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Peggy had perked up at Nic’s description, but said nothing about it. Skye knew why, though. The lass had gotten her love of the Yuletide season from her loving servant. Peggy and Skye made it a point every year to bake sweets or buy gifts for the surrounding village children. Most families couldn’t afford both a gift and sweets. Moonstone Castle was one of the few places in Alcon where commoners could have both.

Once Skye was old enough; she and Peggy would bake cookies, tiny cakes, and hard candies. Lord Moonstone paid for all the ingredients, but wanted none of the credit. He didn’t want commoners from the surrounding areas to abandon their current lords, and cause him grief over a little charity. So he made it seem as though Skye and Peggy did it all on their own. He occasionally even gave them half bolts of cloth to hand out so the children could have new clothes.

It was the only time of year her father was genuinely kind. Everything he did in life was motivated by greed, or so Skye had always thought. Yuletide was the only time she felt he would let his guard with her slip. She never understood why her parents were kind one day, and then cold the following hundred. If not for Peggy and Tidas, her childhood would’ve felt very lonely.

After filling in Peggy on the whole of the situation; the old woman asked: “So yer hair changed when ye healed the prince? That’s odd... Do Shepherds always have somethin’ strange like that happen when they learn a new trick?”

“Ack! Tis not a trick! It’s called a trait, or an aspect. It varies book to book, but it’s all the same.. I swear, ye do that on purpose..” Skye trailed off as she looked at two dresses Peggy had picked for her to choose from.

One dress had a deep, dark green color, with silver trim, and a relatively deep V-shaped neckline. The other was a spring green with bright gold-colored trim, and a more modest neckline. Skye would usually choose the more modest dress, but she felt like she didn’t need to anymore. Tidas was about to be her husband, and she’d thought she would no longer need to worry about unwanted advances from men. She merely wanted to entice her husband while they ate a late luncheon before the wedding.

.....

When Peggy had called to Skye from her bathroom, she’d immediately turned from her bed and entered. Maevis was hiding in her room when the men had begun to lug large tubs of hot water in from the courtyard. When the last one was filled, they nodded to Peggy and their young lady, then left. While Skye stripped, Peggy added her special scent to the water. It almost instantly filled the room, wafting out for Maevis to smell.

Maevis fluttered in cautiously. Upon seeing Skye’s naked arse, the old fairy knew no one else was around. She went over to a small table Peggy used to hold all the things she would need to tend to her lady. Soap, a brush, a nail tool, and a small bottle of oil sat on top of it. Maevis popped the cork on the bottle to smell it better, smiling as the pleasant smell of citrus and cherry blossoms filled her nose.

It was an odd smell to be found so far north, but it suited Skye well. The old Fae shared a smile with the lass as she climbed into the tub. The look of bliss on her face as she slid into the warm made Peggy chuckle. Her lady had always loved a good soak, no matter her age.

Maevis nodded to Peggy as a cue to take their leave. She smiled at Skye before saying; “We’ll be out in your courtyard until you’re ready to get out. If you need us, let us know.”

The two exited the room, leaving Skye to her thoughts. She had left Tidas standing at the front gates in her worry. He probably headed straight to her father’s quarters after speaking with his men. Skye was going to go to her parent’s rooms, but decided to freshen up instead. The hot spring had been wonderful, making her skin and hair pleasantly soft. But she’d missed her scented oil.

Everything Felicia had said ran through her mind. She felt terrible for the poor lass. No one should ever suffer the way she had. Skye knew it wasn’t Felicia’s or her fault, in any way. It had been sweet of the lass to worry for Skye’s feelings, but she understood her place in the world well. She was a pawn to be moved about for the benefit of her father, then husband, once she’d married.

The men made all the decisions, not her. And it had been Jacob who’d abused Felicia, not Skye.

Tidas had turned out to be her salvation from a very terrible, and most likely very short, life. Thinking on the plans Jacob had for her sent a frosty chill down throughout her body. She knew every mark on Felicia was really directed at her, which terrified her.

Skye scrubbed herself clean, then sat for a while to try to calm down before yelling for Peggy. She didn’t want to scare herself with images of things she’d never let happen in the first place. Skye had power, and was growing less and less afraid of the idea of revealing the fact.

Tidas was to be her husband; a prince and a member of the RMC already. She knew she’d be separated from him constantly if she were to keep her true self hidden. The most logical way to at least guarantee a chance to fight along side him, would be to reveal herself and become indoctrinated into the military.

Alcon was not like a lot of the other kingdoms. King Magnus may have kept magic users in service longer than most, but he also gave them better benefits than most. Woman could earn their personal rights as well as their own money. Commoners and the nobility alike could obtain wealth and status by serving.

Skye wasn’t interested in the benefits; just the ability to stay by Tidas’ side. The uniforms for the women looked comfortable, too. Skye would always see a few female soldiers wearing them whenever she would go to the capital. She’d even modeled her riding attire after their design.

‘Is that my answer? Bust me self out to the king? Would Magnus even allow it?’

Skye was in deep contemplation by the time Peggy and Maevis had come back inside. The old woman looked a little bit off as she washed her lady’s hair. Occasionally she’d stop and stare at Skye with a strange look in her eyes. Like a combination of sadness and pride. She’d thought to ask her servant what was wrong, but decided against it. From the way she scrubbed at and washed her hair; now was not a good time.

Maevis had to hold back her laughter at the sight of Peggy’s angst and Skye’s confusion. They had been discussing the two marriages and grooms when the subject turned towards character comparisons. She’d told the old woman about Skye and Tidas’ little tryst in the woods the night before. Peggy had turned red with anger as she’d screamed something about roots. It took Maevis almost the entirety of Skye’s bath to calm her ire.

After almost fifteen minutes or so of the woman ranting, Maevis said: “I understand your dismay, but the two are to be wed either today or tomorrow. And it’s not as though they’ve dishonored themselves..”

“And how could ye possibly know?!” Peggy snapped at the tiny fairy.

Maevis grinned almost wickedly before replying: “With how stiff that lad looked when they’d returned... Hahahaha! No: trust me.. Skye’s honor is intact. Although I’m not so sure about the prince’s sanity.”

Peggy had eased some upon hearing it, but still felt like giving the prince a serious beating. Skye had explained how Tidas tried to keep them south bound, to avoid the nomads. It had been terrible luck that they were passing through Warrick Forest to get to the outlying cotters. Peggy understood the prince wasn’t to blame for the events that had occurred, but still wanted to give him a good thrashing, and Skye as well.

If she’d simply run away when the prince had told her, Skye never would’ve had to take another life. Peggy had always felt guilty for not being with her and Genie on the day she was almost kidnapped as a child. Even though Peggy knew it had nothing to do with her, she still felt like if she’d been there, Skye wouldn’t have gone through the ordeal in the first place. Peggy knew it was a baseless guilt, but felt it none the less.

The old servant also understood why Skye had turned back. Not just because of who Tidas was, but because she loved him so. It had taken forever for the silly lass to figure it out. Skye was the type to put her all into the things and people she cared about. Her connections were few, but strong. Skye would easily let herself be hurt, or even killed to save one of those closest to her; without a second thought. And that impulse scared Peggy more than anything else in the world. She felt it would be the cause of Skye’s death one day.