Fighting For Aire: Dungeons & Damsels, Book 1

Garden Dates and Pushy Princes

I woke up the next morning with a groan. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, squinted at the sunlight pouring in from my window, and collapsed back into the down comforters and pillows. I had a date with Elson today, and worse, Oberyn planned on leaving when I became queen. 

I pulled a pillow over my head and screamed into it.

Then, refusing to wallow in my own self-pity, I threw off the blankets and climbed out of bed. Oberyn brought in breakfast and set it on my chaise. I looked out the window and saw a Therros caravan approaching. That would be Elson.

“Good morning, Princess, your presence is requested downstairs.” he said with a bow.

It seemed so strange, after our dance the previous night, that he would act so professional again. 

“Thank you. I better get ready then.” I said, politely. 

He stayed in the doorway. “Is there anything I can do to help you get ready?” He asked. 

“No.” I said quickly. A little too quickly. It came out harsh. I needed to stop depending on him for so much. He was leaving. I watched his expression fall. I tried to correct myself, but the damage was already done.

“I’ll tell your fathers you are preparing for your date.” He nodded and bowed out of my room. 

I took my time eating, picking at the fresh fruit and pastries, and then took even more time getting dressed. I tried on almost every dress I had, before choosing the most simple and plain dress I had. It was slightly too big, so I tied it at my back with a white silk ribbon. I braided my hair, then unbraided it and braided it again. 

Eventually, Oberyn came in again. He took my hair and pulled it back with the brush, tieing it up into a bun. It felt so good, his soft, firm hands on my scalp. I wanted him to keep brushing even longer. 

“Princess, I don’t think the kings are going to wait patiently much longer.” he said, fussing with my hair. Finally, he tied it back in a ribbon. “Will you join us downstairs now?”

I promised him I would, but instead sat at my vanity and pretended to do my makeup. I normally wouldn't bother for something like a date with Prince Elson, but it was the last method I had for stalling. 

I’d say almost an hour had passed since Elson arrived before King Han finally came to my door himself. “Aireynor! What on earth are you still doing in here?” His face was red, and with his light brown complexion, it made him look like a brick. 

Trying not to chuckle deviously, I stood up from my vanity. “Just finished up here, I want to look my best for Prince Elson.”

Han c****d a brow. “This is your best?”

“Dad!” I crossed my arms.

King Han frowned. “That’s not what I meant. You look lovely, you always do- it’s just- what about the silver dress I bought you? With the opals woven into it?”

“It’s just a picnic in the garden! Can I not wear something comfortable?” I groaned.

King Omyr rounded the corner and turned into my room with a frown. He put his hand on Han’s shoulder. “What’s all this yelling?” he asked quietly. “Oh, Aire, no wonder what took so long you look beautiful!”

Omyr made his way across the rest of the room to wrap his arms around me. “You’re like a glowing gem! Just look at you!” His eyes welled with tears. “I’m so lucky to have the three most beautiful girls in the world.”

I grinned sheepishly. Looking at both of my fathers, I realized how much Avyn looked like Han, and how much I looked like Omyr. Adie was more an even mix of both.

“I was just headed downstairs for my, uh, date with Prince Elson.” I told my father, freeing myself from his grasp.

Omyr c****d his head, smile falling. “Is there something wrong, my delicate flower? Do you not like Prince Elson?”

“That’s not it-” I started, shaking my head, but King Han scoffed loudly.

“Of course she likes Prince Elson. He’s the most eligible Prince on the continent.” Han interrupted. "He comes from a very rich and prospering kingdom."

“Exactly. And I better not keep him waiting.” I faked a smile at both of my fathers, I escaped out of my room and headed down to the great hall. Once downstairs, I saw Elson and his brother. I wondered absently if Evrin was here to see Avyn. Before I could ask, Elson had spotted me.

“Princess Aireynor! You look even more stunning than you did last night.” He grinned wickedly at me. The phrase ‘devilishly handsome’ popped into my head. Less handsome. More devilish.

I forced on a fake smile. “Good morning, Elson.”

“It’s Prince Elson.” He corrected. I suddenly regretted leaving my room.

Trying not to roll my eyes, I apologized. “My mistake. Won’t happen again.”

He nodded and took my arm. “Your steward has informed me that he has already set up our meal in the center of the garden.”

“Oh?” I asked, curiously.

“Yes, I requested privacy for our outing, so that I could focus my attention solely on you.”

I swallowed, imagining Elson asking Oberyn to make sure he was alone with me. I was suddenly feeling that this wasn’t such a good idea, but it was too late to say anything. Arm in arm, Elson led me out the great doors, and towards the labyrinth of hedges that had become my younger sister’s domain. 

Adrissa was always growing something bigger and better. She had found cures for various diseases that had plagued our kingdom for centuries. She had made plants that grew without sunlight to help the dark elves who lived in caves. Adie even grew plants that were alive, ones that could move and make sounds. She was incredible, and her garden was even more so.

In the middle was a huge glass dome that was Adie’s greenhouse. Surrounding it was lush bushes, trees and hedges that made getting to the middle sort of like navigating a vast maze. As such, everyone had started calling it the labyrinth.

As soon as we entered, I truly realized how alone we were. Each step moved us further and further from anyone who could hear us. It was just me and Elson. 

He moved from being arm in arm to holding my hand. “Do you know anything about my kingdom of Therros, Aireynor?”

I shook my head, trying to focus on navigating the maze. I think Adie had said to keep making left turns?

“Therros is a nation of islands. One of the most beautiful parts of the whole continent. My great great great grandfather, Therron, settled there and built Therros over a hundred years ago. But we didn’t know that those islands were sacred to the high elves.”

I perked up at the mention of my father’s people. Elson caught my eye and smirked at me before he continued.

“As the story goes, one of the most sacred gods to elves, the goddess Aktina, ruled over the land with her sister, the goddess Yunwa. Aktina worshipped the sun, and wanted to move high up to be closer to it. Yunwa worshipped the moon, and wanted to live in the dark. Aktina and Yunwa fought over where their people should live, and Yunwa decided they should separate. She took her followers underground where they would never see the light of day again. They became the Dark Elves. Heartbroken, Aktina took her followers high into the mountains. They became the High Elves.”

He stopped to look at me, as if to make sure I was still following. I nodded. “We’re getting close to the center.”

“Aktina never got over her sister leaving. She came to the coast where they used to live, every year on the anniversary of their fight, hoping Yunwa would return and they would reunite. She never returned, and one year, in a fit of divine rage, Aktina destroyed the land so no one would ever live there again.”

“We’re here!” I announced, dropping Elson’s hand to rush into the picnic blanket. It was spread out under a great tree with white leaves. A basket set on top of it, and smelled of fresh bread. I poured myself a drink and sat down.

Elson sat beside me and continued his story. “We settled there, not knowing it was holy land. The elves came to my grandfather, after almost a year of construction had started. Therron had already built his castle and most of his kingdom. He refused to leave Therros. We’ve been marked as an enemy of the high elves ever since.”

I thought over his story. How much, if any of it, was true? Sure, it didn’t seem fair that the elves would kick them out of land they weren’t even using, but if it was their holy land, Therron should have respected that. But why did any of this matter now? What did it have to do with me?

“You’re a high elf.” He said, taking my hand. “If we were to wed, no one would accuse Therros of being insensitive to the High Elves again. We could regain their favor, and repair the relationship between our people.”

I raised a brow. “I’m only half elf.” I informed him. I could pass as a high elf if I dressed properly and wore heels, but I didn’t want to be an example for a race that I was only a small part of.

He kissed my hand, and I resisted the urge to pull it away from him. He held his lips there, looking up at me. Then he moved up, kissing my wrist. I felt a shiver, like ice, creeping up my back. He kept kissing, and kissing, lacing his mouth up my arm and kissing my shoulder, pulling me into his lap to suck on my neck.

“We will usher in a new era of peace for my people. There will be no more fighting between elves and humans.” He bit down hard on my neck. "And in return, your kingdom will have access to one of the most connected trade networks in the world. It's a win-win." He said, in between nips at my tender skin.

“Ah! Prince Elson- No-” I protested, pushing him away. “You’re going to leave a mark.” Shivers ran up and down my spine. How could he be both domineering and disgusting? Why was it that even though I didn't like him, I liked what he was doing to me?

He sucked harder, and I could feel the blood rush to where his mouth was on my neck. He sucked at different spots, leaving ugly purple circles under my ear. 

“Please stop.” I pleaded. My n*****s had grown hard and they rubbed against my dress achingly. My body was reacting to sensations I had only ever dreamed about.

Elson finally pulled away to look at me. He still held me firmly on his lap, and I tried to get up. His fingers dug into my thighs. I could feel his hard member, taught against his pants, pressing my thigh. His fingers laced into my hair, and I realized with horror he was bringing his lips to mine. 

I had never kissed anyone, and Elson was going to be my first? I felt hot yet offput at the thought of this Prince taking something so precious from me. I squirmed and groaned and mumbled protests, but it was too late. 

There was no feeling. No love. No spark. His lips felt soft against mine, but not in a good way. It was like kissing a piece of roast chicken. Dead, salty, and unmoving. I stayed still, determined to wait till it was over with, but without warning, he thrust his tongue into my mouth. It moved around, like a cold, wet sponge.

I resisted the urge to bite it. It felt like ages till Elson was done assaulting my mouth. “I knew you’d fall for me.” he said triumphantly like he had won me over by beating my tongue with his. I grimaced. “No one can resist Prince Elson of Therros.”

He stood up and looked down at me. I said nothing, shocked and horrified. “We are going to make beautiful babies.”

With that, he grabbed a sandwich from the basket, turned, and left.

I sat in the garden, holding very still until his footsteps completely disappeared. I was so confused. There was some part of me that liked the way Elson took what he wanted from me. I just didn't like that it was Elson. The other part of me was disgusted. 

With tears in my eyes, I laid down on the blanket, hiding in the garden until the sun was high overhead. 

~~~