Cinnamon, Part 24 - Mother

December had finally arrived. It was the first day. I was still sleepy, lying in my bed under the sheets in the warm, just between wake and sleep, still in a dream but conscious; I was there and it was December. My head was in a shadow, but there was light all around so I knew the sun was rising. And that I had slept late. Not that it mattered, I didn't have to be anywhere today, other than where I wanted to. And right now I wanted to let the sleep completely fade away before getting up.
Eventually I found all of myself in the real world and sat up. I had had the weirdest dream, something about magic and mythical creatures and a revolution. I blinked lazily and looked around the big, decorative room. Wait. I blinked again. This wasn't my room.

Everything came flooding back, and hit me like a sledge hammer in the head. I groaned and lifted my hands to my face, but winced and put them down again when pain shot through my right shoulder. It was wrapped in a bandage. Oh, right. I had been shot. Something stirred on my left side and I turned to look just as Hizi sat up and rubbed his eye. When he saw me sitting his eyes went wide.

"Oh," he said and then a wide smile spread on his face. "OH! You're awake! She's awake! Oh praise the heavens, you are alright!"

He leaned over and hugged me (being very careful with my right shoulder, for which I was grateful), before letting out a shaky breath. There was a loud noise from somewhere, like furniture falling down, and the door from across the bed slammed open. There were several people in the door way, with Pessi dashing in first, and Em flying not far behind. He jumped onto the bed without much finesse, but with surprising agility, and pulled me into an extremely tight hug, muttering something along the lines of "oh thank heavens you're ok we were so worried we thought we'd lost you i'm so glad you're awake", while Em latched herself onto the side of my head.

"Guys, guys! Can't breathe!" I wheezed from underneath the hugs and the both of them drew back, looking embarrassed. I smiled. Behind them Azer, Narada, Celer and, to my surprise, Lucifer had entered as well and they all looked very relieved to see me.

"It is good to see you awake," Azer said. "We were very worried. The arrow that hit you was enchanted and had it not been for the wool of the Ram, you would have been lost beyond our ability to help."

"The tunic stopped the magic, but the wound is still there," came a voice from behind them. "Would you kindly move, I need to see her shoulder." From behind them emerged a fae, who simultaneously looked worried, relieved and pissed, all the while seeming to glow with a weird sort of light, which in my opinion was a very great accomplishment.

"Of course, Raya," Azer said, as the fae moved to the bed, where they stopped and looked pointedly at Pessi. He looked back with faked innocence, but climbed off of me and bounced off the bed, giving Raya a small peck on the forehead on the way.

"Don't worry, you're in good hands," Raya said with a radiant smile,while starting to peel the bandage off my shoulder. I looked around the room and noticed that the others weren't without their injuries. Celer had a bandage on one of his front legs, Pessi had a big bandaid on his cheek and he was holding his left side a bit gingerly. Hizi's ear had a tear in it, but he'd already had a few of those, so I'm not sure it bothered him much. Everyone looked very tired. I feared to ask, but I had to know.

"What happened?"

Everyone traded looks, until finally Azer cleared his throat.

"We won. The prince is dead."

~x~

It turned out that it was a good thing I had blacked out, because the description of Folius' demise was not pretty. Apparently they had not been kidding when I had been told lemons were the most terribly toxic thing to them. After Folius' men started to realize he was dead, they stopped fighting and surrendered. Though I'm not sure it should be considered a surrender, seeing as most of them didn't want to be there in the first place. The wounded, me included, had been rushed back to Castle Town, and I had been brought to the palace, by order of the Queen, once she learned what had happened. I had been asleep for two days, while Raya and other sunbeams were healing my wound. While the wool had protected me from death, the enchantment had taken it's toll on me, hindering the healing and keeping me unconscious.

So I was in the palace. And the Queen wanted to see me. Needless to say, I was nervous. When I was strong enough to leave the bed, I was taken to see her. We stood in front of the door to the throne room with Azer by my side and Em on my shoulder, and with several higher-ups, including Celer. Hizi had also tagged along, because no one could keep him away, and he was standing on my other side, if a bit behind me. He was looking even more nervous than me, if it was possible. I glanced down at him and he swallowed and gave me a strained grin. Then the doors were opened.

The throne room was large and high, and had a roof like the Great Hall, where it didn't really look like a roof. On one side of the room stood several sunbeams, all radiant and beautiful, and who I assumed were their Queen. (Next to her stood Raya and, for some reason, Pessi, who waved his hand at me when he noticed me. Raya glanced at him disapprovingly, if not with a bit of endearment.) And on the other side several other radiant and beautiful people (suddenly I felt really plain and ordinary, and wondered how they had managed to get all these beautiful people to gather in one place) and someone who looked like their Queen. Lucifer was standing among them, so I assume they were Stars, or whoever were their representatives here on earth. And in the middle was the throne. A big, wooden throne, with detailed engravings, much like the ones in the Witch's hut and the Babylon candle. And sitting on the throne was...

"Mom?"

Everyone's eyes widened. The Queen smiled, stood up and walked down to me. I was glued to the spot, unable to move or even think coherently.

"Sweetheart," she whispered, placing her hands on my shoulders. "Cinnamon, dear, I've missed you so much." She pulled me into a hug and I clung to the back of her dress like my life depended on it. I felt something wet roll down my cheeks, but I didn't care.

"But how?" I whispered when she pulled back and she smiled, wiping the tears off my face.

"How am I here? You see, this is the world I come from. This world is my home. But every now and again a portal opened, leading into your world. It fascinated me, I wanted to learn more about it and the other world. So I studied it, and eventually found a way to recreate it. I was so thrilled, and often when my presence was not needed here, I would do through. There I met your father. He was a kind man, helping me find my way in that new, exciting world. And I fell in love with him.
"I started spending more time there, whenever I could. I suppose that was my mistake. Folius was a young man at the time, about the same age as you now, and in the beginning he held his responsibilities well. But while I spent time with your father and, by that time, you and your sister, he grew more and more addicted to the power. He was very proud, like all high elves, but the power suited him ill, and it corrupted him. When I finally learned about the horrible things he'd done in the name of the throne I confronted him, tried to reason, but he was beyond redemption... I couldn't let him get to your world, so I had to say goodbye to your father, and closed the portals. But eventually you did find your way here, and for that I am eternally glad."

She led me by the hand to the throne. I still didn't know what to say or do. My brain was desperately trying to process everything she told me, but it was all so much.

"Wait," I said, looking down at the throne, "Does that mean I'm..."

"An heir to the throne, yes," Queen, uh mom, said. "If you want it. If you prefer, I can help you get home. Back to your friends and sister. Back to your normal life. It's your choice."

I looked at her. My normal life, huh? She looked hopeful. I knew she hoped I'd stay. I looked at the throne, and all the familiar faces in the crowd. All my new friends. And I though about home, my sister, father, friends. I thought about Christmas. I thought about everything I'd have to leave behind. And everything I'd gain. I thought about myself.

And then I smiled.

FIN.
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Open endings are the best aw yiss. It's totally up to your own interpretation now. BTW, I totally made some concept sketches of Cinnamon. She's cute, I think. I'll post a sketch dump here as well, once I draw a bit more.

Merry Christmas everyone! Or everyone who celebrates it anyway. I hope you have a fun time not having to do anything. I have nothing else to say now. So bye~

Pie out.