Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

B leddyn knew Gwyn wanted to talk to him by the wave of powerful fear and dread that consumed him. It was a call to violence, of the destruction of his enemies, a hunting horn and sharp blade between the ribs.

Bleddyn found Gwyn in the throne room, lounging across his father's black and silver chair.

"It has been an age since I have seen this room," Gwyn said by way of greeting. His silver eyes stared appreciatively at Rosa's standard hanging from the beams. "I approve of the new décor."

"My daughter is a worthy addition to the Seren Du bloodline," Bleddyn replied. He wasn't offended that Gwyn was sitting on his throne, but he wasn't going to let him forget who Rosa belonged to.

"Only recently your daughter, it would seem. When I made my first agreement with her, she was a Wylt."

"The Wylts are my wife's family, and therefore I've always considered them my own."

"A charming sentiment, but we both know it's the blood that matters," Gwyn said.

"Making an agreement with a seven-year-old seems out of character, Gwyn. What did she ask for? Lollies?"

"To ride with me when we next met?—"

"She would've been thrilled to fulfill that agreement with you in the past few days. She always did love to hunt," Bleddyn interrupted. "That means there is only one agreement to be completed, despite its many caveats."

"I don't know why the terms would bother you. They are up to Rosa to fulfill…if she can."

Bleddyn laughed loudly. "You underestimate Rosa's love for Balthasar if you think those challenges will stop her from getting what she wants."

Gwyn's smile didn't falter. "She seems very adamant that he lives, but we both know Aeronwen won't leave him unbroken. It's not in her nature to be merciful. Even if he is alive, Balthasar won't be the man Rosa fell in love with. She doesn't deserve to have a weak, broken consort."

"That will be up to her to decide." Bleddyn ground his jaw shut. He didn't want to give Gwyn the satisfaction of upsetting him, and he certainly didn't want to deal with the fallout of being a bad host when he drove his sword through the Lord of the Hunt.

"Do you intend to stay in the Aos Si, Seren Du?" Gwyn asked.

"No. My time has passed in this place."

"So you would abandon your kingdom once again. Your father would be disappointed."

"My father is dead, so his opinion no longer matters."

"Why not make Rosa the queen in your stead? She already wields the Seelie sword with remarkable ease. If she was to be your heir, she could rule the whole of the Aos Si."

Ice ran through Bleddyn's veins. The thought of leaving Rosa to such a fate, to let all the life and vitality fade into a vessel of power was repugnant.

"Rosa isn't interested in a kingdom. If you knew anything about her at all, you wouldn't wish such a life on her," he answered coldly.

"It was only out of curiosity that I asked. I did not mean to offend." Gwyn's smile was sly. "She would be a great queen if one as equally strong could sit by her side."

"And that would be you, I suppose? You don't want to rule the Aos Si, Gwyn. You only want access to her power."

"She is a woman I could easily learn to love."

"She would be a dalliance until you got bored and killed her like you do all the rest. You don't know what love is," Bleddyn hissed.

"And you do, Bleddyn Seren Du? I have seen the way General Eira still looks at you. Will you leave her again like you would your kingdom?" Gwyn got to his feet and walked towards him, stopping to whisper by his ear. "You despise me because I remind you of the truth of what you are—a coward who runs from his responsibilities and abandons those who love him. Your daughter is the noblest thing about you, but don't worry, I will never abandon her, and I will make sure she knows it."

Bleddyn looked up at him and smiled, his fangs sharp and vicious and eager to tear Gwyn's throat out. "Do it. She's never going to choose you, Lord of the Hunt, no matter how many wars you help her win."

"We'll see."

When Rosa woke, she found Merlin sleeping on a couch outside of her bedroom door, cuddling a sword almost as big as he was. His raven hair was riotous as if he had spent the night restlessly tossing and turning. Still and unguarded, without the intensity of his personality illuminating every inch of him, Rosa could see how much weight he'd lost in the past few weeks. At Gwaed Lyn, she had only been managing to get some weight back onto him, and now it was gone from worry, drinking too much, and eating too little. She swore then and there that she would start taking better care of him.

As if an extra sense told him he was being watched, Merlin's long black lashes fluttered, and his golden eyes looked up at her.

"And what are you doing, blocking my entrance and guarding my door?" Rosa asked.

He sat up, and she climbed over the back of the couch and settled in beside him.

"You answered your own question," Merlin mumbled, rubbing a hand over his face. "There are too many unsavory characters living in the palace now for me to be comfortable leaving you alone."

"Unsavory characters meaning Gwyn?"

"One of many."

"And you think you could take him on if he decided to come for a visit?"

"I might surprise you, Rhosyn," he said, pulling at the end of her braid.

"You always do. Is it just Gwyn, or is it something else that's worrying you?" Rosa pressed. "Bleddyn would have warded this room against the Lord of the Hunt, so you're here for something else."

"I got a vision last night from Nimue. It was fragmented, just flashes of images that didn't make sense, and before you ask, no, I didn't see Bal. I think the queen is killing her Court for entertainment. She was killing someone at least. Nimue is scared and worried. I felt that clear as day, but everything else is scattered." Merlin pushed his hands through his hair and leaned back beside her. Rosa rested her head on his shoulder.

"That must've really sucked. Sometimes, I wish could see Bal just for a second, but it would just make it worse. I want to go home, Merlin. I want to wake up in the attic, with everything smelling like paint, and Balthasar warm and sleeping beside me. And bacon. God, like a whole plate of bacon."

Merlin sighed dreamily. "I want to watch Nimue dancing in the lounge room to jazz music. Of all the things I thought she'd love, jazz music wouldn't have even occurred to me."

"When we get them back, we should go to New Orleans," Rosa suggested. "I always wanted to try my hand at Creole cuisine. It'd be fun."

"Nimue would love that, and it will probably terrify Arthur," Merlin said with a grin. "Bleddyn will be sick of looking at us by then and will let us go."

"Then it's a plan. Kill the queen, get our lovers, and go on holidays."

Merlin laughed. "Make lots of plans, Rhosyn. It's a good sign. I've been…worried about you."

"Because of the Hunt?"

Merlin rested an arm around her. "Because we are Wylts, and we lose our fucking minds too easily. I shouldn't have taken you with us to see Gwyn. You don't really understand what the Hunt is, what it truly is. They are bound creatures, Rosa, tied to death and destruction. Gwyn has put on a charming face with you, but it's not what he is. Even parts of the Hunt were glamoured on your behalf, but no such kindness was afforded to Arthur and me. We saw the dead and monsters that followed him."

"I don't know what you want me to say. It's done." Rosa traced a line over the scar on her hand.

"I've busted out of plenty of deals with gods. Trust me there is always a loophole. We'll find a way to fix it when we have to," he assured her.

"You mean if we have to."

"Whatever happens, I won't let Gwyn have you. I haven't finished your training, and there's too much you need to see and learn. Bleddyn will ease up on keeping you at Gwaed Lyn once the queen is taken care of, and let's face it—he's never been able to keep me there for long." Merlin stretched out his long legs in front of him. "Oh, yes, I plan on making love to Nimue on every continent of the world, and then taking her to the Otherworlds and doing it all again."

Rosa screwed her face up even as she laughed. "You had to make it gross."

"What can I say? We have a lot of years to catch up on," he said unapologetically. "I suppose we had better get ready to go to this gathering tonight."

"What gathering?"

"Bleddyn and Gwyn have been talking since sunset, and these old beings never seal a deal unless a party is involved. It'll be outside the Night Courts, so the Hunt doesn't trash the place."

"You think people will come if they are there? I thought everyone was afraid of the Hunt."

"They are, but they won't pass up the opportunity to see it for themselves. The full moon isn't far away, and no one wants to go into battle without having had a party for the last time," Merlin said.

"It's a good idea. I wouldn't mind catching up with Eirianwen. She was following me around last night, even though I don't think she wanted me to know it."

"She wanted you to know it. Otherwise, you would have had no idea. That woman is something else. She was following you because Bleddyn asked her to. She didn't say anything because she knows it's smarter not to get in the way of Seren Dus when they are arguing. Besides, she likes saying no to Bleddyn when he tries to give her orders."

"Do you think she knows how much he's in love with her?" Rosa asked.

"I think she has an idea."

"You don't think they…" Rosa began. A glint in Merlin's eyes told her enough. "Well done, Bleddyn. But what's going to happen when he leaves?"

"That's not for us to worry about. Hearts are messy, and it's best we don't interfere." Merlin got up. "Come on, Rhosyn. We had best not be late."

"I'm not feeling in the party mood," Rosa complained.

"Too bad. If I have to suffer through it, you do too."

"Fine. At least try and eat something before you start downing whiskey."

"Don't mother me, woman."

"Stop acting like you need a mother then," Rosa retorted.

He was gone with a decisive flick of his middle finger.

Merlin hadn't been wrong about the Unseelie wanting a final celebration. There would be no dress for this party. Rosa settled on a high collared, slimly tailored black jacket, her insignia of a rose and star stitched in mulberry and silvery thread. Her mulberry undershirt was striking against the all black ensemble, and she made sure that her bronze knives from Gwyn were strapped on her belt, as well as her sword on her hip. She left her hair loose from its now habitual braid, only fastening one side back with a silver hairpin.

By the time Rosa made it out of her room, Daesyn was waiting for her, dressed much like herself, in clean, formal attire, but he was armed to the teeth. The Unseelie had been at war too long without going anywhere without their weapons.

"My lady, you look lovely this evening," he said with a bow.

"Thanks, cousin. You're looking festive yourself. Do you know where Bleddyn is?"

"He is outside the Court already, meeting with the Hunt. Everyone is assembling there. He asked me to come and collect you."

The streets were filled with people drinking and laughing, all moving through the Night Court's entrances to get to the fields beyond. They were dressed for a party in elaborate gowns and velvet suits, jewels and feathers. Rosa briefly regretted her decision not to wear anything more formal.

"I thought they would be afraid to see the Hunt," Rosa said.

Daesyn steered her out of the way of a rowdy group of warriors.

"They are fascinated. You are a bringer of legends, Rosa Seren Du. First, you arrive with Bleddyn, and now Gwyn of the Hunt. People are starting to think that you have secret powers to convince such powerful men," Daesyn said.

"You know what my secret power is? I'm a cook," Rosa replied with a laugh. Daesyn thought that she was joking until she told him about herself and about how she came to be entangled with the Seren Du family. By the time she was done, they were outside the forest surrounding the Night Court. It was alive with fires, floating lamps, and music.

A flask of hot cider was pushed into her hands, and she let the merrymakers push her along. The Unseelie came in every shape, size, and color. She saw the curve of a horn, a swish of a tail here and there, but everyone seemed happy to sit and drink together.

Rosa wondered if they had been that way before the war with the queen, or if all of these tribes that made up the Unseelie lands had united under a single king for this one desperate fight. There was still so much she didn't know.

Somewhere along the way, she had lost Daesyn, but she didn't mind. Her cousin was a beautiful, charming warrior that everyone knew and seemed to like. He got as many bows and greetings as Rosa did. Between Daesyn and Eirianwen, the Unseelie had managed to resist the onslaught of the Autumn Queen for centuries.

Lost in thought, Rosa didn't feel the presence behind her until strong arms were lifting her up around the waist, and she was spun lightly around so she could face the Lord of the Hunt.

"Lady Rosa, you have been avoiding me," he said, his deep voice cutting through the noise of the crowd.

"That's not true. I've only just arrived," she replied. "Um, can you put me down please?" He lowered her gently back to her feet. "Where's Bleddyn?"

"He's speaking with one of the generals. We have been talking for hours. I thought you would be present at such meetings," Gwyn said, folding his big arms.

"Nope. My bit was getting you here so he could talk to you. I know nothing about planning battles and strategy."

"It has been a long time since I had an alliance with the Seren Du, but I suppose the world is changing once more. My Hunt hasn't had a chance for a celebration for a while, and perhaps it will be good for them to be amongst the living for a night."

"I trust that they will behave themselves and not hurt any of my people," Rosa said, raising an eyebrow.

Gwyn's strange eyes were amused. "They will not dishonor themselves. You don't need to try to give me orders, Lady Seren Du."

"Being bossy is a part of my charm, and I brought you here, so it will be my fault if anything goes wrong."

"I believe it was my horse that brought you here, but it's not my intention to fight with you all evening." Before she could reply, Gwyn pulled back into the crowd of revelers and dancers.

Bleddyn was doing his best to remain inconspicuous amongst the trees, but he was failing miserably. He couldn't turn left or right without someone being there to talk to him, to wish him well, to congratulate him on coming home to defeat the queen. He was missing Saul, who was always so good at a party. He had been forced to dance with more than one Unseelie noblewoman, descendants of lords and ladies he could barely remember.

To his surprise, he had been flirted with and on two occasions, subtly rubbed against during such meetings. Where was Eirianwen? He didn't want other women's attention. He only wanted her attention, and she was nowhere to be seen. The thought that she could be off with admirers of her own sent a dagger of jealousy through him.

"Why are you hiding back here, Father?" Merlin asked, appearing out of the darkness like a ghost.

"Trying to get some air," Bleddyn replied, accepting the mug that his son offered him.

"You are under the open sky. It is all air. What's wrong? What did Gwyn say to put you so on edge?"

"Nothing of note. We made a plan on how to break the wards that are keeping him out of the Seelie lands," Bleddyn grunted. "He only trusts Rosa to do it. I don't like his attachment to her, and if Bal is restored to us, neither will he."

"If Bal is restored to us, Rosa isn't even going to know Gwyn exists," Merlin shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "I saw something last night. Nimue sent me a vision."

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

"It was in fragments. She was being watched." Merlin held out his hand. "Let me show you." Bleddyn took his son's hand without hesitation. Flashes of a Seelie crowd dropped into his mind, a fighting pit, a faerie torn apart by a great, shadowy creature of horns and teeth and dripping blood. Bleddyn stumbled backward, releasing Merlin's hand.

"By the gods, what has that insane woman done?" Bleddyn muttered.

"There's something else. You wouldn't have been able to feel it, but I think… I think she was trying to tell me that it was Balthasar. The queen is using him as her personal executioner and amusement."

"Please tell me you haven't shown this to Rosa," Bleddyn said.

"Of course not, but we can't wait anymore. We have to get this done."

Bleddyn looked up at the sky, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I know we do. The queen won't allow what happened with the marker stones go unanswered. We must…" Bleddyn broke off, his eyes fixed on the moon.

"What is it?" Merlin demanded.

"Do you see that?" Huge silhouettes were staining parts of the moon black as they headed towards them.

Screams cut through the noise of the music, the celebration exploding into chaos. Golden eagles, bigger than horses, swooped down from the sky, attacking revelers with sharp claws, launching back up to rip them apart in the air.

"We need to get everyone back inside!" Bleddyn unsheathed Widow's Fury and ran into the melee. "Find Rosa! These are the queen's beasts and will be hunting her."

Bleddyn felt the magic being used. These eagles were her golden soldiers, all-powerful magic users that would have shapeshifting abilities. The generals were already gathering their men to them, groups of warriors already forming protective lines in front of the fleeing civilians.

"They are coming back for another round," Bleddyn called, feeling the shape of their magic circling.

The eagles fell like golden lightning, and Bleddyn launched himself in the air, slicing the wing off one bird, wrestling it mid-flight to bring it crashing to the ground. The bird shuddered and shrunk until a limbless, dead Seelie remained at his feet.

"They are the queen's knights," he shouted to the others. "Try and find ways to break down their glamours." He spotted Daesyn and ran towards him. "Where is Rosa?"

"I don't know," he replied. "We got separated before the fighting started."

"Have you seen Eirianwen?"

Daesyn pointed. "She's doing fine as always."

Bleddyn turned and saw Eirianwen in a torn gown. She threw herself into the air and wrestled her way onto an eagle's back.

"God damn, Bleddyn. What did your blood do to her?" Merlin asked, appearing beside him.

Eirianwen locked her legs around its massive neck, and she stabbed it repeatedly in the head with her two long daggers. The bird thrashed in its death throes, bucking her off. Bleddyn ran and caught her before she hit the ground.

"Just in time, Seren Du," she said, breathless and covered in blood. She held Bleddyn's face, her eyes going from frightened to concern in a moment. "I was trying to find you when they came."

Bleddyn dropped her to her feet and looked at her ruined dress and the mess of her pinned silver hair. "You look beautiful."

She laughed breathlessly. "I did . So much for dressing like a lady for a night."

He touched her arm gently, unable of stopping himself. "Are you hurt? I can smell your blood."

"A few scratches from a talon but nothing serious," she replied, her eyes searching the skies.

"Have you seen Rosa?"

"No, but she was armed, so she'll be okay," Eirianwen reassured him.

Bleddyn didn't have time to worry about Rosa as the eagles returned and they hurried to fight them. They struggled to protect the people running under cover of trees or hurrying back into the safety of the court, but the woods were clearing with the help of the warriors.

Bleddyn felt the hum of Rosa's magic, and he turned to see her driving Gaeaf Storom up into the underbelly of one of the eagles. She had tied a lasso of magic around its taloned feet to prevent it from scratching her to pieces.

"She's a clever one, your daughter," Eirianwen said approvingly.

Rosa was so busy killing her opponent that she didn't see the second eagle soaring swiftly towards her.

"Get down!" Bleddyn shouted, scrambling towards her.

The eagle's sharp beak never reached her. Gwyn was suddenly between them, catching the beast by the top of its head, holding it with an impossible strength as it tried to flap its wings backward.

"You stay away from what belongs to me, you witch," Gwyn growled, looking the eagle in its golden eyes, and then with a sickening crack, he crushed its head between his hands.

"Thank you, Gwyn," Rosa said.

Bleddyn hurried to her side, bringing her close in a quick hug. "The queen is going to know you have sided with us now," he said to Gwyn.

"Good. I want Aeronwen afraid." His silver eyes looked Rosa over, and she gave him a curt nod, an unspoken message passing between them. Bleddyn's arm tightened around her a little more.

"Get her inside and pull everyone back. My Hunt will deal with this flock and will meet you on the Seelie borders at the full moon," Gwyn said, a large ax appearing in his hand. He pulled off one of his bronze arm rings and slipped it over Rosa's hand. "This is my token. Use it to summon me when you are ready to bring the warding down, and we will be there."

"I promise," she said, and Bleddyn pulled her away.

Gwyn started to call to his Hunt in a language so old even Bleddyn didn't recognize it. It was a song of death and fear, and he lifted Rosa into his arms and ran. Unseelie soldiers swarmed around him as they pulled back into the Courts and closed the thickly warded gates.

In the corner of his eye, Bleddyn saw the glamour fall from the Hunt that Gwyn had so carefully constructed. They were a seething mass of dead warriors, monsters made of horn and claw, and were every reason ever to fear the darkness.

"Don't look back, Rosa. Don't look back," Bleddyn warned, cradling her head to his chest. A horrible, nightmarish scream came behind them as the warriors of the dead and their god unleashed their power.