Eclipsed Hearts

The Prophecy

Elara Had been settled into the room across the hall from Travien for two weeks now. She was given supplies for her art. She had also been tasked with creating medicines from their plants and to study their biological makeup to better understand what she should use to create the treatments. On top of that, she was given the orders to fix garments with holes in them and to create new ones from garments that were too tattered to be worn or fixed.

She was deep in a trance working on her scientific tasks that she never heard the door open. She never even realized there was someone else in the room with her, she was simply too absorbed in her work. Travien set a plate of food down on an empty desk for her, and cleared his throat. Elara snapped her head up to look at him. Her hair was a mess, she hadn't bathed in a week and she hasn't slept in two days. She was too focused on her work, and who knows the last time she had actually eaten the food that was brought to her.

“You need to take a break, eat this, then go bathe. I will find you a new set of clothes to wear while yours get washed, then you're going straight to sleep. Understood?” Elar was not at all happy with that.

“No, I have way too much work to do. By the way, all of the clothes I have been given are fixed. They're hanging in the wardrobe over there.” She pointed across the room to an old, dusty, rotting wardrobe.

“I also need more of the white plant with the glowing blue spots. Ive found it works for one of your diseases when mixed with the sap from the tree with yellow and purple leaves. If you could send for some It would speed up my process a thousand fold. I have used all of the black yarn I was given, if there are more projects I need to do using black I will need more. All of the crochet projects are on the table by the door.” Travien’s expression turned to one of annoyance rather than his usual bland expression.

“No, I said to eat, bathe, then sleep. That means you are going to do those tasks in that order. Understood?” Elara slumped her shoulders realizing there was no getting out of this.

“Fine, but only if I am unbothered tomorrow so I can work.” Travien sighed, clearly agitated.

“Sure, whatever floats your boat.” Elara grinned and sat at the desk where the food had been placed and began to eat. As she did, Travien went to fetch her a new pair of clothes suited for a human seeing as clothing for the fae had slits in the back for their wings.

As he returned he saw she had finished the food and was standing in wait to be escorted to the bathing rooms. He grabbed her arm firmly and led her out of the room and down the corridor. It was decorated with intricate trim work and paintings. Along with detailed candle holders. It felt like they had been walking forever before they finally reached the bathing rooms. When they entered, Elara looked around curiously. The tubs were large and made of copper. They had what seemed to be carvings of a deity on them surrounded by flowers and trees. There were wooden planks held together by twine resting across the tub holding soaps and sponges, the tubs had heated water in them already. Travien set Elara’s clothing on a table next to the tub.

“I’ll be on the other side of the door waiting, you have the option of bathing alone or having some of our widows come in to help you.” Elara gave him a warm smile as she smelled some of the soaps picking her favorite.

“I’m alright, but thank you for the offer Travien.” He nodded and stepped outside as she bathed, Once she was done she put on the clothing Travien had provided her then emptied the tub and cleaned it so the others wouldn’t have to. She then stepped out of the bathing room and into the hall with Travien. He had given her a white dress that corseted up in the front with string and a long flowing skirt.

“I don't know how you expect me to be able to work properly in this. It's so tight I can hardly breathe." Travien chuckled.

“Well, our other women wear those dresses and do manual labor, I’m sure you’ll be fine doing a little scientific research in it.” Elara rolled her eyes.

“And what about sleeping? You can’t seriously expect me to sleep in this.” He sighed.

“I’ll have someone deliver some garments to your room to sleep in. until then, let's get you into your room and put up your things for the night.” Travien took her by the arm once more, his grip a bit looser than last time. He walked Elara down the corridor and back into her room before helping her pack up her supplies. He then said goodnight to her and took the projects she had finished out of her room.

Elara Laid on her bed and thought about her life before versus her life now. She was a loner before. There were few people left in the city she lived in, they all kept to themselves, but here, she's greeted every morning by the Fae here, some with smiles, others with scowls. Back home she only had one purpose, to investigate the strange plants and to find her parents. But here, she has many purposes, they keep her busy, they keep her fulfilled. She then thought about one fae she had gained a particular liking for, she soon drifted into a deep slumber fantasizing about her beloved Fae, knowing they could never be together, but still she could dream on.

Sunshine shone down on her face through a c***k in her curtains, her eyes fluttered open slowly. She was greeted by Travien holding another plate of food, the night gown that had been delivered the night before was still draped across the desk by the door, she had fallen asleep in the dress Travien had given her. Elara’s golden brown hair was tangled together, she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she yawned.

“Good Morning, Elara, sleep well?” Travien asked in his normal cold tone, but a hint of care shone through in his words.

“Mmm, I slept fine, thank you. What's for breakfast today?” She smiled warmly, sleep still clinging to her features as she hauled herself out of bed and over to her desk.

“Oh, only your favorite,” He sat the meal down in front of her. “Well, what is about to be your favorite?” Travien smiled, a stark contrast to his usual cold and brooding look now replaced with a proud and satisfied smile.

“This is my own recipe, I made it for you myself this morning.” Elara smiled and began to eat, savoring the flavor.

“I must say, I’m impressed. I never took you for the cooking type.’ Travien laughed.

“I’m normally not, but every once in a while I will take over for our cooks to give them the day off.” Elara smirked.

“Awe, I never took you for a softie.” Travien glowered at her.

“I am no softie.” Elara giggled.

“You seem like a softie to me Travien.” He sneered.

“You really think I’m a softie? Tsk. I’ll show you.” With that Travien walked out. And didn’t bring her another meal that day, or any of the supplies she had requested the previous night. It was two days before she saw him again. Widows had been bringing her supplies and food, they would sit and chat with her while she worked.

He finally walked in with her breakfast one morning. He left it on the desk and turned to leave. Elara thought it was one of the widows she had grown fond of.

“Pyro? Is that you? You can sit and chat for a while if you’d like.” Travien laughed coldly.

“Getting a little too fond of our widows are you? Don’t forget, you're only temporary.” Elara whipped around, shocked at the sound and sight of Travien.

“Oh, it's you.. I thought you weren’t coming back.” Travien tutted.

“Don’t get used to it. I’m only bringing you food. I’ll be back in an hour to collect your dish. You’re going home today.” Elara was shocked.

“Wait what? I thought I was-”

“Thought you were what, Special?” Travian cut her off coldly. “You are nothing but a parasite to us. Your filthy parasitic inhabitance will no longer be tolerated. The Huntress has given me permission to cast you out of our home.” Elara simply nodded.

“I will begin packing my things.” Travien rolled his eyes. The stark white iris’s drawing Elara's gaze once again.

“Don’t bother. Your tools will be useful to us. However, you won’t be. So change back into the clothes you came here in and I will escort you to another portal to your home.” She was truly dumbfounded. She couldn’t believe this, the same man who had brought her food and clothing countless times and went out of his way to cook her breakfast is throwing her away like she’s nothing.

“Well, I guess that’s what I get for caring, isn’t it?” Travien barked out a laugh at her words.

“Cared? You have never cared, you’re only here for your own selfishness, you’re only helping us so that you can stay and investigate your stupid parents. Just change and be ready to leave when I come back.” He turned and left Elara to her own devices. She finished the project she was working on and changed, she then labeled all the medicines she had made for them. There were hundreds. Elara knew she had to work quickly if she was to get this finished before Travien came back. Afterall, she only had an hour.

Elara finished with five minutes left. She looked around at her paintings, her science equipment, and the garments she had mended and created. Were they seriously throwing her out after all of this?

Eventually, Travien walked through the door ready to escort her home.

“Get up.” Elara stood and walked over to Travien, her gaze fixed on the floor, realizing the gravity of this situation. There is nothing she wants more than to stay here, to find her parents, and to continue this life she's started for herself. It's no longer possible however.

Travien grabbed her arm with the iron clad grip he had the first time they had met. Why did calling him a softie affect him this much? Elara pondered over it as they walked out of the castle and deep into the forest.

“Do you have to hold me by the arm the whole time? It hurts.” Travien rolled his eyes and pushed her away, letting go of her arm. The push made her fall into a large tree with sacred markings carved into it, the markings seemed to be thousands of years old. They had moss inside of the carvings but nowhere else on the tree, the moss wasn’t normal either, it was moving almost like certain coral moves, it also was glowing bright purple and blue. Travien froze, looking at her. Elara touched the moss, it gently wrapped around her fingers, it tickled her some. Travien looked at her seemingly amazed.

“Why do you look like i've just cured cancer?” Travien shook his head.

“No one has been able to touch that moss without being electrocuted, human and Fae alike. If you knew what those markings meant you never would have tried to touch it.” Elara was curious but skeptical.

“What, are you saying I’m special?” She snorted in laughter at her own joke. Travien on the other hand remained dead serious.

“The prophecy foretold that the one who touched the tree’s moss without being struck, would be the one to bridge the gap between all living things, that they and they alone could bring the realms into peace. No one ever knew what ‘realms’ they were speaking of, I believe it's the human and Fae realms.” She looked at him like he had escaped from a mental asylum.

“You have got to be kidding me.”