Faeid (2)
Aurora Knight

 


He looked at a loss for words, actually. Apparently, I don't think that anyone had ever turned down Lord Avanthar. Or screamed because they had been asked to have a sort of commitment to him.

"Princess Eressea, I do not understand."

Well, so much for being a ruthless dark elf, you fool.

I pushed my blue hair out of my face. "Of course you don't understand. And I'm not going to explain it to you. Lord Avanthar Den-Hirion of the Kingdom Draelond, your answer to being my consort is most definitely a no."

I picked my book off the ground from where it had fallen, and walked away.

You're probably wondering why on earth I said no. Especially since Lord Avanthar was so good-looking and all. Well, excuse me if I didn't want to be the wife of a man who only thought about fighting and killing people. Oh, and besides, my only sole purpose to him would be to screw him and provide heirs. Not a nice way of putting it, but it's true, now isn't it?

Well, I think that's the reason. It has to be. I don't know Lord Avanthar. Well, I know of him enough to know that he's obviously a ruthless asshole. He's probably one of the most feared elves on this plane.

Before I could get far, Loren appeared in front of me, looking ready to kill.

"What is it? Did he hurt you?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. "No. He didn't hurt me."

"Then why was there a loud scream, Eressea?"

"Soldier of Royalty, it is my impression that to call a princess by a tone so informal is considered both bad manners and a disrespect of the royalty that stands before you," Lord Avanthar said behind me.

I turned slowly, giving Lord Avanthar a show of my blazing, angry green eyes. "Lord Avanthar, Loren is my guard, and as such he will be treated with respect. Only I can tell him what he can and cannot call me."

Lord Avanthar looked stunned, but he quickly recovered, and bowed. He took my hand and kissed it, and I tried not to cringe. He straightened. "I'm sorry Princess Eressea. I will not challenge your authority in this kingdom."

"Damn straight, " I muttered.

Lord Avanthar gave me a strange look. Almost like he was struggling to understand me. I think that I've been spending too much time walking around humans. Loren has too. I'd spent literally years in the human world (human time, of course), so after that long of time, you tend to forget the formal speech that you were taught. I may be a princess, but I don't speak like one. I'm still actually trying to decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

So, in essence, everyone else speaks formally except for the people who go out amongst humans. Like, for instance, Lord Avanthar. Still as formal as always. It's what makes him so cringe-worthy.

I eyed him for a moment, curious. "Why do you want me to be your consort? You don't know me."

"An alliance is needed between our two kingdoms. Marriage is considerable. There are no more options."

Right, Lord Avanthar. Riiight.

I looked away, hating what I was about to say�despite my theory. "Lord Avanthar, if an alliance is needed, then I'll think about it. But until then, consider other options if my answer remains the same."

Lord Avanthar bowed again, gracefully, smiling�the asshole�and walked out of the room.

I looked at Loren, trying not to cry.

Okay, truth. I didn't want to be stuck with Lord Avanthar. Actually, I would have loved to pick my own consort. There's got to be something about falling in love, right? You know, the big bang when you meet each other, the constant need to be around each other, and the great connection between two people. If I married Lord Avanthar, I wouldn't have that type of love because I cringed when I first heard his voice.

Gods, look at me. Talking about attraction through voices.

Loren was looking at me strangely, anyway.

"What's wrong, Loren?"

He looked off the way Lord Avanthar had glided off to, and said, "You might have just given him the answer that he wanted."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"For the Lord and Lady's sake, Eressea, you practically agreed to marry one of the most dangerous elves there is. How do you know that you're not part of some sort of devious plot of his against our kingdom?"

I looked at him. He could be right actually. Dark elves are famous for being devious and Lord Avanthar was definitely that devious. Besides, maybe he meant to trap me. By getting me to say yes, I mean.

"I trust your judgment, Loren. Do you think that Lord Avanthar would pull off something like that?"

Loren leaned in close, as if he thought someone was listening. His face was an inch from mine. For a moment I thought that he was going to kiss me, but then I thought, this is Loren, for Goddess' sake.

"Eressea, I just think that him asking you for your hand in marriage is suspicious. It is rare for a dark elf to marry out of their own clans. The ally thing is bullshit. Dark elves don't have allies. If the decision were up to me, I'd send a spy."

His silver eyes were hard with determination. Turning the color of steel. He put a hand on my shoulder.

"You be the one to go."

My eyes widened, but I didn't move. "A spy? What is this, Mission Impossible? Elves don't spy unless it's absolutely necessary."

Loren nodded. "Yes, Eressea, I know that. But I think that it's better to be safe than sorry, right? You don't know Lord Avanthar. We've both heard his reputation. There is no exaggeration when it comes to fighting in battles. So there is definitely no exaggeration when it comes to Lord Avanthar. Besides, I don't think that I'd like it much if Ela-Ishtel was taken over by the dark elves."

"But I don't know how to spy."

"All you need to know for spying is to lay low. Don't bring attention to yourself. Always have a glamour up. I think that you're really the only elf I've seen with blue hair. Make it black. That goes for your eyes to. I'm going to find a woman dark elf from the elven nobles. You can take her place. Look like her."

"What will you do with her?"

Loren grinned sheepishly. "I hadn't thought of that. I wont hurt her, Eressea."

I nodded. "I trust you, Loren. When will all of this be arranged?"

Loren ran a hand through his waist length silver hair. "Tomorrow night. Lord Avanthar leaves tomorrow afternoon, so you'll be able to spy on him when you get there. I'll tell their Majesties that you went on leave in the human world for two weeks. They'll frown at the fact that I didn't come with you, but I'll tell them that it was to achieve a higher level of balance, and to think about the marriage proposal, for that matter." He looked at me, and must have noticed my doubtful expression. "Can you do this, Eressea? Our kingdom may depend on it."

I breathed. "Well, Loren, as the humans say, you can do anything you put your mind to. I'll try not to muck it up."

Okay, I was nervous. When I get more nervous, you don't want to see that. It is an ugly display of me wringing my hands and biting my lip.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?








Chapter 3

The faery beam upon you,
The stars to glisten on you,
A moon of light
In the noon of night
Till the firedrake hath o�er gone you.
Ben Jonson

I looked at the noble dark elf that Loren had brought back with him�that included her black horse. He laid her gently on the grass by the lake, and I had the chance to look at her.

Well, she was unconscious, of course. Darkly beautiful. Straight, perfect nose, dark, thick eyelashes, pale skin. It went well with her hair color. Gave her the more exotic look.

Since her eyes were closed, I didn't get to see her eye color, but judging from the look of her skin and hair and face, they were probably glittering, obsidian black.

I looked at Loren. "What did you do to her?"

Lauren blinked twice. "Well, I didn't hit her or anything. I simply slipped a sleeping potion in her drink. Lord Mena's potion. She should be out for a few days."

"Lord Mena? You went to him?"

Lord Mena specialized in death potions, you know. Not really my cup of tea. Besides, when I think of Lord Mena, I think 'rat' for some reason. Not just because he looks like one, but also because he has the personality of one�slinky and too curious. Whenever I see him, I want to cringe. He lives on the outskirts of Ela-Ishtel. Not allowed in the kingdom because Lord Mena is specifically known for betrayal. If the price was right, he'd betray you in a second.

He shrugged. "Best I could do on short notice. Jeez, Eressea, stop being so goddamned squeamish, and hurry up with the glamour before morning."

I glared at him, but reached out to touch her face, feeling the texture, the lines, and the features. I felt over the slope of her nose, the creases under her eyes, I felt down her arms, mostly patting her skin, just to get the length right. She would be about five inches taller, and I needed to become that tall. First, I took on the shape of her body�that was the easier part, but the face was going to be more difficult. I closed my eyes, and imagined her face and shape becoming mine. Taking over my features, and melding them into hers.

When I opened my eyes again, Loren was staring at me. Intently, actually.

"What is it? Oh, gods. The features didn't come out lopsided did they? Or maybe co-dominant? They're co-dominant, aren't they? I did it in kind of a rush."

I was fretting, and I knew it. Loren grabbed my hands. "It's perfect, Eressea. I just keep forgetting how good you are at glamours. Even your voice sounds like hers. You're a genius."

I breathed out slowly. "You know that I'm stressing, Loren. You'll just have to excuse me. What's her name again?"

"You're excused, Princess. And her name is Ki'Leana Nis'tai of the high keth'enai of the nobles called Sear. The same keth'enai that your Lord Avanthar is from."

I glared at him. "He is not my Lord Avanthar, dammit, and where did you get that information about what keth'enai she was from??"

He shrugged. "Listening in on a conversation outside the gates of Draelond."

I breathed out slowly. "Sure you were." I paused, looking at Ki'Leana. "Please tell me she's wearing something under that robe. And if she isn't, that you brought her clothes."

Loren just shrugged.

I grabbed his shoulder. "Dammit, Loren. I know how I'd feel if someone all of a sudden just kidnapped me, and I woke up nude or in some other clothes knowing that some stranger had changed me."

Loren stared at my fingers gripping his shoulder, and then looked at me. His silver eyes were glittering wickedly, looking molten. His hair was even more beautiful, and was now the color of moonlight. And he looked ethereal.

He suddenly grinned, his cheeks dimpling beautifully. "She's got clothes on underneath, Princess Eressea. Don't worry about it."

I glared at him, and kneeled next to her again. I unbuttoned the robe she was wearing gently. She was wearing a pretty dress made of red satin underneath. The bodice was tied in renaissance fashion, and it went well with her pale skin.

I slipped on the robe over my own dress, and looked at Loren. "Okay, how do I look?"

He looked me over. "You look like her."

I nodded. "Good."

I took the reigns of the black horse, and looked at Loren. "Wish me luck, my friend. I might need it."

Loren stepped over to me. He suddenly leaned down and kissed my cheek, and then rubbed his own cheek against mine. Ooh. Um. That felt good. It was more of an intimate of touches rather than a Loren-and-Eressea-friends-forever touch. It was�romantic, kind of. But I could never imagine Loren thinking about me in the romantic sense. Especially since I'm currently comparing my looks to his.

He whispered in my ear, "Good luck, Princess."

I hugged him quickly, and mounted the horse.

Loren stepped back, and I took one last look at him and saluted. "See you in a few days, Soldier of Royalty."

With that, I lightly butted the horse with the heel of my boot, and off we rode toward the Kingdom Draelond.

Well, Lord and Lady, wish me luck. Something tells me I'm going to need it.









Chapter 4

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire:
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moones sphere;
And I serve the fairy queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours,
In those freckles live their savours.
William Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night�s Dream)

As I rode farther and farther over the hills and through the trees of faery land, I began to miss Ela-Ishtel.

Can you believe it?

Usually I go out into the human world or on a whole other plane to get out of the bores of Ela-Ishtel. And that includes all of the training.

But I wasn't going to go for a joy ride. The reason why I was leaving was to go spy on the dark elves for some evil inside plot for the destruction of my kingdom. How poetic, don't you think?

Nah, I didn't think so either.

Finally I got to the gates of the Kingdom Draelond. I was thinking, holy hell, what do I do, what do I do? Do I knock, or do I stay here, waiting for the guards to see me?

Allow me to explain.

I'd never been here before. But, of course, that is obvious. The thing is, we elves are pretty secretive about our kingdoms. If there was a secret knock, I didn�t know shit, so I was pretty damn screwed.

That was before someone opened the gate, pointing a staff at me. "That is a noble's robe, but state your name, and show yourself."

I pulled back my hood, and lifted my chin arrogantly. "I am Ki'Leana Nis'tai."

The soldier still had to be suspicious. It was his job. "State your status?"

"I am from the high keth'enai called Sear."

The soldier nodded, and pushed the gates open more. "Welcome home, Lady Ki'Leana Nis'tai. I am very sorry about my suspicion. There was no disrespect toward your rank, my Lady."

I nodded my head, making sure to look arrogant. Rule numero uno of being with the dark elves: always act your station. Guaranteed this Ki'Leana Nis'tai acted about as arrogant as Lord Avanthar.

Say it with me, arrogance, arrogance, arrogance. Repeat!

But to tell you the truth, this whole 'act arrogant, please' was giving me a headache. I wasn't used to looking down my nose at people. In fact, I wasn't at all comfortable with it even.

So I rode in going straight for the castle thinking, shit, shit, shit�repetitively, I might add.

I stopped at the double doors, and dismounted. A young boy about six years old came and took the reigns of the horse without looking at me or saying anything, really. I would have said 'thank you', but I had the feeling that I would have gotten a weird expression from him.

I looked at the doors, opened them, and went in, my chin held high.

As soon as I entered, a man with shoulder length red hair came forward when he saw me. I noticed that his eyes were a deep violet, and he was wearing a robe nearly identical to mine. Only it was bigger, of course. He had broad shoulders, but they didn't seem to match with his face because it was more beautiful than handsome. Of course, he didn't look the type to be called "feminine" because he was greatly masculine in his walk and the way his chin and eyes were focused.

The first words to come out of his mouth were elven. "Harani a'kaheyla de'shanuay. Deyash nek'tai."

I was silent a moment, trying to remember what those words meant. Explaining, there are different forms of elven, and sometimes elves mix them together. Especially as of late since people have been melding clans. I didn't know what type of elven mix this was exactly, but I think that he said, "I am honored to greet you. Walk with me."

Of course, he was taking my hand and smiling, so I thought, bingo. Goody for me!

But, no. It was more of a we're-involved type of taking hand. Ooh. Not good.

Someone kill me. Please!

Of course, like any actress, I took his hand, smiling.

Make sure the smile doesn't look forced, Eressea. Look relaxed. Look at ease. Everything is fine. Stress and worry later, acting now.

He led me out into the garden at the back of the castle, and sat me down on a bench. He frowned slightly, looking worried, "Ki'Leana, alen'ka menta�"

I put my hand over his, and said, "English. Speak in English. Elven is much to think about after a long ride here."

Did I mention that he had the same type of voice as Lord Avanthar? Only his didn't make me want to cringe. Actually, his suited him. Mostly because he looked halfway decent and didn't have the look in his eye like he was going to kill someone the day after tomorrow. Besides, he looked much warmer than Lord Avanthar. There seemed nothing cold about this elf. He seemed�well�happy. Where Lord Avanthar's voice was more like icy wind, his was like a warm blanket. Very sensual, yet innocent.

He nodded. "Ki'Leana, why did you leave me so suddenly the night before last?"

Uh. Errr�umm... "I had to go ride off for a while. It helps me think."

"Did you think about my proposal, ma kyela?"

Ma kyela�? My love? Did he say my love? PROPOSAL? PROPOSAL? As in�MARRIAGE?

Excuse me a second because�

GAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

He wanted to marry this chick that I'm glamouring as, and I run into her life! What if she was going to say yes? Would I completely ruin everything?

One freaking crisis after another and I'm screwed because this guy wants to marry me�well, not really me, but this person that I'm playing as�and I could screw up her life by one simple answer of 'yes' or 'no' because I don't know which answer she'd choose!

Shoot me, shoot me, shoot me, shoot me�.

"Ma kyela, why is there a look of great distress on your face?" He looked hurt. Crushed, actually. Way to go, idiot. "Do you not want to be my myhidera'kai?"

No, I don't want to be your lover or wife, goddamn you. Not that you aren't one of the loveliest men I've ever seen, I mean.

He took my hand again, kneeled, and rubbed his cheek softly against the back of it, giving me tingles.

Wait, excuse that last remark. Please. I'm not supposed to get tingles for another woman's honey.

I didn't even know his name!

Okay, be sly, learn his name. "If I say yes, what would I call you by afterward?"

Yes, it was a stupid question, but whatever. It was something, right? Besides, in some kingdoms, there would be different names for each married couple as they got together. Especially if they were of different ranks. Like say, for instance�and only instance�I happened to marry Loren. After we got married, his title would no longer be called Soldier of Royalty, but something else. Something that he chose and something that the royals agreed on.

He blinked and looked at me strangely. "Teremai. The name that I've always had and the name you've always called me by."

Think quick, girlie. You're letting off that impostor vibe.

I leaned forward, lay my cheek gently against his chest, and wrapped my arms around his waist, ignoring how good it felt. "Forgive my strange behavior, Teremai. I'm so very tired, and I need some more time to ponder your proposal."

Wow. Okay, what do you think? Human Academy Award, or what? Go, Eressea! Future queen of all that is spy and fighting involved!

He stroked my hair softly. Damn he was good.

"I will give you all the time that you need, ma kyela."

Dammit. This was actually a slightly comfortable position. Just so long as there's no kissing. Kissing would lead to my concentration breaking and the glamour falling off. And I mean literally falling off. It would be kind of like candle wax, and my real face would start to appear underneath. Ew. Can you imagine?

Passion, passion, passion. Ewww! Her face is melting off!

That would kind of spoil the mood, don't you think?

Teremai picked me up off the bench so that I was kneeling next to him, still hugging him. But I'd moved so that my face was buried in the crook of his neck, and I could feel his slight pulse.

His head was rested slightly on my own, and he was still lightly stroking my hair. He brought one hand around my waist, and tightly held me.

 

 

Go to part: 1  2  3  4 

 

 

Copyright © 2002 Aurora Knight
Published on the World Wide Web by "www.storymania.com"