What Pointed Ears You Have… (Dani’s POV)
I looked up at the massive white castle ahead of me. “I can do this, I can do this,” I chanted as I took a deep breath of cold air. About two hours into my cross-country hike it had begun to snow, making it hard to see the road as it was covered in powdery white snow. (Also, I HATE BEING COLD.) I pushed on despite the loss of feeling in my feet because I knew very well my friend’s life could depend on it. It’s amazing what you can overcome when someone you care about is counting on you. Now that I was here, or at least what I hoped was here, I needed to gather my resolve and prepare to beg and plead for assistance.
“Hello!” I called up at the gate in my best Elven. I heard rustling atop the watch and smiled when a set of hands followed by a head grabbed the wall to look over at me.
“Jahersh la min lay?” The guard called down to me. I blinked a few times trying to process the words. Hadn’t I kissed a guy in a town and learned the common language? I started to panic a little. What if I was in the wrong realm? What if had I studied the wrong Elvish?
I pushed the hood back from my head and frantically tried to play charades. The guard above looked confused and shrugged before ducking out of sight. “Oh no!” I yelled in English. “Please come back?” I pleaded to thin air. Just then their was a click at the lower gate. A tall man with long black hair and piercing green eyes stepped through the door. His pointed ears signaled his Elven blood. “Oh thank god,” I said, stepping forward. He took a step back and rested his hand on his sword.
“What brings you here, traveler?” he said in lightly accented English.
“You speak English!?!” I almost cried.
“Yes, my wife is half Human. I learned it not long after she arrived. State your business. The Castle is in lockdown at the moment and we don’t have time for trivial discussions or sightseeing.” His demeanor was of someone who was used to calling the shots.
“I’ve traveled from a different realm. My friend was kidnapped from the Human realm and I’ve been told Elves from your Kingdom possess a special ability to track the difficult targets.” I bit my lip, waiting.
He studied me closely. “I’m sorry to hear about your friend but at this time we cannot spare the manpower to go save a Human. I’m not sure how you found your way here, but for your own safety, leave this realm as soon as possible.” He turned to leave. Without thinking I reached and snagged the edge of his cloak to stop him. He turned on me quickly, drawing his sword. Above me on the wall appeared half a dozen archers with their arrows aimed at me. “Begone!” he snapped.
“She’s not Human,” I said, letting go of his cloak. “She is a Dragon and Elf Tempest. To me she is just a friend, but to many it’s a really big deal. Her Soul Mate is practically the prince of the Dragons. If we don’t find her in time I have no doubt he won’t make it either.” He tilted his head to the side and studied me closely. I decided if he wasn’t going to make me into a Pixie Kabob I should press on. “She is one of your people. I know that matters to you. Her father was an Elven warrior from this land.”
His eyes and nostrils flared with some level of acknowledgment of what I was saying. “Whom do you believe has taken her?”
His words sounded more like a test than a question. “We aren’t totally sure, but we have reason to believe she was taken by a Mage.” With a fluid motion he waved his hand and the archers put away their arrows. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking both right and left he placed a hand at the small of my back and ushered me within the castle walls. “Follow me.” With simple orders like that I was left little choice but to follow.
**********
Once inside the castle a handful of maids rushed to remove my wet cloak and bring me a warm drink. I followed the Elf who had led me in to sit beside the fire. “I am Tallyn, Prince of the realm. You are?”
Taking a seat I processed the word ‘Prince’ and sprang back to my feet. “Your highness, forgive my earlier…” He waved it away and motioned me back into the seat. “Dani, my name is Dani.” He smiled softly.
“I’m sorry for the harsh treatment at your arrival, but we’ve had a number of attacks over the last week. It has driven most of the villagers in the nearby area within our walls. In times of trouble we are always wary of those we don’t know.” His explanation made total sense.
“I’m sorry to add to the trouble and I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t sure it was life or death.”
Tallyn sighed. “My father will want to speak with you when he is available. Normally with such attacks going on we wouldn’t be able to spare a single man, but I agree if she is of our blood and who you say she is we should answer the call.”
I started to ask him a question but before I could a small woman with a rounded belly appeared beside him, touching his shoulder. They gazed deeply into each other’s eyes for a moment before Tallyn turned to me. “Lady Dani, this is my wife and Soul Mate, Princess Lily.” Once again I tried to hop to my feet but Lily quickly caught me by the arm and urged me to sit. “Please rest and regain your strength, Lady Dani. It may be a while before the King is available to meet with you.”
I would have felt guilty eating dinner at the castle if I wasn’t waiting on the King. The food tasted to die for, but it could also have been the fact that I had eaten next to nothing for a week now. Since Kat had gone missing none of us had done anything but focus on getting her back. When the meal was finished and plates were being cleared, a young man dressed in the colors of the royal guard appeared at my side. He tapped my shoulder, and as I turned he leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. I pushed against his chest but he held me in place for a moment. The kissed felt as awkward and uncomfortable for him as it was for me.
When I leaned back to give him a piece of my mind I noticed he was blushing red to the very tips of his ears. “Forgive me, Lady Dani, for being so forward. We wanted to make sure there would be no language barrier between you and the King. If you do not plan on killing me, I can take you to his Majesty.”
I started to say something snide, but with an explanation like that what was there to really say? “Thank you, please lead the way.”
He made quick eye contact and seemed to relax just a bit when he realized I really had no intention of harming him. We made our way to what I believe was called the King’s Solar. The young Elf announced my arrival and I stepped into the chambers. I curtseyed… poorly… and kept my gaze down as I had seen done in dozens of movies. “Come in, Lady Dani,” called Tallyn’s familiar voice. When I looked up he motioned to a chair near the end of the table. As I drew the chair to sit an older man stepped around to help me have a seat. It was only once we were all sitting and Tallyn called the man father I realized the King had seated me.
“Greetings, your Majesty. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me at a time of such conflict.” I waited patiently as the King looked me over.
“Part Pixie?” he asked. I blinked a few times and nodded. “Ha, I knew I still had it.” Leaning back in his chair he considered me for a moment. “Do you know the name of the Elven Warrior who is the father of the girl? Having someone of her bloodline available may allow us to track her across realms.”
I dug frantically through the bundle in my bag, hoping that magically I had remembered my notebook with such details in it. When I had confirmed my fears I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember his name. I can tell you what I know about him. He would have left this realm roughly thirty-three years ago and chosen a high born Dragon for a mate. She and her sister were held prisoner by a Mage that the warrior later defeated to win their freedom. He was killed trying to slay an Itheaga…” I dug through the recesses of my mind for any other details I may have picked up. “Oh, his sister is a member of the high council in the Human realm. Her name is Alathea.”
King Naelym and Tallyn exchanged looks with one another. I looked hopeful when the King nodded in his son’s direction before returning his attention to me. “We know of a blood relation and will make arrangements. Tallyn and two of his men will assist you in tracking the girl and making sure she is safely returned to us.” He smiled warmly and I was tempted to launch myself into a hug.
“Thank you, your Majesty. If it’s too much trouble to send Prince Tallyn along, we would be truly grateful even for just one Elf capable of tracking.” I watched as he stood and whispered something in Tallyn’s ear. Lily, who had sat quietly throughout the entire meeting, looked stunned.
Prince Tallyn looked at me. “No, this is of the utmost importance. I will bring two of my best men. We leave first thing in the morning.” He turned on his heel and followed his father out. Only Lily and two of her maids stayed behind.
“Lady Dani, Jess will take you to a chamber where you can bathe and sleep for the night. If I know my husband, and what little I know of the situation, he will want to leave early.” I didn’t argue. I followed the maid to the most beautiful room I had ever seen, which housed the most amazing tub ever. I questioned if I was in heaven, but after a pinch decided that a bath then bed was the only correct answer.
