The Guest

The tea was delicious and Prem more than made up for any perceived rudeness by giving them all that they could eat and more. By the time Eira, Bolemir, and Hanna joined them, the three humans had had more than their fill. 

Hanna looked at the table and the people with a stern expression, "I told you we were not staying the night. We barely left the elven kingdom and we need to continue on as soon as we are caught up on any happenings here."

"Do not insult my wife by denying yourself the chance to eat what Prem has set out. I respect you deeply, Fate Hanna, but just now you are as mortal as the rest of us." Bolemir's tone was even, and Alaron wanted to give the fairy a standing ovation. 

Hanna would likely not have eaten due to her own sense of pride, but appealing to Prem's honor struck a chord with the blue-skinned lady. She sat down at the table and filled a plate. Alaron gave the fairy an appreciative look.

Hearing his father's voice, Nik came bounding into the room. His wings were still missing but that only seemed to propel him forward with greater speed. The youth pelted Bolemir with questions. 

"Where have you been? What have you been doing? Is everything ok? Mom wouldn't tell me anything. Did you find our guest? Did he come back with you?" 

"Slow down, Nik. Only Fate Hanna and the human Eira are with me. Our guest was looking for me?" Bolemir was suddenly very concerned. 

"Who is this guest?" Alaron's question was overpowered by Prem's worried cry. 

"If he isn't with you, where could he be? If something goes wrong, we will be to blame! Nik, you really shouldn't have let him out of your sight." The matronly fairy wagged her finger at the youth. 

"I could either stay hidden or follow him. I couldn't do both. And he darted so quickly I would need my wings to follow him. You know I cannot access them right now!" Nik pouted. 

Bolemir ran his fingers through his long hair in exasperation. "Maybe next time you will listen to your mother when she tells you to keep out your wings because the magic is failing. You are very lucky you aren't stuck tiny like your friend, Jaka." 

Nik pursed his lips, unable to find a retort. 

Mairwen could see that a family discussion was in order, but she did not want to be a part of it. 

"Should we go look for this mysterious guest? You know, before something goes wrong as you said." The dark-haired princess suggested gently.

The three fairies snapped their head towards Mairwen with pale expressions.

"Of course you are right," Bolemir dipped his head.

"Get me shawl, and we can go right away," Prem dashed off.

"I'm coming too! You aren't leaving me behind again!" Nik pulled himself to his full height, which was still shorter than any of the humans. 

Bolemir was too concerned to argue. He motioned for the boy and his wife to follow him out of the house, leaving the four humans and Fate alone. 

Eira looked at the others and then moved back toward the door from which she had just come. 

"Where are you going?" the princess asked. 

The soldier paused just long enough to cock her head curiously at her mistress. "Are we really not going to follow them to find out what happened to their mystery person? No offense, but that seems to go against everything I know about you, Your Highness." 

"She's right," Alaron and Renat stood from the couch in unison. 

The princess looked at them and shrugged. "Well, I was thinking about sitting this one out, but now my curiosity has got the better of me." Dusting the crumbs from her gown, she moved to join the other three. "Hanna?"

The Fate looked at them wearily. "Let my ancient bones rest for a time. I will be along shortly."

"We will return with news when we can," Mairwen assured her.

The four raced out of the house, hoping they had not completely lost the fairy family they were trying to follow.

From down the street Gede called to them. "Your Highness? Where are you going?"

"Your father lost his 'guest' and your mother and brother went to help find them," Mairwen spoke quickly as she scanned the street.

"What?! He wasn't supposed to leave our home without permission." Gede was suddenly as tense as the rest of the family. His change in composure was somehow more unnerving than any of the others. "I will look for him." 

"We are coming with you," Mairwen said firmly. The fairy looked at her for barely a moment but did not argue. 

Together they moved through the streets until Gede could not stand trekking along the ground any longer. He took to the sky to get a better view. The humans struggled to keep up with his flight.

"There!" Gede announced. He flew over a home, forcing the humans to abandon their path. They cut between the houses, ready to apologize to the owners of the dwellings should they appear.

Fortunately, no one seemed to be home. As the princess came around the back, she could hear shouting and see a large crowd of fairies. 

They had formed a dome around something and none of them seemed to be happy about what was going on in the center. 

"I knew it! They are up to their old ways!" One fairy screamed.

"I doubt they ever abandoned them, just got more sneaky about it!" A baritone voice boomed. 

"Get away from her!" A shrill voice ordered with fervor. 

"I am trying. None of you will let me through!" The person being accused defensively responded. 

The final voice pricked at Mairwen's memory, and by the look on Alaron's face, it had struck a nerve as well. Allowing Gede to serve as their wedge, they pushed through the crowd into the inner circle. 

In the center, a full-size male and female fairy were yelling at the top of their lungs at someone who was most definitely not a fairy. The Gnome had his hands up in surrender. Clearly, he did not want a confrontation.

It took a moment for Mairwen to realize the source of the argument, but then she saw a flit of motion between the two larger fairies. A female in her tiny form was hiding from the gnome and the situation. 

"It's a good thing you don't have your earth magic, or my sweet Jaka would already be gone!" The matronly fairy pointed an accusing finger at the gnome.

'Oh no...' Mairwen got a sinking feeling. 

"Can you quiet them?" she asked Gede. 

Fortunately, the young fairy did not have to try and handle the situation. From the other side of the circle, Bolemir burst through with Prem and Nik on his heels. 

"What is going on here?!" The patriarch of the family pushed his belly between the angry parents and the gnome. "Why are you causing a scene with your esteemed guest?"

"You keep calling him that, but he is nothing but trouble. He was about to abduct Jaka and haul her off underground," the male fairy looked at the tiny being beside him. 

"Is this true?" Bolemir asked Jaka.

"I...I don't know," Jaka admitted. "It all happened so fast." 

"Nik, take Jaka and get her some water and food. I will come speak with her when she has had time to calm down." Bolemir let his younger son help the young lady out of the circle of eyes watching her. Thankfully, neither of her parents objected to this.

"Why do you think Jaka was about to be abducted?" Bolemir tried to sound neutral. 

"That fiend had his hands all over my little angel," the father insisted. "What other purpose could he have?"

"As I said before," the gnome answered, finally finding time to straighten his disheveled tunic, "I was looking for Bolemir when the tiny fairy ran into me. I mistook her for a tree beetle and swatted her to the ground. When she screamed, I picked her up to see if she was alright. I am most sorry for hurting Jaka. I never intended her harm. But I will not let you malign me or my people by saying we are stealing brides again when we have given up that horrible tradition." 

Jaka's parents looked angry still and seemed unwilling to give up their original claim.

Bolemir glanced between the two parties then at the crowd. "Is there anyone else who saw this who can speak to one side or the other?" 

The Guardian in the black cloak took a step forward. "I will speak. The one before you is the reason that the humans were able to prevail against the gnomes in Cafer's war. He helped to free Prince Alaron and brought him to the Empress. As far as I know, Lukoss has never taken a wife nor would he take one involuntarily. He had the opportunity before and let the lady choose for herself instead." 

Although Alaron had spoken of himself in third person, Lukoss's eyes widened as he surveyed the man who had stood up on his behalf. A silent question passed from his eyes. 

"Yes, it is I." Alaron nodded with a small bow. "It is very good to see you, Your Majesty."