Chapter Text
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Jude was so close to seeing red it wasn’t a joke. The audacity she had for showing up here, uninvited and unannounced. Taryn was literally one of the reasons why Jude wanted to delay returning to the one place she felt she truly belonged in. It seemed she couldn’t get enough of taking what Jude thought was hers.
“Can I come in? I’ll explain myself I promise,” Taryn said, looking a little embarrassed at herself. As she should be, A little voice in Jude’s head said.
Up until this point, Jude had opened the door only a crack, still feeling protective of her space. Now, though, she begrudgingly stepped aside to let her twin through.
Taryn walked in with her eyes wide, observing everything like a curious child. What she didn’t really catch at first was Cardan, half hidden behind the kitchen door. Jude looked at him, and found him studying Taryn intently, like he knew something he shouldn’t.
Taryn turned back to Jude. “Where’s Vivi? Isn’t this her house?”
“Yes, but she’s at work right now. I’m in charge of Oak until I get back.” Jude responded, trying her best to be civil.
Taryn smiled hopefully. “Oh, where is he? I’d like to see how he’s getting on.”
“He’s in his room, but he asked us not to disturb him. Apparently he has an important project to work on.” All lies, of course. She hoped that Oak had gotten bored of the keyhole and had gone to do something else. Hopefully something with a lot of noise.
She seemed to dim slightly. “Oh, ok.” She stood in silence for a moment, but she suddenly frowned. “Wait, who’s ‘us’? You said that Vivi was gone.”
Shit. Jude was foundering trying to think of an excuse of who could be with her when Cardan finally came out, physically drawing himself up to his full height.
“This is us, Taryn. Surprised to see you here, of all people,” he said with a smirk on his face. His stupid smirk. Jude found that she didn’t know whether she wanted to slap it away or kiss it away.
Taryn, far from having romantic thoughts about Cardan, seemed to be in shock. Her eyes were wide and her jaw had fallen open in a way that was secretly funny to Jude. She’d always found Taryn’s shocked face to be a little comical. It seemed that she hadn’t expected the High King of Elfhame in the mortal world, just as much as they hadn’t expected her.
She seemed to wake herself up from her daze and swept into a low curtsy. “Your Majesty, I am visiting my sisters. May I not do that?”
“Oh no, you most certainly may, but I have it on good authority that this is a very rare occurrence, so don’t take offense if I am intrigued as to why,” he said, stepping forward and putting his arm around Jude. She unconsciously put her left hand up to secure herself.
This simple action triggered something behind Taryn’s eyes. They shifted quickly from Jude to Cardan, then back to Jude. She could see her putting the pieces together, and could time the exact second she saw it click. Taryn’s eyes widened intensely.
“Are you- married?” She asked in a whisper, as though she was afraid of the answer.
Cardan raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think that, Taryn?”
“Well, why else would you be here? You don’t exactly make it a habit of visiting the mortal world, and Jude did announce it a few months ago. I didn’t really believe it; I just thought it was a frantic move to get out of exile, like everyone else did.” She looked to Jude who suddenly blushed very hard. Great. So people did think that she was that desperate. At the rate that she was going, however, she’d be able to make it back to Elfhame with as little gossip surrounding her as possible.
Taryn continued. “You are also not afraid of being intimate with Jude, who is a prickly cactus at best, and she is wearing a ring on her left hand. I know it is not a faerie custom but it is in character for you.” That last bit was aimed at Jude, with poorly disguised malice. She must be burning up on the inside to see the sister who wanted nothing rise to the top. With that insane thought fueling her, Jude stepped forward.
“So what if we are married. I am still your sister, and despite it all I do still care for you,” she said with a wide smile on her face. She noted that Cardan’s arm hadn’t left hers since he put it there. His support wasn’t just vocal.
“Now, sister. Enough about my marriage, what of yours? Are you happy?”
A strange thing seemed to happen. Just as she felt Cardan’s chest rumble with disbelieving laughter behind her, she saw Taryn stiffen up and loosen within a millisecond. Jude looked around at Cardan confusedly. “What is going on?”
He sobered up a little at her glare of Explain. Now.
“Oh nothing, darling. Locke is well. I saw him just before I came here. He… is well, isn’t he Taryn?” He turned back to her with an innocent expression on his face.
She hesitated. “Uh, Locke? Yes, he, um, he’s well,” she said, barely holding onto her calm tone. Jude was starting to sense something weird happening between her twin and her husband. What do they know that she doesn’t?
Apparently, Cardan also wasn’t completely aware of what was happening because, at that second, she heard him inhale very sharply. Suspiciously sharp. Both sisters whipped their focus onto him and Jude saw the same expression on his face as she saw on Taryn’s barely moments ago. An expression of clarity. His eyes were slightly unfocused, as though very concentrated on something, and his breathing was somewhat uneven. After a few tense seconds that felt like forever, he slowly brought his eye’s to Taryn’s fearful ones.
“You did it,” he whispered. “It was you this whole time.”
“What? What did she do?” Jude asked urgently. Ignorance was not her favorite state of being. She looked between Cardan and Taryn, trying to understand what the hell was happening.
Not one of them answered. Taryn just looked like she’d been struck dumb. Cardan was completely unresponsive as his brain seemingly worked through his sudden epiphany.
Jude was just about to explode when a key turned in the door and Vivi walked in, hauling a laptop bag on her shoulder. She almost walked right past the odd little group assembled in her living room, but managed to glimpse the sparkle from Taryn’s gown just in time and stopped so abruptly that the heavy bag slid off her shoulder. She didn’t even bother picking it up; instead choosing to gape at Taryn like she’d grown a second head.
“What the hell are you doing here?” She said, mirroring Jude’s earlier disbelief. Cardan scoffed.
“You two are so similar, you said the exact same thing to her,” he said in a strained, but still humorous, voice.
Vivi shook her head, as though the movement would banish Taryn from the house. “I don’t understand. You never come to the mortal world. Don’t try to convince me you’re visiting, you would have done that ages ago if you really wanted to.”
Taryn seemed to turn even paler than she was. Jude thought that she might take this opportunity to get an answer, so she turned back to Cardan. She trusted his word more than Taryn’s because whatever would come out of his mouth next would absolutely have to be the truth.
She took a deep breath. “What did she do? Why is she running?”
Cardan met her eyes with a look that couldn’t decide whether it was angry or amused. “She murdered her husband. We found his body floating on the sea two days ago.”
Whatever Jude expected Cardan to say, that was last on her list. Hell, she didn’t think it had even made the list. Locke, that conniving bastard, was actually dead and Taryn was the one to do it. The woman who would have seen her twin broken over him did it.
She turned around slowly, and got all the confirmation she needed that Cardan wasn’t bending the truth from the look on Taryn’s face. It was the look of someone who had been caught red-handed.
“You need to say it, Taryn,” Vivi said after a minute of thick silence. “Say it and then I’ll believe it.”
Taryn opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her voice seemed to be stuck like glue in her throat, and all three of them glaring at her did not help. Finally, though, she spoke.
“I did it. I murdered Locke.” It came out no louder than a whisper.
If Jude had been angry before, then this was pure and unadulterated rage. Her sister had betrayed her over this man. She had watched him lie to her and trick her into falling for him when she knew the truth. And she never bothered to tell Jude anything about it. The one time when it mattered to stand by each other, they had effectively jumped onto opposite sides of the longest bridge ever known. Now, after all this heartache, Taryn had gone and murdered him.
Despite all her anger, a small part of her was quietly rejoicing. Jude had long thought that seeing his face every day was the worst punishment anyone could ever ask for, and now Taryn had made it possible for her to completely forget him if she wanted to. She would never have to deal with his sleazy trickery again. It felt so relieving
Jude stepped forward again, getting closer to her twin than she had in months. “Why? Why would you do that? We fought for so long because of him. I dueled you expecting to seriously harm you for him! You had a happy life, you got what you wanted, why would you go and ruin it?”
Before her eyes, Taryn seemed to shrink slightly. “I couldn’t deal with him anymore. He would be gone for weeks on end, and would treat me as though he hated me whenever he was around. He said that I had changed. That I wasn’t enough for him anymore.” She laughed, but it sounded more cynical than pleased. “To use his own words, ‘the story had gone out of me’. Honestly, I could have taken it if he hadn’t turned violent”
“That does sound like him,” cardan said, rubbing his eyes, looking exhausted.
“Taryn, why didn’t you say anything?” Vivi said, putting her arm around her.
Taryn laughed her cynical laugh again. Seemed like she was prone to that these days. “Would any of you have honestly listened to me? You were here all the time busy with Oak, and Jude…” she cut herself off.
Jude did feel a little bad. Despite everything, she had meant what she said earlier. Taryn was her sister, her twin, and a part of her would never stop wanting to protect her from bullies.
Jude frowned. “Taryn, if you admit to it so easily, then why are you running? You don’t sound regretful,” she said slowly, contrasting her racing mind.
“I’m running because there’s supposed to be a trial for me tomorrow night before the whole court. I’ll be questioned and I’ll probably be forced to tell the truth.”
“This makes no sense,” Cardan said. With a jolt, Jude realized that he would be the one to conduct Taryn’s trial. That was why she looked terrified at the sight of him. Cardan continued. “You did this with knowledge of the consequences. If you had the courage to kill a man, why the cowardice now?”
So far, Taryn had been quite forthcoming with information. Now, though, she blushed and kept silent.
“What now? Have you taken up a lover who would die if he lost contact with you?” Jude asked teasingly.
Taryn shot her a glare. “No, of course not. It’s just…”
“Just what?” Vivi prompted.
“I’m pregnant too,” Taryn said, her voice breaking.
“You’re what?” Jude cried. There is no way that any of this is truly happening. Really, she should have gotten the hint when Cardan showed up on her doorstep. This day was just a dream that she could reminisce on but never really care about. No. No way that today is real.
“Three months pregnant,” Taryn said, holding her chin high. “I know that this makes me out to be worse, condemning my baby to grow up without a father, but he honestly would have been more harm than good to the poor thing. They didn’t ask for it.”
“So you’re running from imprisonment because of your baby?” Jude asked.
“Yes,” Taryn confirmed again.
“But you’re expected at the trial tomorrow. You can’t not show up, that would just implicate you even more than the obvious.”
“Correct again, Jude.”
Her thoughts were moving so fast that Jude could practically feel electricity being generated within her skull. If Taryn knew that she had to make a showing at the trial, but was unwilling to go, then she must think someone would swoop in to save her. There was only one person who could feasibly do that, and she also happened to be very good at resisting glamours. No way.
Jude had been pacing, tuning out what Vivi was saying, but she whirled around now. “I know why you’re here! You want me to take your place at the stand! Are you crazy, Taryn, or are you serious?”
Taryn looked at Jude with intense hope in her eyes. “I was hoping you’d do it. No one would notice the difference, and you can lie to the court without interference. You could save me.”
Jude was all but ready to physically attack Taryn. She was really surprised at the audacity of her sister. Showing up unannounced, after months of not bothering to show her face, only to dump a bunch of problems and an impossible request on their heads.
She was all but ready to launch into a lecture on manners when Cardan, who had been pretty quiet so far, met her eyes with an interesting look. It was interesting enough to calm her down from her blind rage.
“I have an idea,” he began. “One that would satisfy everyone.”
“Go on,” Jude said, nodding apprehensively.
“Jude comes to Elfhame disguised as Taryn and takes her place in the trial.” She made a move to protest.
"No, Jude, wait. I promise this works out. I find Jude temporarily innocent of any crime, and I keep her in the palace for ‘further questioning’. After a while, Taryn comes as Jude, saying that she received a message from me that her exile was over. Then, you two could switch in the Court of Shadows and everyone would be happy. Taryn could raise her child without the scrutiny and Jude would be back to her life.”
He rattled this all off with enthusiasm Jude had rarely seen from him. Once he’d finished, the room was silent for a moment. Jude had to say, though, it was a good plan. But-
“But if you know that we’ve switched, how can you say our names? How could you call me Taryn if you know that I am Jude?” She asked.
It seemed that he had already thought of that, too. He smiled. “You all just tell me that Taryn is coming to Elfhame first, and I’ll be able to, technically, identify you as her. I can also confirm the existence of the letter that pardons you.”
“How?” Taryn asked. “You haven’t written one.”
Jude looked at Cardan and found him already staring at her. The memory of the piece of parchment that was currently lying in Jude’s locked desk drawer burned bright between them. Jude could remember the exact feeling she was overwhelmed with when she first read it. She had found it confusing at the time, but she could now identify it as a twisted version of euphoria. They shared a smile loaded with meaning.
“He can confirm it, don’t worry,” Jude said, never breaking eye contact.
Taryn frowned. “Why would you even want to pardon me anyway? Locke was very close with you.”
Cardan turned to face her. “We might have been close at one point, but he was the reason for some great embarrassment to me.” Nicasia. “He was also just turning into an asshole, and I stopped liking him. I can honestly see it as a favor you’ve done me. As long as I’m not looking at it through the lens of High King, though,” he said, causing Jude to stifle a laugh. No wonder they worked so well together.
Vivi laughed. “I cannot believe that we’re fooling Elfhame with a version of the Parent Trap.”
Cardan looked over curiously. “What is the Parent Trap?”
Jude rolled her eyes. “Never mind, I can explain later when we do not have a plan to put in motion.” She looked pointedly over at Vivi, who smiled and held her hands up in surrender.
Sunlight hit them through the wide window. It was blinding, in the way that the sunset always was. Speaking of which, it was getting late. Cardan also seemed to notice this, as he sighed and turned back to Jude.
“I need to go back. I don’t think I can get away with more time here without someone noticing.”
Jude nodded. “Alright, go. When do I follow?”
“If the trial is tomorrow night, make sure that you seem to wake up in Elfhame. We can’t have anyone asking awkward questions.”
“Let’s hope this works,” Vivi said. “By the way, Taryn is coming to Elfhame tomorrow.”
Vivi lead Taryn into the kitchen, while Jude and Cardan moved to the door. Cardan opened it and was halfway out, when he suddenly stopped.
“Jude, I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?” She asked worriedly. His urgent tone was concerning.
Seeing her body tense, he smiled. “It isn’t anything bad, relax. While you were gone, I did some research.”
Jude snorted. “’You, studying? On purpose? I almost don’t believe you.”
He blushed a little and his smile turned a little bashful. “Yes, I know that it isn’t in character. But I needed to find something out. I remembered hearing about a mortal marrying a minor royal once, centuries ago. After the marriage, this mortal went on to live for hundreds of years longer than expected. Well, I found the text and it turns out that it’s true.”
Jude ran her hand through his hair, settling on his neck. “Cardan, where is this going?”
He put his hand up to her arm and rubbed it softly. “I’m saying that maybe, just maybe, our marriage has altered your lifespan. Maybe you would turn out to be like that centuries old mortal. He lived for three hundred years and that was a minor royal with no connection to the land. What would happen if a mortal married, say, the High King? Someone with immense and unique power that isn’t fully explored? What if that mortal also gained power from the land? Wouldn’t that change things?”
What he was saying was incendiary. He was saying that their marriage would allow them to really grow old together. It would allow them hundreds of years of happiness. Maybe even thousands. The possibilities of this lit Jude on fire. The hope by itself might have been enough to engulf an entire city in flames. She saw the look in Cardan’s eyes. It was telling her that he fully believed in this. It seemed she wasn’t the only one being eaten alive by dreams.
“Are you sure?” Jude whispered, as though a loud noise would shatter the precarious magic of their situation.
“Positive,” he whispered back, leaning his forehead against hers. Even if he could lie, the expression of pure joy on his face would be enough to convince her. She closed her eyes.
“How do you know?” She asked.
“Have you been more tired than usual? Easily angered? That would be your body acclimating to the change. It manifests as more of a psychological thing than a physical one,” she heard him say, wiping away all doubt. She had been feeling more exhausted than she usually would be. She had suspected that it was the change of environment, but no, it was a change she could have never fathomed.
In the dark moments of solitude at night, Jude had often wondered how their union had worked. She knew that she would be buried in the ground long before Cardan even reached the middle of his life. The thought had quieted her doubts at times. He would not enter himself into a situation where such heartbreak was inevitable, unless he was really sure that it would be worth it. It had given her shivers at the time too, thinking of the wide gap of time when Cardan would be without her. Only recently had she begun to admit that she herself could not survive such a gap.
Now, though, all that fell away at the prospect of their new future. There would be no worrying about solitude or loneliness from either of them anymore. Without meaning to, Jude found herself laughing. The laugh was one of surprise, excitement, and the most intense relief she had ever felt. With her eyes still shut to the world, she could feel Cardan start to laugh as well, and the sight once she opened her eyes was breathtaking.
His cheeks were pink from the wind outside, his hair falling messily around his pointed ears. His eyes were crinkled in a way they rarely were, and Jude swore that his smile set off fireworks behind her eyes. She couldn’t help herself, she had to lean in and kiss him.
Unlike the first time they’d done this, he reciprocated immediately, pulling her closer to him. Unlike the first time they’d done this, it wasn’t nervous or quiet. It was cannon fire. The security of the moment and the happiness that they finally allowed themselves to feel bled through into the kiss, making Jude light-headed from the intensity.
After a few more precious moments, Cardan pulled away, his swollen lips still pulled into a smile. Jude couldn’t remember seeing him ever smile this much.
“I really do have to go now,” he said reluctantly. He pulled his hand away from her waist and walked down the stairs backwards, determined to keep looking at her as long as possible.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. We have time,” Jude said, leaning contentedly against the doorway.
He smiled wickedly at her, and disappeared. Jude watched him conjure a yellow horse from an inconspicuous blade of grass, and watched him mount effortlessly. Just before they took off, he looked up and noticed her in the window. He raised his hand in a wave, and flew before he could see Jude’s rise to meet him. She watched him until he was just a dot on the horizon and turned away. The sun had really set by then, leaving little light behind. She looked in the kitchen and found Taryn and Vivi deep in conversation, so she went to Oak’s room.
He looked up at her when she knocked. “Hi, Oak,” Jude said, sitting on his bed.
He shifted on the bed so that he was sitting next to her. “Hi, Jude. Where’s Cardan?”
“He had to go back to Elfhame, it was getting late. There is someone else here, though.”
“Who?” He asked excitedly.
“Why don’t you go see for yourself?” Jude said fondly, watching him run through the door. She heard his joyful shout at seeing Taryn, and her reply was muffled, as though she had enveloped him in a hug.
Jude listened to the sounds of her family, and her thoughts turned to how that family would look like in a few weeks’ time. Everything was starting to feel right again.