Gemma laid her book on the table as knocks sounded at the door. She didn’t usually have visitors, especially at night when it was pouring rain, but she didn’t question the knock. She opened the door without fear, and in the feeble moonlight she saw a coconut palm. It was hunched in it’s bronze pot and shivering in the frigid northern air. Without a word, Gemma hefted the plant onto her hip and closed the door behind them. She walked the plant through the long halls of her mortal dwelling before passing through a wall of granite. Then, she came to a place where frigid air did not blow.
Sanctuary was beautiful at sunset. Her private oasis stayed in her mind always, but no fantasy could truly sate her. She set the palm to rest by the reflecting pool and departed, she would need rest for the day ahead.
When she returned for her guest the next morning, she found Brom Akien running coconut boat races over the quiet tranquility of her reflecting pool.
“I believe it is inappropriate to play with one’s fruit in someone else’s fountain.” She murmured after a time.
“Without a doubt,” Brom replied amiably. “However the subject is a great conversation starter at dinner parties.”
“Conversation starter or stopper?” Gemma inquired.
“That my dear Gem, depends on the party” he said, eyes twinkling.
He turned and looked at her, taking in the white linen dress and hawk feathers artfully braided into her hair.
“You look lovely my dear. Are you going to a dinner party? Would you like to steal my conversation starter? I really wouldn’t mind you know.”
“A very tempting offer, but I am going to a wedding,” she said softly. “Would you like to join me?”
“My dear I wasn’t invited. It would be dreadfully bad taste for me to attend a wedding I wasn’t invited to.”
“Lady Flame sent 10 personal invitations to your doorstep. Rumor has it that the last one was carried on dragon back as to attract your notice.”
“Was it now?” Brom said absently, “I was wondering what those vile smelling mounds were. At least I won’t have to buy fertilizer for my harvest.”
“You will win no battles by feigning ignorance of her wedding.”
“I am winning an immense battle Lady Selva, “ he replied quietly. “I have yet to run a stake up the arse of that living popsicle and leave him in the sun to melt... Oh look, the boat with the red cloth is taking the lead!”
Gemma watched him play with his boats for a while longer before she dared continue.
“If you abandon her now she will not understand,” she murmured, observing the pine trees. “It was under your advisement that she made this match.”
“Abandon her?” Brom turned on her in rage, knocking his boats out of the water. “You question my heart in this? I have done everything I could for Keegan, but this one thing escapes me. Of all faes Gemma, you should realize this.”
“I question not your motives Brom, but your actions.”
“Do you truly believe I could watch her marry that, that…”
“If your being was not so saturated by her taint by you would have realized that attending the marriage is your only option. It is the only test as to whether you will be strong enough to attempt what you propose.”
“Taint? How dare you speak of her…”
“I do not speak ill of Keegan, Lord Coconut, but in terms of wild emotion this is the blind leading the blind.”
Gemma’s eyes flashed with anger as the words fell heavily from her tongue, as heavy as a stone. She hated him for making her say this, and she hated him for hating her.
Brom looked at her steadily. His eyes were a luminescent yellow in the morning sun.
“Keegan will live a long healthy life, with or without me.” Brom said, his voice deadly in its silence. “You will make apologies for me at the wedding, and I will remain here. You may go.”
Gemma left without a word while Brom resumed racing his boats; and if the boats noticed the stream of coconut milk tears mingling with the waves of the reflecting pool, they wisely remained silent.
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