Aftermath

"Ed... Ed, are you awake?"

His eyes shooting open, Eddus gasped in pain as he bolted forward in the chair he was seated in. Sleeping where he sat, he had not heard the knock at the door or its opening.

He groaned softly, exhaling slowly as he sank back into the chair. His right hip, lower back, and side spasmed, and he grimaced as he watched the door slowly open.

Eddus expected to see Dain enter the room, but it was Isabella who walked through the doorway. He felt his gut sink as she entered.

Her head down, she paused just inside the door, looking at him for a moment before shaking her head, lowering her eyes again. She then silently walked to the bed, where she lay down in a fetal position with her eyes closed.

The chair in which he sat was just beside the bed, having been moved from the other side of the room. During the past few days, he and Issabella had taken turns sitting there while the other sat or lay on the bed as Eddus was slowly recovering.

Issabella had lain down facing him. She'd been crying. Eddus could see it in her face. Her cheeks were puffy and flushed, and her eyes were red. There were streaks left on her skin by her tears. He could just reach her from where he sat, and he touched her hair. She withdrew, pulling her chin toward her chest.

"Ed?"

Eddus jumped, pulling his hand away from Isabella, and looking to the door. Dain stepped into the room. He wore a green waistcoat over a white collarless shirt that laced up the front. It was clear that he was not on duty.

"May I come in?"

He glanced uncomfortably from Eddus to the bed, and back again.

Glancing to his mate, Eddus nodded, unable to form words. The guard took a step further, and the door clicked shut behind him. The two of them looked at each other in silence for a few moments.

“I was present when she received the ruling,” Dain told Eddus. “When she left the Hall, she wasn’t well. It was like she didn’t know where she was. I had to make sure she got back to you all right.”

They both looked at the pixie lying on the bed. Other than when she'd pulled away from Eddus' touch, she hadn't moved. She remained in the fetal position, her chin tucked in, both hands on her stomach.

After a moment, Eddus looked at Dain.

"How bad is it?"

"Ed," Dain's brows knitted as he broke Eddus' gaze, looking away, "it's not for me to tell you what happened in the Hall. It's not my place. She was in a bad space, so I had to make sure she got back to you."

They both looked again at Isabella. Eddus nodded slowly. He wanted to thank Dain, but stopped himself. He still didn't quite understand why expressing one's thanks was not looked on as something good. He was grateful to Dain for having seen Isabella back to the room, but did not know how to appropriately convey it.

"Will you stay for a while?" he asked.

"I really shouldn't be here, Ed. You should be alone with your mate. You need to talk..."

"Please, Dain..."

Both men looked toward the bed. Isabella lay in much the same position, but her eyes were open and she looked up at them. The whites of her eyes were red, and she looked weary. She breathed in deeply and slowly exhaled, lifting her head slightly.

"Please stay," Isabella said. Her voice was weak.

Dain stepped forward, taking a knee so that he could hear her.

"Please. I can't- Tell him. I can't-"

Issabella's eyes widened, and she gasped, sitting up with an alarmed look. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she almost fell trying to get off the bed and past the guard before running to the door of the washroom. She entered the small room, closing it behind her.

Looking uncomfortable, Dain glanced at Eddus. They both turned to look at the closed door. From inside, they could hear muffled sounds of retching followed by coughing.

Eddus struggled to try and stand, but was unable to.

"You shouldn't walk," Dain said, standing.

Slowly, he approached the washroom door, knocking on it gently, but there was no response. He looked at Eddus, who was still turned in his chair, craning to see, and shook his head.

He then disappeared from Eddus's sight for a moment and returned carrying the chair that had been at the desk in the corner nook. He placed the chair facing Eddus and sat down.

"Let's give her a few minutes," he said, feeling uneasy as the two of them sat facing at one another.

It was Eddus who broke their awkward silence.

"How bad is it, Dain?" He groaned softly as he forced himself to sit up straight and then leaned slightly forward toward the guard.

Dain shook his head.

"It's not good," he said. "Look, Ed, this is a personal matter. I really shouldn't be the one to tell you about it."

"Dain, how long do I have?"

"Ed..."

"How long?"

"The queen has given you until Abbi produces her birthing pod."

The thought of what he was telling the human made Dain's stomach churn, and he felt sick. He winced, shaking his head as he watched as Eddus sat staring blankly in front of him, his breathing heavy. His insides lurched as he tried not to imagine what the human must have felt at being given this news.

After a few moments, Dain looked at Eddus, who sat staring blankly in front of him, his breathing heavy. He felt his insides wrenched as he tried not to imagine what the human must have felt at being given this news.

Eddus set his jaw. Using the thumb of his right hand, he wiped away a tear from his cheek.

"Well, I guess that it's better than it could have been." Raising his gaze, Eddus watched Dain turn his head away. "At least I'll get to see our child born before I die."

At these words, Dain quickly looked back at Eddus again in disbelief. He stared at him, slowly shaking his head.

"Ed, no." Dain had to stop talking and swallow hard. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the feeling of illness that overwhelmed him. Everything Eddus had just said had been wrong.

"Dain?" Eddus met his gaze.

"Ed, you're not going to be put to death."

"What- What do you mean, Dain?"

"We don't put our own to death, Ed."

Eddus thought about this for a moment, a puzzled look on his face.

"What are you sayinmg?" he asked.

"The queen's previous decision was overturned when it was revealed that you and Abbi are mate-bonded. By our laws, you cannot be put to death. You are now fae."

"I'm- what?"

"You're fae, Ed. From the moment your mate-bond was formed, you and Abbi became one. You are one of us now. You are fae."

"But you said I had until the baby was born." Eddus felt a chill run down his spine. He'd only just found out about Abbi's pregnancy days before, and could still not fully believe it.

Dain shook his head, a pained expression on his face. He suddenly felt queasy as he thought about the implications of what he was about to say.

"Ed, you've only got until Abbi produces a pod."

"What does that mean, Dain?" Eddus' heart began to race. "What is a pod? Isn't that when she gives birth?"

"Producing a pod is only the first part of the birthing process." Issabella's voice was weak. She slowly stepped out of the small washroom, closing the door behind her.

Walking slowly between them, she took a seat on the edge of the bed. She'd walked slowly, as if in pain as she moved.

Dain placed his head in one hand. He felt guilt at feeling relief that he would not have to finish telling Ed the bad news.

"I will produce a pod," Isabella took Eddus' hand, "like an egg, though not the same. Our child will be inside of it, where it will grow until it is ready to be born."

The lights in the room dimmed, an indication of the time of day. Isabella watched Eddus closely as he processed what she had just said. His confusion was apparent, and he looked at Dain.

"Then what does it mean that I only have until the pod comes?" Eddus asked, looking quickly at Isabella, who shook her head, tears running down her face.

"Ed, you'll be sent back to your realm." Dain took a deep breath. "You're being given until Abbi makes the pod, partly so that you have time to recover, and partly so that she can accompany you back, while the pod remains here."

Eddus slowly leaned back in the chair. Closing his eyes, he inhaled sharply at the pain he felt as he moved. He didn't quite understand all that he'd just been told, except that he was not to be put to death.

Issabella lifted her hand, still holding his, and kissed the back of his fingers. She held his knuckles against her cheek, trying her hardest to hold back her emotions.

Eddus opened his eyes. He looked at Dain, who said nothing, only turned away from him. He then looked at Isabella, still holding his hand to her cheek. With his free hand, he gently cupped the back of her head.

"Then it's not so bad," he said slowly. "They're going to let me live, right? So I won't be here when our baby is born, but I'll come back every chance I can."

Isabella dropped his hand, covering her face with both of hers. She made no noise, but it was clear by the way her shoulders heaved and her small frame quaked that she was sobbing uncontrollably. Eddus touched her knee and then looked toward the guard.

"Ed, you can't come back," Dain said through gritted teeth. He took several deep breaths, composing himself. "You've been banished from the realm."