Seventy-Nine

Avery was so full of rage that he couldn’t sit still. He needed to move – to do something, anything – while Doctor Zephyr worked on Ellie. Since he’d been kicked out of the room, he’d decided to visit the only person who might be able to help him make sense of all this. He willed his wings and flew blindly, his body taking him where he needed to go. He didn’t even need to knock when he arrived at her door – it swung open slowly for him.

Melinoe sat cross-legged on the floor. She had been rune scrying, her brow furrowed in concentration. When she glanced up and saw Avery, she pushed everything unceremoniously to the side and opened her arms to him. Avery willed his wings away and collapsed beside her. He placed his head on her lap and curled into a ball. Melinoe stroked his hair and rubbed his back soothingly, letting him cry silently on her.

No words were spoken between them – no words needed to be said. Melinoe, who had loved Avery like a grandson from the moment he first took a breath, let him be. She knew that all he needed at this moment was to feel safe. And so they stayed like this – Avery as vulnerable as a child, Melinoe offering him the security and love he needed. They had each other, and that was all they needed for now.

As he lay there, Avery vaguely became aware that the room was changing. The bright, fluorescent plants and fungi that decorated the room lost their color, all fading into a dim, pale yellow light. The feeling of life that usually hummed in the air had become muted, silent. He wasn’t sure if the room was picking up on his emotions or if Melinoe felt the same, but he found the softness and stillness somehow comforting.

The left side of Avery’s body had gone numb by the time his tears ran dry. Still, he remained curled next to Melinoe, his heart weighing his body down. Everything hurt so much. Losing their child had hurt, but the thought of losing Ellie as well…

“She’s going to be fine,” Melinoe said quietly. “Ellie is stronger than you give her credit for.”

Avery moved then, ignoring his tingling limbs to pull himself up next to Melinoe. He sat there for a moment, his legs outstretched, before he placed his head on her shoulder.

“How? How did you move past it?”

Melinoe laughed bitterly. She shook her head and turned, placing a gentle kiss on Avery’s forehead.

“There is no moving *past* it, sweet boy. There is only *living with it*.” Avery sighed heavily and Melinoe cupped his chin, forcing him to face her. “What’s done is done. All you can do now is let Ellie know that none of this is her fault. Support her. Love her. She needs you now more than ever.”

Avery nodded and returned Melinoe’s kiss, placing it gently on her cheek. She gave him a sad smile and wiped his face with her thumb. She watched him climb clumsily to his feet and make his way to the door. He willed his wings, steeled his shoulders, and left, making peace with his pain so that he could support Ellie through hers. He flew quickly, unwilling to be apart from her for another moment.

The castle was silent as he moved. There was no laughter, no happy voices ringing through the halls or lively songs drifting through the windows. It was as though a heavy blanket had been laid on the building, the entire town of Willowvayne, even.

*They love her far more than I could have imagined*. The thought brought tears to his eyes and made his heart swell with love and pride. The people of Willowvayne – his people – had accepted Ellie as their future queen. They knew she mourned, and they mourned with her. Despite everything they had yet to overcome, he knew they would be alright. If she, someone who wasn’t even a full fae, could win them over, then it meant that the Moon Goddess had given them Her blessing. He couldn’t explain it if you asked him to, and he knew it didn’t make sense, but he just *knew*.

Avery had just exited Melinoe’s hall when he glanced down casually and paused. He could see a figure slinking out of the room leading to the tunnels, wrapped in a dark cloak. Without thinking, he dove, his curiosity getting the better of him. The person was hurrying to the open castle doors when he landed just behind them.

“You there!” The person jumped, shrieking at his sudden voice. “Who are you and what were you doing in the tunnels?” he demanded. They pulled back the hood of their cloak, revealing a tangle of long green hair.

“What is the matter with you, Avery?” Aurora grumbled as she turned to face him. “You scared me half to death!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, sister. You just looked so suspicious coming from the tunnels wrapped up like that.”

“Ah. That’s fair, I suppose. But, to answer your question, I was taking inventory of the stock we have since the tornado.” She opened her cloak and pulled a scroll out of a hidden pocket. She walked over to him and unrolled it, letting him see for himself. “We had to pull all our bedding supplies out since part of the town had been destroyed, so I’m tallying up how much we need to have it all replaced. I haven’t had much rest since you left.”

Indeed, now that he looked at her, he could see the dark circles under her eyes. She seemed thinner than she was before they left for the Pale Seas as well, and her hair hadn’t been properly brushed in quite some time. She yawned as she rolled the scroll back up and replaced it in her pocket.

“I’m sorry, Ro. You shouldn’t have been left to do this all alone.” Guilt pricked him, but Auroura shook her head.

“No, this is what I’ve been training for, brother. If I want to be a good advisor to you, then I need to know what the people need. But enough about me. How are you?” Her eyes softened and she placed a delicate hand on his arm.

“I’m okay. I’m more concerned for Ellie right now.” Aurora nodded and wrapped her arms around her brother.

“I understand. Go. Be with Ellie. We’ll visit when she’s feeling up to having company.” She hugged him tightly for a moment before releasing him and continuing out of the castle. Avery smiled as he watched his sister go, knowing how lucky both he and Ellie were to have his family.

*We’re going to be just fine. *Peace settled over his heart, and Avery readied himself for flight. He stopped when Marla flew through the door, chirping excitedly.

“He’s done? Good! I was just about to head back up. Would you like to accompany me?” Marla tittered and darted up, leaving him behind. He chuckled and pushed off the ground, following his feathered friend with renewed hope.