Taking off after her, he shouted, “It is a lot for you to know, I understand! Please, Nara, speak with me; I will not lie if you ask.”
“And my mother,” she spat, spinning on her heel and standing close to a trail that led into the forest. He knew she was still reeling. But he was glad she had asked this. “What about my mother? The Elders told me that my family was dead, that I had no kin, that my mother died giving birth. Now I’ve come to learn that I am a princess of Ghela?”
Castien reached out, wanting to touch her, to comfort her. It would not have been a wise move, so he let his hand fall.
“All lies, as you know,” he said more gently than he had ever expressed to her thus far. “They’d like to keep you; you are a pawn to them, to get at our king, at your father. They think that holding you will give them leverage in the coming wars. When your mother left Ghela, she planned to usurp Alinar. The Elders encouraged it.” Their eyes locked. His gaze was steady in the hope that she would believe him.
There were more questions that needed to be asked, he knew. The overwhelming feeling she must have had was not hidden from her voice. “Would you like to visit a shrine, Castien? I think I should pay a visit. The confined space of the temple will give me no solace.”
Understanding, Castien nodded. “I could use the peace as well.”
Nodding, she led him along the river path, arms wrapped around her waist. A pace or two behind her, he tried to sympathize. He couldn’t imagine himself in her position. He had always known Ghela; he had always known a high standard of living, and he had always known his family. He had even known of his mother, though she had not been present since childhood. Why did the High Elder think keeping such information from a free spirit would be a good idea? Shen Bresa had to have known they’d come for her one day.
Only Castien would be as honest as he was allowed to be with her. It would be Castien who would win her over.
Silence stayed their companion, and for the first time in his presence, Nara didn’t walk aggressively. She kept an even pace. He saw, when she would glance at him, her pain lifting in flutters.
Castien wanted to reach out to her, but matters were delicate at the moment. He continued to fight with his desire. How much longer would he be able to do this until he gave in and spoiled what the king wanted untouched?
Nara broke the silence. “What does my father want with me? All of this seems too simple, yet so much is still hidden.” Looking at his face, she smiled, capturing his ready attention.
Castien cleared his throat and wrapped a hand behind his neck. “It really is as simple as that. As eldest of your siblings, the council informed him they wanted to give you the chance for the crown. After wanting to come for you for so long, he decided to finally act close to your rites. We did not know that you already planned to leave.” Castien looked ahead towards the lake that they were encircling, feeling an intense pull from the shrine he saw at the end of it. He smiled at the various people who came from the local villages or far off to bathe, pray, and relax. It was a beautiful day, and he was surprised that there were not more people. This was something more familiar to him. Shrines of Gaia were all over Arlania, even in the north where there was little devotion to the gods.
“What about my mother,” Nara asked, a mist forming over her eyes. “What of her and her family? The High Elder did not say much, only that she left me here after birth.”
Castien’s frown deepened. “I don’t know anything about her.” He wasn’t sure if he was allowed to delve too much into her background. The rest of their walk was silent. It wasn’t until they stopped feet from the shrine that she looked directly at him, even when he wouldn’t look at her.
Urging further, she spoke slightly louder, “Castien, my mother?”
Pursing his lips, Castien leaned towards her. “Would you rather these questions be answered by me or by your father?” Thankfully, that seemed to satiate her. The small amount of wisdom he held at his age served him well, and he thanked the gods.
Nara quietly strode towards the shrine with Castien in tow. The stone steps were riddled with various offerings to the gods and seldom were they cleaned up after. He knew the keeper of the shrine had to be close by, and he knew the keeper would only bring offerings at the bottom closer to the top, making room for more and clearing a path for those seeking to move further up. It was the same anywhere he went. But it was only on Vheria and Ghela that he saw offerings of the gailenia flower; the flower that Gaia had gifted to her children.
With each step, the pull of the slab that lay at the top grew stronger. In the center, a flame surrounded a large glass bowl. While the mana of the world was said to be her spirit, the bowl held what was said to be Gaia’s blood. Its golden color looked thick like glittering soup in the bright sunlight. Since the gods had placed a hidden barrier around the bowl, no one knew what it felt like.
Though the gods had meant this place to be a resting place for their mother, great power surrounded it inciting many to think it would carry their prayers to the gods better. Or influence the gods to do as they were requested.
“The one thing all races have in common,” Castien whispered, pulling dried gailenia petals from his pocket and throwing them into the flames. Since he often prayed to the gods, he always carried the petals with him.
Castien knelt before the flames; hands palm down on his thighs, he bowed his head. His lips moved, hoping Nara could not hear while the gods would. “Those who gave us life, hear me in my time of need. I seek guidance for my king, as I feel Vheria will need urging towards a better future. One that will bring us together so we might serve you in the coming wars.” Eyes tightly closed, he paused, feeling the warmth of the flames. Perfect wording would not come to him. “Gods, aide me in understanding this feeling I have with Nara, help me to better control myself. If it is your will, I will take her and find explanations later. If it is not, I beg that you tame the pull of our blood crystals. With all the grace of Gaia, I speak.” Ending his prayer, he felt a wash of relief, a lightening in his head and chest. Nara knelt near to him, her lips moving in her own prayer. A gentle beauty. He patiently watched her, knowing from the feeling he had just experienced that the gods would answer him in short order.
“Nara,” he inquired, noticing her lips had stopped moving. Tears fell freely from her eyes when she looked at him. Needing to test the will of the gods, he did not stop himself from touching her. Gently, he wiped away the tears. The same immediate shock rushed through them, and he let his hand linger against her cheek, allowing the vibrations to intensify around it. His heart beat like a drum in his ear.
Blood crystals never interacted with other beings unless they were willed to. He knew this was not something he intended, and he doubted that such an innocent maiden would provoke this. It could only mean the gods wanted him to have her. For whatever reason, the gods must be intervening. Even though magic could be taken by losing innocence too soon, amongst other things, he would go at their urging. He knew in his heart they would care for Nara.
If Nara allowed it so, he would obediently follow the gods’ will.
Without removing his hand, he breathed, “I have to know what this is. I have to know where it ends.” The words he spoke stabbed his heart in tender embarrassment as he waited for her response, the drumming in his ears growing louder, the desire to come close to her intensifying.
At last she took his hand into hers, transferring where the energy rose. She muttered, “The forest.” Enough was spoken. Castien followed her without question, ready to explore the boundaries of this otherworldly feeling.
FALLON
Water.
Of all the things Fallon felt closest to, it was water. His love for it and the creatures that resided within made his family wonder why he had not been born with the ability to use mana and weave it into his everyday life.
Though Fallon wasn’t sure why they expected anything at all.
The only one of four children born with any potential had be
en his younger brother, Cayden. As similar circumstances spread through several other families, many had named it the death of magic. Such a thing was impossible though, Fallon knew. It had to be. Everything that existed had some amount of mana rushing through it. The crystals they were born with were supposed to help them focus the mana into some form of energy. However, now many were born with their blood crystals dead inside their bodies. At the same time, families were blessed with more children. As though that were an exchange for magic.
Fallon sighed, closing his eyes against the light of Vhedril. The rays warmed his exposed skin as he floated on the lake that rested not far from the temple. It was a peaceful area. Many came to heal, to pray, or to relax. It happened that Fallon needed all of these at the moment as he was still feeling the pain of Nara’s words. He would leave for his home village that night, and he didn’t want to show that pain when he spoke to his parents.
What would he do?
He longed to be with her, to be near her always, to protect her. But at the same time, he didn’t want to disappoint his family. They had already lost one son. His eldest brother, Evert, left for Ghela three years prior. None knew what became of him. If the Elders knew, they didn’t say, and Fallon doubted his father would care enough to ask. With so many fond memories of his brother, he prayed that Evert had found happiness with Unae, his wife.
Something he hoped to convince Nara she could find with him. If only he could bring himself to tell her.
He looked towards the shrine. Swimming to the bank with fluid strokes, he kept his eyes on it. A few others sat around the area lost in their own prayers and quiet picnics. They wouldn’t even look up when he walked up the bank to dress in his trousers and tunic.
Shaking water from his hair, he paused at the glimpse of familiar white hair and dark clothing at the edge of the woods. Fallon squinted so he could make out the unmistakable glint of Castien’s violet eyes before the older elf disappeared with another into the trees. Not knowing much about, or trusting, Castien, he followed.
Leaving his rucksack, he rushed barefoot to the tree line, making sure not to disturb those he passed. He did not want to fight, he only wanted to spy on the elf. At the same time he regretted leaving his sword behind in case of trouble.
Creeping through the trees without a sound, he heard a gasp and a grunt along with the soft noises of struggling. The sounds provoked him to move faster, fearless against the thought of dryads watching him. They were mostly friendly, quiet, and unseen to passersby. But he knew if they felt threatened, they would attack or rally animals to attack people. Nara had been able to walk amongst them for the longest; it was Nara who had helped Fallon see them. While many had spotted the concentrated fae of the woods, most never saw a dryad, and he was honored to have met the elegant race.
Under his breath, he called to them, hoping they would protect him.
He pushed farther into the forest until he came upon a scene that made him wish he had ignored Castien and just knelt to pray.
From the side he could see Nara’s back against a large tree, her arms wrapped around Castien’s exposed mid-section, his own hands at her waist. They were locked in a tight embrace, a kiss so passionate it burned Fallon to see it. It burned him until overwhelming sadness, which slowly fed his rage, filled him.
An interaction like this between two people who barely knew one another was strange. Even stranger was the air. Thick with energy, pulsing mana beat like a drum, reverberating in his ears. Fallon could only hear the noise of this drum beating.
“Nara,” he spat, not realizing until after it hung in the air how much hostility he had expressed in her name. Nara and Castien broke their kiss abruptly, pulling away from one another just as quickly. The energy pulled at Fallon before disappearing, leaving him breathless and confused. Scarlet flames were visible on Nara’s cheeks, but he wondered if they were from embarrassment or passion.
“Fallon,” she exhaled, her hands smoothing her dress. Nothing else was said for a long moment. Castien pulled his top on, covering a lithe and deadly form. Fallon glared at him, not knowing where to go from what he had just witnessed. Wanting to be free of what he saw, a dark thought filled him, and he made a decision he prayed he wouldn’t regret.
“Are you looking for dryads?” he asked indignantly, his jaw clenching as soon as he said it. As much as he didn’t want to, as much as he longed to bring attention to their actions, he pressed through diversion. “Nara has an ability to draw them to her, Castien.” The elf’s name tasted like poison, and he hoped that poison found its way to Castien’s soul.
The two of them blinked, but he simply quirked a brow, eyes wide to urge them to answer.
Fixing his disheveled hair, Castien replied, “I didn’t know.” He scratched the back of his head while looking at Nara. “Is that why you’re called Nara of the Dryads? You never told me.”
She couldn’t with your lips on hers, Fallon wanted to say. Instead he chose to bite his tongue. The taste of blood was as heavy as his anger.
Nara looked Fallon directly in the eyes, worry crinkling the corners of hers. Shaking her head, she changed subjects. “I was actually looking for dryads to show him, Fallon, in order to surprise him. Thank you.” Nara turned on shaking legs to press her body against the tree she had pulled from only moments before. Spreading her fingers along the bark, she closed her eyes. The red drained from her cheeks as her breathing slowed, her lips turning from a passionate rouge to a lighter shade.
While she was distracted, the two elves sized one another up. Fallon’s face matched the territorial look on Castien’s as he showed someone how he felt without caring what they thought for once. He wanted to protect Nara even if he wouldn’t be bound to her right away.
Castien smirked, provoking Fallon to clench his fists at his sides, anger rolling like hot waves in his head.
But he said nothing.
“I can feel them,” Nara whispered, drawing their attention. She had opened her eyes and was now looking upwards at rustling branches. She took a step away from the tree, leaving her hand firmly against it. On the outside Fallon smiled while on the inside he burned with a hatred he hoped only Castien could feel.
“I’ve never heard of a being capable of doing this except orcs,” Castien breathed, taking a step towards her, to which Fallon followed suit. “How did you discover this ability?”
Nara held a fleeting smile. “Taruk taught me. When my mother came here, she did not make it to the temple before she found herself in labor. The dryads helped her. Later, as a child, the dryads cared for me when I ran away. I was lost and had called to them; they helped me back to the temple. After Taruk and I met, he helped me to refine the skill, to be able to call them. I don’t know how I am able to. Look.”
Nimble forms crept through the overhang and ambled downwards. Bark-like skin with twigs and leaves for hair blended perfectly with the trees around them. The guardians of the forests were quick to attack those who disrespected the trees, the animals, or the fae. They were even known to attack those they simply disliked. But as quickly as they would make themselves known to enemies, they would disappear.
Nara could coax them out with little effort, her secrets known to no one. The dryads surrounded them, tall and naked, some still hiding in the trees, but their forms were now visible against the backdrop of the forest. They looked as hard as the trees they protected yet gentle enough to sway in the wind.
A couple, male and female, ambled forward, long twig-like fingers sweeping through Nara’s hair. They looked at Castien, heads tilting to one side, and Fallon smirked when he stepped away. Fallon’s thoughts turned dark. If past events were true, the dryads would attack the outsider from Ghela as they did not take kindly to strangers or those they felt posed a threat.
Castien’s eyes widened when the male dryad crept closer to him. Large, wooden horns curled at the side of the being’s face and nearly touched Castien when the dryad leaned in. Rough fingers left the unmoving elf’s cheek red.
Castien continued to stare into the dryad’s eyes while the others inspected him. The female that had stepped from the crowd stayed close to Nara, hands gently resting on her arms. The dryad’s long brown hair blew in the wind while completely blackened eyes reflected what they saw. Fallon waited in anticipation, rocking between shouting and silence while he witnessed what he knew would happen begin to take form.
Fallon’s dark prayers were recognized.
After procuring a good measure of Castien, the male dryad screeched in his face and pushed him into another’s arms. Fallon almost smiled, watching another tear Castien’s tunic. It wasn’t until Nara screamed for them to stop that Fallon realized how wrong he was. The female dryad held Nara back by her arms, rendering her unable to aide Castien. The closer the dryad crept, the closer Castien came to using magic. Yet, despite the charge drifting from Castien through the air, the elf would not defend himself. Castien defiantly stared at the dryad.
Nara screamed again, kicking out in an attempt to pull free of the hold the other had on her.
Fallon couldn’t do this. Mostly for Nara’s sake. But he also couldn’t live knowing he had let someone be killed.
Uttering a quick prayer, Fallon jumped between the dryad and Castien, placing his hands up in defense.
“Please don’t hurt him!” Fallon cried out, hoping they sensed that he, like Nara, was defenseless. The dryad stopped in his tracks, black eyes regarding him, his horns coming close when he lowered his head. Fallon swallowed hard. Regardless of how he felt, he stood his ground, spreading his arms out to his sides. The others stopped pulling at Castien, but he was panting.
“We will leave!” Fallon shouted. The dryad blinked, chips of bark falling free when he grimaced, attempting to understand Fallon. To that, Fallon pointed at the tree line. “Leave.” Pointing to himself, he repeated, “We will leave.” Pointing to Castien, he added, “He will leave. Just please don’t hurt him any further.”
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