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k_a_webbAlder, even though he kept telling himself that it really had happened, couldn’t quite believe that he was an elder. The others hadn’t done much to help with the move, doing more to cause extra difficulties, because of their mistaken belief that travelling to Earth was a bad idea, and as much as he needed help from someone he was glad that he hadn’t had to deal with them. Instead, making a choice the other elders thought was another mistake, he got help from the friends he trusted. Without them he never would have been able to set up the medical tent in time, which was only just done, or got the rest of the camp ready.
When he looked around at what they’d managed to do Alder couldn’t help feeling a surge of pride. The ill fae were somewhere safe and the healers had been very pleased with the medical tent, every one else had somewhere safe to stay, and that left him with nothing else to do. It was the first time in days, so he should have been grateful to have a chance to relax, but he found that he wanted to keep busy, so he didn’t think too much. Being safe on Earth didn’t make the other problems they had fade away.
Taking one last look at the door Alder picked up the book and walked away. If Willow hadn’t made the same decision he had he knew, without any doubt, he would have left their old world behind, so he could keep what remained of his family safe. Knowing that made him wonder how many of the fae had made that choice before him, because there were more than enough doors around their old world for anyone who wanted to disappear to just do it. He was glad he’d waited. Meeting the Princess had changed his life, for the better, and he hadn’t had to leave his friends behind along with the world that was fading away.
In one corner of the camp Alder’s family, his friends, and his friends’ families had gathered together. Most of the fae were avoiding the borders of the place of magic, knowing that there might be humans on the other side, but he saw them as nothing more than a minor nuisance now that everyone he cared about was safe. He’d survived something that had killed more of the fae than anyone had believed possible and he felt capable of dealing with anything that might happen.
“Alder…” a male voice called, sounding unsure.
The voice seemed strangely familiar and when Alder turned to look he was unexpectedly unsurprised when he saw one of the elders who had gone straight to the medical tent. “Yes, Sorrel,” he replied, trying to keep his voice expressionless.
Sorrel was the one elder who’d listened when Alder spoke, and had, a couple of times, asked the other elders to think about what had been said rather than just reacting, so Alder was going to return the favour, but there was something about Sorrel that made Alder very uncomfortable. It could have been Sorrel’s emotionless eyes or, possibly, because no one knew exactly what magic Sorrel’s family had.
“I…” Sorrel tapped his foot on the floor, looking uncomfortable, and appeared to be doing his best not to look at Alder. “My sister woke up earlier,” Sorrel said finally, his voice breaking slightly. “I didn’t think it was ever going to happen and the healers told me the only reason it did was…” He sighed. “Willow made the right choice when she took control, because if she hadn’t we never would have made a decision. Fear and an inability to believe that we’d caused the problem stopped us from thinking straight.” He looked at Alder for the first time. “I’m sorry that I didn’t do more to help.”
“It’s understandable.” Alder shrugged. “Both Willow and I are young, so it was hard for you to take our worries seriously, but they weren’t just our worries. If you stepped outside even once during the last few years you would have realised that everyone was worried about what was happening, in part because they didn’t know why their family members were dying, and you weren’t doing anything.”
“We made mistakes, Alder, and I’ll admit that. Now we’re on Earth I want things to change, but it’s not going to be that easy, and you know that as well as I do.”
“Nothing is going to be easy. We’ve on a new planet, without homes, and we need to build up our lives again, so the way you can help, if you really are sorry about what happened, is to work with Willow and I. If we’re going to make Earth our home then we will need you.”
Nodding, Sorrel almost smiled. “Thank you.”
“What for?”
“Giving me a chance. You didn’t have to, after what happened before.”
“We all make mistakes.” Alder smiled. “Even elders.”
“It’s possible, but I’m not making any promises, Azalea might also have changed her opinion, because her three daughters have woken up.” Sorrel glanced at the medical tent. “She has another daughter in there who doesn’t seem like she will survive the night, but even getting three back seems like a miracle right now.”
“If Azalea does want to help then we’ll accept it gratefully.” Alder stopped for a moment, wondering if he’d made a mistake in speaking for Willow, but he doubted she’d hold it against him. “Surviving now that we’re here is the most important thing.”
“You’re right. I’ll talk to Azalea in the morning.” Sorrel bit his lip. “I doubt you’ll get any of the others to agree that Willow made the right choice and you made the right choice helping her, but they might help us because they want to survive as much as we do. I’ll talk to them when I have a chance. I just don’t think they’ll ever be happy about what’s happened.”
“They should have made a decision long before they did. If they had we wouldn’t be in this position now.”
“I agree.” Sorrel glanced back at the medical tent again. “I’ll talk to you again tomorrow. Right now I want to get back to my sister.”
“I understand.”
Mirrored from K. A. Jones Writing.