Page 17 of Protected

"I should go to them and try to heal Nuss and Zucker." I was anxious to see them and make sure they were okay. It was so strange how I felt much more for all of them than I ever had my own brother. It was as if they were already family.

Although, there were things I wanted to do with the four of them that had nothing to do with familial affection. I wasn't in love with them. That would be weird. I didn't even know them. But there was something between us that went beyond the scope of friendship.

Like I had any idea what I was talking about. I'd never been in love. This was nothing more than lust and the adrenaline of surviving a battle together. I shouldn't expect anything more from them than I'd already been given.

"In a bit, lass. You and I need to talk woman to woman. Your men will be fine for a bit. Leb will see to that." She waved him off and pointed me toward a set of comfortable looking chairs with a much smaller table set between them. It too was laden with food and a steaming kettle.

I was torn because I did want to talk to her and find out more about what everyone thought I was and expected from me. And to be fair, to see if the Vivandiere would be showing up. Then maybe I could find out if there was a way home. But my heart was pulled to go with Leb to see Tau, Zucker, and Nuss.

Leb stepped close to me, picked me up so our faces were level and gave me a sweet and chaste kiss. "Go, sweet thing, and have your chat. Our swords will be waiting for you when you're done."

He kissed me once more and then set my feet back on the ground, spun me, and gave me a swat on the butt to get me going on my way. I fast stepped a few paces and caught up with Mother Gingerbread as she was just sitting down.

"Please, sit and rest your bones. Have something to eat." She reached for the kettle, and I flopped into the other chair not realizing how tired I was.

The second my bum hit the cushion, I knew something was wrong. I jumped back up and from out of the folds in my skirt flew two tiny pixies, one pink and one blue. They buzzed around me for a moment, then flew straight for Mother Gingerbread, snagging the kettle and the cup from her hands.

The pink one, with the cup, flew right up into her face and made a sort of buzzing tinkling sound. I think it was mad at her. "I'm so sorry. I must have accidentally picked them up in the battle. I don't exactly know what to do with them though."

Mother Gingerbread smiled and waved me back down into the chair. "It's been a fair while since we've had any Marzipan pixies about."

The pink pixie brought the cup to the blue one and they poured a fragrant brown stream, plopped two sugar cubes into it, and expertly swirled the mug to mix it up. They brought it over to me and then floated right in front of my face until I took a sip. "Thank you. It's delicious."

Just like back in the forest they fluttered about pleased at the praise. Mother Gingerbread watched with a funny grin on her face. "They're quite attached to you. I dare say you'll never be without a hot drink the rest of your days."

"This is the second drink they've given me. Why do they do that?" I watched as the blue one picked through the food, and after much deliberation, found a vine of bright berries and brought it over to me.

"What do you mean? That's what they do. Marzipan pixies live to provide comfort and joy, usually in the form of food and drink, but sometimes with clothing, blankets and the such. They're likely already judging the lodge harshly and will want to decorate it up with lights and baubles by morning."

"How lovely. Can you understand them? Do they have names? I'd like to thank them by name, if I can." The pink pixie flew in a little pirouette and landed on the edge of my teacup, tinkling, and buzzing like before.

"This one says she is called Trost, and the other is Freunde." The pixies each bowed at me and then went to dig through the food again arguing over a pile of cookies.

"You are an interesting lass." Mother Gingerbread took an offered cookie and dunked it into her own teacup. "So shall we see what's in ya, and how the Gingerbread Kingdom can help ya take down the Mouse Queen?"

"I'm not sure why everyone thinks I can do anything. I seem to have a little bit of magic that can heal people, but I don't know anything about how to overthrow a dictatorship." I didn't even have enough gumption to control my own life back at home. My brother ruled over us all there, and even with my small rebellions against him, I was nothing more than a blister under his big toe.

"You're a woman, lass. What more do you need to be? That alone gives you power."

I supposed to a woman like her or the Vivandiere. Not me. "It never has before."

"Ah, that'd be the strange land of the humans, for ya. Patriarchal malarkey if I ever saw such a thing." She pounded her fist on the side of the chair, sending crumbs flying. "I do wish your lads had discovered where you'd been hidden away earlier. Then you could have been raised here in the Winter Realm with me. Then you wouldn't question your power."

I wished that too. That thought surprised me. Until a few minutes ago, I still very much wanted to leave the intrigue and danger of this place far behind. But there was something special here that felt right. It wasn't only Nuss, Zucker, Tau, and Leb either. She kept calling them mine and I didn't understand what made them such. Although, I found I wanted them to belong to me, and me to them, very much.

I glanced over again to the area near the fireplace and found both Tau and Leb staring over at us. "What is it that makes me have these, umm, feelings for them?"

"Fate, love. Never before have six princes of the Winter Realm all been born under the same Christmas star. The same star as you. You've been connected all along. Did no one teach you anything?"

"Six?"

"Your four here who've been raised in light and love. They swore a bond to guard and protect you and become your consorts. But there are two more born under that star who've both been tainted by the Mouse Queen herself. Either could steal the throne for themselves because they hold no bond, only treachery and greed guide them."

"Konig, the Mouse Prince?" I knew I felt a connection to him. I'd heard the guys call him a traitor, but there was more to him than any of them understood. I knew that now. "But who is the other? We haven't met anyone else."

"Your twin, lass. The Prince of the Land of Spirit and Magic. I'm sorry to tell you, we've gotten reports from others in the rebellion that he's been seen with the Mouse Queen entering Christmas Castle."

"My twin? I have a brother here in the Winter Realm too?" I wondered now if Fritz was even my real brother. We'd always been at odds with each other, and I certainly never felt a connection with him. Perhaps I could save this long-lost twin of mine too.

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