Chapter Thirty-Four

THE THREE DAYS FOLLOWING MY coronation were surprisingly easy. They consisted of working more on my abilities, lots of reading and tests from Jesiah, interacting with Water Fae citizens, and greeting some Land Fae, who sought a meeting with me and Rune.

We'd welcomed a dozen or so more Land Fae to Morardia since our coronation, and Aidan, Yasmine, and Talia were being a huge help in getting those newcomers settled. They even went out each day to offer any needed services to people around Morardia, which the different Fae seemed to appreciate. Ardley spent a lot of time with the trio, too, going out to do tasks with them per Rune's request. It all seemed to be going well.

So why was I ready to crumble in a heap of buckling limbs right now?

"We're nearly to the meeting site, Your Majesty," Angus called.

Ahh, right. That's why.

I clutched the pommel of the saddle tightly and tried to focus on Rune's chest against my back and arms around my sides. Angus rode his horse up ahead of me and Rune, and Dallas and Rance rode on either side of us with the rest of our guards trailing behind. They all wore their silver-and-blue armor, and many wore skeptical frowns. The horse beneath me trotted through the trees of the Lylora Woods toward the Valley of Wisps where I'd finally meet with King Elias and begin discussions of peace.

"We should bring some cars over from the human world to this one," I joked to Rune, glancing warily at the regal white steed beneath us. It seemed to hear me, blowing out a snort in disagreement. "No offense," I added to the horse.

"Or you could learn to ride," Angus huffed from up ahead. "How no one taught you to ride all these years boggles my mind."

"It's on our list of things to work on, Angus," Jesiah griped from his own horse. "I was unaware that she didn't know how. We'll rectify that this week."

"If we live to see the rest of this week," Angus grumbled. "We could all be walking into a trap right now. Mere moments away from meeting our death."

I tensed at the foreboding idea.

Rune, seeming to notice the shift in my body, called out, "How about you try to be positive for once, Angus? I mean, my God, would it kill you to see some good in things every now and then?"

Angus dipped his head in apology. "Just being realistic, Your Majesty. King Elias has sought Water Fae annihilation, after all."

"After his own parents' pursuit of it, yes. But just like Bria chose to walk a different path than her parents, Elias may do the same thing. He could see the benefit in a truce."

Elias hadn't started the war over a century ago, something I'd learned during my lessons. It had been his father and mother, King Zair and Queen Helena, who pursued the war with Water Fae. Elias engaged in battle during those times, and he took over as King shortly before the fighting paused when I and all of Water Fae went into hiding. Perhaps the twenty years of near quiet had given him time to think and re-evaluate how he'd like to continue our relationship as neighboring Kingdoms now that both had new leaders.

Our group finally wove through the last of the towering trees and climbed a hill until an open field came into view below. Knee-high flowers littered every inch of the ground, but they were different from the flowers in the human realm. The petals were long, slender, kind of like the strands on pom-poms. They blew in the breeze and brushed against our horses' legs as we tracked further out into the field. Lake Wisp sat in the middle, which felt like a divider between us and the green-and-gold tent set up on the other side of the water.

"That must be where Elias is," I said, more to myself than anyone else.

The sight of the vibrant canopy made a fresh wave of worry stir in my stomach.

Rune squeezed me tighter. "You can do this. I know you can."

For once, his words fell on deaf ears. I doubted anything could quiet the rush of anxieties stampeding in my head right now. So much was riding on this meeting. The fate of Ambrolia as a whole, the fate of Water Fae, the fate of Land Fae. Everything would change after today—our next steps determined and sealed.

What if I messed up and doomed us all to death? Rune's mother had once stated that she believed I'd be the downfall of Water Fae.

What if she was right?

Angus and Jesiah summoned a bridge of ice from the lake as we reached it, and while we crossed the structure, I found my resolve hardening like the ice beneath our steeds. I had to secure an agreement with King Elias. I had to convince him that peace was in his best interest, just as it was ours. Failure was not an option today.

Soldiers dressed in gold waited like statues near the shore of the lake and stood outside the tent. As soon as all of us were safely across the lake, we dismounted our horses and gathered in our own formation—Angus and Rance flanking Rune's left, Jesiah and Dallas on my right, and the rest of our guards behind us. No sooner had we gathered along the bank than the flap of the tent opened to reveal a striking man. I knew right away that this was King Elias.

The way he stood—shoulders straight, head high, hands behind his back—could only be defined as regal. The relatively young King—he was only 140 from what I'd heard, even younger than Rune—was tall and wide, and his green-and-gold tunic stretched over bulging muscles. The colors of his dressings made his green eyes lively, almost like two emeralds resting against his olive skin. Dark, short curls fell across his forehead, and resting atop the soft curls, was a glittering gold crown.

"Queen Bria. Lovely to meet you at last," Elias greeted with a wide smile, though as I drew closer, I saw there was no warmth to be found in the gesture.

"King Elias," I replied, ensuring my voice came out calm. My procession stopped a few feet before him. "Thank you for asking me here today."

"Of course." His green eyes flicked to my husband, and his smile tightened. "Rune. I see you're doing well on the other side. I suppose you aren't as strong as we all thought you to be."

"Or perhaps I'm stronger than you thought, which is why I stand where I do," Rune answered, the perfect picture of ease.

Elias raised a full, dark brow. "Only time will tell." He turned to me once more and said, "I believe you and I have much to discuss. I would offer for Rune to join us; however, I have someone here whom I believe he'd rather speak to at the moment."

Before Rune or I could respond, the tent flap opened once more. My stomach dropped. Out strolled a poised, stoic Myra, her fiery eyes immediately locking on her son.

By some miracle, neither Rune nor I reacted outwardly, though I was sure Rune was reeling on the inside. This was the first time he'd seen his mom face-to-face in the numerous weeks since our showdown in her backyard. This was the woman who'd haunted and tormented him with false dreams and hope of a mother-son relationship. It was the woman whom he loved despite all she'd done, despite her not deserving his love.

"Rune," Myra said flatly.

Rune swallowed hard. "Mother."

Tension as thick as honey permeated the air between the two, which seemed to bring the first real spark of joy to Elias's eyes.

The Land Fae King looked at me and offered, "Why don't we let the two of them have their family reunion while you and I talk alone?"

I glanced between Myra and Rune, letting my gaze land on his. Worry for me caused a crease between his brow, and he seemed to struggle between wanting to talk with his mom or following me. I offered him a reassuring smile and subtly dipped my chin toward his mom in silent encouragement. Then I pushed down my own set of nerves, pulled back my shoulders, and followed Elias into the tent.

The gold fabric seemed to put Elias and me in our own world. The massive space was empty when we first walked in, save for a small fire in the back, but as Elias crossed the ground, the earth suddenly moved. Vines and branches burst from the soil and rose up through the white flowers, arranging themselves into two chairs that faced each other. A rock soon followed, rising slowly from the ground to create a table between the seats.

Because of my studies, I knew Elias was of the Elemental Class of Land Fae, but this was the first time I'd ever seen one use their abilities before—and in such a powerful way. He didn't raise an arm, wave a hand, or even flick a wrist. The land simply knew what to do with a mere thought from him, and it was that kind of relationship I hoped to have with my own element one day. As I sat in one of the seats, I wasn't sure whether or not to be in awe or on edge due to his sheer power.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself," Elias said as he sank into the chair across from me. "I am King Elias Brom Tarkeenan, son to the late King Zair and Queen Helena Tarkeenan."

"I'm delighted to make your acquaintance," I replied calmly. "I'm Queen Bria Marina Damaris, daughter to the late King Khal and Queen Alesta Damaris."

Elias smiled and held his hand, palm down, over the ground by his side. A vine covered in yellow, star-shaped flowers slowly rose from the ground and grew until it reached his hand. "I know you traveled a distance here. Would you care for some stardew tea?"

A rock burst from the soil and found Elias's other open hand. As soon as it landed in his grip, pieces of the rock shattered and fell away until the stone resembled a teapot. He glanced around the tent as though searching for something before meeting my gaze again. "I seem to have no water for the tea. Do you care to provide that?"

The way he waited on my reply with a too-wide smile told me everything I needed to know. He was testing me. Whether looking to see how I produced the water or whether I could do it at all, I didn't know. Regardless of what he was trying to find out, he sought something . It made a fine layer of sweat break out on the back of my neck.

"Of course," I answered with my own smile.

The lake was a good twenty feet from where we now sat, which nearly gave me pause. The water was a distance away, and I'd never called on water that far before. The day I saved the trees on the burning island had been the greatest distance I'd called water to me, and that had just been maybe twelve feet, at the most. I couldn't falter now, though, not when the Land Fae King watched me expectantly.

I breathed in, letting my nerves clear just enough so I could reach out to that tether that was always there, connecting me to my ability. My palms tingled and itched, and my chest tightened as seconds ticked by. Suddenly, a stream of crystal-clear water floated through the flaps of the tent. I wanted to leap for joy, because I'd actually managed to call the water successfully, but I kept my face blank. I flicked my finger toward the waiting teapot, and it followed my command without issue.

He looked down into the pot. "Thank you." He plucked three flowers from the vine in his hand, added them to the pot, then carried it over to the fire where more rock rose from the earth to form a sort of grill over the flames. "We'll let that steep for a few moments."

I shifted in my seat, unable to keep still. The ease of conversation made me edgy, because I was eager to jump into the real reason for meeting. Fae had waited long enough for a resolution. I didn't want to tiptoe around this anymore.

Clearing my throat, I said, "King Elias—"

"Please," Elias interrupted with a charming grin. "Call me Elias. Let us drop the formalities."

Slowly, I nodded. "Okay. Elias. I sought to speak with you regarding an urgent matter."

"Ahh, yes." He plucked the pot back from the grate and approached the table with an air of serenity. He created two cups much in the same way as the teapot and poured the sweet, golden brew into them before offering me one. "I've heard rumors that you seek something between our Kingdoms. Is that correct?"

I placed my hands around the warm stone drinkware and focused on that pleasant feeling in an effort to calm my nerves. "Yes. I seek to bring peace between our peoples. This war has hurt so many, stolen so much. I believe that, together, good King, you and I could rebuild our Kingdoms and help provide a safe and thriving world again."

Elias watched me over the rim of his cup as he sipped on the steaming brew. When he placed it back on the tabletop, he quirked a brow. "Rebuild?"

"Yes! There's so much we could do together. We could create entire communities where all Fae are welcome. I could personally create a bridge leading to Morardia, which Land Fae could use to come there. We could start a system where we provide each other with different services or goods that only certain Fae can make or do. The potential commerce opportunities that would become available are plenty in and of itself. In addition to this—"

"Trading goods? Booming business?" Elias chuckled. "Land Fae have what we need. So why would I want to rebuild with the very people who sought to destroy my Kingdom? Why would I rebuild when we've nearly finished wiping you out?"

My heart and breath seemed to still inside me. Slowly, I said, "Y-You can't really mean to continue this war when we could end it."

"Not only do I mean it, I fully intend to see it come to fruition. I will not deny my people what they want, what we all want. Blood. Vengeance. You hid all this time with your people, evading our pursuit, but now you're back, and you've brought our targets with you. I thank you for that."

Trying to understand, I stammered, "Y-You would lead thousands to die in a war that could be prevented?"

Elias gave me a bitter grin. "Thousands have already laid down their lives for this fight, one your people started. We're prepared to finish it, despite the costs. Now, I'm not an unfeeling man. I know very well what a final battle like this means for you as a Queen and your people as a Kingdom, which is why I wanted to meet today. I have an offer."

Hope dared to emerge among the dread coating my insides. "An offer?"

Elias held up three long fingers. "Three months. We meet again, here in the Valley of Wisps, with our armies for battle. The war stops on this day when one of us claims victory."

That sliver of hope quickly extinguished. Replacing it was a rising anger and frustration. I narrowed my eyes on the Land Fae King. "And what signifies victory? When both sides have been slaughtered?"

Elias sipped his tea once more. "It will be when the leader has fallen. Victory will come when either you or I have been slain by the other. If I should perish, Land Fae will be leaderless, which means you can rally them and do as you plan—rebuild the two Kingdoms in the name of reconciliation. If I live and you die, fear not. Your people will soon join you."

"And you think I'd agree to something like that? To a war where more innocent Fae will die?"

"There is no such thing as innocent or guilty in war," Elias deadpanned. "There is simply life and death, those who succeed and those who fail. You can agree to this offer—time to prepare yourself and your Kingdom for battle—or you can refuse. War is still coming to your door. I was simply giving you a fair chance, because I believe there is a right and wrong way to go about things. I prefer this way as opposed to a blindsided attack from us. Don't you?"

Disbelieving what I was hearing and not truly digesting the reality of this meeting, I slowly shook my head as though trying to clear the haze of a dream. "There has to be another way. We can discuss possible—"

"There is none," Elias barked, and there was no missing the hard finality of his tone. " This is my only offer, the only solution I will agree to. Three months. Prepare and rejoice, good Queen. The war you sought to end is truly almost over."