"Is this true?"
The girl who had kept most of her face hidden by her golden hair and her father's chest, turned directly to face her king and reached up to pull her hair away from her face.
The moment Ember saw the dried blood that trickled from her swollen lip, Ember gestured with a wave of his hand, "Guards, seize him!"
"No! No! You can't do this! You can't believe them!" Perivale exclaimed, but the guards grabbed his arms, yanked them behind his back and forced him to his knees.
"Lord Perivale, you may be unaware, but kidnapping is illegal, no matter where in the fae kingdom you may live," Ember announced, "And as of this week, it is also illegal to partake in the practice of trading brides."
A gasp ran through the entire room, from the guards to Melia and her father. The only two who seemed unsurprised were Iris and Filton, the only two Ember had told about his decision, "I was going to announce the change in law at my wedding as a gift to my bride, but you have forced my hand."
"What? No! You can't!" Perivale protested, "It has been a tradition on the Spring Isle for centuries!"
"It is an ancient tradition, yes, but one that belongs in the past," Ember announced and with that he turned to Iris, gesturing with his hand for her to step forward, "My love, would you like to do the honors?"
For a moment Iris looked confused. Then, realization dawned on her face and she smiled before turning to Perivale.
"Perivale, you are hereby charged with the crime of trading brides. Guards, please escort him to the dungeon and throw away the key."
"No!" Perivale exclaimed even as Iris turned to Ember, looking for confirmation.
He nodded, and the guards dragged Perivale to his feet.
"Oh, and Perivale, if it wasn't obvious, you are stripped of all land and title. What is left of your estate shall be sold at auction to pay for your debts to the crown, and as compensation for your victims and their families," Ember announced as Perivale was dragged away screaming.
The king glanced at Melia and her father, who looked more than grateful, their heads bowed. Then he turned to a trembling Iris.
Chapter 17 - Iris
Perivale was dragged from the throne room kicking and screaming. "You can't do this to me! You would be nothing without me! You should be thanking me!" he yelled.
Iris wanted to scream back at him that she owed him nothing save a return of all the torture she had been forced to endure, but instead she held her tongue and clenched her hands into fists, hidden in the folds of her skirt so nobody could see.
It wasn't until she felt Ember's hand on the small of her back that she realized just how badly she was trembling.
"Don't listen to him," Ember whispered into her ear and pressed his lips against the side of her forehead, before adding, "It doesn't matter how we found each other. All that matters is that we did."
His words warmed Iris's icy heart, and she placed a hand on his upper arm to steady herself before tiptoeing to offer him a grateful kiss upon his cheek.
"May I have a moment alone with Melia and her father?" she asked, waiting for Ember to nod before she turned to them.
"Everybody out, my bride wishes for a moment with Melia and her father," Ember announced, and the guards who remained, along with Filton, began to file out of the room. Iris watched them go, the marble room suddenly feeling much larger without their presence, though it was still not as daunting as it had been the first time she had set foot in it.
She turned to Melia and held out her hands with a gentle smile. Melia hesitated only a moment before stepping forward to place her hands in Iris’s.
"I have kept my promise," Iris said softly, releasing one of Melia's hands to stroke hair away from the young girl's face. She cupped her cheek and added, "You are safe now."
"I have no idea how to thank you, my lady," Melia shook her head, her cheeks burning with color.
"You don't need to thank me," Iris shook her head in return, and a sudden thought crossed her mind, "Did Perivale mention that you were having trouble keeping your farm?"
She glanced at Pablo who quickly nodded before he began to shake his head and say, "That is correct, my lady, but do not trouble yourself. You have helped us more than we could ever repay you already."
"I may have a solution to both our problems," Iris suggested with a brilliant smile. She was sure it was the perfect solution. "I am in need of a new maid, and I believe you are in need of extra income."
She looked from Pablo to his daughter and added, "How would you feel about coming to live at the palace with me? I would pay you enough to send home to help your father, and for you to have a little left over. That is if the king is in agreement."
Melia's mouth practically dropped open and her father looked just as shocked.