Chapter 4: Attendant
Lysandra was gone when I woke up again. The light coming in around the curtains was brighter this time, but the pressure of her body against mine, the feeling of her arms around me, both were gone.
I rolled over, hoping she was just turned the other way. It was an enormous bed, but she wasn’t in it. It was hard not to be disappointed that she was gone.
“What have I gotten myself into?” I wondered aloud.
A part of me wanted to blame last night on Fae magic. That she used her power to seduce me, but deep down, I knew that wasn’t true. My intuition, which if she were to be believed, was a gift from my Fae ancestry, had yet to let me down.
I didn’t know her well enough to tell if she cared about me, but she didn’t strike me as the type to engage in meaningless sex. In fact, when she mentioned how much some of the Sidhe, particularly the male Sidhe, liked to have sex with humans, she seemed somehow disappointed in them for it.
This would be a lot easier if she were human. Since I’d been here, I’d tried to remember everything I had ever heard about the Fae. Mythology was never much of an interest of mine, but what girl didn’t have an obsession with fairies growing up?
The things I’ve experienced over the past week contradicted a lot of what I remembered learning. Lysandra, especially, didn’t seem cruel or capricious. I’d also learned that though most Sidhe favored one season above the others, that the whole Summer and Winter courts thing was mostly a human invention. Lysandra definitely favored Winter, but it wasn’t a matter of good Fae vs evil Fae, and though Madb and Titania were real, they hadn’t been seen on earth in thousands of years.
Most of the Sidhe of old, the ones that made names for themselves in the folk memory of humanity had left this realm and went to the Otherworld millennia ago, taking their rivalries and wars with them.
“Lysandra is a busy woman. It’s understandable that she had business to attend to early in the morning.” I told myself.
I just wish I believed myself. My body drew me out of my thoughts, shouting its needs at me. Figuring I couldn’t fight the inevitable, I threw the covers off and sat up. I looked around for my dress. None of my clothes were anywhere to be seen.
There was a bundle of fabric on the table next to the bed that I was sure wasn’t there last night. I picked it up and unrolled it, finding out it was a silk robe and a pair of slippers.
I slipped my arms into the leaves and tied it closed around me. I felt a little silly wearing a silk robe and fuzzy slippers, while also wearing a small fortune in jewelry that I hadn’t taken the time to take off last night.
I had just stepped out of Lysandras’ room, and was looking around, trying to remember which way my rooms were when Fiora came around the corner.
“Lady Aria!” she said as she came to a stop. “Lysandra instructed me to give this to you once you woke.”
She motioned me back into Lysandra’s chambers and waited for the door to shut before turning to face me. She held out a folded piece of paper. I took it and opened it up. It was much heavier than what I was used to, almost like card stock.
Aria,
I am sorry I could not be here when you awoke, but a matter of some importance has come up that I must attend to.
You should be safe within these walls. You can trust Fiora and Sèadna, but be wary of anyone else. Things are moving faster than I had foreseen.
When things have settled down, I hope to finish what we started last night.
Take care of yourself. Should I not return, do what you have to in order to stay safe. Fiora will see to it you have anything you need.
Yours,
Lysandra
I read it over twice before looking up.
“Fiora, what does she mean something came up? Why is she telling me to be wary of the others?” I asked, confused.
“She didn’t say. A messenger came real early, and she left right after, only taking the time to write this note and give me my instructions.” Fiora said, uncertainty and fear in her voice. “She also gave me this to give to you, with instructions that you should never be without its contents.”
Fiora held out something wrapped in cloth. I took it from her and unwrapped it. Inside the cloth was a wood box with brass clasps. Handing the cloth back to Fiora, I opened the box. Sitting on a cushion of blue velvet was an iron dagger in a sheath and another snowflake pendant, this one made of platinum instead of silver.
“What’s this?” I asked, confused by its contents.
“The dagger, it’s cold Iron, Lady.” Fiora said, as if saying it were a live viper.
“Cold Iron? Why would she leave me these, with instructions to have them with me at all times?” I asked, my confusion growing.
“Cold Iron is fatal to the lesser Fae, and poison to the Sidhe. She fears you will be a target. Please be careful with them.” Fiora explained.
“What is going on?” I asked, after securing the pendant’s chain around my neck.
I didn’t have a belt I could attach the dagger’s sheath to, so I wrapped it in the cloth and held it.
“There was an attack.” Fiora said, barely louder than a whisper. “She said nothing to me about it, but the messenger was the steward of another of her holdings in France. He was injured. It can only mean an attack.”
“Who would attack Lysandra? Isn’t she really powerful?” I asked, stunned by the news.
“She is, but there are many powerful Sidhe, and most of them don’t get along. It could be one of her peers, finally making a move against her. Or a lesser Sidhe trying to move up in the world.” She explained.
“What should I do?” I asked.
It surprised me at how worried I was. Not for myself, but for Lysandra. I was just getting to know this strange new world I found myself in, but I was absolutely certain I needed to help her.
“I don’t know. I wish I did.” She said, looking even more worried than I was. “Protect yourself. Be weary of others. What more can you do?”
“Thank you Fiora. I think I am going to return to my rooms. Could you have breakfast sent up?” I asked.
“Of course Lady Aria. I will see to it myself.” She said, setting off for the kitchen.
I followed her down the hall, but turned right where she turned left. I kept the dagger, and the letter held tight against my stomach as I walked. The manor was busy with Fae coming and going. None of them paid much attention to me, but I couldn’t help but feel my every move was being watched.
Most I saw at a distance, but those I passed in the hall paused and bowed their heads to me. Something they usually did when they came close. Most of them had seemed uncertain of me, and my role here, but they all knew Lysandra wanted me here, so they treated me with deference.
Instead of going right into my room, I went into the changing room first. It took me a few minutes of searching to find suitable clothes. A majority of the items on the racks and shelves were dresses, both casual and formal, lingerie, jewelry. Everything one would need for a night out dancing, a night at a formal dinner, or a night of seduction.
I’d have preferred a pair of jeans, my boots, and a t-shirt, but I doubt jeans had ever graced the shelves in this room. Even the most casual, everyday wear I could find here was finer than what I normally wore.
I settled for a midnight blue knee-length skirt, black leggings under it. I went back to the lingerie and got a garter belt and black leather garters that I put on over the leggings. I secured the dagger’s sheath in the garter, with the handle pointed down. That way, I could easily reach under my skirt and draw it if needed. I wanted to keep it concealed.
I went through the blouses until I found one that had long flowing sleeves and cut low enough that hopefully my cleavage would distract anyone who looked from the platinum pendant around my neck.
Thankfully, among the many pairs of shoes, there were some running shoes. I picked out a pair that were close enough to the right size and put them on.
Before leaving the room, I took off the jewelry from last night and set it on the counter.
The door to my room had barely swung shut before it was being pushed open again.
“Here is your breakfast, Lady Aria.” Fiora said as she sat the platter down on the table. “I hope you don’t mind, it’s nothing fancy.”
She lifted the cover, revealing a bowl of oatmeal, a second bowl of fruit, and a mug of coffee, just the way I liked it.
“This will do fine. I’ve lost my appetite, so it makes no difference what I eat right now.” I said as I sat down and read the letter from Lysandra again.
I wasn’t expecting to see anything different in it this time, but hoped to find some hidden message. Her handwriting was elegant and flowing, unlike any other I had seen.
I couldn’t get rid of the certainty that something had gone wrong. I couldn’t tell if it was my imagination locking on my worries or if it was my intuition.
I sat there, eating the food Fiora brought me, my motions mechanical, as if I were on autopilot, while I considered the letter and tried to figure out what to do.
Re-reading it for the dozenth time, I realized there was someone else I could ask. Someone Lysandra said I could trust.
“Fiora, is Lady Sèadna still in the manor?” I asked, looking up at the worried woman.
“Lady Sèadna? Oh, Lady Sèadna? I’m afraid not. She left last night, but we expect her back tomorrow.” She said.
“When she returns, could you let her know I’ve requested to see her?” I asked, disappointing that I’d have to wait.
“Of course dear.” Fiora said. “Try not to worry too much. I’m sure Lady Lysandra will be back before too long.”
“I’ll try. Please let me know if she returns, or if there is any news. I will stay in my rooms today.” I said.
“I will check in on you and bring you your lunch and dinner later. Ring if you need me.” She said with a warm smile, though her eyes looked worried.