Chapter Twenty Three

Wynne POV
Wynne felt for Nerys, truly. But she had to keep her priorities straight. If they added more problems onto the pile too fast and tried to tackle them all, they'd sink instead of swim. They already had the matter of figuring out how she was Sidhe, trying to discover if she'd be able to return to the human world, and now she had not just one, but two mates. Wynne had been comfortable in the solitude she lived with, and suddenly she was being thrown into a world that involved a relationship with two different people. Not to mention, if she was Sidhe because her family had somehow originated from Loslosach, what had happened to make them leave?
As lost in thought as she was, it took Wynne a moment to realize that the other two Sidhe were staring agape at her. She cringed slightly, realizing how harsh she had sounded in her reply. She had tried to be as kind as possible, but on occasions of stress, her replies more often than not came out gruff. "Don't get me wrong, I want to explore this as well. What our relationship is going to be, and what everyone is comfortable with, and how to help you. But I can only focus on so much at once, if we bring everything out and attempt to solve it immediately, I'm going to panic. None of us needs that. " Wynne explained as calmly as she could, folding her hands in her lap. She bowed her head lightly, peeking out of the curtain of strawberry hair that had curtained her face with the movement.
Nerys immediately looked at her, relieved, letting out a breath it had seemed she was holding. Just that small gesture brought relief to Wynne herself, she'd worried that Nerys would take it as she wasn't interested. Arandir nodded calmly, watching the exchange between the two females with a quiet air of peace around him. "I agree that we do have other courses for action, but we will come to the one leading to Summergate's aid soon enough. First, we need to take care of our dealings here. " Arandir stated, before he finally reached for some of the food.
He grabbed for some of the meats, inelegant in the way he shoveled it into his mouth. The action made both women laugh, staring in disbelief at his lack of manners. It had worked as a fantastic icebreaker between the three. It didn't seem that they'd spend the rest of the evening skirting around each other any more. With the air of newfound comfortability, Nerys and Wynne both found themselves making a plate of food.
Bronwyn POV
Meanwhile, Queen Bronwyn found herself stuck deep in the archives, helping scholars pull books upon books of history for the Runeglow Family, among others, to set up for their guest's visit. There were stacks of books half the size of some of the shelves, and some hadn't been touched so long that dust and spiderwebs clung to them. The musky smell of aging paper filled the air as if it could choke you.
Gritting her teeth, Bronwyn set her armload of books among the others and surveyed the ordered chaos. There was everything from handwritten history to eyewitness accounts, and even legends and myths among the Fae themselves. A separate section held books of religion, and to the side of that, there was even genealogy. Lamps were set at the corners of the tables, holding willo'the'wisps that were such a pale shade of blue it was almost white. They provided an enormous amount of light, bathing the tables in their illuminating glow. Off to the sides, there were stuffed chairs and small side tables, and even a couch along one wall.
Everything sitting along the tables in the center of the room was something she'd personally picked out alongside the scholars, in the hopes it would help that woman, Wynne. Satisfied, finally, that there were no other books they could possibly pull, Bronwyn thanked her scholars, and left to her Throne Room. From there, she'd request her mid-morning meal, and then rest, before she had the servants summon her guests to the Archives.
Wynne POV
A few hours had passed. The trio had eaten and shared casual stories from their pasts, as they gouged themselves on the dishes that Nerys had brought. They found themselves lounging comfortably in the sitting room of Wynne and Arandir's chambers. Nerys sprawled in one of the over stuffed chairs, while Arandir had moved to the couch with Wynne. Wynne ended up with her head in his lap, using his thighs as a pillow as she stared up at the others, spread out along the rest of the couch, her feet barely touching the opposite armrest.
That was how they were found when a soft knock sounded at the door, before a head peeked into the room. One of Bronwyn's servants had come to summon Wynne and Arandir to the Archives, and the Brownie servant woman sent to fetch them was astounded to see the Princess accompanying them, and all three light up with smiles. It made the old Fae smile softly herself, as she announced her presence to the room.
"Guests Wynne and Arandir, and Ma'am Nerys, please excuse me. The Queen has requested your presences in the archives. I'd be glad to bring you. " Stated the servant, withholding her name. Wynne noticed as she listened to the brownie speak, that this brownie woman held none of the familiar Gaelic accent. Perhaps it was a regional thing, or maybe the preferences of who they served under. Information for her to set aside for another day. Nerys was the first to rise, offering a hand to assist Wynne in removing herself from Arandir's lap and the couch. Once the taller woman had helped her to her feet, Wynne twined her fingers with the other.
The brownie woman began leading the trio from the room, Arandir following behind the two women with their clasped hands. They wound through the halls, before they finally reached on of the vast staircases carved into the rock of the mountain. The walls were lit by flickering torches, illuminating the steps, and casting shadows into the dark. The brownie ushered them into a side room, carved immaculately into the belly of the mountain. Upon entering, all one could see was shelves upon shelves of literature. It took a minute for eyes to adjust to the dimmer light inside the archives, and to notice the research area set out for them, scholars positioned to the side of the table stacked full of books and stray papers.
One of the scholars reminded Wynne of Dehliah, mainly because the woman had shimmering yellow green wings, spotted with flecks of black and orange, very similar to the wings of a Clouded Sulphur butterfly. Slight bulbed antennae emerged from her forehead, barely obscured by her short and shiny bright yellow hair. Wynne found herself wondering if the small Fae were capable of changing their size, as well as wearing nature disguises. The woman introduced herself as Ethel Grace, and stated that she could also be called Sweet Pea.
The other scholar was another dwarf. This dwarf didn't appear to be as large as the others, he was smaller in stature than the rest, and he had a wispy mustache attached to his graying beard. Bifocals sat perched upon his disfigured nose, eyes the color of charcoal piercing out from behind them, a stern look upon his face. He introduced himself simply as Drúinur, his voice a rumbling, throaty growl. Drúinur grumbled something to Ethel Grace before leaving the research area to navigate the stacks beyond.
"I apologize for my companion, Sir and Ladies. Drúinur isn't used to this much company down here in the archives. Queen Bronwyn helped us assemble these tables specifically to help aid you in your search. She assured us that she would be back later in the day to assist you some more herself, but for now, Drúinur and myself are at your disposal. " Ethel Grace said, musical voice ringing out like bells as the willowy woman gave a small bow, elegant even with the awkwardness of her large wings. Wynne smiled gracefully at the woman, tucking her questions about pixie forms to the back of her mind. She thanked the woman, finding herself a seat at the large table, that was almost overflowing with books.
"It's okay, Ethel Grace. We appreciate all the help that you've been merely helping the Queen assemble this collection for us. If you'd like, you can return to what ever your duties are, and we can call for you or Drúinur if we need either of you. " Nerys thanked the woman as well, and both her and Arandir took up posts at the table, beginning to sift through the piles of books.