The First Elven Queen

Reasoning

Along the way home, Ayla stopped by the tailor’s home and was glad to see that the clothing she had only dropped off that morning were already finished. Despite the attitude of the tailor previously, Ayla gave her a couple of extra coins, which earned her a thankful smile.

Stopping at a few vendors, she picked up a couple of things to surprise Ada with. It was the least she could do for the old woman who sacrificed a lot for her.

When she reached the smaller path that connected to the hut she shared with Ada, she paused. The inside of the hut was still lit up despite it being well into the night, but that wasn’t what caught her attention.

Outside and to the side was a polished carriage of light colored wood for the main body and gold trimming. The wheels were thick with golden spokes that, instead of the typical straight, were wavy to look like vines. The driver seat had two men sitting holding the reins to six pure white horses with intricate straps attaching them to the carriage. Flanking the carriage were six men in uniform, though it was too dark to see details, on top of pitch black horses.

The last thing that caught her attention was a white beast with antlers, not unlike the one the Prince took down just that day but much larger, that was hitched like a horse to the post near the door to the hut.

Letting her eyes dart around, she tried to find any other anomalies around, but the forest was only filled with the sound of chirping crickets.

As she got closer, the men on the black horses looked her way, their eyes glowing a deep amber, but it was almost as if they recognized her and the glow faded and they went back to quietly speaking to each other.

Pushing open the door to the hut, she looked around, finding Ada standing in front of a basin of water, cleaning her hands, “Ada?”

It was almost like she shocked her with lightning with how she jolted, looking up, “Oh, Ayla!” She scrambled over to the young woman and took the pile of clothes and treats she had picked up along the way home, “You have a very special visitor. He is waiting for you in your room.”

“In my room?” I glanced at the door that connected to my room, “Shouldn’t I have a chaperone?”

When Ada chuckled, Ayla relaxed a little, “Oh no, sweet girl, there will be no need.” She gave her a gentle push towards her room, “It would be unwise to keep him waiting much longer though; he is a very busy man.”

Thinking back to the carriage, she had to secretly agree as she started to the door to her room.

Pushing open the splintering wooden door to show all the candles in her room lit, giving her a clear view of a man wearing a cloak sitting on her bed, her book in his hands as if he was examining the cover.

It was almost as if he hadn’t noticed her presence until she opened her mouth to speak only for him to speak first, “Do you enjoy this book?”

Taking another step into her room, she gave a single nod, looking over the title as well, “I mainly use the book to… try and learn more about myself,” She licked her bottom lip, “I am half-elf.”

“This might make this easier then.” He placed the book back on her nightstand before standing, towering her by several inches, and motioning to the bed, “Please sit. We have much to discuss.”

Looking back through the door seeing Ada sitting in a chair refolding the clothing, she didn’t seem concerned, so she shouldn’t, right?

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she looked up right as he raised his hands to lower the hood of his cloak. He had long black hair that he had half up, the top half braided back, while the lower half hung loose, tucked behind pointed ears. His pale skin was smooth and free of hair or blemishes making his violet eyes that much more bold on his face.

“You’re him…” Ayla felt faint slightly, “You’re my father.”

“I am.” He answered, guarded, “I have come to bring you home.”

She narrowed her eyes, “I am home.”

She could see his chest deflate as he let out a long breath, “I should’ve known you’d gain your mother’s attitude.” He looked around and pulled over a chair from the corner of her room so he could sit directly in front of her, “I did this because I had no other choice.”

Letting out a sound of frustration, she looked away for a moment before looking down at her lap, “I want to understand, then,” She linked her fingers together, “Would you please explain?”

His facial features didn’t change, but she could tell he was eager, “When you were born, I was very young; I still am, really,” His eyes closed as if remembering, “I referred to your mother as my wife, though my father never let us wed since she was human, and he despised her.” His eyes opened, though she could tell he was still far away, “I still believe that he had a hand in her death, not just the childbed fever…” He blinked, his eyes focusing back on her, “When he found she was pregnant he gave us a potion to ensure you were fully elven, but he gave the condition that you must be male and he would spare you… When you were born a female, I had to take every measure to make sure you were safe.”

So, she wasn’t half-elf, but full elf?

She waited for him to continue, but when he didn’t she couldn’t help but be confused, “Okay, I understand I was in danger, but just because I am female?” He gave her a flustered look, “I know absolutely nothing about you…”

“I see.” His eyes flashed to the book before he grumbled out, “I guess I can’t expect human literature to get elven culture correct.” He looked back at her, “My father was King Virion of the Etriya Kingdom.”

A single word stuck out to her in the sentence, “Was?”

“Was.” He confirmed, “He died a fortnight ago, making me King Myrdin.” His thin Adam’s apple bobbed, “As to why it was an issue of gender is due to succession. The Elven Kingdom has always been passed down to the first born male within my family.”

“Then produce a male?” She clicked her teeth together, her jaw clenching in confusion.

“If I had the option, I would,” He gained the far away look again, “But I bonded with your mother despite my father’s objections…”

Ayla inhaled sharply, finally understanding, something the book she read finally turned useful, “And because I was still alive and of the blood of my mother, you remained bonded to my mother… That is why your father wished to kill me… To completely sever the bond...”

Elves have the ability to bond to their partner, tying their souls together, extending their lifespans to match each other. It was the ultimate way to show your devotion to the one you loved. It wasn’t a common practice anymore among elves, though, since bonding tied their reproduction to their partner as well. The population became critically low and so many decided to stop doing it. And elves certainly didn’t bond outside of their race.

She gave her sire an appraising look as well; he must be powerful if he survived his bond partner’s death. Most bonded pairs died together due to the strong connection to their souls.

“You are correct,” He spoke a little more confident now that she seemed to understand, “You are Princess Ayla, Heir to the Etriyan Kingdom,” He summed up, “And you will be the first Queen of Elves ever in Etriyan history.”

Her fingers picked at each other when she got the overwhelming feeling in her chest, “I will not abandon Ada.”

“I would not either.” His eyes looked around the room, “I thought I gave her enough coin to live in better conditions, but she informed me that she sent you off for schooling…”

“Yes, she has taken very good care of me.” She looked back up, the waterline of her eyes filling, “She did her best despite doing it all by herself.”

For the first time, he gave her a small smile, “Before you arrived, we had already agreed that she would come with us and be your companion.” He tilted his head forward, “She will be well taken care of.”

Ayla looked around her room, “I don’t have much…”

He stood, “I would only collect the things of value to you.” He moved the chair out of the way then held out a hand for her to grasp, “Thank you, daughter… I hope you will have patience with me.”

Her heart skipped a beat at being called daughter as she placed her hand in his to stand; not even Ada called her daughter, “I’ll try, father.”

“We have a lot of work to do so you are prepared for your new duty.” His violet eyes took on a glow as he leaned down to press his lips against her forehead, “Thank you for waiting for me.” 

Her breath caught in her chest; her dream! That was the last thing she thought before her mind went blank.

The rocking of her body and sound of hooves clopping brought Ayla wearily out of her unconsciousness. On her lap was a thin blanket of a thick cotton material that made her almost too warm. 

She was slow to sit up, but once she got herself situated, she looked around and mentally confirmed that she was inside of a horse carriage. 

The first carriage she had ever ridden in.

There were two seats on each side that were soft with light blue velvet and well padded, taking the edge off of the rocking of the carriage. The windows were partially covered by darker blue fabric that were tied with tassels. On each side of the seat, about head height, were candles, though not lit since there was plenty of sunlight shining through the glass of the windows.

Looking out each side of the window, she didn’t recognize anything around them, though she hadn’t traveled before. The furthest she had gone away from the village was just into the local woods to gather herbs and edible berries.

Skimming the windows with her fingers, she found the latch to open it outward, and stick her head out to see where they were going. The wind gently brushed her cheeks enough to make her need to squint her eyes, but she loved the feeling. 

A loud, deep grunt from behind startled her to look behind to see her father riding the beast that had been hitched in front of Ada’s hut.

Speaking of Ada, “Where is Ada? I thought you said she was returning with us.”

“She asked to stay behind for a week to make preparations and inform the tavern you worked at that you will no longer be cooking there.” She could see the disapproval on his face and she had to assume it was of her work at the tavern, “I’ll send for her then.”

“Oh.” She tried to hide her disappointment.

“Halt!” He shouted out suddenly and when the driver brought the carriage to a stop, he jumped off the back of the beast, “Would you like to ride?”

Her eyes widened, “Ride that beast?”

“He is an elk, but yes.” He came over and opened the door, his hand held out, “Well?”

She put her hand in his and stepped down, her footing a little from riding in a carriage for the first time, “I’ve never been on a horse, let alone an elk.”

“I would trust my elk over a horse any day.” He led her to stand next to the beast, her head only reaching his back, “Though, we have to watch the antlers sometimes.”

With that, he lifted her up by the waist and with only a slight struggle to swing her leg over because of her skirt, she was on the back of the great steed, “Oh, wow.”

She could see so much and so far from up on its back. From here, she could see a massive forest that the path they were on was leading into. Beyond that, just peaking above the treetops, were the towers of a large castle.

“We should reach the castle by tomorrow afternoon.” He was looking the same direction she was, but she wondered if he could actually see the towers.

“That is Etriya Castle?” She glanced back between the huge antlers towards the forest.

“It is.” He confirmed before climbing onto the elk to sit behind her, “Hold tight.”

With a click of his tongue, the beast started forward, making her squirm for something to hold. Pressing her palms into the shoulders of the beast under her, she worried she would hurt the creature. Taking a deep breath, she straightened herself the best she could to feel more balanced, and relaxed.

When she looked forward, she became wary of the dark forest ahead, “Is the forest safe?”

“Normally, yes,” His voice sounded tired, “We’ve recently had a few rogue werewolves take up residency within.”

“What is wrong with rogue werewolves?” She tilted her head to look back at him.

His brows came together a bit more, “Rogues are outcasts of their species, usually for good reason like troublemaking or even treason.”

She hummed, “I guess.”

He looked down at her for a second, before shrugging, “Anyway, it is nothing to worry about. We will be staying right outside the forest tonight and will travel at dawn tomorrow to finish our journey.”

Just as he said, they were about a mile outside of the forest where they stopped. That night was the first night she slept under the stars and she promised herself she would do it again.