From the Heart of a Fae

Dinner was lovely. Stella was amazed at the options the steward had ordered prepared, he seemed to want to make sure anything Kora wanted was available. She ate well, Stella noted. The Steward Bart was beaming, honored that he was invited to dine with them. He and Ben had a lot to catch up on, and Bart filled them in on the state of things in the region. Althan was doing quite well since they received the supplies last year, and the rains had been kind. Kora mentioned her interest in visiting the crops and fields, and Bart promised her an escort tomorrow. Ben had tons of things paperwork wise to catch up on, and since Malik was present, a review of the land to perform as well. Seems that she, Royce, and Ludis would be free to roam as they please until they could make it to the valley where they planned to extend the lake. Stella took a bite of a sweet strawberry cobbler and sighed. She was just worried about Kora. She always did better when there was work to be done, but once the work was done, she could not seem to keep her mind occupied.

I guess we will just have to keep her busy then, Stella thought.

“Kora, after you see to the crops and fields, do you have any plans?” Stella asked casually, reaching over to pick a grape from a platter in front of her. Kora looked over, confused.

“Well, no. Did you have something in mind?” Stella beamed at Kora.

“You know that my father, and Ben’s father, were remarkably close. Malik and I spent many summers here. I would love to show you some of my favorite places when Ben and Malik are too busy to pay us ladies any mind. I am sure that Royce would not mind keeping us company.” Stella kicked Royce under the table, gently.

“Ah, yes, I have been looking for an opportunity to do some hunting with the new bow I got, it would be my pleasure.” Royce said, as he reached under the table to pinch Stella’s thigh. She jumped a little. Kora looked them over for a few minutes, puzzled by their motives, when Ludis spoke up.

“Althan’s library is comparable to the capital as far as content, there is a lot of history in Althan, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind giving me a day, so we can go through it together.” Kora nodded - she already wanted to see the library. Before she could respond-Royce cut in.

“I do need to do some practice. Sparring and such. We have become slack. Want to meet in the mornings while we are here, Kora? I know you have been feeling anxious.” Royce winked. “Unless you don’t want to get your ass kicked.” Kora was smiling now.

“Alright, I see where we are going with this. I accept all offers. If Shadow comes, and I am available whenever Ben needs me. This will be my home.” Ben smiled warmly at her and took her hand. Stella thought the steward was going to have an aneurysm, seeing them together made him so happy.

Dawn came early, and every one rose to join Royce and Kora on the training grounds. They started slow, stretching to loosen muscles. They began hand-to-hand combat exercises. Kora had Reaper. She practiced her swings and pivots. Moving faster and faster, she looked like an elegant dancer. The reaper was a blur. Shadow lolled on the side lines, clearly not happy with being up so early. Royce and Kora faced off, Kora spinning Reaper ideally. Royce rolled his shoulders, broad sword in hand. Using magic to blunt the edges- Ludis gave them the ok and they went. Royce lunged first, fast despite his size and the weight of his weapon. Kora dodged easily, spinning to one side before cutting down. He barely got the sword around to block her side sweep. She spun away again, circling. The others, waking up now, began to pick sides and cheer. Royce lunged again, and caught Kora right down the middle, she was using the handle of Reaper to block. She laughed and shoved upward, her strength causing Royce to lose his balance. She made another arch sideways and down to come for his belly. He managed to barely block again. Round and round they went. Neither really trying to get the best of each other but enjoying the challenge. Sweating, they called it simultaneously when they locked blades in the middle of the training field. Their friends cheered, handed them water and drying clothes. They grinned and caught their breath, making comments on different moves.

“I didn’t think I’d say it, but you have got to teach me how to wield one of those things Kora, I’m pretty impressed.” Royce coughed out, pouring water over his head. They spent another hour cooling down and Kora showing Royce basic passes with Reaper. Headed up for a quick wash afterward, Kora found the escort waiting for her in the entrance hall. A short, sturdy woman named Ethel, she was as farmer and loved the land. Kora worked tirelessly the rest of the day and did not return until well past dark. Exhausted, she fell asleep in the tub, and Ben finished cleaning her, glad he had made her eat before she bathed. Kora spent the next week like this, and she found that she was too busy to think, too tired to have nightmares. She gained weight back and slept better than she had in weeks. Her friends committed to keeping her busy and, along with training, after the fields were completed, they dragged her to every corner of Althan, the library, and all over the castle. She fell into bed every night. She was grateful to them. After three weeks of this, she finally felt herself again. No longer watching the shadows for threats, weight back on and skin glowing. She was smiling and laughing freely again. Swearing to her friends she really did feel better, she begged for a day of reprieve to just rest and relax. Ben agreed and wanted some time alone with her. They slept late, ate breakfast in bed, read nooks made love and went for a nice ride through the hay fields behind the castle. Looking around from Oninalli’s back, she watched shadow running after birds in the field, she decided - she really did love this place. It was beautiful, with equal parts open valley and forested area, lakes and surrounded by mountains. She could see herself here, growing old and raising children with Ben one day. Smiling, she turned and called out to Ben and Shadow, challenging them to a race to the castle gates. More than happy to oblige, they all took off, Shadow in the lead.