“Serenity, what happened?” The queen asked, her face filled with fear.

  “What are you talking about?” Seren asked, looking at Eric who looked just as confused at Seren.

  “What did you do?” The queen put a chair in between themself and Seren. The king looked at his queen before looking at Seren again. Cocking his head and rocking the little baby who cooed, oblivious of the tension.

  “I didn’t? I mean. I don’t know what’s going on. What did I do?” Seren said slowly. They looked up and down their own clothes looking for something out of place. But nothing was obvious.

  “Are you? How?” The queen drifted closer but seemed hesitant.

  “What is it?” the King asked. “I don’t see anything wrong.” The queen took Seren’s hair and gave it a gentle pull and rubbed it.

  “Is something wrong with my hair?” Seren asked.

  “It’s brown.” The queen said in awe. Seren looked at Eric.

  “Uh-huh.” Seren said. “It’s been that way since I was born.”

  “You weren’t fae when you were born. You weren’t fae when we met.” The queen said. Seren felt their mouth drop.

  “I’m not fae?” Seren said, confused. “Just fae-touched.”

  “No… no, you.” The queen backed up again. “You changed.” Seren tried to think but then remembered the waters. It cures what ails you, the sprite had said. Seren kept their mouth closed.

  “They can’t be. They still have all their color.” Eric said before quickly; “I mean, no offense meant. Your majesty.” The queen looked at Eric very sternly but then nodded.

  “None taken, though Serenity was the only one invited and I find that a bit offensive.” They said.

  “In the midst of the current kidnappings, they go nowhere without me.” He said and the queen’s expression changed.

  “That is a fair point. It is also why you were summoned.” The queen turned back to Seren. “Please, sit” The queen didn’t take their eyes off Seren as they went to their king’s side and took the baby from him. Cleaners were summoned to take care of the broken porcelain and tea on the floor. Seren walked and sat down with Eric right beside them.

  “So what’s going on?” Seren asked, “What did I do?”

  “You went into the forest, and saw fae collecting sprites?” The King asked, sitting down. The queen held her baby a little closer to her.

  “Yes, it’s not against the law for me to leave the walls of the city. I’m fae-touched so it’s completely legal.” Seren said. “I read the bylaws.”

  “What happened? Exactly and spare no detail.” The queen commanded.

  “I.” Seren paused. Partly trying to remember what happened that day and partly to try and figure out what lie to tell. “I was angry and wanted to see how strict the bylaws were and went out into the forest and got a bit lost. I took off my shoes and crossed a river to follow some lights and that’s when I saw this nest of sprites. It was really cool. I dropped my shoes and that’s how I lost them. Then there was a flash of light and some fae were grabbing sprites and tearing the nest apart. From what I’ve learned since, I think they were searching for the Waterbearer so they could cultivate hives of their own. Sprites seem to function like ants.”

  “Where did you learn this?” The Queen asked.

  “Books mostly,” Seren shrugged as nonchalantly as they could.

  “You got permission from the elders to look through the restricted section?” The King asked.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “No. But the librarians know me well and they brought me some options.” Seren said. “Those rules are stupid by the way. If someone wants to learn about something, then there shouldn’t be a rule stopping them.”

  “There should when the knowledge can be dangerous.” The king said, narrowing a very stern look at Seren. Who felt like they’d done something wrong but couldn’t quite figure out what.

  “That’s all that happened? You didn’t eat or drink anything while you were there?” The queen asked. Seren’s cheeks flushed.

  “Well..” Seren took a minute to sort out what they wanted to say. “I chased away the fae and found a survivor sprite who was really, really pretty and I put her in a tree where she’d be safe and in return she gave me a little acorn thing with water. She said it would cure what ails me.”

  “When did you drink it?” The queen held the baby tighter and the little toddler began to fidget.

  “A day or so ago?” Seren shrugged. They looked at Eric and felt their cheeks get tighter.

  “The first day of your cycle.” He said with a sigh of realization.

  “You’re on your cycle?” The queen nearly shrieked.

  “Yeah, I mean. I haven’t been bleeding..” Seren said slowly. But the admission seemed to calm the queen.

  “How bad is this?” The king asked, standing and taking the baby from the queen. The queen sat down and sighed.

  “Serenity, the sprites create enchanted waters that give the fae their powers.” The queen said slowly. “By consuming the nectar of the Waterbearer you’ve completed the necessary prerequisites, you are now full fae.”

  “No, that’s not possible. To be fae you have to give up all emotions, the colors. It’s very clearly defined in the books.” Seren said. They felt a bit shaky as the numbness they’d been feeling reared its ugly head and made them nauseous. “I still clearly have color so I must still feel.”

  “It’s unmistakable.” the queen said sadly. “I’m sorry.”

  “Fae are forbidden in the city.” Eric said. Taking Seren’s shoulder and holding them closer. “You can’t just throw them out, that’s completely uncalled for.”

  “The law is the law.” the king said but he looked at his fae queen. “But clearly there are exceptions and I don’t intend on following unjust laws made long ago. Not every rule made is meant to be followed forever. Plus I believe there is something very interesting to say for you Serenity.” Seren looked up tiredly.

  “You’re right, you aren’t traditionally fae and perhaps there is a secret in that. One that could spare our children from going missing in the future.” The king gave a look to Seren that they read easily. “Perhaps even lead to our missing children being found.”

  “I appreciate that.” Seren nodded. They took a deep breath, they could feel and that calmed them. “I think, from what I’ve been reading, that the fae are kidnapping children to turn into fae.. What should we do about it?”

  “There is no we!” Eric said sternly.

  “He’s right,” The king agreed somberly. “There is no we. There is unfortunately nothing more we can do, We have no way of finding where the fae are getting in and we don’t have the manpower to oppose the Fae Queen herself. The best we can do is make the rules that keep people safe.” Seren nodded. They could hear subtext, they were aware it could only be in their head but it wasn’t going to change their mind.

  “Okay, I understand.” Seren said. “I don’t know if there’s anything else I can help you with.”

  “There is.” The queen said without any hesitation.. “Where did you leave the Waterbearer?” The queen asked.

  “I don’t know, I was lost.” Seren said. “I was found by some of the guards after wandering about for a bit.”

  Are you sure?” The queen pushed. The whole room dropped in temperature. Becoming so cold Eric and the king’s breath could be seen.

  (*)“I’m sure.” Seren said. The tension was thick and Seren felt a weight trying to push into their mind. Seren pushed back on impulse. Not sure what the feeling was but knowing it was foreign and that was enough. After a tense moment the queen settled down and held their head.

  “Very well.. That is all.” The queen’s voice was cold and the glass mirror behind the fireplace cracked. “You are excused.”

  “Thank you.” Seren said and bowed. Eric followed out a half step behind them. Both were silent on the walk out of the palace and to the waiting carriage. But as soon as the door was closed Eric looked at Seren accusingly.

  “What happened?” He asked. “What did you do?”

  “The queen thought I was lying so they tried to get into my mind and I pushed them out.” Seren said they felt guilty but reminded themself they did nothing wrong. “The glass probably broke because of the pressure.”

  “Why didn’t you warn me the queen was a fae?” Eric asked, though the accusatory tone didn’t soften.

  “I honestly didn’t think we’d see her. I thought it would just be the king.” Seren said.

  “And you being fae?”

  “I didn’t know.” Seren said, though Eric didn’t look convinced. “Reading can give me a lot of knowledge but it doesn’t mean I know everything.” Eric didn’t say anything just gave them an I told you so look. Seren pressed their lips together.

  “I kinda like that sometimes, don’t I?” Seren asked. Eric nodded but smiled.

  “At least you’re learning.” He said.