Table of Contents
Preface 4
Chapter 1 5
Chapter 2 8
Chapter 3 10
Chapter 4 14
Chapter 5 17
Chapter 6 20
Prologue 25
Copyright M.M. Roethig
Cover Design Sherry Gammon and Cindy C Bennett
Cover Copyright Sherry Gammon
Cover image copyrights:
Sergey Nivens and nejron (Andrejs Pidjass) of Depositphotos.com
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Elemental Princess
Royal Lines
by
M.M. Roethig
Preface
This story has a beginning, one that starts at the end. And how, one might ask, do you start at the end? Tragically.
But through tragedy a person can find their purpose, their strength.
This particular story begins, or rather ends, on a distant star, named Maia, where a special race of people dwell. A people who control the elements of Mother Nature; Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire, and keep the planet Earth spinning in harmony with the universe.
They are Elementals.
For hundreds of years Elementals have watched over the planet. For humans, Elementals are a myth, a fairy tale. For Elementals, we are their purpose.
Chapter 1
“Kaesen!” Queen Alana called from the bottom of the stairs. “Please come down this minute. Father and I have important things to discuss with you.”
Thundering footsteps from the floor above let Alana know her daughter was up to her games again. High-pitched giggles told her that her dear friend, Alwen, was involved in those games. The two were inseparable and the best of friends. Even the four-year age difference had never diminished the bond between them, and that fact alone tore Alana apart.
The news she had to deliver was necessary, but painful.
Alana waited in the grand hallway as Kaesen ran down the stairs with the hem of her dressed held firmly in her grasp to keep her from an unwanted fall. She hid herself behind her mother’s skirts as her laughter bounced off the castle walls.
Kaesen wore a soft blue silk dress that accentuated her every curve and brought out the blue in her eyes. Her hair was down today and the light brown waves cascaded over her shoulders, bouncing with every step she took. At the age of sixteen, she’d developed into a beautiful young woman, but somehow managed to keep her childish zeal.
Alwen barreled down the stairs in his chase to catch Kaesen and came to an abrupt halt when he realized Queen Alana was the human shield Kaesen had chosen to hide behind.
“Alwen, your father needs to see you in the barn.” Alana said with serenity. The worry on Alwen’s face brought Kaesen from her temporary hiding place.
“Mother, what is wrong. Is Alwen in trouble?” Kaesen questioned.
“No, my dear.” Alana looked from Kaesen to Alwen before she put a hand on his shoulder. “Your father has some important business to speak with you about. As do we, my dear.” Alana dropped her hand and turned to face her daughter.
With a bow to Alana, Alwen stole a glance at Kaesen as he turned to leave. His deep black hair was tied at his nape, but a few strands escaped and clung to his sweaty neck. Kaesen watched until he disappeared out of sight before she turned to face her mother.
“Mother, what has you worried so?” The concern in her voice pierced her mother’s heart. “Did Alwen do something wrong?”
“Do you love him, my child?” The question, so out of character, caught Kaesen off guard.
“Of course I love him. He is my best friend.” Kaesen looked in the direction Alwen had disappeared. “He is my only friend,” she whispered.
Alana watched the change in expression from her daughter and recognized the look of longing on her face.
“You do love him,” Alana stated. There was no question in her tone.
“Yes, Mother. I think I do.” Kaesen turned back to face her. “How do I know for sure?” she asked in a hopeful voice. Alana’s face dropped as she reached for her daughter’s hand.
“Child, this . . .”
“Alana!” King Eros bellowed from his study. Alana dropped her gaze to the floor.
“Your father waits.” Dejected, Alana turned and entered the study with Kaesen close behind.
“Ahh, here you are.” King Eros stood in the middle of the room, the picture of everything a father should be. His blonde hair and deep brown eyes shone with pride as he watched his only daughter step into the room. “My beautiful bride and daughter have joined us at last.” Alana nodded at her husband and Kaesen gave a quick curtsey to the occupants of the room.
The large study was bright with a glowing fire in the hearth that warmed the room to almost stifling. Eros wore comfortable pants and shirt, opened to his waist, as he preferred. He might be king, but he was a king of Elemental beings, and comfort was always preferred over proper attire.
Next to Eros stood a man almost seven years Kaesen’s senior with a smile on his face that sent chills down her spine. With a sharp intake of breath, Kaesen took a step back toward the door before catching herself and pushing forward, unable to take her eyes off the stranger.
“Kaesen, my dear.” Eros walked forward and took her hands in his, placing a fatherly kiss on each one. “I see you’ve forgotten your shoes again.”
Kaesen pulled her gaze from the stranger to study her toes that peeked out from under her flowing dress. Unable to form a thought, she smiled and nodded.
“Elzar, this is my daughter. Kaesen, this is Elzar.” Eros led Kaesen to Elzar and placed her hand in his before he took a step back. With a leering smile, Elzar leaned forward and placed a sloppy rendition of her father’s kiss in the same spot. It took all the strength she had not to pull her hand free and wipe the offending slobber from her skin.
“Pleased to meet you,” she managed to say in spite of her disgust.
“As am I,” Elzar said in a low grating voice. His blonde hair was cut shorter than most of the other men around. His pale green eyes were cold and uninviting; his features appeared to be made of stone.
Elzar dropped her hand and turned to Eros.
“She is pleasing to me. I will honor my father’s bargain and take her for wife.”
Eros laughed and clapped Elzar on the back. Kaesen felt the world open beneath her. She could not have heard correctly. She looked to her mother but Alana would not meet her gaze. In a panic, she turned to her father who was now deep in conversation with Elzar, who stole lingering glances at her as she stood frozen in place.
Her skin crawled with unseen creatures as she fought the bile rising up. Kaesen knew that she could not question her father, especially in front of his guest, and especially not on this subject. She would have to wait for her mother to explain what just happened.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Kaesen managed to say through her constricted throat. Neither her father or Elzar acknowledged her, but she did not care. Kaesen turned to flee the room before she broke into tears and narrowly made it to the hallway before they fell
. When she reached the hall, Kaesen found herself staring at the broken emerald eyes of Alwen.
Kaesen moved to throw herself into his arms, but Alwen moved back and stayed her with a shake of his head.
“You can’t. I am forbidden to touch you, save one time,” Alwen said with a stoic expression. “The next time we touch will be for me to pledge my life to you as your guardian.”
Kaesen felt her heart stop.
“But . . .” Kaesen reached for him again, but Alwen turned and walked out of the castle without a glance behind him.
“Kaesen.” Alana had followed her to the hall and stood quietly behind her. “We should have told you earlier, but we did not think Elzar would want to pursue the match. Elzar was promised to Kiara before she died and it was his choice to accept you in her place.”
Kaesen blanched at the reminder of the death of her sister. Only four years old when her sister died, she felt the hollow void in her heart until Alwen came into her life and filled the missing piece. Kaesen started to shake her head when Alana continued.
“Father and I thought Elzar would pursue Isa instead so there was no need to worry you. This was his last year to make his claim.” Tears welled up in Alana’s eyes. “I am so sorry.”
She reached for Kaesen but her hand came up empty when Kaesen stepped further away. She turned her icy blue glare on her mother.
“I cannot change what has already been done,” her mother said. “You are the only living Elemental Princess left and it is your duty. Elzar was chosen at Kiara’s birth to rule over our people, and at her death, the duty fell to you.” The regret in her voice was enough to pull the sob from Kaesen’s throat. “But you will not wed until you are eighteen. You have two more years, darling. I managed to pull that much for you. “
“Two years?” Kaesen yelled. The chasm in her heart cracked a bit more. “You know I love Alwen. Please don’t make me do this,” Kaesen pleaded.
“Shhhh . . .” Alana moved closer and pulled Kaesen into her arms. “I am so sorry.”
“What did Alwen mean; he will pledge his life as my guardian?” Kaesen said through her tears.
With a deep sigh, Alana pulled her daughter tighter in her arms and stroked her long wavy tresses.
“Alwen has been chosen by the seers as your guardian. He will follow you wherever you go and give his life for you if necessary. Just like others before him have been chosen and pledged their lives to us, Alwen will pledge to you.”
“So Alwen can take me!” A flicker of hope rose in Kaesen’s chest. “Elzar will not need to protect me because Alwen can.”
“No, it cannot be that way.” Alana’s face reflected regret as she fought for the words she knew would tear her daughter’s heart in two.
“Why can’t it be that way, and why did he pull away from me?”
“As a promised woman, he is forbidden to touch you. It is the law. Even in friendship, you must not develop feelings for him. ”
“But it is too late for that! I already love him. I must, because my heart is breaking at the thought of losing the friendship we have.” Kaesen sobbed into her mother’s shoulder.
“I’m afraid it only gets worse, my darling.”
Kaesen hiccupped and waited for what could possibly be worse than what she was dealing with now.
“As your guardian, Alwen and you will be connected in a way that will help him to guard you. He will be able to feel your thoughts as you will be able to feel his.”
It was worse.
“I can’t do this mother, I can’t. Please don’t make me do this! Let Alwen be the one.” Kaesen lifted her head and pleaded with her mother. “Please!”
“Elzar was chosen to be the father of your children. It is necessary for our race to continue our line through you. There is nothing I can do now that he has accepted to take you in Kiara’s place,” Alana responded.
Kaesen pulled from her mother’s embrace and wiped the tears from her soaked cheeks. Her fate was to marry a man she did not love while she was emotionally connected to a man she did loved but could not have.
Kaesen grabbed the hem of her skirt and flew from the castle doors. As the rain pelted the ground below, Kaesen ignored the pleas of her mother as she flew past the horses and ran into the surrounding woods.
Kaesen did not see the tears in her mother’s eyes as she called after her. She did not see the anguish on Alwen’s face as he fought to keep from following her. She missed the look of triumph on Elzar’s face as he followed Eros into the yard. And she missed the hatred on Isa’s face as she hid in the bushes and cursed the woman her love was set to marry.
Chapter 2
“Alwen, are you in here?” Kaesen tiptoed through the stable doors in hopes that the soft glow meant he was still attending to the horses. Darkness arrived hours ago and she was tired of waiting for him to return so they could talk. Instead, she went to find him.
When Kaesen walked into the stables, she was surprised to find Alwen deep in thought as he sat on a stool by the far wall. The dim light illuminated his face; the pain etched on his face mirrored her own.
Kaesen approached on hesitant feet, the need to be near him overwhelming. When she was within reach, she stretched her arm to lay a hand on his shoulder, but pulled back.
“Alwen?”
Alwen blinked as his vision cleared. His gaze landed on Kaesen. “What are you doing here?” Alwen’s voice was quiet and full of sorrow. “You should not be here.”
“I had to see you. I couldn’t let things end the way they did today.”
Alwen released a sigh that seemed to resonate from deep within. “The anger I felt when my father explained my new duty as your protector runs through my mind incessantly. To be connected to you in that way . . . I will always keep my promise to keep you safe, but to never be allowed to act on my feelings . . .” Alwen stood and punched a hole in a weak board near his stool.
Kaesen jumped, but said nothing. She watched with anticipation as he paced the small area and took deep calming breaths. Kaesen clenched the front of her gown in her hands and waited.
“Why him, Kaesen?” Alwen finally said.
“I didn’t choose him!” Kaesen took a step toward him with outstretched arms that dropped to her sides when Alwen retreated from her. “This isn’t my choice.”
“Then . . . why did . . . your parents do this?” Alwen finally managed to say.
“He was promised to Kiara, since birth.”
“So promise him to someone else!” Alwen roared. “I thought . . . I hoped . . . I . . .”
Kaesen wiped the tear that fell down her cheek with the back of her hand, staring into the passionate green eyes of the man she loved.
“I would never have chosen him, or anyone, over you, Alwen. You’ve got to believe me.” Kaesen took a seat on the stool Alwen just vacated and clasped her hands in her lap. “I lo—”
“Please, don’t say it,” Alwen whispered and dropped to his knees in front of her. He fisted his hands at his sides and closed his eyes so he did not have to look at the hurt brewing in her stormy blue gaze. “I can’t bear hearing the words that we will never be able to act on.”
Kaesen reached for him and this time he did not pull away when he felt her near. She caressed the side of his face with her palm and Alwen leaned into her touch.
“You are a promised woman and I am not free to act on my desires. We can no longer chase each other like children through the castle. We can no longer hold each other when bad things happen. We can no longer show affection in any way. I am forbidden to touch you, save one time: my pledge to you.” Alwen placed one hand over her delicate fingers that caressed small circles on his cheek. Grasping tightly, he brought her palm to his lips and kissed gently.
“My pledge as your protector was to take place in front of the kingdom for all to see my loyalty to you. But I want to pledge to you now, just us, so you can know my heart. This will be the only time I will ever be able to touch you the way I want.”
With
a silent gasp and a tearful nod, Kaesen slipped from her stool and knelt in front of him: face to face, eye to eye, heart to heart.
Alwen took her right hand in his and placed it over his heart as he snaked his other hand around her waist and pulled her against this chest. A forbidden touch shared between two lifelong friends and lovers that could never be.
“Deste día en diante me comprométome a servir, honrar e protexer-te todos os días da miña vida,” Alwen whispered as he gazed into her tearful eyes. From this day forward I pledge to serve, honor, and protect you all the days of my life.
“I accept,” Kaesen tearfully responded as she pushed a stray piece of hair out of Alwen’s eyes with her free hand, unwilling to drop the one he held over his heart. She could feel the thump in his chest under her fingers and see the longing in his eyes. Her heart melted at the love she saw.
Starlight from the sky above filtered into the stable and began to swirl around the air and encircle them where they knelt in the straw. A slight breeze blew through the stale air and lifted her tresses around them. Kaesen took a deep breath to fill her lungs with the fresh air and masculine scent of Alwen that floated around her.
A tingle on Kaesen’s right wrist began to burn hot and radiate up her arm, but she refused to break eye contact. This was her only moment with him and she did not want it to end.
“I tingle.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“It is a sign from the seers and our ancestors. They agree with our connection.”
“I don’t want this night to end.”
“I know. I am beginning to feel your thoughts already,” Alwen said with a small grin. “A blessing and a curse for me.”
Kaesen dropped her forehead to rest it on Alwen’s chest and noticed a small swirling mark on the inside of her wrist that gave off an intense white light. With a gasp, she lifted her gaze briefly before she pulled her hand free and noticed the same mark on Alwen’s right wrist.
Elemental Princess: Royal Lines (Elemental Series) Page 1
