Elvi

True Intentions

Elvi stood at the border's edge watching the King. From time to time he would shift, trying to find comfort while sitting on the trunk. After half an hour of trying to ignore her rapidly beating heart and the pins and needles in her chest, she stepped through the barrier. Priestess had not decided on whether the dome or glamour would be removed yet, and she was thankful for that. The King didn’t notice her at once, as he sat with his eyes closed, head resting against the tree behind. Elvi noticed he looked tired today. His eyes fluttered open and he got to his feet in a hurry.

“Elvi” he said breathlessly. “I didn’t think you would come.”

“I said I would,” she answered coldly.

“Yes. You did. I have something I need to talk to you about.” She motioned for him to continue. “There are rumours floating around Keitha that I have found my mate, and that she may not be a shifter.”

“Your reputation must be taking a beating, Witch Slayer King.”

“That is not what I am worried about.”

“Sounds like you have a mole,” she interjected. The King rubbed his hand over his face and into his hair.

“It appears so. I believe I know who. The thing that I am worried about is you.”

“Why me?”

“If someone figures out who you are they will come here…”

“Proving Arryn right.”

“Who is Arryn?” he asked, side tracked.

“A weasley wart who is trying to ruin my life. Sounds like someone else I know” she added, staring pointedly at the King.

“I am not trying to ruin your life.”

“You are doing a great job by accident then.” They stood in silence for a few long moments. Elvi rubbed her chest as the tingling feeling in her chest grew. The more they communicated the harder it was to ignore.

“You feel it,” Rowan said, distracted from their conversation, watching her in disbelief. “Don’t you? The tingling in your chest that won't go away no matter how many deep breaths you take.”

Rowan tested a step forward. Then another. Then another. Until finally he was a single step away from her. He watched her in amazement as she lowered her hand to her side, a look of destain on her face. He longed to touch her but wouldn’t risk it again. Not until she asked him to touch her again.

“What have you done to me?” Elvi asked in a small voice, quite unlike her own.

“I’m sorry Elvi. You have to know this wasn’t my choice either.”

“Yes, I am aware,” she started, suddenly aggressive. “You wouldn’t choose someone like me. You would choose some high born shifter with the same hatred for people like me. You would choose someone who would be content with your desire to wipe out all of my kind, removing all magick from the world. I know the kind of person you would have. How unfortunate for you, that you are stuck wanting me for the rest of your life. It must be a great disappointment,” she finished, breathing heavily.

“I’m not going to pretend that this situation is what I had always planned out for my life Elvi. I won’t insult your intelligence by saying that. However, now that I am here in this situation with you, I won’t be trying to change it. I will not pursue another, even if you never accept me. The law I made about your Coven is becoming official documentation tomorrow, I signed the final draft last night. The whole world will know that you and your Coven are protected by me.” Rowan did not remove his gaze from her, staring down into her eyes as she slowly calmed her breathing.

“What about the rest of us?” she asked.

“The rest of you?” he asked, c*****g his head to the side.

“Witches,” she answered. “What about the rest of the Witches?”

Rowan sneered. As much as he didn’t wish death on his mate, that hadn’t meant that a lifetime of hatred of her kind had disappeared overnight. He took a casual step back from her, laughing to himself quietly. Rubbing the back of his neck as he stepped backwards to the stump, sitting down.

“What about them Elvi?” She stared open-mouthed.

“Are you serious right now Rowan? You are still going to pursue the rest of my kind.”

“My view on magick hasn’t changed.”

“We are done here. I can’t believe you. Gods. Why did I think that you would stop pursuing my kind. I am such an idiot.”

Elvi turned to walk back inside of the barrier. In a flash Rowan stood in front of her, blocking the way. She had only seen him use his powers once, the day they had met. She stepped backwards in shock at his speed. He matched her steps until she felt her back hit the trunk of a tree. He raised his arms, blocking her in.

“I want to make something perfectly clear with you Elvi” he said in a low, dangerous tone. “Just because the Norns have blessed me with you, doesn’t mean my views on your species have changed. As much as I realise that your blood in my lineage will taint thousands of years of shifter history, I will not stop that from happening. The Norns know what they are doing, even if I am in the dark of the reason behind it.”

“You really are a monster” she said quietly, pressing herself into the sharp bark of the tree, getting as much distance from him as possible.

“I never pretended to be something I’m not Elvi. You felt the connection all by yourself,” he finished smugly leaning closer to her, lips centimetres from hers.

Elvi pushed hard into his chest, creating a gap for her to escape him. Breathing hard, she ran to the safety of the dome. As she felt the tingling of the charm she heard him call out.

“I won’t be here tomorrow Elvi. I have to present your law to my subjects.”

Elvi shivered at his words. How long until he decided to rescind that law? The dome had to stay up. They had to get word to the other Covens, they would never be safe while Rowan lived. How long until only her Coven was in existence? And then how long after that would she be the last of her kind? Would he eventually be rid of her as well, mate or no? Elvi ran straight to Priestess’s house, knocking frantically at the door.

“Yes, yes, I’m coming” came the annoyed voice of Priestess from behind the blue door. “What is it, child?” she asked, looking into the terrified face of Elvi.

“We have to keep the dome up, Priestess. We can’t ever remove it,” she began hysterically. “We have to tell the other Covens. They have to keep themselves safe in a dome shield. We have to tell them. Right now.”

“Elvi, calm down child. Slow down. What has happened?” asked Priestess.

Wrapping an arm around the young woman in front of her, she led her gently inside, closing the door behind them. Guiding her into a squashy arm charm she conjured a cup of iced water and handed it to the now shaking girl, who accepted it, taking a small sip.

“What happened Elvi? Did the King hurt you?” she asked seriously.

“No. No. He… he just told me that his stance on Witches hasn’t changed. We have to protect them. You have to talk to the other leaders, Priestess. We are protected from him for now, but they aren’t, and how long that will last…”

“Elvi, I need you to calm yourself. Fret not child; I spoke to the other leaders weeks ago. They have all been living under domes for weeks now. They are okay. Only teleporters are allowed to leave, and they only do so by the light of the moon, for supplies.”

Elvi visibly relaxed, taking a larger sip of her ice water. They were safe from him. They were all safe. She would admit to herself that she was being taken in by the King’s gentle tone, kind notions and romantic gestures. She had begun to forget their first meeting and what had led them to this situation in the first place. Taking some shaky breaths she eased herself into the armchair fully.

“I felt the pull,” she said quietly, not making eye contact with Priestess.

“Oh.”

“He knows. I don’t know if that sparked him on, but he showed himself today. He scared me,”

“I don’t want you going out there tomorrow. It isn’t safe for you anymore,” Priestess said, sitting on a chair opposite.

“He said he won’t be here tomorrow. He said the law he made about our Coven gets released to the general public tomorrow. He called it my law,” she finished with a shiver.

“I’m glad. You need a day to recover. I don’t want you to leave the house tomorrow. I will have to have a meeting with the Highers. There may be some increased activity at the borders over this.”

“Proving Arryn right.”

“Yes.”