by Talia Haze
Where would I even go? I glanced behind me, looking for pursuers. Perhaps I could get away. Perhaps I could hide. Perhaps I could follow the elves and during the night, I would pick everyone’s locks. But then what?
I ran into something soft. The king! I had gotten so turned around that I had turned back and charged the procession. The king was far from amused. I turned to run around him, but his hands came out so suddenly to hold me for his guards. I didn’t want to be captured. Not again!
I pushed from his hands as hard as I could. My fright gave me a strength I hadn’t known before. The king stumbled back, hitting a nearby tree hard with his back. He hit so hard that the leaves above shook. Something fell from the tree onto my head. I held my hand out as it rolled from my hair.
An acorn.
I certainly lost my senses. Senses. Sense? Nothing made sense anymore. I didn’t know how to handle all my senses. All I could do was stare at the acorn in my hands. It was just a simple, brown nut. It reminded me of the gardens at home, but it smelled different. It was smooth like the pebbles on the steps, but more familiar. I had to scrub the floors. Sweep the forest? What did Anna make for lunch? Nee Gus never gave me breakfast. Agyra. Jessica hated it when I tossed nuts at her. Home. Woods. Depash’s eyes. Woods. Home.
I could hear the footsteps behind me. I must be punished for laying hand to a king. I pushed him very hard. The acorn. The king. I turned slowly to face my punishment, clutching my prize.
They bowed? All green faces were turned to the ground. My friends had been released and Angel questioned me with her eyes. My senses wouldn’t return. What was real? What was fantasy? Did the fair maiden Gabriella drift again into a dream? Why did they bow?
“You do not know what you have done.” The elvish king didn’t say the words harshly, but they still sounded so menacing in my ears. I didn’t turn to him; I just stared off into the green of the forest while slowly shaking my head. I could hear him rise and stand before me, but I still couldn’t move…I barely saw him. “You have claimed my throne.”
The words didn’t make sense. But he spoke my language, didn’t he? Everyone melted into the trees. For just a moment, out of my senses, out of hope and out of will, I stood alone in a forest with the elvish king.
“How could I have done such a terrible thing?”
His hands gently went around mine, slowly enclosing the treasured nut. I finally looked up at him, but I still didn’t understand. I couldn’t trust what I saw, I couldn’t trust my mind.
“Terrible?” he repeated, softly. “No, Child, this is a cause for celebration!”
I looked away from him.
“Our kingdom has been given a prophecy. “
The breeze crept through the trees, making the leaves dance and sending earthy air into my lungs.
“An elvish king was seen falling into a tree, and a single acorn falling into the conqueror’s hand.”
The trees swayed in the wind and rustled in my ears.
“This conqueror will be a wonderful leader for the elves. They would lead us to defend a rightful throne and take us from times of war into times of peace. The conqueror will not only save the people of our kingdom, but also save billions across the lands and time.”
Save people? No, the opposite happened! What had I done? I had left my home and never turned back. Now, home was all I could think of. Doubt. Guilt. Regret. Everything happened because of me.
I paused, replaying each mistake in detail. Had I not been so disobedient, Sean and Ryan wouldn’t have felt so pressured to protect me. We would have never left. Connie would be safe in Castle Farlington. Saramine wouldn’t have been so badly injured, Depash and Nee Gus would still be alive, and the elvish king would still have his throne.
His throne. He called me his conqueror. How right that was. I had conquered the fairy route, my friends, and now a king. How much suffering came from my mistakes!
I jumped when a soft hand clasped mine. Angel and the king slowly came into focus.
“The fault is none but fate’s,” he said, softly with a smile, as if he read what I was thinking. “This is all meant to be.”
I hoped not. I just wanted to forget everything. “I just want to go home.”
The king’s smile grew and held out his hand. “Then, come.”
~
The elvish kingdom of Lavenora lay deep within the forest. It was a brightly-lit city, full of green bungalows and huts. Some of the huts nestled in the trees while larger ones huddled on the ground. In the center of the city sat a wide, dome-shaped building. Criers ran around the bustling town, shouting in elvish. At the call, several curious elves followed our procession.
My heart slowed as we entered the dome building. Perhaps it was the soft light. Perhaps it was the deep smell of wood. Perhaps it was the king’s voice. I didn’t know. I just closed my eyes and breathed. My mind had surrendered. My heart could take no more. I just needed time to rest. I knew I was out of my mind. How strange a feeling! I was used to going off and imagining, but this was a new kind of madness. It was a madness I neither invited nor could control.
Someone spoke in a loud, but shaky voice. Angel gently pushed me to a sit. A small, elder elf slowly came into focus. I only spoke Lyngarian. The elder elf instructed all those who were learned to do the same.
Then how would I learn elvish?
“She has fulfilled my prophecy. She is now our Arohna Lyaun.”
My grip around Angel’s hand tightened. She nodded and stood to her feet. “Now? As in right now?” she repeated. Her chieftain voice demanded attention. All focused on her as she spoke. “Consider! You are asking an outsider to lead a people that she only learned existed an hour ago. How can you be so confident in such folly?”
She certainly could articulate my feelings better than I ever would. I leaned back in my seat and slowly released my breath. The chair felt soft…like moss.
“It is difficult to understand, children, but I have been gifted sight,” the elder elf responded. “I can only see outlines of what lies ahead, but my visions have never been wrong. They may happen soon or perhaps in many years, but they will happen.” The elder elf leaned back into his seat with a deep sigh. “This prophecy once unsettled us. The thought of a ruler coming from afar and doing away with a lineage of old. You must understand; we do not take this lightly. Yes, we now celebrate, but we have had decades to prepare ourselves for this fulfillment. We have had decades of lesser prophecy to reveal the worth of this fulfillment. Time and value, children. That is where our confidence comes from.”
“And Gabriella?” Angel’s face remained stone. “Are you to take her away from her friends and family? Does she not get a voice in this? Or will you hold her captive should she refuse?”
“I never said that this was a simple matter,” the elder elf responded, “But right will win over.”
And what was right? Giving up and staying with the elves after everything we had gone through? But couldn’t the same be said of finding my parents? Angel said our father had to make everything right. But couldn’t the elves do the same?
I looked down at my hands. I never realized how calloused they were. All the scrubbing, the peeling, the washing, the beatings. Getting away from Uncle Harrison was right. Right? Giving Ryan a home was right. Letting Sean feel at peace was right. Finding my parents…it was just the means to get to the right.
But staying with the elves would provide the same right. Would we not have a safe home in the forest? The boys wouldn’t have to work as hard and Angel would have a grand time practicing her archery with the elves…
Was it even a choice that I had the right to make? What of the princess? Perhaps staying in my court would establish treaties? Or would it establish conflict? How could I ask that of Connie? How could I ask that of anyone? Did anyone even want to stay with the elves? We’d have to all learn elvish…but that wouldn’t be so bad, would it? Oh, why was it all because of me? Why did I have to make such a choice? Who gave me the right?
> I didn’t realize that the room had been silent for several minutes, awaiting my response. I was startled when Angel gently shook my hand. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t answer.
The elder elf made his slow way to me. His eyes were white from old age or blindness. When he reached me, he slowly reached up, moving his fingers across my face and closing his eyes.
“You were meant to rule us, or God would never have you catch that acorn,” he said simply. All stayed silent as he continued to feel each feature of my face. “Again, my old eyes can only see an outline of the future, no details,” he explained, sensing my confusion. “I see you as a great ruler for the elves. You will lead us from war to peace. You will lead us to defend a rightful throne. You will not only be salvation for this kingdom, but for billions of people across several lands and across time.”
“But how…”
The Elder Elf opened his eyes again. “I can only see an outline, Gabriella. To answer your sister’s question, no, we will not hold you here against your will. We do not need to. As I have said, my visions always come true. What I see will come to fruition, it is just a matter of time.”
The elder elf’s blank eyes scanned my face. “Since you are so young and since your objections are so strong, will you consider this: learning customs and history at my feet, while receiving lessons of the court by Arohna Lenaguru as the Moura Lyaun? Princess of the Lavenorian elves? Would you consider this title?”
All went silent and Angel turned to me. This proposition seemed a lot less overwhelming than the first. A wave of relief engulfed me. My senses finally returned. All was well! I felt so relieved, as if a burden had been lifted and the fog cleared. I didn’t have to decide between finding our parents and a new life in Lavenora. I didn’t have to make a decision for my friends. We could just continue our journey, and if we were unsuccessful, we could just return to a safe home with the elves. It was like a backup plan to our first plan.
I finally breathed freely and nodded. I felt so free and eased.
“Yes, I can do that,” I agreed. At that, the entire assembly cheered.
Chapter Four
Princess of The Elves
Of course, it wasn’t as simple as my five words. There would first be a coronation. We had no time for rest. The early evening was hectic with young ladies-in-waiting scrubbing the many weeks’ worth of traveling from my skin. They oiled me and perfumed me. The routine felt so comforting. So reminiscent of home and normality. I remembered doing the same for Hannah on many an occasion.
I leaned back on the rolled towel. It felt so nice to be on the other side of the treatments, though.
The girls spoke little Lyngarian, but soon, we made simple conversation using bits of both languages and gestures. They were thrilled to teach me elvish words and I finished my bath with a decent elvish vocabulary. They loved my hair. I thought it nothing special; long as it was. I often thought it a bother. Aunt Beth refused to let me cut it, but all it did was get in my way and provide Uncle Harrison a better handle on me. Now, the girls brushed it and combed it, more playing with it than dressing it, but after a while, they tucked it into several folds around my head so it didn’t touch my neck, and dotted it with tiny, white flowers.
Afterwards, they dressed me in wonderful elvish robes with the help of an old seamstress. The base layer was a simple chemise. Next, a white skirt with several flounces that had the texture of a flower petal. The next skirt parted down the middle and draped back into a long train. The bodice was light pink and laced in the front to a wide and low neckline, edged in white flowers. The tight sleeves ended in a sharp edge over my hand. The entire dress was pale green, almost white, and my new slippers were pale green with tiny white flowers on the toe.
After admiring their work and gently patting my chin, the girls quickly ushered me from my room in the House of the Arohna to the squires.
The squires were much older than I and the maids; the three who were to escort me were all in their twenties and stood several heads taller than me. I only went to the lower chest of the shortest elf. They bowed as I approached, the one in front then offering me his arm. One walked before us and the other on my other side. The maids gathered my skirts and our small procession marched to the cathedral. The streets were empty and quiet; the final light of the sun peered through the trees and cast the entire city in golden beams.
Once at the doors of the cathedral, the girls plumped my skirts and let out my train before the squires led me down the nave. When we reached Arohna Bawn Lenaguru, they bowed respectfully, and he took their place. Someone strummed a harp from some unknown place, but other than that, the cathedral was silent. The entire court must have heard my heartbeat.
As I walked down the aisle, I glanced into the faces of some of the elves. They were full of joy and happiness, when I imagined they would be just the opposite. I was just some girl they have never seen befor…not even an elf…and now I was their ruler.
I felt a little easier when I passed my friends. Sean gave me the biggest and most proud smile I have ever seen. Ryan still looked shocked and Angel looked more solemn than the priest. Saramine’s laughing eyes glowed and she was sure to flash me her beautiful smile. Connie simply stood proudly, as if she were excited to share what life was like for her.
As we neared the priest, the Arohna Bawn let go of me and nodded his head, a silent sign for me to go on alone. He walked to the far side of the short stairs next to the elders and nobles, and I walked on. The plush carpet felt so soft underneath my feet as I walked up the three short steps to the priest. I swallowed hard, but he leaned forward and smiled.
“Kneel,” he whispered. I relaxed and did as told. The priest recited an elvish prayer, almost like a song. His light voice echoed through the cathedral. He was answered by another voice behind me. I didn’t turn, but moved my eyes to try and see. Another voice behind me sang in response, then another. I looked up as the priest held a crown out above me and sang over the others. When he held the crown high, the other voices ceased. Soon, I could feel the light weight upon my head.
~
Arohna Bawn Lenaguru was curious. He questioned everything: where we came from and when, what we were doing, why we didn’t remember our father or know the scarred man, everything. So, at my coronation dinner, we started the tale with our fourteenth birthday, Angel adding bits of her part in the ambassador war. It seemed so long ago; I almost forgot what had happened.
“Your quest is much bigger than you foretold,” nodded the Elder Elf after we finished. “Great danger awaits if you continue to follow the path of your parents. Stay the week here. I know you are impatient to continue, Angel, but your paths will meet. Stay, and we will assist you in your departure. You will have anything you require.”
“Thank you very much,” Angel replied with a bow.
“Also, Saramine,” added Arohna Lenaguru, “I will put you into the infirmary. It is not that I do not trust your ways, Chief Aira, I just want to make sure she is fine for travel. That fall should have killed her.”
Angel nodded. “No offense is taken.”
My friends would stay in small bungalows next to the House of the Arohna. Saramine and Sean were led away to the ward. After bidding them goodnight and gripping my sister’s shoulders tightly, I took the arm of my squire, who led me back to my room.
The door sounded softly as it gently closed behind me. It would be the first time in a month that I would sleep by myself. The feeling was surreal and so overwhelming. My first night in my new kingdom and I was to spend it alone. I wondered how the others felt in entire bungalows by themselves.
I took a deep breath and a few steps. The room was so large, so grand. I thought my upstairs room back home was a marvel. But it could easily fit into my new elvish room three times over.
I gently squeezed the tall bed post nearest me. The drapes that hung around the bed were pulled back and felt so velvety and soft. The bed itself looked as if it were made of a pile of leaves. I set my crown on the
table and ventured further.
The back of the room curved into an alcove and the wall was simply a window that stretched from the floor to the celling. A balcony covered in dark moss wrapped around outside of my room. I opened the glass door and leaned on the balcony.
Lights from the many bungalows flickered below. A lone bench sat just out of the light of the House of the Arohna, facing nothing but a thick wood.
Down the road, a large group of elves gathered, near the front council building. They were far out of earshot, but everyone was hugging or patting chins. I wondered what the occasion was. It seemed the day was full of excitement for the elves.
I sat, leaning my head on the soft moss that wrapped the balcony post. The day had been full of confusion for me. My senses had returned, but I couldn’t forget his stare. Was it not just the day before that I sat with him, a beautiful goose girl between us?
I wouldn’t cry for him. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. He was terrible to my sister. He didn’t deserve my tears. I brushed my hair from my face. Perhaps Nee Gus did. He had been more than kind. What could I do?
I certainly couldn’t sleep. The bed was indeed soft, but I felt restless. I felt…I didn’t know what I felt. Anger? Sadness? Confusion? Joy? Certainly, I had the right to feel all of those. Didn’t I? But I wouldn’t cry. Crying changes nothing. I wouldn’t.
Perhaps if I walked around, I would tire myself. I grabbed my pipe and threw open my door. I didn’t know the rules of being a princess; I wasn’t sure if I needed an escort to go anywhere. I didn’t ask. I just wandered the halls until I found the main door. It was late; only one guard stood nearby. He didn’t stop me but watched carefully as I passed.
I wouldn’t go far. The large group of elves had gone home, and no one else was out on the main streets. I walked to the bench I saw from my room and sat, finding it that it faced a small pond nestled between the wood. The trees parted just enough to let in the moonlight, and the beams reflected from the surface, making the calm water appear vibrant blue. The pond wasn’t deep; I could see all the way to the bottom and make out each feature of the glimmering purple, red and green rocks blow.
