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TWO AND A HALF MONTHSafter they arrived in Aldon, Essie woke to find Farrendel already up and gone, his half of the bed cold, as usual.
Stretching, Essie sat up and peered out the window. Outside, winter had fallen over Escarland, several inches of fresh snow covering the trees, the gardens, and the roof of Winstead Palace, visible through the bare branches of the trees. Essie could not see Farrendel in the trees or in the gardens, but perhaps he and his guards were at the training field or running their circuit around the parkland.
The past two months had been some of the best of her life. Farrendel had been happier than she’d ever seen him. He’d stayed busy working with Lance, training with Julien and Captain Merrick, and teaching her how to use his magic.
Farrendel had been doing so well, that Taranath had returned to Tarenhiel a month ago, leaving three months worth of doses and telling Farrendel to check back in at the end of that time. Mr. and Mrs. Harwell now only had a session with Farrendel every other week, and they were talking about going down to checking in with Farrendel once a month unless he felt he needed more counseling.
While Farrendel was busy, Essie enjoyed her royal engagements in Aldon. It was nice to be able to resume her work with the hospitals, the women’s shelter, and the orphanage. She also added a few veterans charities to her list and helped Mr. and Mrs. Harwell start a foundation to raise money to reach more soldiers in need of help. Taranath also agreed to help in this endeavor, and they were expanding his help to Escarlish soldiers and Mr. and Mrs. Harwell’s help to more elves besides Farrendel.
When she wasn’t busy arranging foundations and charities, Essie trained with Farrendel’s magic. She was now skilled enough that he had given her a set of things to practice, even when he couldn’t join her in person. Some of the smaller practice she could do in the parkland at Winstead Palace.
Her control over his magic was improving. Her marriage was wonderful. Life was good.
Smiling, Essie got up and dressed, taking the time to brush her hair, though she left it down the way Farrendel liked it. And the way that she liked it, now that the elven conditioner made it behave in sleek and shiny strands.
The window latch creaked, and she turned in time to see Farrendel swing through, the folded top of a paper bag clutched in his teeth, probably to keep his hands free while he climbed the tree. He landed on the carpet, leaving behind clumps of snow.
Essie pushed to her feet and crossed the room as he took the paper bag out of his mouth. She wrapped her arms around his waist, ignoring the cold of the snow on his Escarlish style wool coat. “Good morning, my love.”
He grinned and held up the paper bag. “I got this for you.”
“You didn’t have to. You’ve been showering me with gifts lately.” Essie took the paper bag anyway, even as she gestured toward the roses that he had somehow managed to find for her last week. They were still blooming strong, and she was beginning to think they must have been sent all the way from Tarenhiel and filled with elven magic to keep them so beautiful for this long.
“I like making you smile.” He kissed her, just a quick peck, before he stepped back to remove his wool coat, tossing it onto the back of a chair, revealing his white shirt, brown trousers, and gray suspenders.
She tugged on one of the suspender straps. “I still can’t get over the sight of you in suspenders.”
He looked adorable, with his silver-blond hair roguishly tousled, his wide grin, and his Escarlish suspenders holding up his trousers. While he’d had slightly better fitting Escarlish clothes made, they were still purposely loose and ill-fitting to complete the look of his disguise.
“They are not as bad as I thought at first.” Farrendel tugged off his snow-covered boots, then he perched on the end of the bed, sitting cross-legged. “Now, open the bag already.”
“Fine, fine. If you insist.” Essie sat opposite of him on the bed, then unrolled the folded top of the bag, avoiding the teeth marks he’d left on the paper. Inside, two cinnamon rolls rested on napkins. Her mouth instantly watered, and she snapped her gaze back up to Farrendel. “Are these from the Sixth Street Bakery? Really?”
“Of course. It is your favorite bakery in Aldon.” Farrendel’s tone seemed almost smug in that knowledge.
Essie fished out the two cinnamon rolls, handing one to him before she cradled hers. It was still faintly warm. Farrendel must have raced back to Buckmore Cottage from the bakery to get it back to her still warm and sticky like this, especially with the weather as cold as it was outside. “You have become really comfortable wandering Aldon.”
“It is less overwhelming, now that I have become used to it.” Farrendel was still smiling as he took a bite of his cinnamon roll.
Essie bit into hers, closing her eyes as the sweetness burst across her tongue. These cinnamon rolls were pure, edible bliss. “Thank you for this. The perfect breakfast.”
“I am glad you like it, even if it is not a very substantial breakfast.” Farrendel contemplated his own cinnamon roll, as if he was torn between enjoying it and resenting it for being all sugar and nothing healthy. “And it is messy to eat breakfast in bed.”
“I know, right? So much fun.” Essie grinned and tried not to wolf down her cinnamon roll too quickly. “I might even lick my fingers when I finish.”
Farrendel huffed, the closest thing he ever gave her to an eyeroll. As he chewed his last bite, his expression turned thoughtful, flattening his mouth and furrowing his forehead. “Being here in Escarland, spending time with your family, has made me see some things more clearly.”
