Part 17 (1/2)
Unless Rowan died.
The fairy queen did not need to say the words. The reality haunted him like a curse.
Rowan arched upon the sprawl of blankets. ”Ae-Aedan, 'tis like my body is on fire!”
Again he wiped the square of sodden cloth over her brow. ”Aye, 'twill pa.s.s.”
On a moan, Rowan twisted upon his ma.s.sive bed.
Never had Aedan felt so helpless. Watching her suffer, her body raw with agony, he understood fear for the first time.
With a scream, Rowan collapsed upon the bed.
Queen Ysenda walked over, sighed. ”She has pa.s.sed out. A blessing.”
Aedan glanced up. The fairy queen's compa.s.sion seemed at odds with the woman he'd first met. ”Aye.” Now there was nothing to do but wait to see if Rowan would live.
Angst stormed him as the long seconds pa.s.sed. He willed the pa.s.sage of time, d.a.m.ned the same.
He pressed a soft kiss upon her brow and wished for a miracle. ”I love you, Rowan.”
”I find your sentiment interesting,” Ysenda said.
Frustration at the situation spilled through him, and he shoved to his feet. ”Why did you not kill me?”
”It was Rowan's wish to allow you to live. A request I am unsure I can grant.”
He arched a brow. ”I am surprised you would consider her request.”
”As am I.”
Silence stumbled between them as they watched Rowan.
Unsure what to say, if the right words could even be found, he rubbed the back of his neck. Aedan shot Ysenda a cool look. ”I am amazed Rowan was allowed to live among the humans, considering she is only half of their blood.”
Silence.
He glanced over.
Sadness touched Ysenda's face as she stared at Rowan's limp form upon the bed. ” 'Tis because I did not know of her existence before this night.”
She had not known? ”I thought you knew all within your realm of the Otherworld.”
”I believed so as well.” She paused, her eyes dark with struggle and questions. ”Did Rowan say naught of her mother or father?”
Unsure why Ysenda asked, he nodded. ”She explained that as a babe, a man claiming to be her father dropped her off at the healer's home. He'd said Rowan's mother had died giving birth.”
”Did the healer know the mother as well?”
”Nay, naught except she was not from the Highlands.”
Understanding dawned on Ysenda's face, then s.h.i.+fted to sadness. ”Of course. That explains everything.”
”Everything?”
Queen Ysenda nodded. ”When Rowan's mother learned she was with child, she fled the Otherworld.”
”Because the father of the babe was human?”
”Aye,” Queen Ysenda replied. ”Because he was a human, I forbid her ever to see him again.”
”Why did you not seek their child-Rowan-out?” Aedan asked.
”I could not sense the child's existence, because her fey blood was weakened by her human side. But, when you changed Rowan, the natural repelling action of our blood against yours sent ripples through the heavens which I picked up, however faint.”
He nodded. ”Aye, that makes sense. A mess indeed.”
”More so than you understand,” she said. ”But my daughter, as well as her child, 'twould seem, walked outside the lines of convention when they chose the men they would love.”
He stilled. ”Your daughter?”
”Aye.” Violet eyes leveled on him. ” 'Twas my daughter that ran away.”
Chapter Nine.
Aedan stared at the fairy queen in shock. ”Rowan is your granddaughter?”
”Indeed she is,” Ysenda said with quiet regard, ”and a princess.”
”I-I know not what to say.”
”I a.s.sure you,” Ysenda replied, ”this day has offered enough confusion for us all.”
”Aye, it has.” Aedan now saw the similarities between Ysenda and her granddaughter. Both had strong features. The pure white hair of the queen was a luxurious ma.s.s, the same texture as Rowan's wheat blond locks.
There were so many questions to ask. From the bewilderment on the fairy queen's face, she wished answers as well. Except, with the approach of dawn, questions would have to wait.
”Dawn approaches, and I must sleep. It will be alongside Rowan.” The queen's mouth tightened, but on this point he refused to yield. ”With my bond to Rowan,” Aedan continued before she could speak, ”I will be able to provide her protection even in sleep.”
Ysenda arched a doubtful brow. ”A guarantee of nothing.”
” 'Tis a guarantee that I will give my life to protect hers.”
Tense silence echoed through the room.
”Rowan may not live through the conversion.” Ysenda's voice trembled at the last.