Passing

Sorry for the long hiatus. Between moving and studying I've been hit with a massive bout of writer's block.

Lady Beth

Kit became more and more agitated as I explained my condition. By the time I was finished he was pacing back and forth his tail twitched rapidly as he walked.
“But you didn’t seem sick; I didn’t want to hurt you.” He said at last.
“You didn’t hurt me,” I said almost laughing at his tone.
Actually I was wondering myself, today’s ‘activities’ should have left me a wheezing exhausted wreck. Not that I wouldn’t have done it anyway.
“Actually,” Deana said guessing my thoughts. “I fed you a big dose of healing energy when we meet yesterday. Although you seem to have used most of it up. I didn’t know you two were going to jump into sexual athletics or I would have said something.”

Kit looked even more hurt.
“Its ok Kit,” I said. “I should have said something, I came here to find you once more and…well say that I was sorry; not start up our relationship again.”
“Surely there is something you can do?” He said to Deana.
“I can’t do very much more; her condition is beyond what I can repair.”
“Then I’ll go to Lady Beth and get permission to take her to the spring.”
And with that he stalked out the door.

~~~~

Deana and I entered the lodge building where Kit met us.
“Lady Beth will meet with us after dinner.” He said.
Just then Claire and Peter came running up.
“Where were you?” Claire asked. “We were worried.”
“What are doing with him?” Peter said glaring at Kit.
“We were talking with ‘Junior’ about his father,” Deana said.

I looked at Deana and she nodded her head at me, her eyes begging me to play along.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m sorry if I worried you.”
“Well I don’t like him!” Peter declared, drawing a low growl from Kit.
Peter! Behave yourself!” I said.

Deana grabbed Kit pulling him away before the hackles rose any further.
“Come on, ‘Junior’.” She said grinning at the name. “We have to talk.”

~~~

Dinner was a dark sullen affair with Peter radiating his dislike of the Resort, the food and Kit in particular. Afterwards Kit and Deana met me. We went up stairs to a large room that I could tell was used for meetings. Sitting at the head of the table was Lady Beth, but not as I knew her. I thought she had looked beautiful before but now she put that former image to shame. Her long hair was broken at the sides by long upswept pointed ears and her eyes were almost cat-like in appearance. I realized that this was what Claire had seen, the Elven Lady in her true form.

“Good evening, Melody.” She said in that lovely commanding voice of hers.
“My Lady,” I answered. There really wasn’t anything else I could think to call her.
“I apologize for the deceptions we have used on you. I hope you will understand, ours is a perilous existence in the mortal realm and secrecy is our main shield against those who would harm us.”
“Kit tells me your daughter has the sight. We have means to hide ourselves even from such gifted mortals but we have decided that enough deception has pass between us. We will trust to your good faith to keep our secrets and explain them as needed to your daughter.”
“I understand, my Lady. Thank you.”

She nodded slightly and continued.
“Deana and Kit has also informed me of your condition and Kit quite insistent…,” she gave Kit a withering stare, “…on taking you to the Spring of Life.”
“I’m not asking any special favors, my Lady. I only came to meet with Kit again and make my farewells.”
Beth smiled. “It is no special burden, my dear Melody. The Spring gives life energy and youth to any who bathe in it but those effects fade when one returns to the Mortal world. However, it also heals, and illnesses removed by the Spring rarely return. The problem is the path to the Spring is not safe at this time. The magics that protect our borders Underhill realm, have recently been breached and many dark creatures are prowling the Elfhame. That is the reason the Resort is closed, our leader Prince Terendil has every knight and magus working to reseal the borders and slay the beasts.”

“I can protect her!” Kit said.
She smiled.
“Young Kit, you are brave of heart and the Sword Masters speak highly of your progress but your skills are not yet up to facing the beasts of the Unseelie alone.”
Kit looked like he was about to protest but she stopped him with a raised hand.
“Don’t worry my young friend, Dannon currently stands guard at the Grove Gate and I think we can spare him from that post long enough to escort you to the Spring. The wards around the Spring are strong enough to protect you until he returns.”