here for Allegra and Lucian.”
The two, who had been sitting with Adrian, Moira and Nana in the parlor heard their names and went into the foyer. Pulling back the hood covering her head, Calista turned towards the children. “We haven’t much time,” she said. “You must go home now.”
Allegra choked on tears while Lucian put his arms around her, trying to hold back the tears stinging his eyes.
“We’re coming too,” Moira said suddenly.
Calista shook her head, “While I value your kindness, this is something they need to do alone.”
“No,” Adrian argued, standing at Moira’s side. “We did this alone. We’re not going to abandon our friends to do it alone as well.”
Calista sighed, “I haven’t time to argue. If you insist on coming you must get ready now.”
Gathering coats and scarves, the family got ready to go while Allegra and Lucian gathered their things. Within minutes, they were in one of Charming Academy’s carriages racing the wind towards Maltisten. Lucian’s mind was in a whirl. What if they arrived too late? What if his father was already dead? Why on earth was Calista there anyway? Calista was silent on the journey while Lucian tried to comfort his sister. Moira was sitting on Allegra’s other side, patting her arm. At one point, she lifted her eyes to meet Lucian’s. As though he could hear her voice, he knew what she was telling him. “I’ll be here, for both of you.”
Lucian smiled. “Thank you,” he returned in the same silent manner.
Moira covered his hand with hers as the carriage rocked along the road.
Once in Maltisten, the butler opened the door. “Calista Periwinkle, and Master Lucian, Miss Allegra, what are you doing here?”
“I have business to conduct here. I brought the children to be with their father,” Calista replied. “Please, it is urgent. Where is King Lysander?”
The butler frowned. “He’s up in his chambers with the mistress.” He looked at Allegra and Lucian with sorrow. “I’m sorry my young ones. The doctor says it’ll be any day now.”
Tears fell unrestrained from Allegra’s eyes and the group followed the butler to the master suite. On opening the door, Alexandra looked up. “Lucian, Allegra, what…Calista? I don’t understand.”
“I’ve come as a representative of the fairy council,” Calista replied, standing at the end of the bed while Alexandra embraced her children. “Lysander, are you awake?”
“I am. What brings you to my home?” Lucian was shocked at the image before him. His father who had always been strong was now pale and thin, a pallid form against the sheets of his bed. His voice was raspy and drawn, as though the effort of speaking was too much.
Calista smiled. “I come bearing wonderful news. First however, I know your daughter has something she wishes to tell you.”
Allegra choked again. “Oh Daddy!”
“What is it my star?” Lysander asked. “What would you like to tell me?”
“I, I,” she stammered. Her tears cut her voice short and she threw her arms around her father.
“Allegra won the art competition in Traifloran, Dad,” Lucian said, trying to curb his own emotions. He pulled out Allegra’s painting. “This is what she entered.”
Lysander looked at the painting and stroked Allegra’s hair. Alexandra had tears of her own as she looked from the painting to her heartbroken daughter. “It’s perfect, Allegra. I’m so proud of you. Quite the lady now.”
“I love you Daddy,” Allegra sobbed. “I just wanted to capture your story.”
“This leads me into my purpose for being here,” Calista said gently. “After consideration of new information gathered by the council from various sources, we have changed the ruling we came to years ago. The story of Princess Alexandra of Maltisten and Lysander, Prince Charming of Coleston has now been written.” Pulling from under her cloak a bound leather volume, Calista handed it to Alexandra. “Within the book, you will find an honorary diploma from Charming Academy and a copy of your quest and the record of your brave deeds as compiled by Phillipa Rosepetal, myself and other fairy historians. Congratulations, Lysander, Prince Charming.”
Tears filled the eyes of the sickened king. “You see, my love,” he said, turning to Alexandra, “you don’t have to be stuck with second best anymore. You get the Prince Charming you always deserved.”
Alexandra choked on her own tears. “Oh, Lysander, I never thought you were second best.”
“You didn’t?”
“No. It doesn’t matter what these fairies have done. You have always been Prince Charming to me.” She kissed him gently, their tears mingling together.
Calista smiled as a magical glow brightened the room. “Well, I must return to the academy,” she said as everyone looked at her in confusion. “My work here is finished. Have a swift recovery, King Lysander. Lucian and Adrian, I’ll see you soon at school.” She then left the room.
“Well,” Lavinia said after a while, “we should go too.”
“Oh, no, please stay,” Alexandra pled. “We’d love to have you. I appreciate so much you taking the children for me so that I could take care of Lysander. It’s only fair that you stay here. You’ve had a very fast trip unexpectedly.”
Lavinia hesitated, “Well…”
“Please, Mother,” Moira begged. “I’m sure Nana would love to get to know Lucian and Allegra’s parents.”
Nana smiled, “Oh yes, I must get to know all about you.”
“And I want to hear the story,” Adrian added. “Come on, Mother, we’ll be the first in the whole world to hear it. Please?”
A rare laugh escaped Lavinia. “I see I’m outvoted.”
“Wonderful,” Alexandra said. She turned back to Lysander. “Now, you are going to get some rest while I take care of everyone.”
“You expect me to rest after all this excitement?” Lysander teased, trying to sit up. “Why I feel better already.”
Alexandra pushed him back. “You’re staying right here and resting until supper. Lucian and Allegra can speak to you later.”
“Yes, Mother.” He kissed Alexandra.
“I’m hardly your mother,” Alexandra retorted before kissing him again and shuffling everyone out.
Once everyone was outside the room, Nana caught Alexandra’s arm. “Now, my dear, you must tell me everything about yourself and your dear husband.”
Year 3 Chapter 5
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The next month seemed to fly. Lysander gradually got better, though Alexandra would not allow him to travel with Allegra and Lucian back to school. Instead, she arranged with Lavinia to take the children so that she could stay with Lysander. On arriving back at school the boys immediately fell back into their schedules. One bitingly cold day, they shivered their way to the stables for horsemanship. When they arrived, Phillipa said, “Go back to the castle, boys, class is cancelled.
“What?” Kaelen argued. “But Phillipa, you never cancel class.”
“I do when there’s a blizzard on the way. Now come on, quickly, back to the castle,” Phillipa replied, ushering them from the barn. Lucian could see her bright pink fairy eyes doing one last check on all the horses and equipment before she locked the doors and then whispered a fairy spell on the barn before following the boys inside. As they walked, the boys saw other classes coming from the gym and from the gazebo.
Upon going inside, Calista was standing nearby. “Anyone missing from your class?”
“No, Calista. Everyone is accounted for.”
“Good, you’ll find your usual emergency quarters ready for you,” she replied.
“Thank you,” Phillipa said before smiling at the boys and walking down a corridor they’d never explored. In fact, Lucian was quite sure it had never been there before.
Soon Achilles entered with his class and Lorelei’s class. “Everyone’s here, Calista.”
Calista smiled. “In that case, you’d best go to your emergency quarters. They’re ready for you and Tallia.” As Achilles walked away sh
e turned to the boys in the hallway. Lucian could tell she was doing a mental headcount. Assured that everyone was indeed present, she said, “Now, for those of you who would normally be in class right now, you’ll find assignments in the common room. They will pertain to what you have been learning. You may adjourn to that room until it is time for your next classes.”
The boys headed into the commons and immediately saw the stacks of assignments that Calista had referred to. Each class grabbed their own assignment and went to various parts of the room to work.
The blizzard lasted for almost a full week. Phillipa assured worried boys that their horses would be perfectly fine and would not want for warmth or food. “The barn has been blessed,” she told them. “The horses will automatically be fed. If they are cold, a blanket will be wrapped about them. When you are normally in class, they will be allowed out of their stalls and into the indoor arena. When done there, they will be brushed down and fed. It will be as though I myself am there to care for them.”
Even without their outdoor classes, the boys weren’t lacking in work. They were kept busy in their regular classes as well as having assignments in the commons. Midway through the week following the blizzard, the boys were finally able to go to their outdoor classes. Sunshine was blinding on the snowdrifts as they walked to their classes. While walking to the gazebo with George Friday afternoon, Lucian saw that even the witches’ garden had not been entirely safe. Lucretia and Maeve could be seen salvaging what plants they could and sadly discarding