The Trouble with time, Part 2.6 - Fix

Kevin sits on the windowsill of the small window and stares up at the cold night sky. Millions upon millions of stars twinkle down at him and the moon hangs low above the horizon. It's big, bigger than the moon on Earth, and it's almost full.

Winter Solstice, he thinks to himself. How did he not realize it's almost Winter Solstice. If only they'd gotten here a few weeks earlier, the Autumn Court is one that they'd maybe been able to reason with, but the Winter Court? The Winter Court is the strictest of the Four, especially right after the transfer.

Not that it matters; if they don't get caught they don't need to deal with any of the Courts, and if they do... Well. The probability of all of them getting back will be more or less 0.

He leans his forehead on the cool window glass, his breath fogging it up quickly. He draws a small shape on it before quickly swiping it away and standing up. He turns back to the small room. It's cozy, all things considered, with a cupboard, a table and one very large bed. Sam and Alice are tucked in, finally sleeping soundly after quite a few hours of tossing and turning. He closes his eyes, stands in the middle of the room for a moment, listening. For just a moment he appreciates the calm, steady breathing.

He can fix a lot of things, but even he has his limits. Limits, he fears, that are fast approaching.

He climbs into the bed as carefully as he can, to not wake up his friends.

~x~

The second day of the Fair is the biggest, for it is the day of Winter Solstice. The shortest day of the year. The day the Court changes. Kevin has never quite understood why the Court needs to be changed every three months, especially since none of the people actually change, just the aesthetic. And policies.

They seem to get even less useful information than yesterday, which Kevin frankly didn't think was possible. They mill about the glade, trying to listen in on any conversations about the Court. Which is easy, because the Fair goers are very excited about the upcoming change, and it's the only thing anyone is talking about. So yes, a lot of information about the Court, but... not exactly of the variety they need.

Noon comes and goes and the sun begins its fast decline towards the horizon. It's barely past one when the last rays are coloring the sky in pinks and purple, the twilight settling in.

Alice sighs, long and tired. They've sat down at the food court, settling down to have some lunch and to give their feet some rest.

"So, this has been useless," Sam says, rubbing their face.

"I hate to admit, but yes," Alice says, nursing a steaming cup of mulled wine between her hands. "We haven't really learned anything useful. And we only have ten days left after this." There's a pause. "I'm starting to get worried."

"Don't be," Kevin says. He's staring up at the sky again, half lost in thought. "Or, well, maybe you should be. But even if we don't find anything out here, we'll continue onwards to Tirduchrainn and..." He lets out a long breath. "Break into the palace if nothing else."

Alice chuckles lightly. Sam is giving him a disapproving look, he knows, even though he's still looking at the darkening sky.

It might be kinda fun, he thinks. A change of pace, to break in.

"I'm sure it won't come to that though," he says and finally looks back at his friends. "We'll figure something--"

A loud fanfare interrupts him and a hush falls over the crowd. All three of them look up, over to the middle of the glade where a commotion is happening. Kevin stands up to see over the mass and spots a parade making its way up onto a stand. He squints, briefly wondering what's happening, before his eyes shoot wide open and he drops back down onto the chair.

"What, what's happening?" Sam asks, worry thick in their voice. Next to them Alice stands up, craning her neck to see over the crowd. "What's over there?"

"Something I'm not going to be able to fix," he says and Alice gasps, pressing a hand to her mouth.

"My loyal subjects," the booming voice of King Oberon carries across the glade. "I hope you are enjoying the festivities of the Winter Fair!"

There are 8 people standing on the stage. The King in the middle. On his right side Queen Titania. On his left the royal advisor. And behind them, standing in a neat row, are the four faerie princesses and... 

"Vanessa!" Alice shouts and rushes into the crowd.

"No, wait!" starts Kevin, but she's gone, swallowed by the mass of people. "Fuck." He stands, reluctantly, grabs Sam by the hand and weaves after her.

The King stands on the stage, silent, and watches her approach. Alice keeps calling out for Vanessa. Vanessa looks horrified, which gives Kevin pause. He was afraid something more might be up.

"Nessa, I found you," Alice says, smiling widely. Vanessa stares at her, a deer in the headlights. "I found you."

She gets to the stage but is stopped by two guards with spears.

"Well, well, well," says the King. "Congratulations on rediscovering your memories. And welcome back to my kingdom."

"Yeah, great, thank you," says Alice, but she's looking at Vanessa, still frozen in place. "Come on, Vanessa, let's go home."

"Whatever do you mean, go home?" the King asks, his voice feigned innocence. "Lady Vanessa is a guest at my Court and has been invited to join us for a Juletide celebration. She couldn't go home now, that would be most rude."

"What?" Alice says, finally looking at the King. He is smiling, but there is something dangerous about that smile. "What do you mean, I found her, now we can go home. That was the deal."

"Oh, but I think you'll find that was not the deal," he says. He walks over to the edge of the stage, leans over the guards standing in front. "Words, you see, are precise things. To use words efficiently you need to both know what you mean and how what you say will be understood. You need to know which words to use, because synonyms... Well, synonyms never quite mean the same thing."

"I... I don't," she stammers, glances back into the crowd. Her eyes lock with Kevin's.

He's standing with Sam a few paces behind her. He's scared. He's very scared. He's terrified. If the King looks over now his life will literally be over. If he finds him on the crowd he will never go back home.

To his luck, the King doesnt. Instead he says to Alice:

"I think you'll find the word was 'reclaim'. And what you need to reclaim is not her body," he grins, impossibly wide, "but her heart."

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It took me so long to write this. But here it is now! Finally! Next topic is *drumroll* "Roulette" UH OH

Pie out.