’t let it!” his mind spat back.

His hearts replied with guilty conscience, “She said ‘smothering’…you’re smothering her?”

It was like a slap to his mind, “I…I’m not. I’m just trying to keep her safe.”

“You’re smothering her.” His hearts quivered with regret. “Now she’s angry with you.”

“No! No, I’m not! She doesn’t understand, that’s all.” His mind rationalized, “This family is all I’ve ever wanted and nothing is going to threaten that. Nothing.”

Kendrick sat on the lawn outside, stewing until he decided to patrol the Estate grounds just as he would his territory in the Lower Realm. Despite the fact that an invisible magic barrier domed the entire place, he still felt the need to guard. He couldn’t help it. The gate guards watched him pass several times, wondering if they were even needed with such a menacing force lurking about.

It was mid-afternoon when Kendrick returned to his spot outside Twillow’s window and peeked in. She wasn’t there. He frowned, then shifted and moved around to the veranda deck which had lots of large windows that allowed natural light into the dining and entrance to the mansion. He peeked through the narrow windows for a few moments until he spotted Twillow on the stairs with someone.

His pupils went narrow and his vicious darkness clouded his head when he saw who it was.

…

Earlier…

After her terse exchange with Kendrick, Twillow began preparations with her mother to plan and send out magic invites for her baby shower. They had sent out the silver parchments like sending out carrier pigeons for a couple hours. Finally, they seemed to have sent well over fifty invites.

Twillow was still miffed at Kendrick’s obstinate refusal to have her baby shower. Though she understood he was being protective, she couldn’t forget the warning Alec had given them about Kendrick’s protective instincts ramping up and becoming more dangerous the further her pregnancy went on. Thus far he had certainly been doting, but after the news of the Kraskol attack he had grown decidedly more single-minded in his protectiveness. She didn’t want him to get worse.

Not to mention, she had been looking forward to her baby shower since arriving and spreading the news amongst her family. It would not only be a great way to celebrate, but it would also proclaim the bond she and Kendrick shared. (Many of her guests and extended family had never met him and probably had only just heard about her pregnancy.)

After the invites were sent, Twillow parted from her mother to go downstairs to the kitchen to discuss a menu with Marci for the baby shower.

“Hello, Twillow. You’re looking well.” A familiar voice stated from the staircase.

She stopped when she spotted Valluen, “Oh! Valluen. H-how are you?”

He smiled cordially but with a hidden dourness, “As…good as can be expected.”

“What are you doing here?” she inquired, approaching him.

“Just a business meeting with your father. We’re thinking of opening more tunnels in the Blue Falls Mine.” He explained evenly and then smiled, “He tells me you’re carrying Life Water. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. We’re hoping for a successful blooming.”

Though he sounded as dapper and polite as he typically was, she could tell that the awkward invisible wall had been erected between them: the Ex-Wall. Every brick in that Ex-Wall had something subtly written into it:

I accepted Kendrick and rejected you.

This Life Water is mine and Kendrick’s…not yours and mine.

I hurt you, though that was not my intent.

Valluen nodded with a smile, though his voice sounded slightly pinched, “Yes. I hope it is a success and that you are…happy.”

She nodded with a returned smile, “I am. And it’s good to see your business is going well.”

“Your father is a brilliant businessman. It’s an honor to work under him.” Valluen replied.

He glanced around, “Is Kendrick around?”

“You didn’t see him outside?” Twillow almost laughed wondering how he could possibly miss seeing her giant husband.

“I didn’t fly in. Your father brought me through a transportation spell. We’ve been in his office for the past hour.” He explained and then extended his hand to her, “I should probably get back to business. It was good seeing you again, Twillow.”

Automatically, Twillow placed her hand in his and he bowed his head close to her hand.

A shadow eclipsed the windows parallel to the stairs.

Just as Twillow’s expression changed and her eyes moved toward the windows a thunderous, sharp crash filled the large atrium. Glass shattered and the metal framework creaked as a huge gray arm smashed through one of the windows. Valluen’s sharp elf reflexes were the one thing that saved him from a body of broken bones as he leaped backward out of the way. Like a passing gray freight train, Kendrick’s hand and forearm shot between him and Twillow. The huge hand slammed hard against the stone steps, cracking them.

This was the first time Valluen had seen Kendrick in his true form. The description of his size did him no justice as the gray wall of hard pulsing muscular forearm lay before him.

“KENDRICK!!” Twillow screamed at him, completely appalled.

He didn’t seem to hear her as his amber eyes glared from outside the broken window at the elf.

“Get…away…from her.” The thunderstorm of his voice filled the room.

Valluen blinked, trying to maintain a sense of calm despite the fact that the giant seemed to have every intention of destroying him (as evidenced by the cracked stairs).

Twillow suddenly was airborne and was glowing with outrage as she shot toward Kendrick’s face outside the window.

“KENDRICK! STOP IT! RIGHT NOW!” she shouted angrily.

He seemed to have trouble redirecting his death glare on Valluen to her for a few seconds. In fact, his arm was pulling back, hand menacing to grab the elf. A fast shock of pink energy from Twillow’s hands bought his focus.

“I MEAN IT, KENDRICK! Don’t you dare hurt him!” the petite fae sounded like a tigress.

“He kissed your hand.” The words he growled sounded like a death sentence read.

“He DID NOT! He just bowed in farewell!” her wings snapped with each word to punctuate, “It’s a gentlemanly gesture…something YOU seem to have forgotten!”

His eyes flicked from her to Valluen, “Why is he here?”

“He’s here on business with my father. That’s all! We were just having a short conversation.” She explained and then harshly gestured around at the mess, “You take your arm out of the house this instant and leave Valluen alone!”

Very slowly, Kendrick did so. Valluen exhaled through his nose with relief. (His immortality was almost cut short.)

“G-good to see you again, Kendrick.” He managed to say as genially as he could before retreating back toward Aemond’s office down the hall.

However, both Aemond and Gelilah were already rushing toward the front of the mansion to see what the commotion was about.

Twillow was glaring daggers at Kendrick, “WHAT has gotten into you?”

He exhaled and growled out slowly, “I…don’t want him near you.”

“I don’t need protected like THIS!” she gestured to the broken glass and bent window frames, “Just look at this mess!”

“OH! My blessed wings! What happened?!” Gelilah cried out, seeing the destruction.

Kendrick frowned from behind the broken window frame, “I…I’ll fix it.”

The high burning salt smell was even more potent from Twillow as she closed her eyes, “No. You’ve done enough. Just…just go.”

Kendrick looked at her but she had turned, refusing to look at him.

“But…” he tried.

“GO.” she raised her voice, sounding like she was going to cry.

One two-letter word felt sharper and more painful than any spear thrust through his hearts. His eyes fell, darting in a lost sort of way. He shifted his huge body away from the broken window.

“O…Ok.” He whispered.

He stood and walked away from the house, his shadow lifting and letting the light back in. Twillow didn’t move or glance toward the window for several long seconds. As she hovered in flight she trembled.

“Twillow?” her father asked with gentle caution.

She merely shook her head and flew quickly into the ballroom.