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Lidia Drummond stared at the tiny person Skye called Maevis. She was beautiful; like something brought to life from a children’s book. It hadn’t occurred to her that the fairy was studying her as intently as she was. Maevis hadn’t been sure about it at first, but up close she could tell: Lidia was not Skye’s biological mother.

Any human looking at the two women side by side might even wonder about their relation. Not only were Lidia’s features and stature completely different from Skye’s, but her scent as well. All Fae had naturally overdeveloped senses. The specifics varied species to species, but most Fae were capable of such distinctions. And most animals as well.. It seemed that humans were the only creatures that had lost their connection to the natural world, or so the old fairy thought.

“Alright, ye two: let us explain why we have brought Maevis here to meet ye. We would like to have the details worked out before Nicolas gets here,” Skye interrupted; gesturing at the table for them to sit again.

“Tidas, you explain what you and Nic had discussed. I was mainly here as proof, anyways. And have served my purpose to that end. But I will offer my opinion when you wish for it,” Maevis replied, not knowing how much the couple had planned on revealing about Skye’s powers.

The old fairy thought it best to let the prince handle most of the details. He’d volunteered to fund the building of the sanctuary and defenses for the Fae, after all. Technically Maevis had no part in that; just her promise to teach and protect Skye. That would guarantee the deal be done, so that was what she would focus on.

Tidas explained about Warrick Forest’s magic source, the Fae settlement, and his deal with the Fae. Except, instead of it being for training and protecting Skye, it was for ‘saving their lives’. Tidas played off of the story he’d told when Lord Fowler had been there. The third ‘person’ to help save them had supposedly been Nic.

.....

Skye found it both admirable, and disturbing how easily Tidas had lied. While the reasons were valid, she still didn’t think she would be able to lie so blatantly to people(not including her powers). But Prince Tidas was just that: a prince. He’d grown up around politics and court life. It shouldn’t have surprised her he’d be so good at it, but it still did.

‘I wonder how easily he could lie to me, if he thought he was justified in his cause?’ Skye shuddered as the thought popped into her head unwelcomed.

Maevis watched the group of humans as they talked. Lord Moonstone seemed to be honest. He’d squirmed slightly when Tidas had mentioned the forest. But she could sense no ill intentions of any kind from him, or Skye’s mother. Just a lot of apprehension from Lucas, and sadness from Lidia. Her emotions would spike whenever she looked at Skye.

Maevis thought that maybe Skye was a child of a former lover of the lord. That maybe the mother died, or was forced to abandon her child to the father. But she sensed no resentment from Lidia, just a deep sadness; almost like grief. It made her wonder if maybe Skye’d had a sibling, or even a twin that was lost. But these were things Maevis couldn’t know without snooping.

The easiest way to figure it out would be to ask Skye’s parents directly. Doing so now would ruin Skye’s wedding, if not her entire relationship with her parents. The old fairy decided to have a long chat with Lucas and Lidia while the newlyweds were on their weekend getaway. Maevis needed to know Skye’s true history if she were to help her figure out why she had so many powers. And pray to the gods that Skye was not the Catalyst..

When Tidas was at the end of his explanation, Peggy showed up with their lunch. It was a welcomed sight to Tidas. He never really got to truly fill himself in the past few weeks. Aside from the first night he’d showed up and stopped Skye’s first attempted wedding, he’d only been eating enough to keep his body and magic functional. The small feast Peggy had brought out made his mouth water.

A large white and silver, three-tiered round serving tray filled with tiny sandwiches was placed in the middle of the table. The top tier had cucumber, then ham and cheddar, and the third had roast beef with Swiss. Two medium bowls and a small platter were set around the tray. One had fruit, another had Peggy’s salad, and the tray had poached eggs with a hollandaise sauce. A fresh cottage loaf with butter and blueberry jam on the side topped off the meal.

Skye’s stomach growled low and loud. Everyone turned to look at her before laughing at how red she’d become. Tidas wrapped an arm around his fiancée’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. Lucas and Lidia smiled at each other. They were genuinely happy that their daughter loved the man that she was to marry. But as soon as the look was exchanged, Lucas turned away; shifting his eyes to the floor.

They held guilt, from what Maevis could tell. It was an odd reaction considering the love she’d just felt emanating from him towards Skye. Now, it was nothing but remorse. There was something he wasn’t telling his daughter, and it ate at him. Occasionally he and Tidas would share a look also. As if they were silently arguing over something.

Maevis thought two things at this point: Skye’s parents had a secret they were keeping from her, and that Lucas and Tidas had something amiss with them as well. She’d forgotten how interesting humans could be, and happily munched on a piece of Peggy’s salad as she watched the family interact.

After a lively luncheon, Tidas and Lucas disappeared to the lord’s parlor. Lidia, Skye, Maevis, and Peggy all stayed back and chatted. It was a strained atmosphere at first, but surprisingly, Lidia broke the tension. She’d asked Peggy to ‘go get it’ after she’d cleared the table, and turned to Skye. She scooted her seat next to her daughter’s, then gently grabbed Skye’s hands before speaking.

“I know we don’t get on very well.. I haven’t been there for you like I should have. But there are two things that, as your Mother; I feel like they should come from me..”

Peggy entered the courtyard with a dress box, and a small pouch in tow. She set the box on the table, then handed the pouch to Lidia. She thanked Peggy, then turned back to her daughter before speaking in a soft and sincere voice.

“This pouch contains a mixture of Queen Anne’s Lace, Willow bark, Myrrh, and a few other things. It will stop you from getting pregnant,” Lidia paused to check that Skye was listening to her; “Take it once a day with a full glass of water. And make SURE it’s taken at night. If you take it during the day, it will make you sick, if not possibly kill you.”

Skye looked at her mother with a stunned expression before replying; “Yer givin’ me somethin’ that could kill me?!”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic! Ye eat food that could kill ye if not prepared properly. Ye ride that beast of a horse of yers.. Why is this so extreme?” Peggy argued more than questioned.

“So long as you take it at night, you’ll be fine, lass. I know the concoction your mother speaks of. I used a similar one back in my day,” Maevis added honestly with a cheeky smile.

“Do you want children so soon after you’re wed, or do you want a year or two with your husband to yourself? This will give you time,” Lidia put the pouch into Skye’s hand after she’d finished.

Skye was shocked by her mother’s thoughtfulness. Motherly concern was never something that Skye imagined Her mother felt towards her. She just assumed that her mother saw her as a tool, or an inconvenience.. Truth be told: Lidia really did love Skye like her own daughter.

While Skye knew of her previous marriage, few knew that she did have a child with her first husband. But her child had died in a fire, along with her husband and the majority of their family. Only her grandfather and herself had survived, by a coincidence. They’d been in one of the guest courtyards when the whole castle went up in flames, all at once. It had not been natural, and those responsible were never caught, or even known.

Lidia’s daughter had been but a few months younger than Skye. When her family had died, the love of Lucas’s life had died also. Her name was Sorcha, and she was Skye’s true mother. She was the sister of Lidia’s husband, and her best friend growing up. Lucas had married her in secret to avoid the king’s ire. He’d been infatuated with Skye’s true mother, and had planned on making her his fourth wife.

Skye had been sick the night of the fire, so Lucas had stayed with her and the nurse maid, in case she’d needed a doctor. Sorcha had gone to the Warrick family gathering, but never came back.. After the fire, Lucas had married Lidia to protect her from the king’s matchmaking schemes. It protected his love’s best friend, and provided Skye with a mother figure.

Lidia changed her name back to Drummond, and the two secretly erased the Warrick name from as much history as they could. Only the forest name remained, allowing any connection to the name to end there. They even flattened the ground where the castle once stood: the clearing where Skye and Maevis had made the hot spring.

The pain of Lucas and Lidia’s losses were too great.. They’d distanced themselves from Skye in hopes that she’d never learn the truth. Or go looking for her mother’s murderers if she somehow did. Lidia had regretted her actions, but Skye looked so much like her mother. She often wondered what her daughter would’ve looked like when she looked at Skye; compounding the pain and loss of her child, family, and dearest friend every time she looked at her.

These were all things that Lucas and Lidia had decided to never tell Skye. The reasons their loved ones were murdered was never discovered, but Lucas had a feeling he knew. Since Skye never developed magic, it turned out to be a moot point for her parents. Simply protecting the Warrick bloodline was their duty now: protecting Their daughter. And the marriage to Prince Tidas all but guaranteed it to them. For who would be dumb enough to go after the wife of That prince?