The Human Girl's Mate

Chapter two: The Human Girl

'Commander, door number eleven, Serena Ward turned eighteen today. Collect her for assessment please.'

Even though I'm the commander of the elven legions I listen to my second in command and proceed to go collect another human servant for our Forest. I have never been fond of these humans, the King should've just destroyed their race once and for all during the Great Blood War, but ever the gracious he forgave them. But he never forgot, that's why they are our servants. So they can never grow to strong again. 

I approach the door and thanks to my elven hearing, I can tell this human is loved by her family. Too bad, the ones who are the most loved make the worst servants, only ever thinking about going back to their families instead of doing a good job. Humans need to feel busy and needed, that's what the King tells us. 

I knock and a petite woman, with fire red hair opens the door and the breath I didn't know I was holding leaves me in a quick expel. She is beautiful, for a human. She tilts her head all the way back just so she can look at me, wow, she is really small, so fragile, she is wearing a blue linen dress, that doesn't cover her arms and I notice her skin is soft and pale, like her face. Her eyes are the most beautiful shade of green I have ever seen, it's like spring is born in them. I notice her cheeks start to turn a slight pink colour and I look down, thinking she's embarrassed by me looking at her body, but I soon realize she finds me attractive, human girls are all the same, I clear my throat, to embarrass her and because it's funny to see her whole face turn red like a tomato. 'Are you Serena Ward?' Oh I hope she says yes, I hope this is the human I am here for. A little whimper escapes her lips and I have to contain a chuckle, I doubt this girl has ever been around men before the way she's looking at me. She strengthens her back, trying to make herself taller, a human trait that shows pride. Even at her tallest, the top of her head only reaches my chest, she can't be more than five feet, so small compared to my six foot frame.'Yes, I am Serena Ward!' her voice jolts something inside me, it captivates me, such strength for someone so small, I can hear her heart beating fast and I notice the slight tremor of her hands, I can't resist, I suddenly reach for her and push her face up to mine, placing my fingers under her chin. Her skin feels smooth and soft under my fingers and I notice a few small freckles across her nose bridge and under her eyes, her nose is small and cute, but her lips, oh her lips look like rose petals, bright and vibrant, she pouts them and I feel her pull, I lean in almost to kiss her what is this spell she has put me under,I clear my throat, what am I doing? She lifts her eyes and looks straight at mine, Wow, her eyes are even more beautiful than I first thought, they have golden brown flecks in them, giving them a depth I could get lost in, I can see myself in her eyes, and then I see her wearing a beautiful golden dress, smiling at someone in front of her, I see her running in the forest laughing unabashedly, I feel my eyes sparkle and my vision goes black, I hear her heart skip a beat, and I am brought back to the here and now! I pull away from her, feeling weak under her scrutiny, 'Hey, what was that with your eyes?' she asks me, with such curiosity in her voice. I am shocked, I didn't think this could be possible, not with a human anyways, I need to get to the castle fast and speak with the Queen. I watch her tilt her head looking at me like she is expecting me to lunge at her once more, and so I tilt my head to mimic her, 'Come girl, follow me, you are being assigned to the castle.' My voice sounded so harsh and cold, I quickly turn so she can't see how the hurt look in her face affects me. I start walking, the faster we leave the better,   I turn to look at her behind me but  she hasn't moved, has she gone deaf, 'Move girl, we have to hurry!' 

To my surprise, she doesn't move, instead she crosses her arms under her rounded breasts, pushing them up towards her chin and catching my eye, I hadn't noticed before that her breasts were so round and full, my hands itch to cup them and knead them while I kiss those succulent lips of hers.'My name is Serena, not girl, not human, not  oi you and certainly not servant!' Her voice snaps me out of my day dream, her pose tells me she is expecting something from me, so I mutter a quick sorry and ask her to follow me using her name. Serena, such a fair name, matches her personality, serene but fiery. 

We walk side by side to the carriage that will take us to the castle, I help her in and sit opposite her. We ride in silence for a few minutes, she is busy looking out the window, I wonder if she is already missing her home. It's at least a three hour journey to the castle, I can't help but look at her, she has made herself comfortable, sitting with her legs under her bottom,her small black shoes are on the carriage floor, lucky her  that we only had five humans to collect today and they were all spread to the other two carriages at my request.  'Are we really going to the castle? I thought we had to go to the farms first to have our skills assessed before we are given our work?' Her voice is so quiet if it wasn't for my elven hearing I wouldn't know she was talking. She is of course right, I don't know what possessed me to tell her she was assigned to the castle, now I can't go back on my word, she will think I'm crazy, but what do I tell her? I can't just say I want her at the castle with me, because that's crazy right?! She's still looking at me, patiently waiting for me to tell her why. 'The queen wants you as the prince's maid. he requested you because of your grades and knowledge of our ways.' I quickly blurt out. ' Oh, I didn't know the Queen had access to our school records, and I have never heard of anyone being requested by the royals. Sounds fishy to me. Who exactly are you? I mean you know my name, and where I live but you could be anyone in an armour taking me God knows where...' She keeps rambling on I can tell she is a bit scared of being alone with me, I will admit it is unheard of for a human to be requested but it was the first thing I could think of, I hope the Queen accepts my idea or I can say bye to Serena for good. ' I am the commander of the elven legions and that is all you need to know about me.' She stops her ramblings and looks straight at me, her gaze piercing my soul, can she tell I am lying to her? Does he know the effect she her eyes have on me? I watch her expression go from surprised to angry and I can't stop myself, I stand as much as I can and move to sit next to her. We are so close I can feel her warmth caressing my hands, I realize I haven't taken my helmet off, so I reach for it and pull it off my head. I hear her gasp and her heart rate is accelerating, so I do have an effect on her still, she hasn't been put off by my vagueness about myself and my harshness. 'How much do you really know about the royal family Serena?' I can tell she is taken by surprise by my question. ' Erm, not much, just what we are told at school. The king and queen had three children, their eldest son prince Reysolar was murdered by a human and that's what started the war. Their daughter is said to be the most beautiful elf of all but not much is known of the prince, only that he is the future king, and well we are told that he hates humans.' 

'So, you didn't learn their names? or their ages or anything about them?' I am curious to know, I have never shown an interest in what the humans are taught at school, but I knew the king had requested that private things about the royals be kept out of the humans knowledge. 'We know what the King and Queen are called and roughly their ages, we were only told the prince is around two hundredish years old and the princess around the same age. Why do you ask? Oh my God, I am gong to be tested on this?' She starts to hyperventilate and I feel bad for bringing it up. She is rather cute when she is all flustered and babbling on and on about being punished for not knowing their names. I chuckle out loud and she sends a cold look ' Oh this is funny to you is it Commander? The stupid little human is going to get flogged or thrown in the dungeon and you are enjoying it! You are vile!' How dare she?! I stand, slowly and she shrinks back on her seat afraid of me. 'How dare you assume the King and Queen will mistreat you in any way? You really believe we are so vile and horrible that we would harm you because of something so trivial as a name?' I am shouting at her and I can see her getting more and more afraid, the air inside the carriage has a sweet tinge from her fear, and there are tears streaming down her face, I feel so bad looking at her. I kneel at her feet and grab her hands, she jolts and tries to pull away. 'Serena, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have raised my voice at you, that's not me, that's not who I am. I'm sorry. Will you look at me please?' she lifts her eyes to look at me and I brush a single tear drop from her cheek, the simple contact sends a shiver down my arm straight to my groin and I can tell it has affected her too. I am about to lean forward and kiss her when the carriage stops. We have arrived at the castle. 

We exist the carriage and I lead Serena inside, she is fascinated by the big stone walls and beautiful wooden stairs, I guide her past them and towards the back of the castle, where the kitchen and the servant quarters are, everyone we cross greets me with a small curtsy and I can see Serena's brain whirling with questions. 

We arrive at the kitchen and I look for the princess' maid, I can't find her anywhere and the other girls have noticed Serena behind me and are starting to whisper. s**t, I have to take her away quick, before they start asking questions. I turn and see Elberth, one of the two human male servants. 'Elberth, can you please escort Serena to the servants quarters and show her where she is staying? Give her a single room, not a shared one.' He looks at me like I am in fact crazy and I motion him to move. 

He takes Serena's bag and asks her to follow him. She looks at the me, with sad and lost eyes and I smile 'Go, I need to speak with the Queen  and tell her you are here.' 

'Thank you Commander.' Her sweet sweet voice is only a whisper but I hear it all the same, she gives me one last smile, turns and walks away, already asking Elberth questions. 

I run towards the throne room, I know the Queen won't be in there at this hour, but it is the quickest way to her private garden. I run faster than I did as a child through the castle, past the thrones, and through the glass doors to the main garden, I take a sharp left and almost lose my balance, I regain it and carry on, toward the fountain, she will be there, in her wooden chair, sitting under the giant oak tree where Reysolar is buried. 

I finally see her, the Queen, she is beautiful, with her white long hair gently floating in the evening breeze, I stop, to regain my composure, I know she has sensed me. She looks my way and smiles. 

'My Queen, I have to speak with you urgently' I try to keep my tone even, but I can't.

'Tell me, Raegel, is it true you brought a human servant straight to the castle, without assessment?'  Of course she would know, my mother has eyes and ears every where in this castle. She places her hand over mine and softly squeezes it. ' Raegel, what happened with this girl?'

I take a deep breath, I can't believe I am about to crush my mother's world again. 

' Mother, she is my fated mate'. 

My mother's hand leaves mine and her eyes close, she sighs and tears starts running down her face. 

'I was afraid you would say that. Your father isn't going to allow it this ,he will not allow it Raegel, he will not let another human girl steal his only heir. Raegel, he will kill her if he finds out!'

My mother turns to me and cups my face with both her hands, just like she used to do when I was little, it comforts me, but her bloodshot eyes and stained cheeks crush my heart. 

'Raegel... I want you to...'  She is about to tell me something when we both turn to see a tall figure approaching, I know right away who it is, I can tell by the confident walk and the calculated moves.. 

'My Queen, may I borrow my future husband for an evening stroll?' My mother releases my cheeks and pats my leg, she smiles at the newcomer and stands with all the grace only my mother could have

'Of course, it is a lovely evening for a stroll.' 

I stand and kiss my mother's cheek goodbye and she whispers to me ; find me here at dawn tomorrow.'

She turns to us and says 'Oh Morwen, please do try and announce yourself next time you come by, no one likes an eavesdropper.'