Chapter Text
“You’re to be married?….This is how you respond to me?" Rue asked
“I do not understand. This is not a response, merely a statement on my recent fortunes.” Hob said stiffly. So cold for a man that had been so gentle in their dancing not two nights ago.
The pair was standing on a thankfully empty balcony. The echoes of the party reaching them in fragments through the glass doors.
“A statement? I thought perhaps…" Rue cut themself off, not wishing to speak the words that were obviously not reciprocated, "I didn’t understand you to be a cruel man. That perhaps you would return my letter with your own. That you would do me the kindness of a direct response.” Rue said
Hob's ears flattened and his next words came out in a rush, “Mistrex de la Rue" -formal still- "please let me assure you that I do not know what letter you speak of. But any harm I may have caused I endeavor that you tell me immediately, so that I may apologize and make amends. Your feelings, our…our friendship is of the utmost importance to me.”
Rue started to speak, then paused head cocking to the side. Could it be true? That he didn't know. That something may have happened to the letter. What could have possibly prevented the delivery?
They thought about the moment the letter was handed over. Wuvvy's nails pressed into the envelope. They felt ill as the terrible thought crossed their mind. That perhaps they already knew the answer.
“You did not receive my letter? I entrusted it to Wuvvy. It would have been delivered early yesterday morning.” Rue said, holding out for hope.
“No. I received only the missives from my own Lord and Lady to inform me of the happy news.” he did not sound happy. In fact he sounded more miserable than they had ever heard him, “What did you wish to tell me?”
The idea of speaking the words out loud? To an engaged man? Never.
“I…I cannot in this moment say. There is something deeply wrong that I must address, before I can dream of answering that question. I must understand what has happened here. I fear the worst and can only hope I am incredibly wrong.” Rue said, they squeezed his arm before spinning around back into the party.
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Rue found Wuvvy sitting with Prince Apollo’s party and it was all at once a blazing sign of how far they had been separated from one another.
“Wuvvy, do you have a moment?” Rue said. They tried their damndest to keep their voice light with little success.
The group was still laughing at a joke, but with Rue’s presence Wuvvy had gone quiet. Eyes as a prey.
“No!” Apollo boomed, “It is a night of revelry. The Court of Wonder is at the height of its splendor, don’t you think?”
“The Court of Wonder has never been more magical.” Rue agreed, eyes never leaving Wuvvy, “But I’m afraid I must insist. It is an urgent matter.”
Wuvvy to her credit did not appear confused by Rue’s insistence, just resigned. The look was all but confirmation of Rue’s worst fears.
“Then perhaps I can assist.” Apollo had a hand on Wuvvy’s shoulder. It appeared light, but Rue could see it for the chain that it was, “Tell of your concern.”
“I apologize, Prince Apollo, but it is a private matter.” A second time telling him no and Rue was losing hope of keeping this delicate
As if drawn by their very thoughts a crowd was beginning to form. Just the edges of fey that happened to wander closer by curious about the beginnings of drama within the Court of Wonder.
“We have no secrets amongst each other, Rue.” their name sounded wrong in Apollo's mouth, “Speak your mind.”
Rue steeled themselves. They had no desire to make a scene, but there was no delicate way to move them both from the curious gaze of the fae and Prince Apollo’s too perfect smile.
And Rue’s heart could not withstand a moment longer. They had to know why.
“A letter I sent wasn’t received by its intended party.” Rue with forced casualness, “Everything has been so busy with the bloom. I thought…hoped that perhaps it was misplaced. I only wished to inquire after it. Would you know where it possibly could have ended up, Wuvvy?”
Wuvvy rose to her feet, spine straight, shoulders back. Her eyes were closed as she moved, Apollo’s hand falling away from her shoulder.
Wuvvy opened her eyes and Rue felt as if they could fall straight through into the darkness within them.
“I only wanted what’s best for you.” Wuvvy said and it was damning.
“Wuvvy.” Rue breathed.
“Everything I’ve ever done for a millennia has been for you.” Wuvvy said
“You have no right to make my decisions for me.” Rue’s beak clicking sharply, “I care for you so incredibly deeply. Your counsel I valued above all others. If you had asked me. Spoken of your concerns… I trusted you.”
“No you didn’t.” Wuvvy said so softly that Rue thought they misheard, but also afraid that they hadn’t. But Wuvvy repeated it, eyes shining with tears and with a voice that carried, “No you didn’t. You cried and would not let me help make it better. You commanded me to burn the letter.”
The crowd was no longer pretending to be caught in their own conversations. The room filled with soft music, but no laughter or joy.
“I could not trust myself!” Rue exclaimed, then softer, “You have always wanted the best for me. You do things because you think they are good for me. What about my choices? What right do you have to claim them? You would have shared it without my permission. You left and I thought for certain you took my secrets with you. Instead you…”
They could feel the presence of the fey they had grown so close to this season. Andhera and Binx standing nervously at the edge of the crowd. Binx with hand reaching forward as if to stop this spectacle.
And as with perfect timing Hob stepped to the front of the crowd. Neither of their voices had been concealed and he surely heard much of what had already been said. A crease in his brow apparent at the scene before him.
“Instead I demanded satisfaction for your pain. I fought for your honor.” Wuvvy said and with each word she shifted from something doe-like to something more predatory, "I defended you!"
Rue looked away from Wuvvy and the shame her words brought with them. They instead found Hob in the crowd and their claw caught across their ring. The only ring they would ever receive from him. A deceit in itself, transformed from a Medal of Courage. Something he didn’t feel deserving of anymore. And that was it, wasn’t it? They didn't deserve it either.
Rue bowed their head eyes closed and found the strength of bravery from the token. Quietly, they said, “It should have been me.”
Wuvvy startled, form shortening with almost a pop. She looked horrified, “What?”
“It should have been me you challenged. My choices hurt me. In the fear of those choices I used command and hurt you. The satisfaction you demanded could not, has not been met through the duel with Hob.” Rue said.
Wuvvy shook her head, “No. He hurt you. It was his fault!”
Rue stood tall and ignored Wuvvy’s words. And with all of the formality and intention of a fae agreement Rue began to speak.
“Wuvvy, Lady of the Court of Wonder.”
“Please don’t do this.” Wuvvy begged, realizing immediately what Rue intended.
"Confidant and right-hand to the Mistrex of the Bloom." Rue continued.
Wuvvy stumbled forward and gripped Rue's hands. Tears formed in both of their eyes. A single tear fell, from whose eye it did not matter, but it landed on Rue's beautiful feathers. The very same ones that Wuvvy encouraged them to show.
“I accept your demand for satisfaction via duel."