Chapter Text
Lately, Cardan had been informed that Jude picked up a sort of stray almost.
A little blue girl, who looked so fragile it seemed that the wind could knock her right over. Apparently she held the power of one of Cardan’s relatives.
Today, Suren, or as she liked to call herself - Wren, was sitting in the hallway.
The castle was quite empty that day, as just recently Leander had been born. His wonderful wife, and Oak and most people important were off to stay with Taryn and visit Leander.
Unsurprisingly, Suren wasn’t invited to the party. It was after all, an intimate event for only family and most people were still wary of the little queen even if she had lost her title.
Even if not the same, Cardan knew the feeling of being left out to well.
“You seem quite lonely no?” Cardan’s voice made Wren snap up, just before she was staring at the ground and now she was looking up at the older man.
“Y-your majesty-“ Wren scrambled to get up, smoothing out her dress and bowing to Cardan.
“What a polite little lady, though you need not bow to me when there are no others around, for I have no real taste for it.” Cardan smiled, gesturing for the girl to follow him.
Wren did as she was told, had she struggled with authority in her past? Of course she had, her parents were two horrible people.
“W-why are you, not with the high queen?” Wren asked meekly, almost as if she was afraid to open her mouth, to speak.
Her footsteps were light, it was as if every fibre of her being was afraid of just that. Of being. He noticed the way she carried herself was stiff, with her limbs all tucked close to her body.
The image reminded Cardan of himself, in a way that he did not enjoy.
“Must I always be with my wife?” Cardan sighed, was Wren too already beginning to picture him as an accessory to his wife? Not that he minded, Cardan was not one to enjoy responsibility.
“No! I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that!” Wren apologised, wincing as if bracing for an attack. If Cardan were anyone else, perhaps he would have scooped her up and given her a hug.
Alas, Cardan was Cardan and Wren was Wren. He doubted either of them would appreciate that.
“It’s okay, I was just teasing.”
They had finally reached their destination, the chambers of the high king and queen. Cardan opened the door, and entered, expecting Wren to follow.
When she didn’t, Cardan poked his head out to find the girl shuffling around whilst staring at her feet.
“Wren? Would follow me?” Cardan asked, as Wren looked up at him with wide eyes.
“But- what if the high queen,”
“She’ll be fine, if she has a problem with it, I’ll plead your case.” Cardan said, knowing Jude would be completely fine with Wren entering their chambers.
Hesitantly, Wren entered the room, and sat down on the floor with Cardan.
“Let’s play something together shall we?” Cardan pulled out a little silver fox from his pockets, with a smile on his face.
Wren’s eyes lit up in recognition, as her face broke into the first smile Cardan saw that day.
“What will we play?” Wren asked excitedly.
“Hm, how about you suggest something?” Cardan tilted his head, placing the fox in the blue palm of the girl sitting across from him.
“Ah- uh…how about, if the fox lands on his feet then you get to ask one question, if it lands on the side no question?” Wren asked hesitantly, Cardan just smiled at the girl.
Maybe she’d learnt this from someone, or maybe she was just a smart little thing. Either way, it was the game they’d play.
“Okay, let’s play.”
A few hours had passed easily, with the two faeries going back forth and peppering each other with questions.
“You’re not so scary after all,” Wren admitted.
“Am I meant to be offended?” Cardan asked, but this time Wren didn’t start apologising. So he was a smart girl after all.
“Well-“
Then the door to their room clicked open, and Wren scrambled up to her feet a little panicked.
Jude entered the room, her eyes widening a little when she saw Wren.
“Suren, Oak has been looking for you.” Jude said, recovering from her surprise quickly as Wren muttered an apology and a thanks and quickly scampered out.
As her footsteps faded away, Jude turned to look at her husband.
“You have Oak, don’t you think it’s only fair I have one of my own?” Cardan pushed himself up, moving to give Jude a kiss.
“I don’t know why you care about. I only decided to take her in because of Oak,” Jude sighed, “caring for her would be unwise, for she could be taken away at any time.”
“If it were unwise, you wouldn’t be doing it.”
“I don’t care for her.”
“You’re truly a brilliant liar.” Cardan replied with a twinkle in his eye.