A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps

"Go ahead." Amelia prompts him. I sit up straighter and face him, wanting to make it clear that I'm giving him my full attention. Whatever this is, he seems to be really serious about it. I don't think Fin has ever actually asked for anything

before. He isn't a particularly demanding person. Fin looks nervously between us. Oddly, he seems more unsure about my reaction than Amelia's. She's his queen. Surely he should be more concerned about talking to her? I'm just his friend. "I have a request. Two of them actually. One for each of you." He turns to Amelia.

"I intend to ask Ashton to give me leave from my position. I don't know for how long. Assuming he agrees, I would like your permission to travel to the human realm and spend some time there." He says. His wings are stiff and his arms are straight by his sides. I bet if I pushed him right now he would topple straight over. I glance at Amelia, she has a slight smile on her face. But she straightens her shoulders and clears her throat.

"An interesting request. Tell me, why do you want to visit the human realm?" She asks. I have to repress the desire to laugh. She knows why he wants to go there, or rather who he wants to go see. She and I have discussed it before. But I suppose she wants to see what Fin will say.

"When I travelled there previously and stayed with Kat, I developed feelings for her friend Lucy. I thought that they might fade over time, that it would be better for us both to be separated. But I was wrong. I can't forget her and my feelings have only grown stronger. I want to travel to the human realm so that I might try to pursue these feelings." He answers honestly. My eyebrows fly up. I knew about his feelings obviously. But this is the most honest he's been about them. I guess he's finally decided that he wants to actually go after her. He's made up his mind. I hope he isn't too late. I'm pretty sure she still has feelings for him, but I don't know if she's going to be willing to forgive him. Just because you care about someone, it doesn't mean you should let them ruin your life. I don't know how she feels about it. I suppose Fin will find out for himself.

"Hmm... You are aware that humans cannot safely travel to the fae realm. Kat only survived because of her unique connection to my son. Something that was only achieved by nearly losing both of their lives. It isn't something you can reasonably replicate. We are still looking into it, but in all likelihood, Lucy will never be able to come here." Amelia points out. I don't think she's trying to be mean, her tone is gentle. She just wants to make sure Fin knows what he's getting into. I'm pretty sure she thinks of him almost like another son. He's been Ashton's best friend since they were children. She's been worried about him, just like we have.

"I... I know that. It's why I need to go there. I will never know if she might have me if I don't go. There is no chance of her coming after me here, no chance for me to try to win her over. If I must, I am willing to move to the human realm, just as Kat has moved here. It... It would be difficult. But clearly it isn't impossible." He reasons.

Amelia glances at me, clearly indicating that she wants me to say something, to contribute somehow. She does that a lot, more and more lately. She gives me a sideways glance and I know that I'm supposed to ask a question or give an opinion. Anything other than sit here silently and watch.

"Fin... You hurt Lucy pretty bad before, and it has been a long time. What are you going to do if she rejects you?" I ask. Fin sighs.

"If she rejects me then I will return home and let her be. As much as I care, I don't want to be with someone I have to badger into accepting me. That wouldn't make either of us happy." He frowns as he thinks about it. I nod, it's a good answer. As romantic as it sounds when a guy says he will never give up on you, it's creepy if that persistence isn't welcomed. Lucy won't be unclear and she won't lie. If he goes to her and honestly apologises and confesses his real feelings, she will give him a proper answer, even if that answer is that she needs time to think. If it's a rejection then she will make it clear to him.

"And if she does not send you away?" I ask.novelbin

"If she accepts me then I will court her. If things go well then I will ask her if she would like me to move there permanently, or to continue to look into finding a way for her to come here. Endangering our lives cannot be the ONLY way to allow a human to safely travel between realms. If it is, then I will have to learn to fit in with the humans. If it takes a lifetime to find a way for Lucy to travel here, even if she never can, I believe that I could be happy there, as long as she were with me." He smiles and I want to sigh happily. He really DOES love her. I'm relieved. I just hope it isn't too late. They deserve to be happy. I'll miss having him around though. I hope he CAN figure out a way for them to come here, if not I suppose I'll be visiting him every other weekend as well as Lucy and Marcus. Still, as patient and determined as he is, if anyone is going to figure out a way for humans to come here, it will be Fin.

"If you are so determined, then you have my permission to go. Just be careful and try not to get yourself kidnapped by the humans. I would hate to have to start a war to rescue you." Amelia grins and Fin and he laughs. Apparently he's relieved.

"You would not start a war over me. That would be unreasonable." He says, still smiling. Amelia raises an eyebrow.

"Yes I would, and if I didn't then Ashton certainly would." She says firmly. Fin's eyes go wide. Fae can't lie so he knows that she's being genuine. She legitimately would go to war for him. To be fair, it wouldn't be much of a fight. From what I've seen the Fae could decimate the humans if they wanted to. The good news is, they don't want to. They're perfectly happy here. I realise that Fin said he had something to ask me as well.

"What did you want to ask me, Fin?" I prompt him. Still pleased that he's gotten permission to go, he seems a lot more relaxed.

"Before I leave, I am hoping you would spend some time with me and tell me more about human courting traditions. Specifically, what I should do to make my intentions clear and what you would advise me to do to give me the best chance at earning her forgiveness." He hesitates before adding.

"That is... If you're willing to help." He waits for me to respond.

"I cannot promise you that Lucy will be happy to see you, I cannot promise that she will accept you. But I am happy to give you a few pointers." Fin beams the happiest smile I've seen from him since we got here. If only I were a fly on the wall when he goes to see Lucy. I guess I'll have to wait until the weekend to talk to her and it's going to be VERY interesting.