A Fairy-Tail Marriage

*****

On Thursday, everyone was up early and ready for the trip. Again, they had chosen horses for travel so everyone could stay together, though Althea and Cala had magicked the gear to float behind them as if being borne by invisible horses. The werewolves were fascinated by the floating cargo; the small children kept ducking under it and poking at it like some beast they could figure out. Mothers stepped forward and chased them away, apologizing to the royal couple for the intrusion.

The party included Braxton, Althea, Blake and Cala as well as a small retinue of guards who would be in werewolf from. When the men and women had shifted, the four horses had spooked, one almost tossing Cala to the ground. It was decided the guards would travel close but not too close to the four in a wide circle so they were covered from all side.

Braxton called to the group, “Everyone ready?” At the numerous sounds of assent, both in words and yips, he yelled, “Let’s ride, then.”

They arrived at the first werewolf village just at lunch. A huge welcoming party awaited them, and a large feast had been prepared for the visitors. The village was happy to see the king and queen and were thrilled at the prospect of a united kingdom. Some of the older villagers, the ones who had barely been alive when the war between the fairies and werewolves had ended, thought the idea was ludicrous and were against it, but out of respect for Braxton and Braxton’s mother, they did not speak their opinions loudly.

Most of the villages, werewolf and fairy, greeted the royal visitors happily and with lots of food. More than once, Althea commented that her dresses would no longer fit if they continued to eat at feasts every single day, and Braxton would tell her she looked perfectly beautiful. They made love almost every night, unashamed of their need for each other. Althea would giggle if she cried out too loud and would clap her hand over her mouth, while Braxton had no worries about what people heard when they made love.

Their final destination was the village Mariah had spoken about, the village where fairies and werewolves had been living in harmony for decades. As they rode into the village, fairies in their natural size as well as human size greeted them, holding hands with their werewolf spouses as if that were the norm all over.

“I like this place,” Althea commented as they dismounted. “I mean, all of the villages have been welcoming, but this place seems so serene.”

Blake stepped up beside her. “These people have lived together the way all werewolves and fairies should. They live a life of love and peace, all the time. Disputes, when there is one, are settled by a council made up of two of each species. I’m hoping we’ll form a council similar to the one here for the entire kingdom.”

“Blake is my political hero,” Braxton said as he took Althea’s hand. “He wants this kingdom to be great, just like I do. But he has the knowledge to make it happen.”

“And you have the power,” Blake said with a wink as they were greeted by the council they’d just been discussing.

Althea’s attention was pulled from the polite inquiries from the council to the people around them. Several were children, and she could tell they were of fairy and werewolf descent. One of the council members, an ancient fairy female, saw her interest in the children.

“Queen Althea, I see you find our children interesting,” the woman said knowingly.

“I do. Braxton and I, I am sure, will one day have children. Neither of us have met a mixed child,” Althea told her.

The woman took her hand and led her to a group of children of all ages. Cala followed, curious as well. “The children are fascinating, I’ll admit. I wasn’t sure about them either, at first. But when the first was born here, I knew everything would be fine.”

“What do you mean?” Althea asked her.

“Each child is born in werewolf form, which our werewolf brethren said was not usual for a full werewolf infant. However, after a few days, the child would shift into human form. Every child, as they grew, had the ability to shift into werewolf form, but they also had some form of magical fairy ability. A mixed child will never be as magical as a full fairy child, not when they’re born, nor as they grow into adulthood.”

“But they are healthy? Normal?” Althea asked, her worst fear that her child would be handicapped in some way.

“Healthier than werewolf or fairy babies, I’ll tell you that!” the fairy cackled. “These mixed children, some of whom are adults now, are never sick. If they are injured, they heal much faster than either a fairy or a werewolf. I was amazed.”

Althea and Cala exchanged a happy glance. “Thank you so much! You have put so many of my fears to rest.”

“Of course, child. Now come, let’s rejoin the council and king. We’ve prepared a banquet in honor of your visit.” Althea groaned inwardly, and she and Cala exchanged another glance, this one of resignation. “Everyone in the village is looking forward to meeting you.”

*****

That night after the banquet, Althea and Braxton retreated to their room in the inn for bedtime. Their bellies full, they were content to hold each other rather than engage in intercourse. As they lay cuddled together, Althea thought about the children they had met that day.

“I really enjoyed this village, more than any other,” Althea told him.

“Yes,” he whispered, his mouth close to her ear and his breath tickling her.

She adjusted their position, laying on her back so she could turn her head to look at him. “The children are fascinating. Each one is slightly different from any other.”

“I will tell you, I felt much relief when I met them. Now I can’t wait to meet our children,” Braxton told her.

“You were afraid before?”

“A little. I had never met a mixed child. I had no idea if they were like other children or if they had . . .” he trailed off.

“Defects?” she supplied.

“Yes. You worried too?”

“I did, but not anymore. When we are ready, I’ll be excited to meet our children as well,” she said. She lifted her head just a bit and kissed his lips. She prepared to roll over to sleep when his voice halted her movements.

“I’m ready, Althea. A child is the best way to solidify this kingdom. An heir to the throne will halt any claims from outsiders,” Braxton said.

Althea frowned. “Braxton, a child is not a thing to be used as a pawn.”