Chapter Text
Chapter 14
"Looking forward to meeting your new sister again?" he asks, sitting opposite her in the carriage. He knows that the silence on her lips usually means noise and chaos in her mind.
"Heather will always be my favorite." She replies with a small smile because she knows he's trying to distract her. Then her eyebrows crease again in concern.
"I still don't understand how everything happened so quickly. Until yesterday Oak was still a baby, kicking me with his hooves and asking for bedtime stories. He's too young to marry."
"If you don't remember, we were practically his age when we got married. And if we're fair, at least they've been engaged for longer. How long was our engagement anyway? A minute?"
"Because circumstances forced us to. Besides, with so many suitors in the mortal world and in Elfhame for him, why fair Suren?"
A smile tugged at the side of his mouth.
"Love is unpredictable. Maybe Oak likes a bit of danger."
Jude narrows her eyes at him. After so many years together, she can perfectly understand what Cardan means in the words he doesn't say.
"If you're trying to move me with that comparison, you've failed. We were both different. However young and foolish, neither you nor I had Oak's innocence."
He doesn't contradict her, because he knows how foolish he really was.
"So he probably has a taste for sharp teeth too. I just hope he's in one piece, you know, without even a bite out of him."
"It's Suren who should worry about staying in one piece. Besides, there's that witch. As if it wasn't enough who her parents were, that girl is in terrible company. I don't trust her."
"Witches can hardly be trusted. Sometimes I don't even trust Mother Marrow."
"Bogdana is just as threatening. She's using the girl to get close to the crown. I don't like Oak around her at all."
Cardan sighs.
"Oh dear Jude, it's almost naive of you to think that your brother is so innocent."
"He's just a boy." She retorts, frowning.
"He's already a man. Even the most foolish would be wary of those two, Oak knows what he's getting into. I've told you before and I'll tell you again, your brother is up to something."
Jude rolls her eyes. Cardan always had a lot to say and sometimes he repeated himself endlessly.
"You're just assuming the worst."
He just shrugs and smiles. When his suspicion is proven, he'll make sure to remind Jude that he warned her.
"I suppose marriage has made us more alike. Even our taste in dress is similar now..."
Cardan gives a little tug on one of the puffy sleeves of Jude's shirt, one that he's sure she herself has already stripped from his body.
"They're comfortable and have your perfume." She explains shyly. Before he can gloat over the romantic crumb thrown to him by her, Jude scoffs. "That means you can wear my dresses too."
At this he laughs. It seems their sense of humor is also shared now. Cardan doesn't remember Jude laughing and making jokes like that back in the day. He likes to think he has a bit of an influence on that.
"Maybe in your nightmares."
Jude lets out an evil chuckle, as if imagining the scene. But the usual scowl returns to her mischievous eyes and he knows why before she says it.
"We're here."
"Oak will be fine, Jude." He mutters, nudging her boot with his.
It's clear that his words can't be trusted, not even the High Fairy King can know the future, but it comforts her that they are his truth. However uncertain, he always gives her the comfort for which Jude has searched all her life.
When they get off the carriage, she believes Cardan's words, but desperately needs to be alone with her brother to give him the scolding he deserves.