Ajo: Chapter Twelve

The door to the Queen's chambers was locked, barring anyone from entering, but Ajo had his ear pressed against it, desperate to hear the discussion on the other side.

He thought it unfair that he was not permitted to be present for such an important conversation, one that would decide his future, but his mother had made it known that everyone, her son included, was forbidden from taking part in the meeting between Galeia and herself.

Before it began, the Queen promised her son that when Galeia left the room she would accept their marriage. Things did not appear to be going as planned, as Ajo heard his mother's voice raised in anger.

"Ungrateful—spoiled child!"

Galeia replied but it was too muffled to understand. Ajo conjured a window into the room so he could see and better hear the women arguing. He was ashamed to intrude upon their privacy, but their talk concerned the course of his life.

He had never seen his mother so furious. She towered over Galeia, a veritable mountain of threat. Galeia was not moved, but stood equally fierce and angry.

"You are meant to rule the woods together," the Queen said.

"I don't want him," Galeia argued and Ajo's heart sank to his stomach. "I will not marry him!"

"Must I lock you away until you see reason—"

"I HATE HIM!"

The Queen's face fell into a horrified grimace.

"That's not true, Galeia."

The tension that held up Galeia's shoulders relaxed.

"It's not true," she admitted. "I don't hate Ajo. But I do not love him like you want me to. I love...I love another."

Ajo's hand moved to the door handle.

"No," the Queen said, "there is no one else."

"I once asked you about attraction. You told me it was an invisible pull towards another. I used to think it was funny—but I felt it, mother. I felt it."

"Attraction is not love. It is often fleeting and frail—"

"But sometimes it's a beginning. My attraction grew into love."

"It is a lie, Galeia. You think what you feel is love, but it's stubborn spite that drives these urges."

"You said I shouldn't be ashamed for feeling it. You told me you wouldn't be angry. So please, be happy for me."

"How can I be happy about this rebellion?"

"It's not rebellion—"

"You're right. It's worse. It's treason."

Galeia's jaw tightened.

"You lied to me. You meant you would be happy only if I felt attraction for Ajo." She shook her head. "I cannot."

"And who is this great challenger to Ajo? Some prince or duke?"

Galeia winced. "His name is Oliver. He's...a human."

"I didn't want to believe it when Ajo told me. Have you lost all good sense? You would tear everything apart for the brief, flimsy love of a mortal? It's beyond indecent, Galeia. It's vile, it's—"

"You took a chance on a human once and look what became of him. He rose to become the Protector of your woods!"

"Their kind have always proven an ill omen for you, child. Think of the hunters you met, who killed the witch that created you. Think of the Knight when he first came to court, and the toxin you struck him with. Nothing good has ever come from you mixing with their likes. This human will be no different, and you will cause harm in the end. You will stop this dalliance immediately, if not for Ajo's sake, then for the safety of that mortal."

"I won't."

"Shall I pay him a visit?"

"You wouldn't harm him!"

"He threatens my family."

"I am your family."

Silence descended as the women stared at each other. The Queen sighed and moved to sit at her table.

"I love him," Galeia said firmly.

"You don't. Your fiery heart is the cause of this...infatuation. You're using him as a means to disobey."

"You're wrong."

"Then your love is a betrayal! And the only way to deal with traitors is to punish them."

"Mother—"

"I am your queen," came the cold correction. "Mother to one. You would shatter all of his dreams. What should a mother do then, to protect her child?"

Galeia stepped towards the door, ready to flee. The Queen rubbed her temples with her fingers.

"When did I teach you to be so cruel, child?"

"You didn't."

"All this obstinance—where does it come from? This inclination to rebel, Galeia, it's exhausting! I know you wish to be your own person—but Ajo has never threatened that. He's embraced it! Encouraged it! You are not rebelling for love, you are rebelling because you desire to win some imagined fight. But you are not a child, and these are not childish matters. You are threatening the peace of our kingdom with this nonsense, this foolish urge to quarrel."

"You think so little of me?"

"I allowed you to be feral. I should have foreseen that the darkness in you would prevail. That you would seek to torment us by any means, as you do now with your love."

"My love is not wicked."

"Is that the excuse you would give Ajo?"

"It's not an excuse. It's the truth."

"And what of our guests? What will they think? Ajo will be humiliated—"

"I will not sacrifice my dreams because Ajo is embarrassed. He will find another. Someone worthy of his love, who will return his affection. Or he won't, and all will still be well. You've been queen without another by your side."

"You can't comprehend—there is no future for Ajo without you."

"If I am the only means for him to be happy, then Ajo is weak and does not deserve to be king."

The Queen bristled. "Your wedding is tomorrow. You will stand beside your intended and speak your vows—"

"What, the Soul Bind spell? It will not work. It needs honest love, you said as much, and I cannot give that to Ajo."

"And that is why you asked if it would work on another? Galeia, don't even dream of using those words on—"

"I cannot fathom saying them to anyone else. I would not mean them."

"Not yet."

"What?"

"I will keep the spell until you are ready. I wished for it to be a wedding gift, but it can wait if it must."

"And if I'm never ready?"

The Queen glared at the young woman. "If you are not present tomorrow, if you do not stand beside my son and give your heart to the one who truly loves you...then you will never step inside my castle again."

Galeia gasped. "This is my home."

"And you will have no part in our lives."

"Is that all I ever was to you? A vessel for Ajo's love?"

"Careful, lest your mouth speaks words it cannot take back."

"I understand now. You found a child in the woods—but it wasn't a child you were seeking, was it? It was a bride."

The Queen stood from her seat. "It was a queen."

"What would have happened if Ajo didn't love me? Would you have destroyed me because I was unimportant? Would you have cast me back into the unknown as you threaten to do now, because I didn't fit into your plan?"

"Ajo's love was never in question."

"You never imagined the possibility that I couldn't love him back?"

"I cannot understand it," the Queen admitted. "He saved you, Galeia. If it wasn't for his love you would be little more than a beast wallowing the mud—or worse, cursed and dead."

"Is it better to have been a doll in your castle? Barely more than a prisoner?"

"Is that what your life has been? Imprisonment? What a word to use, from one who never wanted for anything."

"But I was never free. I was Ajo's prize. And though I called you mother, I never really had your love, did I?"

The Queen's stature grew as she shook from head to toe. Her fury was quiet and dangerous—

And hurt.

"It's not my refusal that angers you. It's your failure—as a queen and a mother."

The Queen's eyes narrowed and Galeia knew she had scratched too deep. Behind the door, Ajo grew anxious, anticipating the Queen to strike at any second, but she remained motionless, eerily so, until Galeia began to shift nervously.

"Shall we talk of mothers?" the Queen asked in an ominous tone. "Yes, let's talk of predestined fates and blood. Your real mother would have killed you at the first word of disobedience, and taken your heart with glee. You wouldn't be around to argue. And if you managed to survive, you would be a gross, vulgar thing, without any thought beyond your own wretchedness. You may believe I never cared for you, but that witch would have made sure you never had a desire beyond the foulness she tethered you to."

The Queen studied Galeia's tormented expression, searching for a hint that her words had moved the young woman.

"This is the influence of your sister, isn't it? Always reaching for you from the shadows. Whispering vicious ideas into your ears."

Ajo's mouth fell open. Galeia had a sister?

"How do you know about her?" Galeia asked, obviously shocked.

"You think a queen does not see everything that happens in her kingdom? I've watched from the first moment you found each other as children. I've listened to your secret conversations. I believed, foolishly, that you would see that creature as a cautionary tale. A reminder of what you could become if you gave in to your darker urges. I should have known you would be unable to fight your blood."

"Lilith has nothing to do with this—"

"She led you to that human, I know it. She knew what chaos would ensue when your weak mind was swayed. What you believe is a courageous show of love is nothing more than her design to inflict pain."

"Why can't you believe me?"

"Because you are wretched!"

All three were stunned by the Queen's insult.

"It's your instinct to hurt, Galeia. Try as I did, I could not quell it. And that witch, she molded it, corrupted you, enchanted you to have these feelings—"

"What of your own influence? My whole life I've listened to you say that it was fate that brought us together. But that's not true, you were looking for someone to use for your purpose. You're only upset because your puppet discovered a path beyond the one you set."

"My puppet? Is that how you feel?"

"If you force my hand, how could I feel otherwise?"

Tears formed in the Queen's eyes and her posture slumped, sinking her stature to its normal height.

"Oh, Galeia," she said mournfully. "You are more than that to me. I had no purpose that day in the woods, believe me or don't. When I discovered a child of magic, almost the same age as my son, lost and alone...how could I have thought you anything other than a gift of fate? Not a puppet or doll. And to believe that a wild girl of the woods could one day rise to rule them...it's the same kind of hope that made me take a chance on a human. I didn't intend to use you, no, I believed in you."

Galeia's resolve faltered.

"And now you'll repay my perceived cruelty in kind. You are right, Galeia. I failed you—and Ajo."

The Queen returned to her chair and began to weep, and it felt like the world grew dimmer for it. It was touching to see such power reduced, and it gave Galeia obvious distress. Indelible bruises pressed into her heart, as gentle as a kiss and as heavy as shame.

"You haven't failed," Galeia said weakly.

"If you abandon us for the first stranger you meet, and if you believe all your years under my care were nothing but strategy—yes, Galeia, that is the very proof that I have."

Galeia began to cry with the Queen. The sounds of the woman he loved suffering tore at Ajo, but he could do nothing to console either of them.

Galeia went to the Queen and knelt before her.

"I know you love me. I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it."

"No, I am sorry. You have Ajo's heart. He's never wavered in his affection, not once. It hurts me that you will not see what a gift his love is, and I must shoulder the blame. I'm sorry my son was not enough for you."

Galeia's chin was lowered so the Queen would not see her crying, and the harder she fought her tears the more freely they fell. The Queen tucked a piece of hair behind Galeia's ears, and though Galeia tensed at her touch she did not pull away.

"You say that in this human you have found a love more true than the one who's known you all your life. A remarkable feat. You say his affections run deeper than the one who's protected you, watched over you, helped you. Who never tried to change your spirit, but cherished it...and I have no choice but to believe you."

"I cannot help my feelings. At times I've wished I could change them. And I've tried, honestly, I have. But my heart sings Oliver's name."

"Then I hope he brings you joy. I hope that what you find in him today will not become a regret in the years to come. And if you truly love him...I hope his passing will not be too difficult for you."

Fear filled Galeia's eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Have you not thought of the future ahead of you? He will die, as all humans must, and you will be alone, Galeia."

"Allow me to recite the Soul Bind with him. Please, mother, I—"

"That spell was meant for you and Ajo. And I will not watch my daughter give up her eternity—it would be more than my heart could bear."

"You could give him a seed, as you did with the Knight. You could lengthen his life."

"I would not waste that gift on one who will destroy my family."

"Not even for my happiness?"

"Not even for that, Galeia." The Queen paused. "Human lives are short and fragile. He will die, and you will be left with lifetime upon lifetime after. If I believed you would listen, I would advise you to let him go now and spare yourself endless sorrow. But you say your heart sings his name. I hope his love is worth giving everything up for, and when death takes him from your side and you walk the world alone for more years than you knew him...I wish you bliss wherever you can find it. And who knows? In enough time you might find another to fill your heart with. And then another. So you will never need to feel that terrible loneliness again."

Galeia's face was wrenched in despair.

"You say you love him, so I release you into the world, my daughter, my heart. I hope that a few years of his life will be enough to last you through eternity."

The Queen let out a gentle gasp.

"Oh, how I wish I could have met and loved your children! But they will be lost to me, too."

"Why," Galeia asked through a choked sob. "Why will you refuse to meet them?"

"It will be near impossible if you are not to live in the woods."

"Why wouldn't we live in the woods?"

The Queen clucked her tongue.

"Our kind and humans are divided for a reason, and if you choose to leave our magic you will settle with your love in the place he belongs. In the towns. I hope they are not as hateful as we suspect."

"But the Knight—he came from the towns and was accepted by the woods."

"And how often has it happened before or after him? No, it will be safer for your husband and children to remain with their kind. I hope you do not miss the trees too much, or your freedom under them. And you must take care to protect yourself—remember that your magic is not to be trusted by humans. Pray your children are not born with it. Maybe, as time goes on, you will forget it. You will forget the woods. The agony of your loss will be great, no matter what you believe of me. And Ajo may find another to be his queen, though I doubt his love will ever be as strong. But he will rule and we will miss you terribly—Ajo, myself, Isolam—all your friends and family. Life continues, doesn't it? It must."

The Queen gathered Galeia's limp body in her arms. They wept and shuddered into each other.

"It's all right," the Queen soothed. "Love is not a cause to weep, is it? Go, love your human, and be happy in your choice and your new life."

The Queen pulled away to look at Galeia.

Mournful gray eyes stared back at her.

"I love you, Galeia."

"I love you, mother."

"I will miss you terribly. Don't forget that."

The door to the Queen's chambers opened and Ajo moved quickly to hide behind it. Galeia left the room with speed in her step, but Ajo stepped from the door and reached for her arm, desperate to take the tears from her eyes and the misery from her spirit. Galeia jumped at his touch, and when she looked at him a world of torment was shared between them.

"Ajo," the Queen called.

When he turned his head, Galeia jerked from his grasp and fled. He fought the urge to chase and hold her.

"You told her to go to the human," Ajo said after the door closed behind him.

"I did."

"Why?"

"She needs to say goodbye to him."

"Why would she do that?"

"Because I've shown her what future is ahead if she makes the wrong choice."

"What have you done?"

"What I should have long ago. I made Galeia grow up."

"But...does she love me?"

"She always has. She needed a push."

"She looked heartbroken."

"The immaturity of youth is a difficult thing to part with."

"And...what about tomorrow?"

"The wedding will proceed. You will have your queen and throne."

"A willing queen?"

"Galeia will come around."

"You're certain?"

"She knows now what she will lose if she makes the wrong choice."

"What will she lose?"

"Everything."

***

Ajo took to the woods.

He had to be sure what his mother said was true.

He found Galeia, and his heart skipped when she saw her hands clasped inside the grip of the human. They were staring into each other's eyes, but there was no cheer between them.

Only fear and sorrow.

Galeia was speaking but Ajo was too far to hear, and he did not trust that he wouldn't be noticed if he drew closer. The human shook his head and Galeia reached up to touch his cheek.

Jealousy rose at the sight of her tenderness with this stranger, but his mother's words whispered ease into Ajo's mind.

She needs to say goodbye to him.

There might even come a day, many years in the future, when he and Galeia could look back on this moment and laugh and shake their heads.

A little competition was good for the heart, the Queen once told her son. She was right. Seeing Galeia with another had strengthened his desire. If she had not chosen him, Ajo wasn't sure what he would have done.

The human leaned down to kiss her mouth, but Galeia raised her lips to his forehead and placed a chaste peck on his brow. She said one final thing before they turned and departed in opposite directions.

Ajo let out a great sigh of relief.

"It's over," he murmured to himself.

***

Galeia was in the throne room, staring at the grand chair that belonged to the Queen.

She sensed Ajo's presence and spoke without turning to face him.

"I have caused so much anger."

"You were alone. You did what you had to in order to relieve that."

"But it's time for me to put aside those unimportant distractions?"

Ajo swallowed. It felt like a trap.

"I want you to be happy—"

"As long as that happiness is shared with you?"

When he didn't answer she turned to him.

"I once believed that being your queen would make me happy. But I wonder...will it make me whole? Or will my heart still be lonely? Will I feel true love—for you?"

"Yes, you will," he answered with an edge in his tone.

"I love you, Ajo. I always will. I just...loved him differently."

He took her hand. "You loved him innocently, not honestly. I forgive you. And I understand that what you did today was difficult—"

"You followed me?"

"You gave him up because you know it's for the best. It would have come to no good end."

"That's exactly what mother said. I wonder if the two of you don't write your words ahead of time together."

"Galeia—"

"You're so fond of the same arguments. Of telling me that my feelings are childish and meaningless and harmful."

"Do you—still feel something for him?" Galeia remained silent. "Why?" When she did not give an answer he pressed harshly, "Tell me."

"I can't put it into words."

"Don't you know what they do to their own kind?"

"He's different."

"You might as well love a bear or a wolf."

"He's not an animal, Ajo. He's gentle but strong...noble even—"

"Then he's not a bear, he's a horse." He ran his hand through this hair. "Humans are not capable of accepting beings like us. And they hate witches most of all. He'll hate you when he knows what you are."

"He's known for quite some time and it's changed nothing. Oliver is special. The first moment I saw him...something changed in me."

Ajo's skin prickled.

"I can't remember ever being so...utterly lost. I didn't know how to breathe properly...he rearranged my thoughts and made me dizzy."

"That's not a good thing, Galeia."

"You don't understand. You always handled me. You let me win. I was something fragile that needed to be watched. But Oliver...he treats me like stone."

"He treats you—how?"

"Like something strong. Something capable. He's not afraid of me." She looked at him helplessly. "My love for him took time. I tried to fight it—for you—but I couldn't help it, no more than I could stop the beating of my own heart. You think he must have done or said something special, but the truth is I gave him my heart because I wanted to. Nothing more. I chose him and he chose me."

"But you cannot choose him," Ajo explained gently. "If he is as valiant as you say, he will understand that you had to give him up."

"If I hadn't, his life would have been at risk."

"You think I'm capable of that?"

"I think you would do what you believed necessary, even if it wasn't right."

Ajo shook his head. "This is not how I imagined the night before our wedding would be."

"No."

"I thought it would be full of revelry. I thought we would have a great feast with our guests—"

"A lovely sentiment."

"Instead we're alone."

"A feeling we're familiar with," she said curtly.

"But not condemned to. You will never feel lonely again. I understand why it happened. Why you...had these feelings. You loved him, and I accept that, too." She looked at him with hope in her eyes. "We make mistakes, and it's how we right them that shows our strength. Tomorrow is not a punishment, Galeia. It's a beginning."

It must have been the wrong thing to say, for her face fell once more.

"I know it is," she muttered.

"And I regret that it will not feel like the brightest of days for you. But that feeling will pass. I wanted our marriage to be the happiest day of your life. And mine."

"It should be, Ajo. To begin a marriage in sorrow is a bad omen."

"We can delay it until—"

"No, we can't."

"What can I do to ensure tomorrow is a blessing for you?"

She considered his question. "You wish for me to be happy?"

"Above everything."

"Swear it."

"I swear, your happiness is the most important thing to me."

Galeia nodded.

"Remember that promise, Ajo."

***

Ajo turned in bed.

Galeia had not appeared for dinner, and after the way their last conversation ended he grew nervous. He wanted to seek her out, but the Queen kept him from doing so.

"Galeia is upset," she told him. "Her infatuation was strong and the wound is fresh. She will overcome it—a wedding and a feast will help bring her around. For now, leave her alone, for your company might disturb her further."

To begin a marriage in sorrow is a bad omen.

"It will be all right," he whispered into his pillow. "It will be all right."

He had the span of eternity to prove it to himself and his love.