~Lilliana

I wasn't sure what to expect when Corrin brought me outside. I think I understood though, when he led me towards the sprawling gardens of the castle. 

It was a myriad of colors and smells. Everywhere I looked, there was a different array that took my breath away. Lush flower beds all set up in an elaborate pattern, tall flowering trees that towered over the gardens and lovely shrubs, each intricately cut in several complex yet graceful looking designs. In the center of it all was what looked to be a gazebo covered by overgrown wisteria vines, climbing hydrangea, and a few more I didn't recognize. It was gorgeous. Magical even.

"Corrin... this is beyond beautiful. I'm not even sure how to describe it. Do you tend to all of this yourself?" I just couldn't imagine a man who looked as hard and menacing as Corrin spending hours nurturing something until it grew so vibrantly.

"I do. This used to be my mother's garden though. I don't believe that I, nor my dad, would have ever started a garden ourselves."

He spoke fondly as he mentioned his parents and, just for a second, I thought I saw sadness in his eyes.

"Do you miss them?" 

He didn't answer right away. Just stared into space for what felt like a few minutes. Eventually, he nodded and answered, still not looking at me.

"Yeah.... Yeah. I miss them. A lot actually. I know your people thought poorly of them—of all of us, really— but I loved them. And Amina knows how much I wish I'd had their guidance when I first ascended the throne. Shit. If they were still alive, I wouldn't have even had to accept the crown so early."

"Oh right! You were only 16 when you became king after Eldora atta-"

"Stop!" His sudden growl shocked me and the color drained from my face as I was left staring at that cold, harsh glare.

Then as sudden as it had appeared, his expression crumbled.

"Please... Can we just... not talk about that?"

"Oh, sure... Sorry."

He turned away, letting out a heavy sigh before attempting to speak again.

"Listen... I think you're really great—far better than I could have hoped. Especially since I'd been expecting the worse. Under different circumstances, I'm sure we might have been friends. I think... maybe we still can be. But we're going to have to work with each other if we want this to work out. And I need this to work out. I'm not desperate for the alliance like your kingdom is but marriage will be of benefit to me and now that I've seen how well we get along, I'd prefer if it was you rather than any other."

So that's why he accepted the alliance. Not to take revenge, but because there was something he could gain from it. 

"Alright." I responded finally. "I want that too. My kingdom may be filled with snobby bastards and prudes, as you so eloquently put it, but they're still my people—or were my people, I guess— and I want to help them in any way I can. "

"Great. I'm glad we're on the same page. If you don't mind, I'd like to set down a few ground rules."

At my nod, he continued.

"Number one: We don't talk about that day or that kingdom. Ever."

As in the day of the attack. When Eldora conquered Aella. It had been a hot topic, spreading across the entire continent in a matter of days. And of course, mostly everyone had praised  Eldora for finally defeating Aella because everyone hated them. Everyone had thought Aella was done for. Their monarchs were dead, their kingdom burnt to the ground and their remaining people either enslaved or on the run.

But then Corrin rose up, out of nowhere and used his magic, more powerful than ever seen before, to build back his kingdom. That was 12 years ago.

"Number two: Talk to me. If you have something on your mind, if there's any problem, please just tell me.  I think communication is the most important part of any relationship. No secrets and no going behind each other's backs. I promise I'll show the same courtesy towards you."

"That seems reasonable."

"Good. And number three: Let's make the best out of this. I know we're not marrying for love and we may probably never feel that way about each other, but that doesn't mean we can't be happy together."

"Agreed." I said with a smile. That was actually very relieving to hear. I know of many arranged marriages which turned out rather dreadful, causing nothing but misery to one or both partners. Just look at my own parents for Amina's sake! Those two never sleep in the same room outside of trying to sire an heir, they treat all their interactions as though they were business deals, and I even saw them shaking hands after deciding on the new color to paint our sitting room.

"Great. If you have any rules of your own or anything you'd like to share?"

"Um... yes, actually. I don't plan on being an ornament to hang off your arm after we're married. I want to have an actual say in politics and matters concerning the kingdom."

"Of course. Two minds are better than one, right? You shouldn't worry. I have no intention of treating you as any less than the magnificent queen I'm sure you'll be.

"Thank you." I replied, truly meaning it. And because I sensed that this conversation was over for now, "So, you were giving me a tour of the garden? I think you've done a lovely job of maintaining it all these years."

"I'm flattered. Initially, I hadn't known a single thing about starting a garden but it all worked out."

"Starting it? But I thought you said your mother—"

"...was a terrible gardener!" He laughed. "Anything that woman touched died within a week. After she... passed, I thought that the best way to honor her memory was to give her the thing she'd always wanted."

"Oh, wow. That's so sweet of you."

"Thank you. But anyways, this isn't what I really wanted to show you."

"It's not?"

"Nope." He said as he took my hand and started guiding me towards the center of the garden. Towards the vine covered gazebo that looked straight out of a fairy tale.

Just before we entered he turned to me again.

"Inside this is my biggest pride and joy but it's also my biggest secret. Only a handful of people know about it."

Everytime I realize just how mysterious this man is, he goes on to prove that it can get so much worse.

"So why are you showing me? We only just met."

"No secrets between us, remember. Besides, for some imperceptible reason, I think I already trust you, princess."

"Then what about that third door in your room?"

"Oh, you can look if you want." He said with a smirk. "I was merely advising against it but you are free to do as you please."

"Alright, then. Are we going in now?"

He nodded and pulled out a necklace from around his neck that I hadn't noticed before. At the end of it was a small gold key which he used to unlock the door. Then he pulled me inside quickly and locked the door behind us.

It only occurred to me now that I should probably be more wary being alone with a man I just met today especially after he just locked us in a building away from all our servants. Somehow, I didn't feel threatened at all and only looked around curiously.

 The space was dimly lit and it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust but once it did, I was astonished. The inside of the gazebo was definitely bigger than it looked from the outside. In fact, if it wasn't for the door behind us, I wouldn't believe we were in the gazebo at all. 

Rather than the wooden walls that I had expected, we seemed to be surrounded by walls of foreign and peculiar plants. The ground was covered in rich earth and the ceilings which stretched high above us seemed to be made of vines which hung down like curtains of vibrant colors.

It was only when we began walking that I realized that the space wasn't just huge. It was infinite. And that's when I finally understood what this place was. Magic.

My eyes darted everywhere as we walked, not willing to miss a single thing. And there was so much to see. The dim light which was produced by tiny spheres of light which floated around the space. The exotic plants which moved out of our way to allow us to pass. The faint melody which seemed to emanate from the very air around us.

"Mallory?" Corrin called out unexpectedly. "Come out. There's someone I want you to meet."

Was there someone living here?

But it wasn't a person that greeted us. Or at least, it wasn't a human.

The strange creature stood at about two feet tall, with grey skin and huge watery eyes that peered up at me shyly. 

"Who is she?" It asked as it scurried to hide behind Corrin's legs. It's voice was a musical sound that soothed any apprehension I'd felt after spotting the creature.

"This is Lilly." Corrin answered softly as if he were talking to a child. "We're getting married."

"Really?" It asked, as it peered at me again. "So you won't be sad any more?" 

What was it talking about? I looked to Corrin to see if he would explain but he only knelt down, closer to it's level and smiled back at the creature eanderingly. 

"Yeah. I won't be sad any more."

The creature looked at me again with a smile this time.

"Thank you!" It chirped happily.

"Oh... uh. Sure?"

It turned it's attention back to Corrin and the two began whispering about something I couldn't make out. I took the time to observe the creature more closely.

Its hands and feet were webbed, its eyes black and ears mostly round but the tips tapered off into thin points. Atop  its head were two long and sharp horns, similar to that of an animal but perhaps more curvy and behind it, a long thin tail stretched out. Unable to resist the temptation, I reached towards it to see what it feels like. 

Suddenly, Corrin's hand shot out, stopping me, and the spooking the creature which dived behind him to hide again.

"Sorry." Corrin told it before turning back to me. "Don't touch them without their permission. You might get hurt."

"Oh. Sorry." I apologized before what he said struck me. "Them? There are more than one?"

"You misunderstand. Mallory has no gender. They are neither a 'he' nor a 'she'. The word 'they' is used to refer to people like this."

"O-oh. Right. I'm sorry. I guess I still have to get used to Aellan customs. Things like this were never spoken about in Tarka."

"I understand. But you seem really open and inquisitive. You'll adapt in no time."

"So what exactly is... Mallory? I've never heard of such a creature."

"I don't believe there is a name. You see... I made Mallory the night I first got my powers.  I'd been... very emotional at the time and with my powers being so new and so volatile, it reacted strongly and I'd accidentally achieved a feat never before seen in all of Aella.

I created life..."

"Wait, really? How is that even possible?"

"I... don't know. Creating life is a very powerful gift... more powerful than any man should be capable of. That's why it's such a big secret. If the other kingdoms realise that I had been able to create a life, it would paint an even bigger target on my back."

"Wow... That's amazing. I promise not to tell anyone. You have my word."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

"Mallory appreciates it as well..." The creature spoke, poking its head from around Corrin's leg.

Their big round eyes searched mine and while they appeared satisfied with whatever they'd found, Mallory still seemed reluctant to come out from hiding. 

I crouched down slowly with a smile, hoping to encourage them to come closer.

"I'm Lilliana but you can call me Lilly. It's very nice to meet you, Mallory."

"You too." Mallory said before shyly ducking back behind Corrin's legs.

For the next few minutes or maybe even an hour- time feels weird inside this place - Corrin told me a bit more about the castle and its inhabitants. 

Every now and then, Mallory chirped into the conversation to tell us which things they wanted to see or what snacks they'd like the next time we visit. 

It was actually really fun and I'd even gotten Mallory to talk to me for a bit longer.