•─────⋅☾Caspian ☽⋅─────•

“Wait.. Your taking me?” I hiss as my arms and legs ached, even if my desire is to escape them all of my limbs feel as though they are being held down by boulders. My rescuer the hot blond elf with piercing crystal blue eyes turns to glare at me.

“Would you enjoy laying on the earth and be consumed by which ever rabid animal comes your way instead?” His gaze and words struck me as sharp and painfully as blade. What did this complete stranger care for my safety?

For years our kind and his kind have not gotten along. This is why we aren’t allowed on their side of the forest. Despite a few scuffles here and there. Though there hasn’t been bloodshed the Elves have always treated my kind with contempt. Yet here they were and for some unknown reason they had rescued me from my imminent demise.

When he scoffed at me I realized he expected me to offer him an answer. Damn this man elf. Normally it took a lot to get under my skin. I don’t know why he bothered saving me. He appeared to be so cold and angry. As if his blood is full of ice.

“No.” I answer with a trembling and shaky voice that I didn’t even recognize. With a smirk the bossy elf turns and starts to walk. The one elf beside him turned and glared daggers at me then turns around. I would flip him the bird but I can’t lift my own limbs.

The moment the Elf carries me starts to move, its like knives are shooting through my veins. I let out a long groan then grit my teeth. No one even turns my way. The pain itself appears to be the price of being alive. Not a bad price. Pain can be lived through even if the agony is only in these moments. My eyes gaze upward past the handsome Elf carrying me toward the night settling into the sky. Tiny wisps of light start to glow between tree branches.

It had to be some sort of magic. They were oddly beautiful, as we walk I let the sight of them relax me as I try to ignore the blinding pain crawling and aching through every inch of my body. Nothing would make this alright. In one fowl victory my entire life is over. Everything I’ve ever known left behind. My thoughts flip around even though William bullied me my entire stay with the Knights not once would I have thought so many of them would turn against me and stand by his side. The aching burn in my hearts matches each fresh wound that covers my body. A part of me is certain that they wouldn’t even mourn me.

Surely the commanders wouldn’t give William anything but a slap on the wrist if he even is discovered as the reason that I am dead. This is too much for my young mind to handle. I just turned nineteen two days ago. A month ago, I remember the Knighting ceremony in front of the duke. So many voices full of excitement and a party where I got so drunk I barely remembered my name. My mind still remembers the proud look of a dark haired, broad chested man with long black hair and hazel eyes glowing with pride.

‘You’ve come so far since the scrappy little thing I pulled out of the gutter.’ Sir Clocksworth’s mouth twists into a smile. At that moment, I felt believed in that moment everything would be okay. I’d made it. I’d never known peace like that moment.

“Haunta!” A screeching voice caused me to turn my head back to the present. Eyes narrowing an angry female elf had a raised hand as if that would stop my mysterious savior. From the way that she that she stood that clearly meant stop.

“What ever do you mean?” The cold calculating tone of my saviors voice sounded like a monster who just found himself prey. The icy chill in the air could be felt in that moment and I couldn’t help it as I shivered which caused a whole new sense of agony.

“Caur firin minnaui!” She points right at me as she furiously shouts my saviors face. Somehow, that had been her biggest mistake. The male elf decorated in the same armor grabs her by her throat in a swift barely catchable movement and slams her on the floor.

“Calm yourself.” The man with the loosely tied blond braid steps forward toward them. The one holding me didn’t move closer. I could barely hear the hushed grown the female next. A creeping feeling came over me as the one who appeared to be guarding my savior held out a hand to the female to help them off the ground. From what I could see fear is clear in her eyes. Any sign of anger gone.  

“Lets go.” My blond savior says pointedly shoving the female out of the way as he walks forward. The smirking glance he gave me for a flicker of a second sent a warm fire through my body that clears the night chill from my body.

“Your father will hear of this.” The guard says softly toward my savior. His shoulders shrug and he continues walking as if he has no other worries in the world.

Clearly we are nearly to his home as a path in the trees have clearly been cleared. The rocks on either side of the path with pale blue runes that glow as if breathing. Elvish magic fills every inch of this side of the forest. It makes sense. Veilwood is its own country. Tall trees cover much of this place. Not many humans are allowed beyond the borders. Most that wander in don’t return. A part of me is unsure what would happen to me. I nearly died on their borders and this blond one has been the one who saved my life.

Slowly the path widens up and I can see at the distance, a shining white gate sparkling with magic. Ten feet away four guards raise their hands to their chest in a salute at seeing the blond one approach. Curiously, they moved to open the gate without any questions unlike that other female guard who just about lost her mind at the sight of me.

Standing beyond the open gate is a man dressed similiarly to the blond one but more decorated. Long blond hair gently around his shoulders and on his head a crown of antlers.

His piercing crystal blue eyes glaring dangerously at me. A frown visible. As he stares at me I feel a brand new shock of terror through me. His whole stature exudes power and authority. As if with one flick of the wrist he could ensure that I am disposed of. Without revealing anything he turns his head this time toward the blond savior.

“Ohhh someone’s in trouble.” Teased the guard nudging the blond. The blond shoves him away. Then they separate. Despite how serious the situation seems to me the way they are giggling it is as if it were not such a big deal.

“With me.” The blond waves his hand toward the man carrying me while the other guard separates. My limbs still feel like led but being in this place sends a hum through my body. As if a gentle wave of peace washes through every single fiber of my body. I didn’t understand why being in this strange place made me feel this way.