Daughter of the Red Dawn (The Lost Kingdom of Fallada) (14 page)

Wil smiled knowingly at her and shook his head. “You are a stubborn one, Princess, much like King Eldalwen.”

Selena pressed her lips together, refusing to take the bait. Zoe continued staring at the landscape, trying to pretend like she wasn’t listening. Wil sighed and turned to face forward again.

~*~

As they ascended toward Goldun, a gate made of twisted and gnarled branches intertwined about each other barred them from entering. Flowers in every color conceivable dotted the green foliage growing from the curling branches. The gate wrapped around the entire floating island was so tall that even if she and Zoe both climbed onto the shoulders of one of the tall
Fae
, they still wouldn’t be able to see inside. A ph
r
ase spoken in the language of the
Fae
caused a shifting along the gate branches. They uncurled and slipped out of their
intricate
pattern, parting to create a gap large enough for their party to enter. Bright, blinding light met their eyes, gleaming from the surfaces of buildings that stretched up toward the sky and sparkled with iridescent light. As Rothatin led their flying party through the gates, Selena knew that Zoe was experiencing the same awe that she was feeling.

The vibrant colors of Fallada seemed more ethereal here, kissed with a shimmering glow that appeared to be as alive as the flora and fauna that surrounded them. Trees seemed to sway to a soundless rhythm as one, and flowers danced and curled in the waving grass, seeming to turn toward them as they passed, lifting their petals and
twirling in a hypnotic waltz. Nature surrounded them, interspersed with massive pillared buildings with domed roofs. Every building was etched with carvings that depicted the surrounding nature, and
some buildings even had the tops of trees growing straight up out of their roofs. It seemed that, unlike people who bulldozed every tree in sight to build their cities, the
Fae
had respected Mother Nature enough to build around it. The effect was stunning.

“We go first to the royal
Fae
court,” Rothatin said as he guided his owl alongside their floating chariot. “
My queen
will be expecting you.”

Rothatin pulled the reigns of his bird and banked left, guiding the rest of their entourage
toward the largest building nestled at the center of Goldun. It was made of smooth white marble and its domed roo
f
was of solid gold. Stretching up from the rooftop was the shimmering statue of a
Fae
woman draped in a Grecian goddess style gown. Her face was calm and serene, her jaw set and determined. Her hands clutched
a
bow and held a notched arrow to it. The weapon was pointed toward Goldun’s entrance, as was the statue’s gaze.

They came in for a graceful landing in a courtyard filled with plants and trees
,
surrounded by an ivory gate.
Everyone dismounted from their carriage or bird and Jake took Rose into his arms once again. Zoe gripped Selena’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze as they followed their escorts through one of several open, pillared archways leading into the building. Titus was guided along by two of the warrior
Fae
, his hands still bound behind his back.

Through the archway was a long corridor with pink-veined marble floors and walls depicting life-like scenes of nature. Music, voices and
laughter could be heard coming from behind the gilded double doors at the end of the hall where Rothatin paused and turned to them

“Be advised; Queen Adrah is a very powerful being. She sees all and knows much, and you must remember to always be honest with her. Chances are
,
she already knows the truth before she asks a question.”

“Then why even ask?” Zoe mumbled under her breath.

The sharp-eared
Faerie
turned his narrowed gaze on Zoe.
“To measure the character of the person being asked for answers.”

“Well excuse me,” Zoe whispered.

Rothatin tensed as if he’d heard her, but didn’t respond. He merely turned to the heavy-looking doors and pushed them inward. The room they entered was more stunning than Selena could have ever imagined.

The sound of babbling water reached her ears
,
and as they moved further into the room, she spotted a circular pool with a fountain at its center. A statue of four female
Fae
rie
s standing back to back rose up out of the water. Each
Fae
wore a gown in a style similar to the statue on the roof and each one held a large urn, which she was tipping over to pour water into the rippling pool. Inside of the pool, members of the royal
Fae
court frolicked and swam, their gossamer garments hanging from their bodies, moving and shifting around them o
f
their own accord.
Some even lounged on the pool’s edge with their legs dangling in the water, jeweled goblets clutched between slender fingers. On couches and chaise lounges
,
placed haphazardly around the room, more royal
Fae
lounged
;
some with books in hand, others with plates of food. Near the corner of the room, a group of
Fae
sat gathered in a circle, making music with
wooden instruments. Drums, rattles, flutes, and guitars created a haunting and peaceful melody that all the other
Fae
seemed to enjoy. The music held an energy all its own and wafted about the room in the same hypnotic motion as the garments of the
Fae
. Selena felt all of her cares melting away at the very sound of the music. It seemed to have the same effect on everyone in the room, including the Grimm brothers and the
Fae
. Even Rose’s complexion
brightened
and her moaning and writhing ceased. The lines across her forehead seemed to smooth as her facial muscles relaxed.

On the other side of the pool sat the most beautiful woman Selena had ever seen.
This must be Queen Adrah
, she decided,
as she is a match for the statue on the roof
. Her statuesque body stretched up tall and proud
,
and her figure was that of warrior blended with a curvy woman. Her arms and shoulders rippled with sinewy muscle
,
her breast
s
and hips rounded her out, enhanced by long, powerful legs. A white garment draped and dipped across her body, flowing around her ankles in a wave-like motion, giving her the appearance of floating as she moved about the room. Her skin shimmered like bronze
beneath the stark white dress and her feet were bare. Her body was adorned with silver jewelry, from the series of chains draped over her sparkling blond hair, to shining silver cuffs on her wrists and sparkling anklets and toe rings. A series of silver chains hung from her neck, each sporting a pendant representative of nature: flowers, trees, butterflies, birds. Her features were strong yet delicate, fierce yet calm, haunting yet beautiful. Beneath her light blond eyebrows were eyes that could only be described by comparing them to spring. The green of her irises swirled with iridescent light so that the
shade of green varied depending on the lighting or her position. Selena was mesmerized by them as she locked eyes with the queen from across the room.

Selena felt frozen in place as Adrah seemed to float across the room toward them. Even without Rothatin’s warning, Selena would have known better than to lie to this woman about anything. The wisdom and knowledge in her gaze were too obvious to miss.

“Selena, Zoe, welcome!” she said warmly, looking both girl
s
in the eye as she greeted them. “It is an honor to meet you both.”

Her voice echoed from the tall walls and high ceilings, putting the music to shame with its lyrical sound. All noise in the hall ceased and every
Fae
stopped what they were doing
to
turn
an
d gaze upon the newcomers. Adrah took Selena’s hand, her piercing green stare seeming to strip her down to her soul.

“You are your mother’s daughter in appearance,” Adrah continued with a slight upturning of her
lips. “Yet I feel your father’s
warrior spirit within you, child. He will be so pleased.”

Selena cleared her throat. “About that
…
”

“There will be time enough for that later, Selena,” Adrah said with a pat on her hand. “We must see to other matters first, such as your grandmother’s health. I am sure you are all hungry and tired as well after your long journey. You have my hospitality for as long as you need it.”

“Thank you,” Selena mumbled as she lowered her head.
The fact that Queen Adrah was being so nice to her was only making this harder. The
Fae
queen was counting on her to play her part in the fulfilling the prophecy and Selena was only going to let her down.

We shall see. All ha
s
not yet been decided
,
Princess.

Selena’s eyes widened as she looked back up at Adrah, who had turned and began talking with the Grimm Brothers. She was certain she’d heard the queen’s voice in her head. As Selena stood gawking Adrah glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. They twinkled knowingly, filled with mischief. Selena shivered and turned away, watching instead as the
Fae
royals who had been swimming left the pool and began converging around them.

“How long since Rose was bitten by
the
Werewolf
?”
Adrah asked as she reached a hand out toward the limp figure in Jake Grimm’s arms.

“Three days,” Wil answered. “The fever has been raging for two and she’s delirious.
The venom
is spreading.”

Adrah ushered one of the burly swimmers forward. Selena watched as the dark-haired
Fae
plucked Rose from Jake’s arms as if she weighed no more than a baby and turned toward the pool with her.

“What is he doing?” Selena asked as the
Fae
waded into the pool with Rose.

Adrah gave her anot
her little half-smile. “Do not
fear, Selena.
Fae
royalty are blessed with healing powers through nature. Daxos’ gift is healing by water and he is one of the most powerful among his kind.”

They looked on as three other
Fae
—two females and one male—joined the one named Daxos in the pool
.
They helped
him
spread Rose’s body out in the water, each of them keeping one hand beneath her
to keep her afloat. Each
Fae
closed their eyes and tilted their heads back while moving their free hands
in
the air above Rose’s body. They chanted in unison,
Fae
words that sounded more like a song. Its melody caused
ripples in the still pool, which swirled around them gently, gurgling in answer to the
Fae
’s power.

The other
Fae
watched silently, reverently, as the four
Fae
chanted and sang. Slowly, Rose began to come back to life as a black, smoke
-like substance
exited her nostrils and dispersed on the air. Within minutes her eyes were open and she was staring in wonder at her surroundings. Selena
felt tears of joy stinging her eyes and didn’t even try to stop them as she rushed forward. Rose was placed on her feet and waded through the water toward Selena with her arms spread wide. Selena didn’t hesitate as she dropped into the pool and launched herself against Rose. They hugged, jumping up and down in their excitement. Selena pulled back and looked down into Rose’s smiling face with wonder. Her grandmother was a healthy woman, but she’d never looked so beautiful. The healing hands of the
Fae
had obviously done wonders for her.

“Sweet pea,” Rose whispered, stroking Selena’s bangs back from her face affectionately. “Did we make it? Is this the land of the
Fae
ries?”

Selena nodded. “Yes
,
Gram, we’re here. Come meet the queen, she’s beautiful!”

They left the water hand in hand, flanked by Daxos and his three helpers.
Selena pulled Rose toward Adrah, who stood waiting by the edge of the pool with her arms clasped in front of her.

“Welcome, Rose, to Goldun.”

“Thank you,” Rose said as she wiped her wet face with a towel provided by a nearby
Fae
. “It is such an honor to meet you.”

“No
,
dear Rose, the honor is all mine, for you are the one who has safeguarded our dear princess all this time. I am eternally grateful to you for what you have done.”