Final Ruling

“We have summoned you here today to deliver the queen’s second ruling in this, the matter of Ed’s trespass into our realm.”

The statement was spoken by an old dwarf with white hair. He had emphasised the word second.

His face was pinched and wrinkled. The top of his head was bald, while the sides and back of his head were covered in long, thin, and wiry tufts. He breathed slowly, taking deep breaths, as he looked first at Issabella, then to those present behind her.

The Hall’s gallery was again crowded with beings of the realm. They’d come to witness the ruling concerning the only occurrence in recorded history in which a sentence handed down by the queen that had not only been interrupted to the point of not being carried out, but warranted reconsideration.

“Issabella, for your part in the matter, the interference of the Guard in carrying out a sentencing in according with the queen’s ruling, it has been decided that you will receive leniency,” the dwarf said, wetting his lips with his tongue. “Leniency is granted in that your actions were taken to stop harm coming to your bonded mate. This is indeed an unusual situation. Our laws are on the side of one bonded mate doing whatever necessary to prevent harm to their partner. Your actions, though against our laws about preventing or interfering with the carrying out of the queen’s ruling, were deemed to have been done so in order to prevent harm to your bonded mate, and will not be held against you.”

Issabella nodded silently, her heartbeat quickening. She looked from one side of the panel to the other, at each of the fae seated there in turn. While she wasn’t sure what to expect further, this news gave her hope.

“In light of circumstances, in that we were unaware at the time of his sentencing, the queen has been forced to reconsider the sentence which was handed down previously.” There was a long pause. The old dwarf’s gaze rested on Issabella as he spoke, stroking the white beard on his chin, after which he sat in silence.

“Should Ed not be present, as he is the subject of this ruling?” Issabella asked. Eddus had only woken three days before, and although magic had been used to repair his injuries as much as possible, he was in no shape to move much at all, as his broken bones were not yet fully mended.

“It is the decision of the queen that it is sufficient that you hear the ruling and convey it to him, as he is physically unable to be present. You are his bonded mate, are you not?”

“I am,” Issabella told him, coldly. “We are successfully mate-bonded. We share the mark of our bond. I carry his child.”

The dwarf straightened in his seat. He turned and began speaking in hushed tones to the two others. To his right sat a youngish-looking brownie with silver hair, while to his left, a sprite, just over two hands tall in height.

The sprite stood momentarily on the stool she’d been seated on, then took flight. She flew to the right side of the dwarf, where she hovered while talking to her colleagues. The crowded gallery behind Issabella was filled with murmurs and whispers.

Ignoring those behind her, Issabella watched the three in front of her converse for a few moments. The sprite flew back to her seat, where she landed softly, then sat again, cross-legged. All three of them looked to Issabella.

“The queen is aware of your condition,” the old dwarf scowled, shaking his head. “It is regrettable that the union, as well as your gravidity, were not previously known by anyone within the realm prior to Ed being sentenced.”

Taking a deep breath, Issabella tried to calm the anger that surged within her chest. She blinked back tears of frustration as she felt her face get hot.

“Ed’s ruling and sentencing came the morning after we’d formed our bond,” she said, trying not to let any emotion be heard, but couldn’t prevent the spite in her voice. “There was hardly time to make an announcement.”

“It was most unfortunate.” Nodding, the dwarf stroked his beard again, twisting the ends of it between his fingers and thumb. While his face remained expressionless, his eyes seemed to watch Issabella with sympathy, or perhaps pity.

“The queen is aware now of the situation, and has come to a new decision on what is to be done.”

The brownie spoke, his accent not so thick as to not be understood, but strong enough that what he spoke came across very direct, and with no room for question.

“The new ruling will see Ed remain in this realm long enough to recover. He will be here to see your child’s pod produced, before he is returned to his realm.”

At these words, tears spilled down Issabella’s cheeks. Her anger still bursting inside at the fact that Eddus was not present for the ruling, she also felt an indescribable relief at hearing that he was not to be put to death.

“But,” the brownie continued, “upon his exit, Ed will be banished from this realm. He will not ever be permitted to return to our world. His original sentence will be carried out, should he ever return. And furthermore, it is the queen’s ruling that for the protection of our world, your child will never leave this realm.”

The brownie’s words took a moment to register. Issabella’s blood instantly ran cold as she realised what she’d heard. She had a feeling in her solar plexus as if she’d received a blow. Her gut wrenched, and a feeling of nausea washed over her.

“No...” she said, her voice weak. She fought to keep her legs from buckling under her. “How-?”

The hall was silent. The brownie’s announcement of the ruling had left everyone present speechless.

“The queen’s decision is for the safety of our realm, and for everyone in it.” The brownie’s words were again direct, even matter-of-fact.

The old dwarf’s eyes closed as he inhaled deeply. Exhaling slowly, he turned toward his colleague, shaking his head at him. He then turned his attention again to the pixie standing before the panel.

“This ruling is not ideal,” he said, “but it is the only ruling that could be reached that would ensure the realm’s safety while letting Ed- your human- remain alive.”

“But there is no danger to the realm.” Issabella found her voice, though when she spoke, she sounded to herself like a child pleading. “Eddu- Ed would never tell anyone about us!”

“It is the queen’s decision. It must be this way.”

“His child...” Issabella stammered, feeling cold and weak. Her hands moved to her abdomen, almost as if on their own. “...our child. If- if Ed is banished, and our child can never leave, he will not get to see- My mate will never know his own child!”

“Banishment was half the price of his life,” the dwarf said softly. “The ruling that your offspring remain in the realm is the other half. If Ed is to live, he cannot be allowed to return. But his being outside of our realm still places us all in danger. If our world were exposed, it could cause irreparable damage to us all. For Ed to remain alive, your child must remain within our realm as insurance. ”

“What?” Issabella was lightheaded. She could barely collect her own thoughts, let alone understand what was being said to her. “Insurance?”

“As I said, it is not ideal,” the elderly fae said. His lips pursed for a moment, and there was a sorrow in his eyes. “But for as long as your child is not allowed to leave the realm, it is hoped that Ed will never divulge our whereabouts, if for no other reason than to protect his offspring. This is the closest thing to a guarantee that we have that he will not expose the realm.”

“How will he ever know his child?”

The dwarf shook his head again, a pained look on his face.

“It is the queen’s ruling, if your bonded mate is to live,” the brownie spoke again, his accent no less thick, but his words softer, as if he now understood the impact of their meaning.

Issabella said nothing. She trembled, feeling nothing inside.