Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

GALAHAD

I left the bustling preparations for The Night of the Ancients celebration early, my heart both heavy and eager as I made my way out of the Seelie Palace. The glow of the bonfires faded behind me as I ventured down the winding path that led to the outskirts of the royal city.

Seven hundred years had passed since I last saw my mother. A span of time that felt like both an eternity and the blink of an eye to an immortal fae. I knew this city inside and out, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that nothing had changed while I’d been gone.

The further I walked, the more modest the homes were. Just charming cottages with sprawling gardens settled by sparkling streams and ponds that backed up to the wood. Most of the fae, aside from royalty, lived simpler than wealthy humans did. With such long lifespans, we needed less material possessions to fulfill us than mortals.

My family was one of the oldest bloodlines in the Seelie Court, my late father having also served her majesty as a knight for centuries. I’d lived here all my life, only leaving when I made the decision to join the Seelie knights.

I paused at the edge of the barrier to my family’s home, suddenly uncertain. Would she recognize me after all these years? Would she be proud of the knight I’d become or disappointed that I had been away for so long?

And my brothers…Were they angry at me too for abandoning them in the name of some prophecy?

I took a moment to breathe and stepped through the shimmering boundary, feeling the familiar tingle of my family's magic wash over me. The door swung open for me without having to knock; the house recognized me instantly and allowed me to enter.

Plush velvet sofas surrounded a crackling hearth, its mantle adorned with intricate carvings my father and I had done when I was young. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled to the brim with my mother’s favorite romance stories. My father’s extra set of armor was hung on a hook next to the far door, and my chest gave a twinge.

"Mother?" I called out, my voice echoing through the seemingly empty house. An eerie silence greeted me, broken only by the soft whisper of the wind through the open windows. Unease prickled at the back of my neck as I ventured further inside, my hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of my sword.

Before I could draw my blade, a sudden weight slammed into me from behind, sending me sprawling to the ground. I twisted, ready to defend myself, only to find myself pinned beneath two grinning faces I'd know anywhere.

"Eat dirt, fucker!" Roark crowed, his dark red hair falling into his eyes as he beamed down at me. "You're getting slow in your old age, brother."

"Welcome home." Elyan laughed next to him, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. "We thought we'd give you a proper greeting."

I couldn't help but laugh as we tussled on the floor like we did when we were children, all elbows and knees. For a moment, the centuries melted away, and we were just three brothers again, years dissolving away.

"Alright, alright, let me up, you idiots." I chuckled, shoving them off me and climbing to my feet, then dusted off my tunic. "Is this how you welcome a decorated knight of Camelot?"

Roark snorted, slinging an arm around my shoulders. He was a lot larger than I remembered. A grown male now, in his prime. "Don’t make me vomit, Gal."

Elyan laughed, eyes danced with amusement. "It's our sworn duty to keep you humble, Sir Galahad ."

I opened my mouth to retort, but the words died on my tongue as a figure appeared in the doorway. Time seemed to slow as I took in the sight of my mother, as radiant and beautiful as the day I left. Her strawberry hair cascaded down her shoulders in soft waves, and her grass-green eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"Galahad," she whispered, her voice trembling. "My beautiful boy, you've come home!"

“Mother," I choked out, my voice cracking as she enveloped me in a fierce embrace. Her familiar scent of cinnamon and cloves surrounded me, and I felt the weight of the centuries melt away as I clung to her, tears streaming down my face. I was suddenly glad I hadn’t brought Gawain with me. He’d never let me hear the end of it.

"Too long, Gal," she murmured, her hands cupping my face as she pulled back to look at me. Her eyes shone with such pure love and pride, and I felt a wave of emotion wash over me. "I’ve missed you so much."

For a second, I almost felt guilty. When I was a boy, my father had been gone more often than he was home. It was in the time of the court wars, and he was a commander. I dreamed of rising off with him to fight, but he was killed before I could ever make it a reality. Here I was now, abandoning my mother all over again.

"I've missed you too," I whispered, leaning into her touch. "More than you can possibly imagine. It feels good to be back in Avalon."

Finally, she pulled away, wiping the tears from her eyes with a watery smile. "Enough of that,” she said with a laugh, wiping away her own tears. “Come, sit with me. I want to hear everything about your adventures."

“I can’t stay long,” I said, following her into the sitting room. “I’m needed back at the castle for the feasts.”

My mother's face fell for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a warm smile. "Of course. The city is buzzing with rumors, you know." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. Sometimes I forgot how young my mother still was. Centuries older than me, she still looked no older than thirty in human years. “You really did find the heir, didn’t you?”

“I did. And unfortunately, I might be in love with her,” I said, running my hand over my face.

There, I’d said it. The thing that had been nagging at me since the moment I met the feisty queen. If I couldn’t admit it to her yet, I could damn sure say it aloud at least.

My mother raised her eyebrows in surprise and a grin spread across her face. " You're in love?" She leaned forward, eager for details. "Tell me about this woman who’s captured your heart. I never thought I’d see the day."

My brothers snorted at the same time, and I shot them a glare. “She’s the most beautiful female I think I’ve ever seen. Powerful without realizing it, and she’s got a mouth on her.” Elyan opened his mouth, but I silenced him with a look. He snapped it closed. “She could probably kick your arse up and down the city streets if she wanted to, Elyan.”

"Well then, she sounds amazing," my mother said, shaking her head at my brothers. "But does she feel the same way about you?"

I hesitated. "I don't know. There are so many complications. It's hard to know where we stand. I’m not the only knight that feels this way. Percy is practically in love, and Tristan too. Gawain is smitten, but that’s not a surprise, and Lancelot tries to pretend he feels nothing, but I know him better than he realizes.”

Roark plopped down beside me, jostling me with his elbow. "You always did overthink things. Why not just tell her how you feel and see what happens? Worst case, she lets you down gently and you move on."

"Or she could banish him from the Round Table for being a lovesick fool," Elyan teased, dodging the pillow I tossed at his head.

"Boys, behave," Mother chided, though her eyes twinkled with amusement. I nearly rolled my eyes at the word boys. There were no boys left in this house, just three grown fae males who drove their mother crazy. "This is serious." She turned back to me, her expression thoughtful. "Galahad, if this woman doesn’t love you, then there’s something wrong with her brain."

I threw my head back and laughed; the sound echoing through the cozy room. "I dare you to say that to her face, Mother. We’d all pay good coin to see you two go head to head."

The image of my petite mother squaring off against Arthur was too amusing to ignore. While my mother was a force to be reckoned with in her own right, Arthur's fiery spirit and sharp tongue were unmatched.

"Perhaps I will," Mother said with a grin, her eyes glinting like polished emeralds in the firelight. "Someone needs to knock some sense into the girl if she's too blind to see what a catch my son is."

Warmth bloomed in my chest at her words.

We stayed in the sitting room for the next couple of hours as I filled her in on what I’d been up to for the last seven centuries. I told her of the kings I’d escorted on quests for the Grail, of the battles I’d fought in on behalf of the Pendragons. I told her about Arthur, and Mordred and Uther. It felt nice to have a listening ear who only wanted the best for me.

As much as I longed to stay cocooned in the comfort of my childhood home, duty called. The celebrations at the castle would be starting within the hour. I rose from the sofa, reluctantly pulling away from the embrace of my mother's arm.

"I should head back," I said, my tone tinged with regret. "The feast will be starting soon, and Arthur is new to all of this."

"Of course," Mother said, rising gracefully to her feet. She reached out, her fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from my forehead with a tender touch. "But promise me you'll visit again soon. And bring this queen of yours next time. I'd very much like to meet the woman who's stolen my son's heart."

Nodding, a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. "I will. I promise." Then I turned to my brothers, who had also risen from their seats. "Try to stay out of trouble while I'm gone. And don’t embarrass mother."

Roark scoffed, a grin splitting his handsome face. "Us? Trouble? Never. "

Elyan snickered, punching Roark playfully in the arm. "We're the very picture of innocence and propriety, dear brother."

I shook my head, chuckling under my breath as I made my way to the door. "Why do I find that hard to believe? I have no doubt I’ll be seeing both of you at some point tonight at the feasts."

My mother threw her arms up in surrender and left the room, while my brothers didn’t bother denying the truth. They were both unmated fae males, and the Night of the Ancients was a revelry that would go unmatched. It was a night of fucking, drinking, and forgetting propriety for a while.

With a final wave and a promise to return soon, I stepped out into the twilight, the warmth of my family's love wrapped around me like a familiar cloak. As I made my way back to the castle, my thoughts turned to Arthur, wondering if maybe my mother was right and I should just tell her how I felt.