Chapter Three

"Auntie, do we need to find their light, like with me?" Meryn asked.

Kincaid was curious too. He hadn't found a barrier that blocked the Guardians from detecting the children in the hellhole where they found them.

The queen looked over the children with a grieved expression. "Their families were banished from éire Danu, from that point forward they were denied the light of the fae, which means they were no longer tied to their guardian. The light they have is what they were born with."

"Can we just have them bleed on the tree like Oron?" Meryn asked. "It's not their fault they're related to a bunch of assholes."

The queen nodded. "We can certainly try."

"Will it hurt?" Cana asked, looking very small all of a sudden.

Meryn shrugged. "Stubbing your toe is worse, but it stings more than a paper cut."

The kids brightened.

Cody puffed out his chest. "That doesn't seem too bad."

The queen stood. "I won't be able to rest until they are protected."

They wrapped the babies and the children in blankets and together they walked through the palace courtyard toward House Eirson. Once they were standing in front of the house, instead of walking through it, the queen simply walked around the large palace-like building toward the garden area.

Each warrior present was carrying a child so that their bare feet wouldn't have to touch the snow-covered cobble walkway.

In the center of the barren garden a slender leafless birch stood as if bracing itself against the cold. It's white bark with black stripes almost seemed ethereal in the snow-covered courtyard.

"I'll go first," Aeron volunteered.

The queen nodded approvingly and held out her hand to him.

He stepped forward, hesitated, then looked at her. "You are my brother's mother." It was more of a statement than a question, as if he were reassuring himself.

She blinked, nodded, then smiled wide. "That I am."

Once it was established that she was family, he relaxed and gave her his hand.

As gently as she could, she used the tip of the dagger Brennus gave her and made a tiny slice on his finger.

Aeron took a deep breath and squeezed his fingers allowing blood to drip on the bark of the stark white tree.

Moments later the earth under their feet quaked and a beautiful elven-like woman appeared.

She saw Aeron and reached for him hungrily. "A child! A child of mine!"

Aeron braced himself and caught the slender woman easily despite his own slight frame.

She kept running her hands over his face, weeping quietly. "How? How?" She turned to the queen. "How is this possible?"

The queen with silent tears running unchecked down her cheeks stepped to one side, revealing the other children. "Somehow, they have returned to us Aldrya, House Eirson has returned."

With that declaration the guardian collapsed, taking Aeron with her. In the next heartbeat, shimmering creatures began to appear one by one.

Abraxas turned to Brennus. "Is it true?"

Brennus smiled and nodded. "Meryn received their location and sent Aiden to bring them home."

Kincaid knew this moment would live on in his heart and mind for the rest of his days. Each guardian took a place in a circle around the faded birch tree.

"Put the dagger away Aleksandra, we will collect what is needed from these babies," a small brown-haired boy said smiling. His long braid swayed in the breeze. "We would keep them from even the slightest of harm."

"Thank you, Coll."

Each child wore a dazed and joyous expression as the shimmering forms floated amongst them.

Abraxas went to Meryn and kissed her forehead. "You are a true blessing child."

Meryn blushed. "I'm glad the kiddos are okay."

He cupped her face. "You would keep others safe from the harm you lived."

She stayed quiet and nodded.

Cody turned. "You too?"

She shrugged. "Kinda."

"You found us?"

"I had help from a dubious source."

"I don't know what that means."

She thought it over moment. "A man that does bad things, but doesn't come across as one-hundred percent bad, told me where you were."

"If he helped us, he can't be all bad right? Maybe he's like us and knows what it's like to be hurt," he said, taking Meryn's hand in a comforting manner.

Meryn blinked. "I think you may be right."

"Do you have a guardian?"

Meryn pointed to Abraxas. "He's kick ass, right?"

Cody nodded. "But, I think Aldrya is prettier," he confessed blushing.

At the mention of her name the radiant guardian pulled the little boy in for a hug. "I think you are perfect."

Cody hugged her, then quickly ran to Aerson bashfully.

Kincaid watched as Meryn looked from Abraxas to Aldrya and back.

Shit.

She was about to say something they probably wouldn't like. He edged closer to her, just in case.

He watched as she opened her mouth then closed it. She then turned and looked at the kids, then back at the tree. Finally, she turned back to Abraxas, opening her mouth and closed it again.

Kendrick walked over, looking somewhat scared. "You're trying to censure your words. How bad is it?"

"She's what?" Amelia asked, walking over.

Kendrick pointed. "She's actively trying to find the right words to say."

Meryn scowled. "This is why I don't try being nice more. You're making fun of me."

"I'm actually terrified for what you're about to say, I assure you bullying is the last thing on my mind, this time," Kendrick assured her.

Aiden came up behind Meryn and wrapped his arms around her. "Whatever you have to say baby, you can say it. No one here will hate you for it."

Meryn sighed. "Yeah, but sometimes when I say what I think is obvious y'all look like you've been kicked in the nuts."

Aeron and the boys laughed at her language.

"Meryn child. You hesitate because you care. You heart hurts for me, does it not?" Aldrya asked softly.

Wordlessly, Meryn nodded.

"It is our job to protect you, not the other way around. Now. Please tell me what you see," the guardian said in a firmer voice.

"We don't have branches for them all," Meryn said, in a small voice. "The other kids, they can't bleed on the tree, I hate that they never got to come home, like me." Meryn began to scowl fiercely. "We know they rotated names from letters ‘A' through ‘D', but we don't know how many times that happened. I don't like that the other children don't get branches."

The queen staggered back. "Gods above."

Aeron pushed his way forward and took Meryn's hands. "Ariel, Atlas, Amery, Asia…" He continued the names in a singsong manner, like one would a nursery rhyme.

"Bethann, Brigit…" Brea took up a counter point to Aeron's song.

Soon all the children were singing the names that they had memorized growing up.

When they were done, the silence was heavy, but it radiated satisfaction from the ones who had been lost and were now found.

Aeron swallowed hard. "Out of all of you, it seems like you are the only one that truly understands the depth of what we lived. We all survived, but we had each other. Meryn did you have anyone?"

Meryn shook her head.

Aeron closed his eyes. "I cannot even imagine." He pointed to the children around them. "To answer your question, in case you were counting names, we're the seventy-sixth set."

Meryn looked to her Aunt. "Can we make a memorial for them?"

"Of course. I think that is a wonderful idea," the queen said.

Meryn turned back to Aeron. "I'm so proud of you. Of us." She smiled. "We lived and they will die. In the end we'll win."

Cody hurried over to squeeze her tight. "You promise? You promise they'll die?"

She hugged him back, then patted his forehead gently with the palm of her hand, before stepping away from them to lean back against her mate who then scooped her up. "The one who told me where you were promised he would kill them." She looked each one of them in the eye. "And if he doesn't. I will."

"No, you won't. You will keep your cute, little ass on a pillow in the sitting room and eat whatever disgusting mixture of chocolate and coffee keeps you happy," Aiden argued.

Meryn narrowed her eyes at him. "I will kill people if I want to!"

"No, you will tell me who to kill and I will do it for you. That is my gods given right as your mate."

"No offense Ms. Meryn, but your mate looks like he'll have an easier time killing the bad men," Cody pointed out.

Nigel and Neil cracked up. "That's because you haven't seen her in action, little buddy," Nigel said, winking at Meryn.

"No. No more killing, well, at least not until after the baby is born. You need to relax more," Aiden said, rubbing his cheek in her hair.

Meryn gave a tiny growl of her own. "But, killing bad guys is relaxing."

"Meryn!" a tiny voice called out.

Everyone turned to see an avalanche of sparkling sprites fly into the courtyard.

Meryn's eyes widened as Felix, Feris and Finley buried themselves in her chest. "What are you three doing out here? It's cold!" She quickly wrapped her coat around them.

Felix waved his sword. "You got sad! Really sad! Who do I stab?"

Aiden grinned. "I fucking love you Felix."

Felix smiled up at Aiden, then turned back to Meryn, patting her cheeks.

"What are they?" Cana asked.

The queen looked around. "Can you all see them?" she asked.

All the children nodded as the sprites swarmed them, ducking under blankets and through their hair.

The queen clapped her hands together. "They're Eirsons," she whispered.

Meryn looked over to her. "Auntie, not to sound critical, but we knew that."

Kendrick began laughing. He surprised everyone when he whooped and swung Anne around. "They're Eirsons!"

Kincaid was feeling really left out but saw that even Brennus looked confused.

Aldrya laughed merrily and the entire garden in the courtyard burst into bloom. "How many millennia has it been since children played and sprites flew in my garden?"

"Uh.. About five," Meryn said, looking baffled.

Amelia shook her head. "Remember our lesson about rhetorical questions."

Meryn nodded. "Yes, and I still think it's dumb to ask a question you either know the answer to or don't want to know the answer to."

By now the children were completely entranced by the sprites, running around happily chasing them from one side of the garden to the other.

"Is it just me or do the sprites look healthier?" Neil asked.

The queen nodded. "That is what I meant earlier. I'll explain now."

She pointed to the children. "Before the war, before all of the madness that followed with the murders of House Alina, the Eirsons were known and sought after for being the caretakers of the sprites. After they were exiled, the sprites took up homes around the city in gardens where they could find them. The Eirsons were also prized artisans, though most of what they created revolved around the sprites. The house designs we utilize today were created by them."

She shook her head sadly. "After the Great War, Oron's father felt like he was being slighted because he incorrectly believed that people thought poorly of him for the decisions he made in battle, but it was his own guilt that drove his paranoia. No one truly blamed them. They were craftsmen, not warriors."

Aerson stepped forward. "I want to create, not destroy."

Cody and Cana hopped around. "Us too! Us too!"

The queen pulled the two smaller children into her arms. "Then I will make sure you have whatever you need to do so. With this colder weather, the sprites need you now more than ever."

A clucking noise had them all turning toward the garden entrance. Cord stood, hands on hips. "The children have been out here long enough. They need to eat more, then get ready for bed."

"I'm not sleepy," Cody protested, then yawned.

Cord's expression softened. "It is early, but you all have been through a lot today. Just eating a full meal will have you feeling more tired than usual. For tonight the warriors have set up what they call ‘blanket forts' in the sitting area. The cushions have been warmed and are quite cozy."

"Warm," Cana sighed blissfully.

To the child, they marched in obediently past the watchful squire. Cas and Priest followed them inside to feed them another meal and get ready for bed. Once they had turned the corner, Cord looked back to the group in the garden. "Leo and Eion will be here shortly to get House Eirson back in order, but I fear we still need supplies for the children."

Kincaid stepped forward. "I can go," he volunteered. "When Ame and Yuki arrived, our units stripped éire Danu of anything a child might need. I'll head to Monroe and grab stuff."

Meryn walked over and pulled him down by his ear. "Ow! Meryn."

She whispered the single phrase. "Ryuu and Felix," then handed him her Bag of Wishes. "I only have enough brownies in Auntie's kitchen to last me through tomorrow, so hurry back."

Kincaid felt his mouth drop. He was holding a rare fae treasure. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Yeah, like, how else you gonna get all the shit home?"

"Fair point."

"Wait," Ari said, holding up his hand. "Why does he get to go?"

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "He probably has the most experience with children than nearly everyone here."

Kendrick chuckled. "Even I have heard of the Bayberry Babies, when I was living in Storm Keep. His mother is somewhat prolific."

Kincaid felt his cheeks begin to burn. "I haven't heard that term since coming to éire Danu."

"You have brothers and sisters?" Meryn asked.

"Three sisters and two brothers," he answered.

Neil winced. "That's why you joined up as a unit warrior early isn't it. One less mouth to feed." He pointed between him and Nigel. "Same with us at the orphanage, that and we had nowhere else to go."

Kincaid smiled. "It's not so bad. Most of my check goes home, so they're doing much better now." He pointed to their surroundings. "The Elder Council and our Unit Commander ensures the warriors are taken care of, and of course our queen spoils us as well, we don't really want for anything."

Meryn patted his arm. "I knew you were a good bean."

"I try my best."

Ari didn't look happy. "You go to whatever store and then come straight home. If you think for even a second that there's trouble you call us immediately."

"Yes, dad," he teased. He checked his watch, it was just after five in the evening. "Can you call Cam and let him know that I'll arrange for some bulk orders to be delivered to the Vanguard house. It will be easier than finding a secure place to shove everything in Meryn's Bag of Wishes." They heard a cry in the distance. "We're going to need a ton of diapers."

The queen turned to Cord. "Cord…"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I have it right here," he said, walking forward to present him with a credit card that was solid black and a slip of paper with a phone number and access code written on it.

Kincaid swallowed hard. "Does this even have a limit?"

The queen blinked. "Why would it have a limit?"

Kincaid immediately tried to hand it back to the squire who stepped away, hands behind his back. "Kincaid, you will make our queen very happy if you allow her to provide for the children."

"It's not that." He held up the weighty, metal-like card. "I'm scared to walk around with this thing."

Meryn's eyes were huge. "Auntie, could he buy a car with that?"

"Of course, easily."

"How about a house?"

"Yes, dear."

"What about an island?"

The queen laughed. "Meryn, I believe the term is ‘money is no object'."

Brennus bent down slightly to look at his niece. "Did you want an island, darling?"

"Whoa," Meryn whispered. "Uncle Bren, you're the best."

Brennus puffed out his chest. "Say that again when your Uncle Doran is around."

Aiden rested his chin on the top of her head and chomped repeatedly causing her head to bop around.

"Aiden!" she yelled out, laughing.

He turned her so he could see her face. "I can buy you can island baby."

"That's not what I want."

The queen, Brennus and Aiden leaned in. Aiden rubbed noses with her. "What do you want?"

" Toast'ems Pop-ups ," she said.

"What the heck are those?" he asked.

"They started out as kinda like off-brand Pop-Tarts . I used to be able to get them at the dollar store. I would scrape money together to get a box. It held three packets of two. So, for a dollar I had breakfast for a week," she explained.

Aiden frowned. "But Meryn, there are seven days in a week."

She shrugged. "I either went without or tried to make it so I ran out on Sundays. That's when the mean old bitch would go to church, so I got to sneak downstairs and find something she wouldn't miss."

Aiden's expression turned tragic. "Oh, baby."

"Anywho! I'm seriously craving them."

Aiden looked to Kincaid. "If you see them."

Kincaid nodded. "Of course. Which flavor Meryn?"

"If you find them, buy all of them. All the flavors."

"I have to admit, I am curious to see what my niece ate for breakfast growing up," Brennus said, looking sad at her situation, but intrigued.

Meryn rubbed her belly. "It was mostly sugar."

"Of course it was," Ryuu remarked dryly.

"Right, so kid stuff and toasties for Meryn. Anything else?" Kincaid tucked the card in his wallet.

" Toast'Ems ," she corrected.

"Also, could you see if you can find any educational supplies for them. Maybe, desks and books?" The queen suggested. "They need to learn basically everything, so structure will be important."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Oh! Can you see if you can grab some winter clothing for Ame and Yuki?" Zoe begged her hands folded in front of her chest. "I swear they have both grown since coming here."

"You got it. Anything else?" He looked around and everyone was shaking their heads.

"Be back soon!" To keep warm, he began to jog toward the main portal.

He hated to admit it, but he was curious about those damn toasties too.