Midwinter

not all of them painful.

The throne room was plain, compared to the rest of the palace. The walls were mostly bare, and the thrones themselves were simple, high-backed stone chairs that were built of the same material as the palace. To Mauritane, who had never been allowed here before, the sight was an awesome one regardless. The trio of guards led them into the room and left, closing the door behind them.

Only one of the thrones was currently occupied. King Auberon sat slumped in his chair, his eyes open but vacant, his fingers drumming a slow rhythm against the arm of his throne. He neither moved nor looked at them as they entered.

Momentarily, a small door behind the Queen's throne opened and Regina Titania swept into the room, leading Elice, daughter of Geracy, by the hand. The Queen's appearance belied her many thousands of years; if Mauritane had to guess he would say she was too young even to be a grandmother, and yet the children to whom she had given birth had lived so long ago that they had spoken a different language. She was tall, very tall, her movements precise and sinuous. Her face was open but fierce, all proud angles and lines of concern. Her violet eyes, about which many poems had been written, were at once gay and serious. She wore a simple white gown that flowed to her bare feet, and the Seelie Crown rested lightly over her close-cropped hair.

Mauritane had not seen Elice since that morning. After Purane-Es's death, Raieve had dragged her, kicking and screaming, into the automobile. She'd calmed down a bit once in the Pontiac but had not spoken a word. She remained silent and agitated even when they arrived in the city amidst a hail of trumpet calls and confetti, and she was whisked away by the Chamberlain and his men. Now she was calm, and her hair had been cropped short to match the Queen's.

The Queen let go of Elice's hand and ascended her throne, sparing a quick glance at her husband. Elice sat at the Queen's side, looking down at them, an odd smile on her face.

'Welcome home, Captain,' said the Queen. 'We are honored to have your in Our service.'

Mauritane bowed low. 'The honor, Majesty, is mine. I am… it is my greatest joy in life to have served thee.'

Regina Titania smiled briefly, showing a line of perfect white teeth. Her smile was that of a gently scolding mother. 'It pleases Us to hear it, although We are aware that the road has been difficult.'

She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands. 'You do not know it, Mauritane,' she said, 'but you are a hero in more ways than one. In more ways than you can possibly imagine, in fact. And for that you shall be both rewarded and reviled in your time. But today, you are a hero to Us and to Our people.'

Mauritane bowed again. 'It is my pleasure to serve thee, Majesty.'

'Bring your companions forward, let me look at them,' she said.

Satterly came first. She stood and took his face in her hands, peering into his eyes. 'You are human. Do you wish to return to the world of your birth?'

'May I stay instead?' said Satterly. 'I have a friend in Sylvan that I'd like to see again.'

'As you wish,' said the Queen. 'I am feeling generous of spirit today. And those who engage in the changeling trade are no friends of the kingdom.'

She waved Raieve forward. 'You are Raieve, of the Heavy Sky Clan of Avalon.'

Raieve nodded.

'You do not care much for the Seelie Fae.'

'I am from a different place,' said Raieve, unafraid.

The Queen smiled again. 'Indeed. What boon may I grant you?'

'I wish only to return to my homeland. I came to this world for assistance in bringing peace to Avalon. I was arrested and imprisoned for my trouble.'

'You will be provided with what is necessary,' said the Queen. 'Though your experience may show otherwise, We sympathize with the plight of our neighbor world and wish her peace and prosperity. You may speak with my Guard Captain about the matter after I am through with him.'

The Queen looked over her shoulder at Silverdun, who stood still at attention. 'Are you Lord Silverdun?' she asked. 'You are altered.'

Silverdun bowed. 'I am, Highness.'

'Come forward.'

The Queen rose and examined Silverdun's ruined face with great care. 'There is no glamour here,' she said, sadly.

'No, it will not come off.'

'Do you know what this is?' she said.

Silverdun shook his head.

'This is the work of the thirteenth Gift. The Gift of Change Magic. It has not been seen since the Great Reshaping.'

Silverdun touched his face. 'Change Magic? But it was only a girl that did this to me.'

'We were once only a girl, Lord Silverdun, and look what We have accomplished.' She looked away, sadly. 'All of these things are coming to pass as We have always known they would.' She leaned in toward him and spoke quietly. 'You have been marked, Lord Silverdun, by the one who will eventually unseat Us, though that day is far from today.'

'Unseat Your Highness?' said Silverdun. 'Impossible.'

'Hear me, Lord Silverdun,' the Queen whispered in his ear. 'In your lifetime, the magic will go out of the world, and the one who did this to you will be the cause of it. When that time comes, We will no longer be fit to rule. You must be prepared for that day, for I will call on you by name. This is for your ears alone.'

The Queen gently stroked Silverdun's face with her fingertips. As she touched him, the lines of his face stretched and rearranged themselves. When she moved her hands away, he was nearer to the old Silverdun, recognizable at least, and no longer misshapen. But he was not the same.

'I've restored your face as much as I'm able,' said the Queen. 'Some of the changes wreaked upon you are more than skin deep, and not all of them were caused by the one who cast that spell upon you. Wear this, your third and final face, with pride. It suits you.'

'Your majesty,' said Silverdun, bowing.

'What boon will you take, Lord?'

'Only that I be allowed leave to help restore the Temple Aba-e in Sylvan.'

'You go with my blessing,' said the Queen. 'The followers of Aba are no enemies of Ours, any more than the north wind is at war with the south wind. Sometimes they meet and cause a storm, but neither despises the other for what it is.'

'You are most gracious, Majesty.'

'Enough,' said the Queen. She nodded to the Chamberlain. 'Take these away and find them suitable quarters in the guest wing. Have a meal prepared for the high court and the lambs slain. Leave Mauritane here with Us.'

Silverdun, Satterly, and Raieve filed out of the throne room following the Chamberlain.

The Queen returned to her throne and knelt before it, taking the hand of Geracy's daughter. Together they rose and approached the center of the throne room.

'As my honored servant,' the Queen said to Mauritane, 'We offer you the only gift We have that is worth what you have given Us. Our secret.'

Mauritane did not understand.

'You risked everything to bring this young woman to Us, and you never asked the reason.'

'It is not necessary for me to know the reason,' said Mauritane.

Again, the Queen smiled. 'Your loyalty borders on faith, Mauritane. Listen, and We will tell you a story.'

The Queen led Elice down to the floor of the throne room and they sat opposite each other, the Queen on the left, Elice on the right. They locked eyes, and the Queen reached up and took the crown from her head, placing it gently on Elice's unlined brow.

'When I was a girl,' she said, switching to the first person, 'I was innocent and brave. I was one of the most powerful of those who dwelt here during the time of the Great Reshaping. I could bend the entire world to my will if I so desired. I wanted only what was best for the Faerie Kingdom, and in my innocence I believed that I could provide it. I tricked the son of Aba into becoming my husband. There he sits.' She cast a tender glance at Auberon,