Chapter 157

I let the Winter Wards go through first with the mimics, then Dawson with our pup and me last, I close the portal after reminding them they need to go and get the pups and give them a proper burial.

I let the Winter Wards return to their domain with the mimics and quickly lead Dawson to the Fire Flower Tree, I had sent a mindlink to Gyahan and my other attendants to expect us and prepare for their princess.

They were all gathered around the tree, my parents included, when my mom saw her she sobbed, Dawson passed her to me, he is not an Elemental so he can not go to the tree, I take her and wade through the waters surrounding the tree and lay her at the base of the tree.

I went back and held hands with the others and we chant together to get the trees blessing, the flowers on the tree begins to glow red and orange colors, they burn and shine so bright, my eyes widen when the tree does something it’s never done before, it’s branches reach down with vines and pick her up, her head bobs back as she’s raised and perched on a branch then cocooned inside the vines, the tree gives breezes as though it’s breathing, fire rises up from the roots of the tree and surrounds it, we are afraid but we do not break the link we have made, after a few minutes the fire dies down then the cocoon slowly comes down the tree and into the water, it’s floating over to us, the vines fall off the top and she’s seen laying on it and there’s something laying on her.

The colors fade from the tree and it returns to it’s normal stature once the boat reaches us “i-it’s a baby” I look at the little one laying on my pup then up to the tree “it is not just a baby, it’s a Fire Sprite” “you mean” “yes, the tree has chosen my pup to care for the Fire Sprite” “that has not happened in over a Thousand years your majesty” “I know, we must do our best to take care of the Sprite, they grow very quickly so it will have to remain here until it is fully grown because the rapid growth will raise questions in the outer world, even for wolves”

The Sprite slumbers peacefully on Azealia as she too slumbers, her face looks serene and at peace, looking at her “pixies can you give us a hand, getting them to her chambers” the pixies swarm lifting Azealia from the cocoon and carry them boat floating, they follow me and the others follow Azealia from the tree up to her chamber, they gently lay her down.

Both of them breathe evenly in sleep but neither of them rouse or move, “we need to tell her mate, I will bring him here” I open the portal and was about to  step through when he came running through almost knocking me over, he caught me before I fell.

“Apologies your majesty” he sees her laying on the bed and goes over to her and kneels by the bed “where did this little one come from?” he leaned in and sniffs “why does it smell like me and my mate?” “it smells like you?” “yes” I go over and inhale and he’s correct, it smells like them both.

“I guess that’s the trees intention then” thinking out loud “having the both of you raise the Fire Sprite as your own, this is incredible” “Fire Sprite?” I quickly explain everything to him and he stares at me, blinking slowly taking in everything I say to him, I had tried picking the little one up earlier and was unable to, more than once I tried, even Dawson did and we couldn’t.

The King looks at the sleeping baby on Azelia and touches it’s head gently smiling, then he sits on the edge of the bed and reaches to pick it up “we tr-” the words die in my mouth when the baby is picked up by the King and lay in his arms “a beautiful little princess” he says looking down at the baby, both Dawson and I run around to look at her “she looks just like the both of you, she has your nose” I say looking at the still sleeping baby.

I need to get some diapers, Gyahan comes running a few minutes later bringing some, we put one on her then dress her before laying her back on Azealia, the King says “I get the feeling they are meant to stay together and will both wake up when the time is right, I must return to my Kingdom and get things in order for their return”

“Ah your majesty, take my number so you can reach me when you want to come ans visit again!” “ah yes, okay” they exchange numbers and he returns to his Kingdom through the portal.