Chapter Twenty Eight

Wynne PoV

Wynne awoke entangled in a mass of limbs and blankets. Arandir had his arm curled around her chest. Nerys had flung a leg over Wynne's, and her arms were wrapped around them both. The blankets twisted around the trio, tangling them in its mass of down and fabric. There was the faint sound of tapping emanating from the direction of the window, but she couldn't turn her head enough to look. Delicately, she extracted herself from the hold of her mates. Thankfully, the two stayed in a deep sleep, snuggling into eachother as Wynne rose.

The strawberry haired woman yawned and stretched when she slid from the bed, picking up a gown and cloak that had been neatly folded and felt upon a chair for her. She slid the soft fabric over her skin, savoring in its warmth as protection to the small draft that made the room chilly. Tap, tap, tap, came again the noise against the windowpanes. Wynne padded on bare feet across the stone floor, searching for a candle and match. It didnt take her long to find the objects, resting on a shelf near the bed. Lighting one of the tapered candles and watching it's light flicker int he darkened room, she made her way to the window.

The tapping stopped abruptly as Wynne pushed the glass open for a better look, and in flew a pixie. The small creature was shades of white and green, it's small wings vaguely resembling the feathers of a dove, it's dress the color of grass. Yellow eyes blinked up at Wynne, and the small pixie began to speak, voice ringing like the tinkling of bells.

"Hello, pretty sidhe. My mistress sent me to apologize to you, she has been held up by courtly duties." The pixie spoke fast, flittering around Wynne's face. It took the woman a moment to figure out what the pixie was telling her, and connect it in refernce to Dehliah, the pixie Wynne and Arandir had begun their journy with. Wynne gave the little creature a small bow with her head and thanked the pixie. "Inform your queen there is no need for apologies. She will join us when is convenient for her. Please, take some of the sweets here, before you go." She offered to the pixie, gesturing to a tray of desserts that had been discarded in the sitting room.

The small creature dipped down, snatched up a honey cake, and flew out the ajar window within a matter of seconds. The suddness of the pixie's departure left Wynne agape, staring out the window blankly. She would've at least let the pixie eat here, instead of on the fly. With a soft sigh, she pulled the window closed and latched it. The cool breeze from outside had been making the candle flame flicker and her skin prickle with gooseflesh. She rubbed her hands along her chilly arms, turning to gaze at the pair left in her bed.

Arandir had nestled his arm around Nerys's waist, his other arm propping him up ever so slightly to gaze towards Wynne and the window. His icy blue hair fell around him like puddles of silk, lavender hues peering at her from behind the curtain of tresses. Wynne's mossy hues met his and the woman smiled at him and the sleeping form of Nerys. "How long have you been awake?" She asked quietly, careful not to wake the peacefully sleeping woman.

"Long enough to have heard the pixie. Dehliah will be joining us again?" He answered, nestling himself back into the pillows and Nerys's grip around his waist.

"She said she would, but I'm unsure when." Wynne blew out the wavering candle she'd lit and padded her way back to the bed. Once her weight shifted the mattress, Nerys woke, blinking sleep clouded eyes at the couple.

"Hello dears," Nerys yawned, rubbing at her bright orange hues and tossling her mass of cotton candy pink locks. "What are our plans for the day?"

"I just recieved word from one of Queen Dehliah's pixie court. She'll be joining us in the near future. She accompanied us part of the way here to Winterbridge." Wynne leaned over, inhaling softly as she combatted her inner cowardice, before she pressed a gentle kiss to Nerys's lips. Nerys tensed in surprise before the chaste kiss was returned and the two pulled away. "I was waiting for the both of you to wake before we decided on what we were going to do. I was thinking we'd pack up soon, see what else Bronwyn wants, then start making our way towards Summergate. On the way, we can practice magic and train in fighting. " Wynne told them.

"What are we waiting for, then?" Arandir asked, kissing both women atop their heads before his muscled form slid from the bed. In a matter of a few short minutes, he was dressed and already pulling his leather boots on, sword strapped at his side. "Let's go." The women chuckled at him, following suit.

Bronwyn POV

Nerys had given the old winter queen much to think about. Why had Rylia told her to take in the dwarf? Did she know what would happen, and that her child would return to finish what had been started here? Many had the skill of prophecy, but last Bronwyn knew, it was not a skill that Rylia had possesed. The Winter Queen groaned, growing tired of the mysteries that Rylia had left behind. Snow began to fall outside the great fortress, wind whipping, the weather beginning to form a dangerous blizzard. Such things often happened when the Cailleach was unhappy. And she was very unhappy indeed. Servants scurried in the halls as Bronwyn stormed through them, heading directly for her throne room. The mated trio should be up and about soon, she would await them there.