The Dormant: The Elemental Witches (Book Two)

Chapter 11: Kender

~Thalion~

¨Have you seen this?¨ Poppy entered my private study in the morning after the events with the Elven lords the night before. Tossing something on my desk. I sighed, taking a glance down at two books that slid in front of me. One was the Elven law. The second was an analysis of the kender race in our history from their entering into our realm to the destruction they caused in their own realm. It was an analysis on why they should be considered an inferior race to the Elven people and how we need to manage such creatures. It was horseshits obviously, but a good number of the Elven council were familiar with the old Elven who wrote the treaty.

Blinking and placing a hand on my forehead, my mind went over the numerous times when I saw the cruelty in which that particular kind was submitted. My heart pained as I had often heard old lords talking about beatings, hunger, and hunting them as animals. It was unfair. It has always been a one-sided affair. This new law they'd pass after a left is just one of numerous to keep the creatures subjugated and afraid. I was not on board with it, but like other laws I had thrown away in the past, I would have to spend a laborious amount of time just to see it gone.

¨Thalion.¨ Poppy took me out of my mind, and I glanced up. ¨This is unacceptable, and I cannot be part of a society that disregards other creatures as lesser.¨ I stood up and walked towards her. ¨Poppy we cannot do anything about it, not yet anyways. There's has been a status quo for centuries, since the fall of the dragon kind and how this kind was thought to be responsible for it.¨ She shook her head. ¨But, what I read that had been ages ago all of the original vampires that entered the realms from earth are already dead… You….¨ She stopped in her tracks, changing her sentence. ¨We are a new generation, and we can do something about it. We need to stop it!¨

My heart pained as I saw the disgust in her face towards her new home, but what could do it was disregard the belief of a good chunk of our people. yes we where a new generation and more and more younger elvin where stepping up , but there was a majority of the old that didn't want anything to change. ¨Does Aine know about this? Any of it?¨ I nodded, turning away. ¨It is one of the reasons you were sent to the earth realm, this… laws.¨ I choked and tried changing the subject. ¨How is your serving-maid?¨ She walked around me, collapsing on the sturdy chair in front of my desk. I walked to the other side of the desk and took out two glasses, serving a small amount of fire brandy on each and then sliding one of the glasses towards her.

She grabbed the glass and examined the reddish amber liquid inside, taking her time thinking about how to tell me something. She tossed the contents back and placed a hand on her chest. ¨Fuck! What was that?¨ I laughed and served her another two fingers. She took that one slowly and sipped it. ¨She was traumatized. It's the only way to put it. I have been trying to make her speak all night, but she doesn't want to even name the people who were mistreating her. I guess that doesn't matter. We already know who they are.¨ ¨Poppy.¨ I warned her, not wanting her to name them, they could be horrible, but they were still high council. If word got out that I was trying to undermine Degorion as a steward, he would leave with a huge number of the high elven lords. " These people have a certain amount of power in this place. Even though most of the younger generations deem the practice wrong, most of the elite classes won't bulge.¨ She shook her head. ¨I don't care. I want them in prison, and I want them in lockup now.¨

Again, I tried reasoning. ¨And how do you expect me…. Us to break the status quo in a day?¨ She shrugged her arms, her eyes misting with unshed tears and my heartache on seeing her like that realizing this place wasn't as magical as she thought it was.

¨It is never fun to rule a place, and sometimes you have to permit something awful to keep occurring to keep the whole picture in check.¨ I finished saying while looking at her, her face going to my own. ¨You are condoning the practice. If that's the only reason you are letting this happen on your watch. I must say, Thalion, you are a ball-less bastard, and my heart is breaking because the person I thought you were is nothing but spineless.¨ Harsh words for an even harsher conversation. I sat down in defeat, taking my own drink and thinking.

Not only was the law against the kender kind always ate at me, but the laws of other not from this realm that were considered minor also. Minotaurs were put to death on sight, trolls were sent to the Miriani mine to overwork themselves for elven silver. Any creature that broke a single law from the stupid book in front of me was considered dangerous in this archaic society.

We were old people, and most of our members were considered smart and just, but we had a problem with change and moving on. Not twenty years ago we were still trying to kill the fairies and take their kingdom. That was one of my laws. I stopped the practice and deemed them as equals.

I glanced up, expecting to see the small spitfire redheaded elven in front of me, but she had managed to stand up and leave without me noticing. She was right; I was a spineless monster, and my sin was greater than the other creatures around me. I have let it happen, having a way to change it. I turned a blind eye to it. What eyes couldn't see, my heart couldn't feel, but now my heart was feeling. I have given myself so many reasons why I continue with it , excuses I know, but Civil war was a horrible notion and this seemed the less of an evil, the thing was, it was still evil, wicked, corrupt. If a kind didn't change, it would probably collapse on itself.

I spent two days in a taciturn state. I couldn't face my Alfirin, every time I saw her; the disappointment in her face was all that I could see and it made me squirm, and those two nights, I tossed and twisted in my bed.

On the third day, I had it, and a judgment was made. It was not because of her.

Oh yes, she might have been the catalyst and the only one with the gall to call me a spineless monster. Still, deep down, I consider myself fair and just, and nothing about this was fair or just. I had betrayed my own ideals, the ones I had eagerly come to think once that would change the world around me. I betrayed them because I felt alone, but I wasn't alone anymore. She might still not be my companion, and she might never be, but at least I had her to co-rule, and if there was a time to change the balance, it would have to be now. They would hate me and mostly her, but what a little bit of hate towards us if we could change a lot towards others.

¨Bring me the chief scribe!¨ I commanded the footman at my door the third morning. ¨And I want you to set up a royal announcement after sundown.¨ I leaned back on my chair, the glass in my hand as I swirled its content. ¨Cheers.¨ I tossed the liquid down my throat, relinquishing the burning sensation it left in its trail. ¨Do you call my Prince?¨ I looked up and nodded.

~ Poppy~

¨ My brother is making an announcement tonight. Do you know anything about it?¨ I shrugged my shoulders, feeling disappointed at him at this place at everything. ¨Maybe he is finally taking Elbereth as his companion. Aradhel, as if they are not perfect for each other.¨ My hand went to my mouth. I had forgotten she was his sister. She pursed her lips at me, raising an eyebrow. ¨That cannot be while he is still betrothed to you, and even so…¨ I snapped, turning away, wanting to run but not finding a way to do it. ¨I don't care. He is more a betrothed to her anyway. I am just a stranger in this land.¨ Aradhel squeezed her eyes a few seconds and then sighed, giving me a sympathetic look. ¨You shouldn't be so quick to judge Princess. He is as torn up about this situation as you are.¨

I huffed as I thought of all the vampires I have met these past few days. Everything was the same as Kara. They would be treated like freaking slaves, and I didn't want to be part of a place that did that. By default, he was the ruler of this place, so he was entirely to blame for what was happening. He was permissive and evil. ¨I am not quick to judge him, he had a hundred years before I came to change what was happening, and he didn't do it, and creatures are suffering only because of him.¨

She walked to my side. ¨Nothing is painted in black and white, Princess. There's plenty of other colors in between.¨ She sat on my bed looking at the dress I had chosen for his big news today. It was such a shame such a horrible creature could make me feel so good, was so smart, and looked so fine. No, my head wouldn't go there. He was nothing to me right now and he would be nothing until he changed things in this place. ¨ Just look at this dress. It is pale green, cream with flickers of gold around it.¨ I turned to her, my mouth agape as if she was talking nonsense. How could she be comparing this with a dress? ¨Ruling is the same. If you mix too much of a color, it would be off-putting and completely mess with the balance.¨

I opened my eyes widely, and she raised her hands. ¨Maybe if we took out all the cream fabric, it would still be an amazing dress.¨ Was she really saying this? My mind raced as she continued with her analysis of my kingdom via a dress. ¨But first, you would have an incomplete dress:¨ I put my hands up. ¨Maybe I would prefer an unfinished dress.¨ She tilted her head, pondering the situation. ¨You might, but then you would be left with a considerable amount of cream fabric, maybe enough to create another dress altogether, and that dress you would hate.¨

I sighed; done with the conversation, this was the first time the elven made me mad. I hope she was not on board with this whole slavery thing. ¨Maybe I should burn the cream fabric altogether.¨ She grabbed the material in her hand, passing a thumb on the cream-colored part. ¨Maybe you could, but even though the cream-colored fabric is off-putting right now, the fabric is still beautiful, and as an elven...¨ She passed her hand glamouring the creme fabric, making it all turn to the color of the green fabric. ¨You have the power to change its color, maybe not all of it, but at least most of it. After changing, what lets you. I will definitely say burn away Princess, but not before giving it a chance for the change.¨

I tilted my head to the side as she gave me a smile. ¨And in the meantime, you can save every material you find and turn it into a new dress, a dress that will fit you amazingly. It just takes patience and a steady hand.¨ Blinking, I turned. ¨I am wearing black tonight.¨ She stood up from the bed and placed a kiss on my forehead. ¨Pity a dress with every color of the rainbow would be a fine dress. You only have to work in its balance, and I know you can help my brother do just that.¨ She walked to the door, opening it. ¨You should really consider wearing the one on your bed. It is gorgeous, it just needs tweaking. Now I have to go to my room and get ready for the announcements.¨

I turned to her. ¨You are smart, you know Aradhel, thank you.¨ She nodded once before exiting. ¨At your service.¨ I walked to the other side of the apartment where the maid's quarters rested. Closing the door, I entered quickly, shutting it to keep it completely dark. And then I opened the door to Karas's room. ¨Kara.¨ I lowly said, waking her up. She sprang to her feet and made a curtsy. ¨Yes, my Princess.¨

The night she came, I fetched a boar as quickly as possible, and she was healed almost instantly, but I could see in her eyes the mental scars of her ordeal. ¨Why don't you tell me what happened to you?¨ She shrugged her shoulders, closing her eyes. ¨It is how it is, that was my past, and now this is my present. I may wish ill to the bastards and the position I was in, but what help would I take from going back? That's exactly what they want me to do. I plan not to waste a single blood tear on them.¨ I gasped. ¨But…¨ She put a hand up, sitting on her bed. ¨I may not be knowledgeable, and the cards I was given in my past are bad. Still, I do know not all of your kind is bad. For example, look at you. Like yourself, I have known many kenders who speak well about their keepers. They have never worked or let them go hungry. They protect and shelter them. It is just a handful of bad apples in a good society.¨

My face fell as she said this. ¨But you shouldn't need a keeper. You should be your own keeper.¨ She sighed. ¨I should, and believe me, one day I might even be, but these have been in place for centuries now. I am one of the young ones. I came to the realm as a magical human not more than a hundred years ago. I know I can perhaps keep myself someday, but what about the ones that have been enslaved for generations? How do they know how to be free when they have never had that before?

I thought about the words that Thalion spoke to me, status quo. ¨Kara, you are free, you will have my protection whenever you seek it, but you have no obligations to me.¨ She gave me a smile. ¨And I am happy to attend to you until my fate drives me elsewhere.¨ I blinked several times in awe at this woman. ¨I think I heard there's an announcement tonight so let me fetch you some water and get you ready, milady.¨

I gave her a sweet smile and a nod. ¨Thank you, Kara, that would be lovely.¨ As I said this, another emotion flashed into her face, the simple courtesy of saying thank you meant the world to her. I now understood Aradhel´s dress paradigm.

Kara dressed me and combed my hair. Soon, she was walking with me to the throne room. My head bowed at Aradhel, who was wearing a rainbow-colored dress. ¨Very chic of you. It makes your eyes pop out.¨ She twirled and smiled at me. ¨Does it?... I love it. It is so pretty.¨ She looked at me and the dress I was wearing. ¨I see you decided to wear that beautiful dress.¨ I bit my lower lip and smiled. ¨Yes, but I think I want to make some changes to it.¨ Glamouring it, I turned it into a green golden and only a few specks of cream on the hems. ¨Just lovely.¨ She brought her hands together as Thalion entered and looked at her sitting on his throne. ¨Sister.¨ He said with an amused voice. ¨Oh damn, I didn't… Sorry.¨ She scampered away, and sat on a chair near the platform.

Thalion sat on his seat and looked at me. ¨Princess.¨ He courteously bowed his head. I tilted my own head. ¨Prince… You haven't told me what all of this is about.¨ He looked at me, blinking. ¨I thought it was apparent….¨ Before he could say another word, I blurted out. ¨I am sorry if I had been a judgemental ….¨He raised and eyebrow, finishing my statement. ¨Impossible… controlling… hysterical….¨ I lazily flicked my wrist at him.

The whole assembly was now entering the room. ¨Yes, yes, all of that and more. I haven't been fair with you.¨ I looked around me as Degorion and Elbereth sat beside Aradhel. ¨But if you are going to say anything regarding what we talked about…¨ He was doing it for me, and I couldn't let him take the brunt of this decision like this, not after everything.

My eyes searched the room as elven of all sizes entered. Thalion brought his hand to my chin, bringing my eyes towards his. ¨I appreciate your concern Alfirin, but this is not about you. Yes, what you said struck a chord, but this has to do with me and how my people have managed things for centuries. I have let things that shouldn't be considered anything more than monstrous slide past me, and I won't be able to live with myself if I don't correct them.¨

He let go of my face go, making me blink. ¨But you don't…¨ I managed to blurt out as he stood up and address the conference. ¨I have done something I haven't done since my father was still in power.¨ He brought up the elven law book I threw on his desk a few days ago. ¨I have read our laws with care and determination….and I must say….¨He brought the book up, and as he threw it at Degorions feet, his voice roared. ¨It is unacceptable!¨ My heart jumped as I saw this magnificent elven take steps away from the throne. ¨We cannot consider ourselves a gentile society if part of our community is treated like animals… When thinking beings are being shackled and exploited for our own amusements and benefits.¨

He turned slightly towards me, his hand clenching to his side. ¨It has come to my attention I have been a permissive leader when an atrocity has been committed.¨ Thalion took a deep breath, and every word he spoke resonated across the room. ¨And I won't have it anymore, so it is written as your rightful ruler that any laws that talk about the topic of lesser kinds would be expelled from our books. Every creature in Laureminasse would now have the same rights and duties. They would be free to come and go as they please. They would be able to hunt, find companions, and live their lives in our society without the fear of persecution or where they would go next. There would be no shackles in my kingdom, no kinds enslaved. We will open the door of Calaquendi, so any creature not from this realm might cross and go back to his own. If they prefer to stay, a stipend will be paid for any kind that has been wronged or abused by us in the past. They will be protected by the crown from this day on. If any elven as much as raised a finger in an ill manner to them, they would know the full extent of my wrath.¨

A pin could fall, and I would be able to hear it. Then the room erupted to one side, the angry faces of old elven. They spit fire at the other side, young elven. ¨And any Elven who is not happy about my decision could take it on with Queen Aine herself as I am confident she would agree with me on this matter.¨

I was in awe as I saw the scene play out in front of me: the shouting, the screaming, the chaos. I slowly looked up, and Thalion was standing beside me. He motioned me to get up, and I slowly did it. He gripped my wrist and pulled me slowly, making his way to another room, his library.

Thalion opened the door and ushered me in, a hand placed on my waist. I had been so wrong about him; this elven was perfectly courageous, sweet, a knight in shiny armor, or should I say white linen shirt and black pants. Don't forget about the piraty boots and the chestnut lock of hair that again had escaped the confines of his braid and was caressing his cheek. ¨I… I….¨ He shuddered, and I could see a glimpse of scare in his eyes. I closed the distance between us, jumping into his arms. Finally, brushing the silky strand into place.

I held his stare for a second and then crashed my lips deeply into his. There were moments when words weren't enough, and this one was one of those. My lips moved at their own volition with the force of the moment his hands grasped my back for dear life as his tongue began matching mine in movement and passion. His mouth was sweet, and every kiss tasted like French vanilla ice cream. It was comforting. It felt like home.

He was the one that broke the kiss after what felt like a long time, but his arms still carried me. My face closed to his as he took deep breaths. That's when I realized I had started crying. ¨Don't cry, Alfirin.¨ He cooed, kissing the tear away. ¨I promise you, it doesn't have anything to do with you...it was because of me, you had a big role in it, but I would never let anything happen to you. It was all me, and if I have to carry the brunt of it for you, I will.¨ I shook my head. Feeling something rise in my chest, something that was taking my breath away.

I felt a cough in the back of us. And both our eyes turned to look at Aradhel, giving us a funny smile. ¨I am glad you have sorted your relationship problems, my royal highnesses. Still, we have to set up the door if we have more than a hundred creatures crossing it today. Thalion set me down, nodding. ¨Right.¨ He went to his desk and began pressing buttons on it, each button making something on the desk move. ¨That's a Chinese puzzle desk.' I smiled, looking at it as they both gave me a what the hell are you talking about look. ¨Oh we have this on earth. They are so cool.¨

He finished pressing and a compartment opened in front of me. Inside was what looked like a huge diamond Alfirin necklace. It glowed with the lights of the candles flickering around us like if it was alive. Thalion grabbed it, placing it on my neck. ¨This is the key to the Calendiquin door, it holds the last remaining essence of the light elven, and it is the only way to open the door. ¨What door?¨ He smiled, flicking my nose and moving to his bookcase.

He arranged some books, and then Aradhel came beside him. They both pressed their hands on it, making a door appear. ¨ Oh snap, is that the door.¨ They stared at me, and I raised my hands, trying to sound at least convincing. Pointing at it, I just remarked. ¨It is a door.¨ He smiled, giving me a peck on the lips and pulling me behind him as he entered the open passageway. Aradhel followed behind us.

We walked through secret passages for about half an hour until we got into a marble passage. A door stood in the back. It had an elvish inscription all around it. ¨That's the door?¨ I asked again as both of them turned to me and, with an annoying voice, just remarked. ¨Not the door.¨ I pointed at it. ¨That looks like a door. Fine, I am not asking about the door anymore.¨ Aradhel shook her head, and this time she grabbed her knife and cut her hands, pressing her blood on the archway of the door.

She began singing an elvish tune.

¨Yare ni was a vinyl seldom mime ontáro tarek

me Minna i citime ana cen- a morien sar so salnio,

"yondo, yare tye greno up wonter tye n- i marthion

-o i coraran i marten ari solan?"

I scratched the back of my neck ¨She is totally singing the lyrics of black parade.¨ Thalion turned to me almost with a look of confusion. ¨Aradhel was born with the gift of the elvish song she can...¨ The door opened as Aradhel turned to us. ¨Kick your asses if you don't move, only by using my voice, no just kidding but it can open any lock I want.¨ I pursed my lip and nodded. ¨That's a handy skill.¨ Thalion grabbed my hand, and we passed like ten different doors which were not the door by the exasperated look on both of them each time I ask. We stopped at another one. This was golden with intricate designs. ¨Not the door.¨ Thalion blurted as he knew what I was about to say. He cut his hands, placed them on the threshold, and pressed, and with his strength, he managed to sink the door in. We ended up in a circular room with a silver pool in the middle.

They both stood there looking at me. I looked to both sides. ¨Oh this is the door?¨ They both looked the same as they let out exasperated huffs. ¨That's a pool, not a door.¨ I tried giving myself credit as Thalion warned me. ¨Poppy.¨ I jumped with the deep sound of his voice. ¨Ohh Yeah, what do I do?¨ He walked with me to the end of the pool, and there, a slot remained. I felt a connection, and my fingers began to spark as I was placing the jewel in the space. I pressed down, and then Thalion handed me his knife. ¨You have to sacrifice blood to open the waters of passage.

I placed the knife in my hand, and as I was about to cut, a known figure emerged from the darkness.