Queen Zocerth looked like a woman ready to do murder when she swept into the room where our party had been locked in ever since our arrival. The Nightlily had very nearly got us, but Zocerth herself had arrived and intervened. But her face was like thunder then, and as she slammed the door shut, it was even more like thunder as she rounded on Ashton. "Why?"
Ashton shrugged. "The world's coming to an end?" he said.
Zocerth drew in a deep breath. "That's not a reason," she said coldly. "You and your little band could fix all the world's ills by singing if you chose, but you dare the Nightlily. Why?"
Again, Ashton shrugged. "Like I said, the world's coming to an end," he repeated. "We need to stand as one."
"Forget it," Zocerth replied coldly. "You would stand with your new friends, rather than with your family."
"You are still family," Ashton said, his voice now as cold as hers. "I'm sorry I don't agree with your general love of rapine and slaughter, but I'm still willing to let bygones be bygones and offer you a chance do the right fucking thing for a change!"
Ashton never swore, and when he did drop a rude word, it meant he was under tremendous stress. Zocerth actually paled. "Why?" she asked a third time.
I'd had enough and stood. Ashton shot me a warning glance, but I ignored him. "Because I don't want to turn my weapon on you," I snapped. "I've seen too much of the inherent goodnes in humans, so for the love of all the gods, get the fuck down off your high fucking horse and fucking listen to reason for once in your life!"
Dead silence reigned. Zocerth looked as if she'd been stabbed between the eyes, while Ashton sighed, with the most put-upon expression I'd yet seen on his face. "What the fuck did I say about keeping your mouth shut?" he finally muttered.
"Dance on it," I retorted.
Zocerth shook her head. "You ask this of us?" she challenged me. "We who served you well and faithfully for so long? We who gave you the keys to creating all that you have?"
"I created you," I fired back. "It's not my fault you got drunk on power and decided your way was better, despite all the careful planning I'd put in place to make sure the whole scheme didn't blow up! No wonder the rest of the world hates you; no wonder Ashton turned his back on you and decided the world needed a dark elf with a conscience."
Again there was a long silence, before Rocerth spoke again. "What of the weapon?"
I looked at my companions. Though Ashton looked ready to murder me, Ailsa and Paradox were looking both relieved and sad. I knew why that was so, and I felt my heart twist into a tight, painful knot in my chest. "I turn it on myself, and let it undo all I have created," I said. "But I can spare you, if you can just accept the world is not the place I painted in your minds."
"We cannot change who we are," Zocerth said.
"Ashton did," I reminded her. "He fought against all the tenets of his being, and he discovered that helping rather than hurting was the best way." I shrugged and stood. "But I can see I'm wasting my time."
Ashton rose also, giving me a look which promised both a heartfelt thanks and a very stern talking to once we were back at his cottage. "Mother, I'm sorry you can't see the truth," he said. "So I'm renouncing the last of my ties and doing something I should have done a long time ago." He turned to Ailsa and took her hand. "I've loved you for five years," he told her. "And I'm sorry it took me so long to realise just what you mean to me. I would be honoured, therefore, if you would take me as husband."
Aisla touched his cheek lightly with one hand. "Only if you take me as your wife," she said.
"I'll take you as wife, and gladly," Ashton said, taking her hand and kissing the palm.
Aisla's eyes were filling with tears, but she managed a smile. "Then I'll gladly take you as husband," she said, before leaning forward and sealing the deal with a kiss that seemed to light the room. Zocerth stared in shock as the newlywed couple made their union very real with that kiss, and I grinned through the tears streaming down my cheeks. Dark elfs and orcs had very simple marriage ceremonies; it made sense for Ashton and Aisla to combine the two into one. This also meant Ashton had given up hearth and home for his new wife, and was now loyal to her and her people, meaning Zocerth no longer had any power over him.
The queen, however, was not entirely prepared to let her now former son's defection go without a last slight. "You may have turned your back on us," she snarled, "but I promise you, Ashton, that you will be remembered in the lores of my people as a traitor!"
Ashton turned to give her an even look, already looking less like a dark elf, and somewhat more like Lanlanor. Properly giving up the darker side of his nature in his marriage to Ailsa had undone the chains which bound all dark elves to their path of nightmares, an innovation I'd created when I'd first made them many years ago. Ashton had read his dark elf lore extensively, it seemed, thus allowing him to snap that chain for good. I applauded him silently, humbled by the courage it must have taken him to truly give up on that side of his nature, despite his years of serving the greater good. Ailsa nodded as she saw my look, and I gave her a nod in return.
Finally, Ashton spoke. "I'd rather be a traitor than a murderer," he said. "Come. We're done here." And without further ceremony, ado, protest or comment, he offered his hand to Aisla, leaving Paradox and I to bring up the rear. Zocerth said nothing as we left, but as I passed her, I sensed the pain, anger, confusion, and a host of other emotions swirling in her mind. I had the feeling she wasn't as cold about this new turn of affairs as she claimed, and I mused to myself that maybe Ashton had done a good job of knocking her pedestal a bit, despite my inopportune outburst.
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