The Elven Queen

CHAPTER 13

Nothing!

After two days of slaving away at the Lumeris library I found nothing, well, nothing on my subject of interest

I did learn many new things about Lumeris, like how the royal family has this tradition where despite being the only patriarchy of the Elven nations when a child is born they are named by their fathers but take their mother’s surnames because they believe a child will never inherit the strength of their father but will forever have the love of their mother and also as a way of honoring the mother for birthing the child into the world, I also learnt a lot about the Lumerians beliefs and traditions, more specifically their blood moon, they believe that the moon shone so bright it turned bright red and bled into the ocean and from that blood rose every creature in existence, from the elves, to the Faye, to the Lycans, the Nymphs, the Fairies and all the rest, a fascinating tale indeed but sadly not what I was looking for

Then again, what am I looking for?

I groaned in frustration and threw my head back letting it dangle off the edge of the head rest on the chair and stared at the mural on the ceiling, it was a glass mural of a blood moon depicting how the moon bled and existence rose from the bottom of the sea, though there was a particular part of the mural that I was exceptionally curious about, it was at the far corner, a small portion that looked like a mass of black goop,

Was it a mistake from the artist?, it would be an expensive mistake to make seeing as it was on the ceiling of the Lumeris palace library which they never bothered to fix, meaning it was probably intended, but what was it? it looked so out of place on the mural, what did it mean?

Staring at the black goop hundreds of questions run round my head, I close my eyes hoping to calm myself, I was in no position to worry about a possible defect on a mural in Lumeris, my mind could not handle anymore, I was already at my wits end, at that realization I sighed, I’ve been doing that a lot lately but this sigh in particular came coupled with a cold shiver down my spine, the entire library felt like it had gotten much colder, I quickly opened my eyes due to the sudden drop in temperature, so cold I could see my breath when I exhaled, the space around me was foggy, and I was surrounded by water, I wasn’t in the library anymore

Unsure of what to do my survival instinct kick in, I look around, quick to jump to my feet but fall back instantly into the muddy water, the slippery marsh made it hard to stand, I prepare to stand again when all of a sudden the water started glowing a light blue and figures started emerging from the pool, one by one different creatures float up to the surface, water cascading down their forms as they walk pass me gliding gracefully through the swampy waters as if walking on air, looking closely I notice they were elves, Faye, lycans, creatures of all races, turning my head from side to side they just kept coming, I watched as they walk pass me not even looking in my general direction, Could it be that they can’t see me?

Curious to test my theory I reach my hand out to grab a Faye that was walking towards I grab the slender hand of a petite Faye woman and it fazed right through my hand, I couldn't touch her, I stare at my hand in amazement,

I turned to the next creature wanting to try again, an Elf this time, when I felt a hand wrap around my ankle, long boney fingers caressing me, I look down at my feet, a cruel jerk back into reality, I see the disfigured face of, I don’t even know what it was, it had pale ashy skin and cracks all over its body, blood red eyes, wet matted hair stuck to its face, unlike the other creatures who glided over the water this creature was on its knees looking at me, the breath hitched in my throat, I slowly tried to pull my leg out of its clutch when it let out an ear piercing shriek causing the world around me to shatter, the surreal environment created by the blue glow of the water was gone instead the water turned blood red, nearly black and the creature began to drag me pulling at my ankles trying to submerge me in the water, I kicked at the arm it had round my ankle but it refused to let go, clawing on air I tried to grab something to keep it from dragging me with it to who knows where, I dig my nails into the muddy water, feeling the stones and debris dig into my finger nail as I’m dragged deeper, using my last burst of energy I reach out to sky, for who? I’m not sure, the last thing I saw before being dragged into the black abyss were the parted clouds giving view to a blood red moon.

My eyes shoot open rapidly blinking away, try to adjust to the light in my surrounding, I franticly look around seeing that I was back in the library, greedily taking in air I fill my lungs trying to calm myself when I felt two hands grab my face, I prepare to attack but look down and see Hugo on his knees his eyes filled with relief, a face I’m seeing too often lately, he wraps his arms around me while I just sit there unsure if the embrace was to calm me or himself, I put a reassuring hand on his back feeling his frame tremble, what a pathetic face I must’ve shown to make him this concerned, Hugo had never been an open person when it came to his emotions, my Uncle took him in when I was 8, after Uncle's wife's death he was alone for a big portion of his life and as his family we tried to be there for him but we could only do so much, when Uncle Des adopted Hugo we were all elated that our Uncle had someone he called a son despite his reason for adopting Hugo, pulling out of the embrace I take his face in my hands

“I’m ohkay” I muster with all the strength in body which at this point wasn’t much, so naturally he didn’t believe me and I can’t blame him, my hands were cold, they trembled a little and I could feel the sweat trickling down my forehead, I wouldn’t believe me either

Sensing how much I didn’t want to push the matter, he hugged me again as if reminding me that he would always be here, which I was really grateful for, for a man of few words, he always knew the right things to say, we break apart instantly when we hear the sound of the library doors swinging open and in a blur Hugo vanishes in time for Khalfani to turn the corner into the section I was seated

“Hello, Mn’gao Wako” Your Grace “Any luck on your search?”

“I would if I knew what exactly I was searching for...” I snapped at him but felt bad instantly, I knew it wasn’t his fault and that he only meant well “...I’m sorry” I apologized

“Please, if anyone knows about your short fuse, it’s me” he joked, taking the chair next to me, he slung one hand around my shoulder, accepting the gesture I rested my head on his shoulder

“I don’t even know what I’m doing much less why I’m doing this, why I’m searching for this or why I need these answers so badly, nothing makes sense” I comb my hair through my hair in frustration, he runs his hand up and down my arm trying to console me, I look at his face, he was looking away from me, face distorted in anger not directed at me but at himself that he couldn’t help me, I knew that because it’s a face I’ve worn many times, it’s another thing Khalfani and I have in common, some call it a sense of duty we call it a deep loathing of our own weakness.

I look back up to the ceiling at the glass mural

“Hey, what is that thing? Up on the mural in the ceiling, there’s like a ball of black goo on the side, was that an accident?”

“No actually that was on purpose, you see there is another part of our origin story....”

“Another part, you say?” I raise my head from his shoulder to look him in the face my curiosity peaked because I have lived in this library for the past two days and I’m sure I read every book I could find on the blood moon so him telling that there was a part I missed was news to me

As if reading my mind “You won’t find it in any book because it was never documented, it is passed down through word of mouth mainly as scary stories parents tell their kids to get them to fall asleep, the story says, after the moon bled into the ocean and existence rose from it, deprived of the essence of light the water turned murky and from that murk rose the Forsaken children...”

“The Forsaken children?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing

“Yes, the Forsaken children, disfigured and bare of any light they wreaked havoc on the world until the people banned together and slayed them all, legend has it they placed a curse, cursed the lands their blood was spilled on, cursed the bloodlines that slayed them, cursed the ones who had Forsaken them and swore to walk the lands once again..” at this point he began to chuckle “...I’m sorry, I can’t even tell this story with a straight face, like I said it’s just an old wives tale”

“Yeah, completely ridiculous” was what I said but I couldn’t help the chill that ran down my spine when I looked back up at the mural

“You have been cooped up in this library for far too long, Come with me, the preparations for the blood moon are at its peak and you’re missing the best part” not giving me time to protest he tugged me out of my seat and dragged me to the doorway leading out of the library which I was grateful for

Outside, the air was electric, the castle hummed with excitement as Elves ran around hanging decorations, children running all over the place, maids coming and going hands filled with ingredients and fabrics, the smell of incense burns through the air, an atmosphere truly fit for festivities, busy looking around I almost walk right into the child standing in front of me, it was a little girl, probably 9/10 years old, I remember her, she was one of the children I saw playing in the courtyard two days ago, I bend to her level and beamed “Hello, did you need something?”

She looked at me then nervously looks to her friends standing behind her, who gave her reassuring gestures and thumb ups, now what is going on here?, the girl takes a deep breath that pulls on a bead necklace or what I thought was a bead necklace and she hands it to me

“You Pre…tty” she says while looking down in embarrassment, truly adorable

I cupped her hands and gave her a smile “Thank you, would you help me put it on?” this caused her to break out into a big toothy grin, I turn around expecting her to put it on my neck, instead he puts it on my head and fasten the rope behind my head to keep it on properly, at the center of it were two feathers that rested perfectly on my forehead, I turn back to her and gave her a kiss on the forehead “You’re also very pretty” this caused the child to blush and run towards her friends, she paused after two steps, turned back to me and bowed before turning back and running away

Khalfani who watched our entire interaction, came to my side,

“You just gave that child a story she will never forget”’

“As she did me” I replied running my fingertips over the beads in the crown she gave me

“Come with me, there is much more to see” we continue our stroll through the palace, reaching the courtyard, I see that the Guards I brought and the Lumerian warriors were getting along so well as they playfully wrestled each other, Unlike us, Lumerians take any display of pure physical prowess very seriously, the loss of the Sylphorren soldiers in a contest of strength was inevitable though it was cute to watch them try

“Greetings Your Grace and His Majesty” I hadn’t seen her at all since the night we arrived at Lumeris so Itotia walking up to us dressed in Lumerian cultural attire was a bit of a shock to me, though it looked good on her, she was wearing a two piece Ankara set, the top looked to be tied around her bust as it bunched up into a knot on her back while the skirt was long and stopped right above her knee which also looked to be tied around her waist leaving a bit of a slit that her legs peaked out of as she walked, the Ankara was a dusty rose color and was tie dyed and paired with a long coral necklace she truly looked stunning

“Thank you for the attire Your Majesty” she added while bowing to Khalfani

“Think nothing of it, you look beautiful”

“You flatter me, Your Highness, if it is alright with you I wish to speak with Her Grace, in private” she directed this question at me even though she was addressing him and he knew it

“Of course, now if you’ll excuse me” he placed a kiss at the back of my hand then walked off, turning to Itotia

“Is it too much to hope that you come bearing good news?”

“If wishes were horses, Your Grace”

“Then beggars would ride”