Bonded by Fates; The Core of Life

9. True Love

Melian POV:

When I saw that Werloth brought her back to the castle, I panicked.

Why couldn’t she just die?

I don’t understand, I thought I had everything under my control.

I have to go to the dungeon to try to set Aubry free.

I hurriedly went to the dungeon. They still look at me as their Queen, so they just let me in.

Then I saw her.

“Aubry, what happened? How did you get caught?” I asked her. I did nothing to hide my disappointment.

“Melian, I don’t know. Maybe they just want to interrogate me. Why didn’t you tell me she was a princess, Melian?” She asked, scared of what might happen to her.

“I didn’t know” I lied. “Having them interrogating you is exactly what we should avoid. Werloth may use his power over you and that we can’t have, Aubry.” I told her.

She would tell Werloth about me.

He would know and it’d be even harder to coax him to be with me.

“I will set you free, but you have to do as I say. Can you flash?” I asked her.

She shook her head.

“I can only manipulate the earth. I’ve never trained to be a warrior”, Aubry said.

She was useless. I thought it would be easier to make a deal with a rankless elf.

I never thought I'd find an elf who couldn't flash. She was nothing.

“Please, Melian. You can’t leave me here. They will kill me.” She pleaded.

“They won’t, silly. I will help you, but just so you know, you really should just die. I’m doing this for myself. You’ll wait for a couple of hours here; I’ll leave the door unlocked. When you see it’s safe, you’ll leave this cell and you’ll go straight forward to the end of the hall. There’s a secret passage over there. I’ll meet you there to show it to you.” I explained to her and she nodded dramatically.

“It won’t be for free. I want you to do something for me in exchange.” I smirked.

“What?” She asked with a very trembling voice.

“I’ll wait for things to cool down around here and I’ll order you to plan an attack. I’ll give you a wizard’s contact and you’ll ask him for help, he’ll know what to do.” I told her and her eyes opened wide in surprise.

“A wizard?” She asked.

“Yes. Now, if you want to live, you’ll do as I say, understood?”

“Yes” she said, and I made my way to the kitchen to pretend that nothing had happened.

When I was approaching, I heard some kids laughing and I frowned.

When I was there, I couldn’t believe it.

Those servants disobeyed me and brought their kids over to the castle.

How dare they disobey me?

I was arguing with them and suddenly, that b***h showed up again in front of me.

It was like she hadn’t been through the fire in the healing palace at all.

She still thought she could challenge me?

I was still responsible for the servants and she had no word about it.

.

Angeline POV:

I didn’t know what to do.

I can’t meddle in this.

Melian was ordering Mary and Carmen to take their kids back to their home.

I thought for a few seconds and I decided there was something I could do for them without defying Melian, for if I did that, it’d be like I was challenging Werloth’s orders itself and he was the King. I couldn’t do it.

“Actually, there’s no need, I’m sure I can take Dain and Alais to spend the day with me today.” I spoke, making my dragon's golden and spiky head perk up.

I winked at Mary and Carmen, who gave me a wordless “Thank you” in their mouths.

I turned around and saw Werloth staring at us with a frowning face. He looked angry. Oh no!

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what both of you decided about the castle’s duties, but they’ll be staying with me today. I’m sorry! I hope you don’t mind; I didn’t mean to meddle and I respect both of your decisions, even disagreeing about it sometimes.” I said and my eyes opened wide at the same time.

“Oh Goddess, Angel”, Delphyne said, and I frowned.

I wish I could punch myself in the face instead after the last part. I always have the problem of speaking too much when I get agitated.

“I’m sorry, I mean, I don’t disagree, at least not totally” The words just came out of my mouth.

What’s wrong with me? I took a lungful of air and I looked at the ceiling, trying to form my words carefully.

“Just to make things clear; I’m nervous right now, sometimes some words just leave my mouth before I think about them. Please, forgive me and don’t mind me. Come on, kids.” I said the last part, looking at Dain and Alais waving my hand for them to come.

“I’m so glad I’m inside your mind, right now. I think I won’t be shifting over until a couple of months.” Delphyne said and I bit my lip preventing me from saying anything else as I looked down and then at the kids again.

I noticed they were both chuckling at my failed attempts to communicate. I looked at their moms who were also slightly chuckling with their hands on their mouths trying to muffle the sound.

I frowned and I wouldn’t dare to look at Melian’s or Werloth’s face right now. I’m blushing and I’m sure I look red like a tomato.

I looked down and the kids’ hands were holding each one of mine and I was about to leave, but I stopped making the kids also stop and I made my way back to the kitchen counter.

I got some chocolates, marshmallows, fruits and sweeties. Kids love sweeties, right?

“You, take this.” I gave some chocolates to Dain in a bag for him to hold and his eyes opened wide.

“And you, take this.” I gave a pack of cookies to Alais and they both looked happy.

“And I’ll take this, I’ll show you something nice.” I grabbed a bowl and put some strawberries, grapes and the rest of the stuff inside.

We left but I could feel they were all still staring intently at me.

“I think they just can’t believe how childish you still are.” Delphyne mocked me.

“Very funny. At least I’m not in the kitchen anymore.”

So we made our way outside the castle.

“What are we going to do, Queen Angeline?” Dain asked me.

Every time I look at his face, my heart just swells. I don't know what's wrong with me, I just feel this urge to have him beside me all the time, he really makes me happy.

“Just Angeline or you can call me Angel. It’s easier and we will find some nice place in the meadow for us to eat”, I told Dain.

“Can we eat all this stuff?” Alais asked.

“You can and we will. I’m also starving”, I told them.

“And you’re going to eat candies instead of food?” Dain asked me and I frowned.

I think I’m really childish, then. Delphyne was laughing in my head.

A 7-year-old boy was calling me out. Help me, Goddess.

“Is it that bad?” I asked him and he chuckled.

“Actually, not. You’re so cool.” Dain replied to me, hugging me, and I relaxed.

We found a cozy spot in the meadow, still close to the castle, but it was very beautifully done. It had a table, chairs and a fluffy mat.

We sat and I was getting ready to do what I wanted.

They’ll love it. I’m sure, because I loved it when my dad used to do that for Luke, me and the girls when we were kids.

“That lady is scary, she’s so mean,” Alais said, and I chuckled.

“True. Mom always complains about work. They push her too hard; she’s always wearied, always too tired to play or to be with me.” Dain said and, my heart clenched after those words.

“But since a few days ago, she has gone home happy and doesn’t complain anymore. I think she’s happy that Queen Angel is here and she’s nice.” Dain said to Alais and he nodded back.

I was in love with the Elven kids.

“You know what? I’m not the Queen yet and I’m not even a hundred percent sure if King Werloth would want me to be. I didn’t plan any of this and I’m not in such a hurry for that either. But I promise you if I ever be, I will make every single one of you and the whole realm very proud of me and I will guarantee you and all of the Elves that they can always count on me.” I told them.

“You have to be our Queen. Angel. Can I ask you something?” Dain asked me while opening some chocolates.

“Sure sweety, what is it?”

“Do you love King Werloth?” I didn’t expect it at all from a kid. I felt myself burning inside out and it was ironic, ever since I have never gotten burned, but it seems that the fire of love is something even more powerful than I imagined.

I looked down, there was no point in denying it to the kids.

“I love him, what’s not to love?” Delphyne said and I chuckled inwardly.

“I do love King Werloth. I thought I had everything I needed in my life and when I met him, I could see that I had nothing before because he became everything I crave for.” It was the first time I talked about it so freely and truly and it made me feel awesome and I was relieved somehow.

Dain responded with a big grin.

“But let’s keep it between us, OK?”

They nodded and I focused on the bowl.

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Werloth POV:

I just couldn’t believe Melian’s action.

I heard my Angel standing up for them and I was so proud of her.

I made my way to the kitchen. I was enraged by Melian’s actions towards them.

My Angel was trying to stand up for them in any way she could. I should have demanded the completion of her work and duties already but there was so much going on.

I thought she was doing a great job. I was so naïve.

I had to hold back a smile at Angeline’s reaction in the kitchen. She really is a natural.

She’s honest and true to herself and others. That’s one of the things I most admire about her.

She held the children’s hands and it was the cutest thing ever. She looked like a teenager craving sweets.

I wondered what she would do. I’d check on her in a few, she was so shy that she didn’t even glance at me. She was adorable, but first I needed to do something.

“Melian, I’m the one who allowed them to bring their kids over here. I can’t believe you forbade them, and what for?” I enjoined Melian.

“King Werloth, I had to put on some limits. That’s how they put so much effort at work.” She told me.

What is she talking about?

I’m the king and I had to take good care of my people and not make them hate me because of her overreacted orders.

“You’re free from your duties from now on, Melian.” I told her determinedly and I just turned my back and left.

I made my way outside and I saw my Angel and the children talking. I could hear what they were talking about and I chuckled.

“You know what? I’m not the Queen yet and I’m not even a hundred percent sure if King Werloth would want me to be. I didn’t plan any of this and I’m not in such a hurry for it either. But I promise you if I ever be, I will make every single one of you and the whole realm very proud of me and I will guarantee you and all of the Elves that they can always count on me.” I heard her saying. I knew she would.

She was the one destined for me and I knew she would care for them as much as I do.

But how could she ever doubt it if I wanted her to be my Queen? Wasn’t I being good enough?

Maybe not. Many things happened and we still hadn’t our moment, let alone shared our first kiss.

I will make it up for her tonight.

My attention went back to them.

“Do you love King Werloth?” I heard one of the kids asking her, Dain's voice.

I could never forget it, I felt such a connection to him, like I always wanted to have him around ever since we first talked and my eyes opened wide realizing the question he just asked her.

I felt like I’d just flash away afraid of what she was going to say, but I wanted to hear it in one way or another.

It took a few seconds.

“I do love King Werloth. I thought I had everything I needed in my life and when I met him, I could see that I had nothing before because he became everything I crave for, but let’s keep it between us, OK?” she said, and my heart was racing.

“I love you too, Angeline” I whispered as I leaned my back on the castle walls and some stray tears fell down my face.