The Elf Girl

by Grabo, Markelle

  Before I could call Jacqueline, I saw the bird begin to quiver. It grew larger and then its shape started to distort. I backed against the wall, ready to scream at any moment. Then I noticed the hawk was turning into a shape that looked oddly elf-like. The hawk must be a shape-shifter.

  I almost smacked myself for being so dumb. I had just spent half the day learning about shape-shifting, and I couldn’t even recognize it. I couldn’t believe I had acted like such a coward.

  I recognized the elfen as Aditi. She shook out her cropped hair and walked toward me.

  “Sorry for frightening you, Ramsey,” she said in a hoarse voice.

  “Your voice!” I exclaimed.

  “I’m sorry, once again. The change back to elfen takes some time. My voice hasn’t returned just yet,” she apologized.

  Fortunately, I could hear it getting better.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “I was making a delivery,” she explained.

  “What kind of delivery?”

  “Look on your bed,” she told me.

  I walked over to my bed. There, lying neatly on top of the covers, was my emerald ball gown from the Human Realm.

  “How did you get this?” I asked bewilderedly.

  “When Queen Taryn realized you had nothing to wear for dinner, which is usually a very formal affair in the palace, she sent me on an errand to Birchwood City. Addison told us that she remembered you had a dress from the Human Realm.”

  “That was a fast delivery,” I remarked.

  She shrugged, like a trip from the capital to a small town was no big deal, even though it had taken us over two days to get here. “I was gone for most of the day.”

  “Well, thank you,” I said.

  “You’re very welcome,” she replied.

  I stared at Aditi for a moment, still marveling over what she had accomplished. She went all the way to Birchwood City just because I needed something to wear for dinner. She went because the Queen asked her to. Now that was loyalty.

  “I’ll see you at dinner,” Aditi said, jarring me from my thoughts.

  “Do the guards eat at the same time?”

  “Only a few of them do. You know the Queen has twenty guards, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, there are ten high guards and ten low guards. The high guards receive the most important and trusted tasks and dine with Queen Taryn. The other ten perform tasks that are usually just as important, but smaller. They do not dine with the Queen. They eat on the first floor with the healers, cooks, and others.”

  “Ah, I see. Then I’ll see you at dinner,” I agreed.

  Aditi nodded and walked out of the room. I heard her exchange a concise greeting with Jacqueline, and I was surprised the guard didn’t question Aditi’s presence in my room. I guessed everyone in the palace was probably used to her and the other bird shape-shifters popping up at odd times.

  Realizing I had about ten minutes to get ready, I stripped from my dress and hurriedly began putting on the gown. As I picked it up off the bed, I noticed that my black ballet flats were there as well. I was thankful I wouldn’t have to wear my boots, which were my only shoes, to tonight’s dinner.

  I put my dirty clothes from the day before in the sink and turned on the hot water. I scrubbed them with soap and then left them to soak. I hoped they would be clean for the next day, for I had nothing else to wear. After running through my hair with a comb, I was ready to go. I met Jacqueline outside of my door, and we walked down the hall and down one flight of stairs to arrive at the dining hall.

  I was embarrassed when I walked in and found everyone already seated. I was the last one to dinner. I was late. I took the open seat beside Stellan, and Jacqueline sat beside me. I had no idea what to say, so I kept quiet. I was afraid I would be speaking out of turn.

  To my surprise, no one seemed to care that I was late. Instead, everyone turned his or her head to Queen Taryn, who was starting to speak.

  “Let us pray before we eat,” Queen Taryn said, and bowed her head.

  I followed suit and so did everyone else.

  “Lord, thank you for this meal tonight. We pray that you continue to watch over this palace and this Realm.” She raised her head and continued, “High peace to all.”

  “High peace to all,” I heard the elves repeat.

  I found out later that “high peace to all” was like a human saying “amen” after a prayer. It just meant that everyone should have peace. I wished I had known that. Instead of repeating what the elves said, I had remained silent and confused.

  It was another elfin custom I would have to absorb.

  As the cooks brought in the first course, I looked around at the table to see who was dining with us. I saw Princess Brielle seated near her mother. Across from her sat Lady Cora and Elvina. I saw the guards Danica, Aditi, Wren, Gavin, Arnold, Thane, Gabriel, and two others I hadn’t met. The Queen, knowing I hadn’t exchanged words with them yet, introduced them as Kayden and Eder.

  Kayden was pale-haired with dark green, almost black eyes. He looked deep in thought as the Queen introduced him. His power was using his mind to make things happen. He explained that it wasn’t like telekinesis when the Queen finally got his attention. He didn’t move things; he just imagined them happening, and they happened. As a demonstration, he imagined Stellan picking up his plate. I gasped in surprise when Stellan did the motion without even knowing what was happening. I liked Kayden’s power very much. The only drawback was he could only make others do things when they were not ready. Otherwise, they could prepare for the attack mentally if they knew it was coming.

  It seemed strange to me, but Kayden said that I would have to experience it to understand completely. He also mentioned that he wasn’t able to end the war. Many others had asked if he could because of his ability, but he didn’t have enough power to accomplish something of this magnitude.

  Then Queen Taryn introduced the dark-haired Eder, who had the element of earth as his ability. He seemed intense, and his dark green eyes made me feel uneasy as he watched me. It seemed as if his eyes were trained on me, and they rarely looked away throughout the dinner. It was very uncomfortable.

  For dinner, we feasted on meats of all kinds, fruits, vegetables, soups, and salads. It was a wonderful meal. I had never eaten so royally in all my life. Everything tasted fresh and delicious.

  It was also comforting to be with Stellan, our free hands joined during the meal. I had missed him during the day, and I could tell he felt the same. Addison, who was sitting near the Queen, frequently smiled in my direction. I took it as an “everything is okay” gesture. I hoped she was right.

  For dessert, we had cake that I learned was a fairy recipe from Elvina. No one seemed bothered by the dessert. I assumed it was because it came from Elvina. She was not only popular among the city folk, but also among the guard.

  I had never had such a dessert before. It tasted like sweet honey and smelled like flowers. No matter what fairies did to us now, they would always be the best cake-makers. No one could deny that.

  Toward the end of dinner, I noticed Eder watching me once more. I frowned, wondering why he was so interested in me. Every time I caught his gaze, he seemed more familiar to me than any of the other guards. Something about him struck a chord in my memory, and it wasn’t until I heard him speak that I figured it out, responding to a question from the Queen about the perimeter of the palace.

  “All clear,” he said, in a familiar deep voice.

  It all came crashing down on me – the intense eyes, the familiar voice, the earth ability….

  I was sitting across from the very man who had saved me from drowning in the Human Realm, the night I met Addison. Only he wasn’t just a man, he was an elf. He had different hair; tonight it was black, not brown, but I may have been wrong. After all, I was close to unconsciousness at that time. I was sure I was mistaken now. This was definitely the Earth Man, my rescuer.

  Here in Tarlore, he was a hi
gh guard to the Queen. I could hardly believe my eyes. This elf had saved me, and he hadn’t mentioned anything about it. I was sure he recognized me, knew me. He had known my name before.

  Why didn’t he say anything? Why did he simply stare at me?

  I didn’t know, but I wanted to know. Feeling a little shaky, I got up from my chair.

  “Queen Taryn, may I please be excused for just a moment?” I asked.

  “Of course, Ramsey, you may be excused,” she consented.

  “Are you all right?” Stellan whispered.

  I nodded. Then I stared across the table until my eyes found Eder’s.

  “I just need some air,” I said.

  I turned and walked away quickly from the dining hall, praying Eder would follow.

  ~16~

  An Earthly Encounter

  I found a spot to wait right outside the palace doors. I could see a few guards patrolling the perimeter, probably the reason I was allowed to venture outdoors. Queen Taryn trusted me because there were guards to watch me.

  It took Eder only a few minutes to join me outside the palace doors. I noticed how he looked in the moonlight; handsome, like all elves were, but something about him was different, something foreign that I couldn’t explain.

  “I was afraid you wouldn’t take the hint,” I admitted.

  He didn’t say anything in reply, but his eyes watched me intently, like he was trying to figure me out. I bit my lip and wished he would say something…anything.

  “You saved me that night on the bridge,” I said, hoping this would get him going.

  He looked as if he were in deep thought. He still refused to speak.

  “Why didn’t you say anything about it at dinner?” I asked.

  “Because…,” he trailed off. It seemed as if he were trying to choose his words carefully.

  Why? I wondered. What did he have to hide?

  “Because no one else here at the palace besides me knows about that night,” he revealed.

  “Why not?” I wondered.

  “I wasn’t supposed to be there,” he explained.

  “You mean in the Human Realm?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Yes. I didn’t have permission to leave Tarlore, let alone enter a forbidden Realm.”

  “But surely the Queen must have known you were there, because of her power, right?” I asked.

  “Not exactly. There’s, well, a reason I could hide from her power.”

  “Care to shed any light on what that reason may be?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

  “I can’t tell you, at least not now,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

  I sighed, wondering if I was wasting my time by bringing him out here. “Okay, then. How about you tell me the reason you were in the Human Realm to begin with,” I suggested.

  “No, unfortunately I can’t tell you that either.”

  “What can you tell me, Eder?” I asked, becoming annoyed.

  “Not much, I’m afraid.”

  “Well, tell me what you can,” I told him. “Please. I deserve to know.”

  He nodded, contemplative once more. I guessed he was deciding on what to tell me…and what not to tell me.

  “All right,” he said, “I can tell you that I didn’t mean to leave so suddenly after I saved you. I had to return to the Elf Realm before I was discovered.”

  “Um, well, thanks. But that’s not what I really want to know. I don’t care that you had to go; I understand that. I want to know how you knew my name,” I said.

  “Everyone knows your name, Ramsey,” he said. “You’re famous in these parts because of your parents, your sister, and your secret.”

  “How did you recognize me?” I asked.

  “Who else in the Human Realm has pointy ears?”

  He was right, of course. I sighed with growing frustration. “What were you doing at the bridge?” I asked.

  “I sensed magical energy coming from it, like most magical beings can,” he explained.

  “You seem to have an excuse for everything, but they are all pretty vague,” I remarked.

  “I can’t help it if you don’t get the answer you want,” he said.

  “Right,” I muttered. I suddenly felt a twinge of déjà vu. After all, I had used that same line with Lura the wind fairy not too long ago.

  “So are we done here?” he asked.

  I was shocked. “Excuse me?” I couldn’t believe how easily he was dismissing me.

  “I’m sorry. I just don’t want anyone getting suspicious. If the Queen found out about my visit to the Human Realm, I would be in a lot of trouble.”

  “Well,” I said, “maybe I should just rat you out.”

  He looked at me blankly.

  “Oh, sorry,” I said, rubbing my eyes because I was suddenly exhausted from our tense conversation. “It’s a human expression. It means maybe I should tell the Queen what you did,” I explained.

  He nodded. “But why would you do that?” he asked.

  “Because you aren’t giving me the answers I want.”

  “I saved you. You should be grateful for that,” he snapped.

  “Sure, but why? Why did you save me? Why were you there?” I asked.

  Eder looked down at the ground and shook his head. For the first time, I noticed how strong, yet also how frightened, he appeared. It was a strange combination. As if he were ready for anything, but was afraid of it coming. His gleaming eyes held determination, but when they met mine, I also saw worry in their depths.

  “Ramsey, you can’t know about some things yet; my intentions, and the reason I was with you that night on the bridge,” he said simply. “And it’s for your own safety, your own good.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.

  “What it means is that there are bigger things than Zora happening out there right now. She is only one piece of the puzzle. But right now, you need to focus on finding her,” he explained.

  “When will I learn about those ‘bigger things’?” I asked.

  “When Zora is safe. When the time is right,” Eder told me.

  “And I take it that you are involved in those bigger things somehow?”

  He nodded. “But in what way? I can’t tell you that either,” he said.

  “Why am I not surprised?” I said sarcastically, crossing my arms against my chest and sighing deeply.

  “Look, Ramsey, you need to forget about this meeting for a while. It’s not as important as finding Zora. Right now, you need to focus on finding your sister. It’s imperative that you do.”

  “Why does it matter to you?” I asked.

  “What happens to you matters to everyone. And without your sister, you won’t figure out your secret. Without your secret being revealed, the war will continue, and elves and fairies will continue to die. And without Zora, without your secret, you will never know why I was there that night on the bridge.”

  I nodded, finally understanding his reasoning, although it was still mystifying and unclear.

  “Okay, so when I find Zora, everything else will play out?”

  Eder sighed, looking down at his feet. “I hope so.”

  “And you won’t tell me anything more?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  “I know. Thanks,” I said, still upset.

  He turned away and began to walk back into the palace.

  “Eder, wait,” I called.

  He turned back around. “Yes?” His eyes were hopeful.

  “I won’t say anything, to the Queen, to anyone. I promise,” I said.

  “Why not?” he asked.

  “For some reason I trust you. I don’t know why, but I do. And you’re right. I need to find my sister. That’s the most important thing right now,” I agreed.

  For the first time, I saw Eder smile. I liked him more when he smiled. He seemed more…genuine to me. And in the moonlight, he looked almost serene – like an angel, my guardian angel. Although he was vague, he had saved me. He had protected me.
I had a feeling that later on he would protect me again, or at least be a significant presence in my future.

  “Thank you,” he said finally, and I knew he meant it.

  “Yeah,” I replied, wondering why in the Realm I was letting him just walk away. I didn’t have the answers I wanted. I hardly knew anything but vague fragments of an explanation, yet there I was, letting him go.

  He disappeared into the palace, leaving me pondering what had just occurred between us.

  Then I remembered something. Back when he saved me, Eder’s eyes were brown. Just a minute ago, when we were talking, they were green.

  I shook my head and walked back inside the palace, not knowing what to believe anymore.

  ***

  I was surprised to find everyone still in the dining hall when I returned…except Eder. He was nowhere to be seen.

  Dessert dishes were being cleared away, and elves began rising from their chairs. Before leaving, Queen Taryn approached me. I quickly forgot about Eder and turned my attention to her.

  “I heard that you don’t have anything to occupy yourself with after today,” she said.

  “Who would say such a thing?” I asked, trying to be polite.

  Queen Taryn was right, though. Tomorrow I would be bored out of my mind. I had toured the castle, met a bunch of elves, and even a fairy. What else was there to do?

  “I have my sources, Ramsey. And I have decided you will be allowed to go into the city tomorrow, so long as you return at least an hour before dinner, which will be at eight.”

  “Queen Taryn, thank you. I promise I will behave,” I told her.

  “I’m quite sure you will.” She smiled at me. “Just know that Jacqueline will be with you wherever you go.”

  “That is perfectly understandable,” I agreed.

  “Then I hope you have a good time. Goodnight, Ramsey.”

  “Goodnight, Queen Taryn,” I said.

  I waited for her to leave before leaving myself.

  I was going to the city! My wish would come true. I had hoped that I wouldn’t leave for Birchwood City without seeing the sights. Now I could spend the whole day there. I wasn’t too keen on having Jacqueline with me everywhere, though. I wasn’t a baby. However, I did understand why she had to accompany me. If Stellan and Addison were still suspects, I was one as well. They couldn’t risk me bolting before we even tried to find Zora. I hurried past several guards until I reached Stellan. Placing my hand in his, I whispered in his ear, “I can go to the city tomorrow.”