Amythest dreams

Chapter Three:

 Iredesa awoke to the sun shining into her room. Today was the day. She had hardly slept at all after her father and Prince Kallan said there goodnights. She was leaving her home. Going into a place that mothers told stories to their children to keep them in line. She closed her eyes, wishing that she could go back to sleep and wake up and it all just be a dream. That somehow, her mind had fabricated a very illaborate tale from the books she read. But it wasn't a dream, and even her mind could have never dreamed up something like this. She sighed, allowing tears to fall from her eyes, vowing that she would not cry in front of this man. That moment would be the last that she allowed any tears to fall from her eyes. From this moment on she was stone. Nothing would break her. Nothing would faze her. Yes, she would marry him. If only to save her father. But he would not get her joy, her laughter. He would not get her anger nor her sadness. He would never know the deepest parts of her that should be shared amongst lovers. When they lay together, and she knew that he would expect it of his wife, she would not give him the satisfaction of her satisfaction. He would have a wife, yes. She would follow the contract to the letter. But he would have no more from her.

She took her time getting ready, in no hurry to meet her betrothed and father for breakfast. She picked a gown of peridot and blue and slowly pinned her hair back from her face, leaving the back down to cascade down her back. She did not bother with makeup, confident that he did not need it. Her looks were more than satisfactory. And besides, why should she go out of the way to look good for a man she was already to wed and didn't particularly care for? She didn't want nor did she need to impress him. She took her bowl of crushed rose petals and oils and dabbed some upon her wrist and neck. Satisfied that she looked presentable and had kept them waiting long enough to get the point, she slowly made her way out of her room and down the staircase. She could already smell the bacon and the fresh bread. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she had not eaten since breakfast the day before. Even still, she refused to hurry. Prince Kallan would know that she was in no hurry to leave and marry him.

As she took the last step and made her way into the dining area she caught sight of her father and Prince Kallan. They both sat quietly, neither one bothering to speak to the other. Her father nervously played with his eggs, glancing at Prince Kallan with disdain and fear. Prince Kallan slowly chewed a piece of bacon, grease lightly glistening from his lips. He wore a black tunic, his hair was pulled back and tied with a piece of leather. Small tendrils were loose and accented his narrow cheeks. They both stood as she walked in, the chairs scraping against the marble floor. "Iredesa! Did you sleep well my daughter?" her father asked. She nodded, not bothering to glance or acknowledge Prince Kallan as she sat down as far from him as possible. She began to pile food on her plate, grabbing bacon and eggs, a slice of freshly baked bread lathered in fresh butter, apple slices, some grapes, and honey. Smirking, Prince Kallan sat back down and began to chew once more on his bacon.

"I thought the Fae only ate fruit." she said, looking at him with what she hoped was boredom. "Most do. My people are closer to the border and have learned to grow quite accustomed to the taste of meat. Other fae? Well, let's just say that the meat they eat is a bit on the rare and screaming side of the menu. The further East of the border you go, the more you will see those creatures. The Northern territories are the ones who mostly adhere to the vegetarian lifestyle. The West is a wild and untamed land that is rand by Old Magic. It adheres to no laws but its own and those that choose to venture there are very rarely seen again. And the few that do..... Well, they never come back the same. It is good that you are asking questions. The more you know, the fewer mistakes you will make." Iredesa blinked.

"I wasn't asking because I wanted to know about the land you live in. I simply wished to make sure that if I were to ever poison you that I poisoned the correct foods." Her father choked on his juice and looked at Iridesa as if she had two heads. Prince Kallan laughed, his whole body shaking and his head thrown back. " This is going to be a fun and interesting future. Poison? You are very fascinating. And I would be terrified if I actually thought for one minute that you could manage to successfully poison me when even the most skilled of assassins' have failed." He wiped an invisible tear from his eye and picked up a strawberry. "My dear, sweet Iredesa. Do not make idle threats like that when we reach our home. The Fae do not take too kindly to threats and many would love to declare a Blood Feud with the bride of Tiernims' Prince. Wars have been declared for much less." Iredesa said nothing and took a grape, plopping it into her mouth. Her father was nervously twisting his napkin and looking between them both. He looked ready to bolt. Prince Kallan set the stem of the strawberry down and looked at her, his expression one of calm certainty. " If you are done playing games and making threats we can get to the subject on hand. We will leave in the next two hours. I suggest you take this time to say any goodbyes you may have and pack anything you wish to take with you. Don't pack too heavily. We will have to do quite a bit of walking. I'd suggest a change of clothes or two. A pack for sleeping, and a canteen for water. Anything else is up to you."

He stood and walked away, leaving Iredesa and her father at the table. Only when she was sure he was gone did she allow herself to breathe deeply and look at her father. "Iredesa! Are you mad?" he asked coming around to her. "Threatening to poison a Prince is enough to get you sentenced to death in the human realm. I can only imagine what would happen in the Fae kingdoms." She knew her father was right. That she couldn't allow herself to say things like that when she made it to Tiernim. But for some reason that man brought out a temper in her she didn't even know she posessed. "You're right father. I shall hold my tongue better from now on." He sighed, holding her close. "I wish that there was some way to get you out of this. That I didn't have to watch you leave me. That I hadn't s

sentenced you to a life on the other side of the border in a land that you do not know with creatures that were banned from this realm because they were so terrifying and evil. This is not what I wished for of you. Your mother would have never allowed this to happen. I wish she was here to tell me what to do to save you."

"It's ok father. You were doing what you thought was the best. No man here would have me. You made a decision out of love for me. I do not want this. Nor will I claim that I will be happy to go. But a vow has been made and I understand duty as well as you do. So I will go. But this will always be my home. I will never stop loving you. And I will come to visit. This I vow. That dreadful man will not keep me from you." She hugged her father close, knowing that she would need to go and pack. All too soon she would be leaving.

"This is happening too fast. Surely he can see that you need time? That we need time to come to terms with all that has came to light? Surely he isn't so cruel as to deny you one more week with your father." She said nothing, knowing that Prince Kallan would not allow it. Something in his eyes told her that he was in a hurry and wanted to waste no time in leaving. A week would be out of the question. She doubted he would even allow for an extra day. After all, he claimed to be able to read minds. He would have seen the question in he dads' mind. He had obviously chosen to not give the time.

"I must go pack father. I will be back down shortly." She moved to turn away when he father stopped her. "Wait! I have something for you. From your mother. She asked for this to be given to you when you married. She spent her last month writing this letter and preparing me for a life without her. She knew her time was up. I will never know how she knew, but she knew. And she loved you so even when she knew. I never opened it, knowing that what she had to say was for you and you only. A special moment that should have been shared between just you two." He held an envelope in his hands, she seen her name written in dainty handwriting that she recognized as her mothers from the poems and other things she had written. Tears sprang to her eyes as she wrapped her fingers around the soft papers. "Thank you father. I will cherish this with every breath I have. It will go with me and be a light in this darkness."

She made her way back to her chambers, spotting Prince Kallan standing in the receiving room. He had a strange look on his face, puzzling her, but it went away almost immediately and was replaced with that calm, arrogant mask. She didn't speak, just kept walking up the stairs. Back in her room she once again found herself wondering what to pack. She eyed her small pack in the corner of the room and decided that the contents in there would go. She grabbed it and transferred the contents over to a slightly larger pack, taking care to keep her mothers' necklace tucked safely in the folds of her extra cloak. She added a spare pair of shoes and her bedroll as well as her favorite scented oil, lavender and lemongrass. She also selected a small bar of soap that smelled of juniper and honey and wrapped it in a scrubbing linen. Satisfied that she had everything she would need from her room for the journey and confident that anything else she needed would be in the kitchens she sat on her bed.

Suddenly she felt a small nudge against her mind. It felt like silk and honey. Soft and sweet. She gasped as it filled her mind. When she did she felt what seemed like triumph before a male voice spoke. * You cannot hide up there forever Iredesa. You have to come down eventually.* She growled as she realized that not only could he read minds, but apparently the arrogant bastard could speak mind to mind. * I will come down when I am ready to. Now GET OUT OF MY HEAD!* She sent back in her mind, forcing him out. She felt hot, white rage at the violation. It was one thing to read her thoughts, she could always make sure to control them and keep what she wanted away. It was another to break through and open what felt like a barrier in her mind to speak to her. She felt open and vulnerable. Seething, she made her way out of the room. He was already on the steps, looking shaken and confused. "YOU ARROGANT-" She didn't get a chance to say more as he grabbed her and looked at her with such confusion and intensity that it startled her. " How did you do that? How did you kick me out?" He shook her slightly as he continued to stare at her with shock and awe.

Iredesa pulled away, looking at him with fury. " I wanted you gone, so you were gone. Violating my thoughts is one thing. But I will not have you talking to me and scraping away at the most intimate parts of my mind. Those are not for you." He dropped his arms to his side, looking shell shocked. "Impossible." he whispered, more to himself. "Impossible or not, I have things to attend to before I am shackled to you. So if you don't mind, I must be anywhere but here with you. " she said, walking away and leaving him standing on the stairs, looking at her with confusion. She smiled as she rounded the corner, glad to see that she could ruffle his feathers. At least he wasn't smug and arrogant all the time. It seemed that he still could be caught off balance. That was a good thing to know.

In the kitchen she watched the busy running of the cooks and bakers. She saw fresh loaves of bread being kneaded and tonight's supper, a pheasant, being rubbed down with oil and spices. There was the calming sounds of vegetables being chopped and spoons beating against bowls making pies and sauces. The kitchen servants looked up, smiling as she walked through. "Hello Iredesa. Come to gather some provisions for your journey?" She nodded, hugging the squat woman that approached her with bread, cheese, and small pies. "Yes Marinca. These look delicious!" Marinca was the head baker and had been with Iredesas' family since before she was born. Around forty years of age she was a very plump and handsome woman with hair the color of copper. She had strands of silver beginning to take over, showing signs of her age. Her eyes were as green as the leaves on the trees. Her family had traveled by boat from her hometown where those traits were common when she was just a young girl. Iredesa had always felt a familial bond with her because of the fact that they were both different looking.

"I baked you your favorite my child. Blackberry and honey. The bread just came out of the oven not an hour ago. So it is nice and fresh. It should last you the journey as long as you eat it sparingly and not like a pig as you did when you were a wee child." Marinca placed the loaf, two small hunks of cheese, and the small pies into Iredesas' bag and closed the flap. Iredesa readjusted for the weight. "Thank you Marinca. I believe I will miss you most of all." Marinca smiled as she strapped a canteen over Iredesas' head. "I filled it with the fresh spring water from across the way. I will miss you my child. Like a daughter to my own heart. Now go. Before I spirit you away and make a fool of you and myself." She hugged her close one last time before turning away, wiping tears from her eyes with her apron. Iredesa waved goodbye to all the cooks and bakers as she turned away and made her way back to the foyer. He was waiting there when she returned, his face once again blank. Her father was there as well. "I'm ready." She said as she stopped in front of him.

"Very well, Lord Fletcher, if and when you leave to attend the ceremony, follow these directions exactly. They will lead you to where my people will be waiting for you. Do not venture off the path. Don't take shortcuts. I cannot guarantee your safety at the border if you do not arrive in the area I have laid out for you." He handed her father a bit of parchment. Her father nodded, his face paling slightly. She hugged him one last time, whispering how much she loved him. As they released each other she wiped a tear that had fallen from his cheek. "Don't cry for me father. I couldn't bare it if you didn't live your life fully when I am gone." He smiled a watery smile and hugged her again tightly. "I love you Iredesa. Always remember."

Prince Kallan and Iredesa made their way to the horses that waited for them. They would take them as far as the next town. After that they would abandon the horses at the nearest stable and begin their journey into the woods. The woods would lead them to the border. One more week left in the human realm. Then one week through the Fae lands that Prince Kallan said was the outskirts of his kingdom, Tiernim. She wanted to ask him questions about it, figured it would be best to know of the kingdom that she would soon be living in. But she didn't want to have to talk to him. A necessary evil she supposed, to ask him about his realm. She saddled her satchel onto her horse and climbed on, thankful that she always wore tights underneath her dress when riding. She had never learned to ride one like a proper lady, preferring to ride the horse at a more comfortable and fast pace. Prince Kallan also climbed on his horse with a smooth shift that gave her the impression that he was well versed in riding horses.

They began at a slow trot, Iredesa looking back at her father and her home as they slowly grew smaller and smaller until they were no more than a dot. She turned back to face the town, refusing to say anything to him at the moment. It was quiet as they rode through. The people that were normally milling about were scarce. The children that were usually running through the townsquare were hiding behind the skirts of the mothers that were peaking out the doors of their cottages. The market was empty, save for a few brave souls who watched with leary eyes as they passed. "Your people are awfully cautious of our kind. As they should be. I'm not inclined to hurt them however. They don't have to hide." Price Kallan spoke.

Iredesa shook her head, "It isn't just you. They've never been particulary welcoming of me. You just make it worse." He c****d his head, looking at her quizically. "Why? I see nothing that would make me feel that you are anything for them to be frightened of. Even if you do threaten to poison your future husband." She just shrugged, not really wanting to talk to him, but feeling that somehow this was something that needed to be said. "My eyes. They aren't exactly a common color in the human realm. They say I am cursed. And I suppose that I am inclined to believe them at this point."

"You think it a curse to marry me?" he asked, almost sounding hurt. She just looked at him, knowing that he would read the answer in her mind. Suddenly they heard a yell. They both looked to see a kid bolting from behind their mother and heading straight for them. Prince Kallan stopped his horse abruptly as the kid ran right out in front of him. The mother of the child was in near hysterics as he hopped down and assessed the kid that was looking at him with awe. "Hello little one." he said, bending down. The father started making his way towards him but stopped when Prince Kallan lifted a finger. "Your mother and father would be very upset if you were to get hurt don't you think? You shouldn't worry them so." The child smiled and said with a toothy grin, " You have funny ears my lord. Why do they look like that?" Iredesa stifled a laugh. Prince Kallan looked back at her and said, "When I was a boy I didn't listen to my mother and I ran off. My ears grew this way because of the fact that I wandered away far enough that I could no longer hear her. I searched and searched for a while looking for my way back. My ears stretched because I tried so hard to hear her voice. You must promise to never wander far away, lest your ears grow as odd as mine." The boys' eyes were large as he nodded a solemn agreement that he would not wander away. Prince Kallan reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin purse. "Here boy, take this and run along back to your mother and father. And remember, you must always listen to them." The boy grinned, jingling the purse that must have held over five dozen gold coins in it."Yes my lord. I'll stay real close." He ran off, showing his mother the purse as he pointed excitedly to Prince Kallan who was climbing back onto his horse.

"That... Was very kind of you." Iredesa said, knowing that he had just improved that families fortune for the better. "I thought that...." "Thought what Iredesa?" He asked, looking at her. "Nothing." She replied, shaking her head. His eyes darkened, knowing full well what she had thought."I'm not a monster! Regardless of what you may think." He pulled the horse forward, trotting off and leaving Iredesa behind