Page 42 of Anwen of Primewood (The Eldentimber #2)

I travel back to the manor in a daze. Suddenly, we are here, and I don’t remember the ride back. Galinor’s presence is a comfort to me, even if I fear this is the last I will see of the prince.

We walk through the door and are greeted with silence.

“They should be having dinner now,” I say. I’m not sure why I whisper, but it seems the right thing to do.

There is no one in the dining hall. There is no one in any of the sitting rooms or the library.

Dread settles in my stomach, and I cling tighter to Galinor’s hand. “Something has happened.”

“We don’t know that.”

I shake my head. I can feel something is wrong.

I lead Galinor to my parent’s chambers. Outside the door, servants linger. Many of the women dab at their red-rimmed eyes, and the men look ashen.

“What happened?” I demand. My fingers begin to tremble .

Brynna looks up, and when she sees me, her face crumples. “Oh, Your Ladyship,” she sobs.

Milton steps forward and gathers Brynna in his arms. He won’t look at me. “It’s your mother.”

“What about my mother?” My shrill voice echoes in the hallway.

“There’s been an accident.”

Brynna weeps louder at the words.

“Tell me what’s happened,” I demand again.

Milton only shakes his head. The hall churns, and I’m not sure I can stand much longer. Galinor wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me to him.

Brynna wipes her eyes and turns to face me. “She likes to go to him when he changes back—it’s so hard on him.” Her voice trembles and more tears spill onto her cheeks. “She went early tonight…he didn’t mean to…” She starts to sob. “He would have never.”

I pull away from Galinor and undo the lock on the door. With shaking hands, I open it slowly, afraid of what waits on the other side.

There is only one candle burning atop the table. The rest of the room is bathed in shadows. Beside the bed, my father’s white head is bent over my mother’s still form. Great sobs wrack his frail frame, but Mother doesn’t move. And there is blood. So much blood.

I go cold and begin to tremble. “What’s happened?”

Father’s head snaps up. He looks ancient—much worse than even when I left him.

“I did this,” he gasps. “She shouldn’t have been here.”

“No,” I whisper.

She can’t be gone .

Even as I fight the thought, I’m unable to deny the blood I see soaking the blankets.

“Leave, Anwen.”

I stand, staring at my mother’s body.

“Go!”

The funeral is beautiful, I suppose. The weather has warmed a little, and the autumn sunshine heats our shoulders as Mother is laid into the ground. For the first time in months, Father is out during the day.

Very few attend the funeral. Only those in Father’s employ—those who truly know how Mother died—stand with us. We’ve kept the news of her death quiet.

Galinor has stayed by my side the entire day.

Through the service and the meal—and now through the burial—he’s never been more than arm’s-length away.

I’m not sure what I would do if he weren’t here.

Father goes around as if sleepwalking. The curse is lifted, but his heart is shattered.

Although it’s truly not his fault, I’m not sure he’ll ever forgive himself.

But it wasn’t him; it was me. I killed her the day I stole the stone. If I’d only known at the time.

A tear trails down my cheek, but I don’t bother to wipe it away. I’ve been numb since we returned.

I need to say goodbye. As much as I don’t want to, I ask Galinor to return to the manor. He hesitates, not wanting to leave me alone, but finally turns away.

I stand here, staring at the mound of dark earth long after the service is over. My father and I are the only ones who remain.

A hand touches my shoulder. I turn and find Ergmin.

“I’m sorry, Anwen,” he says, his voice quiet.

“It’s my fault,” I answer.

He shakes his head. “I lied to you about the curse.”

What does it matter now?

“It does matter,” he says as if hearing my silent thoughts. “I didn’t lift it. It ended when your mother died.”

I shake my head, unable to grasp what he’s saying. “I don’t understand.”

“The curse was cast by your mother.”

My stomach lurches, and I turn away. “Leave me, old man.”

“It’s true.” Ergmin ignores me. “Long before you were born, like many desperate people before her, your mother was enchanted by the allure of magic.”

I close my eyes, trying to block out his words.

“She wanted children, and yet several years after your parents were wed, they still had none.”

I wrap my arms around myself, unable to block out his words but not wanting to listen to them.

“Not aware of the repercussions, she paid a witch for a fertility potion and gave it to your father. That is what truly caused the curse.”

“No!” I whip back around. “You’re lying!”

“Nine months later you were born.”

“I don’t want to hear this!”

Ergmin continues anyway, “Mortified—filled with guilt—your mother told your father it was the gremlin he had recently acquired that cursed him. He, of course, believed her. She came to me. She was desperate, but there was nothing I could do. Instead, I instructed your father to speak with the fairies.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I gasp. Ugly tears fall freely from my face.

“Gimlies are limited on the magic we possess, but we can see glimpses of possible futures. I saw only one outcome that didn’t end in your eventual death. Your mother begged me to keep you safe—even if it meant she had to die instead of you.”

“No,” I whisper.

He nods.

“So, you’ve known everything? You knew I would take the stone?”

“Yes.”

“You found me on the road. You knew exactly where I’d be, yet you pretended to be nothing but a simple farmer to deceive me!”

Ergmin nods. “Your father’s men would have reached you before you arrived in Estlebrook.”

“What else have you done?”

He studies me, his eyes serious. “I whispered the rumors of the stone to Dimitri.”

“You orchestrated the entire thing?” I demand.

My stomach rolls, and I think I might be ill.

“It was the only future where you didn’t die. I did what I needed to do, when I needed to do it, to keep you alive.”

“You kept me with you until it was finished,” I accuse. “You knew he was going to kill her! ”

“If you had gone home early, it would have been you. She loved you and your father very much.”

I swallow another sob.

“I am sorry.”

With nothing left to say, Ergmin leaves me. I glance across the grave at my father. He sits next to the tombstone, staring into the distance.

Thankfully, I doubt he heard any of the conversation.

“I don’t have to leave today,” Galinor says. “I can stay.”

He wears a winter cloak, and he’s ready to travel. His blue eyes aren’t as bright as usual, his expression not quite as warm.

He’s still the most handsome man I’ve ever met.

I cross my arms to block the chill. “You’ll be missed, Galinor. You’ve been gone a long time.”

He takes a step forward. “How long until I may return?”

“You will always be welcome here. You know that.”

“You know what I mean.” With a quiet smile, he takes my hands. “When will it be appropriate to ask for your hand?”

My heart breaks as I close my eyes and twine my fingers through his. “I can’t leave Father.”

Galinor steps closer, his eyes intent on mine. “You’ll never marry, Anwen?”

“What choice do I have?”

“You can both come to Glendon. We’ll take care of him together. ”

I shake my head. “He wants to stay here, where they were happy.”

He sets his forehead against mine and runs his fingers through my hair. “I’ll wait for you.”

I step into him, wrapping my arms around his waist as I lay my cheek against the fine material of his doublet. “You can’t do that. You’re a prince—it’s your duty to marry.”

“But I only want you.” He laughs softly as he says the words, and it’s a heartbreaking sound.

Galinor holds me for the longest time, but I break away first.

I need to let him go.

“I will never forget what you’ve done for me.”

His expression solemn, he says, “You’ve done as much for me. And I’ll never forget you.”

Before he goes, he kisses my hand, holding it to his lips for several seconds as if he can’t bear to let go. And then he’s walking down the steps and out of my life.

Five more steps.

Two.

“Wait!” I cry out.

Galinor turns, and I run into his arms. He crushes me against his chest, lifting me up. Our eyes lock, and we both know this is our moment. It’s all the time we’re allowed—and I will not waste it.

Before he can do the chivalrous thing and let me go, I press my lips to his. For half a heartbeat, he hesitates, startled…but then he returns my kiss.

My breath catches when Galinor’s lips move against mine in a desperate goodbye. It’s bittersweet and beautiful, perfect but heartbreaking.

And over too soon.

“You’ve meant everything to me, Galinor.” I gasp back tears. “I can’t tell you.”

He holds me tightly and presses his lips to mine just once more.

Finally, I let him go. He slowly releases me, and we stare at each other, breathing hard, broken hearts racing.

With a final nod, he turns down the steps and mounts his waiting horse. I remain at the manor’s entry, watching until he disappears down the lane.

“I love you,” I whisper, but he’s already gone.

Several minutes later, I turn my back on the lane. With a deep breath, I open the heavy door and walk into my cold, empty home.