In the end, it was Sam who managed to shift the mood. He told the story of how Cass had survived, as he knew it, and how the tree below them was a very important nursery tree to not just Sam, but to the others in the area.
He also threw in a few smug remarks about how, and the other fairies that worked at the estate, kept making digs at any and all staff members of the Duke’s household next door. The fairies took a particular delight in making the humans next door screw up their faces at their antics. Sam even bragged about a time he’d made one of them run away like he was going to throw up.
When Cass asked what he did, Sam just smiled softly and said nothing.
That was how he transitioned into getting everyone out of the changed room and down the steps into the large space under the mansion.
Taniora was originally rather nervous going down the steps since she didn’t know if she’d disappear or not. Cass didn’t blame her either. He was nervous about whether or not she would start to disappear too.
However, there appeared to be something rather special about the mansion that Cassian had bought from under his grandfather’s nose, and Cass had a feeling he knew exactly what it was. The nursery tree and the strong root that gave for fairy magic meant that Taniora probably was able to keep her form because of it.
Cass got emotional as he watched her descend the steps, thinking about how many times the nursery tree had saved people, so many fairies, without even a care that they were doing it. In fact, the nursery tree welcomed others to use it, to get whatever benefit they could from its bark, roots and branches. Cass was just hopeful that this meeting was a good one, not a bad one.
The other fairies didn’t say it, but he could tell that they had the same thoughts that he did.
Not that they would ever think that Taniora would hurt the tree. That wasn’t even something that they could consider, especially after the devastation that had been on her face after she found out so many trees hadn’t made it.
They were, or Cass was, worried about how the tree would take it if it had known Taniora, if she had been its origins, and now it was seeing them in this form. Cass had no idea how they would take it, and while this was a magical world, it appeared that ghostly forms like Taniora’s were not common.
They were heard of, but they were rare. Kind of like having two dragons around you pretty much all the time.
They got to the bottom of the steps, and it was clear to Cass that Sam and Ser Hune had willingly let the fairies go to and fro from the tree’s hiding spot without any barrier to stop them. Cass was glad for it. It was exactly as he would have wanted and would have told them if Ser Hune hadn’t been so adamant that they weren’t going to come and support her. Cass was glad that she was wrong, and also a little upset he hadn’t set more things in motion to provide for them while he was gone.
His silly worries were a good distraction from the largest worry. Especially as he watched Taniora scan the wine cellar cover around them with fascination. It was a good distraction for Cass, and a reminder of how she had behaved earlier.
Taniora was rather fascinated by the walls, the hallways, the carpets, everything as she had moved through the mansion. Construction had come a long way since she had been alive, and being brought into the waiting room had been an overwhelming experience so she hadn’t noticed the finer details until they had left the room.
It was like watching a child move about in a fantasy world they couldn’t have even imagined. Cass hoped he hadn’t moved like that when he had first arrived. Thankfully, this world and his old world shared a lot of similarities, and then they had a few riffs on ideas that his world had answered.
Like lighting, without using candles.
They used magic, his world used electricity. Cass wondered what kind of creations could be made if they harnessed both magic and electricity?
Too bad that was far above his paygrade.
Cass, like the others, watched as Taniora seemed to unconsciously move towards where the hidden doorway for the nursery tree was. It was something that all the fairies did unconsciously. They knew that there was something there, something that was important to them, he just didn’t think it would apply to Taniora too.
Sam, Edgar and Gideon remained back. Byron moved forward with the group. Cass gave the three of them strange looks, but Edgar just smiled.
"We’ll be in the way. With Byron, you’ll be alright. We’ll wait right here." Edgar promised, and Cass blinked a few times before he nodded in a slow agreement.
Then, Cass remembered that Sam had never been in the same room as the nursery tree.
It was a rather startling realisation, that one of the people he cared about the most hadn’t met another, but then again, Cass was an anomaly. He shouldn’t exist, and demons like Sam and the nursery tree who was so important to fairies, should not meet. Sam didn’t seem upset when he met Cass’ slowly growing worried expression.
"We’ll be fine, like Lord Edgar said, my Lord. We have Lord Gideon with us if anything happens, and I know Byron has good hearing. Go, spend time with your family." He didn’t sound upset. Not at all, and Cass gave him a slow nod.
He wondered if Sam was okay with this because Cass was related to them, or because Byron was related to them? Cass wondered if he actually wanted to know the answer to that question, and if it would make him upset to find out that he was okay with it because the fairies had raised Byron?
Cass decided that would upset him, and he pushed it to the side.
Ser Hune and Aunt Alysora entered into the space, and slowly each other fairy entered as well before Taniora began to enter the space too. Byron stood in the doorway, watchful, keeping an eye on both Taniora and Cass. He was making sure no one had a negative reaction, and Cass remained on the other side until Taniora was completely through just in case.
To catch her if they suddenly pushed her, or to yank her out if she reacted poorly? Cass wasn’t sure, he just knew he was hovering protectively.
Both Byron and Cass waited, wondering how it was going before Cass decided to enter. Slowly, he pushed his body into the warm grassy green space and found that it had grown.
Cass had no clue that it could do that.
While before it had been an expansive, but relatively small grassy garden with a small brook and a footbridge that was uninvassive to the environment around it, now it was wider.
It had probably doubled in space and the new space to the right had been turned into a field of flowers. Soft yellows, whites, pinks and blues as the flowers blew in a wind that could not be known where it originated from. The flower extended on both sides of the brook, like it had always been there.
The grass was still nice underfoot, and Cass knew if he took off his shoes it would be soft between his toes. He resisted only because he needed to stay focused on Taniora.
Taniora had moved a few paces from the entrance, her eyes scanning the area with a loneliness and loss that hurt to look at. It was clear she had missed this, and Cass could tell the other fairies were hovering as well.
All except Ser Hune and Sir Sanders. They had moved on ahead of everyone, probably to greet the tree and let it know what was going on, as well as check on their little baby.
Taniora let out a soft sound that shattered Cass’ heart, and that of the other fairies.
"Oh what has become of you?" She whispered, and that was when Byron entered the space as well. He looked ready to fight, and seemed to catch himself as he realised the space had changed. It truly just confirmed that the nursery tree lived in a special biome fit for itself, and those like it. Those it ’nursed’.
"It’s actually gotten a lot better." Cass said, and Taniora spun. The beautiful fairy had tears in her eyes.
"This is good?" She asked and Cass glanced at the other fairies, taking in their sullen expressions, and nodded.
"As far as I know, yes." Cass told her, before he went with his instincts and took her hand. He gave it a squeeze before he tugged her towards the footbridge, bringing her closer to the tree itself. "Come. You should greet them properly." He said and Taniora looked uncomfortable. She was wiping at her cheeks, trying to prevent the tears from falling.
Ser Hune was stepping back as Cass approached, her expression a little guarded.
"The tree asks what you bring them?" She said, the words sounding confused coming from her lips. Kellen couldn’t exactly blame her. The tree was normally very welcoming. To hear it ask what they had brought? It was interesting indeed. Taniora let out a wet laugh.
"I do not know myself." She answered, and the leaves of the trees began to shake. Cass could hear what it was asking, but wondered if Taniora could too. It didn’t take long to figure that out as Taniora began to move towards the tree. She held out a hesitant hand, pressing it against the bark.
It took a moment, but then the tree began to violently shake. Cass and the others began to worry, thinking something had gone wrong.
Then, the tree bent, as if to wrap Taniora up in its embrace, and the fairies understood.
The tree was in shock, but it wasn’t upset. That was made clear by the way the air seemed to fill with the scent of earth and soil, of trees and leaves. It was a welcoming scent to the fairies. One of home.
Taniora and the tree began to weep together, both emotional as Taniora wrapped her whole body around the trunk of the nursery tree. Ser Hune and Sir Sanders joined Cass where he watched only a few steps away, his hand over his heart.
"They’ll be okay." Ser Hune whispered. "We all will be." Cass hoped she was right.
The other fairies came to join them, all huddling around, watching as two beings, ancient to even the fairies at his side, met once more. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that they knew each other. Had known each other.
This was the meeting of a family who cared deeply for each other but hadn’t seen each other in years. It was as joyous as it was painful.