The Elven Queen

CHAPTER 2

It has been three weeks since the incident at the audience hall and those dark tortured sunken eyes still plague me, the night it happened I was unable to sleep, I tossed and turned in my bed wondering what would’ve pushed any person to that point of sheer insanity, I kept thinking back to my uncle who had taken custody of the woman saying he’d investigate her, the moment she whispered those words to me she passed out and had been unconscious for little over a week, even though this was Uncle Desmond handling the matter, the reveled Genius of tactic, I couldn’t help but feel restless

Keeping true to his words, Uncle Desmond found out that that woman was none other than a Sylphorren Royal messenger, she was one of the three people sent to Durhgan to relay how we wished to send an envoy to seek council with the King, the other three that were with her claimed that she had been fine at the beginning but started acting strange since the moment they arrived in Durhgan and her state only deteriorated since then

Unable to possibly comprehend what could’ve caused this, no one could, not even her mates who were with her throughout the trip knew what happened to her it’s too soon to consider this a threat from Durhgan and yet I only grew more anxious because when she finally woke up she was perfectly fine yet claimed she didn’t remember any of it.

It’s true that evidence of the crazy Lady that barge into my throne room was nowhere to be found, not even those eyes that robbed me of sleep, she says the last memory she had was of the ship docking in Durhgan, she genuinely looked like she couldn’t remember anything but just to be safe she is still under custody, our medical team is treating her under the supervision of my uncle, It only got worse now that the king insisted the council be of earlier date, to be more specific the envoy heads out tomorrow morning, the envoy consisting of my councilman, 3 knights and my best friend, I am so nervous I can’t sleep a wink, that’s probably why I’m out here at the dead of night staring at the full moon in a starless sky.

This takes me back to when I couldn’t sleep as a child, my mother would bring me out to her balcony and tell me about Past Queens, my favorite being the Queen and founder of Sylphorren, Queen Sophia, not much is known about her, her very existence is shrouded in myth and legend that can be tied to one or the other in Sylphorren history, my favorite was the one linking to a weapon in the armory, a National treasure of sort, it’s the bow that’s used to shoot the flaming arrow that lights the pedestal at the top of the Sacred ground whenever a new Queen was crowned, it’s an oddly shaped thing, made up of sticks tied together, the fact that it’s been there for generations without decay baffles the minds of even the greatest of scientists Legend says that Queen Sophia wove it herself from twigs and leaves she plucked off the world tree, I remember being so awestruck whenever my mother told me about Queen Sophia, back then I would’ve given anything to meet her

“I knew you’d be out here” said a voice cutting through my train of thought

“Ya know it’s rude to sneak into people’s rooms in the dead of night, unless you came here to kill me?”

“I would never, I am but your humble servant should Her Majesty die then I die with her after all, I am her shadow”

Damn that girl, I hate how she always knows when I’m down and need to talk to someone but at the same time, I love how she knows when I’m down and need to talk to someone, after her little pledge of loyalty she got down on one knee putting her right hand to her chest with her pinky finger bent and her left hand fisted to the ground, a show of loyalty in our culture, she managed to sneak into my room without making a sound not so much as a foot step, she is the head of the Queen’s shadows and the greatest war dancer I have ever seen, this much is to be expected, it’s no surprise I didn’t notice her till she got this close, then again, I might just need to train more

“Get up already” I say while rolling my eyes “How did you know I was out here?”

“You’ve been upset all day”

“And here I thought I was masking it quite well, I really can’t hide anything from you, huh?!”

“I’ve known you for years, I know when something is bothering you you come out here so please tell me what’s wrong” she inched closer to me mid-sentence

“It’s nothing really, I’m just feeling a little restless”

She stared at me with one eyebrow raised giving me a questionable expression then finally said “Now I know for a fact something is wrong because you are a much better liar than this, come on, you can do so much better”

I saw that coming, I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out when I gave her a not so light punch in the shoulder, “Shut up” I said jokingly

"Please, talk to me” she pleaded giving me a worried face while rubbing her arm, I hate when she makes that face, I let out a long and overly dramatic sigh as I finally caved, turning around to face her

“Maybe I should go to Durhgan instead Tomorrow”

“WHAT?!!” she was shocked, I expected that but I didn’t expect her to be angry “WHY?!!! Why would you want to go to Durhgan? Do you think I can’t handle it?”

“It’s not like that and at you know it” I shot back while giving her a stern look

“Then, is it because you’re scared” this time she had a softer look on her face, I hate when her guesses are on the money

“I know it’s too soon to assume Durhgan have a hand in what happened to that messenger but still, what if it’s dangerous? What if I’m just sending you to your doom?” my voice cracked at the end as I said the last part in a low whisper, I hated it, feeling so powerless

“Ya know for a Queen you say a lot of Stupid stuff”

“Excuse me?!!!” I shot up from my prior position hunched over on the balcony railings

“If things over in Durhgan are dangerous that’s all the more reason to keep you away from it, You’re our Queen we can’t afford to put you in danger…..”

“I refuse to shy away from this because I am your Queen, it is my job to protect you…”

“And as your Subjects it’s our job to protect you, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO RUN OFF INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY WITH NO IDEA WHAT YOU’RE WALKING INTO, PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER AND EXPECT US TO LET YOU DO IT, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE SELFISH EZTLI!!!!!” to say I was shocked by her outburst was an understatement, I’m not the only one struggling with this, I know the words she’s saying are true but still there’s a part of me that refuses to accept it, something just gnawing at me

“I’m scared” I finally admitted, her face gave nothing away, no ridicule, no anger, no surprise, she just wordlessly walked to me and enveloped me in a hug which was really all I needed

“Can you remember when we were kids and your mom would make us to spar against each other?”

“Yes, whenever I lose she’d makes me recite the Queen’s code of conduct while running around the training grounds being chased by her beasts and when you lose she makes you spend a night in the dark forest behind the castle” I can’t help but smile at these memories, Mother was really strict but still, sometimes Itotia would put needles on the ground or smear blood on rocks to throw off the beasts and I’d sneak out at night to go see her in the forest

“Your mom made us tough, she forced the Queen’s code into your very bones and for me, she made sure I never forget that I am your shadow, dying for you is my reason to live so please have a little more faith in me, I’m harder to kill than I look” we both chuckled at that “Also you depart for Raeins tomorrow”

True the Earl got back to us last week, even though I put in a good word for him in neighboring countries they all gave him the same ultimatum, I am honestly not surprised he turned to us because he is an intelligent man, tomorrow I and some of my men ride to Raeins to sign the treaty and begin expunging the beasts from our borders

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that”

Itotia’s face morphed into one of pure annoyance

“Eeeeehn, must be nice to be the Queen” she said while slowly tightening her arms which were still around me squeezing the breath right out of me

” LET GO!! LET ME GO!!! I’M SORRY!! OHKAAAAYY?!!” when she finally released me I turned around and punched her in the shoulder

“How dare you assault Your Queen!!” I feigned anger and disgusted

“Forgive me Your Grace! Your servant deserves death” she got down on her knees quickly while wearing a terrified expression

We stayed like this for about 3 seconds till we both burst out in a fit of laughter, I honestly don’t know how I’d live without this girl, I hope many years from now we’ll still be able to laugh like this

She got up after our little laugh session, straightened herself out, turned and gave me serious look “please try to get some sleep, starting tomorrow we’re both gonna have to do our best, ohkay?”

“Ohkay” I voiced in agreement, she walked up to me, put her forehead against mine and closed her eyes, this is another elven custom to show Love and compassion and it’s something I am very grateful for right now, when she pried our faces apart she gave me a reassuring smile then instead of walking out my door like a normal person, she jumped off the balcony, summersaulting and rebounding off windows and protrusions on the side of the building till she got to the window of her room which is actually right above mine, I’m telling you that girl is crazy but she’s right

This is not the time to be weak