“I’d love it,” Rumple breathed out eagerly. “You know, dwarves have great singing voices . . . It’s one of our many talents.”
I placed my head on Percy’s shoulder as he snapped the reins on Ogress’s eight oxen. My heart filled with joy and excitement for our next chapter in life, because love truly is the greatest adventure.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Lorn rode up to the old guard tower. Smoke no longer rose from the chimney, the gardens had become overgrown, as the hob and brownie had moved on to find another dwelling.
As he crossed the bridge over the stream, he could hear a sad moan from Diesel, a fae water beast. Traygar the troll had gone back to the mountains.
It wasn’t the same. There used to be lines of laundry blowing in the wind, butterflies and fae romping around the yard, and the girls’ laughter filling the air. Now the home was silent.
Lorn unhitched his horse and let him wander over to Jasper, the workhorse, and Bug, the donkey, who were out grazing near the house. He was surprised that none of the miscreants from town had broken into Lady Eville’s house yet.
He pushed open the door and crossed the threshold. The windows were shuttered, and light came in through small cracks. The long, mahogany table was coated with a layer of dust, and the fireplace hadn’t been cleaned. But there wasn’t anyone to tend to it. He crossed into the sitting room and paused to look at the high-back chair that Lorelai had brought from her old manor house.
His heart ached as he looked at all the empty chairs. It wasn’t a home anymore, but a mausoleum. He took a deep breath. If he closed his eyes, he could almost smell her. The scent of lavender and honey, mixed with the herbs she dried for home remedies.
When Lorn opened his eyes, he was facing the mirror. The beautiful, framed mirror that Lorelai spent years in front of, scrying and searching for answers.
“Why couldn’t you have seen me?” he whispered, pressing his hand against the frame. “You did so well; protected those you cared about, even the seven kingdoms. But you forgot about me.”
Lorn let out a great sob of grief as he pulled the mirror down. Dust and cobwebs came with the frame, and giant holes were left in the wall where the mounts were pulled out.
Carefully, Lorn wrapped the mirror in linen and blankets and brought it outside. Then he saw Clove, the brownie, sitting on the donkey with Stankplant, the crankier of the two hobs. Sneezewort had left long ago to help Aura bring life back to the fae court.
“Go. You’re free.” He tried to shoo them away, but Stankplant just shook his knobby head. Clove grasped Bug’s reins and raised her chin in defiance.
“Fine, you can come with me, but it’s a long trip.”
They nodded.
It took weeks; much longer than he would have expected traveling with the fae, and an extra horse and donkey. Clove ended up hiding in his saddlebag since she preferred to come out at night. And Stankplant was obsessed with protecting Lorelai’s mirror. He polished it every night, staring into it, hoping she would come back.
The terrain changed as they headed up into the mountains, and he almost missed the turnoff for the manor gate that was still missing letters. Instead of Eville, it read Evil. He rode up to the stone manor, Lorelai's childhood home, and brought the mirror inside. As soon as he did, the hob moved to take Bug and Jasper to the stables, and Clove went right to the kitchen.
Lorn took the mirror into the sitting room and saw the empty spot where it once resided. The empty nail still hid on the crack in the wall, and he hung it.
“It is done,” Lorn said. “Everything you asked of me. I have done it all—for you. I only—” His eyes filled with tears, and he brushed it off. “I only wish you were here to ask me for another favor.”
There was a smudge on the glass, and Lorn reached out to polish it with his sleeve. The mirror grew warm to the touch, and when he stepped back, he could see an image reflected on the surface.
“Lorelai,” Lorn breathed out, staring at the magical reflection.
“I have one more favor, Lorn,” the image spoke to him.
“Anything,” he whispered, tears falling down his face. “I would still do anything for you.”
He wasn’t sure, but it looked like Lorelai was crying too.
“Love me,” she whispered.
“I do,” Lorn said. “I always have.”
“And I you.” A hand touched his shoulder, and he turned to see Lorelai in the flesh.
Her hair was down, no longer pinned in a matronly bun. Gone were her stark black or brown clothes, and high-neck dresses. She was in a soft purple gown, and she looked the same as the day she’d met him.
“You’re alive? But why did you . . . how?”
“So I could be with you,” Lorelai answered. “The last daughter is raised; the seventh kingdom is safe. There’s no need for an old, evil sorceress to strike fear into the people. I have seven daughters for that.”
“But shouldn’t they know . . . that you’re . . . alive?”
She shooed her hand. “Oh, Aura knows, and I’m sure she’ll let the cat out of the bag one day or another. Stars knows, that girl can’t keep a secret. But they’re old enough to make their own decisions. And I’ve made mine. I choose you, Lorn. Now and forever. If you’ll have me.”
Lorn grasped her around the waist. “I’ll choose forever.” He was about to kiss her when a loud knock came on the door.
Lorelai furrowed her brows and cast a glance toward the foyer. “No one is supposed to know I’m here,” she mumbled. She pulled away from his embrace and stomped over to the door, flinging it open and glaring out into an empty road.
“There’s no one. . .” She paused and leaned down, lifting a basket into the air. From within came a soft and gentle cooing sound, and there was a yellowed piece of paper with a note written in a language long forgotten. She turned the card over, and her fingers trembled.
She looked up at Lorn with a small smile. “Here we go again.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chanda Hahn is a NYT & USA Today Bestselling author of The Unfortunate Fairy Tale series. She uses her experience as a children’s pastor, children’s librarian and bookseller to write compelling and popular fiction for teens. She was born in Seattle, WA, grew up in Nebraska, and currently resides in Waukesha, WI, with her husband and their twin children; Aiden and Ashley.
Visit Chanda Hahn’s website to learn more about her other forthcoming books.
ALSO BY CHANDA HAHN
THE UNFORTUNATE FAIRY TALES
Of Beast and Beauty
Of Glass and Glamour
Of Sea and Song
Of Thorn and Thread
Of Mist and Murder
THE UNFORTUNATE FAIRY TALES
UnEnchanted
Fairest
Fable
Reign
Forever
THE NEVERWOOD CHRONICLES
Lost Girl
Lost Boy
Lost Shadow
THE UNDERLAND DUOLOGY
Underland
Underlord