Advent Story 2012: The Fae World: Willow: On Earth (part 7)

[k_a_webb]

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

George was writing in his notebook when Willow stepped back into his office, but he looked up the moment he realised he had company. Smiling she took a couple of steps more into the room, still hoping that Alder was following her, and then she found herself unsure of what she should do. The Prime Minister was still a stranger to her, even though she’d followed his advice, while Alder was still a mystery. He was an elder because his family had been decimated in the same way hers had been and he needed her backing, but at the same time he was almost totally independent. She was almost certain that if she hadn’t forced the fae into moving to Earth he would have left the fae world behind.

Trying not to seem too interested Willow turned to see of Alder had followed her. She wasn’t entirely sure why she thought he wouldn’t, because no matter what anyone thought of her she was royalty, but if anyone was likely to do the absolute opposite of what she wanted them to do it was Alder. When her eyes met his she did her best to hide the joy that had welled up inside and instead did the thing she knew she was meant to do.

“George, this is Alder, an elder of the fae council,” she said, introducing Alder first because it seemed to make the most sense. “Alder, this is George, the Prime Minister of England.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Alder said, his voice full of pleasant greeting that could have been faked, because Willow had no real idea of how Alder saw humans.

“Likewise,” George replied, sounding almost identical to Alder.

Sighing, Willow tried not to think too much of what they were thinking, but focus on what needed to be done before the morning. There were still things she needed to tell George about the fae and she didn’t know what his reaction was going to be to those things. He seemed like he’d easily deal with anything she told him, which was making her more comfortable with talking about the fae, the mer, and the shifters. It was just her worries getting the better of her again. With Alder at her side she felt like she could take on the world, so she was glad George had convinced her to get him.

“There are things we need to talk about George,” Willow said, turning her full attention onto the human sitting behind his desk. “If we’re going to be working together to make this situation a success then I need to tell you about the fae, even though I know exactly what the other elders would say if they knew I was talking to any human about our race.”

Nodding, George smiled. “I’m glad you’re happy to talk to me about the fae. I was thinking about it when you left and I want to know everything I can about the fae, their magic, and what things I might have to expect in the next few weeks.” He glanced down at his notebook and then back at Willow. “Why don’t the both of you sit down? I have a feeling we’re going to be here a while.”

Willow sat in one of the chairs that was opposite George’s desk. She’d noticed them before, but it had seemed important to keep close to the door then. Now that she had Alder with her she gave herself the freedom to be comfortable, because she didn’t want to be scared all the time of everything, and it was time to start acting like the princess she was rather than a scared girl who wanted someone else to deal with everything. Alder sat next to her, looking much more at ease than she felt she could ever be.

“The fae travelled to Earth through a doorway created by magic,” Willow started, tapping one finger gently on the desk as she put her thoughts into a logical order. “I, due to my bloodline, have certain abilities that some of the other fae don’t, and some of the other bloodlines have abilities that I don’t. If you’d like I can give you a list of all the different bloodlines who have travelled to Earth, so you know who has certain abilities.”

“That would be very useful.”

“Good. I’ll get that to you by the end of…” Willow bit her lip, trying to work out what day it was on Earth, what month it was, and what season. “The end of the week?”

“It’s a Tuesday,” Alder said quietly, reminding her because he had a better grasp of the calender on Earth than she had. “The month is January, and it’s winter.”

“Thank you,” Willow replied. “I think the end of the week works for me, if it would work for you, George.”

“Yes, that would work.” George lifted his head and smiled at Willow. “I guess we work by a different calendar to you.”

“It’s about three months difference. On our world it’s Samhain, the last day of the month you call October, and here it’s just after the winter solstice.” Willow sighed. “We lost a season, but it’s better than losing our lives.” Pushing away the pain she felt was easier when she focused on the next thing she needed to say. “Some of the shifters also followed us, although the majority went with the Dragons to a different world, and it won’t be long until you have mer people in your seas, because they made the choice to follow us. They never buried their heads in the sand. I just had to guide them to a door that would bring them here safely.”

“The mer people are, I’m guessing, half fish half human.”

“Most of them are, but there are some half bloods that are more human. Basically there are three types of mer person: the mer who can only live in the sea; the mer who can live in the sea and on land; and the mer who can only live on land.”

Raising an eyebrow George wrote down everything Willow had said and then looked at her. “I never knew very much about the mer people.”

Willow smiled. “They’ve kept their secrets a long time.” She hadn’t even know about the mer who could live in the sea and on land until one had walked up to her. “The shifters that followed us include selkies.”

Mirrored from K. A. Jones Writing.