Chapter 605: This is not goodbye, this is just for now
Cass knew that he was going to have to say goodbye to the nursery tree. That was probably the reason that he had put it off to the day that they were leaving. He was sure that there were things that could have transpired if he had done it earlier, even the day before, but his chest hurt painfully every time he considered leaving.
Even now, as he descended the stairs, his chest was tight. Painful.
Gideon and Edgar were with him as he descended down the stairs. Sam and Byron were busy making sure that everything was in its place. After all, they were his head servants. They did have other jobs besides accompanying him everywhere.
"You two are coming in this time, right?" Cass asked, turning back to look at them. He really needed their support this time and from the gentle way that they both looked at him, he shouldn’t have worried.
"Of course, Cass." Edgar promised and Cass nodded, turning to look where he was going so that he didn’t trip. Was it ridiculous that he kept checking in with them as they descended the stairs and moved through the basement? Maybe, but he just really needed others with him as he said goodbye.
Otherwise, he might never leave the nursery tree’s side, and he didn’t think that they would protest.
He only hesitated for a second at the entrance of the nursery tree’s space but once he stepped through he felt the fresh air wash over his face, the fragrance of flowers in the air and Cass realised that the space had expanded again. This time it was on the other side of the small footpath.
Fields of flowers and soft grass on either side of the tree. It looked like the perfect place to take a nap and even as the thought tugged on him, he looked up towards the tree that towered over everything and everyone. His chest relaxed slightly, his breathing evening out as he felt Gideon and Edgar enter the space behind him hesitantly. Both of them gasped as they realised the space had expanded again as Cass slowly moved towards the trunk of the tree.
When Cass hesitated to reach out, the branches above him rustled. It sounded like they were laughing at them and Cass felt his eyes prickle with tears. Why were they laughing at him? He was saying goodbye to them, of course he was going to have a hard time! They were the reason that Cass felt he could even do any of this in the first place!
Without their acknowledgement, their easy love, their acceptance and their sacrifice, Cass wouldn’t even be here right now. So sue him that he was feeling very emotional about saying goodbye to them.
Cass felt the nursery tree call his name, whispering it on the breeze and Cass swallowed. He carefully placed his hand on their bark, feeling the familiar warmth and pulse before Cass sighed and leaned in, hugging the tree tightly. His arms couldn’t wrap around the whole trunk, but that was okay. That was a good thing.
The nursery tree sighed and hugged him back.
Cass could understand what it was saying to him, knew that they were comforting him even now but Cass couldn’t help it when his eyes spilled over.
He knew it was selfish, but he was just so sad to say goodbye to them. He wanted to be able to take them with him everywhere too, just like he was able to do with the other people he cared about.
That was when the nursery tree did something absolutely ridiculous. So startling that it even had Cass stop his tears as the tree released him so that he was a few steps back. Cass, Edgar and Gideon watched as a blinding light filled the space, forcing everyone to close their eyes. A gentle hum filled the air as they couldn’t see, but it didn’t sound dangerous. If anything, it felt like a mother trying to comfort their child.
When the light began to dim and Cass opened his eyes he saw something impossible before him.
A small branch. Not just any branch, a branch that had roots. Cass couldn’t quite comprehend what he was seeing but when a gentle brush of leaves touched his shoulder, whispering for him to breathe, Cass sucked in.
"Is this?" Cass asked, turning his eyes towards the ancient, loving being. A rustle of leaves, flower petals tinkling in the air.
It was.
The nursery tree had given Cass a starter, another part of itself to nurture in his home. They were trusting Cass with another part of themselves so that he could spread the will of the fairies farther. Heal the world.
Cass felt his eyes water as he stared up at the small thing. The delicate thing. They had trusted Cass with a baby of themselves, and Cass wasn’t sure if this was something that he could handle. He knew he had said that he would help raise nursery trees across the world but-
"Is this what I think it is?" Gideon asked, his voice filled with wonder as he stared at the tiny thing. "This is...thank you, nursery tree. This will help countless other fairies." Gideon thanked the tree, bowing. He was tapped on the shoulder and told that it was no harm to them, but Gideon couldn’t understand them. Cass had to interpret for them.
Cass was a bit confused by what they meant and the nursery tree waved off what they had done with a younger branch.
Shoots often grew off of nursery trees so that fairies could take them and spread them. To help speed up the process. If all the excess energy didn’t have to pool in a specific spot and instead had a branch that it could spread into and help grow, it was a better way to sink the roots of a nursery tree into an area. Cass just didn’t know this fact because they hadn’t had any shoots when Cass first arrived, and there weren’t a lot of nursery trees left.
Cass was going to help fix that, wasn’t he?
Cass swallowed. If the nursery tree said it like that, then that was exactly what Cass was going to do. Cass would find the prettiest, nicest, safest place to put the new nursery tree and would help it grow. Then he would come back, get another shoot and do it again in another area.
He would spread the life of the one who had saved him, who was continuing to save the fairies, until everyone would call them the mother nursery tree. It felt only right, even if the tree didn’t really have a gender.
Cass carefully, delicately, picked up the shoot. He wanted to tuck it away for safe keeping, but he also wanted to brag a bit. He was going to show the fairies the gift that he had been given, and the future that they could look forward to. With Cassian’s dedication and Cass’ spite, there was nothing that they couldn’t do.
Cass opened his mouth to say goodbye to the nursery tree but the words got lodged in his throat. Edgar, seeing how Cass was struggling, took pity on the fairy.
"We’ll see you next time." Edgar told the tree warmly. "We’ll have good news to report then." He promised, speaking of the little shoot. The leaves rustled, the tree laughing warmly.
Take care of those two, little one. They will help you sprout as well.
Words, spoken directly into Cass’ mind. Something that Cass didn’t think that the tree was capable of, but who was he to say what the tree could or could not do? Maybe they just needed more power, more fairies? Cass didn’t care as he got to hear their words in his ears.
"O-Okay." Cass agreed before Edgar and Gideon said their thanks and carefully escorted the disoriented fairy out of his saviour’s chambers and back up into the real world.
Each and every fairy that Cass passed gasped, hands flying to their mouths and tears filling their eyes. Cass thought that he would only have to worry about Ailia’s and Taniora’s over-reaction, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
His Aunt Alysora and Byron’s Mom and entourage had come to bid them farewell. As soon as she saw the small, rooted branch in Cass’ hands her tears spilled over. Every fairy around them was sobbing loudly.
"It produced a shoot?" The Matron of the Southern Forest asked, her voice wobbly. Cass nodded, not understanding the significance but knowing that it was a big deal. She reached for Cass, the two men letting her as she carefully hugged Cass and the little shoot between them. "What a miracle. What a proof of love and that everything is going to be okay. You are a blessing, Cassian Blackburn. A true blessing to fairy kind." Cass had no idea what she meant, but he just took her words as they were.
"I will do my best to raise this little sprout." Cass whispered, power behind his words. She laughed.
"I never had any doubts." She told him firmly, her eyes spilling tears but her gaze fierce. "We have some more that we must do here, but we shall see you at your true home soon. We have some organising that we must do, with the information that you have given us. We have almost overstayed our welcome in the King’s eyes, but with your infrastructure of homes safe for fairies, we’ll be able to stay a little longer. Worry not, Cass, you are not without the fairies anymore." Her eyes were bright, dangerous, and Cass felt he was more like them then he was the humans he shared a name with.
"Thank you, Aunt Alysora. Stay safe on your way back to the castle." Cass told her and she laughed.
"Yes, well, we had to park several streets down. How many carriages are you planning to bring back with you?" She teased, her eyes sparkling as she kept glancing around at the men, the branch, and the dozen or so carriages that lined the road to the front gates. Cass smirked.
"I have to make a point. I am leaving the capital and I want everyone to gossip. Showing off my wealth is a way to do that. I really only bought things that would help the city near the manor anyways." Cass muttered, flustered. She laughed, stepping back to let Byron’s Mom hug him next. She gave Cass a tight squeeze before she smiled at him, her eyes kind.
"You’re a good fairy, Cass." She told him softly. "Don’t forget that, and don’t let that dragon son-in-law of ours push you over. I remember what Byron was like before he had any sense. I have a sneaking suspicion that Lucian of yours might be similar after coming back." She tapped her eyes, a strange glimmer there, and Cass took her at her word.
He wasn’t about to doubt fairy powers at this point, even if he was pretty sure seeing the future wasn’t the power she had?
"I...will do my best. He is...twice the size of me." Cass muttered.
"And growing bigger." Byron pointed out unhelpfully. Cass gave him an annoyed look but Byron just smiled. She reached for Cass again, pressing a loving kiss against his forehead.
"Mm, well, I’ve warned you. That’s all I can do. May your travels be blessed by the gentle sun and may the waters be warm. Safe travels, Cass, Edgar and Gideon. Byron, I don’t need to give you well wishes." She joked, beaming at her son before she made a fuss over him. Byron didn’t seem to mind, protesting for the sake of protesting but a smile on his face.
Then, they climbed into the main carriage, Cass holding his precious cargo, and Sam made the call. They were off. Heading back home.
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