Hours must have passed since Dew and Rhyddid left the stables for the trail. They returned at an easy trot, not letting on that anything happened. Dew nearly cried as she saw Efa sitting on a bench outside the stables. Cothi and a guard waited with her. 

Efa jumped from her seat, a smile etched onto her face. She curtsied a quick bob as Rhyddid dismounted. 

“Did you sketch all the glani?” Dew let Rhyddid help her down before rushing to her sister’s side. 

Efa responded by opening up her sketchbook and flipping through some of the newly covered pages. She drew in shadows, the charcoal creating wild lines that weaved together to form the silhouettes of the glani. Horses to any human but Dew knew her subjects were the Fae’s version. 

“These are excellent!” Dew kissed Efa’s cheek. 

“She is very talented,” Cothi spoke up, a genuineness about her. 

“Supper should be soon,” Rhyddid interrupted. “Cothi, please tend to Dew and Efa before then.” He gave them a nod and strode away. 

Efa’s face wrinkled in confusion and she glanced at Dew. 

“We had a pleasant ride,” Dew side lined her sister’s concern. “Let’s get ready for tonight’s meal.” 

Inside, Neidr and Anest waited for them in the usual sitting room. Dew had begun to consider it their sitting room. She supposed it would be if she wanted it to be. 

“More nobles are beginning to arrive in preparation for the wedding,” Neidr informed her.

“I expected as much. Should I be mingling?” Dew nervously glanced to the windows of the room. 

“Not yet.”

Good. She needed time still. 

“Then, help me get ready.” 

Dew changed into a softer gown for supper. An off-white, thin material with red and gold embroidery along the hems. Mostly interlocking diamonds, nothing particularly complex. It should be simple enough but nicer than her others. 

Rhyddid stood as Dew and her ladies entered the hall. His other nobles followed his lead as they did every night and rose for her entrance. None of them seemed to like doing it but they bared the minor task with grace. 

Another five-course meal. All agreeable to Dew’s palette though she noticed Efa lag behind on the fourth, the main course. The meat was tender for Dew and the beans beside it naturally bland. 

“Are you full?” Dew whispered. 

Efa nodded glumly before forcing another bite down. 

“You don’t have to finish,” Dew tugged roughly on her sister’s hand to grab her attention. “I will have Neidr make sure they serve you smaller portions.”

Efa nodded again and set down her fork. 

The meal concluded quietly with a soft cake for dessert. Sweet and moist on the tongue and the portion just right for Efa to finish it all. 

Rhyddid requested her presence and they left supper together. Dew glanced back to see Efa listening to Cothi about Fae art. She would be fine in the company of her ladies. 

They ended up in the private sitting room of the suite. The fire crackled quietly inside. 

“The wedding is to be soon.” Two days exactly. 

“Yes,” Dew agreed and claimed a spot on the small couch. 

Rhyddid took up his usual armchair, relaxing into the cushions with his legs spread wide. 

Dew idly thought about how she sat on his lap that one night. The way he kept caressing her cheek whenever he passed her in the corridor. The times he kissed her temple after a ride. The time he kissed her in the meadow. His easy affection replaced the memories of his temper. Effortlessly. 

She would chew on such thoughts late into the night. He did expect her to be his wife. Not just an arrangement to spare her father and to sate his need for intimacy, but a companion. At least, her heart whispered that in her ear between the twilight and dawn. 

Every time her thoughts ventured towards their wedding night, however, her skin heated to discomfort. Her stomach knotted with nerves. She didn’t think she’d be able to handle the thought of it. 

“I hope…” Rhyddid trailed off and glanced at the fire with a scowl. “I hoped that our limited time together has put you at ease.”

In some ways, it did. 

“I know you will not harm me.” Dew could state that with absolute certainty. “That your protection will hold firm.” 

“Good,” Rhyddid nodded but refused to turn to her. “Our world can be violent. Fae are never benevolent when they don’t have to be.” 

“I see…” Dew held no gain in a fight other than her life. 

“You are doing well here,” Rhyddid, at last, turned to her with a small smile, “and I am happy you have found interest in the glani.” 

“Thank you.” Dew rearranged her skirts, needing to do something other than stare at him.

“We consider the glani beautiful creatures of strength. If you produce a wonderful swatch of foals, the court will be content with that.” Rhyddid came to kneel before her and placed a large hand on her thigh. She stiffened at the contact but did not move away. “We live in a dark world, Dew. We carve beauty despite it and praise anyone capable of it.”

“I know Efa is sketching only and perhaps, she will always be safe as my lady…” 

“Efa can carve herself a place here at court. Her sketches are beautiful. Cothi says they are… cyffwrdd gan gysgodion.” 

Dew narrowed her eyes as she tried to decipher. She’d barely begun her lessons with Neidr, only managing short sentences and recognizing key vocabulary. 

“Touched by shadows,” Rhyddid kindly translated. “She said she drew one of the glani by filling the page black until only the glani remained.” 

A white glani would be a sight to behold. Not very advantageous for the poor creature in this dark world, but a beautiful sight nevertheless. 

“Do you speak to my ladies often?” Dew teased, but she always worried about how much she could trust them. 

She knew they would be polite and be kind to Efa if only in fear of Rhyddid’s temper. 

“If I catch one in the halls,” he shrugged. “I want to make sure they are treating you well.” 

“They are. I can handle them if they do not.” 

Rhyddid grinned predatorily. 

“Do not take the Fae ladies as soft, bach. They are capable of magic just as I am.” 

Dew did not doubt that for a second considering Cothi lit the fireplace in the sitting room every morning. 

“I am aware,” his grin faded as she spoke, “and you have placed me in a rather high position, as I am sure you are aware. They will have no choice in the matter.” A brave statement she might be able to back up. 

“Or they face my rage?” He gave her a wry smirk. 

Dew smiled at his playfulness and for the first time, reached out to cup his cheek. His eyes widened at the contact but he leaned into her soft touch. The easy affection warmed her. 

“You have made it clear your protection to me, and therefore Efa, is not fickle.” Her thumb rubbed the skin stretched over his cheekbone. “They will have no choice but to accept my orders and my dismissals. They know this already.” 

A simple explanation for their helpfulness. They surely did not volunteer for this. 

“Good.” Rhyddid rose, kissing her forehead briefly as he did. “Nos da fy annwyl.”

“Nos da,” Dew echoed, cheeks pink at the endearment she could not repeat.