“Oh! The fairies don’t need to stay in my hair. I’m sure there are other things they would rather do.”
Phiale shook her head. “Nonsense. They are honored to hold the tresses of one as fair as you. They say your hair is beautiful and soft, and it’s like resting in a cloud. They are happiest when they serve. Please let them stay.”
I smiled. “Alright, but just through the dinner.”
The three Silvanae women fussed and primped over me for several more minutes and then declared me presentable. We started back to the village. Just before we reached the banquet area, Deiopea handed me a fragrant bunch of flowers to carry.
“Uh . . . I’m not getting married or anything like that, right?”
“Married? Why no.”
Phiale said, “Do you want to get married?”
I waved my hand. “Oh no, I just asked because of the beautiful dress and the bouquet of flowers.”
“Those are the marriage customs of your land?”
“Yes.”
Deiopea tittered, “Well, if you did want to marry, your man does look very handsome.”
The three ladies fell into giggles again and pointed to the banquet table where Kishan sat, obviously frustrated. They bounced to the table before disappearing into the silver-haired group. I had to admit, Deiopea was right. Kishan did look very handsome. They’d dressed him in white pants and a blue gossamer shirt made of the same material as mine. He had bathed too. I laughed out loud as he looked uneasily around at the Silvanae, obviously feeling out of place.
He must have heard me because he looked up and scanned the crowd. His eyes lit on me and flew past, still searching. Kishan didn’t recognize me! I laughed again. This time, his eyes darted back to me and stayed. Slowly rising, he made his way to me. He looked me up and down with a big grin on his face and let out a whoop of laughter.
Annoyed, I asked, “What are you laughing at?”
He took both of my hands in his and looked in my eyes. “Nothing at all, Kelsey. You are the most enchanting creature I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“Oh. Thank you. But why did you laugh?”
“I laughed because I’m the lucky one who gets to see you like this, to be with you in this paradise while Ren had to be chased by monkeys and fight needle trees. Obviously, I got the better quest.”
“Undeniably you did, at least, so far. But, I forbid you to tease him about this.”
“Are you kidding? I plan on taking your picture and explaining everything to him in great detail. In fact, stay right there.” Kishan disappeared and came back with a camera.
I frowned. “Kishan.”
“Ren would want a picture. Believe me. Now smile and hold your flowers.” He took several shots then slipped the small camera in his pocket and took my hand. “You’re beautiful, Kelsey.”
I blushed at the compliment, but a feeling of melancholy stole over me. I thought about Ren. He would have loved this place. It was a scene right out of Midsummer Night’s Dream. He would have been the handsome Oberon to my Titania.
Kishan touched my face. “The sadness is back again. It breaks my heart, Kells.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek softly. “Will you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner, apsaras rajkumari?”
I tried to snap out of it and smiled. “Yes, if you tell me what you just called me.”
His golden eyes twinkled. “I called you ‘princess,’ ‘fairy princess’ to be exact.”
I laughed. “Then what would you call yourself?”
“I am the handsome prince, naturally.” He tucked my arm through his and helped me sit. Faunus took a chair across from us, sitting next to a lovely Silvanae.
“May I introduce our sovereign?”
“Of course,” I said.
“Kelsey and Kishan, meet Dryope, titular queen of the Silvanae.”
She nodded delicately and smiled, then announced, “It is time for the feasting! Enjoy!”
I didn’t know where to begin. Plates of delicate lace cookies and honey cakes were placed next to fluffy lemon meringue tarts, platters of stewed fruits in sugary syrups, baby quiches, and cinnamon crepes. I scooped up a helping of dandelion salad with dried fruits and lime dressing and a portion of an apple, onion, and mushroom galette with baked stilton cheese. Other dishes of sugar plum pudding, blueberry scones, pumpkin cups with cream-cheese filling, soft rolls with creamy butter, and fruited jams and jellies were also brought out.
We drank honeyed flower nectar and watermelon spritzes. Kishan handed me a fruit appetizer. It