Chapter Fifteen

Arandir POV

Slowly, Arandir's arm snaked around Wynne's shivering form. He pulled her into his side, nestling her into his warmth and relative protection. Logically, he knew that the Cailleach wouldn't harm them simply for visiting her kingdom, but he could visibly see the anger from the woman. He wasn't particularly fond of that anger directed towards his mate. So safe at her side he would keep her, for now.

Keeping his arm around Wynne's waist, Arandir gave a small bow out of courtesy. When he rose, he lifted a brow at the Queen.
"Someone seems aggravated, hm? " He taunted lightly, before resuming a serious composure.

"In seriousness, I come bearing no ill wishes. I'm here because, as you know, the Wild Hunt has rode. When they returned, they dumped this pretty little thing in my woods." As he spoke, his fingers splayed on Wynne's back, and he rubbed gently. He hoped to soothe her nerves, as he knew merely from observing her during their time together that she had a tendency towards anxiety.

"We come to you now, unannounced as you say, because we have questions that only you would have the answers for. But now isn't the time for that. We were attacked by a band of goblins on our way here. I'dsuggest informing your guard and making sure the roads into the city are well protected, though we both know you'll do as you will. "

The queen merely stared at him, her brow raised, before she turned to take a lingering look at the woman he held at his side. It was apparent that the woman had come from somewhere outside of the realm of Loslosach. And there was no hint of an untruth in the words Arandir spoke. The Queen slowly began to calm, and the snow stopped falling, leaving behind fat flakes accumulated on the marble floor of the throne room.

"Come. Bring her forward. " She said, as she stood from her throne. Her skirts swished against the floor, the noise hissing through the room. With his arm tightly around her, holding her to him possessively, Arandir began to approach.

Wynne's POV

"Come, bring her forward. " The queen had said, and before Wynne could move on her own, Arandir began to propel them towards the woman before them. The lack of will to move of her own accord angered Wynne, and she shoved away from him.

"I said I'd give you a chance, and you said I'd be able to make my own choice. That means letting me walk places on my own! I'm not a defenseless child, and I have free will just as you! " Wynne stated, her voice raising close to a shout as she neared the end of her sentence. With a small glare towards him, she moved away from Arandir's figure. Leaving him gaping at her from where they had stood. He had no ill intentions with his actions, but Wynne wasn't about to be controlled either.

She took careful steps towards the Dias, and gave a polite curtsy towards the Queen. It was then that Wynne realized just how much Arandir's presence at her side had been keeping her anxiety at bay. She took a few slow breaths, before she confidently raised her moss green eyes to peer directly into the sharp yellow ones of the older woman.

"I apologize ma'am, but I'm not quite sure how to address you. So far, all I've heard you called is the Cailleach. " She said, fidgeting with a loose seam she found in the tunic Arandir had bought her.

It was at that that a warm smile finally appeared upon the Queen's face. "You may call me Bronwyn, dear, or Queen Bliain. Do forgive me for the reception you were met with. Allies of mine face the threat of war, so the kingdom is on high alert. And with that idiot over there not announcing your arrival, I suspected you two to be foes." She told Wynne. "He says I have answers for you. Tell me, young one, what is the biggest question on your mind? "

Wynne almost laughed at the brashness of the queen. She seemed to know Arandir quite well, from what Wynne could see. And other than that, it was merely amusing to watch this obviously strong woman go at it verbally with him. But towards Wynne, she seemed to show nothing but kindness.

Wynne stumbled over her reply for a moment, as she pushed down her amusement and decided on what she was most comfortable calling the older woman.
"As far as I know, I'm from Scotland. My parents, the ones that raised me and helped nurture me into who I am, are from Scotland. But my life was turned upside down by what you all call the Wild Hunt. They brought me here, against my will. And since then, I've discovered that the reason they brought me is because they think I might be Sidhe. I've found that I... Potentially have a fated mate here. " Wynne paused to catch her breath before she continued on. "What I really want to know, is if you would know anything about me being Sidhe? Is there a way to keep track of these things, to find out who and what I actually am? Are there records that will tell you any of this? And the most important thing. Will I ever be able to return to Scotland? This is a land of wonder and enchantment, and I do
You sent
love it here, but this isn't my home, and I don't want to just leave my home behind, Bronwyn."

Wynne wrapped up her small speech, her longing for her home clear on her face. Her words had brought a delicate look of sorrow to the old Queen's features. Meanwhile, Arandir had merely stood where Wynne had left him before the dias, his mouth agape.