by K. L. Morton
"Emma also said I needed to blend in with the humans, so she made me wear her brothers clothes, and Morthos, but it was a little harder to find him something to fit." Aarion looked a little uncomfortable in his new attire.
"Well, you certainly look like a human. Why are you here Aarion?" Trinny had longed to see him, but now he was in front of her she didn't know how to react.
"The Elves have tracked down where the Dark Empress is holding your father."
Trinny could not speak for a few moments.
"You came all this way to tell me this?" She found herself looking into Aarion’s intoxicating emerald eyes.
"My father has put me in charge of your fathers rescue. I am putting together a team to take into the North Mountains where he is held captive. I want you to be part of that team, we're leaving here in two days.” The moment seemed long waiting for her reply.
"Why me? I mean I know he is my father, but I didn't think the Fairon usually liked to work with anyone outside their own realm. Anyone different from them."
"Well, I have convinced my father that working with different types of abilities could only benefit our mission, and I think we made a really good team." He stepped closer to Trinny.
"I suppose we did. Will we ever be more than just a team?" Trinny didn't mean for her thoughts to come out as words and she turned to look at the ocean so she couldn't see Aarion’s reaction. Aarion walked toward the wooden barrier at the cliff top that over-looked the beach below, he turned and leaned on the bar looking back at Trinny who was avoiding his stare.
"You captivate me Trinity Gaia, I cannot fight that, or even want to. But I need to honor my family and people, I don't know if I have the same strength as you to follow my heart." Trinny had turned to look at him now. "I have spent over 300 years learning about tradition and honor and how to lead my people with my head. I have been brought up to one day be a King, this is all I've ever known. Then you come along with your free spirit and determined ways showing up my weaknesses, but you also highlight my strengths. You come and show me that there are other ways to be led and lead, with your heart. My feelings for you are a whirlwind and I truthfully do not know what to do." Aarion’s honesty stirred Trinny's being. She smiled at him.
"Friends would be a good way to start."
"Yes, it would." His face had softened and it looked like a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Well my friend, I have a few hours before I have to be home, and no doubt Emma has already started packing the bags for her and I, as she won’t let me go without her.” Aarion nodded. "And you look like you need a lift, care to take a ride with me?" Trinny unhooked the spare helmet on her scooter she always kept for Emma and held it out to Aarion. He hesitated. "If I can ride a horse, you can ride on the back on my scooter, now 'suck it up!" She declared.
"Is 'suck it up' a little like 'tough 'in' up princess?'"
Trinny laughed, she hadn't heard Aarion try and make a joke before.
"Exactly. Now, are you coming?"
Aarion took the helmet and copied the way Trinny put hers on then slid in behind her. He placed his arms around her waist and Trinny had to take a deep breath to control the feeling of electricity that ran through her body as he touched her.
"Where are we going?" Aarion asked excitedly, he had never done anything before that wasn't part of his royal duties.
"Nowhere. It's about time you learnt to sit back and have some fun, has anybody told you you act a little like an old man sometimes?"
"Has anybody ever told you you act like a child sometimes?" Aarion retorted.
"Hold on Grandpa!" Trinny started the vintage lime green scooter and headed North on the coastal road. She couldn't see the contentment on Aarion’s face. She knew in the morning he would be back to the Prince warrior he had spent his life training as, and she would be the Earth Elemental princess ready to fight to save her father. But for this moment she could just be a girl, who was in the place she had been longing for since she meet Aarion, held in the arms of the boy she loved.
Acknowledgements
I had done my pick up from school of my three beautiful daughters, and the usual banter started in the car. Once again we found ourselves making up story lines for our ‘future book’ or ‘movie script’. New characters were forming and imaginations were running wild. Then suddenly my oldest daughter stopped us all and declared.
“That’s it, we need to write a book!” She proceeded to bring out her notepad and started to write our ideas down. And that was it. Our book began. Of course, children lost interest and got to busy with their own things leaving me to it. But what a joy, I fell in love with the characters and the world of Taeith, with all its possibilities. So my biggest thank you would have to go out to my daughter Elijah for taking up the mighty pen and starting this book with me. To my daughters Willow and Hunter for always giving me great ideas to work with and for your general excitement. Thank you to my wonderful husband, Andrew, who read and edited Trinity and encouraged me all the way, you always amaze me with your patience and faith in me. Thank you to my friend Leisha for reading this book so fast so I could get feedback the next day, and for your insight into the continuing journey. Thank you to my friend Lisa for encouraging me so much through the writing process, listening to my ranting and raving about my characters, and making sure I got enough coffee breaks; I love you heaps.
Thank you to my family in New Zealand who has always inspired me to reach out and try something new. Last but not least, thank you to Jesus, my savior and friend, the ultimate creator who inspires me with new ideas every day.