Alwyn shook her head in disbelief, "No, it cannot be..." she whispered.

Mamma Leena came closer and put her hand on Alwyn's shoulder. But she removed it as if burned, turning her back on Mamma Leen and Oona, who was still on the ground. Mamma Leena helped her stand up, but Oona continued to keep her gaze to the ground, trembling.

"It's true, Alwyn," said Mamma Leena. "Oona is your child."

"But Oona is half-fay. That means ─"

" ─ That means her father is a human man," Mamma Leena continued.

Alwyn shook her head again, pressing her fingers on her temples as if trying to understand. She forgot about one and all. About the place she was, about the Queen, and about... Ferry.

"But how can this be? Why don't I remember anything?" she whispered.

"Because you wanted to forget," said Mamma Leena. "About everything. Giving her to me to raise her wasn't enough. You wanted to forget she ever existed. You flew over the Valley of Oblivion right after you gave birth. You wanted to wipe off the mere memory of her. Because the memory of her would've brought back to you the love you had for that man. The one who betrayed you. The one who broke your heart into pieces... Forgetting about her was forgetting about him."

Alwyn was wringing her hands, walking to and fro and talking to herself, "It can't be, it can't be," she kept repeating. "I couldn't have loved a human. I've always despised humans," she said, gnashing her teeth.

"It's because you loved that man so much you despise them now," Mamma Leena gently said.

But Alwyn was not listening. She turned to Oona. A glitter of hope sparkled in the eyes of her daughter. But it vanished as soon as her eyes met Alwyn's gaze.

"Look at her," Alwyn said in disgust. "She's the weirdest of the Wandering Fays. Always careless and childish. Curious and prankish. Always looking for something..."

"The same way you are," said Mamma Leena.

Tears came to Oona's eyes. She was keeping her gaze to the ground again, trying hard not to let them fall.

Alwyn grinned, "She's nothing like me. She lacks ambition. Will and the sharpness of mind. She's passionate at the sight of the smallest things. And she never sees the obvious."

"And what is wrong with seeing beyond the obvious?" Mamma Leena asked. "That proves she's not as careless as some might think."

"I don't care!" Alwyn shouted, walking away from Oona as if never wanted to see her again.

She stopped in front of the Queen's throne and after a small bow, she asked, the same despair in her voice, "Is it true, your Majesty?"

The Queen nodded.

"Then I must fly over the Valley of Oblivion once more to forget about everything," said Alwyn, her fists clenched. "I would fly thousands of times more only to forget I've ever kissed clumsy human lips... That I gave my heart to one of their filthy kind."

Fae Queen laughed, "My dearest child, we shall always fall in love with a human. Even if you'll fly over the Valley of Oblivion a thousand more times, your love for the humans is buried so deep inside you, it takes a single flutter of memory to bring it back again, stronger than ever."

Alwyn stamped, "Never! Why should we need humans anyway? When I'm going to rule over these lands, no human will step foot in Tenalach and ─"

But her words made the Queen burst into laughter, "Rule over these lands? Why would you think you shall ever become a Queen?" she asked.

For the first time, Alwyn was hesitating. "I was only saying..."

Fae Queen raised from her chair. "The people of Tenalach already has a Queen. And it shall have a Queen for many summers to come," she said in a firm, loud voice. She was now talking to the crowd. "Tenalach shall last until the end of times, and I will take care to be in peace and prosperity until the end of times," she ended and the crowd began to cheer.

"Long live the Queen!" all the Fae People said in one voice.

The Queen turned to Alwyn, her arms wide open.

"It takes more to be a Queen, my little fairy," she said. "The ambition, the strong will, and the sharpness of a mind you have spoken of are only the tools of a mind's scheme and of a small soul. It takes passion. But also knowing when to let go. It takes sacrifice and putting your people above anything else."

Alwyn was breathing hard, "I am not the enemy here," she said. "She's a traitor," she added, pointing at Oona.

"And she'll be punished as such, shall she be found guilty of betrayal," the Queen continued.

Hearing the Queen's words, Ferry gasped. Oona raised her eyes at the sound of him gasping. She forced a smile as if wanting to let him know she would be all right. But Ferry knew it wasn't so. That moment, Poppy dashed from the crowd and took Oona in her arms.

"I won't let them hurt you, Oona," she said between tears. "I won't let them," she sobbed, burying her face in Oona's dress.

Oona caressed her hair, whispering comforting words she wasn't even believing.

Mamma Leena stepped closer to the Queen. "Your Majesty, don't you think you are rushing? What's really the child's fault? "

The Queen looked like giving it a thought. She then turned towards the crowd. "We are not here to judge foolish acts and hidden passions," she said, her voice breaking the cheers. "My heart is kind. And from the kindness of my heart, I forgive you for your foolishness," she said and everyone could breathe easily.

"There isn't much before the Moon will leave these lands," she continued. "Let's celebrate! Let the music play!" she said and the hoorays and cheers filled the air once again.

The Queen's warm eyes embraced the whole quivering crowd and, with a curtsy she took in front of everyone, she retired to her throne.

Ferry thought that maybe she, in her generosity, was to forgive them and let them go. But he couldn't be more wrong.

As soon as the crowd scattered, heading in groups away from the Palace, cheering and singing, Fae Queen's face turned stone-still like an old rock that the waves can harm no more, no matter how furiously they hit.

Standing still in front of the Palace that was silently watching every move she made, the Queen caressed the air around. Then, with large, tense moves of her arms, she looked like she was building something. Soon, a wall rose around them. A wall of thin, clear mist, separating them from the rest of the crowd. The Palace, the Orb of Light, the Queen and the Wandering Fays, Poppy and Oona, the Guards, Doruh and Mamma Leena, they were all inside that fortress of mist. Ferry and his friends were also trapped inside that jail of illusions. Only Alwyn retreated somewhere in the vicinity of the Orb watching everyone with a wild look on her face.

Outside the wall, the Fae People celebrated, hopping, and singing, and dancing. The music, the laughter, and the cheers couldn't be heard anymore. Ferry touched the wall that was trembling in the soft wind's blow. It was as hard as a stone wall that not even a hundred hammers could break. And judging from the careless faces of the Fae People outside, he could tell no one was seeing or hearing beyond the wall.

Ferry looked at his friends, so close, yet so far away from him. He had to pass the Guards to reach them. But now, everyone waited in perfect silence, eyes glued to the Queen's hands.

When the charm was complete, the Queen was still standing. Her aura was pale again, with that strange, gray hue. Her smile had vanished. Her gaze had darkened.

"Forget Alwyn and Oona," she said to the Guards. "We shall deal with them later. We have more important things to do. Now, where were we?" she said, heading towards Ferry. "Oh, the Moon's Tear," she added when she reached him. Ferry could feel her breath on his cheek. Fae Queen was never that close, yet he didn't dare to watch her. Instead, he could feel the heat her being emanated. He also felt a bitter-sweet scent, of fresh spring flowers mixed with dead, rotten ones. Her presence, so close to him, closer than to anyone there, gave him the creeps.

"You can give it willingly," she continued, "and join the feast. Resist it, and you and your friends will suffer. So, sweet Prince of Akna, won't you give me the stone?"

Ferry took a few steps back. But the Queen didn't let go, waiting with her hand stretched out. Ferry retreated some more, hitting against the wall of mist. He knew he hadn't any chance without the feathers. At the Queen's signal, the Guards headed towards him with a determined pace.

"Leave him alone!" he could hear Baldie's desperate voice, trying to reach him. But Doruh, the warrior, stopped him on his way.

"Don't touch him!" Matilda shouted, trying desperately to escape her mother's arms.

But what was the use? Ferry knew there was no way out.

And then a white petal fell from the sky.

⃰

At first, he didn't know what was happening. The Moon was at its full, lightening brightly and blinding everyone. The Guards retreated from that blinding light that fell in the middle. His friends' shouts ceased. Even Fae Queen was standing stock-still, unable to understand what was happening. It wasn't the moonlight. It was a being of white, fresh light like a gentle spring breeze. The being detached from the moonlight and came towards Ferry, smiling. It was Lavender Sky.

Ferry needed to rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming. It was indeed, Lavender Sky. But not the Lavender he knew. Her skin was just as pale, but with an eerie, wet glow, as if coated with stardust. Her attire was different from the ones of the fairies in Tenalach. She was wearing a cape tailored from a thousand chain links like the finest fish scales, glowing in the moonlight with her every move. She looked like a Lavender a thousand times more determined. More beautiful. And stronger. At her sight, his Guardians kneeled. Lavender looked at Fae Queen and Ferry knew she wasn't afraid of her.

"Nobody touches him," she calmly said. For a moment, the Orb dazzled her. She then turned towards the Queen in a certain way as if reading something in that giant globe.

The Queen didn't seem as calm and confident as before. "Well, well, well," she tried to pull round, "it looks like surprises don't cease to end. Princess Kailin of Akna. Or how are your people calling you now? The Fugitive Princess? To what do we owe the pleasure?" she asked coming towards her like a nice host.

Lavender didn't look intimidated. She looked her dead in the eye.

"I want you to let the boy and his friends go, fairies and humans. You don't need them. If they're to be your prisoners, take me instead."

Ferry couldn't follow them anymore. It was like they were talking in riddles.

The Queen laughed. "Why would I do that when one and all are so useful to me? And now you're here, too. Two of the successors of the Great Fairies of Akna. Oh, but wait! You were repudiated by your own mother as I can remember. And your people banished you. You left them when they needed you the most. And for what? For the love of a mortal. How much of you is a fairy after all this time?" she asked. "A hundred years in the world of humans is a long time, even for a fairy. And a hundred years of not using your fairy powers must have been weakened you."

Ferry took a long breath. What did the Queen mean? What game was she playing? She seemed like she could read his mind, too.

"Oh, it seems like the Moonlight Boy doesn't know. Should we tell him?"

All eyes were now on her. And the grin on her face foreshadowed nothing good.

"As I was saying, we are honored to be in the presence of the Princess of Akna, the proud successor of the Great Fairies," she recited in a solemn voice. Then she suddenly turned to Ferry, "Your sister."

Ferry shook his head, "I don't believe you." But then he saw that Lavender Sky was looking away. "Is that true, Miss Lavender? Are you ─ Are you my sister?"

For the first time, Lavender was hesitating. "It's true, Ferry..." she said in a low voice. "I wished I could tell you sooner... I wished you didn't have to learn this way."

Ferry felt his body feeling warm and the pulse pumping in his ears. "Why didn't you tell me? Why isn't anyone telling me anything?"

The Queen chuckled, "As you can see, everyone you trusted is hiding the truth from you. How many other things are they hiding? How can you trust them still? Why can't you give me the Moon's Tear? You don't need it. You have great powers. You're a fairy. And not just any fairy," she whispered like sharing a secret with him. "You're Garrett, the Spear Carrier. The Lost Child of Fairies. Your power has no limit. You don't need the stone... " she hissed in his ear.

All this time, Ferry has been holding the Moon's Tear in his hand. He's seen the power of the stone. He didn't know its other powers, but it seemed important to the people of Tenalach. Maybe he didn't need it after all. But for him, it was priceless for one reason only ─ it was a gift from May.

"Ferry, look at me," he heard Baldie. His voice quivered and he looked at his last shift, "I know you shouldn't trust me. But please, do it just this time. If you give her the stone, we're all lost."

Ferry thought it would've been so easy to just give them the stone. It had brought him nothing but trouble. He was tired. Tired of running, of hiding, and being afraid. Maybe it was better that way. To end all the mess he got himself and his friends into. But that meant not seeing the people he loved ever again. And the very thought made him freeze.

"Come, Moonlight Boy! Give me the stone..." Fae Queen said in a sweet voice.

Ferry stepped away from the wall. He looked the Queen dead in the eye, "No."

Lavender nodded, smiling. And Izzy winked again. With the corner of his eye, Ferry saw he managed to untie his hands and set himself free. As slick as a lizard, that was Izzy.

"Fear not the moonlight, Ferry," Lavender told him.

That was it! He needed to reach the moonlight. Right now, he was in the shadow of the Orb. He looked at the Moon and he saw it decreasing. There was no time. Without waiting any further, he jumped right in the middle of the mist fortress. Before he could touch the ground, he felt a bolt of hot, sharp steam grazing by his left ear and then he found himself knocked down. It all took a second. Oona's sharp, short scream woke him up.

The Queen's hand was lifted in the air, a twirl of green steam oozing from her fingers. And Izzy was to the ground.

Thank you so much for being such loyal readers of this story for so long! You know what to do :) I feel blessed with readers like you :)