Amaranta - Rival of Fairies' Queen

Living image of gold

Guests dispersed in different sides. Many from them were worried about events of the day. The atmosphere in the castle became tense. It seems to be a new war with elves soon, but on the other hand, everyone who has seen today, as elves are strong, understood how meaningless struggle with them.

Amaranta returned to her chambers. They turned out to be empty. And what does she actually hoped? It was stupid to think that Dagda immediately visit her. Probably, he already realized that because of his love, he loses his friend and regretted that he showed his feelings.

The window is overgrown with roses even more. In it barely penetrated the last sunset rays. But the head was spinning from the fragrance of lush flowers. Spikes of roses stretched along the arch of the window. Even for an elf possessing wings, it will be difficult to fly through the window now. There is a risk to abandon blood.

‘Did these roses bloom this morning?”

Amaranta quickly turned on an unfamiliar voice. The tone was too powerful, so that one of the maids could say that.

At the mirror stood a young lady, which Amaranta did not see among the guests. She probably came to the castle only tonight. Only strange why she immediately passed into the personal chambers of the hostess. Unless for some reason confused them with their own.

“Don’t you remember me?” she was surprised. "You yourself invited me to your wedding when we met in the forest."

Her rainbow eyes seem familiar.

“Iveina? "It seems to be so Ivor called the lady accompanied him."

Iveina nodded. She took the mask, but the strip of thin gold leafs was stretched along her forehead,cheeks and neck. The same leaves framed her dress. It is extremely unusual to sew metal edging on a brocade outfit. The decoration is a little scarecrow. It still seemed that it grows straight out of the skin.

“So you are from the order of people in gold masks?” awkwardly joked Amaranta.

"We are not an order," Iveina didn't even smile. One golden leaf on her cheek disappeared, as if was hiding in the skin. "I remember that you invited me only to a wedding, and not on the celebrations that are expected after it, but I could come only now."

"I'm glad to see you," Amaranta wanted to offer her drinks, but the tray disappeared somewhere. Instead of it there are many gems on a low malachite table.

“Hide them from the count,” advised Iveina.

“Why?”

“This is an offer.”

“What is it?” Amaranta did not understand her.

"Something like a bribe," Iveina said. “I want to become the maid-in-honor of the Queen of elves.

“Just a maid-in -honor?” Amaranta was surprised. In a heavy brocade dress framed by golden leaves, Iveina herself resembled a fabulous queen.

“A maid-in -honor in the magic world is not exactly the same as at the court in Aluar.”

“What is the difference?”

Amaranta seemed to himself a rustic fool from the fact that she did not know the rules of the magic world. Although is she obliged to know them?

“At the magical courts,” Iveina patiently explained, “A maid-in –honor is such a title that is almost equal to the Queen. Having received it, you become the second to the value of the lady in the country. But there is a small snag in how to get it. It can be awarded only the queen of elves or for special merits or for great talents, or just from great sympathy. All in the hands of the government. My fate depends on it.”

“But how can I help?”

Iveina looked at her like a crazy.

"You seem to have no Queen," remembered Amaranta. It is clear why Iveina found her stupid. The queen of Fairies seemed to be, but now it was about the queen of elves, that is, about the wife of Dagda, which he does not have.

"What is the same century before she is," Iveina hinted carefully, "you need to score yourself a place long before that.”

Amaranta touched the gems, which, by the way she really liked. From them in the tips of the fingers flowed a pleasant sunny warmth. If she puts on them, even at a gloomy cold night she will feel herself as if she stands on a flooded meadow.

“The maids-in-honor in Aluar are not as farsighted as you.”

“This is because they have vacant places much more, and the privileges from gettingit is a lot less.

Iveina formulated all clearly.

“Is it really a maid-in-honor of the magic queen such a great title that such treasures should give for it?”

Iveina nodded. The last rays of the sunset have already stopped in the darkness. With the onset of twilight, golden leaves disappeared from the skin of the guest, as if someone crushed them with its hand. The skin on her accurate face was absolutely clean. No bleeding, nor moles, nor even tiny mimic wrinkles in the corners of the eyelid. Amaranta somewhere heard that the fairies had no flaws and birthday spots on the skin. So they can be distinguished from ordinary women. Mortals always have some kind of moles or freckles, or traces of scratch. And the skin of elves and fairies reminds smooth as alabaster. But Iveina is definitely not a fairy. Rather elf. It was even uncomfortable to ask her to what kind of magical creatures she treat. Amaranta and so showed herself naive.

"If I ever become your queen, then you will certainly elect you as the maid-in-honor," Amaranth promised, hoping that Dagda could not hear how she divides the privileges from the place that she had not yet received. He still did not even hint that he would make her his queen. And she already gives positions as if she plans to take the elf’s throne in the very near future.

For a joyful smile of Iveina it became clear that one century seems to her a very short time for waiting. Who knows them, the immortal creatures that for them is long, and what is fast?

"But if suddenly rumors are confirmed, and your queen will become Medea Shai, then I will return all the gems back, and you will present them to her," even though with wonderful things it was a pity to part, but the conscience woke up in Amaranta.

”It is not necessary to even assume this,” said Iveina. "If she becomes our queen, then I'll take exactly the voluntary expulsion and all my relatives too. Best for centuries to wander on the roads than to dwell in one kingdom with her.”

“And how did she not please everyone to you?”

“You would see her! You immediately everything understand.”

From the outbreak of the righteous anger the eyes were red for moment like two rubies. Amaranth even backed out of her, but there was nowhere to retreat. Behind the back there were only the window and spiny spikes of roses.

“Did Ivor not come with you?” Amaranta tried to find a harmless topic to conversation. “It would be curious to look at him without a mask. And then I do not even know him when I meet, if you do not introduce him.”

But Iveina has already noticed roses on the window and darted to them. Her fingers slipped through soft petals. Even in the dark it was seen that roses are white and red. Two colors clearly awake on the background of the gloomy heavens and a gray window arch.

"So where are they going," Iveina was delighted.

“Who?”

“The girlfriends-rivals,” said Iveina. “One fairy of love, another of passion. I have long been pursuing them to learn from them a love line of my destiny, but they are constantly flying away from me. It can be seen nor love, no passion for me yet. Well, let! Limit one career! After all, you will not forget about your promise to make me a maid-in -honor.”

Again she about it! It would also become a queen. But suddenly Iveina is able to look in advance, like a fortune teller or clairvoyant.

“When did they appear here?” She was curious.

“In the morning!” remembered Amaranta.

“Did you see the fairies yourself?”

“They quarreled outside the window, even fought.”

“These are their usual behavior. Do not be embarrassed.”

“What did they want?”

The guest did not answer this question. She was too fascinated by looking at how much roses were scattered, and how many stems on stems.

“If the roses still bloom, then the red and white fairies are dozed,” identified Iveina. “And they are dozed when their dispute cannot be allowed. So far, either one or the other will not be the winner, their doze will not end. On roses is much more pleasant to look than on these rivals. But they have sharp spikes. Be careful!”

“On the one hand, they like a wonderful gift,” Amaranta liked a magnificent framing of the window. "But with the other hand, they scare me with theirs whisper that I hear when I stand next to them? Does it whisper from the roses themselves?”

“No, it isn’t, it’s a whisper of fairies in them.”

"It's time for you to walk along the castle," suddenly advised Iveina.

Amaranta did not like how demanding Iveina said it, but with magic creatures it is better not to argue. You never know what they have in mind and for what they want to apply their magical powers. If one day they occupy the entire castle, then people will be their powerless toys.

The red and white roses flooded all windows and arches of the towers. The head was spinning from their smell. Noticing more desirable gold flowers, Amaranth did not even believe.

Golden roses bloomed in an indoor gallery with arched windows overlooking the garden. So, Dagda is there. Amaranta rushed there. Legs were confused in lush green skirts. She recently began to dress in all green as the elf's king. It is a pity that she does not know how to fly. But Dagda knew how, but for some reason this time did not hurry to the meeting.

Having found that he is not alone, Amaranta stopped disappointed. This meant that he appeared again as an ambassador from the magical country, and not as a lover. But the king of the elves made her sign to be silent. And the statutory lady next to him, from which there was a wonderful radiance, at the sight of the Countess did not even make a reverence. Who is she? Medea Shai or one of the elves, without which Dagda can now can't make a step. What is the manner to acquaint the abandoned passion with a new one? Amaranta intended to roll the scandal, but coming closer, noticed that the lady was completely made of gold. Her dress, hands, hair laid with steep curls, even tiara and veil over them - everything was gold.

What a surprise. The same statue cast from gold metal. But she is moving like a living person. Gold fingers neatly squeeze Dagda's palm, golden legs in golden shoes carefully steps on the floor of the castle, the golden loop stretches for her, the golden waist looks like a flexible, like a conventional woman. Even eyelids, eyebrows and eye proteins she has golden! And all this gold moves and moves with the same ease as the human body.

“Who is she?” Dagda did not hurry to represent the golden wizard, so Amaranth asked herself. There is still a personal meeting, which is what to follow etiquette.

“Do not you see?” Dagda also threw a formality.

“I see what? Other woman next to you?”

“Other?” He was amazed.

The elves seem so naive, and they themselves are so hypocritical. Amaranta squeezed fists.

"Someone allowed you to bring guests to my house?"

"This is not a guest," he stubbornly objected.

“And who is it?”

The answer struck her.

“This is you!”

Initially, she looked with distrust and noticed that the outfit on the lady repeats her own dress. Only on her it was green, and on a stranger it was gold.  The face is also gold, but it is her own. Everything happens as if she looks in the mirror and sees there instead of her familiar bodily reflection in a green dress reflection, entirely peeling with yellow paints.

“As if I was cast from gold,” Amaranta whispered. “If it were from marble, you could call it my sculptural portrait.”

It was impolite to talk about it with Dagda in the presence of a third party. Everything heard a lady of gold. She was exactly alive. She pushed, grinned, the sponge blows just like Amaranta herself.

“Who is your companion?”

“At the moment, just like you. She is the Countess Amaranta, the young spouse of the count Angus March from the genus of Daverni.”

"That is, she is me," as echo repeated Amaranta. “I'm from pure gold!”

She still could not believe it. She wanted to touch the lady, but it is scary that she will burn like the sun. She shone straight as heavenly shining.

What if you touch her, and she grabs you with a golden hand and survive so that it breaks the bones, and the flesh will turn into a mess. Oh like she is a lively sculpture. And her strength should have non-s*x. Even the mechanized dolls from Rodolith are very strong. And what to say about the metal sculpture.

"She is a gold copy," Dagda boasted.

“I see it myself.”

“Just do not understand the values ​​of this definition. You're not an elf.”

 “I do not need to remind me once again that I am not from your magical kind.”

Dagda crashed, understood the miss. It would be nice if Amaranta was born his subject. He would immediately marry her or at least chose her as favorite. The king's favorite is also a very honorable position, even if we are talking about the king of elves. And here in the Count’s Castle, where she is a human, and he is an elf, he has to hide everyone, hide his feelings and his dates.

“Copies of the beloved of magic people are different: of gold, from silver, from yellow copper, from tin, from fire, from ice, from water, but they are all intended for one purpose.”

“And what for? To please the eye when the sweetheart is not near.”

Not to mention, to take her place in his bed. With such a copy of Amaranta Dagda does not need her. He had the second Amaranta all gold and sparkling. He can marry her and makes her the queen of elves. The legendary Medea Shai will be upset that the place on the elfs’ throne is already occupied by the desired rival. And it does not matter that this rival is golden. People still do, and the elves are what? They are accustomed to magic.

It was necessary to think about it - to revive the Golden lady and give her the appearance of his own sweetheart. Such a statue is excellent medicine from hopeless love or from rivalry for one woman, as in the case between Dagda and Angus.

Amaranta drew attention that the hands of the ladies melted. Gold fingers have become liquid and thrown out the growths - rings. Those took the form of rings that the Amaranta herself had on today. Why of course! The similarity is not only complete, but also adjusted along the way.

“The magic copies are created to ensure that beloved of elves can freely go on dates with theirs chosen one. While they are no at home, everyone will take a copy left for themselves. And thus no excitement will arise. No one will go to look for you in the forest with torches and hunting dogs. Everyone will think that you are in the castle.

“But she is gold, and I'm not. The difference should notice.”

"Only we see that she is actually of gold. For other people's eyes, it is enchanted. So no one will notice the difference, except for rare creatures, understanding in such tricks, but they will just not expose anyone from delicacy.”

“And the people of Medea Shai?” said Amaranta.

“All magic peoples are connected by one traditions. We all happened from one shelf of the rebel angels. Everyone respect each other.”

“How many mortal women were seduced by elves, if such copies already have invented to hide the absence of their beloved?”

Dagda lowered his eyes, tightly squeezing the hand of a golden woman. She gently slid her fingers on his palm, repeating the Amaranta’s caress. Now she will still kiss him. And then it is close to be the hostess of this castle. The copy itself is still very unpleasant. Suddenly she will forget that the main thing in everything is not she and she will want to kill Amaranta to completely take her place.

“Do not be afraid!” Dagda grabbed a golden woman for a thin waist and pushed to Amaranta. “She will become in everything to please you. These copies are designed to serve and cover. It can even become your shield from the arrow or the poison. It is impossible to hurt and kill she. And she has no own consciousness. She will think just like you, while pretending to be you and say the same thing as you.”

“She can even speak!”

Dagda laughed frivolously.

“She is a gold copy. She knows everything. Probably, copies of the earth, flowers or different alloys are not so clever. But you are a beloved of king, and not of vassal, so and a copy for you is from pure gold. And the spells in it are sparkling and gold.

“That is, she is not just an idol?”

"She's all that you want to see her. Your girlfriend, your arms, your gold shadow. Your shield from enemy blades, if you need. And your mask when you leave. The dwarfs, who created her, called her Luellin. So she will call, if one day you leave her as unnecessary.

“You're sly! Leaving such a copy here, you can kidnap me and make a hostage forever. No one even guess that I was no longer in the castle.”

“And you are not tired of meeting for a shot time and tremble, what does your absence hurt?” the elf was indignant.

“Oh, it means you take care of how best for me. And here I think that with her presence here, I myself can be lured into the kingdom of Medea Shai and r***d by her monsters. At home will not even figure it out that I am already dead.”

“In no case! If you die, then the spells dispel. And Luellin will become a statue without face. Either she will freeze like the idol, or will take the appearance of all the oncoming people who she likes. In any case, the deception will open.”

“That is, the spells act only while I am alive,” Amaranta asked for many times as Ta stupid girl. How difficult it is still to communicate with elves! So much suspicion. It would be from the magic people herself to know their true possibilities and the Code. What can it be and then it is impossible.

“And if I leave you forever, then Luellin can depict me exactly as much as human life lasts, and then disappear or escape from the surname crypt? Sounds stupid, but tempting. And I, of course, it is unpleasant to use it, but ...”

Amaranta turned to a gold copy. Suddenly she is a reasonable and sensitive creation, which was already offended by hearing all this. But Luellin stood, frozen as a statue, with a missing expression on a sparkling gold face. Her head resembled the shining sun.

"Alas, if you won't see you every twelve days, she will forget as you look, and stop copying you. Then she will again begin to take the appearance of all women, which will be near, and guessing people either run away from her, or try to destroy it, which will lead the first to the tragedy for them.”

“ The golden woman was strong, as it should be a revived figure of metal. From her the waves proceeded by power: both physical and magical. Is it not dangerous to keep it in the castle among people?

But Dagda pulled Amaranta to himself, and all the good thoughts instantly flew from her head. The elf hugged her for waist and kissed her a long time. It seems that he realized that he was definitely not enough for a short date, because he suddenly hinted.

“If you leave with me, you will have to do so that you were considered dead, and not abducted.”

“Why?” Amaranta even frightened, so ominous it sounded.

"A new war will begin because of the a*******n," Dagda explained sullenly, "and I don't want war."

"It seemed to me that you got pleasure when they fought at once with many knights."

"A war is a pleasure, because you can experience the forces in the battle, but on the other side, this is hell, because you have to cripple and kill those who love or appreciate.”

He sighed heavily, remembering something that he didn't want to tell her at all.

And the Golden Copy was indifferent to the two desperate in love and shone in the dark as the real sun.