called out, “Wardens, throw back the shrouds, and bring food and wine.”
Men in holly green uniforms appeared out of the shadows, and the heavy draperies were rolled up and tied back so that the new sunlight was able to floodinto the covered cabin at the back of the barge.
Oberon rested an arm around Anita’s shoulders and drew her under the awning once more. He sat on the carved wooden chair and gestured for her to sit on a padded stool at his feet. Gabriel followed them and stood quietly behind the King’s chair.
For what seemed to Anita like a very long time, the King sat there gazing at her. Gradually, as the thrill of what had just happened became less overwhelming, she began to feel awkward and uncomfortable. She glanced up at Gabriel and he smiled reassuringly at her.
A servant placed a dish of fruit on a low table at her side. Another servant brought a jug of dark red cordial and three crystal glasses. The King made a small gesture with his fingers, and the servant poured the drink before slipping silently away.
Oberon lifted two glasses, handing one to Gabriel. “To your return, Princess Tania,” he said. “And to the blessed Realm of Faerie reborn.”
Anita picked up her glass and the three glasses touched rims with a single ringing chime. She sniffed the cordial. It smelled richly of fruit. She sipped. It tasted delicious, and as she swallowed, a warm glow went down through her.
She looked up at the King. “So, what happens now?” she asked.
“The rest of eternity,” Oberon replied. He smiled. “Do you remember the song we used to sing?” He began to sing in a deep, sonorous voice:
“Willow pale, willow fair, willow tree bowed in care,
Dangle your yellow hair, willow, sweet willow, sad willow.
I come to speak with you, garlands of morning dew,
Bathing you all anew, willow, sweet willow, sad willow…”
He paused, looking at her as if he expected her to do something.
“I’m sorry,” Anita said. “I don’t know it.”
He frowned. “We sang it many times together,” he said, sounding puzzled and even a little bit hurt. “And Zara would play the spinetta.” He looked closely at her. “Do you truly not remember?”
She shook her head. “Sorry. I’d love to, but I don’t remember a thing.” She gave him a regretful smile. It didn’t seem like the right time to point out to him that this was all just a dream. “I don’t even know what a spinetta is.”
The King leaned back, turning his head to look questioningly up at Gabriel.
“She has been lost in the Mortal World for five hundred years, Your Grace,” Gabriel said. “All that she once was sleeps now in her mind. But I do not doubt that time will bring back her memories.”
Oberon nodded. “Time, and the company of those who love you,” he said, smiling again at Anita. “Lord Drake, will you take my daughter to her chamber?”He rested his hand against Anita’s cheek. “There you will find raiment and other such things that may help you to remember who you truly are.”
She frowned at him. “Raiment?”
“Clothes,” Gabriel explained, coming around from behind the King’s chair and holding out a hand to her. She took it and stood up.
“Go now, Tania,” the King said. “And tonight there shall be feasting and merrymaking such as this realm has not seen for half a thousand years!” He stood up and kissed her on the forehead. “My blessings upon you, my child,” he murmured.
She smiled up at him. “Thanks. And the same to you.”
Gabriel helped her back up onto the jetty. She turned and waved. Oberon, still watching her, lifted his hand in reply.
“I like him,” she confided to Gabriel as they walked along the jetty. “If I didn’t have a really great dad back home, I’d definitely short-list him for the job.”
The King’s voice rang out. “As soon as the Princess is ready, take her to meet her sisters,” he called. “They have longed for her return, and their presence will help her find
Men in holly green uniforms appeared out of the shadows, and the heavy draperies were rolled up and tied back so that the new sunlight was able to floodinto the covered cabin at the back of the barge.
Oberon rested an arm around Anita’s shoulders and drew her under the awning once more. He sat on the carved wooden chair and gestured for her to sit on a padded stool at his feet. Gabriel followed them and stood quietly behind the King’s chair.
For what seemed to Anita like a very long time, the King sat there gazing at her. Gradually, as the thrill of what had just happened became less overwhelming, she began to feel awkward and uncomfortable. She glanced up at Gabriel and he smiled reassuringly at her.
A servant placed a dish of fruit on a low table at her side. Another servant brought a jug of dark red cordial and three crystal glasses. The King made a small gesture with his fingers, and the servant poured the drink before slipping silently away.
Oberon lifted two glasses, handing one to Gabriel. “To your return, Princess Tania,” he said. “And to the blessed Realm of Faerie reborn.”
Anita picked up her glass and the three glasses touched rims with a single ringing chime. She sniffed the cordial. It smelled richly of fruit. She sipped. It tasted delicious, and as she swallowed, a warm glow went down through her.
She looked up at the King. “So, what happens now?” she asked.
“The rest of eternity,” Oberon replied. He smiled. “Do you remember the song we used to sing?” He began to sing in a deep, sonorous voice:
“Willow pale, willow fair, willow tree bowed in care,
Dangle your yellow hair, willow, sweet willow, sad willow.
I come to speak with you, garlands of morning dew,
Bathing you all anew, willow, sweet willow, sad willow…”
He paused, looking at her as if he expected her to do something.
“I’m sorry,” Anita said. “I don’t know it.”
He frowned. “We sang it many times together,” he said, sounding puzzled and even a little bit hurt. “And Zara would play the spinetta.” He looked closely at her. “Do you truly not remember?”
She shook her head. “Sorry. I’d love to, but I don’t remember a thing.” She gave him a regretful smile. It didn’t seem like the right time to point out to him that this was all just a dream. “I don’t even know what a spinetta is.”
The King leaned back, turning his head to look questioningly up at Gabriel.
“She has been lost in the Mortal World for five hundred years, Your Grace,” Gabriel said. “All that she once was sleeps now in her mind. But I do not doubt that time will bring back her memories.”
Oberon nodded. “Time, and the company of those who love you,” he said, smiling again at Anita. “Lord Drake, will you take my daughter to her chamber?”He rested his hand against Anita’s cheek. “There you will find raiment and other such things that may help you to remember who you truly are.”
She frowned at him. “Raiment?”
“Clothes,” Gabriel explained, coming around from behind the King’s chair and holding out a hand to her. She took it and stood up.
“Go now, Tania,” the King said. “And tonight there shall be feasting and merrymaking such as this realm has not seen for half a thousand years!” He stood up and kissed her on the forehead. “My blessings upon you, my child,” he murmured.
She smiled up at him. “Thanks. And the same to you.”
Gabriel helped her back up onto the jetty. She turned and waved. Oberon, still watching her, lifted his hand in reply.
“I like him,” she confided to Gabriel as they walked along the jetty. “If I didn’t have a really great dad back home, I’d definitely short-list him for the job.”
The King’s voice rang out. “As soon as the Princess is ready, take her to meet her sisters,” he called. “They have longed for her return, and their presence will help her find
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