The Vampire King's Mortal Mate

The Arrivals

Gildor lupin shifted uneasily in his carriage. Being in vampire lands had never left a good taste in his mouth. Those creatures were beneath everything the elves stood for; the purity, the order and balance that their race portrayed. His father before him had always nudged him to regard these creatures of the night with kinder eyes but he didn't see any reason why that should be the case.

They brought death and destruction wherever they went and throughout the centuries, that singular fact hadn't changed. The blood wars had claimed his father and here he was, the sole leader of the elves at such a young age. Marcus was a few centuries older than he was but he wasn't going to let that belittle his authority in any way. The vampires needed the elves if they were going to remain in control of the species and he was going to exploit that need to the benefit of his ilk.

The elves had been somewhat neutral in the tension that had threatened to rip apart the sacred accord of the conclave. The species had been at odds since the blood wars, even questioning the need for the conclave at one point. And then there was Erik. Gildor had spent time and time again thinking about the threat which the lycan posed to peace in the realm. He was way too ambitious and the lycan communities were beginning to struggle to contain his thirst for power.

"Guide us, dear sacred mother", he muttered under his breath as he reached for a crystal medallion hanging around his neck. It was the insignia of Kirstnia, mother of the oracle and birthplace of the first elf.

" Give us wisdom and grace to pass through these difficult times", a gentle voice completed, close to him.

"You're awake my love", Gildor said, turning to the feminine figure beside him. Mandi, his wife had insisted on coming with him no matter how many times he had tried to rebuff her requests. He knew the journey would take it's toll on her weak frame. He wanted to remind her of his warnings concerning the stress the roads would cause but decided against compounding what she already felt.

" We are in vampire territory and shall no doubt reach the Bloodtooth castle in time for a warm meal and a bed to rest", assured Gildor.

"I haven't followed you all this way to be relieved as a wounded horse would, Gildor". Mandi was fierce in her response. Gildor had been attempting to keep her from the conclave ever since she first spoke of her desire to accompany him.

He was known to be impulsive and she wasn't going to let him endanger the elves with his unnecessary exuberance. His hatred for the vampires while justified did not change the fact that they could not afford to be enemies with them. At least not yet.

" I know you believe otherwise but I am worthy to be the elven king mandi and you should respect my choices as I do yours", Gildor countered in a low tone careful not to come across as offensive to his dear wife.

"It is not your claim to the throne that I question Gildor, I worry that you have grown numb to the duties you swore an oath to discharge and have carved a path of selfish leadership born out of your hatred for the vampires and lycans alike", Mandi snapped.

Gildor bit his lips as his queen's words stung him like a brood of wild vipers. The words she spoke were true. He had been a just and true leader till the oracle began to whisper sweet promises of power in his ear.

He had heard about the red haired witch some few moons back. The oracle had been vague in it's description of her but had warned against her emergence, telling of great turmoil and division among the species should she emerge. It told of the great power in her blood, a detail that had caught Gildor's attention.

It had been ages since the last witch was born, the weapons the humans wielded to great effect against the species. Their magic was much more inferior to that wielded by the elves but still very effective in enchanting weapons used by the humans to wage war against the species.

The vampires understanding this, had systematically wiped them all out with the aid of the Lycans. The elves had objected to this, as witch blood was a very rare commodity, but ultimately had no say in the final decisions.

The oracle had been unclear but had spoken promising words into his ears, the same words the conclave now demanded to hear.

Gildor shifted uneasily in his seat for the second time tonight. At the end of the conclave, he would not be the only one with the knowledge about the red haired witch and the turmoil she would bring to the realm but hopefully, the potential in her blood would be familiar only to him.

" Everything I have done has been for the good of our people Mandi, you might not see it but I assure you the elven kingdom will pay gratitude to the name of Gildor lupin long after I am gone to be with my fathers before me"

"All I hear are the ravings of a man drunk with the promises of power, the witch is not yours to command", Mandi's reprimand of her husband was cut short by a cough which rocked her slender frame as she yielded to it. Gildor made to hold his queen but she shifted from his grasp.

" I no longer recognize the man that you are Gildor. I married a king who would die before endangering his subjects….."

"I am still that King, dear Mandi. I will continue to be him who has loved you all these years. You might not agree but I do believe the time has come for the elves to take their seats above the rest of the species", Gildor interrupted.

" The power of the witches belonged to the elves for centuries before the blood wars. Not the vampires, not the lycans, to us Mandi!!, to us. We thought them the art of wielding magic and their blood has furthered our magic more than you know!!. The vampires have effectively kept us in check by wiping them out I assure you"

Mandi made to say more to her husband but restrained herself. She could see that he was too far gone at this point. There was no convincing an elf drunk on power or the promise of it.

These lands that now belonged to the vampires were once known to harbor dwarves; master craftsmen and builders. The blood wars had claimed them, every last one of them. Tears rose to Mandi's eyes as she thought about the disappearance of a whole race at the hands of the humans.

"Whatever you do, I'd implore you to remember whom against which we harbor a grievance. The vampires did not wipe out the dwarves and kill half our own. The humans did that, your majesty", Mandi spat scornfully.

Not many would dare speak to him in such a manner and not have their heads adorning the walls of Moorhen. Mandi was one of the very few who reserved that right. Come what may, nothing could shake the bond between them. He loved her to the death, as did she.

Her attempts to sway him from his path sprung only from the immense care she had for him and his well being. She wouldn't have to worry about that when he found the witch and her powerful blood.

Nobody would have to worry about him anymore. The vampires would kneel in obedience and the lycans would fetch his mead.

A smile played across Gildor's face as he thought about how that much power would feel in his grasp.

His blissful thoughts were interrupted as the wheels of the carriage transitioned from the gentle rocking of rocky roads to the slight bob which he hadn't felt in a very long time. They had reached the castle grounds.

Gildor stiffened himself and straightened his gait. He would soon come face to face with the creatures he despised and he would not let them find weakness in his countenance.

"I certainly wish you were as strong as you thought", Mandi sneered.

Gildor's shoulders dropped at the scalding remark from his queen. She was beginning to wear his patience thin and they couldn't get to the castle soon enough.

" Krathlyn meorn upin", murmured Gildor as he tapped repeatedly on the medallion around his neck. His queen, abandoning her attack of his choices, joined him in weaving the protective spell. Beads of light sprung out of the medallions and encircled them both, wrapping them in glowing rays of white light which dimmed till they shone no more.

"Beautiful, isn't it?", smiled Lawrence, His beady eyes had watched the protective spell being cast and had greedily watched the light till it had disappeared.

" I have always wondered what Lycans would do if we had the gift of magic flowing through our veins, dear brother", Karl had always been fascinated with elven magic and his desire for it had influenced his brother Lawrence.

"Could you lot please be quiet and let a tired soul rest before we have to deal with the endless yapping of the conclave", complained Arthur.

The two brothers let the curtains of the carriage windows fall as they granted the request of their tired comrade.

" You have something against magic, Arthur?", Lawrence inquired. He had never seen Arthur involve himself in agreement of any subject relating to magic.

" It would be wise to be content with that which is yours and turn your gaze from that which is not, Lawrence".

Arthur spoke with an air of authority and wisdom which always made Lawrence and his brother Karl look like children.

Gildor and his queen had spotted the lycan carriage, causing them to weave their spells and ride silently in their carriage. The vampires and the lycans had unnatural senses and he would hate to have one of those creatures listen in on his conversations with his queen.

"What do you reckon an elf would taste like, Karl?", Lawrence asked, with a smirk on his face. His question was met with hearty laughter from both Karl and Arthur.

" Why don't you go over there and find out?", replied Arthur as he laughed heartily.

"Elven magic is no joke boy. You'd best keep those claws to yourself. I wouldn't want to have to carry you home", Karl adviced.

The question didn't stir the interest Lawrence thought it would from the two other lycans. He felt stupid.

Both carriages dragged to a halt. The lycans got down from their carriages and looked across at their counterparts. Gildor averted his gaze from the Lycans and focused on helping his queen down from the carriage.

" Lords and lady, you are welcome to Castle Bloodtooth", announced Tobias in a shrill voice that pierced the night, and almost immediately, a number of servants filed out neatly to relieve the guests of their belongings. The long awaited guests had arrived.