She must know he’s here. Where else would he have gone?
He eyes the window again.
No, shewould have noticed him climbing through the window. She must know he’s hiding.
“Very well,” the queen says. “But you can come to me with questions about anything. I only want you to be happy. I know I grate on you at times, and I’m sorry. I—”
“Mother, no. I’m sorry. I know you want me to be happy. And I am happy. Happier than I ever thought possible. I love Cerian. He is kind and sweet and always gentle. I promise.”
Gentle. Of course he’s gentle with her. What sort of elf does the queen think he is?
One who glares at everyone he meets, probably.
“I find that difficult to imagine,” the queen says, “but I will take your word for it. Where is he? I would like to get to know him better.”
He definitely should have climbed out the window.
“He needed...” Arisanna struggles for words, and he sighs softly.
She knows he’s hiding.
And she’s letting him hide.
She truly is the wonderful one. Not him.
He can’t just emerge from the shadows now, though, even if he wanted to, which part of him does...for her sake.
Another knock sounds, and Cerian presses into the corner. Who is it now?
Arisanna hurries to open the door as Tharios appears, and Cerian frowns. Tharios didn’t rest nearly long enough. He’ll make himself ill if he doesn’t replenish his life magic fully.
“Tharios! You’re awake already? Are you all right?” Arisanna asks, and Tharios chuckles.
“You sound like every other member of this family. I’ll survive. Do you have a few minutes to talk now?”
Arisanna glances back at her mother.
“I’ll be fine alone if you’re needed elsewhere, dear,” the queen says.
Then Arisanna glances at Cerian. Whistling wind. She must have known where he was all along.
“Where did Cerian go?” Tharios asks with a frown. “Mother said he was with you. He didn’t run, did he? Do you need help finding him again?”
“No, he didn’t run,” Arisanna quickly says. “I know where he is.”
“He runs from you?” the queen asks. “I thought you said you were getting along.”
Cerian slides his eyes shut.
Then Tharios laughs. “I see what’s going on here. I can come back later.”
Tharios must have used his life magic to find Cerian hiding by the wardrobe.
“That may be for the best,” Arisanna says softly.
“Go,” her mother insists. “I do not need a babysitter. I will be fine here alone so you may do what you need to do.”
Arisanna looks Cerian’s way again. She’s not really going to leave him here alone with her mother, is she? He shakes his head in horror.
