by Deiri Di
Chase began putting the heavy layers back on her. She could feel their weight as he put each one on. It was heavier than before. There were more of them.
Mari relaxed, unclenching her fists.
Then, the layers of fur lifted, and Mari clutched at her protective layer again.
Chase slid under the covers and wiggled until his back was pressed up against her back, separated by one animal skin that he had tucked down. Mari stayed stiff and immobile as he settled down.
A voice in her head instructed her to scold him, reminding her that Vladmir would not look so kindly on his presumption.
That voice was overruled by the heat that radiated off of him, easing her shivers until they vanished.
Mari tilted her head until she could see his hair from the back of his head, just a few inches away from her face.
Her mind began babbling about Vladmir again.
Mari turned her head back and tried to go to sleep without shifting or moving at all.
#
Mari yawned, morning light tickling her eyes. One side of her face was on something warm, her arm wrapping around it like a big comfy pillow. Mari snuggled against it, the last of her teddy bear cuddling dreams drifting away as she rose into consciousness.
Mari heard Chase clear his throat. Funny... the sound was quite loud, originating right from the nice pillow under her head.
Mari's eyes snapped open, and she lifted her head with a jerk. Right off of Chase's chest.
Chase raised his eyebrows, staring down at her horrified look with a smile.
"If you are quite don-" he started to say.
Mari squealed, grabbed the furs, and rolled, taking all of them with her and wrapping herself in a nice tight burrito. She wiggled down inside of it, burying her head along with the rest of her, as she began to laugh hysterically.
Mari didn't know what the appropriate reaction was, but it probably wasn't giggling like a ninny and hiding.
There was a soft thud as something lightweight landed on top of her.
"I'm going to check on the horses," Chase said, his voice a tight contrast against Mari's snickering. "Get dressed. We need to go."
Mari waited until she heard the front door shut before wiggling out of her fur burrito, grabbing her dry clothing that Chase had thrown on top of her, and getting dressed. A few guffaws escaped her, and she took deep breaths, trying to get her nervous reaction under control.
When she calmed down, she wandered outside.
The snow was mostly gone, just small piles of it melting under the warm sunshine that had vanished so unexpectedly the day before. Chase had the horses saddled and was waiting for her, reins in hand.
"You're leaving already?" Deidre said, standing in the doorway.
Chase flipped Mari's reins over her horse's neck and stood there, waiting as she put her foot in the stirrup and made several attempts to mount.
"We have to get back to the palace," Chase said. "The longer we stay out here, the higher the chance it won't be Vladmir's men who find us."
"One day, you are going to come and never leave," Deidre said, crossing her arms.
Chase turned towards his horse.
"Don't threaten me, Deidre," he said. "If I hear tales of travelers gone missing, I will not come back as a friend."
Mari saw the soft ache in Deidre's eyes at those words that Chase missed.
"That's not what I meant," Deidre said, dropping one arm to her side and gripping it close to her with the other.
Chase clicked his tongue and squeezed his horse forward.
They began winding through the forest away from the hut and the porcelain-skinned snow maiden.
The trip back to the road was much faster, unhindered by the magical blizzard from before.
As the hooves hit the road, Mari released the question she'd been holding back.
"How did you meet her?" Mari asked.
"She was..." Chase hesitated. "She was mixed up in a court game, and I interfered. I didn't help things at all... I made them worse... but she ended up just fine despite me."
"So, you became friends?" Mari pressured.
"Of sorts," he said. "If she senses me traveling by, she will sometimes call me if... this is none of your business."
Thinking of Chase spending time with Deidre made her feel strange like there was a little monster gnawing on her sternum. "If I'm your friend, you should tell me things." Her voice sounded whiny, even to her.
"Shhh," Chase said, stopping the horses as he stared at something in the distance.
There was a cloud of dust down the road, and in the silence, Mari could hear the thunder of hooves on dirt.
Chase wheeled the horses, kicking them into a trot. They started to move back into the forest, out of sight, when Mari spotted a banner. She'd seen that particular design before, a white sword splitting the blue fabric in half.
"Isn't that Vladmir's banner?" she asked.
Chase turned to look. "Yes, it is," he said, his voice flat.
"We need to get back to the road," she said, picking up the reins of her horse.
"Why don't we let them pass. Once we get back to the Palace, we'll send word. It will be safer to travel in a smaller party." There was a pleading note in his voice.
"What if they walk into a trap?" Mari said.
The large group of mounted soldiers drew closer. She pulled on one of the reins, turning the horse around in a circle like she'd seen Chase do. "Come on!" she said. "They're going to pass us." She brought her heels up into the horse's side, not kicking, just touching. The horse moved forward, back through the trees and onto the road.
The group slowed down to a stop as Mari popped out into view, blocking their path. Several of the soldiers in the front of the group drew their swords. "Make way for the Prince!" one of them shouted.
Mari stood up in her stirrups. "Vladmir!" she shouted, trying to spot him in the group.
A white stallion pushed its way to the front.
Vladmir's eyes lit up when he saw her. He kicked his horse into action, closing the distance between them in moments.
"My love, I was so worried," he said, placing one of his hands on her cheek. "I thought you were kidnapped."
"I was," she replied. "Chase helped me escape." She pointed behind her, where Chase was just emerging from the tree line.
"Ah," Vladmir said. "Did he now." There was a sour tone in his voice. "Never matter, you are safe now."
The Prince leaned over, wrapping his arm around Mari's waist. He dragged her off of her horse and into the saddle in front of him.
"You don't need to do that," she said, placing a hand on his chest. He glanced down. Her sweaty palm left a dirty smear on his clean clothing. "I just learned how to ride... sort of."
"Don't worry, my love," the Prince said, taking her hand off of his chest and putting it down in her lap. "I will take care of you now." He brushed his finger down her nose, tapping it when his finger reached the end. "You must put this horrible experience behind you. I'm here now."
He turned, shouted orders to his soldiers, and started the gallop back towards the city. Mari was jostled, unable to find a rhythm with a horse she wasn't riding, just transported on its back like luggage.
She looked around Vladmir.
Chase was left behind in a cloud of dust. He had picked up the lead line to her horse and was just standing there, staring after them, an intensity in his gaze that made her stomach twist.
She didn't break eye contact.
She stared at him until the dust and distance obscured them from each other.
[ 11 ]
Mari stretched in her bed, happy to be waking up in the downy comfort of the Palace rather than a coffin-sized hole in Lady Silvia's private prison. Her body felt great. The scrapes and bruises from her adventure were gone.
The Prince had escorted her back to the castle then promptly abandoned her to the care of the brownie servants who did their usual routine of scrubbing her raw, except this time they lather
ed some sort of salve onto her cuts, scraps, and banged up nose. Her skin went numb everywhere the salve went. After that, the brownie servants left her in her room to her own devices. She didn't wait up for Chase and didn't ask after him. She was exhausted and knew he must be more tired than her. She would bet money based on the way that he looked that he hadn't slept a wink since she was abducted. She did the kind thing and let him enjoy his well earned night off. With everyone aware of the main threat to her life, she was in no danger in her room.
Mari opened her eyes to find a strange woman leaning against her door, staring at her. The woman wasn't dressed like the rest of the court elves. Instead, she had the leather and cloth outfit that Chase was wearing when she first met him. Practical and militant. Her dark green hair and elfish pale skin made her look like a willow rather than an elf, the image only disturbed by the sword belt wrapped around her waist.
"Who are you?" Mari asked, glancing around her room to see if any other elves were hiding in the corners.
The elf sneered at her, an expression that Mari was getting tired of. Why did they always sneer? It wasn't like she was writing graffiti on their ancestor's graves.
"My name is Gina'lathi," the woman said, pronouncing it in such a way that it sounded like she was saying a coffee beverage instead of a name. Mari pressed her lips together and tried not to laugh. "I am your new bodyguard."
What?
"What?!?" Mari said, rolling out of bed. "Where is Chase?"
"I am not to say," the bodyguard said.
Mari found the folded dress and slippers that were waiting for her. She picked it up, bunched in her fist, and waved it at the new bodyguard. "Where is he exactly, and where are my clothes?" She had been through too much to keep allowing them to push her around. Love or no love, Vladmir was going to have to understand that keeping her in the dark would not work!
"That is the dress the servants brought for you today," the bodyguard said, confusion crossing her face.
"No! Proper clothes! Trousers, a solid shirt, and my boots! Those boots saved my life yesterday. I'll have you know!" Mari wanted to throw something. The clothes were a gift from Chase; she wanted them back!
"That is the dress that was chosen for you today..." the bodyguard said again.
Mari went behind the screen and pulled on the dress. It was blue with a golden sword on the front panel, the design on Vladmir's banner. "I'll wear this now," she said, jamming her feet into the delicate matching slippers. "But I want my boots cleaned and returned to me along with some proper clothes by this afternoon, understand?" She tried to use the same tone of voice that Chase used with her. Authoritative and brooking no argument.
"I'm not... I... yes, my lady," the bodyguard settled on.
"Thank you," Mari said, pleased with herself. Act like you have power, and people will respond to it. "Now, take me to Chase."
"I can't do that," the bodyguard said, crossing her arms.
"Well, if you won't, then I'll just go find him myself!" Mari said, storming towards the door.
The bodyguard blocked her path.
"I can't let you do that," she said.
Mari stopped, glaring at the bodyguard. Suspicion wracked through her. What if Lady Silvia's men caught up with Chase? What if he never made it back to the castle? She had to find out what was going on. She couldn't stay cooped up in her room like a bird in a cage.
"Fine," Mari said, turning away.
She spun back around, trying to dart past the bodyguard.
Something hit her in the stomach, hard, knocking the wind out of her.
Mari crumpled to the ground, clutching her belly. She sat on her knees, hand on the floor as she caught her breath, watching the bodyguard's arm change from a wooden pole back into an arm.
"What did you say your name was again?" Mari asked.
"Gina'lathi," the bodyguard replied, a smirk on her face.
Mari had heard that word before. She didn't think about it when the guard first said it; she was too focused on Chase.
One of the books Chase gave her told her about many creatures in the world, and one of them was called a Gina'lathi. Her new bodyguard was not an elf.
Mari rose to her feet, her stomach hurting. There was no way she was going to get around this creature, not here anyway.
"I apologize for that," Mari said. "I don't know what I was thinking." She hoped the book was correct about the creatures. They were a racist bunch, who thought humans were incapable of deception.
The creature just looked at her with its elven face.
"Am I allowed to go to the garden?" Mari asked.
The creature nodded. "Yes, I have orders to allow that."
"Let's go then," Mari said.
Mari led the way to the garden, a familiar route at this point. The bodyguard followed behind her, within arms reach.
"What are your orders exactly?" Mari asked as they walked.
"To not tell you about Chase, to confine you to your room or the gardens, to keep you intact," the Gina'lathi said.
"Is that it?"
"Yes."
Mari smiled. The creature wouldn't stop her from finding the answers she wanted, as long as she did it within the confines of her prison.
When they got to the garden, Mari made a beeline for the large pond where the merman resided. She sat down a few feet away from the edge, picked up a rock, and threw it in the water.
A ripple traveled along the top, a wake of the swimmer down below. Within moments the merman peaked his head out. His eyes latched on to her, and a big toothy grin spread across his face. He moved to the edge and put his elbows on the grass, resting his face in his hands.
"Do you know where Chase is?" Mari asked him.
"Come here, and I'll tell you," the merman said, his smile growing wider.
"Don't move any closer, or I kill the fish," the Gina'lathi said, ignoring the merman's glare.
Mari stayed where she was.
"Give me your necklace, and I'll give you something that can help you," the merman said, eying the silver chain around her neck.
Mari's fingers clenched at the smooth white circle that hung on the end of the chain; the present Vladmir had given to her the first night she knew she was in love with him. She traced the circle. What had he said to her? It seals your love for me, he said. The necklace was like a promise ring to her, the thought of giving it up caused her head to ache and her heart to burn with pain.
The thought of Chase, alone, trapped, and tortured by Lady Silvia's people was worse. He could be in trouble all because of her. Vladmir would understand, wouldn't he?
"I... I..." Mari said, trying to say yes.
"That or nothing," the merman said, a twinkle in his watery eyes.
Mari wrapped her hands around the chain, trying to pull it over her head.
There was a pressure in her chest like an invisible hand was clutching at her and holding on to dear life.
She loved Vladmir.
She loved him.
She couldn't give the token of his love away!
A necklace wasn't worth Chase's life!
Mari pulled harder, her arms trembling as the necklace cleared her chin. She started to cry, not understanding why as the liquid streamed down over her cheeks. A sense of betrayal welled up inside of her. She was hurting Vladmir! She was betraying his love, giving away something that was the very symbol of his love for her. She was despicable. Mari was consumed with self-loathing as she hesitated, the chain hovering around her ears. How could she do this?
How could she not? She could live with hating herself. It was just an object!
Mari yanked the necklace over her head and threw it at the merman. He caught it in one hand and vanished under the water.
Mari sat, wiping the tears from her eyes. The pressure was gone, but the sense of guilt was not. Her mind kept telling her to call the merman back and demand the necklace. That voice was weaker, feeble, but it was still there.
The merman returned and tossed
something small into her lap before sinking back out of sight.
Mari picked up the tiny bundle, smaller than the pebble she had tossed into the pond in the first place. It was a little blue mini skirt and matching jacket with rhinestones - doll's clothes, ones she had seen before.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" she shouted at the water, shaking the clothes in the air.
Something darted through the air towards her hand. She yanked the doll's clothes back to her chest, barely thwarting the fairy's theft attempt.
The thief, the same little fairy from the coffee shop so long ago, purple hair and everything, hovered in the air in front of her.
"I want that!" It demanded. "Give it to me! Mine!"
"Do you know where Chase is?" Mari asked, tightening her grip on the clothing.
"Yes. Mine!"
"Tell me where he is and show me how to get there, and you can have it," Mari bargained.
"Dungeon! I give you map. Now, give me!"
"Which dungeon and give me the map first," Mari said.
The fairy snarled, demon teeth showing. "This dungeon. Clothes first!"
Mari was stunned. This dungeon? Not Lady Silvia's dungeon but the Queen's? Her heart sunk could Vladmir... the familiar ache came in her head, not strong enough to erase the thoughts but enough to divert them... no, Vladmir couldn't know about this.
"Draw the map first, and you can give it to me after you get your things back," Mari said.
The fairy buzzed over to a tree, grabbed a leaf, and began scratching it with one claw. When it was done, it flew back over and held out its hand.
"Mine!" it said.
Mari held out the doll's clothes.
The fairy snatched them, dropping the map in the process. Mari grabbed it and squinted at the small markings. There was an x in the spot that vaguely resembled the gardens and a line that led to another x. There were only two problems. The first one was that the line went through the pond. There had to be another path, but the fairy hadn't bothered to draw it.
"You know I'm not going to let you go there," the Gina'lathi said. "There isn't any way you can run fast enough to get all the way there."