A'lurejah: The Fae Princess

Chapter Ten

I opened the letter and read it.

    Dear Ary,

    I hope that this letter finds you well and at Idhrenniels’ house, I have instructed the owl to try there first, and if you weren’t there to go to the sick ward where you were at.

    We have been back only a few hours now, just enough time to unpack and eat a good hearty meal.

    The negotiations are scheduled to begin day after tomorrow, Father explained to them that you had fallen very ill and had to be taken to see a special doctor. He told them all that I was an owl away if any of them wanted to write you and confirm the details of what happened. In fact, he encouraged them to write to you and ask you for the details of what all happened. So expect a bunch of letters today or tomorrow from all of the great houses. They have insisted on doing this before they will open the negotiations with Father, so whatever you do over the next few days, please make sure that you answer their letters promptly so that we don’t lose our chance to open up the borders again. 

    I fear that Father is losing his patience with them, his anger is becoming more explosive every day, and he’s isolating himself in the gardens for hours on end. Please write to him and get him to calm down, you’re the only one that he listens to, the only one that can break through to him.

    Write to me, I am terribly lonely here since you have left. I would love to know how you are doing, and what life is consisting of for you right now. 

Awaiting you’re reply

Your’s Truly

Eramus.

    His letter sent my heart racing, and my face blushing. I sat down and wrote him a reply immediately.

    Dear Eramus,

    I will write Uncle Albion just as soon as I am done with your letter, I will place them both in the same envelope for the owl to carry back to you.

    It is so good to hear from you, your letter has made my day. My day here has been rough, and it’s only been one day so far.  The day started off pretty good, left the ward at dawn and got to Idhrenniel’s house about ten minutes later. I met her family and her two oldest children showed me to my new room, which Idhrenniel comeled for me only this morning. I came up to unpack and unload all of my trunks and I accidentally comelled my wardrobe to expand and add a bench and a wall of cubby holes in it, which scared me, and upset Idhrenniel. Apparently I am too powerful and they don’t know what to do with me or how to help me with my majick… I told her to just take me back to the palace and let me go home, but she refused, said that I needed to be here for the time being, until we could understand more and figure out my majick.

    I will promptly answer all letters written to me and send them back quickly.

    Write to me regularly, and not just about matters of state, I want to know other things too. And any information you can find about me and my majick and my abilities? I’ll take any help I can get right now.

    Miss you terribly, it is quite lonely here too, but I think I have a couple of good friends in N’yssa and Ranulf. I will tell you more when I am not so tired, I will write Uncle Albion tonight and then I will probably go to bed.

Yours truly,

A’lurejah Jayd.

    I folded up the letter into thirds and put it into a medium sized envelope and reached for another piece of paper to write my Uncle. I could only imagine how he was feeling right now… Lonely and angry and scared of losing me again.

    Uncle Albion,

    I am up and about again, regaining strength quickly this time. I am in good spirits, mostly, and doing well. Idhrenniel introduced me to her family today, nerve wracking as that was, I think I have found two good friends now. 

    I am doing okay, Uncle, you don’t have to be so worried about me. I am not going anywhere any time soon.

    Uncle, please be patient with the Lords and Ladies of the great houses. They have seen someone disappear in the dead of the night from the castle once before, and she never came back. They just need a bit of reassurance that I am coming back, and that I am just an owl away if they would like to ask my opinion on anything specific.

     Take a deep breath and relax, what will be, will be, and there is no need for you to get so angry over this. I am okay, and you can stop being scared. Change can be a good thing, remember how happy everyone was when you told them that we are going to open up our borders and start negotiations for trade routes again? 

    Hold onto that hope and excitement from your people, because they are what will get you through this.

    I regret that this happened when it did, I was truly looking forward to sitting in with you and helping with the negotiations! You will do fine! Just remember, I am just an owl away, send me anything you wish for me to look over, and I will send you back my thoughts on it, you just have to promise to keep an open mind and accept what I say, because the noble lords and ladies will only allow this to happen if they think that I have the final say in all of this. 

    I love you, Uncle, and I miss you. I cannot wait for the day that I get to come home again! 

Yours truly,

A’lurejah Jayd.

    I folded this letter up into thirds and put it into the same envelope. I held my arm out for the owl and attached the letter to his leg, he nipped my finger affectionately and flew out the window. 

    “Sorry about that, that’s going to happen a lot over the next month or so, just letting you know.” I said to N’yssa and Ranulf who were still laying on my bed.

    “You are more needed than you realize, or than you will ever know.  You are the key to the survival of this kingdom, Ary, the people around you would fall apart without you.” N’yssa said.

    “My uncle is falling apart, and if he doesn’t get it together so will these negotiations. He needs to put his anger and personal feelings aside and do what’s best for the kingdom, if he canna do that, then the whole of this will be for naught.” I sighed heavily.  

    “Ary, it’s going to be alright, you will see. You will go see Merlin and then you will be alright. You must go see him soon, very soon.” Ranulf said suddenly.

    “What do you mean?” I asked, “I canna go until these negotiations are over.” I said forcefully.

    “You could if we go right now, we could be back in time for you to answer all the letters you need to answer and still be here for the negotiations.” N’yssa said, a sudden spark in her eyes.

    “Can we make the trip that quickly?” Ranulf asked.

    “No, but she can.” N’yssa said nodding toward me.

    “All we’d need to do is get her to the right place at the right time, and they’d do the rest wouldn’t they?” Ranulf asked.

    “Exactly. And that spot would be only about a mile into the forest, then we come home and cover for her, and she’ll be back by tomorrow this time or just after.” N’yssa said.

    “Okay, let’s do it.” Ranulf said, they both looked at me waiting for an answer.

    “Strangely, I was actually able to keep up with that and understand it. But who is “they”?” I asked.

    “The fairies, of course!” N’yssa exclaimed.

    “Oh, right, of course! Should have known that…” I rolled my eyes, my voice thick with sarcasm. “I don’t think I could make the journey, I am so tired right now.” I said, eyes heavy, head pounding.

    “Trust me, when the fairies are done with you, you will be pain free for the rest of  yer life!” Ranulf said.

    “Okay, What do I need to take with me?” I asked.

    “Nothing, but we will need to find you some pants to wear instead of a dress. Dresses are not practical for traveling through the forest.” N’yssa got up and said, “Wait here, I’ll be back.” and she danced out of the room. 

    A moment later she came back into my room holding a pair of hyde trousers and a shirt.

    “They are much softer on the inside, they are fur lined.” She said, “Come, I’ll help you get into them.” She beckoned me into the wardrobe. I sat down on the bench and she helped me out of my stockings, leggins, skirts and dress. Then she helped me into the pants, shirt and boots that she brought in for me. I stood up and was surprised at how comfortable they were. I smiled, ready to go.

    “Okay, now what?” I asked. She led me out of the wardrobe to where Ranulf was waiting for us. He now had three backpacks ready to go. 

    “Ready?” He asked, smiling big.

    “Yep, she’s ready, I’m ready, looks like yer ready.” N’yssa said, they were both smiling as if we were breaking some big rule.

    “Alright, mum and da’?” N’yssa asked.

    “Giving Addylin her bath and bedtime story, they will be occupied for at least the next hour, gives us time to slip into the forest unseen.” Ranulf said.

    “Alright, let’s go.” N’yssa said.

    “When we get down stairs, I will get your walking cane, it will help you walk better in the forest, I will also walk behind you and N’yssa in front of you, that will help the going be easier. We need to hurry, we are wasting time.”  Ranulf explained. I followed them down the stairs and out the back door, across the yard, and into the forest beyond.

    I frowned, “What do you mean, ‘leave me’?” I asked, suddenly afraid.

    “We brought you here to learn about who you are and what you are destined to become, we can come no further with you in your journey. They are here to escort you the rest of the way, and finish teaching you who you are.”

    Nyssa pointed to a pearly white mist that was swirling along the forest floor. It shimmered and shined and glittered as it moved almost snake like, along the ground heading straight for me.

    “Nyssa, who are they?!” I asked, frantic.

    “They are your kin. They will show you things that you can only dream of, things that you will need to know, they will teach you of your heritage, your family, your destiny. They will teach you what it means to be Fae.” Ranulf said.