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Elder Faerie Cookie paced his room nervously. That fact alone was almost odd enough to stop his nerves— it had been a long time since he’d felt nervousness. Dread, certainly, especially when the Silver Tree had begun to crack. Worry, too, was an emotion he was well acquainted with. Though the Faerie Kingdom was hidden behind protective veils of mist, one could never let their guard down in Beast Yeast.
No, nervousness had a hopefulness to it that hadn’t entered his heart in many years. And yet, here he was, rehearsing lines in his head, sweating in his armor. He stopped and looked at himself in the mirror. Did he look alright? Should he change into more formal robes?.. No, that shouldn’t make a difference.
Right?
With a sigh, he pushed strands of hair back and studied his face. He looked tired, but she wouldn’t mind.
He wouldn’t have minded.
Elder Faerie picked up the glittering stone he’d set on his bedside table. Once, he would’ve cursed himself to be giving it away to anyone, especially an outsider. This moonstone had only ever been meant for one cookie, a cookie he’d held so dear. He remembered scouting for it for so long, only to hesitate once he actually had it. The question that came with it was heavy with want and vulnerability, so Elder Faerie had waited until he felt ready.
Then it was too late.
The stone was smooth on his lips as he pressed them to it. White Lily Cookie didn’t venture out and fight battles like he had, so the protection aspect of the stone wasn’t as necessary. The sentiment remained, however. That same want from long ago… It was different now, but he felt it nonetheless.
It had stirred in his chest the moment White Lily had stepped into their kingdom, her staff bearing his symbol. Elder Faerie Cookie had almost immediately hated her, as he hated himself for falling just because she held the barest remnants of him. He’d steeled himself, and watched her closely.
She was beautiful, that was obvious to anyone. Her willowy frame and thick white hair let her fit right in with the rest of the kingdom, but there was much more to her. Bright and curious, as well as clumsy and obstinate. He’d watched her get into tense staring matches with the faerie librarians rather often, but no grudges ever came of it. She treated everyone with a kind fairness that made anyone adore her.
Elder Faerie included, eventually.
There’d been enough feasts and dances for their hands to brush, eyes to meet, smiles to be exchanged. After the one celebrating White Lily Cookie re-sealing the Silver Tree, they’d both lingered until they were alone. They had chatted, but not all that much, more concerned with gazing at each other with lidded eyes. Moonlight caught blush dusting their cheeks when they shifted closer. It had been a most comfortable and cherished silence.
Elder Faerie closed his fist around the moonstone and held it to his chest. This time it would be different. No more hesitating— tonight, he would ask her to stay permanently.
The moon hung high in the sky, but Elder Faerie wasn’t worried about waking White Lily. She had a habit of staying up until late hours, pouring over old texts from the Faerie Kingdom’s archives. He knocked on her door gently.
“White Lily Cookie?” Elder Faerie Cookie listened for the sound of books thumping closed, notes rustling as someone made their way to greet him. Only silence.
He tried again with a frown. “White Lily Cookie? It’s me.” Still no answer. After another moment’s hesitation, Elder Faerie opened the door. It was empty and the bed untouched. White Lily’s things weren’t even in there, save for a few crumpled notes on the ground. He picked one up and his eyes caught the words “banquet”.
Elder Faerie’s jam ran cold with terror.
Racing down the halls and out into the night, he panted desperately, searching wildly for any sign of her. She couldn’t have gotten far. He knew he’d seen her mere hours ago and she’d been deep in conversation with Silverbell Cookie. She would’ve needed time to end on a cordial note, to prepare, to pack. Elder Faerie told himself all this, desperate reassurances as he flew in search of her.
The glow of White Lily’s soul jam called to him and he heeded, landing just ahead of her. She gasped softly and stopped in her tracks.
“Elder Faerie!” White Lily’s hands fidgeted on her staff and her eyes avoided him. Was she worried he was angry? He sighed and approached her slowly, a sad smile on his face.
“Leaving without a goodbye, White Lily Cookie?”
“I… I’m sorry,” she murmured. Her gaze finally met his and she did seem truly apologetic. “I didn’t want to waste any time.”
“You’re going to the Witches’ Banquet, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” White Lily straightened up, her expression set and determined. “I have to know why we, the cookies, were made. What our purpose is.”
A quest that could only end in tragedy, Elder Faerie was sure of it. The Witches had abandoned them all long ago for a reason. He reached out and gently touched her cheek. “There is nothing that could make you stay?”
White Lily leaned into his touch, but her eyes were sad. “You know how much I love and care for the cookies of the Faerie Kingdom. How much I love…” She sighed and turned away. “No. Nothing could stop me.”
“Even if I asked you to stay by my side?”
A quiet gasp as White Lily looked up at him, eyes wide. “What?”
“Stay here,” Elder Faerie pleaded. “The Faeries all adore you. You demonstrated your dedication to us when you resealed the Silver Tree. The world you desire, the freedom and peace for cookiekind, we could work to build that work together. So please, stay here in the Faerie Kingdom.” He took one of her hands in his, lacing their fingers together. “With me.”
“Elder Faerie Cookie, I…” White Lily’s blush and shy smile gave Elder Faerie the greatest hope he’d felt in centuries. As he reached in his pocket to retrieve the moonstone, though, White Lily Cookie retracted her hand.
“I can’t.” A few tears slipped from her eyes as she shook her head. “That world we’re envisioning… it needs the answers I seek. I have to go, for the good of all cookiekind.”
And suddenly he is standing before Elder Faerie, and it’s all happening again.
If he’d gotten up the courage back then to say what he was telling White Lily now, as much as he wished otherwise, the answer would’ve remained the same. Fate was indifferent to the anguish in Elder Faerie Cookie’s chest. It hadn’t stopped when he fell to his knees and sobbed at the base of that damn Silver Tree, the last thing he had left of the Salt of Solidarity, of Silent Salt Cookie.
He loved him. Loves her.
They were meant for more than him.
“I understand.” Elder Faerie’s voice was strained as he spoke but he hoped his smile, however sad, reassured White Lily Cookie that he meant what he said. He hated it, but he understood that nothing could have kept Silent Salt Cookie from sealing himself and the rest of the Beasts away. Nothing could stop White Lily from confronting the Witches and finding the answer she longed for, even if it would destroy her.
His fingers brushed against the moonstone in his pocket and a thought struck him. Elder Faerie couldn’t stop her, nor would he, but he didn’t plan to be so passive to fate this time.
“If you will not stay, at least take this with you.” He pressed the moonstone into White Lily’s palm. “It will protect you, should anything happen.”
White Lily marveled at the stone, holding it up to let it shine under its namesake. The guilty look she gave him told him that she understood what it had originally been meant for, but Elder Faerie Cookie shook his head. It didn’t matter that she’d said no; if he could not have her by his side, then he would at least have her safe. That was enough.
“Thank you,” White Lily murmured. “If only there was something I could do in return…”
“Will you make me a promise?” Elder Faerie asked.
“Of course.”
“Come back to me. It doesn’t matter how, or when, but please… come back.”
White Lily Cookie nodded, expression serious and sincere. “I will.”
Elder Faerie smiled. “Then, farewell, White Lily Cookie.”
“Farewell, Elder Faerie Cookie.”
She wrapped her arms around him and he held her close for what was no doubt the final time. However brief their embrace was, he savored it so he could remember the feeling after he waved goodbye. He watched until the light of her soul jam disappeared behind the thick yeasty air of the forest.
Even if fate wanted them apart, Elder Faerie knew she would keep her promise. If his Salt had returned, then so too would his Lily.
His fate, it seemed, was to simply wait.