Oh yes, His Nibs helped too.

[bloodsong1]

"Mom, when can I have a coming of age ritual?" Sarah asked the morning of her sixteenth birthday.

"When you're twenty-one," Aurora replied, flipping pancakes. Sarah pouted.

"You say that every year."

"And do you remember why?"

"So His Nibs won't came and make me his queen too early."

"It's very serious, Sarah. You need a solid understanding of folklore and politics before he whisks you away."

"I also need to be a strong and wise woman," Sarah sighed. That had been drilled into her head for the last ten years. "How will I know?"

"When you can look at a decision and say 'Yes, I did the right thing' or 'Ok, that was bad, I won't do it again.' You won't get chances to make simple mistakes when you're queen. Queen mistakes can start wars." Aurora served the strawberry pancakes with a smile. Sarah huffed.

"How come you're so wise, Mom?" She whined through her own smile.

"Years of practice, study and observation. I didn't have the pressure of a Fey Royal watching and tapping his foot impatiently." The last sentence was directed over Sarah's head. She sighed. His Nibs, as the family had decided to call him, had been showing up with increased frequency over the last few years. Sarah knew it was all biological. Once her period started, His Nibs had tried to make good on his word. Aurora shot him down with spectacular logic. Now it was a birthday ritual. She asked to be declared an adult, Aurora refused, His Nibs showed up and gave her a wish. Sarah knew from careful eavesdropping that the yearly arguments were getting harder on her mom. Telling His Nibs she was too young, too inexperienced and Aurora wasn't finished with her job as surrogate mother had worked four years ago. Now it was barely working at all. Sarah expected a ferocious row on her eighteenth birthday. On top of all that, her magic was manifesting. She could make flames appear in her hands, the garden gnomes had taught her how to make plants grow in any kind of soil and she was trying to learn how to fly without breaking anything. Aurora had taught her mortal magic, but hers was different and she really needed a teacher.

"You are insufferable, Little Witch," His Nibs growled, poofing in. Sarah's breath caught just a little. He was mind bogglingly handsome.

"You have forever, Elvinking. It is no skin off your nose to wait for a properly educated queen."

"Forever is not long."

"So true." Aurora smiled her patented "Fuck You" smile and served His Nibs some plain pancakes. Sarah had been practicing that smile too, but she wasn't quite there. His Nibs looked at the plate, then back at Aurora. His Nibs never ate the food it was the gesture that counted. Hospitality was a Big Thing in Fey World, one of the few lessons Aurora could teach. A chair scraped and Sarah looked up, blinking when His Nibs sat down next to her.

"Happy Birthday Sarah!" Her father, Patrick, called, giving her a sound kiss on her scalp. "Your Majesty, you honor us." He sketched an elegant bow. His Nibs acknowledged her father with a slight nod. "Good morning, my lovely lady," He said to Aurora before kissing her passionately. Sarah looked at His Nibs, who was staring at her intensely.

"I don't waste birthday wishes on kisses," She said firmly, infusing her voice with Power. It was almost as strong as Aurora's.

"Such a pity." She turned up her nose and went back to eating. After everyone was finished, His Nibs stood and bowed slightly to Sarah, holding out his hand.

"What is your wish, my lady?"

"I wish for a teacher to help me understand and properly use my magic." Aurora groaned. Sarah blinked when His Nibs smiled a cruel smile.

"Properly use my magic only for the good of all and to harm none unless it be in defense of myself or those I am sworn to protect!" She shouted. The smile collapsed and the Fey King turned on Aurora, glaring.

"This is your doing," He snarled. Sarah gulped. He sounded so...angry!

"I promised to teach her strength and wisdom," Aurora said calmly. His Nibs turned on Patrick, who shrugged.

"I made you no promises." His Nibs snarled and raised his hand, black energy coalescing around his fingers. Sarah jumped to her feet.

"SHIELD!" A bright pink bubble surrounded her parents as the black globe flew towards them. It splashed and dripped sparkling black smoke. Sarah gritted her teeth at the force of the spell, maintaining the shield as the smoke tried to ooze through. Eventually the smoke dissolved into nothing. Sarah took a deep breath and looked at the Elvinking. He was glaring at her, frustration and...was that hate?

"To defend those I have sworn to protect," She repeated.

"Your lessons start at sunrise," He growled and vanished. Sarah snapped her fingers, dismissing the shield and sagged. Her mother caught her and eased her into a chair while her father rushed to the stove.

"Well played, my daughter. Well played," Aurora whispered, nuzzling her hair. Patrick returned with a mug of hot chocolate. Sarah gulped it down. The warmth helped ground her.

"His eyes were so cruel," She whispered.

"Yes. Now you understand him a little better," Patrick said, getting her a refill.

"How do I handle this?"

"With strength and wisdom, which you just demonstrated."



I'm not sure if lessons will be documented.