Dinner Conversation
“How do you feel?” Aiden asked piling food onto my plate.
“Like I’ve been kicked by a horse” I answered as I surveyed the selection of food.
He winced, “That good?”
I did my best to offer up an exhausted grin. I picked at the feast before me still processing “recent” events. In the last month I had been kidnapped, tortured, escaped with the help of a Wraith and landed in a sealed realm with an Elven King.” I sighed heavily and thought about drowning myself in the soup bowl in front of me.
With a concerned glance and a brow raise Aiden watched me carefully. “Are you well?”
“It was almost a year ago when I walked through the doors of the OAC and my life changed forever. My life was boring and unfulfilled. I knew something was very different about me. Since then my life has been in danger more times then I can count, I have been in and out of love in moments painful enough for me to contemplate a heart removal, and I just never realized all of this was going to be so difficult.”
“So you wish to return to being mundane and unknowing?” He seemed intrigued by the question.
“No, not at all. I just thought that things would be easier. I thought I would fit in more, things would make more sense, and for once being different wouldn’t be so overwhelming.”
Aiden shook his head slowly and took a sip of his wine. His eyes focused on the doors to the hall. “Magic, power, riches and sex complicate EVERYTHING. If it is fun to have it complicates life. Yes, your magic has changed your life but consider what it has done for you. Did it bring you together with people that mean something to you? Did it give you confidence? Did it fight off the boredom? Did it allow you to help people?” I found myself nodding along to his every question. “My father was taken from me far too soon. My family was stripped from me and while I wanted to grieve a kingdom was dumped in my lap. Most Princes are groomed from youth to take over the thrown. I have two cousins in another land and they were always groomed and trained because it was understood one day they would be rulers. My father wanted me to have a childhood because thought there would be time to teach me later. Then there wasn’t. I was a terrible ruler in the beginning my anger and frustration replaced the areas of my heart where mercy and understanding should have been. It has only been in the last ten years I have started to understand that and change.”
There was a twinge of something that pulled at my heart. Without thought of consequences I reached out and squeezed his arm affectionately. In a split second my face was shoved into the bowl of soup I had been considering moments earlier. A strong hand at the back of my neck held me in place. I heard Aiden snap an order and I was immediately released. I flung my head back sitting up and gasping for breath. I coughed up a few chunks of vegetables and was already turning ready to open a can of hurt on the offender.
A tall muscular Elf still stood with his hands hovering me. Without any deep thought a swung and connected with his nose. He cried out in pain and rewarded me with the satisfying crunch noise. “What the hell man?” I snapped loudly. Before I could lash out again a strong pair of arms closed around my upper arms and stopped me.
“He was doing his job Alizeyah. He thought you were attacking me. He will not harm you again.” Aiden’s voice was soothing but firm. I glared at the guard who now held napkin to his bloody nose.
I let out a shaky breath. “He attacked me” I said as if to justify my action. Aiden pulled me back more and I now rested against his chest. The motion I’m sure was meant to be comforting but it just made me more on edge. I turned to face him. “I’m sorry for attacking your guard but in light of recent events I am a bit… jumpy.”
He held up a hand. “It’s alright. I fully understand.”
I shook my head looking down at the borrowed clothes I was wearing. “I’m sorry I have ruined the dress I have on. Maybe it’s better I go change or maybe just go hide in the chamber for a bit.”
He laughed. “You’ve been through an ordeal. It makes sense. Tom’s nose will heal. Finishing eating then go retire for some rest.”
I was just settling down in my chair when a messenger approached the table making a low bow. “Your Majesty, there appears to be a large Dwarven hunting party at the gate. Their leader is an annoyingly persistent Pixie that insists on being allowed in to speak with you.”
“Tell her we are not taking in…” I didn’t give him time to finish what he was saying. I jumped out of my chair, bounded around the table, burst through the doors and headed out to the main gate. I heard multiple people call after me but it didn’t matter. I pushed through the row of guards and there before me in pink sparkling glory was Dani. One wing was larger then the other where they were growing in. Twigs and leaves were tangled in her hair. She was there.
With total disregard to the gown I wore I jumped tackling her to the ground. “I take this to mean I beat Hue and the Dragons?”
