20. the journey

Abitha, now the honorary figurehead of both earth and air until they had enough time to delegate someone else for air, was making sure all the children were kept safe.

"No lighting any fire," she repeated herself for the fifth time as she took count of all the children and elderly that were bunched up in one of the larger cottages that was used for assemblies and such. The Earthlings were sitting on the top of a table in the main room of the cottage.

"But it's daytime," Cashel immediately snarked, his red hair ruffled messily.

"Do you see how dark it is out there?" Terra exclaimed. "We haven't seen the sun in days. Not since. . ." she trailed, remembering that anxious night when Eira attacked them and killed Aerwyn.

"She's right," Abitha agreed, a kink of her light brown hair springing over her forehead. She had not worn the usual pink daisies in her hair, instead opting for green leaves tucked behind her ear.

She looked around the room for someone to delegate to take charge in case anything happened. She firstly considered one of the elderlies, but realized they were too senile and immobile to do much good if something were to happen. She glanced over to Ilmari who was sitting sulkily in the corner, glaring out the window. She did not think he was stable enough to take charge yet, given the immense loss he just experienced.

Turning back to the Earthlings, her eyes landed on the quieter of the older triplets, Dion, who was sitting silently beside Cashel, his lucid green eyes staring at the floor thoughtfully. The black shirt he wore brought out the darkness in his curly hair. The triplets were the eldest teens next to Ilmari, after all, and Dion was remarkably the most mature out of them.

"Dion," Abitha quipped, capturing the attention of the boy immediately. "As of now, you are in charge of the inside of this cottage."

"Him?!" Cashel exclaimed, looking at his brother with a look of shock. "Why, he wouldn't know what to do if something were to happen. Maybe throw a book at an intruder."

"I think the most important thing is that he has the attention span to even notice something happening in the first place," Abitha countered, shutting down the teenager boy and causing Terra to chuckle.

"We'll follow your lead, Dion," Flora, who sat beside Terra, remarked. Her twin, Fauna, nodded eagerly beside her.

Dion gave a ghost of a smile at them and looked to Abitha, nodded. "I will do the best I can."

Abitha smiled warmly and placed a hand in his hair, ruffling it. "I know you will, lad."

Dion laughed, and then Cashel resumed picking on his brother as Terra picked on Cashel. Abitha focused on something else that was capturing her thoughts—the sulking Ilmari in the corner. Turning, she approached the boy carefully.

"Are you alright, Ilmari?"

His walnut skin complimented his light grey eyes as he turned to look up at her. "Peachy," he remarked. "I get to sit in here with all these children, doing absolutely nothing to revenge my father who died at the hands of that bitch."

Abitha slapped his shoulder. "I'll have you avenging a bar of soap if you keep using that language."

Ilmari rolled his eyes and stood up, tucking his hands into his pockets and pacing the corner of the room. "Just let me come with you guys, Abitha. I can be of great help—you know how powerful I am for my age."

"It is not about being powerful enough," Abitha gently told him, placing her hand on his shoulder in a much gentler way. "You are the next generation, Ilmari. There is no doubt you will take your father's place as figurehead."

A twinkle crossed the boys eyes at the thought. He had been hoping that he would be chosen, not only because he felt he deserved it, but so that he could make his father proud.

"And we have been working for eighteen years to secure the next generation," Abitha continued. "You and every other young person in here is the future of Fae. And there is no way on hell or earth we will be risking that today or any other day after all we have lost thus far."

Ilmari's hopefulness died with her words. "I hope you know you are stealing vengeance from me," he whispered before yanking away from the earth fae and returning to his spot by the window.

Abitha had no time to scold the boy for his outburst of emotions. Instead, she let him have his moment and told everyone to stay inside the cottage no matter what until they returned, and she left to go convene with the others. For that day, they were going to war.

♔

"Does she have to go with us, Caspian?" Alastair asked with a hidden hint of dread in her voice. Catori was layering Nyx up in wolf's fur so that the human would survive their journey through the snowy forest to the ice castle. "It's too dangerous. I don't see the reason."

"She and Catori will stay back while we fight," Caspian answered as he handed a new pair of boots he grabbed from the human village since Nyx's was wearing holes in the toe. "Eira may not even come out of her castle unless she knows Nyx is with us."

Catori side-eyed her partner. "I am fully capable of fighting."

"I know, dear, but it's not safe for you to be in the middle of battle. You need to be protected right now." Caspian's placid eyes stared persuasively at Catori. The spirit fae knew that he was right, but she could not help but feel like she could be of help in one way or another. Caspian continued, "Your duty is to protect Nyx, anyhow."

"Catori shouldn't risk her life to protect me," Nyx argued as she thankfully took the boots and began slipping them on her cold feet.

They had convened right outside the willow tree and would be making the journey to the ice castle in only moments. Apparently, all that time Alastair spent in her tree cabin was used to make a battle plan. They were going to make use of their feet rather than their wings to ambush the ice fae, so that they could not be detected in the air. All the adult earth and air fae were assembled around them, preparing themselves for the battle as well. They were well aware that they were outnumbered, but everyone generally agreed that they could not sit around and wait any longer.

Abitha joined the group, her olive green cloak flitting around her ankles. "I've got the children secured. I'm keeping a few adults back to keep watch."

"Have we put out all the fires?" Alastair questioned, to which Abitha nodded.

"Nyx," Catori suddenly whispered, pulling the girl out of the conversation that Alastair and Abitha were having about the security of the camp. Nyx turned her eyes to the spirit fae to see that she was reaching behind her long, black hair and unhooking a necklace that sat on her chest. "I want you to have this."

Before Nyx could question it, Catori was reaching behind her blonde hair and hooking the necklace behind her neck. Looking down, Nyx noticed the triangular-shaped turquoise stone with white lines painted on it. It was a beautiful stone, held together by a string of thick brown leather. She felt Catori clasp the necklace before bringing her hands to her shoulders.

"It was given to me by my mother. I wore it during the invasion and during the many months where I was separated from Caspian after it all." She placed her hand on Nyx's warm cheek and looked her deep in her eyes. "It is good luck. I want you to wear it always."

"Catori," Nyx breathed, holding the cool triangular stone in her fingers. Her chest swelled with the gravity of such a meaningful gift. "I couldn't possibly—"

"It is yours now," Catori whispered. "Once the necklace is given, it cannot be given back."

"But you need this," Nyx pressed, looking at the bump on the fae's belly. "You need luck more than I."

"I have other means of luck," the fae countered as she casted a glance over to Caspian who was talking with Al. She turned back to the girl and gently patted her face. "It's yours now." She tucked the stone underneath the neckline of Nyx's dress and patted it from over the fabric, and Nyx could have sworn she saw Catori's fingers glow blue. "It's with you now."

Nyx opened her mouth to further protest, but Alastair's strong voice interrupted both her and Catori's attention.

"Alright, everyone!" the fire fae began, instantly capturing everyone's attention. There were about 40 of them altogether. "We travel by foot in the forest, silently. We will emerge from the woods and try to attack the castle from the inside. Try to get the watchers first. They will be standing guard outside." She turned, her eyes connecting with each and every fae. "Ice spears are how they fight. They can shoot them fast, and you will not see them coming unless you are paying close attention. Use any means to shield the spears, but use any means to fight back, as well. We are here to win, not surrender." She turned to Nyx and paused when her eyes met hers. "Nyx and Catori will be staying back in the woods due to them both being in a more fragile state. Eira will try to get to Nyx, and that is how we lure her out of the castle to kill her."

All the fae nodded, buffing their chests up as their ears and wings perked. They had been waiting for this day for eighteen years, and Nyx was shocked to see that not a single fae seemed nervous and scared. After all, Eira had taken everything from them. There was not much left to lose but themselves.

"Alright," Alastair whispered, looking down at the snow on the ground that pained her bare feet. "Let this winter end."

♔

Cashel and Terra were playing a game of cards while Flora and Fauna played with marbles. Dion was sitting beside Ilmari, both keeping watch out the window. The adults that were delegated to keep watch were inside the tree cabin, and they could be seen through the windows slowly circling and surveilling every inch of the forest.

Ilmari was shaking his leg nervously. "I can't do it."

Dion looked to him with questioning eyes.

"I can't do it!" Ilmari jumped up and began circling the middle of the room, running his hand through his hair. "I can't sit here and do nothing to stop Eira. Not after what she took from me, took from all of us!" The room fell silent, and Erlin, who had been talking to an earth fae, stood up.

Dion stood up as well. "Ilmari, you must calm down."

"No!" the boy yelled, his eyes brimming with tears as his grey wings outstretched behind him. "You of all people should understand, Dion!"

Cashel and Terra both perked up at Ilmari's words. Remembering their parents, their ears drooped slightly. Flora and Fauna nervously eyed the emotional fae.

The Earthlings had never seen Dion express so much emotion as he did just then. His cheeks grew red, his green eyes nearly glowing at the mention of his parents. "If you want to get yourself killed, then go on," he spat, turning sharply away from Ilmari and sitting back at the window, holding his head in his hands. Erlin looked sadly between the two.

Ilmari's anger extinguished for a moment as he watched Dion's back shake slightly with his silent sobs. Cashel and Terra eyed him with resentment.

"I'm sorry," the air fae whispered, walking backwards to the door. "Maybe you all can sit here and do nothing, but I can't." With that, he swung the door open and sprinted outwards, hoping to get to the forest before the fae in the tree cabin could see him. He would have to travel by foot rather than wing so as to not be seen by them.

Erlin's eyes widened as he watched Ilmari run. "Wait! Ilmari, wait!" He sprinted after the fae as fast as he could with his shorter, chubbier legs. He screamed after Ilmari as the air fae ran into the woods, Erlin following him.

♔

Nyx walked between Catori and Caspian, with Al and Abitha walking in front of them. The rest all followed behind them in the shape of a crescent. Nyx felt embarrassed at how loudly she was walking with her clunky boots, while the Fae who had spent years hiding in woods knew how to tread lightly and elegantly, even with their big wings.

She could feel Catori's necklace at her chest, swaying as she would take a step forward and returning to her chest once her foot planted on the ground. The hood of her wolf's fur coat was pulled around her face, and while she was freezing cold, Catori had layered her up rather nicely. The only issue was her freezing nose and lips.

No one said a word. The silence was not a nervous one—it was like the silence before a scream where the air feels heavy with emotion and the fingertips tremble from the might of the soul. These people were not scared or hesitant, nor was Alastair. She knew exactly where to step so that a twig wouldn't crack. She knew exactly which route to take to the castle and how quietly she should take it. This was not her first time venturing to the ice castle, and Nyx wondered how many nights the fae put herself in danger by traveling to the castle alone.

Suddenly, a twig snapped—it did not come from them. Everyone suddenly froze before Nyx could even comprehend, and Catori had to reach her arm out across Nyx's abdomen and pull her back beside her and Caspian. Everyone had lowered, an array of pointed ears bending and twitching. Catori pulled Nyx down beside her by her coat.

The girl's eyes looked to Alastair, who was crouched down staring at something ahead through the trees. The fire fae turned her head and put her finger to her lips to signal for everyone to stay quiet. She turned back and began silently inching forward, Abitha inching close behind her. The rest of the group stayed behind and watched the two move forward through the trees, and Nyx finally saw what they were seeing. An ice fae was sitting against a larger tree, only the back of him visible to the group. He was whittling at something wooden with a small knife, and Nyx could only faintly hear the scraping.

Keeping her hand on Nyx to keep her back, Catori stepped forward a bit to get a better look, and she realized it was only a child, a young boy whittling a small statue peacefully. She could tell that Alastair was planning on coming up behind the fae and snapping their neck by the way she lurched like a predator. She knew Al wouldn't kill the ice fae if she knew it was only a child.

Nyx looked down and noticed Catori's fingertips begin to glow blue, and suddenly Alastair froze in her steps, Abitha stopping right behind her. The fire fae turned and looked at Catori instinctually, a hint of blue glowing in her otherwise scarlet eyes.

The blonde looked at them in confusion until she realized that Catori was telepathically signaling for Al to stop, and she silently noted the awesomeness of such a power.

Catori looked at Caspian and signaled for him to stay put before she removed her hand from Nyx and stepped forward silently, hoping to not catch the boy's attention. Eira had made sure to train up all her ice fae, even the commoners and the children. She had also brainwashed them into believing that all non-ice fae were savage animals, so she did not doubt that the boy would accidentally try to hurt one of them out of fear, and there was no telling how Alastair would instinctively react to an ice spear being thrown her way.

Catori tiptoed past Abitha and Al until she was right behind the tree where the ice boy was leaning against. She stopped right behind it and outreached her hand so that it was only an inch away from the boy's blonde head, and her hand glowed blue as she whispered, "Sleep." The wooden statute and knife dropped from the boy's hand, and his body slumped over, but Catori gently caught him before he could fall. She propped him back up against the tree and took the tiny piece of whittled wood and placed it beside him. She then took the small knife and tucked it into her pocket. Nyx was again in awe at Catori's abilities which had never really been shown to her before the last couple days.

Catori turned back and looked Alastair, nodding softly. "He will be asleep for a couple hours," she whispered. "We will come back for him after."

Nodding, the fire fae turned to Nyx and caught her eye, giving her some sort of unreadable stare before she turned and continued the journey to the ice castle.

They came across a rushing babble a few more miles later, and Caspian parted the freezing water with his hands to let everyone pass through. Abitha had to move a large patch of thistles to let everyone pass, as well. The air became quieter the closer they got, and Nyx felt a nervousness in the pit of her stomach. Catori sensed it, and interlocked her hand with Nyx's, giving the girl a comforting smile. Nyx felt the necklace vibrate against her chest, and she smiled softly.

There was no turning back now, not that anyone would have dared to. They had reached the edge of the forest, and Alastair held up a fist to make everyone stop their steps. Nyx peered from behind black and crimson wings and nearly gasped.

The castle itself was made of pure ice, towering high into the sky and forming sharp steeples in the clouds. Around the castle were spikes of stone patched with snow, forming their own needle-like mountain all around the castle. There was an archway at the front of the castle where a few commoners were seen inside, walking around the courtyard. Alastair hoped that none of them would get in the way, for she knew that they were only innocents.

There were a few ice soldiers keeping watch, perched at two towers on either side of the castle, and a few more surveilling around the height of the stony spikes below. Two were stationed at either side of the front arch, standing beside two large ice columns that supported the castle.

Alastair slowly turned around to the group, seeing that Abitha was quietly creating a little nestle of leaves and branches where Catori and Nyx could hide. A few of the people recognized those stone spikes, and realized that Eira had torn down Nikolaus' stone castle and morphed it into defenses. A castle of peace and kindness had been molded into weapons of death to fortify her Ice Kingdom.

Alastair could see the look of trauma on the faces of the fae who had been there the day that Eira attacked. They had been in that very clearing of land and in that same forest, and the ghosts that lingered there haunted them. Even Catori's eyes widened, and Alastair pushed away the thought that she could see the spirits who died there that day eighteen years ago, for she feared that she would see Edlen and her mother amongst those spirits.

The fire fae took a deep breath and looked at Nyx who was already looking at her. This girl whom she had protected for eighteen years out of a promise to her father had turned into a protection of her own will. She was more than the object of Eira's hatred, or the manifestation of how Nikolaus' Kingdom should have turned out to be. In the past weeks, she had buried her way into Alastair's heart, and the fae let it happen willingly. Nyx may have had the compassion and gentleness of Nikolaus, but she had the fighting spirit of her mother. Valerie's bravery was written in everything the girl did. For in those golden brown eyes, she saw that the girl would step up and fight right alongside them if they would have let her.

Nikolaus would have been so proud.

Keep Valerie safe. Keep my baby safe, Alastair. Please, promise me. She remembered the feeling of his hands on her face, his gold eyes sparkling as tears of glitter fell down his cheeks. Promise me.

She'd kept that promise dutifully and furiously for almost two decades, and no matter how fate turned out for them at the end of that night, she would continue to keep it until the heat left her blood, until the fire was drained from her eyes.

Nyx could not take it anymore. She leaped forward and wrapped her arms around the warm fae, burying her face into her neck. Alastair teetered from the force of the unexpected hug, but she wasted no time in encompassing the girl with her arms and burying her nose into her blonde hair.

Tears pricked Catori's eyes, and she looked to Caspian before taking his hand and holding it tight in hers. He smiled almost sadly down at her before wrapping his arm around her. Everyone had caught on to Alastair's affections for the girl, but it surprised them to see the usually aloof fae show such an express of affection in front of everyone. If anything, it made them even readier to fight.

"Please be safe," Nyx whispered into Alastair's neck, inhaling her scent as if it would be the last time. She pulled her face away to look up at the fae whose eyes swirled.

Alastair brought her hand to Nyx's face and held it strongly. "As long as you are," she whispered, gently pulling the girl's head to her so that she could press a kiss to her forehead, immediately inciting embers of warmth on her skin.

Nyx closed her eyes and felt the fae's lips on her skin, and she never wanted to let go. She knew she had to, though, so she did not protest when Alastair gently released from their embrace. She gave Nyx one last look of reassurance before turning to the group and nodding.

"It's time."