Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Skye had listened intently as Tidas and Maevis explained their morning to her. She had been irritated that they’d discussed it all without her, but there was no helping it. Everyone seemed to think of her as an invalid. And after the run in with the Nomads, she couldn’t really blame them. Upon reflection; if Petrie wouldn’t have saved her, or if she’d been wrong about the kind of person he was.. Skye shuddered to think of what would’ve happened.

Getting stronger would become her number one priority. They were doing everything they could to get Maevis the proximity and time she needed to train Skye properly. But many issues still needed to be addressed about what they had told her. Like how was she supposed to train if Maevis’ existence was to be kept hidden? Did she still need to keep her powers hidden? Or, how long was Tidas to be gone again? That part, she’d protested with great opposition.

“Over me dead body, are ye gonna run off to slay yer uncle! Ye left me once, Tidas MacArthur: Never Again. Where you go, I go as well,” Skye fumed as she yelled.

“Did ye not hear me, Skye?! He almost killed me! The Bastard doesn’t even Have magic, but somehow he used Ether?! It’s a chaotic situation, and I will not have you involved in it.. I can’t risk you getting hurt,” Tidas was trying to talk sensibly, but he was starting to lose his cool.

“And ye honestly think goin’ there without as many magic users as possible is a good idea? Do ye even know where ‘There’ is?! A variety of magic users gives ye a better chance of beating him, correct? Then why, are you arguing with me? I got three damn Traits! Ima walkin, talkin bloody Arsenal!” Skye’s face flushed as she screamed.

“You’re not used to your earth power, Skye! Nor your Shaman trait. Misusing them could kill you! You didn’t even know you had Earth for sure, until Maevis confirmed it. You need to train, and I need to complete my mission.. Which is in the Highlands, by the way. That’s how and why I got into it with Murdoc before,” Tidas looked to Petrie as the nomad snorted in his sleep.

Looking back to Skye, he continued: “He’s another obstacle I have to get through, just to see if I’m right or not. I can’t drag you all over the Highlands just to prove or disprove a hunch; it’s too dangerous.”

.....

Maevis watched the two go back and forth, barely adding a word. She had decided to train Skye, and that was what she planned to do. But the old fairy could also understand Skye’s frustrations. To have power, but not be able to wield it properly was something she’d experienced at a young age. Luckily, the Empress had taken an interest in her, and taught her how to properly use her talents.

Fae fairies didn’t age the way humans did. They were childlike until their one-hundredth birthday. After that, they would physically change into young adults until around five-hundred or so. Then slowly, but steadily, change with time. The Empress was said to be two-thousand years old, but had admitted to Maevis to being twenty-two-hundred, one night after a few too many Mead Drops. The memory brought a grin to her face.

Shaking herself from the past, Maevis fluttered over to the young couple. They were still yelling back and forth, while Petrie snored under the hollow a few feet away from them. He didn’t seem to mind it anymore as he snuggled down in the picnic blanket Skye had folded up. Maevis cleared her throat loudly, gaining their attention. They both blushed and averted their eyes, like a pair of children about to be chastised.

“You two have been screaming long enough. Skye: ye can’t use earth magic yet, so joining him in battle would cause Both your deaths, if not worse. And ye can’t use a sword, either. Which is what nomads are known for. Magic only goes as far as it’s source. What would you do if your magic needed to last for an extended period of time? Or ran out? You need another means of defense; other than magic,” Skye nodded her head in acknowledgment at Maevis’ words and the validity of the rebuke.

“Tidas: you could at least ask your father to allow you some time with your newly married Wife. A weekend alone with her will not negate the wrong done to her by the deceit of your death. You may not have been responsible for it, but you’re the only one who can right it. And teaching your betrothed to defend herself with a sword properly should be done By You anyways.. Don’t want another man to teach her how to ‘swing it the right way’, do you?” Maevis teased Tidas.

The two knew the old Fae was right. Tidas had seen with his own eyes, that Skye has decent skills. He just didn’t want to admit it. At the same time; whether he admitted it or not, Skye would advance her abilities. With Maevis in her corner, the prince knew she would become quite powerful. And power attracted all types of people and attention.

Maevis had also touched on a sore spot for Tidas: his false death. He’d been guilt-ridden over Skye’s pain, and the old fairy knew it. She was openly trying to manipulate him, and it irritated him greatly. Especially since she had a valid point. Tidas may not have been to blame for Skye’s heartbreak, but he truly was the only one who could mend it. And that, as Maevis had pointed out; would take longer than a mere weekend.

‘What the bloody hell?! How did this become so damn complicated?’ Tidas thought as he ran his fingers through his hair in his annoyance.

Skye studied the man she was to marry. Tidas had not always been so cautious with her; like when they were children. He had started to treat her differently after her twelfth birthday. When she’d begun to resemble the beautiful young woman she’d grow to be. It seemed every time he saw Skye more as a woman, he’d view her as less of a friend. She found the sentiment both sweet, and troubling.

While she did love her prince and how he made her feel, she still saw his possessiveness as a threat to her freedom. Tidas had assured her that she would make her own choices about their life together. But it was still something that required his permission at every turn. From the money she’d spend, to how their home would be run: Tidas would have the true authority.

‘What if he changes his mind after we’re married? He could lock me away.. No, no. Tidas would never do that to me. Or would he? Ack! I hate this! Why can’t Alcon be more like Sai?!’ Skye’s thoughts ran a muck as she tried to sort through her emotions.

Tidas could see Skye’s furrowed brows. He knew she was having some kind of internal struggle. He really didn’t want her going to the Highlands. But knowing Skye as he did; the prince also didn’t want her to do something crazy.. Like follow after him. He had to assume the possibility of it at least.

Prince Tidas took a long, deep breath before shouting out in frustration. He then went and stood directly in front of her before saying; “If you want to go to the Highlands with me, then there will be strict requirements that must be met-”

“For both of us?” Skye stated more than asked, as she interrupted him.

Skye crossed her arms and quirked her head to the side slightly, as Tidas continued: “Well, umm... A-Alright, alright. So long as you swear to fulfill yours. If not, then you’ll drop the Highlands from your mind. Have we come to terms, then?”

The prince extended his arms, praying he was welcoming Skye into them. She eyed him suspiciously, taking her left hand from her arm to place it under her chin in contemplation. She straightened her head before replying; “But ye have not even asked me my terms yet..”

Tidas dropped his arms to his sides with a thud and disappointment. He tilted his head down, huffed, and then lifted his face to the bright blue sky. Judging from the sun, it was time for them to leave so as not to be late to their own wedding. But the issue had to be resolved now, not on the ride there. It wasn’t easy to yell back and forth while riding fast, and they were going to have to be riding pretty damn fast to make it on time, as it was.

Tidas turned his attention back to Skye. He missed her red hair slightly, but the gold color made her look.. ethereal. No matter how upset he got at her, it always seemed pointless in the end. Skye would do what she wanted to, regardless of his worries. It was one thing he both loved, and hated about her.

The prince gave a strained smile before gesturing for her to continue. Skye gave a small grin in return, and shifted her weight to one foot. She brushed a strand of her hair from her face before nervously clearing her throat.

“I want an addendum to our marriage contract givin’ me power over me person. If ye really meant what ye have said; this shouldn’t be an issue for ye,” Skye turned on her heel and begun to pace as she spoke.

“I would love to agree to that, but it’s already in there,” Tidas replied with a cocky smile.

“What? When?!” Skye asked with awe.

“When we reworked the business deal with the Fowlers. It was why I’d asked you there. Did you not read it before you signed it?” Tidas’ face was so smug when he spoke that Skye wanted to slap him.

“No, I thought it was just me being transferred like cattle,” Skye replied matter-of-factly to the prince.

Tidas was surprised that she’d been viewing herself in such a way. That she thought he viewed her that way on top of it, bothered him greatly. Tidas had made sure that their contract gave Skye almost every right a man had. And the one right he’d denied her was also denied for himself. Men faced no repercussions for cheating on their wives, but women could be beaten, or even killed upon multiple offenses.

The contract stipulated that if either of them cheated, it resulted in an automatic void. No punishment for either party. Tidas knew where his heart was, but if Skye should ever find herself unhappy with him; she would have an out. A dark part of him had argued over adding the no punishment clause, but Skye’s happiness came first in his head and heart. Before his mind could slip into it’s dark place, Skye jumped on him, wrapping her arms around his neck.