“Oh, you know. ‘Chestnut mare, beware.’ They’re supposedly moody. But not Dahlia. She’s a sweetheart.” Arisanna leans forward to pat the horse’s neck. “Yes, you’re a sweetheart, aren’t you?”
The mare whinnies affectionately as they cross the meadows toward the border. A light breeze dances around them, and Cerian imagines it playing with strands of Arisanna’s hair. She’s wearing it up today, though. Under a hat.
What would it look like with flowers holding it back the way she wore it in their heartlanding?
A warm wind suddenly billows his hair in all directions, and he glares at Tharios as the wind settles again.
Air wielders.
Cerian would lob a fireball his brother’s way if it wouldn’t frighten any humans who might be watching. Including, perhaps, Arisanna.
Tharios had better watch out, though. One of these days, Cerian’s going to singe his brother’s eyebrows.
Astheyapproachtheborder between Nunia and Lostariel, Arisanna’s stomach knots.
According to the treaty, at least as far as she understands it, King Lorial is supposed to drop the barrier permanently now that both sides have honored their agreement.
Hopefully, her marriage to Cerian will be enough to maintain the peace.
And Rominy’s marriage to Elowyn, of course. Poor Rominy. At least Arisanna had her whole life to prepare for the role she is to play.
When the barrier comes into view, a small gasp escapes Arisanna’s lips. She’s never been close enough to the border to witness it. The glimmering light extends at least thirty feet in the air for miles in either direction. Judging by thiswall of magic, King Lorial is as powerful a magic wielder as Arisanna’s been told.
“What kind of magic is this?” she whispers to Cerian.
“Air magic, mostly. A bit of fire magic as well. Tharios can manipulate it enough to pass through, but he’s not a fire wielder, so he can’t dismantle it completely. Only my father can.”
“Are there no other air and fire wielders in Lostariel?”
“Air wielders are rare, and not all elves have dual affinities. Viala could perhaps manage it.”
Right. The fae are wielders of all kinds of magic. Arisanna had never met one before Viala, though. There’s very little knowledge about the Lothlesi among humans. The mountain fae tend to keep to themselves.
As they watch, King Lorial dismounts and approaches the barrier on foot. This moment seems auspicious enough to deserve some sort of ceremony, but none was planned. Arisanna’s father didn’t even come to witness the dismantling of the barrier.
Arisanna tightens her hands around her reins as Cerian’s father lifts his arms toward the glimmering wall. Beginning at his palms, patches form in the light, growing larger as the magic fades in ever-growing waves. Soon, the Wildthorne Woods of Lostariel are visible in their beauty and foreboding presence.
The barrier continues to disintegrate as King Lorial’s magic extends in either direction, pulling down the wall that’s stood since before Arisanna was born.
“It’s strange to think about the barrier falling,” Cerian whispers, and Arisanna nods.
It takes a few minutes, but eventually, King Lorial steps away from where the barrier once stood, staggering as Tharios and Cerian dismount and rush to his side.
“I’m well. Just lightheaded,” King Lorial says. “The burden of maintaining the barrier has been a constant weight on my magic. I’ll soon adjust again.”
Queen Nestraya approaches her husband, and he lowers his forehead to meet hers. Is that an elven sign of affection? The queen did it with Elowyn as well.
Soon, they step apart, and King Lorial addresses the rest of their party. “May a joining of our two peoples through the heartbinding open doors between our kingdoms to replace the wall and animosity that once ruled our relationship with our neighbors.”
“May it be so,” the elves around Arisanna echo.
As the king and queen take to their horses again, Cerian returns to Arisanna’s side and mounts his dappled gray gelding. Together, they press their horses forward into the Wildthorne Woods as Arisanna’s stomach tightens in nervous anticipation.
Cerian turns his face toward her and gazes at her with his emerald eyes. “Welcome to Lostariel.”
Her new home.
If I Can’t Be with You
