Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Arthur.”

Sat cross-legged on the floor in the library, Arthur dragged his gaze away from his book and glanced up, somewhat annoyed at the interruption. His breath caught, his eyes widened. “You. Here?”

Smiling, his guardian approached. “Yes, I am here. I require a favour, dear one.”

Unable to move, his mouth hung open.

“I need you to gather Ronal, your father, Lilyrose and her parents. There is a matter of great importance that you must be told. Will you do this for me? Arthur.”

He scrabbled to his feet. “Yes, yes, I will. Now?”

She nodded. “It must be somewhere we will not be disturbed, for this is for you and the company I mentioned alone. And none must know that we have come to you.”

He started to back away, but as he turned to run, he stopped. “We?”

“My sisters and I.”

Still greatly confused, Arthur ran from the library. First, he found his father and whispered to him and Lionel that he needed to speak to them privately, and Eleanor too.

Seemingly unperturbed, Sarah smiled and continued with her embroidery. Alice and Henry, obviously enjoying each other’s company too much, hadn’t even looked up when Arthur had entered.

Lionel told Arthur they’d wait for him in his study. As he went in search of Lilyrose and Ronal, he heard Eleanor say, “Anything to spice up a dreary day.” He doubted she had any idea exactly how much her day was about to be spiced up.

He was halfway down the stairs when he saw Lilyrose enter through the main doors, followed by Ronal. He wondered briefly at their subdued expressions but was more preoccupied with the unexpected appearance of his guardian.

“So, Arthur,” said Lionel, sat at his desk. “Why the mystery?”

“This wasn’t my idea, my lord, I’m merely the messenger.”

“Arthur?” Edmund frowned, leaning forward in his chair.

Before Arthur could respond, Eleanor gasped as a squeak escaped Lilyrose.

The shadows by the fireplace began to ripple and shimmer in a wash of colours. They gradually solidified to reveal…

“Gem elves,” whispered Eleanor.

It took them a moment to remember their manners as they hurriedly got to their feet.

Arthur and Ronal glanced at each other, then at their guardian. “You-you’re a…” said Arthur softly.

As she inclined her head, Edmund stared at his son. “You know her?”

Arthur could only nod.

“Garnet has been watching over you, lord Arthur,” said the one in the blue-white tunic, “and you also, young Ronal.”

Silence hung heavy in the cosy room. Finally, Lionel spoke. “Your Graces, yet again you bless us with your presence.”

“Please, be seated.” She smiled at Arthur. “Do you remember us, Lord Arthur?”

Apologising, he shook his head; his memories of that time were overshadowed by his mother’s death.

“I am Diamond, and this is Beryl.” She then went on to name Garnet, Emerald and Peridot, Sapphire and Topaz.

Arthur’s brows drew together as he wondered why Garnet did not have a match.

Moments crept by before Diamond spoke again. “We, my sisters and I, believe the time has come for you to know this. Matters from the past may well be coming to a head, and being fully aware of circumstances will, we believe, strengthen you all.”

Eleanor’s hand covered her throat as her other hand reached up to where Lilyrose was perched on the arm of her chair, and the young woman took her mother’s hand in both of hers.

Diamond turned to Ronal. “You know you were found by the family who have lovingly raised you.”

He nodded.

“But you do not know where you came from.” She gazed at him with an unfathomable expression. “There is no easy way to say this, dear one, and however I say it, it will be a shock. So, I will speak plainly. You are of our realm.”

He stared at her, slowly raising his brows. “What?” he said softly.

“I know how inexplicable it must sound, but it is the truth. You were very young when you had to leave our realm.” Blinking, she glanced away. “Your parents were. They were–”

“Murdered.” Garnet’s usually soothing voice was harsh.

Diamond shut her eyes; Emerald covered Garnet’s hand with hers.

Gasps echoed around the room. Ronal’s mouth hung open.

Taking a deep breath, Diamond continued. “We had to keep you safe–”

“Wait.” Hesitantly, Ronal got to his feet. “Murdered? Why?”

Diamond looked down, her hand on her chest, her sisters mirroring her sadness. “Because an elf-woman wanted power similar to ours. She found a way to obtain it, using means which have been forbidden for long ages. Your mother, Ronal, she could have been a gem elf, but she chose to follow her heart instead and married your father.” She paused, as if to give him a moment to grasp her explanation.

He lowered his gaze, his mouth moving silently. Looking up, the skin bunched around his eyes, he said, “That woman, she killed them?”

The gem elf slowly nodded. “Marlis, that is her name. She holds a false belief that by having you, she will increase her power. We tried to tell her that a gem elf’s power cannot be passed on for it is not of the elf but comes from the Gem. When your mother; Linnet was her name, when she did not answer the Great Gem’s call, the power that could have been hers remained in the Gem. But Marlis refused to listen.”

His breath rushing out of him, Ronal fell back in the chair.

Again, Diamond waited before continuing. “But you are not the only one here from our realm.”

As one, they looked at Arthur.

Diamond smiled. “No, it is not Arthur. It is you, Lilyrose.”

“But she’s mine,” said Eleanor at once. “I birthed her.”

“Majesty, allow me to explain. Marlis.” Diamond’s breath caught in her throat. It was obvious this telling was not an easy one.

The gem elf called Sapphire stepped forward, her hand on Diamond’s arm. “Allow me, sister, you have borne so much already. Majesty, Marlis tried to follow through with her senseless plan before we could stop her. When we found her, she had already caused injury to Linnet’s newborn. Her body we could not save, but we took her essence and transferred that to you, to the baby in your womb who, alas, was not strong enough to survive.”

“Oh.” Eleanor blinked rapidly. “I-I would have lost that too?”

“My dear.” Lionel was already on his feet.

Lilyrose slid off the arm of the chair and knelt before her mother. “Mama. You didn’t lose me, I’m here.”

As Lionel stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders, Eleanor tearfully embraced her daughter.

“Thank you, sister,” said Diamond softly. She waited for Eleanor to compose herself. “Lilyrose, even though outwardly your form is that of a mortal, the essence that makes you who you are is elven and that links you to Ronal for you are brother and sister. You have felt a familiarity to one another?”

They glanced at one another and nodded hesitantly.

The gem elves smiled. “That is your elf essence,” said Diamond. “Those of the same blood will always know one another, it is the elf way.”

Ronal jerked upright. “If Lilyrose is my sister, then. Could my dream be about her?”

“Dream?”

He met Diamond’s gaze. “For years, I’ve been having a dream about a baby. I can hear the baby crying, but I can’t find it.”

Diamond’s hand stole to her throat as tears filled her eyes. “When Marlis hurt the baby, you, dear child, you were there.”

His face crumpling, he looked at Lilyrose. Her chin trembled as she stared at him.

Silence closed in.

“So much to take in,” said Lionel softly.

Diamond laced her fingers together, a line etching her smooth brow. “Majesty, forgive me, but there is more.”

Arthur stared at Lilyrose and Ronal. This was all beyond his understanding. His best friend was an elf? As was his betrothed. And they were siblings. He turned his gaze to Garnet to find her watching him with the familiar gentle expression that always made him think of his mother.

“Ronal,” said Diamond, “to keep you safe, we sent you here, to this realm.” She closed her eyes, momentarily pained. “Our sister, Ruby, brought you. She was to take you to–” Stopping abruptly, she finished with, “to a safe place.”

Ronal’s gaze darted about before settling on Garnet. “She was, like you?”

It took Garnet a moment to nod.

“After I saw you, the first time you spoke to me, I remembered someone like you. She kept me, safe.” His voice faded as he stared then narrowed his eyes slightly, his brow puckering while he plucked at his lower lip.

Arthur knew that look; Ronal was trying to recall something.

His mouth moved soundlessly before he said softly, “Le,” then hesitantly, “Lenya?”

A choked gasp sounded from Garnet. Emerald put her arm around her as if to steady her. “She gave you, her name?” Garnet’s red-tinged eyes glistened with tears before she turned away.

Long moments of silence stole by until a thought came to Arthur. “Why do I have a similar memory? And why do I have this?” He pulled at his chain and held up the pendant, which, apart from the stone, was an exact match to the pendants of the gem elves.

“That we do not know, Arthur,” said Diamond as her sisters shook their heads.

“It’s as if your words are helping me remember,” said Ronal. “I remember Lenya then I remember you, Arthur. I think you were ill, I’m not sure.” He spoke slowly then more surely. “I remember us being together.”

Arthur stared at him, the pendant clutched in his hand. “A, a hiding game, she said.”

“Yes,” said Ronal, his eyes bright.

“A hiding game, and this.” He looked at his clenched fist, hiding the pendant that he’d always thought was his mother’s. “This, to keep me safe.” Slowly turning to Edmund, he said, “And then you were there, Father. You and Mama.”

Edmund’s eyes were stretched wide. “That must be when we found you, your mother and I. Thank the heavens we did.”

Arthur managed a smile. How lucky he had been, a small child wandering alone.

“What happened to Lenya?” asked Ronal.

“She died,” said Emerald softly, “protecting you from Marlis who was closer than we realised.”

“Oh. Because of me–”

“She died performing her duty,” said Diamond.

“You did not kill her, Ronal,” said Garnet. “Marlis did.”

“She is the one who cursed Lilyrose,” said Lionel, his eyes wide.

“Yes, Majesty, that was her,” said Diamond.

“That is why she cursed you.” Eleanor sat back in her chair. “Now I understand.”

“And she is not done.”

They stared at Beryl who had moved to stand by Sapphire.

“You must remain vigilant for she still plans on taking the elf lord who she believes to be you, Arthur.”

“Me? Why?”

Beryl took a step closer to him. “We do not know why, but Ruby imparted some of her essence to you. There must have been great need for she would not have done so on a whim.” She turned to Ronal. “Also, Ruby hid you very well, Ronal, so well that even we could not sense you until her spell faded over time. Marlis sensed elf essence in you, Arthur, and has mistaken you for the elf lord.”

Arthur heard a sharp intake of breath but wasn’t sure who did it. His hands slowly covered his stomach and chest. What did that mean? How did it affect him? More questions started to crowd him; his forehead creased as he hunched his shoulders.

A soft voice by his side made him flinch. “There is no cause for worry, dear one,” said Garnet softly. “Ruby’s elf essence has mingled with your own. It has not harmed you in any way.”

Arthur’s trepidation eased with her words. Standing so close to her, he realised her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Ruby was part of your pair.”

Garnet’s eyes widened momentarily before she gave a brief nod.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. He wanted to ask if that was the reason she watched over him but didn’t want to intrude on her sadness.

“Do you know where this Marlis is?” asked Edmund.

“It has taken us some time,” said Diamond, “but we have discovered she is under the protection of a ruler in the north.”

Edmund started as Lionel gasped. Both men stared at one another.

“Hagen?” said Lionel.

“It must be. His persistent interest in Arthur… could she be behind it?”

“Interest in Arthur?” said Lilyrose. “What are you talking about?”

With a sigh, Lionel turned to her. “A northern chief, Hagen, has been sending messages to Edmund, inviting him and Arthur to visit.”

Glancing sidelong at Arthur, she crumpled the fabric of her dress in her fists.

“Don’t worry, Lilyrose.” He stepped closer to her. “We have no intention of going.”

“But if this Marlis is influencing Hagen, what if she makes him force your hand?” said Eleanor, slowly getting to her feet. “What if he threatens war? Maybe we were wrong not to involve others. Maybe Kelvan should be told.”

Lionel went swiftly to her side. “My dear, trust me, the less who know about it, the easier it should be to resolve.”

She gripped his arms so firmly, he winced. “What if Marlis comes? What if she tricks Lilyrose, tricks us and the curse comes to be?” Her voice shrill, she turned to the gem elves. “How do we stop beings like you who know magic?”

Diamond began to move, but Peridot was by Eleanor’s side first. Taking her by the hands, she said, “Majesty, we will not be leaving you to face this threat alone. We will keep watch and do all we can. Your best armour against Marlis is to remain vigilant. We believe she has allied herself to a power here. That she has not attempted anything makes us suspect there are limits to her power.”

As Peridot spoke, her soft voice calm and soothing, the tension seemed to loosen its grip on Eleanor, and she visibly relaxed and breathed easier.

“Now we know where Marlis is,” said Lionel, “and she’s the one most likely pushing Hagen to do who knows what, we could send a delegation–”

“No, Majesty,” said Diamond. “If you do that, it will alert Marlis to the knowledge that we know where she is. It may well force her hand. Allow us to attempt to fathom this northern ruler’s plans while ensuring Marlis is not alerted to us in any way. Whatever we discover, we will return and make known to you, Majesties.”

Lionel delayed his response, glancing at Edmund who shifted in his chair, brows drawn tightly together. Finally, with a hesitant nod, he said, “Thank you, your Graces.”

As the gem elves took their leave, Arthur had to stop himself running to Garnet and begging her to stay. There was so much he wanted to ask.