CHAPTER ELEVEN-THE DEAL

"How was Earth?" Daniel asked as Haldir sat down at the long wooden table across from Damien. Daniel was also from Earth, but many years in the future. Traveling back in time to save Rosemary, he made a name for himself as a terrible villain after cruelly taking his kingdom and destroying anyone who threatened his family.

Settling into the hard-wooden bench, Haldir smirked as he glanced to Daniel. "Quite a fucking mess as usual.”

Drumming his fingers on the table as he smirked back to Haldir, Daniel shrugged. "I guess things don't change very much. Do they?”

Rosemary rested her chin on her hand as Daniel held her other one on the table top. "How are Gretchen's parents? Are they getting along alright?"

"No. They're...well, you can imagine," said Haldir as he ran his fingers back and forth across the wooden table. "Gretchen was her father's little princess. He's just devastated and he's burning the whole supernatural world down with him. You know, he’s Tessa’s twin, so…let’s just say it’s very messy."

"Won't they consider coming here?" she asked. “It doesn’t sound like there’s much left for them there anymore.”

"I hope so, they're busy settling things with the people who assassinated Gretchen. There's not enough blood in the world to satisfy Teddy right now. He won’t stop until the jobs done," said Haldir. Unlike Tessa, Teddy had little control of his inner demon. It came and went without much warning, and without Tessa to help balance him, there was little anyone could do to stop Teddy. "But anyway...let's talk."

"Gretchen needs to move here, Haldir," said Daniel as he pushed himself back into his chair and tapped his finger into the table. "This is never going to work unless they spend time together."

Haldir pulled on his beard and laughed out loud. "She'll never agree to it, Daniel."

"Convince her," said Daniel as he threw up his hand like it was such an easy request.

Haldir leaned back in his seat then licked his lips.

"Can I have permission to just speak freely?"

Daniel rolled his eyes and inhaled deeply through his nose. He liked Haldir for a variety of reason, but his candor was near the top of his list. "Of course. We've known each other too long to start sparing feelings now."

With a remorseful glance to Damien, Haldir sighed before speaking. He’d known Damien since he was a baby and he didn’t enjoy being the one to hurt him. "Gretchen's made it very clear she doesn't want to see Damien ever again. Whatever happened out in that forest, she blames Damien.”

Daniel shook his head at the idea that Damien could do something to hurt Gretchen. She just didn’t understand the reasons for the way Damien behaved. "Gretchen needs to know the truth about Damien being her mate. Only he can help her through this thing she’s going through, she needs him. She won't ever be right until they're together. I'm speaking from experience here.”

Squeezing Rosemary’s hand, Daniel looked into her blue eyes. “There are some things that only love can fix.”

Knowing the truth of Daniel and Rosemary’s life together, Haldir nodded. "Yes, that’s true. But the three of you need to understand something. You and Rosemary were already in love when you discovered you were mates. Gretchen, she doesn't trust Damien. I may be able to get her here, but the first time these kids get into an argument she'll be gone just like that," Haldir said as he snapped his finger. "Unless you really are planning on locking her in that dungeon like you promised, Damien."

Rosemary sighed and glanced to her son. She was still less than happy to hear about the things that he said to her, even if she understood the reason. "Haldir, of course not. We want her to be happy here."

Thinking about Tessa, Haldir drummed his fingers on the table and bit his lips. "I think you all need to be prepared to accept that she won't ever be happy here. She may warm up to Damien someday, that bond will make sure of it, but she's just not going to want to be separated from her family again and she's definitely not going to want to be locked up in a castle like a fairy tale princess. That kind of life just isn't who she is."

"What if all her family came here?" asked Rosemary. "It's not like we don't have the room."

"You seriously want Tessa and her whole menagerie in your castle Rosemary?" Haldir asked as Daniel chuckled at the thought of it. He’d already invited Tessa to move there many years ago and was promptly shut down by Logan.

Rubbing his aching forehead with his fingertips, Haldir closed his eyes as he came up with a plan. He didn’t like secrets, especially when it came to the women in his family. They always turned out badly. "I'm going to ask Gretchen to come here with me for a week or two. But for the love of Christ, don't throw around the mate word. She'll run for the goddamn hills if she thinks she has no way out. These Earth-borns, they aren't like you realm folk, they don't wait around forever for their mates to show up, and they sure as shit don’t just throw themselves at your feet just because you happen to be Fated for them. The old traditions just don't mean the same for them. If you want her to love you, Damien, then you need to prove to her that you're worthy of it. You can’t just expect her to fall in line like one of your soldiers."

"I will Haldir," said Damien with nothing but the purest intentions in his eyes. "Just give me the chance."

Haldir blew out through his mouth and said, "I can't make you any promises. She's a stubborn one. I'll send a Raven when I know for sure."

When Haldir misted into the city in the woods, he went straight to Tessa's little cottage. When Jacob answered the door, he put his finger up to his lips and then motioned for Haldir to come in. Logan sat in a rocking chair in the corner rocking their newest baby, Meghan.

Haldir walked to Logan's side and looked her over. "What a beauty! Congrats you three. She looks just like you, Jacob."

"Thanks," said Jacob as he sat down beside Tessa and put his arm around her.

"How's Teddy? He's not communicating with me anymore," said Tessa as she rubbed Jacob's knee. Teddy had only ever cut Tessa off when they were fighting, and she felt lonely without his voice in her head.

"Jesus, Tess, you don't want to know. That warlock inside him, he's just never satisfied, you know?" he said. "He just couldn't be reasoned with."

Tessa's eyes teared and she curled her lips under.

"I can't even fucking imagine."

"Yeah," said Haldir softly as he wiped his hand along his thigh. "So, I just came from Daniel and Rosemary's.”

"Oh shit," Logan said while he patted Meghan's back gently. “So, how’d that go?”

Leaning over with his elbows resting on his knees, Haldir thew up his hands before clasping them in front of him. "I'm going to try to talk Gretchen into spending some time at the castle, maybe a week or two."

"That sounds like the stupidest thing I've ever heard of," said Tessa. "She doesn't want to see him. Why can't everyone get that through their heads?"

"Yeah, well, I don't have a lot of great choices," said Haldir. "Unless you want the Darke's popping in every goddamn day here."

Gretchen opened the door to the cottage then quietly closed it behind her when she came through. She crept into the living room and put her arm around Haldir.

"How you hanging in there kiddo?" he asked as she leaned over and kissed his temple.

Taking a seat on his knee, Gretchen sank into his shoulder. "I'm ok. Did you give them my letter?"

"I did, Gretch. They're happy to hear that you're ok," he said. "Do you mind going for a walk with me? I got some things to talk to you about."

"Sure," said Gretchen as she stood again.

As they left the cottage, Haldir led Gretchen along the cobblestone road to the harbor with Agamori following close behind.

Walking arm in arm with the man who looked more like her date than her grandfather, Gretchen sighed as she looked up into his face. "What's on your mind, Pap?"

Haldir tried to think of a way to make it sound like less of a chore and more like an yoyage. "How about you coming on a trip with me for a week or two?"

"A trip? That sounds fun. Where to?" she asked.

Haldir sighed as he prepared for the worst. "The Darke."

Gretchen stopped walking then turned to Haldir. "You can't be serious?"

Taking her arm again, Haldir pulled her close to his side. "I am serious.”

"Ugh!" Gretchen groaned as she rolled her eyes and started walking again. "I'd rather kick my own ass Haldir.”

Glancing back to Agamori, Haldir pulled Gretchen a little closer. He knew there would be no peace until she agreed. "I know, but they've invited us. Insisted upon it. It's rude to decline an invitation from a king, especially when that king is Daniel Darke. I’m afraid we have little choice, my love.”

She shook her head and said, "I honestly don't give a shit who he is Pap. Why do they want me there so goddamn bad?"

"Come on, Gretch, you know why. He’s a fool for you. He just wants a chance to prove to you that he's not a total douchebag. But his parents, they want to make up for the misunderstanding between you and Damien."

Gretchen sighed as she stopped and looked at the sun setting into the water. "They won't stop until I say yes, will they?"

"No, they won't," he said. "I wouldn't ask you to do this if they weren't breathing down my neck. I don’t especially like their tactics. Let's just knock this out and be done with it. If it works out it does and if not, well, maybe they’ll back off."

"I swear to God, if he pisses me off, I'm out of there. I don't give a damn whose son he is," she said. "Two weeks and not a day more."