by Zora Marie
“How did this not come up before?” Zelia stared at her friend.
Donequen shrugged and met Linithion’s gaze.
“And Zelia was taught, though it’s been a while,” Eadon said as he stepped into view beside Eleanor.
“Only a few hundred years ago, but I’ve been surrounded by royals since then.”
Linithion cleared her throat. “Technically, by blood you are an heir of the Kingdom of Mountains, no different than Skylar.”
Zelia couldn’t help but choke back a laugh. “Sorry, but I think King Gregory would be dismayed to hear that.”
“Well, it is the truth and Coridale was part of the Kingdom of Mountains before King Skalary O’Fell died, which gives you an ancestral right to take the throne.” Linithion sighed as though she’d just talked herself into it. “As much as I hate it, you probably should be the one to do it. But you’re not ready to travel, you can hardly walk.”
Zelia flexed her fingers. The more she moved them the stronger they felt, as though all she needed to do was work the knots out of them. “I think I’m just suffering the effects of not stretching enough as the muscle rebuilt. Besides, my new body hasn’t affected my ability to control ice and fire. I’ll be fine.”
“Besides, she won’t be alone and Tregar gave me an old set of his weapons before I left.”
Zelia raised a brow at Donequen. She was beginning to feel as though she didn’t really know her friend as well as she thought.
“Tregar was my mentor. He worked with me in the evenings, even when my regular training stopped. I never told you?”
“No, I don’t recall it ever coming up.”
“Koin hasn’t left yet, so I’ll have him ride a barge down to meet you,” Eleanor said. “Take today to recuperate and prepare for the trip. If you must displace King Eadwine, I believe his son, Prince Eadwulf, would be more receptive to help. So, try to get him on board before you do anything. He may even be able to convince his father to accept our help.”
“Sounds like a plan then.”
“Other than I still don’t know why Multly is here,” Linithion said. “No offense, I’ve always loved you and your animals, but I know you don’t like it here.”
“Vainoff was supposed to teach new guild members, and now I have two,” Multly grumbled.
“Three,” Donequen corrected. “Zivu is working on repairing Zelia’s stone.”
“I wouldn’t hold your breath on that, Donequen. I sensed the stone’s power during the fight, it may be beyond repair,” Eleanor said.
“Fine by me, I don’t really want more power.”
“But it would be nice for you to not crack and blister every time you use fire and ice together.” Linithion intertwined her fingers with Zelia’s in a silent plea that she at least try to think of her own future.
“If Zivu said she’s trying, then we should proceed as though you will get the stone, training wise at least,” Eleanor said.
“Please tell me you all have at least some knowledge,” Multly groaned.
“Some. Only enough to say I know something, but not enough to actually do anything. They seem to, though.” Zelia pointed to Linithion and Donequen on either side of her.
“Seem to?” Linithion asked. “Father already trained me. I’ve just not been able to physically practice some of the spells.”
“And I just need to learn some of the guild specific spells, but Zivu assured me that I’m at a point where I could teach myself,” Donequen said.
“And suddenly I’m the least prepared in the room,” Zelia said.
“Then why am I even here? Without a stone, these two can teach her until Vainoff gets here.” Multly stared down into the scrying bowl.
“Then go see if Prince Connan needs help,” Eleanor said with a hint of a smile on her lips.
Multly muttered something incoherent at Eleanor and his squirrel threw an acorn into the scrying bowl, breaking their connection.
“I take it, that’s a no then?” Zelia asked.
Multly glared at her. “Yes. Now go tend to yourselves and when you get back in a week, be prepared to start your lessons. I’ll be in the grove if you need me.”
19
Linithion waited for the door to shut behind Multly before plucking the acorn from the podium. The moment the water settled, Eleanor’s image reappeared.
“Sorry girls, that was wrong of me,” Eleanor said.
“Yes, and now we have to deal with him,” Linithion said, “but he’s agreed to teach Zelia when she gets back.”
“Good. Zelia, Donequen, when you meet with King Eadwine make sure you use your roles and titles to your advantage. Especially if he has someone present him formally as King of Coridale. You may not be a royal, Donequen, but you are a Hyperian sent here by Yargo and Zivu and that alone demands respect. He will expect you to respond to his questions, not Zelia, at least until he knows who she is.”
“How do you suggest I introduce us?” Donequen asked.
“I’ll get to that in a moment. Zelia, you should go take a hot shower and then let Donavain help you work your muscles lose.”
Zelia sighed, as preference would be to stay and help with planning.
“Come on. We can discuss what provisions you’ll need on the way.” Linithion tugged her towards the door.
“Fine,” Zelia conceded and followed Linithion from the room. The moment they were outside and free from the empathetic stares of the guards, Zelia tugged Linithion to a stop. “I know you don’t want me to go. I don’t want to leave you either, but—”
“It needs doing. I know. I just wish I could go with you, but things need to be done here, too.” Linithion stared off to the side, into the sparkling expanse of snow leading to the front gate.
“I’ll be back before you know it. Besides, Orvi and Starling will be here for you… and Multly.”
Linithion glared at her and Zelia couldn’t help but smile. Aggravation was better than the emptiness that lingered in Linithion’s gaze.
“As much as I like Multly, there are things he’s not very helpful for.”
“I know. He used to visit us occasionally when I was little. He’s better when Vainoff is around, but it will be a few weeks before he gets here.”
“And the last two weeks is proof of how much can change in such a short time. Was I a fool to hope we would have some time of peace before all this?”
Sadness filled Linithion’s gaze and Zelia pulled her into a hug.
“Not at all. It is your hope that has kept me going these last few months.” Zelia pulled back so she could look into Linithion’s eyes, their color reminding her of spring and open meadows. “We will have that time together. We just have to save everyone else first.”
Linithion laughed, but it wasn’t her usual cheery laugh, rather it was cold and analytical. “Do you really think it will ever end? We’ll never be able to put ourselves first. We missed the opportunity the moment the Fenari decided to attack. That was our chance to just be us.”
“Linithion, we haven’t changed and no matter what, we will find time for us.”
“You don’t even make time to let yourself heal,” Linithion snipped.
Zelia couldn’t help but turn away at the jab towards her own self-loathing. She knew Linithion didn’t mean it, yet her heart ached. She’d been trying to stop viewing herself that way, as expendable, but hundreds of years in The Cave had engrained it in her.
“Zelia, I’m sorry.” Linithion’s voice cracked with her regret. “You know I didn’t mean it that way. I just hate all of this.”
“I know.” Zelia forced herself to take a long shaky breath. She knew Linithion was struggling with the loss of her father and everything else that was happening all around them. It felt like the world was falling apart and they were expected to fix it, because they were.
“I’ll go get fresh clothes for us. I’ll be right back.”
The warmth of Linithion’s presence at her back disappeared and the moment she was gone, Zelia felt
the need to pull her back. How can I promise that I'll give everything I have, everything I am to stay with her and be here for her? I don't want the pain of loss or our obligations to drive us apart. I have to find a way to make and keep a promise to her that as long as we are together, nothing else matters.
“Are you alright?”
Zelia turned to Loboran. “No.”
“Linithion?” Loboran asked, as though he already knew. Her expression must have given it away as he continued, “You’ll get past this, just have patience with her.”
“I know. I just need to find a way to promise her I’ll be here for her no matter what.”
“Well, there is one way.”
“What way?” Zelia asked and then it dawned on her that he meant betrothal. “Never mind. It’ll just remind her that Erolith won’t be there.”
“No matter when you ask her, that will upset her. But betrothal is not something you should consider until you are ready, just don’t don’t let the opportunity pass you by when it comes.”
“Let what pass you by?” Linithion asked, coming up behind her with a bundle of clothes and towels.
“The opportunity to exchange rings…” Loboran said and sauntered down the path.
“I hate you sometimes, you know that?”
“Love you too, Zelia.” Loboran waved at her over his shoulder.
“Are you really ready for that?” There was a hint of hope in Linithion’s eyes that set Zelia’s stomach alight with butterflies.
“I… I know that I love you more than anyone else and I want to spend forever with you. I think I’ve known that since that first kiss, I just wasn’t ready to admit it. I don’t want to risk us not being each other’s forever.”
Linithion nodded slowly and Zelia couldn’t quite place the emotions in Linithion’s gaze. “I’ve felt that way since you pulled me from the water, but…”
“We don’t have to promise each other anything right now. I just need you to know that I love you back.”
“No, I want to, I just…” Linithion trailed off as she stared down the path, to where Loboran returned with Starling at his side, the two of them holding hands.
“Girls,” Starling said, sharing a glance with Loboran, “we know it’s not traditional, but we would like to offer you our betrothal rings to exchange.” Both of them pulled a silver ring free of their tunic, where they had kept them on chains of silver.
“They haven’t fit us in ages and it’s a shame for them not to be worn properly,” Loboran said.
“Besides, if we can persevere, so can the two of you.”
“I… uh…” Linithion stammered.
Zelia couldn’t help but smile a little, seeing Linithion speechless for the first time. She could tell that it wasn’t fear or even sadness that bound Linithion, just uncertainty for what the future held for them.
“It won’t hurt anything for the two of you to make your love known,” Starling said.
“Even Erolith gave Zelia his blessing before we parted ways. He just wanted the two of you to be happy.”
“Really?” Linithion turned to Zelia.
“Yes. I think he knew that you’d want it.”
“I…” Linithion took a deep breath, the tension in her shoulders melting away as a little smile crept to the surface. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Zelia. We will not set a date though, not when we don’t know when the world will come crashing down around us. But the world will know that you are mine and I am yours.”
“Well that may be a little dramatic,” Zelia teased.
“Still…” Linithion smiled and turned to the males and they removed their rings from their silver chains.
Zelia couldn’t help but glare at Loboran as he smirked. She had thought he agreed that she should wait, but clearly not. Some small part of her wanted to resent him for it but he was right. She and Linithion needed this to bind them to one another. They needed the bit of hope for the future this promise embodied.
20
Zelia was reluctant to wake the next morning. She wanted to savor every minute she had with Linithion before she had to leave. She ran her thumb over the smooth silver ring on her right index finger to reassure herself that yesterday had really happened. They had truly agreed to marry each other, to bind their souls to one another forever. Some part of that terrified her, but more than that, she was glad she hadn’t let her fears control her.
“You know, we can’t stay in bed forever,” Linithion whispered. The reluctance in her tone did not help Zelia’s longing to stay.
“I know.”
“The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll be able to come back to me.” Linithion’s lips brushed Zelia’s cheek, the kiss soft and tentative. “I don’t want you to leave either, but some things won’t do themselves. But just think, Donequen will have another title to add to his list of titles for her.”
“Like I need another.” Zelia smiled and rolled to face Linithion, their fingers intertwined between them as they lay nearly nose to nose. There was still sadness in Linithion’s gaze, but it wasn’t like the morning before when there had been no hope in her eyes.
“You may not need another, but you have one and I have a feeling that you have more that we do not yet know.”
“Yes well, it comes with not knowing exactly what and who you’re related to.”
“It doesn’t matter, not really. Who you’re related to doesn’t change who you are, it’s what’s in here that matters.” Linithion’s hand pressed against Zelia’s chest, over her heart.
Zelia hadn’t noticed it before, but it was strange how much one feels not just through skin contact, but through bone and tissue. She had spent so much time running from what this body lacked, that she hadn’t taken time to appreciate what it had. It didn’t bear the scars or the injuries of her past, of her time in the cave. Instead, it held new opportunities for what the future could be. If she could keep the future in sight long enough to reach it. Even if they’d never truly see peace again, as long as they had moments like this it would be worth it.
Linithion sat up and pulled Zelia with her. “Come on, before Starling or Loboran come knocking.”
“Fine.” Zelia slid from the bed.
“At least you’re moving better today.” Linithion headed to their wardrobe.
“Yeah. The hot shower and stretches helped.”
“Told you they would. Oh, I had some riding leathers thrown together for you and Donequen.” Linithion tossed a bundle of leather and fur onto the bed. “They won’t hold up to repeated use, but they’ll at least shield you from some of the wind.”
“And who do I owe a favor for making them so quickly?”
“You don’t owe anyone anything more than what you’re already doing. You don’t even owe anyone that. You’ve already paid more than your fair share, it’s the world that owes you.”
Zelia looked away, even as Linithion drew closer. She didn’t want to argue that she did still owe for so many things, not when it would send her down that spiral to self-loathing once more. Not when it would worry Linithion.
“The only thing I want is you, and everyone to be safe. And happy.”
“Me too.” Linithion’s breath was warm against her skin and their lips were about to meet when there was a knock on the door. Linithion sighed as she stepped away. She rubbed her fingers together as she went to the door. The gesture was the only sign of aggravation Linithion would allow herself. “Yes?” Linithion opened the door just a crack, so Zelia could continue getting dressed.
“Sorry, but Zelia needs to get going if they are going to arrive at the same time as Koin.”
“Thank you, Loboran. I’ll be out in a few.” Zelia tugged the riding leathers on over her leggings and tunic. She couldn’t help but appreciate the warmth of what she assumed was beaver fur. Usually she avoided furs, but she knew this fur likely came from an animal already at the end of its life. That was just the way of the Elves.
There was a pause as Loboran left and Linithion sighed a
gain. “It’s like those two have a sixth sense for when we’re distracted.”
“Well, they were young once,” Zelia said and realized that they had neglected the tradition of making their betrothal publicly known. “Did you tell Eleanor when you talked with her again yesterday?”
“No, I felt you should. I know she’s like a mother to you, even if you have your differences. I did ask her to meet with us this morning before you leave though.”
Zelia turned to find Linithion wore a mischievous smile. Zelia wracked her brain for what Linithion could have up her sleeve.
“Wait, wasn’t Koin leaving last night?”
“Yep. You’ll have to tell me about his reaction when you get back.”
“Oh, he is going to love that.” Zelia shook her head and slid her armor on over the riding leathers.
Linithion tied one for Zelia before pulling her into a long kiss that left them breathless, this one even deeper than the kiss they’d shared the last time she left. “Promise me you’ll come back to me,” Linithion whispered. The fear in her tone would have knocked the wind from Zelia’s lungs had there been any left.
“I will always come back to you.”
Linithion nodded slowly and Zelia pulled her into a hug, wishing she didn’t have to leave her. She had to go. They couldn’t delay this anymore than they already had.
“Now, let’s go tell Eadon and Eleanor, and make our betrothal official so we don’t get called out for breaking any more traditions than necessary.”
Linithion chuckled a little as she pulled away. Her composure returned to that of a ruler, though Zelia could still see the sadness and worry in her gaze. “I suppose you’re right. Although once war officially breaks out, there is an unwritten rule that tradition kind of goes out the window, anyway.”
“Hm, is that a wish for a war?” Zelia teased.
“No, but it does mean we wouldn’t have to wait the traditional year to officially marry…”
“We don’t officially come of age until next year. Besides, do you really think we would ever live it down if we don’t let Eleanor host a feast for us?”