The First Elven Queen

Incoming News

A couple of days passed slowly, much to Ayla’s frustration. Ada had arrived, but she had instantly become attached to the Head of the Castle in planning the celebration that was to be held at the end of the month with guests arriving from many backgrounds.

It had been a little overwhelming when she was sat down and told to select certain details for the celebration. There was only going to be a little over 300 hundred guests, not including their entourage, but they were supplying enough food that could raise an army. The flowers and decorations alone would cost a fortune and don’t get her started on the fabric for her dress.

While she wasn’t too keen on the idea of having the focus on her, she was excited to meet the many different species that represented and ran other kingdoms.

In the end, she chose a masquerade ball theme, hoping a mask would help keep her nerves.

Walking through one of the great halls of the castle, she gave a smile to each servant, which they returned hesitantly after bowing to her. This bothered her that they couldn’t take simple gestures without fear for their life.

She had to wonder if it had something to do with her grandfather. Apparently, he was a tyrant and often abused his household.

Hopefully it had nothing to do with her father...

“Princess Ayla!” An old servant woman came rushing her way, looking a little out of breath, before bowing, “Prince Nylian’s party has been spotted and should be here within a couple of hours. Your father wishes for you to join him in the front courtyard to greet him.”

“Thank you,” Ayla noticed the woman was having a hard time straightening up and reached out to help her, “Would you mind escorting me to the kitchens?” She still hadn’t memorized the layout of the castle, “I’d like to grab a bite before meeting the Prince.”

The woman eyed Ayla’s hands on her before giving her a nod, “Of course, Princess.” She motioned with her head down the hall, “Just this way.”

As Ayla followed behind the woman, she eyed her from behind, “May I ask how long you have served in the castle, Ma’am?”

“You can ask me anything, Princess.” She looked back before continuing forward, “I have been working for your family for 132 years.”

They turned a corner and Ayla could hear the clanking of pots faintly, “Is it hard?”

The woman came to a slow stop, then looked up into her face, “Princess…”

“I want you to be honest with me.” Ayla lifted her hands, using one to rub her palms, feeling the calluses of her own years of work, “I am not completely ignorant of the struggles.”

When she looked back up, the woman was also looking at her hands, “It is very hard, Princess,” She looked back up, her eyes glossy, “But, it is already getting easier.”

She turned and they finished their journey to the kitchens where it was a bustle of activity, preparing for the next meal.

It all came to a halt when she entered the room and they turned to bow only for her to raise her hands and wave them frantically, “Please pretend I’m not here and continue.” She gave a pointed look, “This is your domain.”

She eyed the prep table in the middle and saw they were fixing boar for the meal. She always had a hard time fixing such tough meat, but then again, she wouldn’t have to worry about that too much in the future.

Rounding the kitchen, she gathered ingredients, asking if they were free first, and proceeded to make herself a small snack. She caught a couple of fascinated looks from a couple of the chefs and took her a moment to realize it was more than likely because most royals don’t enter the kitchen, let alone make their own snacks.

All the while, the woman stuck close, but this time she seemed a little more relaxed. She even followed her into the small sitting room where she ate.

After finishing what she could, she slid her plate over to the woman, “Have the rest.”

She eyed the food in front of her before looking her way, “Are you sure?”

“Only if you want. I am not forcing you.” Ayla stood from the table then looked around, “I like to think I’m a decent cook.”

The woman waited a moment longer before reaching out and taking a bite, a delightfully surprised look popping onto her face, “Oh!” She took another bite, covering her mouth with her hand, “Do not let the chefs know you cook better than they do. They might get jealous.”

Ayla’s laugh burst from her chest before she could stop it, but she instantly calmed down when she noticed the woman looked petrified again, “I’ll take that advice. I don’t want to upset them.”

They finished up and the woman insisted on leaving the plate for an actual servant before leading her to the hall that led out to the courtyard. But when she got there, Ralnor was standing in front of her father speaking frantically, though she couldn’t understand what he was saying.

As she got closer, she made out tid-bits, “---Lord, you must take the herbs I prescribe you or---” He seemed to finally notice Ayla’s approach, “Princess!”

Normally, she would’ve addressed the healer, but her concern was on her father, who did look slightly paler than normal, “Are you ill, father?”

“You’re dismissed, Ralnor,” He snapped, his face drawn into a scowl before looking at her, “I am fine, Ayla.”

“Saying that you’re fine usually means that you are not.” She looked down the gravel path to see a carriage making its way towards them.

“Once we have Prince Nylian settled, we’ll talk in my study.” He conceded.

“I’ll hold you to that.” She stepped up to stand next to him.

He shot her a look, but then faced the road that connected to the courtyard right as the carriage swung in and stopped a few feet away. The driver scrambled down from his seat and as soon as he unlatched the door, a boot covered foot was stepping down from the carriage.

Prince Nylian stood at the same height as her father, but he had a little bulkier build of muscle, which surprised her since elves were usually more leanly built. His hair was to his shoulders, wavy, and dark brown with caramel undertones in the light. His eyes were a turquoise, blue in the dark, but green within the light. His skin was fair, tight showing off the muscle definition.

His eyes instantly landed on hers, but he tore them away to bow his head to her father, “King Myrdin,” He took a step over to be in front of Ayla and when he held a hand out for her, she looked up at her father before placing her hand in his, “You must be Princess Ayla.”

“You would be correct.” She tilted the side of her lips up as he kissed her knuckled, his lips soft, “And you must be Prince Nylian.”

“And you would be correct.” He smirked up at her.

He straightened back up, but his hand still held her hand until her father cleared his throat, “Prince Nylian, thank you for coming on such short notice.”

“I would’ve been here sooner,” He started, finally letting her hand go, to address her father, “But my father had need of me to deal with a small issue outside of our walls.”

“That is understandable.” Her father snapped his fingers and servants came out and started unloading Nylian’s personal items, “The servants shall show you to your room so you can relax and freshen up.”

“No need. I came prepared to get straight to work.” Ayla saw him look at her out of the corner of his eye.

“Well, then,” Her father turned and led them back into the castle and into his study, “Have a seat.”

Nylian went over to one of the two seats that were directly in front of her father’s desk and plopped down, but deflated a little when she went over to sit against the wall on a small couch. She had been looking down at her lap when she sat, but when she looked up, she saw him send her a wink.

“As you know from my letter,” Her father started, his eyes flashing between the Prince and her, noticing the interaction, “My daughter is to be the Queen when I surrender the throne.” Nylian finally turned his full attention to him, “And I want to have her prepared the best I can before then and you have been well groomed for leadership, so I wish to employ your assistance.”

“Anything I can do to help you, King Myrdin.” His mouth spread into a bright white smile before looking her way, “Though I don’t know how much she is going to like cram lessons.”

“I don’t have to like it to learn it, Prince Nylian.” She quipped back.

He chuckled then, “At least you want to learn. Most females I know complain about running a household, let alone a kingdom.” His smile slowly fell from his face and he looked back to her father, “Does she know?”

This was the first time she saw her father’s shoulders sag, “No, though she got a hint a little while ago.” He glanced down at his desk before looking over to Ayla, “You asked earlier if I was ill,” He looked conflicted, “And unfortunately, I am.”

“I thought it was extremely rare for elves to become sick.” She tried to think back on the book she had read.

“It is,” He looked at a painting on the wall, “Ralnor does not know entirely what I am ill with exactly or how it happened, but after the assessment of several reputable clerics and healers, I was informed that my body is just… dying.”

Ayla’s breath hitched, her eyes flying to Nylian, then back to her father, “And you were just going to keep me in the dark?!”

He seemed taken back by her outburst, “I was going to tell you after your Celebration… I wanted you to become settled in this life before I told you.” If she wasn’t so good at reading people, she wouldn’t have noticed his defeated look, “I did not want you to know your father as an ill elf.”

Her stomach cramped up, “How long?”

“No one knows.” He shrugged, “It could be tomorrow or months from now.”

The room got so quiet that she felt lightheaded as she stood, “Excuse me.”

Sweeping from the room with no protest from the two males, she ran out into the courtyard and further until she was out the front gates. Streaks of green, brown and blue went by her as she turned towards an open field that was just outside of the gate, birds scattering. She didn’t come to a stop until she reached a small creek, finding a moss covered log to sit on.

She knew that she had much to be thankful for since her upbringing could’ve been much worse, but this didn’t stop her from questioning why things had to be this way. She had been a good girl all of her life, following all the rules to keep herself safe, while keeping those around her happy. 

Could she not keep the one family she had left? At least for a little while longer than a couple of months?

Distracted by her own grief, she didn’t hear the footsteps of something approaching until they were directly behind her. 

Swinging around, she came face to face with black fur and green eyes, “Thorin?” He tilted his head and she wiped her face with the sleeve of her dress, turning from him, “I’m sorry you saw me like this.” The nudge of his nose against her back nearly had her falling into the water of the creek, “Hey!”

She turned back around and was ready to start laying into him, but something in her head seemed to click, ‘You should not be ashamed of shedding tears.’

She nearly forgot that she could link with him, “I guess not, but I’m an ugly crier.”

‘I wouldn’t say that.’ He sat back on his haunches, ‘It is only a shame someone made you cry.’

“It wasn’t truly anyone’s fault but maybe fate’s.” She rubbed her eyes, sniffling a little, her mood already lifting before she became confused, “I thought you were to be training with my father’s guard for the entire week?”

His tongue came out to hang on the side of his jaw as if smug, ‘Lets just say I exceeded their expectations.’ He licked the side of his lip before standing back up to go over to the creek for a drink, ‘In fact, it was your father that sent me after you. He was going to tell you at dinner tonight, but he said you might need me sooner.’

The thought of her father brought tears back to her eyes once again and before he could register, she flung herself at him, her body tucked under his head, “I’m not ready for any of this…!”

His head lowered over her back as if holding her body to his, ‘We very rarely are ready for things to change, Princess.’

“Prin--- Oh, good, you found her!” Nylian slowed from a jog he was in until he was closer to them, a thick bow in his hands, and a quiver full of arrows on his back, “It is not safe without a guard, Princess.”

“My guard is here with me, Prince Nylian.” She said, her voice nearly muffled by the fur, her voice rough from her tears, “But we should head back.”

“Yes,” Nylian held out a hand for her and she took it, not before she noticed the glare the two men sent each other, “We have much to get started on.” He pulled her almost too hard, causing her to stumble into his chest, “I look forward to teaching you, Ayla.”

Ayla thudded into his chest, her palms on each of his biceps, her body pressed against his.

How did she always end up in these situations?

Before she could reply, she heard Thorin speak from behind her, “It’s Princess Ayla, Prince Nylian.”

Pushing off of the Prince’s chest, she flushed a little to look back at Thorin, noticing his shirtless state, “Thank you.” She walked around the men and started towards the castle only to throw over her shoulder, “Are you coming?”

“Would you like to ride on my wolf, Princess?” Thorin asked, coming to her side, “You are stressed enough…”

“I am fine,” She thought back to his wolf form before looking over at him, “I do need to learn how to ride a mount properly. I fear I would tear out your fur.”

“I would be more than willing to teach you,” He chuckled, “And what better way to learn than by a mount that can speak to you?”

“Is that really appropriate, wolf?” Nylian shook his head, “The Princess deserves a proper steed like a horse, or even an elk like her father’s.”

Ah, he was jealous and Ayla found it kind of charming.

Looking over the Prince, her eyes lingered on the bow, “Are you a good shot?”

“The best in my Kingdom,” He unshouldered the bow and brought it out in front of her.

“Maybe you could teach me.” She watched as he ran his hand down the body of the bow.

“Ah, females don’t wield weapons, typically, Princess.” He looked almost uncomfortable.

“Well,” She smirked his way, “I don’t think I am just any female.”

“If he is unwilling to teach you, I---” Thorin started.

“I would be honored to teach you, Princess,” Nylian threw a look over her head towards Thorin, “I just think we might want to keep those lessons private since it isn’t widely accepted.”

“Deal.” She conceded, a hidden smile on her face.