“I wish all of Fairy were like that,” I said.
“So do I, Princess,” Dagur said earnestly. “And I have faith that one day, it shall be.”
I blinked at his zeal, and a shiver went through me.
“Here we are,” Dagur led me to a set of grand doors, which were opened for us by a pair of stern warriors.
The domed building was one large amphitheater, with seats ringing it in ascending levels. Those seats were already being filled with elves. The mix of stark black, dark elf skin, among the much paler, light elf complexions, was a little startling, even more so when you saw how blended the crowd was. The elves didn't segregate themselves, not by color or size. They congregated together in beautiful harmony. So beautiful, and so rare, among the fey, that it brought me to tears.
“Princess Seren?” Dagur froze in dismay.
As if they could sense his distress, the entire building went quiet, staring down at us. Cat whined and leaned into my leg.
“Seren, what's wrong?” Killian's hand slid over my shoulder.
“Nothing's wrong,” I whispered and found myself gliding forward into the open space in the center of the auditorium. “Everything is so right. Look at you,” I turned to see all of the elves. “Big or small, light or dark, it doesn't matter, does it? You are elves and so you are united. All of Fairy could learn from you. All of the worlds could.”
The elves paused a moment, drinking in my sincere praise, then they stood and cheered. The applause went on for a few minutes, until a light elf separated himself from the others, and came to stand before me. The gathering settled.
“Princess Seren,” the light elf bowed. “I am Lord Hinrik. Thank you for your kind words. I see that you've given us the truth of your heart, which makes it even more valuable. And which makes our discussion even more difficult.”
“Because you still want me dead?” I smirked.
My candor startled him, widening his royal blue eyes. His pale cheeks flushed to the roots of his even paler hair.
“My apologies,” I said. “That wasn't very diplomatic, and I am supposed to be an ambassador. But I get a little put-out after being shot with a poisonous arrow.”
Cat circled me, eyeing Hinrik pointedly, then settled at my side.
“No apology necessary,” Hinrik recovered. “I appreciate all of your truths, even those which are hard for me to hear. I was simply unprepared for you.”
“Is she not all I said?” Dagur asked Hinrik.
“She is,” Hinrik nodded. “Princess Seren, because you have been so truthful with us, I shall be equally candid with you. We have sided with Duchess Moire.”
“She is not a-” Conri began, but I cut him off with a quelling look.
“As you know,” I amended Conri's statement, “the title of Duchess has been stripped from my aunt.”
“Ah yes,” Hinrik agreed, “which is one of our grievances.”
“You have grievances?” I asked. “More than one?”
“We have long felt unwelcome in Fairy,” Dagur explained. “It's why we built a home here.”
“Unwelcome,” I shook my head. “But I thought you had homes in both Seelie and Unseelie?”
“Separate homes,” Hinrik grimaced. “We are one people, but they segregate us, force us to live in different kingdoms because of our magic. Magic does not divide us. We are elves!”
The amphitheater erupted into cheering.
“And Moire understands this?” I asked when the shouting died down.
“She has promised us a home in Fairy,” Dagur nodded. “Where we can all live together.”
“In Unseelie, you mean?” I narrowed my eyes on them. “You realize that Danu herself gave King Raza her blessing to rule Unseelie?”
“We love and respect the Goddess,” Hinrik bowed his head as if Danu were in the room. “Which is another reason we wish to go home. We are tired of hiding here, in the Human Realm. Princess Seren,” Hinrik lifted his eyes to mine. “I think I speak for all of us when I say that I wish you no harm. You are an exceptional fairy, and I vow that no arrow of mine shall find your heart.”
