Trishanna gasped as James's jaw dropped open. This woman was related to Rosie? Both of them leaned forward to get a better look. Lily did share the same shape of the eyes, the same nose and jawline. Even their smiles were similar. James shook his head. This was unreal, but a look at his mate made him realise that it is also possible. Lily looked at them both. "My sister wrote to me often. She shared a lot about you, princess. She sensed who you were; that is why she was so adamant about taking you in. I had informed her of your uncle, and the concerns I and the queen had about his beliefs and what that could mean before his attack, so she was aware that something huge could take place." Trishanna shook her head. "But how did Rosie end up in the human realm?" Lily sighed, knowing that she needed to start from the beginning.
Rosie and Lily were born to a werewolf father and a fae mother. Both girls inherited their parents' abilities, Lily taking more after her mother, while Rosie took after her father. She could shift and use some magic. Lily couldn't fully shift, but she was able to enhance her body and her senses, even partially shifting on nights of a full moon, but her magic was incredible. She was even considered to be one of the future mages in Elysian. Rosie was a year older, and Lily adored her big sister, wanted to do everything she did. Life was going great, until it wasn't. As tradition, Rosie found her mate when she turned five. A lovely boy two years older, by the name of Hammond. They were close as kids could be. Everything was on schedule until he was killed while hunting in a distant land, trying to prove to himself that he was worthy of Rose. He died when she was seventeen, a year before their bonding ceremony. To say she was depressed would be an understatement. She ceased training, had no appetite, and her will to live dwindled by the day.
Rosie couldn't sleep, spending many nights just wandering the forest. It was on a night of a new moon that she found this partial portal. There were a few, mostly well-known portals to the human realm that were guarded, but now and then, one would appear, unknown and usually unstable. Rosie found one and entered it, drawn by something. She visited often and soon discovered her second chance mate, Bruce, the Alpha of Bloodmoon. She was happy and returned to tell her sister all about it. Lily scolded her, begging her to reconsider. What if this was just a grieving heart trying to hold on to something new, different? Rosie tried to stay away, but she didn't want to live in Elysian without her mate. She began reading books on magic and rituals that could have been considered dangerous, even forbidden. One night, she asked Lily to meet her and begged her to let her live in the human realm. Lily caved, seeing the despair and hope in her sister's eyes. She agreed, and using a spell that was dangerous, Rosie made the decision to transfer almost all of her magic to her sister. This caused her to lose the ability to shift, making her an omega in status since her magic and shifting abilities are tied together since birth. This made Lily stronger, resulting in her becoming the newest mage in Elysian when she grew up.
Rosie entered the human realm and tried to win the heart of Bruce, but he resisted. The first night they met, he kissed her like he wanted to swallow her whole, but he resisted mating with her, only for Rosie to discover that he was engaged to marry another. It broke her heart, but with her magic gone, she could not open the portal from her side. The most she could have done with the traces of her magic left was to send letters through the gap on nights of a new moon. She wanted to leave Bloodmoon, wanted to return home to Elysain, but Bruce could not let her go. His wolf would not, so she stayed, watching the man she loved, her mate, be with another. She went into heat once, a few years after her arrival. She tried to leave the pack, not wanting to be discovered, but Bruce smelled her and pounced. He was reluctant that night, bearly resisting marking her, but not quite. She now had a partial mark that bound her to him, while he was unmarked by even his wife.
Rosie watched as this cruel man ignored her, yet he hardly paid attention to his wife. It was later discovered that it was a marriage of alliance, her pack being small and weaker than so many others. When she became pregnant, Bruce was pleased, but he demanded a boy. The woman delivered James, but due to the fact that she always had a poor constitution and she was never marked, the birth took a toll, leading to her death a few years later.
James felt his eyes well with tears as he heard of his father's despicable and selfish behaviour. Rosie was banned from caring for James, so he was handed around. When he was seven, that is when she found Trishanna close to where the portal appeared. She had seen her as a baby and recognised her immediately. Yet she knew if the young girl had used all of her sleeping ability to escape, then something was very wrong in Elysian. Her letters became fewer, as the portal was unstable due to the unrest and her fear that whatever chased the princess would find it. It was also difficult for Lily to visit the spot, not wanting to draw attention as she pretended to submit while seeking ways to end the rule of darkness over her land.
Trishanna gasped, realising that Rosie and Clarie had that partial marking in common, so she understood why it was so hard for her to leave. James asked about his father, but all Lily could say was that he was not a good man, rude and selfish. He should be lucky that she could not have entered the human realm. He allowed Rosie to keep the girl found in the woods, his heart aching as he saw the family that he could have if he gave in, but to a man like Bruce, feelings made you weak. That was his belief, something he constantly told his wife. She had truly cared for him, even though they were not fated. His constant distance and rejection of any show of love or tenderness made him pull away. He was cruel to James, trying to mould him into a "great Alpha". There were rumours that his father was a loving man, kind and respectful to all, yet he was betrayed, thus leading to Bruce believing that it was due to his trusting nature, which he considered weak.
It was silent in the room as everyone thought of all that had happened. Samuel raised a hand, asking when he entered the picture. Lily turned to him, smiling. He was picked up by Bruce on the day after he visited another city two years before Annaliese arrived. From Rosie's letters, Bruce found him as he tried to pickpocket, sensing that he was half shifter. He laughed at the young boy's skill of lifting his wallet, but Bruce caught up to him. Where others might have lied or apologised, this little scrap of a thing showed his fangs, growling and attacking. He was easily subdued, but Bruce found him interesting, so he brought the unconscious boy home. Rosie tended to him, and that was how he ended up in her care. Sammy was thankful and sad. He had hoped that he would find some answers to where he came from, but it was not to be. He looked at his sister, her eyes shining for him. He blinked away his own tears, a smile on his face. No matter what the reason, he was meant to meet her, and for that, he was grateful for Bruce's involvement.
James was in deep thought as the truth was revealed. He wanted to read the letters, but thought it might be too soon. As if sensing his thoughts, Lily rose and went to the door, speaking to whoever was on the other side. She returned to her seat, and a few moments later, there was a knock. One of the guards entered, bringing letters, bundled together. With a nod, she indicated that they should be given to the princess. Trishanna held the letters, the faint yet familiar curve of Rosie's handwriting bringing fresh tears to her eyes. She looked at Sammy, knowing that they both wanted to find a quiet place to read the thoughts of their mother.
Bruno cleared his throat and raised a hand. "Miss Lily, what about me and my sister? Are our parents alive?" Lily's smile slowly fell. She inhaled a fortifying breath. "I'm afraid that your parents fell soon after the Brrdorick's attack. He had gathered everyone who had initially survived that first wave. Those who feared pledged allegiance, those who resisted, like your parents, the family of guardians to royalty, were killed. He spared no one", her voice trailing off to a whisper as she relieved those horrible days of blood and death. "They fought bravely, for he didn't just end them with decency. He made them fight, your parents, first against his enhanced warriors and then against themselves. It was heartbreaking to watch. I ran to him, pleading for mercy, for he knew how much pain it was to feel the wounds your mate bore, but to be the one that did it?" Lily shook her head, bile rising in her throat, "That was cruel even for a monster. After that, many regretted agreeing to him, but anyone whom he believed to be a traitor was swiftly dealt with. A lot of blood was spilt in the land, the grief and disgust of every kind, cursing the land. Crops struggled, water had to be purified before use, and prices went up. Brodrick had the roads under heavy surveillance, and with every passing moon, the people's despair grew."
The room grew silent as everyone sank into their own thoughts. Trishanna thanked El for getting her out of Elysian that night, for she didn't even want to think about what could have happened to her. Bruno and Trixie held hands under the table, their grief deep as they mourned the parents who had loved them unconditionally, always encouraging their achievements. "To the guardians, we of Elysian wish to thank you for following the princess that night. I know it was a difficult decision for you as children to leave, but thanks to what you and your family have done for generations, our princess is safe." Bruno swallowed, his throat thick with emotion as Trixie's face was damp with tears. They felt like they failed miserably, for hearing of Trishanna's and Rosie's suffering, they felt like they had failed. Lily stood and walked around, pulling something from her pocket that was wrapped in a small lace cloth. She stepped toward them. "I know it was hard for you, for Rosie's letters said nothing about you, but just having your presence, your magic in the same realm helped in ways you cannot know. When you entered, your abilities woke for a moment, assuring that the princess would end up in the right place at the right time. Trust me, I have spent many years studying this. Your young body did the best it could in such a difficult situation. The fact that you chose to follow Annalise rather than return to your family shows why the fates chose you two to be her guardians, and I know your parents would be just as proud as I am."
She opened her hand, revealing two wedding bands of faded gold nestled in the white lace. "I made sure to keep this momentum of your parents, hoping that one day we will meet." Bruno and Trixie reached, shaking hands toward the rings, tears streaming. It belonged to their parents, their most treasured possession. They would often joke that this was the only thing they cared about after their children and each other, their symbol of love and respect, not because of fate, but because they chose each other every day. Trixie held her mother's ring in her hands, bringing it to her chest as she turned and sobbed into Sam's arms. His eyes were wet, wishing that he could have met these amazing people. He vowed to make his mate happy no matter what. Bruno's hands clenched around his father's ring. His mind warring with the grief and pride of their love even in death.
Lily slowly stood, "I think it would be a good idea if we took a break. I know things are troubling to hear, and I want to give everyone some time to reflect and regroup. The guards and the servants have been told of your arrival, and arrangements have been made. All I ask is that you comply with any restrictions I have put in place, as it is for the good of everyone; aside from that, you all are free to explore the grounds and even the village." With that, she left, but not before wiping away a tear from her cheek.