Fairy Godmother

'It would be nice if someone would explain this to both of us mere mortals,' the Prince said, but so plaintively that it would have been impossible for anyone to take offense.

'You've heard of the Green Knight? The Knight of the Black Rose? Sir Gavin the Hawk?' At each of those names, Alexander nodded vigorously. 'Well, they was all Champions. The Great Fae have 'em among them, of course — warriors with a bit of magic — but sometimes they see a mortal they think worthy, and make him one, too. 'Specially if they think he's the kind to go charging in without regard for his own safety seeking justice, protecting the innocent, defending the virtuous, all that knightly sort of thing.'

For some reason that Elena could not fathom, Alexander blushed, but nodded.

'Thing is, you see — now, you know not everything that comes out of Faerie thinks kindly of mortals, eh? And some of those things just laugh at ordinary swords and arrows and what-all.' Hob waited to see if Alexander was following him, and as the Prince nodded, he went on. 'Now, of course, you know that there's magic swords and so on that can take such an enemy down, but a Champion don't need a magic sword, or arrow, or spear, because whatever weapon he has is magic when he chooses. You see? You may not be able to channel much magic into your weapon, but any magic is enough to make it bite, and bite as hard as you can hit.'

Elena felt her eyes widen, and Alexander's mouth formed a silent 'oh.'

'Ye see?' said Hob with satisfaction. 'You mind Gavin the Hawk? That's how he got through the Scorpion King's black armor.'

'How do I learn to do this?' Alexander asked, eagerly.

'We-ell, I'd say to go look in the Chronicles to be sure, but I think you'll find you don't need to learn it,' Lily put in. 'I think once you can see magic, it's more a matter of will and instinct than learned. And practice. Lots of practice, with someone who can see magic to supervise.'

Now Alexander turned to Elena. 'You said I can go — ' he said, hesitantly. 'But may I stay instead? Just until I understand all this,' he added quickly, flushing. 'But there's probably not anyone in all of Kohlstania who could help me, and, and — ' he averted his eyes' — well, Father's got Octavian back. They don't exactly need me. And I would be truly, deeply grateful if you could help me. I don't know why I was given this thing, but I can't see having it and going off to kick my heels at home and not use it.'

Elena looked at him gravely. 'Prince Alexander, you do realize what it means if you take this on yourself? Being a Champion is not — not — '

'I know it means my life won't be my own,' he replied, and now he looked up to meet her eyes again. 'But it never was, was it? It's just trading one set of responsibilities for another.' Then an altogetherly unexpected bitter tone crept into his voice. 'At least I'll have real responsibilities, and a real job that no one else can do.'

She was taken aback by that for a moment; in fact, everyone in the kitchen seemed to be. And strangely enough, it was Rose who answered him.

'That's no less than the truth, Prince Alexander,' she replied, and for once there was no half-hidden scorn or irony in her voice. 'Become a Champion, truly, and there'll be no second-son make-work for you.'

'Then that's what I want,' he said firmly, and looked back at Elena. 'May I stay?'

But she looked at the other four. 'It's not only up to me,' she said. 'You only play at being servants here, when all's said and done. You have as much say in this as I do. I have never, ever heard of a Champion in the household of a Godmother before.'

'Be damned useful,' Hob said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

'Can't think of anyone else to send him to,' observed Robin. 'And I can show him what to do, I think. It can't be much different than using a wand.'

'I'll get his things,' said Lily, and 'I'll make up the guest-suite,' said Rose, both at the same time.

'Well, then, it's unanimous,' Elena said, trying not to show her elation. 'But I will insist on one thing. You must inform your father that you are well. Whatever else you tell him is up to you. I can arrange to have the letter to him by nightfall.'

He grinned. 'I'll use the things in the study, shall I? Or will you require me to write it in blood?'

She aimed a blow at his ear, which he ducked. 'In the study with you, your highness,' she said, and still grinning, he obeyed.

Oh, me, she thought, looking after him, half in pleasure, half in dismay. What have I bound — and what have I unleashed?

The letter went off, carried by one of the wise old white ravens that hung about the place, which were fed from the leftovers carefully saved from meals. As Arachnia used bats as her messengers, so Elena, as had Madame Bella before her, used the clever white ravens. And she watched in Randolf's mirror as King Henrick, and Prince Octavian, read the letter, sighed a great sigh of relief, and then went on with their lives.

So there it was; Alexander had been right. All that had awaited him in Kohlstania was make-work, cooling his heels, and no real responsibility.

And she — she had a Champion-in-Training in her household, and she did not know whether to be glad of it. Champions could be called out to any need, at any time, to right any injustice, fight any good fight —

And so can Godmothers.

Champions' lives were not their own.

No more are Godmothers'.

But he was busy here, and, she thought, happy. Robin was making good on his promise to teach Alexander the channeling of magic power, which was coming harder for him than it had for her — yet another proof, had she