Moonlight (13 page)

How did it go? Did you enjoy yourself?
they asked.

Aowyn focused on the bank closest to her when the grass and bushes rustled. Rógaire and Lorgaire scattered when they saw Xander standing there, breathless. He dashed down the bank after a moment.

“Are you alright?”

Aowyn’s eyes lowered in shame.

Xander cut across the shore to her and grasped her hand. “Wyn…”

Aowyn tried to pull away, but Xander swept her into his arms. He kissed her temple and hugged her tightly. “What happened back there?”

Aowyn wished she could tell him. Words would be so much simpler right now.

“Were you frightened?” Xander asked.

Aowyn didn’t know what she was thinking, running off with him like that.

Xander clutched her shoulders and held her back. “I would never hurt you or force your hand, Aowyn. You’re the one thing I’ve gotten right in my life. I… I
love
you. I want you for my wedded wife… not greenwood… not any other.” He pulled her in again and slipped a finger under her chin to draw her mouth to his. “Forever.”

His kiss was like Manna to Aowyn, and she took him in hungrily. Xander’s hands caressed her face and bound her there like a spell. Aowyn reached for his collar and jerked him closer to her. He kissed her more deeply. Aowyn’s toes curled as the feelings from the forest grew within her. She broke off the kiss.

Xander’s eyes opened haltingly. “Is that a no?”

Aowyn turned from him and chewed her lower lip. How could she explain how she felt? How could she tell him that she wanted him, but was overwhelmed by what he made her feel? It was daunting. She couldn’t imagine how her brothers followed through on their romantic escapades without a second thought.
How do you just
give in? She had given her heart so fully to her brothers and father that she wasn’t sure how to give it to any other man in the way she wanted to. Aowyn thought back on the way her brothers had so lovingly prepared her and how the Ring of Royals had found its way to her. It seemed that they
expected
her to carry out The Sacred Marriage of Bealtaine with an actual marriage. How convenient that she was in love with the one Aodhagáin had chosen as the King Stag, Lord of the Festival. The King Stag could have chosen anyone to mate with, but he chose her.

Aowyn folded her arms and rubbed them as the late night grew chilly. She wanted to tell Xander that she accepted, but when she turned back to him, he was gone.

THE TWELFTH KINGDOM

Aowyn expected to find Xander home at the castle. She could not find him in the throne room, or the training yard with the soldiers, or even with her father. He had vanished. Aowyn felt as though her right arm had been cut from her. Where had he gone?

Aodhagáin carried a letter into the throne room a few days later. “He has returned to the Twelve Kingdoms.”

Aowyn raised her head as she sat upon the throne.

Aodhagáin hobbled toward her. “What happened, Wyn? Did you not care for him? I thought it would make you happy.”

Aowyn gripped the arms of the throne and sat back.
He would have made me happier than anything.

Aodhagáin leaned on his walking staff. “Did you quarrel?”

Aowyn shook her head.

Aodhagáin’s fingers opened and closed around the staff. He raised his head after a period of thinking. “Aowyn. I would have given the whole of the Summer Isle to be with your mother. I hope you do not make the mistake of living your life without love.”

Suddenly Aowyn could bear it no longer and buried her face in her hands.

Aodhagáin ascended the stairs to the throne and took his place in the king’s seat. He put his hand upon Aowyn’s back as she wept. “Love comes softly, my pet.”

Aowyn leaned into her father and sobbed.
He did not even say goodbye
!

Aodhagáin leaned his chin against Aowyn’s head. His faded beard appeared brighter against Aowyn’s red curls. He wrapped his arm around her.

Why did he not say goodbye?

“You are Queen, Aowyn, but now you must make a choice. True love comes once.”

Aowyn lifted her head and dashed away her tears.

“Go to him. Claim his love before another steals it away. Take Maeb with you.”

Aowyn regarded her Father.
Leave the throne?

“I was king once. I can be so again. Nevertheless, it is your decision. You can linger here and rule with fervered hope that love will find you again one day, or you can fight for true love.”

Aowyn winced. Leave her Father alone? He would die. She couldn’t allow that… but she couldn’t lose Xander either.

Aodhagáin stroked Aowyn’s hair. “Once in a lifetime loves are worth dying for.”

Aowyn leaned forward and pressed her lips to her father’s wrinkled brow.

An Cuan Áille lingered in serenity. Aowyn wondered how many times she had stood on this bank and surveyed the sky. Shadows lengthened beneath the fading sun. A light breeze rustled the summer leaves.

Caoin Croí circled the water and swam to his sister.
You should go.

Aowyn surveyed the brothers as they lined up before her. She had always been here for them.

We will be alright,
Lorgaire assured.

You made sure of that
, Rógaire said proudly.

Choróin touched his head to his chest then raised it to the sky in the same way Aowyn had the first time the four brothers left for winter.
Go
.

Aowyn walked into the water to caress and embrace each brother.

You have sacrificed everything for us for so long, Wynnie,
Choróin said,
now let us repay it.

For the love you bear us.

The salted sea air whipped through Aowyn’s hair. The white sails bearing King Aodhagáin’s sun emblem bulged and rippled in the wind as the waves tugged the ship along. Maeb spent much of the time angled over the rail of the ship in an intriguing shade of green. Aowyn wondered why her nursemaid refused to administer medicine to herself to help ward off the sickness. When Maeb was not turning out the contents of her stomach, she hid below deck in their shared quarters. Aowyn reveled being on deck. She loved seeing the activity of the sailors as they worked and played. The sweltering heat of summer’s peak beat down on their glistening, tan skin.

The ship pulsing up and down on the waves felt like a giant cradle rocking. It soothed Aowyn. Lulled by the warmth of the sun and the crashing of waves, she leaned back against the finely-gilded wood banister and dreamed of her future.
I will find you, Xander.

***

“Treason.”

Xander stood before his tyrant father unflinchingly.

“You are lucky you are my son, or I would have you hung for treason.”

Xander let the words hit him like arrows. He did not care, for the world was lost to him ever since Aowyn had turned him away. Being hung for treason would be less painful than Aowyn’s rejection. He could not decide what hurt more: Aowyn turning him down or his father’s keen foresight.

“I warned you that you were foolish to think she loved you. What did you think would happen, boy? That she would swoon and make you king? Is that how you were going to
prove yourself
? First you kill your mother, then you fail your brother, and you could not even secure the Summer Isle for me.”

Xander’s adam’s apple bobbed.

Rab rammed his finger into Xander’s chest. “You are a disgrace.”

Xander swayed as Rab jabbed at him again.

“I am mortified that the gods would curse me with such a useless spawn who
fails
at everything I task him with.”

Xander’s hands closed into fists.

“I cannot fathom how you kept control of those soldiers with such behavior.”

Xander locked eyes with the man. “If you wanted the Summer Isle so badly, why did you not go and take it for yourself?”

Xander’s father swung to backhand him. Xander caught Rab’s wrist and twisted his arm behind his back. He drew his dagger and held it to Rab’s throat. “It puzzles me. Being the waste of breath you find me to be, was it your intent that I fail? Did you hope I would not return? Did you honestly think it would be that easy?”

Rab’s breath raced.

Xander pressed the dagger to his father’s skin. “Answer me!”

Rab said nothing.

Xander swept his father’s legs out from under him and sheathed his dagger. Rab lay in a heap on the black stone floor staring, terrified, at Xander.

Xander crouched by Rab. His words sharpened each moment. “The gods
cursed
you with a son that will not give you what you please because you haven’t the grace to care for that son’s life. There will come a day when you will perish, and on that day I will throw myself before the Dagda in gratitude for it. Part of me
did
die on the Summer Isle. It was the part that was worthless.” Xander spit in his face. “You disgust me.”

Xander marched from the room.

***

Maeb crumpled on the dock and kissed the dirty boards. Aowyn grimaced and pulled the woman up. She gave the nursemaid a wry smile.

Aowyn had been in awe of the land here as they sailed into port. The sea arched back against the ship before racing forward and splintering recklessly against vast black cliffs. Gulls soared and dove around them, sweeping by lush green grasses near port. It was a wild, rugged land, so different from the Summer Isle. Aowyn loved it right away.

Maeb and Aowyn collected their belongings and went in search of an inn. Maeb wanted a drink after the long journey and to recompose herself. They found one not far from port and attained their bearings. Maeb did all of the talking. Aowyn half-heartedly listened. She wanted to get out and explore. She perked up when she heard about a celebration happening at the nearby Blackthorn Keep.

Aowyn pushed through the throng near a keep made of black ashlar. Trumpets blared. The crowd applauded as a young man with black hair emerged from one of the towers. Aowyn’s heart pounded.
Xander!

“His Excellency, The Right Honorable Barwn Xander Blacksteed,” announced the herald.

Xander turned as another figure emerged beside him. Aowyn’s throat knotted when the herald called, “Her Ladyship, the good Glenna of Monmouth Flail.”

Xander grasped the young woman’s hand and held it up for all to see. The sun glinted off a ring on her hand. She was beautiful and gentle-looking.

“Are to be joined in matrimony at sundown tomorrow and invite all to join them in celebration at this joyous occasion.”

The world began to spin for Aowyn. Everything went bright white around her and blurry in the center. She fought against a sick wooziness and bolted toward the gates. Two soldiers in black armor stood guard. They grabbed Aowyn when she tried to run between them into the keep. She pointed wildly at Xander and Glenna. The guards looked at her quizzically.

“Yes, they make a nice couple, don’t they?”

Aowyn shook her head. She pointed at Xander again.
I need to talk to him!

“No, I’m sorry, miss,” said the guard. “Lady Glenna and The Barwn are happy together. They do not wish to see anyone.”

Aowyn pointed at Xander then placed her hands on her heart. Her gestures implored the guards to let her in.
I love him!

“You’re delirious. He doesn’t love you. He loves Lady Glenna,” said the soldier. “Now leave!”

Aowyn struggled against the soldiers.
You don’t understand! I must see him.

The guards tossed Aowyn like a sack of grain. She landed hard on the dirt path.

“You’ll stay away if you know what’s good for you.” The guards crossed their polearms with finality.

SHE WHO WALKS IN MOONLIGHT

A burst of light illuminated the Swamp of Morgorth, a place so dark it choked out the sun and moon from sheer willfulness. A figure barreled through the light and plunged into the black loam of a clearing. Willows of lichen swayed like ghostly veils in the darkness. The thick air stank of putrid water.

The figure groaned and rolled on to her back.

The light swirled behind her, dimming for a moment. It burst and spewed a naked man with the head of a maned lion. He landed and rolled several yards from the woman.

The woman sat up and crab-walked slowly away from it. “Donestre.”

The donestre’s muscles rippled as he pushed himself upright. He breathed heavily and stared at his hands. He touched his chest and face before turning toward the woman.

The woman was transfixed. “My son…”

The donestre’s nose wrinkled as he sniffed the air. He bore his fangs and strode toward the woman.

She raised her arm to defend herself. “I am your mother. Do you not recognize me?”