Broken Vows
Chapter 23

Meeting the King

Stepping through the portal used to give me butterflies, and I thought it must feel like falling in love. Now it just makes me ill, and I can’t wait until it is over. The four of us come out the other side into Gavin’s realm. Jakob looks like he’s about as sick as I feel, and I snicker a little at least I’m not the only one having a hard time.

“I don’t think I like that at all.” Jakob groans.

“Don’t worry, the second time isn’t as bad.” Richard pats him hard on the shoulder, and Jakob groans again.

We are standing just on the other side of the front gate leading to the castle. I suppose Gavin wanted us to admire the view as we walk all the way to the castle itself. He could have had the portal closer to the castle if he had wanted to, but apparently, he thought we could use the walk. At least he let us in on this side of the gate, not making us stand there to beg the guards to let us in.

A slim elf is waiting on the first flight of stairs on the path; the castle sits proudly on the sloping grounds. The stark white stone of the castle is nearly blinding on the green hill. The roof tiles are the same blue as a robin’s egg. The whole castle screams enchanted fairytale. There are still two flights of stairs spaced twenty yards apart before we get to the main stairs leading into the castle itself. I replace it all irritating, but I can’t show it. I have to act the part of needy and desperate, so that is what I will do, and Gavin clearly wants me to beg.

We approach the elf standing on the stairs, and he looks us over, wrinkling his nose at me.

“His role highness has agreed graciously to see you. Follow me and look sharp now.” the slim elf with an attitude says.

“King Gavin is so magnanimous.” I coo a little sarcastically, but the elf seems to miss it and nods curtly.

“That he is.” the elf beams at the praise of his King.

I glance at Rana, and we share in the silent joke. Elves can be so self-important. I just hope I can use that to win his majesty over. By the time we reach the stairs leading up to the castle doors, Rana, Rich, and I are panting slightly. Jakob and the elf are completely unfazed and breathing normally. It’s Jakob’s turn to snicker at us and our lack of stamina.

We collect ourselves as we head up the last flight of stairs. The doors swing open of their own accord, and we step inside, still following the elf. He leads us down the hall. The white marble shines like glass as the sunlight pours through the large windows. The castle is made of as much glass as it is stone. The stones themselves are scrolled with what looks like stone ivy. The whole palace is as over the top as the King himself. It seems the same as I remember; nothing has changed. I once saw it as beautiful, and I’m sure to most it is, but now I see it as a show of excess.

As we walk down the hall, the clicking of our shoes echoes off the walls. Once we reach the end of the hall, the elf stops in front of the large double doors that lead to the throne room. I know the room all too well; I just wonder how many will be in attendance to listen to me beg for the King to help us in our fight against Hadeon.

Two guards stand outside the golden-scrolled doors. The golden ivy on the doors twists and curves in intricate weaving, covering the rich brown of the wooden door. Our guide clears his throat, and the doors swing open inward as the guards step to the side to let us pass.

The throne room is everything you would expect from the overly outlandish King. The giant windows have picturesque views of the grounds and the castle’s many gardens. All of the flowers are in full bloom, and while there are all the common flowers, there are some rather unusual ones that I couldn’t begin to name. The rest of the world might be turning cold, and the greenery is giving way to fall golds and oranges; this place seems to be locked in perpetual spring. It will remain that way until the King becomes tired of it, and he changes the season just as quickly as changing his mind.

I’m not too surprised by the gathering of Fae in attendance elves, and fairies on the court love the latest gossip, and I’m sure they would love to see me grovel and beg in front of their King. The Fae are skilled in magic and use it just as easily as breathing. Still, they are vain and silly creatures most of the time and prefer drama and intrigue where ever they can replace it. I believe that has a lot to do with the kind of rule they have lived under for so long. Gavin has always been a vain and silly man, and his people have followed suit.

As we approach the throne, Gavin sits in the ornate golden seat. It looks like it was woven from golden ivy. Delicate golden ivy embellishes the entire throne room, and the sun streaming in the large windows makes the room nearly blinding white and gold. My eyes sting and keep threatening to water, just trying to stay focused on the King sitting on his throne, smirking at me.

Gavin is sitting on the embellished red cushion. His sharp elven features are enhanced dramatically by his ornate golden ivy crown that matches his throne and the gold jewelry he wears. Gold and jeweled rings line his fingers in his absolute picture of excess.

Sitting lopsidedly and smirking at me, it would be hard to know that Gavin is hundreds of years old the man still looks the same as the last night I saw him flirting with me at the spring ball. My world changed forever that night. Maybe I should have listened to Rana and Cadmus that night and forgotten the strange man I saw.

“Well, look who it is finally come to see me, the Supreme herself. My Willow time has passed for you, hasn’t it?” Gavin chuckles a little at his own joke. I know I have aged, and I don’t care anymore. There are more important things than how old I look or don’t look.

“Well, we all can’t be as fortunate as you, my grace. Time keeps ticking by, yet here you sit untouched. You will need to share your secrets with me then.” I smile politely.

“Oh, I don’t share my secrets with just anyone.” He slyly smiles at me, making my skin crawl just a tinge.

“Well, what would it take to get you to share some secrets with me then?” I do my best to bat my eyes and just feel silly. This is all a silly game I don’t have the patience for, but I have to play along.

“I think for you I can gain something. You didn’t write to me and request an audience with me just to disuse this, did you? You said you needed my help, and for the life of me, I can’t think what you could need my help with. Isn’t that husband of yours providing all the help you need? I must say I was sad not to receive an invite to the wedding, and the poor dragon king, I hear

you are the reason behind his demise. You seem to have quite a few delicious secrets, my dear. I haven’t seen or heard from you in such a long time, and now you are here praying that I help you.” Gavin sounds smug yet curious as to what I could want with him.

“Well, it would seem that I am not the only one with secrets, my dear King. Perhaps we could trade a few in privet?” I tilt my head daring him to press me further as I smile sweetly. “Don’t believe you want my secret to being known. I believe you, and I might have more in common than you know. My husband seems to know a few of your secrets and was kind enough to share them with me. You know, I think I can see the resemblance now that I look closely. Perhaps you recall a silver-haired witch… Oh, what was her name?”

“Melantha.” Gavin breathes the name so softly I nearly miss it, but the look on his face has shifted from smug arrogance to painful sorrow.

Gavin quickly regains himself and eyes me calculating his next move. When he stands and walks towed me the catering, Fae goes still watching what might happen next.

“You have peeked my-“He pauses for dramatic effect, “Interest. Shall we continue this conversation somewhere more private?” his voice is as smooth as a song, but the pain is dancing in his brilliant green eyes. He gives me his radiant smile holding out an arm to me. He is far better at this charade than I am. I take his arm and do my best to play along with this strange game. The whispers in the crowd don’t seem to face his majesty, and I try to remain calm and confident, shooting Rana a look, and she gives me a quick nod, and I stand just a little taller. At least I clearly have his attention now. Let’s see what I can do with it. Will he listen to me? Believe me? Lend us the aid we need?

Gavin leads me past the throne and to the back of the room; a smaller door is naturally coved by a thick red draping curtain. I hear the crowd leaving the throne room in a shuffling herd of heels clicking on the marble floor.

Gavin hardly slows down when he reaches the door, merely pushing it open and leading me in in a quick, fluid motion. The room appeared to be a privet study of sorts. I have a hard time imagining he uses the room for academic purposes. The plush red sofa and chairs sit in the middle of the room. A desk is off to the back, and the walls are nothing but shelves upon shelves of books and scrolls.

The floor is covered in a thick red carpet that muffles the sound of his shoes as he releases my arm and heads for an ornate cart with crystal decanters and glasses. He pours a drink and quickly downs it before pouring another. The deep purple liquid I know to be an elderberry liquor the fairies make.

It’s reasonably strong and made for sipping, but I watch him down two glasses, and I wonder if he plans to be utterly drunk before I can even speak to him. When he pours a third glass, I almost say something, but he turns and hands it to me. I take it, but I’m not planning on drinking it. I had it once, and that was not something I wanted to relive; Cadmus found me during a dinner party. I didn’t know how strong the drink was, and halfway through, I could hardly stand, and carried me to a study before my mother could replace me and I could embarrass myself. The memory is sweet and painful. He was always there for me saving me from myself, and he tried to save me from Hadeon and myself, and I was too foolish to see that. I wish things were different.

“So, we need to talk. How does your husband know the name of my dead wife? And does he know where to replace my son?”