“I don’t know, sir. My friend Madeline is much more docile than I am sure you would appreciate, but her and my second favorite guard, Mason, are sweet on one another. This is why I have assigned him to follow her around. For protection, of course.”
My grandfather laughs and shakes Elainne’s hand.
“You will be a handful to whatever man is lucky enough to get your hand in marriage.”
She blushes and shrugs, shaking his hand back. Others leave the town square, shocked at what is taking place, some are even insulted. All I want to do is hug my grandfather for making Elainne feel welcome. He doesn’t hate her, he thinks she is charming. I decide I like him more than I do my grandmother.
“We will start lessons tomorrow, boy. Explore some today. My house is the one up there on the cliff.”
He points to one slightly apart from the others. You can hear water in the distance. is there a waterfall up here in the mountains?
He walks towards his home, leaving us alone in the square. Elainne looks at me, a smile on her face. She looks happy. Who cares what the others think, my grandfather likes her.
“Let’s explore some, Viktor. Or would you like to drop our packs off up by his door first?”
“He likes you.”
She laughs and links arms with me, walking towards my grandfather’s house.
“He fell in love with an Elf. I am told you can never love another once you have. Perhaps he sees her in me. Or, half of me.”
I am starting to think that whoever said that is right. What do they say about falling in love with a half-Elf? When they held her hostage - torturing her - all I could think of was how I couldn’t live without her. It is not just the Kemp bond. I don’t want to live without her. I don’t want us to ever be separated.
“They were married, you said?”
She nods.
“She never married another. She loves him still. Though she won’t speak of it because it makes her cry.”
I find it hard to believe that. My grandmother didn’t seem the emotional type, at least when I talked to her she hadn’t.
“I hope someone loves me that much someday. Don’t you, Viktor?”
I nod, unable to speak. I don’t think it will be appropriate to tell her that I already do.
Elainne
Viktor doesn’t say anything, but again I can feel that he has intense emotions. He is terrified. Likely for me; though his grandfather promised I will be safe, I feel uncomfortable, to say the least, without my magic.
“Viktor, no one’s going to hurt me. Your grandfather has guaranteed my safety. He’s a man of his word, I can tell.”
He feels trustworthy, but I can’t access my magic so I just have to hope that my senses are not screwy because of it.
Viktor
We drop our packs off on the doorstep and go to the cliff side. Elainne releases my arm and takes a step closer to the edge than I want her to be. She flings her arms open and looks out, smiling as the breeze ruffles the loose strands of her hair.
“Isn’t the air up here refreshing?”
I have no idea what to say, so I just watch her relax as the wind carries her cares away. I stay close enough to grab her if she slips, but back a bit so that she can release what negativity she needs to. I am not the one with the weight of the world on me. She deserves a moment or two of peace.
She has to be uncomfortable here without magic. I will learn to use both sides of my magic harmoniously, as fast as possible. I should have only asked for one, which ever is most powerful. I am not even sure using them in cahoots is possible, but Elainne says I can’t really separate them entirely.
If only my mother were still alive, this trip wouldn’t have been needed. She could use both types, Elainne said so, and she could have taught me. Would she have been willing or would she have thought me foolish for wishing for such a thing? What would she think of me being a Kemp? How would she feel about Elainne? Elainne’s father had thrown my mother in prison. I hoped that she wouldn’t have been the type to blame Elainne.
I suppose it is just as well that we won’t ever know. I wouldn’t have been able to stand her not being proud of me, but if she had disliked Elainne, or not approved of her, I would have left and never returned. Elainne would have told me not to bother with her, to stay with my mother, but I wouldn’t have chosen any differently than I had this time. Elainne is the whole reason I exist, even if my mother had lived, nothing would have been different.
“Viktor, why are you so annoyed and frustrated? Your grandfather is alive and well. He didn’t try to tell you what you were allowed to do or not do like your grandmother. I thought that alone would make you happier to meet him than you were to meet her.”
“I am. I like what I have seen of him so far.”
“But?”
She is too darn insightful. “I don’t like being here without you having access to your magic.”
She laughs and looks back at me, eyes twinkling in merriment. She is uncomfortable with it too. She is also afraid, terrified in fact. However, she is choosing to trust my grandfather at his word when he says she wil be safe. Still, I can feel all of her negative emotions swirling around her and her trying to keep me from sensing them. Lucky for me, not so much for her, she can’t block me from any negative emotions.
“Neither do I, but I can’t really use it on their land anyway. Still, it would be nice to be able to run my butt down the hill and off their land so I could defend myself if I need to. I hope you can figure out how to give my magic back to me. Tearing it away is easier than giving it back.”
“You didn’t say that before.”
She shrugs and turns back towards the waterfall. It is beautiful up here. It is peaceful, I will give her that. Nevertheless, no matter how many rainbows crisscrossed through the foaming water, it wouldn’t distract me.
“Why didn’t you say I might not be able to give it back? I wouldn’t have agreed to this.”
“Exactly.”
I want to shake her, but if we go over, I am not sure about our chances of surviving.
“Elainne, stop trying to put me first. You are a princess in two countries, my charge, and most importantly a good person. You need to think of yourself.”
Her face grows serious and she turns so that she can look me in the eyes. She always does that when she wants me to know just how serious she actually is.
“I was thinking of everyone, Viktor. I won’t be Queen without you by my side, and I can’t be if you cannot control your magic. I cannot teach you to control the mage magic and I think if you learn to control the battle magic, you will get over your fear enough for me to teach you control over the fire. We could go to the Elvin lands and get teachers, and I could become the heir there, but let’s face it, neither of us wants that. You do not want to be your grandmother’s pawn and I refuse to be my fathers. Unless you have changed your mind?”
I shake my head. “No.”
She turns back to the water once I give my reply. I sigh. Things can’t just be easy, can they?
“Alright, then here is where we need to be. If you still think the humans need a Queen like me, this is the path we need to take. Unless you have decided we should run away and find a corner of the world just the two of us?”
She still has her face pointed up at the sun, close enough to the edge for the water to splash her face. I can see a small smile appear, just the corners of her lips twitching upwards. Perhaps she doesn’t think I am serious, but if she ever says that is the path she wants, it will be done. I don’t care how long we have to search.
“Is that what you want?”
She shrugs but her smile slips for a moment. Just a quick frown but I see it, feel it, just the same.
“I want you to be safe, Viktor. You need your magic to do that, no matter where we are.”
I don’t respond, just look out, wishing I could find the peace she obviously has with the situation. I have magic, I have my swords, and I have her for backup. She is the on
e despised and hated, so why am I more uneasy than she is?
“Come Viktor, let’s explore. I am sure we will find a village witch that sells all kinds of fascinating things, children playing with their magic while their parents don’t look, and all kinds of interesting animals and plants that we don’t normally see. I shall even pick some flowers for your grandfather, as it is rude to impose while empty handed, and we have no other gift but you. And let's face it, you weren’t exactly friendly.”
“Do men like flowers?”
“If given to them by a loved one, of course.”
“I don’t know about that. If my father gave me flowers, I would have run away sooner.”
She laughs as I meant her to, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the village. I don’t want us to be near it, what if they hurt her?
“Would you run if I gave you flowers, Viktor?”
She is walking forward, paying no attention to where she is going, instead looking at me curiously. I have never seen that exact look on her face before. Some variation of curiosity is often on her face, but not this one.
“No.”
“Would you throw them away the first second I was not around?”
“When are we ever separate?”
She laughs and shrugs. It is true, we are not ever without the other except when sleeping, and I had adjoining quarters. Her uncle wanted me castrated, her aunt argued in favor of me not being mutilated, only because I am a Kemp. Me being un-manned would hurt and hinder my ability to protect her niece while healing; no one wants an injured enraged Kemp on his or her hands. In addition, as a Kemp, I am a citizen of the elves, and the humans don’t want to unman an Elvin soldier; it doesn’t happen without consequences.
“Hypothetically.”
“No. Even then I wouldn’t.” I don’t want to embarrass myself, but lying to her is worse than suffering through a blush.
“You are so handsome when you blush, Viktor.”
I shrug, hoping she won’t focus on it and look around, trying to find some place safe for us to visit. We have coins but I doubt we will be allowed to buy anything here. Hopefully, my grandfather will give us supplies to return. The supplies we have left will go bad before our return home.
“So let’s look for some sturdy mountain flowers. If I flirt with your grandfather, he might be nicer to us. I don’t think I can be quite as sassy as your grandmother can though, so I fear it’s a lost cause. Perhaps you should just try being nice to him.”
I almost get angry… then she finishes her speech. That is a not so subtle hint.
“I wasn’t trying to be rude to him. Let’s face it, I’m not very sociable normally, and this situation is beyond normal.”
“True.”
I won’t ask… screw it, I am asking. “Would you flirt with him, really?”
She giggles and rolls her eyes at me, swinging our connected hands back and forth as if she has not a care in the world. I know it is not true. She often covers up how she truly feels with happiness.
“I don’t think it would do us much good but to make him think I am a foolish girl. Even should he be flattered, I will not. What if he thinks I am offering something that I am not? That would be beyond embarrassing.”
“If you were free to do so?”
“Even then, no. He loves your grandmother still. If I am going to be with anyone it will be someone who loves me and whom I love back. I might come to think of your grandfather affectionately as a friend or father figure - if he is kind to you - but nothing more.”
I hide the sigh of relief that I can feel going through my body.
“Aunt is terribly cross about everything. I refuse to marry someone much older than me or if love is not involved. I think I shall simply be the virgin Queen and hand the kingdom back over to uncle’s family when I am old and grey. Or if I live as long as the Elves - since I have a fifty-fifty chance -when I am tired and wish to leave the settled kingdoms for adventure.”
“Do you suppose it will be odd? If you do have their life span. When I die, I mean.”
I am one-quarter Elvin and though the Elves that are half-bloods have a fifty-fifty chance at expanded life, I have none.
“Odd is not the word I would use.”
I have never heard that tone before. She looks angry. Her lips are pursed, her eyes hard, and her body tenses. I hadn’t meant to anger her. I just wonder at how much of an adjustment it will be.
“Is there a way to tell if you will be long lived?”
She almost shakes her head no before nodding yes. She almost lied to me. She never does unless it is dire.
“How?”
“A test.”
I wait but no explanation is forthcoming. “Elainne.”
“Father asked me - in our correspondence - if I wished to be tested now, since I never was before. I said no.”
“Would you have to return to his kingdom?”
She nods and shrugs. What doesn’t she want to tell me?
“Is it dangerous?”
“No. Nothing like that.”
Elainne
I don’t want to tell Viktor anything. How can I tell him I don’t want to know how long I will live? Before father never checked because he hadn’t cared. Now he wants me as an heir and he is hoping I will have the lifespan of one, or if not, he could sacrifice an Elvin lord or lady and use their life to expand mine. I refuse to chance that outcome.
However, there is an even bigger reason for saying no. If it turns out I will live forever, Viktor will die, in a human lifespan. He doesn’t have enough Elvin blood in him to keep him young. My Elvin enhancements will help him to be a good Kemp until he dies, but he will die, of old age if nothing else. I don’t want to tell him that it won’t matter what the spell says, that I won’t live beyond his time. At least, I don’t want to do so.
“So, why not?”
“I don’t want to think about the results.”
“Your father will definitely want you to rule if you have the Elvin span. If you don’t…”
“He could fix that, with a sacrifice. I wouldn’t allow it of course and…”
He sighs.
“It would end badly. He wouldn’t allow you to have a say in it.”
I nod and let Viktor continue to think that my kind side is ruling me. It is partly true, so I am not lying, but I feel bad about omitting the rest.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Then again, it is hard to omit when his emotional sensors go off even if I feel guilty for forgetting a courtier’s birthday. He has learned, in the last few months, to distinguish the real from the trifle. He is doing a splendid job now.
“Leave it alone, Viktor. Not here and not now. I don’t want to discuss it.”
I have stopped swinging our hands and let go of his. He has one hand resting on a knife on his belt, and the other near his side where I dropped it. He leaves it there, waiting to see if I will grab it again.
“Elainne.”
“Don’t, Viktor. I don’t want to have to lie to you.”
He lets out a sound of frustration and nods. His mouth is set in a grim line and he glares at everyone we see. I look down at the ground, hoping no one will take offense and call him out on it. If he has to duel, he will die. I can’t call on his magic, not with him holding my ability to do any sort of magic. I sigh. Life is far too complicated.
Viktor
The fact that she was going to lie if I pressed makes me nervous. Still, I can’t force her to tell me. I wish I could just peer into her mind and find out what it is that she is hiding. Likely something terrible. Her father said losing his Kemp was something he has never recovered from, Elainne said he had almost gone to war in grief.
Elves don’t have the same deep bond that Elainne and I share. So how much worse will it be for her? How hard will it be for me to grow old while she stays young, beautiful, and in need of new guards because I can no longer be of service? This won’t be easy for either of us. Likely, it is one of the reasons
she doesn’t want to be tested. I wouldn’t want to prepare to outlive everyone I hold dear either.
“I’m sorry I brought it up, Elainne.”
She looks at me, a sad smile on her face, and grabs my hand again, causing me to relax slightly. I can’t all the way, not with so many silently cursing her, but I feel better knowing she is not angry with me.
“It’s not your fault Viktor. I shall have to deal with the reality at some point.”
“No matter what, we will have each other until the end. Whether that’s me dying of old age or us going out together in battle.”
She laughs and nods.
“Never to part. It sounds like a good plan. Let’s hope we both die after long, happy lives.”
I nod my agreement as we look around the mountainside and she picks flowers for my grandfather. I will feel better back at the house. We both need sleep but I doubt we will get much while here. At least someone is not out to get us.
“Don’t sigh so, Viktor. You are with family.”
“You always sigh amongst yours.”
“Mine hates me. Your grandfather is glad to see you.”
I lean down to pick a flower and tuck it into her braid. She smiles - a real one - and laughs, handing me half of her bouquet.
“Here, Viktor. You need something to brighten up your day.”
I take the flowers, they are not that pretty or fair smelling, but I will keep them until they die because they are from her.
“I still say flowers aren’t a manly gift.”
She rises, taking my hand and laughs the entire way back to my grandfathers. Each of us holding a bouquet of the ugliest flowers I have ever seen.
When we get there, I grab our bags and we head inside. My grandfather leads us to a room, apologizing for having only one spare room. Elainne smiles, gives him the flowers and puts him at ease.
“Oh, it’s fine, sir. Viktor always gets horribly unpleasant if he can’t watch me sleep anyway. Not like that. Oh dear, that came out wrong. I mean… he’s uncomfortable when not near enough to protect me at all times. Not that I need protecting from you. Oh my, I am certainly not articulate at the moment.”
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