by Tiya Rayne
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I spent the rest of the day with Uncle Buddy. I took him for a tour around the Elven Castle. I told him of all the stories of the things I’ve seen and did since I’ve been here. I talked to him about the food, the traditions, the sights and the people I encountered. Before he left he spent a little more time with the twins. He hated the fact that I hadn’t named them yet, but understood I was going by the customs of the Locke. It didn’t keep him from giving them his own nick-names; No-neck and Tiny.
I shed a few tears when it was time for him to go. He informed me that Assassin—or as he liked to call him, pretty boy—told him that his memory would be wiped of this entire day. I thought that was best. If he remembered any of this it would only worry him.
My uncle’s parting words stayed with me that night as I sat on the bed rubbing Tipper’s belly.
‘They ain’t askin more of ya, than what’s already there. Be the hero I know you are.’
I was so caught up in my thoughts of Uncle Buddy’s parting words that I hadn’t heard Avalia knock on the door.
“I’m sorry, Lilly,” She says peeking her head through the door. “I knocked but you didn’t answer. May I come in?”
“Yes.” I say, realizing that Tipper was no longer in her ferret form. She was now a small spider camouflaged in the heavy blankets on my bed.
Familiars are paranoid.
Avalia glances over at the sleeping twins and smiles. They have that effect on everyone.
“Have a seat.” I direct Avalia to the chair in the corner of my borrowed room.
She smiles and sits, tucking her regal blue gown under her.
“How are you, Lilly?”
“Good. Much better.”
Actually I was a lot better. I felt lighter. I had a new burst of energy and enthusiasm.
“I’m glad. And the boys?” She says with a smile.
“Good. They stay awake a lot longer now.” I laugh.
“I’m sure that is entertaining. And I hope you know that my house and my staff are all at your use. If you need help, or a break, any one of us would be delighted to help you.”
For the first time, I think I may actually take her up on that offer.
“Thank you, Avalia. That would be useful.”
She clears her throat as if she is nervous. “Your Uncle is quite the character.” She chuckles. “He had a heart to heart with me before he left.”
“Oh?” I tilt my head wondering what my Uncle could have wanted to talk to her about.
“He is quite intelligent. He told me somethings about myself that I have never admitted to anyone.” She shakes her head and smiles. “He also advised me that I needed to be truthful with you. That the only thing holding back information from you would do is cause you to lose faith in us. I agreed with him when he said that you are much stronger than we could ever imagine.” She stops in her speech for a moment. With a heavy sigh, she continues.
“When I had my first vision I was a young girl. At the time, what was in the vision wasn’t as important as having the vision. A queen with the power of sight had not been known since the beginning of our world. The first Elf Queen had sight—the power to see the future. At the time I was elated and proud to carry this great honor. It meant that I, not my sister, would be queen.” She harrumphs, her eyes going distant as she says, “If only I would have known the burden.” Her eyes refocus as she shakes off the melancholy feeling. “Many years later that first premonition came back to me, it was the vision of a man. A man that would become my confidant, friend, protector, backbone,” She chuckles. “…my everything. He would become my world. A brave man that would own my heart. From the first moment I saw him in that vision I fell in love with him. A powerful irrevocable love.” A painful expression crosses her face. “I also knew that although I would love him, he would never be mine. You see, the man I loved was not for me. Can you imagine loving someone so devotedly, yet knowing that they will never love you?”
“No I can’t.”
Just the thought of it breaks my heart. The torture.
“That is my reality. I have sacrificed my heart for his. It would have been easier to just keep my distance, but I knew I needed him. My future and the future of our world depended on it. So, when the time was right, I went to a small village full of the greatest fighters in the world and asked for a guard. There were tons of qualified men, fighters with great experience. But as I looked at those well-trained fighters I knew they were not the one. So I passed them over and asked to see more. A group of young trainees came out and I laid eyes on the silver-eyed elf from my vision.”
She smiles and for the first time I get to see the love she has for her secret lover. It is obvious in the sparkle in her eyes and the wide smile on her lips. Even the way her face seems to glow when she speaks of him shows how much she loves this man.
Then her words start to make sense to me. Someone that she trust, relies on, protects her, silver eyes. I gasp as I realize who Avalia is in love with.
“Assassin?”
“Yes!” she doesn’t lie or shy away from the answer. She just admits it.
“Does he know, does he…..”
She holds up a hand.
“He has no idea. And even if he did, he would kindly turn me down. He and I were never meant to be. The reason I knew I would never have him, is because in my vision, I saw him with a little boy and then a little girl. I felt his love and happiness, and I knew that scene was not for me. When I met you, I realized that the children were yours and that the love he felt was for you.”
My heart is ramming in my chest. Tears spring to my eyes. There is nothing I would want more than for that vision to be true. Could one day the Assassin and I have a family? Children of our own to grow up with my boys. My tears must have frightened Avalia, because she was out of her seat and next to me in a flash. Her arm curling around my shoulder. It was then that I realized how she must feel. All the excitement and contentment I’m feeling about her vision, she’s feeling the opposite. The longing of wanting— no, needing—that to be my future. It must be equally hard for her knowing that it isn’t hers. We are both in love with the same man. I wish I could ease her suffering. Tell her that she could have him, but I’m afraid I lack that much chivalry.
“I’m sorry, Avalia.”
She strokes my face. “Shush, don’t apologize. It is no one’s fault. You owe me no apology. Assassin was yours before he ever knew you existed. I do not tell you this story for your sympathy, I’m telling you because I want you to know all of my truths.”
This time when she pauses her eyes darken. The next truth, I assume, will be a heavy one.
“There is more to the story of why you are here.”
“I figured that. No one’s going to hurt my boys are they?”
A shake of her head. “No, your sons will be Kings. But, before they will become our saviors, something will be required of you. Something great. There will come a time in this war, when the odds will be against us. All hope will seem to be lost. It will be then that you will need to make a decision. A decision that is life changing. I cannot tell you when that time will come or what the decision will be, because fate won’t allow it. I can only move chess pieces around the board, I can’t completely change the game.”
I wasn’t quite sure what chess pieces and board games had to do with this. I assume she meant that by telling me beforehand what would happen would be against the rules. And I’ve seen enough sci-fi movies to know that messing with fate could end in worse consequences.
“I want you to understand that every move I make, though it may not always work out or seem fair, I do it for you. I do it to save the Locke, I do it because if I can’t have the man I love, I at least want him to have the love he wants. But most importantly, Lilly, I do the things I do and make the decisions I make, for you. A brave girl that has won me over with her courage, her kindness, and her love for others. You are truly a wonderful person.”
“Thank you,
Avalia.” I wrap my arms around her and hug her close.
We hug for a moment before she pulls away. She caress my cheek tenderly in a motherly way before standing to her feet.
“With that being said, I’m afraid I have some favors to ask.”
She doesn’t wait for my response. “I would like it if you would allow us to have the traditional naming ceremony for the twins.”
“Sure.” I say standing to my feet.
“And you will be there?”
“Of course.”
“Good, one more tiny request.” She pinches her thumb and pointer finger together indicating a small amount. “Would you join myself and the generals to the armies for breakfast in the morning? They would truly benefit from seeing you.”
I nod.
Avalia smiles and it seems stress has been lifted off her shoulders.
“Then I’ll see you in the morning.” She leans into the bassinet and gives the boys a kiss before walking out of the room.
I went to bed that night feeling like my old self again. Tomorrow was a new day. I needed to get my head in the game. If I was going to make this world a better place for my sons, I couldn’t do it hiding. I needed to get back out there. I was determined to help win this war for my boys, and for the future children I was planning to have with Assassin. He and I had a long ways to go before we got to the place of raising kids, but I was ready to fight for my future.
Chapter Ten
“You promised us breakfast with the chosen!” Arnon, the general of the Southern Kingdom shouts.
He was a burly man with close set eyes and a bulbous nose. He ruled his soldiers with an iron fist. They drilled all day with no break and at night they were kept on strict schedules. He is entirely too uptight. I wonder will they mourn his death once I kill him.
“I understand your disappointment, Arnon. But if you raise your voice to my queen again I will cut out your tongue and stick it in your ass.” By the time the threat had finished I was growling the end.
Arnon had the right mind to sit back down in his seat apologizing profusely.
Didn’t the idiot see we were all hoping that Lilly would have joined us? After her Uncle left I just knew that I would get at least a semblance of my Lilly back. I made a vow to the gods. If I could get some of her back—just a little of her old spark, I would do everything I could to make up for what she’s endured. I would make sure that she never cried, hurt, or was sad again. Even if it meant that I couldn’t have her. I did not care, I just wanted her happy again. But I couldn’t make good on those promises if I could not get her to come out of that damn room. Avalia said that her talk last night seemed promising. I guess she was misled.
“Where is she?” Avalia’s worry coats her words.
“I have no clue. I sent Hyland to find her.”
She sighs. “What about the pendant? Can you not use that to track her?”
“She has yet to put it back on.” I had no idea what that meant. I know she knew that I had given it to her. I can only think that her not putting it back on meant she wanted nothing to do with me.
“Our apologies, Assassin.” Bier, an ambassador for the Eastern Kingdom says. “We just wanted to see the girl.”
“Lilly not long gave birth,” Avalia tries to come up with a descent excuse. “She often feels tired during the day.”
The men seem to grumble around the large table that has enough food to feed the army outside our doors.
The dining room doors burst open and a flustered Hyland walks in followed by Bilal and Himrol. Immediately I go to them.
“Did you find her?” I keep my voice low so that only we can hear our conversation.
“No!” Hyland admits dejectedly. “All her things are there, but she and the twins are not. I can’t even find Miriam.”
“No luck!” I alert Avalia through our link.
Just then the doors to the dining room open again and Augustus strolls in with a huge smile.
“You should see this.” He announces.
I cannot contain my smile. Augustus had found Lilly. I watch her as she carries a large pot of oats spooning out helpings into the soldier’s bowls. She’s wearing a bright yellow sheer dress, in that same Roman style that she seems to love so much. The front cuts in a deep-v and cinches in under her bosom by a gold cord. The length falls just to her ankles. Her beautiful curls are hanging in a braid down her back. One of the boys is swaddled to her chest by a thick bright fabric tied around her back. The other twin is in the arms of a Nix. Miriam is standing nearby with a similar fabric around her chest.
“Thank you, Lilly.” The soldier that she just served says.
“No problem, you eat up now.” She turns to the Nix holding the baby. “Kimora, if he gets too heavy you pass him back to Miriam.”
“Never.” The Nix says smiling at the baby boy.
I’ve spent weeks with these soldiers and I’ve never seen them so happy. There is an air of excitement surrounding them. You would think we were going to a party and not a war. Just the sight of her has lifted their spirits. I do notice that the only ones that are inspired by her appearance, are the magicals and the non-magicals.
All the others are standing off to the side watching Lilly with slight interest.
“What is all this?” I hear one of the generals behind me asks.
“This…” Augustus says and I can hear the pride in his voice. “This is Lilly.”
Just then, Lilly tosses her head back and laughs at something one of the non-magicals says. At that moment everything else seems to fade away. My world brightens and I feel as if I can breathe again. My lungs fill with air and I take in life saving breaths and it feels wonderful.
“This is absurd.” Arnon brushes pass us rushing towards Lilly.
I trace to her side just as Augustus, Hyland, Himrol, and Bilal arrive on the other side.
Arnon and the other generals pull up short when they realize we are there at her side, but his anger does not abate.
“You were told to eat with us, were you not?”
His tone irks the hell out of me. It has me reaching for my sword out of the ether. It is that small hand that she places on my arm that pauses me. Her touch has my body short-circuiting. Arousal, joy, calmness, triumph all hits me at once and if I was not a fucking warrior I would have swayed on my feet. She doesn’t look towards me, but her hand does not release my arm. With an upward tilt of her chin, she looks the asshole in his face and says.
“I was ‘asked’,” She lingers on the word asked. “To have breakfast with you. However, I decided it would be rude to sit at a table in comfort when so many soldiers are out here. Now, you are welcome to join us for breakfast.”
Arnon looks absolutely disgusted at the thought of sitting amongst these soldiers.
“You expect us to eat amongst these peasants?”
The other generals and ambassadors agrees with Arnon’s disgust.
I watch with rapt attention as Lilly’s shoulders set and that fire light up her eyes.
The spark was back.
With a step towards the general, she looks him straight in the face. “I expect you to show them some respect. These men and women, you call ‘peasants’ are willing to go to war with you. They are willing to die beside you and for you and they don’t even get paid for it. They barely get recognized for their efforts. There aren’t any invites to cushy seats at royal tables for their participation. Nor do they receive bloated titles of importance, General. They do it because they are brave and willing. Now if you would like the privilege to sit and eat with them, then feel free to join us. If not, you are more than welcome to go back to the castle.” She turns her back to the general and saunters back to her bowl of oats.
“Who wants more oats?” She asks.
The cheers for Lilly go up and the mood lifts again.
I stand there completely confounded in her greatness.
The generals stomp off in anger. I imagine they are in pissy moods.
“M
y gods, I love that girl.” Himrol jokes. “Lilly, can I help?” he calls out as he goes to her side and takes the bowl from her hands.
I still haven’t moved from my spot. I feel Avalia’s presence at my side even though I don’t take my eyes off of Lilly.
“It seems our girl is back.” Avalia’s voice is light with admiration and happiness.
“Yes it does.” I agree.
“This time, don’t muck it up!” She playfully swats me in the back of the head then walks to Lilly’s side and places a kiss on the baby’s head.
I do not know which god answered my prayer, but I sent a thank you up to them all.
I will make good on my promise.
After breakfast, Lilly went back to her room to feed the boys and put them down for a morning nap.
When I went to her room to get her for an afternoon outing, I heard her laughing and joking with Miriam and the others. There is a sereneness hidden in Lilly’s laughter. You do not know how peaceful it is until is no longer there for you to hear. This castle was not the same without it.
“Are they always this divided?” Lilly’s question brings me back to the present.
The entire time we’ve been walking I’ve been sneaking peeks at her. It is hard for me to keep my eyes off of her.
During breakfast, while with the soldiers, I noticed that we both found it hard to keep our eyes off each other. Whenever I were to sneak a glance at her, she was already sneaking one of me. She would quickly look away when she noticed me watching her.
We were walking through the campgrounds of the army. Many of the non-magicals and magicals had stopped to speak to Lilly or just wave as she passed. They were working together and laughing. Their group was a far cry from the other camps. As we got further into the camp grounds the division amongst the soldiers were more obvious. It didn’t surprise me that Lilly would notice this.
“Yes!” I tell her.
I explain how the Southern Kingdom’s soldiers refuse to train their non-magicals. As we near the Southern Kingdom’s camp, the men stop doing their ridiculous drills to turn to sneer at her. There was never much laughter or talking coming from the Southern Kingdom’s camp. They seem to take everything way too serious.
