Chapter 21

“You have been lying to me, son. I don’t appreciate lies.”

“Mother, please spare me the speech about right and wrong. You know how much it affects me; I just break down and do whatever you say, so spare me the pain this once, please.”

“I don’t appreciate sarcasm either, Prince Taliesin. You are being such a pill.”

“Oh, and you are being the Queen of graciousness and understanding. Please accept my deepest apology, Mother.” Taliesin tugged at the small pendant hanging around his neck. “Your hospitality leaves a bit to be desired. Like the desire to leave when I see fit, not when you choose to let me go.”

“You are staying here as long as I want you to. And I want you to stay here until you forget that chit of a mortal girl that is taking up your mind.” Titania grinned and her pointed teeth showed through her glamour, as she intended.

“Mother, this isn’t funny. I have a life to return to.”

“You have returned to the life you left a century ago. And you are going to marry your fiancé, just as you were supposed to.”

“Mother, I have told you repeatedly, I am already married; truly bound to Cassiopeia Vega Morgan Huntington. She is my one true love and I have committed to her fully.” He held out his left hand with the ring on it. “Test it, I have begged you to for months now. It is a true binding, and her ring has the same magic on it. You taught me well the ways of spells and glamour.” He waved the hand in front of her, but she retreated a step or two.

“You cannot force me to believe something that is so blatently wrong. I am saddened that you have avoided your destiny for so long, but you are now here to pick it up where you left off.”

“No, Mother, no matter what you ask, what you desire, or what you think, I am not here for that. I want you to leave us alone. At best I want you to give your blessing and be part of our lives. At the very least I want your promise of non-interference. We intend to have a family, and I would love you to be part of their lives, but don’t think for a minute I won’t escape and hide us even further away from your prying eyes if you force me to.”

Taliesin pulled at the pendant he wore around his neck. Three beads hung from a leather string, two large blocky crystals of pyrite with drill holes through the center surrounded a large chunk of hematite. Taliesin’s normally golden skin appeared red and inflamed beneath the hematite. He shoved the pendant over the shirt he wore and rubbed the reddened skin.

His beloved mother had placed the pendant on him while he had been sleeping. A charm on the leather kept it in place over his head, when he tried to remove it, his throat constricted as if it were choking him until he stopped. He had the run of the palace and could go anywhere in the Faerie Realm, so long as he did not try to do magic. Without the magic, he could not shift between the mortal realm and his home realm, which was Titania’s plan. No one would touch the pendant or the leather string, everyone could see he wore iron, and he had quickly become a pariah. No one would help him get it off, or leave, and he felt he was running out of time.

“Why do you think I’m lying to you, Mother?”

“You never told me about a child. Did you impregnate this poor mortal wench and then marry her to cover up your hideous mistake? Is that what happened, my poor sweet son?”

“What child?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Taliesin wished fervently he could call them back. A light of sadistic glee came into Her Royal Majesty’s eyes.

“You mean to tell me she didn’t tell you? Oh that is rich! She probably doesn’t want you to know that she carries your bastard. She rightfully wants to dispose of it as she sees fit. It is their right, you know, to kill the children in their culture. Women can do whatever they want to the unborn. Isn’t that just nauseating?” Titania pressed the back of her hand to her forehead in mock horror. Taliesin rolled his eyes.

“Mother, you took me from her before she could tell me, I’m sure. She wants my children, our children. She must be terrified all alone.”

“Hardly alone, Robin Goodfellow is with her, keeping her warm and safe, I’m sure. You know how much he loves the mortal world; he is sure to keep an eye on the little tyke as he grows up. Besides, you came to me, don’t you remember anything? Poor boy, you are so confused about everything. Here, let me help you.” She reached out a hand cupped full of faerie dust. He ducked in time and the dust floated over his head instead of full in the face. “You really must stop being so childish, Taliesin. You are getting married tomorrow, and then I might let you out of your prison. Only if you are good, though.” She wagged her finger at him and turned to leave the room. “Perhaps your son will not be as ungrateful for your help as mine is. I can only hope you have better luck as a parent than I have obviously had.” She sniffed and trailed out of the room, her scent lingering in the air, spicy and flowery all at once. Taliesin waited until she had left before he let out a pent up scream of frustration.

Chapter 20

Ainsel stayed in the house with Cassie over the next several months. He was actually quite useful, taking down the holiday decorations out of the attic crawl space, putting them up (with a bit of the good old fashioned magic), pruning the apple tree, taking care of the compost pile in the back yard, at first covering the garden with straw and then later as it neared spring planting uncovering the garden and tilling it over with the winter’s compost. He told her stories at night about Taliesin as a child. Puck had already become an adult centuries before Taliesin was born, but he had always kept a childlike outlook (some would argue childish versus childlike) and had always been the Prince’s favorite bosom companion.

Before Cassie had swept into their lives, as he saw it of course no offense meant, they had been roommates living above the Bush and Brier. Ainsel has always been there for Prince Taliesin, and he knew that the Prince would want him to help out with his family when he was away. Cassie thought it was sweet half the time, irritating half the time, and the rest of the time she wondered what his ulterior motives were.

Whenever she could escape for an hour or two, she would go down to the library and do research on the faerie realm. She convinced Shelly, the kind reference librarian, that her research would result in a grand epic novel. Shelly in turn did some extra library transfers, bringing in rare books, or having photographs of ancient or fragile manuscripts sent via email. Cassie learned more than she could have imagined possible about the Gentry, the Fae, the Tuatha de Danan, and all the other names they used for themselves.

The last trip to the library garnered her some new information, not regurgitated or retold, but genuinely new. She had never heard of a Faerie Moon, but it seemed possible. Many cultures named the phases of the moon, especially the full moon. The Blue Moon, one of the most misquoted or mislabeled moons, was the full moon equivalent of the Faerie Moon. The Blue Moon, as properly noted, was not the second full moon in a solar month, instead, it was the third full moon in a season of four full moons. Therefore, the Blue Moon occurred about as often as the second full moon in a solar month, but in different times of the year. The Faerie Moon turned out to be the third new moon in a season of four new moons, after a bit more digging.

Cassie did some astronomical research, and learned that the next Faerie Moon was due in late August, shortly after the due date of their baby. Cassie wondered if she could learn enough from Ainsel by then to breach the veil between the worlds and go to Taliesin. She had read in the literature, what little there was, that the veil could be broached by the light of the faerie moon. She must have misread or miscopied it, because from the rest of her research, a faerie moon was the new moon, when the dark side of the moon faced the earth. The Faerie Moon would shine no light.

“Ainsel,” she said that night after they had eaten dinner and she had cleaned up the dishes, “do you know what a Faerie Moon is?” She watched his expression closely, and saw a flicker in his eyes that barely touched the rest of his features. She wondered if he would lie to her.

“Yes,” he drawled out, and then paused. She kept her eyes on his, and waited until he started speaking again. “Yes, I have heard of a Faerie Moon. What do you know about it?”

“You first.” Cassie sipped her green tea and watched his face flicker again. She waited with a patient and slightly interested look.

Ainsel tried to wait Cassie out, but finally lowered his eyes from their locked embrace. “A Faerie Moon is the third new moon in a season of four new moons.” Cassie nodded, so far the truth. She took another drink of tea, enjoying both the play of the spearmint and lemongrass flavors mixing with the light green tea flavor as well as Ainsel’s obvious discomfort.

He took a sip of his own Earl Grey tea and watched Cassie, seemingly convinced he could wait her out. She had all night, hell, she had until August. He didn’t need to talk to her tonight, but she somehow knew he would. She waited.

“The Faerie Moon can be a gateway, a way into the Faerie Realm.” He seemed reluctant to say anything further. Another sip from his tea; he grimaced. “You knew as much; I can tell from your expression. What do you want from me?”

Cassie didn’t answer; instead she took another sip of her Tazo Zen tea. She did smile and tilted her head, waiting.

“Obviously, you want to know how it works.”

“If I know what it is, why wouldn’t I know how it works?”

“Oh, please, woman, I know what you want.”

“Then give me what I want, you little…” Cassie stopped herself before crossing the line she had so desparately wanted to cross with the ever irritating, ingratiating, frustrating little faerie man practically since she had met him.

Ainsel smiled his wicked grin. He seemed to feel he had won. Cassie pouted and let him think what he wanted. It fit perfectly into her plan.

Cassie unlocked her studio door and stepped inside. The darkness seeped into every corner and when she flicked on the light switch, the darkness scattered. The room smelled dusty, as if it had not been used in several months. The sad truth was that it hadn’t. Cassie sighed and opened up the window to air out the space. The late winter sun peered through the store front windows sadly in need of a good wash, both inside and out.

After several minutes of dusting and airing out the space, Cassie set up a canvas on her easel. She pulled out some acrylic paints and checked the labels. She had checked with her OB GYN and had permission to paint for four to six hours a week. Cassie had worked on sketches and line drawings when the mood struck her. Her portfolio contained several of the most recent drawings which she intended to start painting today. She set the alarm clock for two o’clock that afternoon, giving her a total of three hours.

Her doctor had said that if her skin was completely covered, and she kept the windows open (even though it was the middle of winter and chilly) everything should be fine. She pulled on the latex gloves and rolled down the long sleeve oxford cloth shirt sleeves, buttoning the cuffs over the gloves and the shirt over her rounded belly. The buttons strained a little, but she wouldn’t be in the shirt for long. She primed the canvas and began to translate her drawing into a vision of the gateway she imagined.

By the time the alarm went off, Cassie had the background filled in with the navy mist of the sky and the deep forest green nearly black hills of the earth. A scattering of stars, including her namesake Cassiopeia, filled the misty sky, and a dark moon, seemingly darker than the sky dominated the scene. A circle of stones lay on the earth and a soft glow had started in the center of the stones. Cassie put away the paints and cleaned the paint brushes in a safe solvent. She looked at her painting as she worked, tilting her head for a different angle. So far so good, she thought.

In a few weeks, she had finished the painting and brought it back to the house. She put it up over the fireplace and waited for Ainsel to come home with dinner.

“What is that?” Ainsel asked as he set down the to-go containers from the Bush and Brier. Tonight smelled like rabbit stew, along with fresh French bread rolls, as Cassie unloaded the bags she also found a salad of mixed greens with a heady ranch dressing. A warm peach cobbler lay nestled in the bottom of the bag. Her stomach growled and the baby kicked.

“Ooh, Junior is hungry, too. This looks wonderful, thanks Ainsel.”

“My pleasure. Nice painting.” His eyes kept going toward the finished painting.

“Thanks, it’s the first I’ve finished since we came back from Santa Fe.” Cassie began to serve up dinner out of the various containers. She tossed the compostable boxes into the inside compost bin and pulled out the stoneware and flatware. The stew made onto both plates and a crusty roll on the edge of the plate. Cassie walked them over to the dining room table one at a time, placing Ainsel’s so he could continue to study the painting.

By the end of dinner, Ainsel had barely touched his food. Cassie asked if he would mind and he shook his head. She took his portion of stew and began to eat it herself. He picked at his cobbler and stared at the scene above the fireplace.

“You’ve got it just about right, Cassie,” Ainsel grudgingly admitted after she had cleared off the dishes and brought out their evening tea cups.

“I thought I had; that is why I painted it.” Cassie looked out over her cup watching Ainsel fight a losing battle against his better judgment.

“Ok, you win. I’ll help you get across on the Faerie Moon, but, and this is a big but, I cannot go with you. My life is much dearer to me than yours seems to be to you. Have you considered what will happen to the child?”

Cassie gave him points in her mind, but kept her features as smooth as possible. Acting unruffled by his harsh question, she set down her cup. “Of course I have. My sister is due a few weeks before me. She is already my unborn child’s future guardian. She will raise our child if Taliesin and I do not return.” Cassie swallowed and breathed normally. “Legally, I have already written it into my will and Taliesin did not have a chance to change his before he disappeared. Besides, I don’t even think Taliesin has a last will and testament. Do you?”

“Do I think the Prince has a will, or are you asking me if I myself have a will?”

“Either. Both, really.”

“No, to the best of my knowledge, neither of us has a will. Who would I leave anything to? Besides, I am an illegal alien, why do you think the courts would take time out to work on my estate, such as it is?”

“Have you ever had a child? Or ever fallen in love?” Cassie truly wondered, and leaned forward to hear his answer.

“No, of course not. On either account, no children, no lost loves, nothing so sordid as that. My life is to serve.”

“Before the Prince, what did you do?”

“Before the Prince? That was over two centuries ago, do you think I have a roll of parchment as a memory that I can consult whenever someone is impertinent to ask?” Ainsel turned away from her and stared into the distance.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up anything, or to hurt you. I just was curious. The stories of you from before the Prince, before Taliesin, seemed more carefree and less servile, was all I meant.” She reached out and touched him on the arm to comfort him. He shook off her hand.

“Never you mind. I had a wild youth and have since matured and become a useful member of society.”

“You make it sound like a prison sentence.” Cassie made the remark as an off the cuff statement, but Ainsel’s sudden expression of sharp pain made her pause. “Ainsel, is it a prison sentence? Are you being punished for something?”

“What difference is it to you?” Ainsel pushed away from the table, making the tea slosh in the tea cups. “I am going to take a walk then I have some reading to do. I suggest you get some sleep, you look haggard.”

Cassie raised her hand to her face. “Really? I was feeling quite well, even rested today. I will take your advice. Sleep well, Ainsel.” She picked up the tea cups and walked them into the kitchen to place in the dishwasher. Her mind spun with thoughts and ideas and wonderings. Was his servitude his own idea, or was it punishment for some imagined wrong? Would Titania enslave a fellow sprite to serve her only son? What wouldn’t Titania do?

Cassie walked back through the dining room and toward the stairs. Ainsel had not moved from the spot he stood. He seemed frozen in time or space, like the effects on science fiction shows like Heroes where time were stopped and a facial expression froze as well. Cassie put her hand on the railing and said softly, “I’m sorry.” She began to climb the stairs. Ainsel turned on his heel and strode into the kitchen and out the back door, letting the screen door slam behind him. Cassie cringed at the loud noise and continued up the stairs.

Chapter 19

Taliesin paced back and forth as well as he could in the cramped space. The room looked shabby, an earthen floor, hardly swept, with crates filled with odds and ends and broken furniture piled high. Apparently his chambers had become an off the cuff storage room of all the wrecked and useless items in the palace. No wonder his mother had been pleased when he asked to be shown to his rooms. The front room had sheets of varying shades, generally torn or stained, covering random pieces of furniture, a chair, several sofas, a chaise lounge, all with some defect, a torn pillow, a chewed on leg from someone’s out of control pet of the moment. Taliesin had peeked under the sheets of some, and came to the correct conclusion.

His bed chamber, formerly a luxurious room with a grand bed with high posters and artful drapery around it, the colors changed based on his mood, now had been crammed full of broken odds and ends, crates of exploded pillows, cracked chamber pots, bent ladles. Things from all over the palace. Taliesin shook his head. His mother must have planned this, once she had heard from him months ago, and every time something broke or wore out, instead of having it destroyed magically, she had the staff bury his room with the detritus. Very inventive, and very typical of his vindictive mother.

He also knew what she wanted of him. She wanted him to use his magic, and in doing so, break the law of the land. Once he left, his mother had held a High Court to exile him officially. After being exiled, he could not return to the Realm unless invited. His mother took care of that during their conversation last October by her begging him to return. But she had not lifted her injunction against him. As an official exile, he could not use magic within the Realm, invited or not; if he did he would be a traitor and hung for treason. His mother wouldn’t really hang him, but she would certainly lock him in the dungeons for at least a decade or two, long enough to ruin any chance he had with Cassie.

He had to play by her rules. Especially if he wanted to get her blessing. He located the bed under all the debris, and began to clear it off, stacking the crates to one side or out in the sitting room, and making a path through the junk to the bed. He also opened a pathway to the wardrobe and found some of his old clothes inside. Luckily, they hadn’t been eaten by moths or anything worse in the intervening years. He chose something plain and serviceable, well, as plain as he could find. The royal blue doublet with gold and silver piping seemed over the top for the twenty first century, but in the Faerie Realm, fashion moved much slower, the more obnoxious and over the top it was, the longer it remained fashionable.

When the bell on the wall began to tinkle softly, Taliesin had managed to wash up and change his clothes. Waiting a while to respond to the summons made him feel a bit better, a bit more in the game. He shook off a sudden feeling that he was in over his head and playing against the master.

Dinner as always was a lavish affair, with several courses, including spinach, feta, and pine-nut phyllo tarts; baby greens salad with gorgonzola cheese crumbles; potato, cheddar, and chive soup; spiced brisket with leeks and dried apricots; chicken with prosciutto, rosemary, and white wine; beef tenderloin with red-wine and marrow sauce; and almond cookie cups with sauternes-poached apples and frozen sauternes mousse. Taliesin took mental notes on some of the dishes to take back with him to the Bush and Brier.

Titania sat surrounded by her fawning court at the far end of the dining hall. Oberon came in late with several young and beautiful faeries flitting about him. During the meal, they fed him with their hands, giggling and falling over each other to please him. One even got up from her seat and went to find more wine. When she thought no one was looking, Titania sent dagger filled looks of hatred toward Oberon and his groupies. Taliesin had been seated halfway between them, looking out over the rest of the hall, but within full view of both of his parents.

Chapter 18

Over the next several weeks, Cassie adjusted herself to living alone again. The house seemed to miss Taliesin, she had at least managed most of the time to call him his true name in her mind when she thought of him by now, and the cats were extra loving, sometimes too much so. Boötes came over to her no matter where she was in the house and asked for loving and pettings. Orion managed to stay close when she was seated or in bed. Most of the time she watched old movies, some from the 80’s when she had grown up like The Princess Bride, Ghostbusters, When Harry Met Sally, and Labyrinth and some of the classics like Casablanca, Key Largo, Rear Window, and It’s a Wonderful Life. The last made her cry, but it always had in the past, just now she cried a bit earlier and a bit longer, especially at the happy ending.

She had lunch a few times with Andi, confiding in her that she was expecting, but not yet that Taliesin had left. She could not bear the looks of pity she knew would come from her sensitive sister. She also could not tell her the truth because she still expected him to come through the door and kiss her on the nose, hold her hand, and rub her belly in the night.

Because she wanted to keep the baby healthy, she decided to stop painting with the oils and acrylics. Although most of her paints had notations of non-toxic on the packages, she still didn’t want to risk it. Instead, she began baking. She purchased several different loaf pans in different sizes, from petite to full size, as well as cake pans and even a spring form pan for cheesecakes. Andi gave her a sourdough starter, and Cassie began her domestic goddesshood.

Between loaves of cracked rye bread and pumpkin bread, she called around trying to find Ainsel. He had been working at the Bush and Brier with Taliesin since they had opened the restaurant. But since he left, Ainsel had only managed to work three shifts, and had seemed to have fallen off the planet. Cassie suspected otherwise, but she still tried to find him, going so far as to find the picnic site and looking around for any trace of anything to contact him.

She also began spending a lot of time in the library, looking up history of the faerie lands, of the fae themselves, and of her mother-in-law in particular. She learned a bit, but nothing that she could get her hands around. She looked for a way into the Faerie realm, and found several, but none of them were anywhere near Boulder, Colorado, or in the United States of America at all. Actually, most of the known entrances were in the Enchanted Isles. And Cassie was rapidly approaching the no fly time of her pregnancy, if she followed the rules. She had never been fond of rules.

A week later, Cassie found herself at the airport with a ticket to New York and a connection to Dublin, Ireland. The homeland, Taliesin’s motherland, and the Emerald Isle, she was looking forward to seeing Ireland, and had always wanted to go, but never expected to go by herself, under false pretenses.

She drove up to the outbound parking and found a close up spot. Checking herself in the mirror, she fluffed her hair and took a deep breath. Her departures case and a small carry on accompanied her to the check in, and all the way through security. Her passport had never been stamped and she was both happy and sad that she was going to get her first visa today. After security check in, she made her way through customs and onto the train to the concourse.

She sat quietly on the bench at the far end of the car and watched people get on and off the train. When the train reached her concourse, she did not get off for some reason even she wasn’t entirely sure about. She rode the train to the final terminus and stayed on as it began its return trip. Faces flashed in front of her eyes, and in every single face she saw Brendan, Taliesin, whoever he was, she saw bits of him everywhere, and tears began to fall from her eyes, down her nose and collect on her sweater, making a dark patch on her chest.

After riding the train twice, once up and once down, she finally decided to get off at her concourse and walk to her gate. Her carry on bag had little wheels in the end, which allowed her to pull it after her instead of carrying it. She walked quickly from the train toward the gate. The passengers sat or stood in the waiting area; a few children played with toys or read books on the floor. She found a chair that had plenty of space on either side.

She caught sight of dark red hair out of the corner of her eye. Cassie turned her head to see if it was Ainsel, but it was a woman. Sighing, she pulled out a book and began to read.

Just before the final boarding call, while Cassie was standing impatiently in line waiting to board, her name came over the airport intercom system. “Cassie Huntington, please pick up the white courtesy phone. Cassie Huntington, please pick up the white courtesy phone.” Slightly irritated she left the boarding line and headed toward the nearest white courtesy phone. She picked it up. “This is Cassie Huntington. I am about to board a plane going out of the country. What can I do for you?”

“You can come back to Boulder. Going to Ireland isn’t going to get Taliesin back.”

“Ainsel? Where the hell have you been? How do you…”

“I’ve been around. Just come back to the house.” After a moment he added, “Please. We need to talk.”

Cassie looked down at her thousand dollar plane ticket and saw her gold ring on her left hand. She sighed loudly and agreed. “Ok, I am coming back, but you better have some answers.”

“I have answers, you will not like them, but I do have answers.”

“I willbe there in forty or forty five minutes.”

“See you at your house.”

Cassie drove nearly recklessly back to Boulder from the airport. Thoughts of Brendan and Ainsel and Titania swirled in her mind. Anger and confusion and grief combined into strange colors behind her eyes. For the first time since Taliesin disappeared, she had an incredible desire to paint, something big.

Ainsel stood on the front porch when Cassie pulled up. “Where have you been?” she cried, flinging open the front door from the inside. The cats both swirled around her feet, purring loudly. “Get in here, consider that your invitation, just tell me what I can do. How can I get there?”

Ainsel slunk into the house and went to stand by the fire place. He twitched his hand and a fire lit up over the empty grate. He waited for Cassie to quiet and then answered.

“You can’t get there. If you’ve never been, you cannot get there on your own, not unless you fall into a trap or someone invites you. There are no traps in the United States, mostly only in the Enchanted Isles. However, someone can invite you.” Ainsel let his words hang in the air. He looked at her pointedly, his eyes resting on the newly burgeoning baby bump under her sweater.

“Then invite me,” Cassie growled through gritted teeth. Her hand protectively covered her belly at Ainsel’s pointed stare. “I willworry about the baby.”

“Congratulations on your impending motherhood. May you be a better mother than the Queen,” he said.

“I need to find Taliesin. What do you want me to do to get your invitation?” Cassie doggedly pursued her train of thought.

“Why do you need to find him?” Ainsel asked, deflecting the subject.

“Because he’s my husband, and because he is in danger.”

“You do not know that. The Queen would not hurt her only son.”

“Hurt and danger are two different things. I can’t explain it but I know she’s got something in mind, and I have to stop her.”

“I can’t invite you.”

“Why NOT!” Cassie actually stamped her foot. “You just said you could invite me.”

“No, I said someone could invite you. I am unable to invite you.”

“Tell me why.” Cassie took a deep breath and sat down on the couch. Orion and Boötes curled up on either side of her, both watching Ainsel with interest bordering on intent. She tried to remember the rules Taliesin had given her.

“You cannot tell me why you think Prince Taliesin is in danger, but you expect me to tell you why I cannot help you.”

“It is not cannot but will not, Ainsel. Tell me.”

“It is can not, I am afraid. I have a pre existing reason that is confidential.”

“You sound like a cross between a medical doctor and a lawyer. What can you tell me, Puck?”

“I can tell you you’re in less danger here than if you go to Taliesin. Also, you might want to keep your pregnancy a secret.”

“It’s kind of hard,” Cassie gestured to her stomach. “The baby is getting bigger every day. I’m due in June. How can I keep it a secret?”

“First of all, stay away from any woodland or mists, and let your cats protect you. Put salt around the house especially the doors and windows, keep the fire lit whenever you’re home, and get a strange affinity for wrought iron fixtures, especially external fixtures around the doors and windows, at least one per opening. Stay in the house or at your studio unless with friends or family. Get very close with your sister, who is also pregnant, her aura will confuse the watchers.”

“What watchers? Ainsel, you’re confusing me. I will do what you ask, but why do you care, why won’t you help me?”

“I am helping you, not on my own volition, and let’s leave it at that. You cannot help Prince Taliesin in the Realm, but you can keep yourself safe, which is what he wants more than anything, even his own safety.”

“I want him here with me, with our family.”

“The only way he can be here is to get what he went for from his mother, Her Majesty.”

“And what does he want?”

“He is looking for her blessing, that and her oath to leave you alone, all of you including Prince Taliesin, you, and your progeny.”

“Is that all?” Cassie stroked Orion’s head and considered Ainsel’s words.

“Yes, that is all, and believe me, that is everything.”

“Ainsel, did Prince Taliesin ask you to help me? Did he send you?”

“I have not been back to the Realm since I stole the rings you and the Prince wear.”

"Stole?" She turned the ring on her finger. Right now its temperature seemed normal, warm to the touch, unlike the icy cold band that threatened to slice through her very flesh the first and last time she had met her mother-in-law. Her ring grew slightly warmer and her finger then her hand began to tingle.

Chapter 17

Cassie came out of the doctor’s office with a prescription. Her head still spun from the news. She placed her hand over her stomach and spread out her fingers. She was going to have a baby. They were going to have a baby. She shook her head, smiling widely.

After filling the prescription at her Pharmica on Pearl Street, she drove home, excited to tell Brendan the good news. They hadn’t been expecting to get pregnant so soon, but she knew Brendan would be excited. The audio book she had loaded into her cd player continued telling her the story, even though she wasn’t paying any attention. She heard a snippet, “Maybe not doing magic is the crux of doing magic. You know, not doing magic at the right time, not because you cannot do magic, that’s nothing special, but not doing magic when you can, now that’s powerful.”

Cassie pulled into the garage, clicking the automatic garage door opener. She could hear Boötes crying in the house as the door rattled shut. She unlocked the door into the house and entered the warm kitchen. Boötes met her, rubbing up against her ankles and purring. He jumped up to the breakfast nook table and waved his paw at her. She slung her bag on the back of the chair and scratched his ears. He butted his head against her hand. She smiled and patted him as Orion came sauntering in, looking for his own lovin’s. She crouched down and scratched Orion’s ears as he pressed up against her leg.

She stood back up and walked over to the counter where her daily vitamins waited in a stacked pill dispenser. She fussed with the prescription prenatal vitamins and added them to the rest of the week. The bottle was placed in with the other vitamin bottles, multi, calcium, EFA, etc. Her hand automatically stroked over the marble composite countertop. She loved this kitchen, and Brendan loved cooking in it, thank all that is holy.

She grabbed a water glass out of the cabinet and filled it from the spigot of cool filtered water on the door of the freezer. On the front of the fridge, she saw a yellow sheet of paper from one of the legal tablets with clear black writing stuck to the door with a heavy magnet. She pulled the paper off the fridge and took a sip of the clear cold water. After the first few words, she set the water down on the countertop with a hard crack. She read them again.

My dearest love, Cassiopeia,

I have no idea how to start this, but I know I have to finish it. My mother will not stop until she gets her way. I am going to go settle this. I still do not know how, but for out sake, and the sake of our future family, I need to end this, and I must do it alone. I cannot risk you once I’ve found you. I adore you and I would and will do anything to keep you safe.

There is one thing I must tell you, of the many hundreds of thousands of things I want to spend my life telling you. I tried last night, but I just could not get it out. I want to apologize first; please forgive me.

We had talked about true names on the day we met in Albuquerque. And I have not been able to let you know my own. Brendan is the name I have used for about twenty five or thirty years, and Dorian, Ethan, Aidan, and Jordan in past years. None of them is my true name.

My true name is Taliesin, named for the bard. Mother had a lot of respect for bards, Shakespeare, Taliesin, etc. She hoped that I would be a great storyteller. I have no doubt been a terrible disappointment.

The note had more writing further down, and some on the back. Cassie turned it over in her hands, careful to keep her tears off of the precious paper.

“Rules for Ainsel,” the heading began, and in Brendan’s, rather Taliesin’s beautiful handwriting, it declared the following.

Rules for Ainsel

(Rather for dealing with Ainsel, really)

1. Never make a deal with him, even if it seems extremely advantageous. He’s had a lot more experience in the mortal world than you’d imagine.

2. Always be aware of his presence. Once you know he’s there, your natural wariness will help protect you, as well as your keen mind.

3. Always be aware of his location. He cannot disappear at will, only sneak away.

4. Never ask for his help, he will only help you if it is in his best interest. Better to offer him something in exchange for what you want. Better yet not to need it.

5. Finally, if you can, trick him into binding himself to you by oath. While he can squirm and lie, he cannot break an oath. That is how I slept at night.

Cassie laughed at the last, a strange hiccup bark combination, and a fresh round of tears poured out. She set down the note and blew her nose and generally felt miserable and alone. After she collected herself for a moment, she picked up the note again. A tiny arrow, perfectly rendered, indicated more on the other side of the page. She turned it over.

I know that you know that I love you, but I can not seem to express how very deep and true my love for you is. The rings we wear will always bind us together, no matter how far apart we are. I cannot begin to tell you how very sorry I am that I have to leave, but know this, we will be together soon. May the sun warm your face and may the wind be at your back until we are together once more. You are my light and my love.

Yours always in deepest love and tenderness,

Taliesin

Cassie found herself later on the couch with her feet tucked under her, holding the note gently between her fingertips. The glass of water sat on the coffee table in front of the couch, mostly untouched. Her handkerchief lay damp and limp next to her on the couch, and some used tissues littered the area, haven fallen like snowflakes on the floor, coffee table, and couch cushions. Orion lay curled next to her hip, his soothing purr rumbling loudly in the too quiet house. Boötes was pacing; it looked almost like he was acting as a sentinel, watching over them both as Orion attempted healing. He would occasionally butt his head against her far leg and she would automatically run her hand over his head and down his sleek back, barely feeling his soft, fine fur beneath her fingers.

She saw the remote for the stereo on the coffee table in front of her. Cassie picked it up and hit the random button. The first song that came on happened to be ‘Como Se Dice’ by Cabaret Diosa. Tears welled up in her eyes as she listened to the lyrics.

I wade through the months

Pretend that they’re days

Love connects the stars in dreams

A wise man says

And at night I see the fingers of your hand

But this strange language isn’t one I could command

Cassie wondered how long Brendan would be gone. Would it be hours or days? Could she stand it if it were weeks or months? Her tears fell into Orion’s fur and made little mats. Could she have this baby by herself? Her hand protectively rubbed across her still flat stomach, imagining the life growing inside her. A piece of Brendan would be with her always in their child. She shook her head. Taliesin, his name was Taliesin. In the background the music continued.

Como se dice

Do not wait too long

To come back when you’re gone, no

The wind blows cold

And the fire may die

As the rain falls down

The seasons had managed to change while she wasn’t looking. Well, actually, it was late fall now, winter and the gradual return of the light arrived in just over two weeks. She would be ten weeks along then, and somehow she knew she would be still alone. Her heart ached to think that her child, their child, might never know her father.

Como se dice

Can I belong?

There with you right now

Not here suffering

Longing for the love you bring

Orion snuggled his head in next to her knee, purring loudly. He would be there, not that he could change many diapers, but somehow knowing something would stay the same made her smile slightly. She rubbed her tear stains from his fur and kissed him on the head between the ears. He permitted the familiarity and continued to purr. Connections, right now that was what she needed more than anything. And what better connection for her than her sister, one who lived nearby and had a similar situation, so similar that Cassie wondered why she hadn’t thought of Andi earlier.

The fact was that she had, after Brendan, she wanted to tell Andi first. She unfolded her legs, wincing at the sleepy tingling in her left foot. Stretching, she wandered into the dining room and grabbed the cordless phone hanging off the wall. She was only momentarily disappointed when she got Andi and Eric’s voice mail message. She left a quick message, saying she wanted to get together soon for lunch and that Andi should come up to Boulder to eat at the Bush and Brier.

She decided that the next thing she needed to do was eat, bringing up lunch made Cassie feel hungry, and she realized she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. A quick look at the clock told her it was nearly four in the afternoon. She wondered what if anything Brendan had told the staff at the restaurant, and now would be as good a time as any to find out. She slung her small hand bag over her shoulder and grabbed her keys. “Bye for now, boys, Mommie will be back in just a little bit.” Considering that she would be eating alone for the first time in months, she trotted upstairs and went into the small library to grab a paperback. In moments she was on the front porch locking the door and striding toward the Bush and Brier.

The oddest part of her interaction with Hugh, the redhead second in command at the B & B, wasn’t that Brendan was going to be gone at all. That seemed to be second nature to him; Brendan disappeared at will several times over the last few years. The strange part was that Hugh knew she was expecting. Not even Brendan knew, but this portly, round, balding little man knew she was going to have a baby.

“You look beautiful, Mrs. H. You should, you know, having a baby and all. All pregnant women are beautiful, I should know, my wife’s been pregnant enough, we have such a large and boisterous family, but you know that. Congratulations on your first. May she fulfill her potential and enjoy the love of a good man, when she is old enough and all.”

"Thank you, Hugh," was all Cassie could manage to stammer out after his effervescent congratulations. The fact that he thought the child would be a girl was interesting, both she and Brendan, scratch that, Taliesin, had thought their first would be a little girl. It didn't mean she knew, or even that they could know yet, but as she ate, she found it interesting.

Chapter 16

After Cassie got settled in the little house in Boulder, she and Brendan decided to have a little family get together, with her family of course, his family already having decided the marriage was a farce. Cassie sent out invitations to her brother Caelum, her sister Andromeda, and her mother Sarah. Andromeda’s husband Eric was out of town on business the weekend Cassie chose, so it would be just family at the table.

Orion and Boötes had settled quickly into the new house, enjoying the layers in on both levels. Orion had found a niche in the living room in the bay window seat next to a small pile of pillows. Boötes liked to hide out in the basement; he especially loved being under the pool table, and would bat at anyone who wanted to play on the table.

The weeklong preparations didn’t seem long enough, even with The Bush and Brier doing the catering. Cassie found herself in the basement under the table with Boötes, trying to figure out why she had come downstairs in the first place.

“Hey, kitten, what did Mommie need, do you know?” Boötes just rubbed his head against her and purred loudly.

Andromeda arrived first, and Cassie brought her into the house. “Andi, you are going to love Brendan.” They hugged and Cassie showed Andi around the house.

“It’s so huge inside. This is an amazing house.” She absolutely loved the kitchen; she had a similar kitchen only smaller at her place, and she was quite the cook.

“How’s Eric? I never see him any more.”

“He’s fine; the office has him really busy this time of year.” Andi smiled sheepishly and shrugged. “The wife of a corporate executive’s life is never easy.”

“I am so happy Brendan works just down the street. I canot believe I got so lucky. So how are you? You look stunning, you know.”

“I do? You’re so sweet. Actually, things are really good. I just found out…” Right then, the door bell rang.

“Can you hold that thought? That’ll be Mother.” Cassie headed through the dining room to the front door.

“Sure,” murmured Andi.

“Mother, welcome!” Cassie kissed her mother’s cheek and took her jacket, hanging it in the entrance hall.

“Where is this husband of yours, Cassiopeia?” Her mother peered into the living room where Andromeda stood nervously by the fireplace.

“Ah, yes, Brendan will be here soon, he is bringing the food.”

“You didn’t cook for us, your family?” Sarah Morgan asked aghast. “The least you could have done was try and cook.”

“Mother, I told you, Brendan is a chef, he has a fully stocked professional kitchen at his restaurant down the street. He cooked our dinner, which would have happened if it had been here as well. I do not cook; I just never got the knack. OK?” Cassie dusted off her hands and led her mother to the couch, gesturing her to sit down.

“Well, I didn’t mean to touch on a sore spot; I only asked because I care.” She sniffed and sat delicately on the edge of the couch. She turned and looked over her shoulder at her middle daughter. “Andromeda, you look positively round. What have you been eating while your husband is off in the far corners of the universe?” Sarah Morgan peered at Andromeda and tilted her head, expecting an answer. Just then the door bell rang again.

“That must be Caelum.” Cassie answered the door. Her older brother stood slouching at the door. “Welcome to my home, Cael, come on in.”

“Thanks, Cassie.” He hugged her quickly and slunk out of his coat, hanging it on a hook by the door.

“Look who’s here, everyone.” Cassie ushered her brother into the living room.

“The prodigal son returns.”

“Hello, Mother, lovely to see you.” Caelum gave his mother a hug and kissed her on the cheek. “Andi, love, you look beautiful, as always.” Cael gave Andi a kiss on her cheek and stroked her hair softly.

“Thanks, Cael.” She kissed him back and patted his arm softly.

Cassie looked at her family and smiled. It was nice to have everyone together, even though she knew the calm would not last.

The garage door started up and Cassie excused herself. “I need to go help Brendan with the food.”

“Can I help?” Andi turned from watching her big brother to her little sister. She half stood before Cassie waved her away.

“No, no, we’ve got it. We’ll be right back.”

In a few minutes Brendan and Cassie got the dishes from the car into the kitchen. Brendan snuck in a kiss or two and squeezed her hand before they left the kitchen to meet the family.

“Mom, Caelum, Andromeda, this is Brendan. Brendan, this is my mother Sarah Morgan, my brother Cael, and my sister Andi.” Brendan shook hands all around, kissing the knuckles of both Sarah and Andi.

Dinner went fine, conversation revolved around the excellent food, the weather, and the Rockies’ World Series bid. Brendan brought out five dishes of beautiful Crème Brule, and brought the hand torch to the table to everyone’s delight.

“Andi, Cassie tells me you have a handsome husband, Eric. I am sorry he could not make it. You’ll have to bring him by some night when he gets back from his trip.”

“That would be lovely, I willmake sure to bring him.” Andi blushed at the attention.

“Yes, we’ll all have dinner at The Bush and Brier. Eric will love the restaurant.”

“Oh, yes, Eric loves to eat.”

“Mother, must you? This has been a beautiful evening.” Cassie’s tone wavered between stern and wheedling.

“What did I say?” Sarah Morgan looked offended. “I just meant that Eric enjoys his food. Certainly Brendan enjoys food as well; he has his own restaurant after all. Andromeda looks like she’s been enjoying her food lately as well.”

“Mother, leave Andi alone. She looks beautiful.” Caelum took Andi’s hand and glared at their mother.

“I really do love being the center of the family’s little tiffs, but I didn’t come over for this.” Sarah rose and pushed her chair away.

“Mother, do not leave, we’re not persecuting you, just do not persecute us, ok?” Cassie sighed and stood up as well.

“Sarah, please sit down, we’ll clean up and have some coffee.” Brendan’s soft voice wafted across the table and seemed to sooth Sarah’s ruffled feathers.

“I do not want to cause trouble,” Sarah said as she sank back down into her chair. “I just feel like you kids always gang up on me when we’re all together.”

“I am sorry, Mom,” Andi spoke up first. “You know we love you.”

“Of course, Andromeda, and I love you all.”

“Mom, there’s a reason why I look the way I do.” Everyone turned to Andi, and Cassie suddenly realized what she was going to say.

“Mom, Cael and Cass, I am having a baby.”

Chapter 15

“What do you want?” a shrill waspish voice practically screeched in answer to the knocking. The door creaked open a crack and a pale pointed face poked out of the crack to peer into the fire. A quick shriek and the door slammed in their collective faces. The image jumped back about a foot while the fire wavered a moment and then recovered.

“Come out; come out, Mother, dear.” Brendan tapped his foot impatiently.

“You COULD give some WARNING, oh precious son. At least let me put on a bit of glamour before you see me; I have aged so disgracefully since you left.” Her tone went from demanding to wheedling then to self-pitying, before becoming guilt inducing. Cassie was impressed in spite of herself. Her mother could only generate a maximum of three separate emotional manipulations in two spare sentences. Here were three with overtones of a fourth she could not put her finger on.

Brendan turned to her and smiled. “Mothers,” he mouthed and blew her a kiss.

“I heard that, boy.” The door opened again and the image in the fire followed it into a beautiful room, lavishly decorated in palest green silks and satins, delicate furniture sat tastefully around the large open room, curtains of deep forest green velvet with golden fringe rose from the floor to the high ceiling, tied back with cream colored ropes with long tassels decorated with pearl tear drops. Mirrors around the room reflected back pieces of the room, as well as seemed to peer into other rooms. The flame’s angle finally settled on an armchair in front of the fire. Soon their view appeared to be from the fireplace, thus Titania was peering into her fire as Brendan was peering into his.

Titania looked like many of the depictions of her all rolled into one. She was beautiful by any definition, her long oval face crowned by an enviable head of fine white gold hair looped up on top of itself in the most absurd fashion, yet on her it looked elegant and graceful. Her eyes slanted upward in a gentle tilt, violet irises peering out between her softly golden lashes. Her creamy smooth skin contrasted nicely with the heavy forest green velvet gown she wore and her hands looked positively tiny, with perfect rings with exquisite gemstones gracing her slender fingers. Perfectly proportioned, she looked like she had never given birth to anything larger than a deep thought.

“To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure, my son? I have been expecting your call for, oh, over one hundred years now. Your fiancé is beside herself, literally, she has split herself by mistake. They’re working on a cure, but I still think you should come back. Two half wives is better than none, yes? Besides, you need to learn to rule, to take over when your father and I die.” Her voice lilted and trilled in an affected accent that gave Cassie the impression that Titania had taken acting courses from either a very good coach, or an exceedingly bad one.

“You will never die, Mother, and I do not want to take over anyway.”

“Ungrateful!” Titania hissed, her voice and face becoming harsh and jagged. A moment passed before she regained her composure and continued. “Be that as it may, you still have responsibilities. I desire grandchildren, you must continue on the royal line.”

“Why can’t any of my brothers or sisters have this responsibility? There are many older and more interested than I, and I would defer to any of them right now.”

“Not one of your brothers or sisters is from the right side of the sheets, my son. Nor are any of them MY children. Your father’s bastards will not rule.”

“Mother, you know as well or better than I that I could be from the wrong sides of the sheets as well. Isn’t it possible that I am actually Shakespeare’s fourth child? Or possibly Goldsmith or Burke? Come now, Mother, let’s be honest with each other.”

“Yes, honesty is the best policy,” she managed to croak out. “You first. Where are you and when are you coming home?”

“I am home, and I am not coming back to you.”

“Ever?” The word slipped out of her mouth before she could think. It betrayed a longing and a sense of loss that Cassie felt acutely. Titania flew into a towering rage, leaping to her feet and hurling a nearby bottle of wine into the fire. Brendan ducked as the bottle flew out of the grate and crashed against the rocks behind him. Cassie jumped again, shivering from both the cold and her fright. Ainsel came to sit beside her and offered her his jacket, which she gratefully accepted.

“Not ever. I have made myself a life here and I intend to live it. Mother, I am sorry that I’ve been such a disappointment. I do love you in my own way, but I cannot bear to watch you and Father fight and bicker and machinate around each other. The court and its goings on is only part of why I left. And I found what I was looking for, so you can forget trying to woo me back with trinkets or prizes.”

Titania seemed to listen to him and Cassie, even at the odd angle, could see her mind working. Suddenly the angle of the fire flickered and Titania was staring straight at her. Cassie instinctively threw her arms up over her face and turned away. Ainsel cowered behind her like a puppy who has been smacked once too often.

“Ah ha! I see what you think you have found, you sniveling coward. You walk away from royalty to consort with mortals, to give your precious love away to one who will die long before even half your life is over. You have no sense of loyalty, to your own people, to your homeland. How dare you come to me and show me this little worm of a girl? Come home now and I will forget this ever happened, but if you continue to defy me, watch out, you will feel my wrath.” Her tone had flattened into a thin bronze blade with a keen edge and a deadly sharp point. Cassie shivered reflexively.

Brendan threw up his hand and jerked the view of the flame back to him. “Mother, you will not insult, harm, or defile my wife. I had intended to hear you out and perhaps return for a visit with you and Father, but now I have no intention of doing that either. How DARE you talk about her or to her that way? This is my life and I choose to live it outside the bounds of your petty little world.”

Titania’s face changed imperceptibly when Brendan said the word ‘wife’. Cassie had pulled down her arms and watched her closely and saw another mask slide on top of the one already in place. A cunning look flashed in her violet eyes and was gone before its import could be measured. Cassie certainly did not like the look and a cold knife of fear sliced into her already unsettled stomach. Brendan, however, did not appear afraid, but angry, as angry as she had ever seen him.

“Your wife? How can you marry another when you have a fiancé at home? How can you even begin to think that whatever paltry human ceremony you witnessed would even bind you to this woman? You are not married; you are still a child playing at house, playing at life. Come back and take up your responsibility; you will never be a man, a full man, without it. Without my blessing, you remain a child, an aging, sad, pathetic little boy longing to join with the grown ups, but destined to always play with broken toys.”

Brendan, white with rage held up his left hand and thrust it toward the flame. The blue and white flames flickered and cast strange shadows, giving the small clearing a preternatural look. His wedding ring, the large gold band Ainsel had stolen from Oberon for him, glittered in the flames’ dancing light. From where Cassie sat, it seemed that fine writing chased across the ring as the flame hit it. She instinctively looked at her ring and saw the same strange reflections in the gold.

Titania fell silent at the sight of the ring. She knew what it was and what it signified. She also knew it was Oberon’s missing ring; she could feel the resonance from her seat by her own fire. Somehow he had circumvented her plans for him; plans she had nursed over the last century waiting for him to get his wild oats sown. How could this have happened? How could Taliesin have gotten away with it without her knowing? Her eyes narrowed. Perhaps he was lying; perhaps he hadn’t truly gotten around her geas, but was pretending to give her the slip yet again. She suddenly brightened. That had to be it.

“Very well, my child,” she fairly purred. “I apologize for my rudeness toward your beautiful bride. I would love to meet her, to give my blessings and be a part of your lives together.”

“Do not be coy, Mother. I know your tricks. You will not meet her or come anywhere near her or me. Leave us alone.”

Titania’s eyes flashed again. “You leave me no choice.”

“You always have a choice. You could bow out gracefully; let me live my own life. You never know; I might come back of my own accord.”

Titania seethed on the other end of the flame image. “You are an ungrateful brat and I cannot for the life of me recall why I thought you were important enough to bother with. Have your own little life. What do I care? I will reign for another thousand years while you weep for centuries over your lost mortal love. Good riddance.” She picked up a bucket sitting next to her armchair and threw its contents into the fire. Water splashed out of the blue and white flames, catching Brendan before he could get entirely out of the way. The flames flickered and then returned to their steady state. The image within had vanished.

“Well, so much for my mother, Titania, Queen of the Faeries.” Brendan took a handful of dirt from the ground and threw it lightly on the fire, mumbling a few words. The blue and white flames flared then died down completely. The branches appeared as if nothing hotter than a warm summer’s day had ever touched them, and Brendan took them out and scattered them on the ground.

Cassie came up to him and took his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin and the odd coolness of his wedding ring. Hers felt like ice on her other hand and she wondered why, but decided not to ask. Later she would wish that she had.