Their Promised Queen

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

            “You should go back to the castle in case she finds her way back there,” Zeke told Ruby. “That way you can also protect the town in case they come back there looking for her as well.”

            “I want to keep looking for El.” Ruby told him, on the verge of even more tears. She had not stopped crying since we found out Elora had escaped. 

            “I can and will find Elora and bring her back to the castle. I promise you Ruby.” Zeke touched Ruby’s shoulder, trying to comfort her. All it did was make Ruby miss Elora even more, which obviously made her cry that much harder. 

            “Fine. I’ll go back. But, if you two aren’t back in a few days, I swear, I will come looking for you both.” Ruby said as she wiped her eyes and stood up straighter. “I’ll make sure to keep everyone safe and I will also update Claire on what has happened.”

            “Sounds like a plan. Head back with the whole troop. I think it would be best if I went out alone. It would be quieter and less suspicious.” Zeke mentioned while packing up his things. “I’ll just take a few things. Otherwise, just make sure everyone gets back safely.”

            “I will. You be safe too Zeke. El will be pretty upset if something would happen to you. The bond between you two is strengthening, I can feel it.” Ruby told him and Zeke nodded. With that, Zeke turned and walked away. 

            After a few hours, Ruby made sure everyone was packed up and ready to head out. As everyone else started the journey towards the castle, towards home, Ruby looked towards the woods, wishing and hoping that Elora would come back to her safe and sound. Eventually, Ruby joined the others but as she did, there was a flash and a ringing in her ears. The smell of dirt filled up her nostrils quicker than she could breathe and her horse was no longer under her. They had been attacked.

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            “Which way am I supposed to go?” I asked myself, rubbing the back of my neck. I had no clue what I was supposed to do. I had been trying to figure this out for hours and it was almost nighttime. That nap I took a while ago really messed up my time and now I don’t have much time before I need to rest for the night. Ugh!

            I walked around for a little while longer before deciding I needed to find a place to rest for the night. I’ll have to figure this out in the morning. If I can’t figure it out in the daytime, I definitely won’t be able to do it at night. I saw a small gap between a few fallen trees and rocks that I could hide in and possibly start a fire. Since my clothes are shredded, I don’t have much of a barrier against the cold. 

            I start to gather some sticks and leafy stuff along the forest floor to cover my “home” for tonight when I hear some crunchy not too far away. I throw the sticks down and crawl into the space I was working on. I lay there for a little bit before I hear “Queen Elora” whispered. It’s just a trick. Wait it out. “Queen Elora? It’s Salzavere. I mean Zeke. It’s Zeke. Are you here?” He sounds closer, do I dare take a peek? I look out to the side of my hiding spot and see the back of Zeke’s head over the mound of dirt. 

            “Zeke?” I ask, louder than I mean to. He swivels around so fast that he trips over himself and lands on the ground, hard. I get out and run over to him.

            “Dang it.” He is knocked out cold. How could this strong man have been knocked out? He must have hit pretty hard. Didn’t mean to do that. Crap. I decide that I’ll have to bring him into the little hiding spot I found. I gather the rest of my leaves and sticks to hide the entrance. Once I am sure that no one can see in, I move a small amount of sticks to the side, walk in, and replace the sticks again. I had saved a few dryer sticks I had found for a small fire. Crap, again, I forgot rocks to make a fire. 

            “Wait!” Air had said I could seek help from all of the elements. “I wonder if I can get fire to help me.” 

            I close my eyes and focus on warmth and light. “Fire, please help me.” I ask. Feeling nothing and no presence, I open one of my eyes. Nope, nothing. I close my eyes again. “Fire, will you please help me? I need fire for warmth and a little light.” All of a sudden, my eyelids are brighter. I open my eyes and there it is, right there on the sticks I found. A small flame just dancing around. 

            “Hello my queen,” the little flame says. “I will help you light these twigs which should keep you warm for tonight. Is that what you are requesting?” 

            “Yes…yes that is all I need.” As I say that, the fire spreads to include more of the twigs. “Thank you so much.”

            “No need to thank me my queen. It is my pleasure. Just make sure that it is completely out when you are done with it. I would rather not be to blame for the woods burning again.” And with that, I can feel fire leave.

            “That was insane…” I mumble to myself. Looking over at Zeke, I can tell he isn’t having the best dream. His eyebrows are furrowed and his mouth is to the side like something bad just happened. His cute features…that curly, black hair tied up, his olive-colored skin and his long legs. He shifts in his sleep and I look away. 

            Why do I feel as if I want to go over and cuddle with him? I barely know him!

            “My queen, what happened?” startled I look over, Zeke has woken up and is looking at me with those deep black eyes. Are those blue flakes in them? 

            “Umm…I guess I startled you and you fell, knocking yourself out. For a guard, that was pretty bad.” I kind of hiccup a small laugh. Zeke give me a look that he says he is mad that I fund this funny. “Sorry, but it was kind of funny.”

            “I apologize my queen.” He looks away from me. Ashamed. 

            “For what?”

            “For letting you be taken. That never should have happened and I am forever sorry. Not only as my queen, but as my fated one. I should have protected you more. We should have protected you more. Please forgive me.” He says more like a cry than as a statement.

            “I don’t think any of this was your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for.” I crawl over to him, putting my hand on his the back of his head where he hit the ground. “How are you feeling?”

            “I am fine my queen,” as he sits up. “I believe I will be just fine. I heal rather quickly so I should be alright in a little while.”

            “Stop calling me ‘my queen’. Please just call me Elora. If we are fated to be together forever I don’t want you to be calling me that. I want you to call me by my name.” I say, annoyed. “Did you bring anything to eat? I’m starving.” Zeke nods and pulls out a small bag of meat, cheese, and bread. As we are snacking on a small portion of it, I can feel Zeke looking at me. “What?” 

            “You are beautiful. I can’t believe I am fated to you. This pull…it is the best thing that has happened to me.” As he says that, he leans in towards me. When he stops in front of my face, he stops. “I love you. I know it will take time for you to love me back, but I will always be here for you. No matter what.” 

            As he finishes saying this, he kisses me. One of those amazing first kisses. I mean, I have been kissed before. But, Dan’s kisses were sloppy and wet and gross. This…this was like fireworks and magic. Like, the feeling you get when you go down a rollercoaster and your stomach feels as if it is falling right out of you. His lips are soft, with just the perfect amount of pressure that makes me feel tingly inside. And tingly in places that Dan never awoke in me. Putting his hands on the back of my head, he deepens the kiss, pulling me into his embrace. 

            All of a sudden, he pulls away. “I can’t.” is all he has to say.

            “What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?” I ask him. Worried that the way I was holding him or kissing him wasn’t ok.

            “No. It isn’t you. It’s Ruby. Damnit Ruby.” He says angrily, pulling his hand down his face. “Has Ruby told you anything else about my pull to you?” 

            “No. Just that you came to me the night I was born. And obviously I already know what you told me about the pull. That all of us and our parents were there.” I tell him, more than a little curious. 

            “It was like magick. You were magick. As soon as you were born, a light shone really bright and the stars go so bright, it was almost like daytime outside. You know, I got to hold you right after you were born. That is when I knew that our pull was strong. You looked right into my eyes and smiled. Almost as if I was all yours and you were all mine. But I would be lying if I said I got to keep you all to myself.” I looked at Zeke as he said that, more confused. Where is this going? Zeke looked into my eyes apologetically. “I’m not your only fated. I wasn’t the only one pulled to you that night. You are so strong and always have been, even before you were born. Therefore, you were given two pulls. Two fated ones. Two soul mates.”

            He didn’t tell me who it was, but I already knew. “Ruby.” I gasped. That is why she told me she loved me and why things have felt so much different in this realm. Zeke nodded, confirming what I said. 

            “Why didn’t anyone say anything?” I ask. “Why hide that from me?”

            “Because, Ruby is a type of Fae who is not supposed to have a fated one. They are never given pulls because their power is so important. Their magick can be the deciding factor between life and death for our people.”

            “So why did this happen then?” I ask. “Why give her a pull to me if she isn’t supposed to have one?”

            “We haven’t figured that one out. But she is the only one who was able to protect you in the mortal realm. Maybe that has something to do with it.” He shrugs. “We have been trying to figure it out for a very long time. We can’t find anything on this type of pull. But we will figure it out and you don’t have to choose between us. I know Ruby told you that some can have two or three fated ones. That means we share you and protect you no matter what.” I nod at him, as if understanding. Not that I fully do though. He pulls my hand to his mouth, like he is going to kiss it. As he does, a sharp pain goes through me.

            “AHHH!” I clutch my chest and my stomach. The pain is almost unbearable. 

            “What’s wrong my queen? What’s wrong Elora?” Zeke asks frightened. 

            “I…I…don’t know. It…hurts!” I clench out the words. My eyes go dark and the next thing I know, empty ground is in front of me. No, not empty. Horses, dead horse, laying everywhere. Carts and tents spread out amongst the grass. But no people. I hear shouting behind me and turn around. There are a lot of people, guards, being pulled by their tied hands, stumbling behind horses and other men. At the very back I see the giant man, Mun, holding something dark, but light at the same time. What is that? 

            “NO!” I scream. But I’m not in the grove anymore. I’m back in our hiding spot. Crying, hot tears rolling rivers down my face. “NO! NO! NO!”

            “Elora, what’s wrong?” Zeke asks, shaking me.

            “Ruby!” I yell at him and bury my face in his shirt. “Ruby….”