Burkheart Witch Saga Book 3 (12 page)

E
veryone who had ever been touched
by Kayla Burkheart came together in the forest to bid her farewell. The service was attended by all sorts of magical creatures. Sprites, gnomes, fairies, and even the wood nymphs that Kayla had scoffed at gathered, all wishing to pay their respects to the fallen queen and to celebrate the ascension of the new queen and the birth of Princess Aurora.

They brought flowers to lay on the casket of their beloved queen, and each of them had blessings for Aurora. She was given beauty, charm, grace, intelligence, righteousness, kindness and love. From the trolls, she was given the ability to fight, or as they put it, kick ass.

Grace knew everything would be fine for Aurora. She had so many people who loved her and would die to protect her that Grace had no worries. She would do everything in her power to make sure her daughter grew up to be a good person and a true princess.

Jorek approached Grace and Harry while they were saying goodbye to the hundreds of guests.

"Your Highness, you have one more guest that requests an audience."

Jorek stepped aside and revealed Roland Stillson, standing in front of them with his head bowed.

"Roland, please sit," Grace gestured to a tree stump next to her.

"Ah, if you please, Your Highness," he gestured, and a small ottoman appeared, upholstered in blue velvet. "Old habits die hard."

"We were hoping you would come," she said. She leaned over and took hold of his hand. "I want you to know that we understand why you did what you did. You had no choice."

"No, I did not. But, this does not mean that I do not feel badly for my part in all of this."

"You helped us. My mother told me that you tried to help her, and I know it was you that put the clues in the carvings on the buildings. You helped her come to us later that night and ease my father's pain. You risked your own life to save us from that monster."

"She was not always so, Grace. Once, I loved her very much, even though she was but a human." The sadness was once again in his eyes. "She was kind and good once. When Aliza took her from my realm, causing her death, she blamed your family. To be perfectly honest, so did I. Her spirit could not rest, knowing that her happily-ever-after had been stolen, along with the life of our child."

"Oh Roland, I had no idea."

"No one did. Not even me, until recently. Apparently, the grief of her loss caused Serena's spirit to go mad, and her target was your family line. She thought that by destroying your family and stealing your magic, she could be immortal and we could be together again. It was nothing more than a desperate attempt to regain the life we once had. A life that died with her original body. I could never again love someone who caused so much pain. Your ancestor Aurora taught me that doing good was the best way to live. That is why I helped her find love with Jacob. She deserved to be happy after all of the damage her sister had done. Nevertheless, rest assured, Grace, Serena's spirit is bound for eternity, along with the spirit of that vile woman that was your grandmother. They will never do you or your family harm again."

"I have something for you." Grace reached into her pocket and pulled out the blue-stoned ring. She held it in her palm and looked up at Roland.

"You know this means that I am in your service, Grace. This is a position that I am honored to hold."

"No," Grace said, placing the ring on the tree stump beside her. "You have been in the service of this stone for far too long. It is time for you to be free. It's time for you to go home."

"I don't know that I belong there anymore," he said, looking off into the distance.

"I know that you do not belong here in servitude. You need to live your life, Roland. I am releasing you from this stone, once and for all."

She raised her hand over the stone and closed her eyes. A pulse of white light formed in her palm before it descended onto the ring, then the sparkling stone shattered into dust. Roland breathed a sigh of relief, his blue eyes shimmering.

"Thank you, Grace. Know that if you ever need me, I am only one wish away."

"I do have something that you can help me with before you go, but only if you would like, Roland. It is your choice."

He smiled at her and nodded, already knowing what she was asking.

"Your wish is my command, My Queen."

The djinn took one last bow before he disappeared in a puff of blue smoke.

G
race stepped
down from the upstairs landing of the home she had shared with her mother and father for so many years. Her white gown trailed behind her and her hands, cold and clammy, clutched the bouquet of pink and white flowers. She took a deep breath.

David stood at the foot of the stairs, waiting to either take her arm or catch her when she tumbled down. She looked as if she were a few breaths away from hyperventilating. Lucky for both of them, Grace made it down the steps without falling and took hold of the arm that David offered to her.

"You look amazing, Munchkin," he said, choking back tears. "I guess I can't really call you that anymore. You are all grown up now."

"I will always be your little munchkin, Dad."

This time his tears could not be stopped. As he dried his eyes, the two of them made their way down the makeshift aisle.

"I wish your mom was here to see this. She would be so proud of you."

"I know she would. She is here with us, Dad. I can feel her watching."

"I can feel her, too."

They walked up through the rows of chairs where her loved ones sat. All of the forest creatures that had attended Kayla's memorial were here in her childhood home only two days later to celebrate her marriage.

When they approached the podium where the priestess stood, Grace could see that Harry was just as nervous as she was. He looked at her and smiled.

Suddenly, any fear that she had fell away like water shedding off a mountainside. She saw in Harold the Prince Charming she had always wished for. He was her knight in shining armor, her support when she stumbled, and the love of her life. Looking in his eyes, she saw the same from him. She knew he loved her more than anything, and that he would always be a wonderful husband and an amazing father. During the short time Aurora had been in the world, he doted over her, changing diapers and preparing her bottles. He loved to sit and rock her to sleep, and he had already bought her every stuffed animal known to man. She knew she and their daughter would always be loved.

"Who gives this woman?" The priestess asked.

"I do," David said, squeezing Grace's hand and kissing her cheek before he took his seat next to Doc.

Harry stepped forward and joined Grace at the podium. He almost stumbled because his knees were shaking so much. Grace chuckled and smiled at him through her white veil.

"Grace and Harold, know now before you go further, since your lives have crossed you have formed eternal and sacred bonds. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony, you should strive to make real the ideals that, to you, give meaning to this ceremony and to the institution of marriage."

The priestess took a length of gold cord and draped it over the couple's joined hands.

"Know that within this circle, you are not only declaring your intent to be hand fasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your higher powers. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here only strengthen your union and your love for each other. This union will only grow stronger through the years as each of your souls grow. Do you still wish to perform this ceremony and pledge your love?"

"Yes, we do," they said in unison.

"Excellent. Will the guests please stand?"

All of the guests stood up, and all eyes were focused on the loving couple as the priestess called blessings from each of the four elements.

"Blessed be this hand-fasting from the east and the element of air. Openness and communication, and purity of the mind and body. From the east, a new beginning with the rising of each sun, and the understanding that each day is a new opportunity to show your love for each other."

"Blessed be," the guests said in chorus.

"Blessed be this hand-fasting from the south and the element of fire. Energy, passion, creativity, and a loving home. From the fire within you generate light, which you will share with one another in even the darkest of times."

"Blessed be."

"Blessed be this hand-fasting from the west and the element of water. You have absolute trust in one another, and vow to keep your hearts open in sorrow as well as joy."

"Blessed be.

"Blessed be this hand-fasting from the north and the element of earth. Sustenance, fertility, and security. The earth will enrich you, and help you to build a stable home to which you may always return."

"Blessed be."

Grace chuckled as she heard the sniffles coming from her bridal party. Daisy and Violet were both teary eyed. The priestess continued.

"Grace and Harold, will you honor and respect one another?"

"We will."

"The first binding is made. Will you share each other's pain and always seek to ease it?"

"We will."

"Will you share in each other's laughter, and always look for the positive in each other?"

"We will."

The priestess took a white strip of cloth from the podium and wrapped it around the couple's hands.

"As your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars, your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow. The rings?"

Harold turned to Jorek, his best man, and took the ring. He placed it on Grace's finger. Daisy handed Grace the ring and she placed it on Harry's shaking finger.

"I now pronounce you hand-fasted as husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

All of the nervousness drained from Harry as he lifted Grace's veil and took her in his arms. When their lips met, they both knew everything would be okay from here on out.

The couple turned to face their guests, and Grace looked up to the staircase. Kayla stood there at the top of the landing and smiled down on her family. Grace indicated to David to look back. He burst into joyous tears when he saw his beloved standing above them. Roland had come through for her after all. Her final wish was that her mother could be there on her wedding day. She was not only there; she looked so happy.

She raised her hand and blew a kiss before she faded away.

A
urora sat
at the head of the table, her mother on one side and her dad on the other. She silently counted the candles on her cake.

One… two… three… four… five.

She had just received her certificate for counting to thirty from her teacher, Ms. Locke, so now she practiced her counting wherever she was. It was time for her to make a wish and blow out all five of her candles, then she could open her presents.

She breathed in until her chest felt like it might explode from too much air, and then she blew out the candles as hard as she could. She got four of them and then took a little breath to blow out the fifth one. She was sad that her wish might not come true, but then her mom told her that it was okay, because she got them all out. She would not tell anyone what she wished, because then it wouldn't come true.

"Time for presents," her mom called out after everyone had eaten a piece of birthday cake.

Grandpa gave her a new bike with training wheels. Training wheels were for babies, but Grandpa told her that he would help her learn to ride without them. Poppa Doc and Gramma Joy gave her a pretty new dress with pink flowers on it and a stuffed bear that was almost as big as she was. She got a dollhouse from Uncle Mooney, play make-up from Daisy, and books and games from Gus and Vi. A bunch of pretty flowers and other stuff were left at their door by all of the creatures from the forest. Jorek even made her a crown of yellow flowers. She wore it while she opened her other presents. She decided to never take it off.

After the last of the cake and ice cream were eaten and presents were opened, Aurora sat on the couch, snuggled up next to her mom and dad. She was still wound up from the fun of her party, but she yawned and stretched, snuggling in tighter against her mom's side.

Everyone was about to leave, so Aurora gave kisses, hugs, and thank-yous to her family and friends while they walked out the door. When the last guest left, Aurora walked back to the living room and sat down next to the teddy bear from Doc and Joy. She wrapped her arms around her fuzzy new friend and closed her eyes.

"Aurora, you have one more present over here. We must have missed it," Grace said, and handed the glittery blue box to her daughter.

"Who is that from?" Harry asked.

"I have no idea," Grace replied.

Aurora opened the box and looked at the gold necklace sitting inside. Her eyes lit up as she surveyed the small pendant.

A gold filigree tree sat inside a circle surrounded by Celtic knots. In the center of the tree was a bear paw that had a tiny green stone embedded in the pad.

"Mama, it's so pretty! Can I put it on? Please?"

The fog of sleepiness had left the little girl, and now she was jumping up and down with excitement as Grace removed the necklace from its box.

Under the tray that held the chain in place, there was a card.

Grace lifted the card out and handed it to Harry with a questioning look.

"I'm sure it's just a gift from one of the nymphs or something," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Mama, put it on me!" Aurora said, holding up her golden hair and jumping up and down.

"Okay, okay, Curly. Stand still for ten seconds so I can put it on." She unclasped the necklace and slipped it around Aurora's neck. She joined the clasp and turned the girl around. "There. You look gorgeous,
my dahling
."

"Thank you, Mama! I love it!" The little girl ran out of the room to the bathroom so she could see her pretty new necklace in the mirror.

Grace and Harold collapsed onto the couch, both of them exhausted from the events of the day.

"She had a good day, didn't she?" Grace asked.

"Yeah, I think she did," Harry said, and he kissed her forehead.

"I wish my mom was here."

"I know, honey. I do, too."

"I just wish I knew that she was all right. I wish I could talk to her and sit with her and hear her tell me that I'm doing a good job."

Harry knew his only job at that time was to be there and hold Grace until she felt better. She always seemed a little sad around Aurora's birthday.

"It'll pass, Harry. I know she's gone, but I still miss her, you know."

"I do know, babe. I do."

"Well, let us see if we can get Curly to sleep, shall we?"

"Ha! You might need a magic spell to accomplish that," Harry chuckled.

"Well, let's try for a bath first. Tiny steps."

They headed into the bathroom to get Aurora's bath started. When they walked in, she was standing at the mirror, still staring at her new necklace.

"Hey there, Curly. Time for your bath."

"Okay, Mom. Can I keep my necklace on?"

"I don't see why not," Grace replied while she added some bubbles to the warm water.

"I don't want to ever take it off," Aurora said, getting her bath towel and pajamas ready.

"Never, ever?" Grace said, reaching over and tickling her daughter's tummy.

"Nope. Never, ever, ever!" Aurora giggled.

"Okay then, get yourself all clean. Wash behind your ears and make sure you get that curly head of yours all spotless."

"I will, Mama."

Grace left, leaving the door cracked open. She waited in her bedroom until Aurora called out to her. The little princess came running down the hall wearing her cartoon pajamas, waving her hairbrush in her small hand.

After hair was brushed and a story was read, Grace tucked her little one under the covers and kissed her goodnight. Harry came in as Grace was getting up to say goodnight as well.

"Hey there, Curly, look what I brought." He held out the stuffed bear she had just received for her birthday and placed it next to her bed.

"Thanks Daddy." She sat up to give him a hug and kiss goodnight.

"We love you so much, little girl. You know that, right?"

"I love you, Daddy and I love you, Mommy and I love you, Frederick the Bear."

"Frederick?"

"Yep. His name is Frederick the Bear."

"All right, goodnight then, Frederick the Bear," Harry said with a smile. "Ready for lights out?"

"Yep!"

"Hey Aurora, what do you think about going camping this weekend?"

She looked at her dad with wide eyes and motioned him to lean in close so she could whisper in his ear. He leaned in close, cocking his head to hear her secret. She held her hands up around her mouth and said in a loud whisper, "That was my wish, Daddy!"

"Well, then, I guess it came true. We'll get up early tomorrow to get ready, okay?"

"Yay," she cheered.

"All right, time to get some sleep. See you later, alligator."

"After a while, crocodile," she giggled.

"See you soon, baboon."

"Okie dokie, artichokey." The little girl burst into laughter. "You are silly, Dad!"

"Nighty-night, Curly."

He closed the door and smiled to himself, wondering how he got so lucky.