If you must take the Danan princess as a mistress, I would not argue

Rowan tried to bow before the king and queen as they sat on their thrones, but Aislinn was quick to stop him. “Good day, mother, father,” the princess greeted them.

King Túathal smiled. “Good day, daughter. It is nice to see you enjoy yourself at one of these events.”

“I have a mind to dissolve and banish those fools who dare say such things about our little girl,” Queen Siùsaidh muttered.

“Same. We could make a show of it. Did they invent dunking booths yet? Sit those guys on a drop seat, throw a ball at a target, and drop them in a tank of freezing water,” Rowan explained with an annoyed expression.

Aislinn quickly jabbed him in the side with her elbow while her parents looked at him in pure confusion. “Let them talk. Their words hold no power over me. You taught me that a leader cares not for the prattling of fools.”

The king and queen looked proudly at their daughter. “That’s right, but it’s time we did away with such divisions. I have already sent invitations to Danan and Ossorian representatives,” Túathal spoke. He turned to Rowan and gave a knowing grin. “They were more receptive than I anticipated. A human scholar joined in their seasonal festivities and made a good impression.”

Rowan nervously shrugged. “We had some fun in Annfayn, I guess.”

Siùsaidh’s grin matched her husband’s. “You’re no scholar. You faced an army of demons led by the demon lord Eònan using the power of Vercingetorix, something that never once manifested in a human,” she revealed that they were well-informed of his actions.

“Your heroic deeds have more than earned you a place here in Corbenic,” Túathal told him. “Though whether or not I would entrust my daughter to you is another matter,” the overprotective father was suspicious of the man holding his little girl’s hand.

Aislinn’s cheeks turned bright red. “Father!” she hissed in embarrassment.

Rowan didn’t know how to respond. A torrent of emotions swirled through him. Isolde didn’t give him much time to think. The feline Ossorian, donned in a noblewoman’s dress that highlighted her feminine features, pulled him away from Aislinn. “I’m sorry, but this warrior promised me a dance!”

“Whoa!” Rowan almost lost balance when she pulled him to her side.

“He also promised me much more,” Isolde added with a playful wink.

“What?!” Aislinn’s blush returned to her angered face.

Isolde pulled him onto the dance floor and walked him through a traditional Ossorian dance routine. “I spoke to the chief. Slaying a demon lord with the power of the goddess has earned you the right to marry into our tribe,” she informed him.

“What?” Rowan was surprised. He wasn’t opposed to the idea, of course, it just seemed very sudden. Isolde was beautiful and strong, anyone would be lucky to be with her.

She rolled her eyes and nodded her head towards Aislinn. “If you must take the Danan princess as a mistress, I would not argue.”

Rowan’s mouth hung open as Isolde laughed at his flustered state. She also took no small amount of pleasure in the human nobles who thought it distasteful for a human to dance with an Ossorian. Isolde smirked and pulled him closer to hungrily press her lips against his. They caused quite a scene and annoyed Aislinn at the same time. Rowan was surprised, but he didn’t attempt to push her away.

Aislinn and Isolde took turns dancing with Rowan, a competition of sorts that he tried to negotiate to more peaceful terms. Their dispute was put on hold when an Ossorian and a human nobleman began to argue. Isolde rushed off to provide backup. Rowan was hot on her heels until Aislinn pulled him away and led him outside.

Rowan and Aislinn walked through the courtyard. The cool night air made her shiver for a moment. “The day went by fast,” he remarked.

“Only because you slept through to lunchtime,” she explained with a wry grin.

Rowan chuckled and shrugged. “The bed was too comfortable.”

Aislinn sat down on a wooden bench and bid Rowan to join her. “You look better now, but I would encourage you to tread carefully. My father was correct, no human has ever wielded that power before.”

He leaned back on the bench and gave her a confident smile. “I’ll be fine. I have you right here to keep an eye on me.”

She lightly blushed and looked away. “I won’t always be here. You will return to your time before long. I trust that medicine has seen significant advancements in the coming millennia.”

Rowan leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Whether I do or not, I don’t think I mind,” he admitted.

Aislinn was visibly surprised. “What of your home and family? Would you not miss them? You fought for their sake, did you not?”

He smiled. “I’m sure they’re fine now. The ritual worked, and you didn’t become Morrigan,” he looked ahead at a stained glass window. “I’d miss them, sure. I really do want to see them again. But if I can’t,” he looked at her again. “I’d be happy to stay here.”

Aislinn’s cheeks turned a reddish hue. A smile formed on her lips as she disregarded her own warning and leaned closer to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Rowan wrapped an arm around her lower back and closed the distance between them.

Rowan’s heart raced in his chest as he shared another kiss with the mythical princess. He held her close, sharing her warmth. His desire to hold her urged him on. He leaned back on the bench and pulled her to sit on his lap.

Aislinn’s giggle was muffled by Rowan’s lips. She sat on his lap sideways and leaned forward, pressing her body against his. The princess was trapped by his firm embrace, both of his strong arms wrapped around her back. He made her feel safe and loved, and silenced the nagging thought that he would be ripped away from her in a moment’s notice.

An eternity seemed to pass before Aislinn pulled her lips away from his. She smiled and gently stroked his cheek. “I don’t want you to go either. You have a place here, with me,” she spoke softly, her voice filled with love and affection for him. “I won’t tolerate mistresses, however. Especially stray cats with axes,” she joked.

Another brief kiss quickly silenced Rowan's laughter. He caught a familiar sight in the corner of his eye, making his heart freeze in his chest. “Wait. We have company. Get ready,” he warned her.

Aislinn leapt off Rowan and held a bolt of magic in her hand. Rowan stood up and put himself between Brenin Llwyd and Aislinn.

“It is time to go, Rowan,” the king of mists spoke. His voice came as a whisper.

“Go where?!” Aislinn demanded.

“From whence he came,” Brenin Llwyd replied. A thick mist rolled through the courtyard and surrounded them.

Isolde leapt from a window to attack the strange figure, but her fist passed through Brenin Llwyd. “What is this creature?!”

“Wait…!” Rowan froze in place. He was torn between his wish to see his family and his desire to stay with Aislinn.

A tear rolled down Aislinn’s cheek as the magic faded from her hand. “I love you,” she whispered and pushed him forward.

Rowan became transparent due to Brenin Llwyd’s magic. He turned around and vanished just as he confessed his feelings for her.