Seven
We entered two open large cherry red wooden doors that went all the way to the ceiling. I couldn't even imagine the strength it would have taken to open and close those doors. The room we entered was a throne room. There were three golden thrones at the end of a long green and gold carpet. I felt a sigh of relief flow through me as I noted the thrones were empty. We walked the length of the throne room and circled behind the thrones. There was another hidden stone door in the wall. Garrik commanded it to open. It opened into a circular room with a dome glass ceiling. There was a large wooden table that had a man in black robes eating breakfast, he barely looked up at us when we entered. His hair was gray, long and pulled back into a braid. He reminded me of an old wizard, except he was an elf and other than the gray hair he looked to be thirty-five at most. He was reading papers that spread all over the table. Was this the King? I imagined a more formal setting for meeting royalty.
When he finished whatever he was reading he looked up with bright blue eyes and flashed Garrik and myself a huge grin. He pushed out his chair rising to greet us. He was every bit as tall as Garrik and as well built. Although, Garrik is more attractive. He wrapped Garrik in a big hug.
“Son!” His voice boomed. This was a man of power. Garrik's voice didn't have that sound that would startle everyone around.
“I am so glad you have returned safely and have found your flame!” The King's eyes turned to me appraising me. I hoped he liked what he found. Refusing to look away at my feet like my body wanted me too. I stood tall and did a small curtsy.
“Your Majesty,” I said with a slight bow. He laughed a booming laugh that shook the table we stood near. I was taken a back and leaned into the safety of Garrik feeling the now comforting shock as my hand reached for his.
“Child, please don't be so formal with me. We are bound through my son.”
“Vera, this is my father, King Rew.”
“Nice to meet you King Rew,” I reached my hand out for a handshake. He grabbed it and pulled me into a deep hug.
“I am so glad my son has finally found you and brought you home. He has been such a pain these last few years.”
King Rew pulled away and told us that Garrik's mother has already eaten and is out in the gardens. Apparently she is an impatient woman like myself and we did not arrive on time she excused herself. I teased the King that she sounded like my kind of person.
He laughed a great laugh again and turned to Garrik, “You need to take her to Toby this afternoon to start her training. I can see what you mean by missing parts.”
I flushed confused. “I am missing parts?” I ask concerned.
“No you are whole, but you are missing parts of your energy. It is like bits and pieces of what is you are buried away. You are no longer the child we all saw floating in our garden. We want to help bring you back into your true self. Back to life.”
“Sorry, Vera that is what I wanted to talk to you about before our morning plans were derailed.”
I nodded not knowing what to say to the two handsome elf men standing before me. We said our goodbye promising to eat dinner with them in the throne room tonight. The King was sure to tell me that news of my arrival has traveled fast and there is no use hiding when all know I am here. Garrik took my hand as we walked down another hall to a private garden.
“You didn't tell me that others had seen me floating in you garden. How did that even happen?” I was becoming caught into deep thought. “The only way that could have happened is if I was able to travel the realms like you.”,
“That is exactly what you can do, but you never even realized when you did it. It is like you would get lost in your thoughts and were in Elmora. You never even noticed you were here. Every time one of us tried to talk to you, you were pulled out of your thoughts and fell back into the Human Realm.”
We had stopped at the entrance to the garden. Garrik leaned over me as I backed up against the wall next to the doorway. He was pinning me there with his body. I felt the warmth of electricity shoot through me. Not feeling brave enough to look at Garrik my eyes drifted towards the floor. He placed his hand on my chin lifting my face to his. He closed his teal eyes as he brushed his lips against mine softly. Then his mouth began to reach deeper like he needed more. So much more. His tongue pressed between my lips and my entire body began to tingle. I needed more as well and pushed my body into his. His arm came to cup the back of my head as our kiss reached heights that I never before experienced. Finally, I had to come to my senses. I placed my hand on his chest and pushed him back disconnecting our mouths. I was breathing heavy and felt tears in my eyes.
“What was that?” asked breathlessly, and then answering my own question I gasped, “Flame. It has something to do with me being your flame doesn't it?” a tear had begun to fall down my cheek and Garrik wasted no time wiping it away with his finger.
“Yes. I should explain more, but I worry how you will take it. I can keep you here forever if I wanted, but I don't want to make you do anything. I want you to choose to be here with me.”
“Eh hmm” a female's voice made to pull our attention away from each other. I have no idea how long she had been standing there. We jumped a part.
“Mother! I would like to introduce to you Vera. Vera this is Queen Lyra, my Mother.”
The Queen had the same sandy hair and teal eyes as Garrik. Garrik gets his size from his father but his soft gentle looks came from his mother. Queen Lyra was also much smaller than the other elves I had seen. She was only a few inches taller than myself. She smiled a big toothy white smile and stepped forward pulling me into a hard hug. The Queen was much stronger than she appeared.
“I am so glad you are finally here Vera! I have heard so much about you over the years.”
“I thought I was only seen in the garden.”
“Oh no dear, it was the garden where you were seen first. We have a private royal forest over that wall that you also liked to stalk through. I appealed to the Elven Council for you, you know. It only made sense to do so when Garrik and you share such a unique magic.”
“I am sorry this is a lot for me to take in. I only realized that Garrik and I shared gifts a few moments ago. I didn't know that it meant anything.”
“Oh pish posh. I will leave all that for Garrik to explain. I have a feeling you can sense
more than you actually know. Following your instincts will serve you well while you are here at court.” Her eyes had the same little sparkle that I have often seen in Garrik. “I am glad to see that my gowns fit you well. I will send a seamstress up to your rooms today to have them shortened a few more inches.”
“Oh wow, I didn't even realize this was your gown. Thank you so much. I am sorry I didn't have anything satisfactory to wear.”
The Queen and Garrik broke down laughing. “No one expected you to have clothing for court, and I am the only one here even close to your size dear Vera.” She gave me another sweet motherly smile. It made me melt a little on the inside. I never had a motherly mother. My mother was strong and practical. She made sure I knew how to fend for myself and work hard.
“Garrik, take her to the kitchen for some sustenance and then go find Toby. You need to get to work as soon as possible. It is almost noon and I can tell she hasn't eaten.” Turning to me she added, “I will see you tonight at dinner. We will dine in the throne room and invite the people within our area. I would like to announce Garrik finding his flame.”
Garrik's face went white as she turned to leave. “Okay Garrik,” I said his name with a little extra force than needed. “You need to tell me what this flame business is, I can tell I may not like it.”
Garrik gestured for me to step outside and sit along the edge of a basic but pretty enough garden fountain.
“I am going to get straight to the point. You are my match. Our magics match, and our flames spark, you are destined to be mine, um to be my Queen.”
I shook my head and replied without thought. “Not possible I am human.”
“Your body is human but your soul is elf”
“That makes no sense. How does something like that even happen?”
“In the Human Realm when someone dies they have three choices. They can lurk in the underworld lost forever, they can be reincarnated, or if they are good souls they can go to the Heaven Realm to live out eternity.”
“Sounds like Hell, Heaven, and Earth to me. You know I am not religious, but after seeing another realm I guess it is all possible. It still doesn't explain how an elf soul would be born in a human body. I know my parents are my parents as well. I have my mom's shape of eyes, and my dad's wide mouth. The only thing unique about me is my ever color changing eyes.”
“Your elven eyes.” Garrik corrected me, “These are Royal gardens. Only the royal family are permitted here or I would send for food to be brought to us.”
“You are changing the subject again. Let's get through this first then head to the kitchens. I feel like I have been proposed to, but not even sure if or how that is possible.”
“I haven't proposed yet. Elven souls are re born into human bodies when they die in the human realm. It is the only way an elven soul has the chance to return to their own realm, and even then it is unlikely. So, at some point in a past life you died while visiting the human realm. You were reborn into a human body. A human body with an elven soul. You have locked away your elven parts trying to protect yourself and hide. You have some strong instincts, Vera. Toby will be able to help us bring it forth and when he does your looks might change . You may appear more elvish than human.”
“I really don't think I would look good as Elvis.” I teased. Garrik smiled. He didn't get my joke. Apparently, I hadn't ever mentioned Elvis before or he would have done his research.
“Elvish. Not Elvis.”
“It was a joke.” I punched him in the arm and went to stand.
“So, does this mean you are willing to stay?”
“Yes, there is nothing left for me in the Human Realm. I never quite fit in anyways. I might as well see where this goes. I am not sure I am ready to commit to immortality or being forever yours. Let's get me coffee and food. Oh Lord, you do have coffee in Elmora right? All bets are off if you can't get me coffee and my music. I really need music for any kind of training.”
Garrik laughed, “I bought you a coffee machine years ago when it was first decided you needed to be here. I even told the kitchen to figure out a way to make it work!”
“And my music?”
This time he rolled his eyes and reached into a pocket underneath his tunic pulling out my phone.
“Oh Garrik!” I leapt forward into his arms planting a kiss right on his lips. No one had ever been thoughtful in regards to me before. Something as simple as him grabbing my phone before we left completed me.
“But how are we going to keep it charged?”
“I have a solar powered charger I keep in my room. I had to get a cell phone while I was in the Human Realm hunting for my missing flame.”
“I am sorry. I would have never hid from you had I known.”
“I know Vera, I know. Elves all have the ability to make humans forget. Unless we will you to remember we will have always appear as a dream”
With that we walked in silence to the kitchen. The palace is mesmerizing and so large I doubted I would ever be able to find my way around it. I could only make it from my room to the throne room safely, oh and the private court yard I arrived in the night before. Upon entering the kitchen every elf there stopped and stared. It went quiet and someone dropped a pan onto the perfect stone floor. The sound echoed through the room. These are the first regular elves I have seen and it was plain to see they didn't know what to do. Was it because I am human? Heat flushed to my cheeks as embarrassment warmed over my body again.
“Everyone this is Lady Vera, she missed breakfast and would like some sustenance brought to her room. You will all treat her as you treat me, Royally.” The last word was a command. Everyone looked around and nodded their heads. Garrik then turned to a tiny man, pixie? A Pixie! I took a breath in as the tiny man climbed up some little stairs onto the counter.
“Parsley, I would like you to meet Lady Vera. Vera, this is Parsley. He is the head chef.”
I couldn't stop myself “Well met, Parsley. Are you a pixie like a faerie?” I took in his little waif like body and pointed ears.
Everyone in the kitchen sucked in a ton of air and Parsley's little face went red. Red Red. Redder than red even.
Garrik chuckled, “Take no offense, Parsley. Vera is new here and doesn't know.”
“Do I have wings Lady Vera?” I shook my head no and immediately began to apologize. Garrik put his finger to my lips.
“You do not have to apologize to anyone ever. It is unbecoming of your station with our family.” Again everyone's eyes went wide. I had to get out of here.
I nodded to Parsley, picked up my dress to prevent tripping and rushed out. Once out of the kitchen I began to pick up speed faster and faster until I was running as fast as I could not looking where I was going. I needed to clear my head and the best way to do that was to run. My head is no longer in the game. My flight instincts have kicked into full gear. I rounded a corner plowing into a wall.
I was sent flying backwards my bottom hitting the floor hard. Looking up I realize I didn't run into a wall. I ran into a man, taller than Garrik even. He had beautiful dark mocha skin. He was dressed in the same style of soft leather pants that Garrik likes to wear. His tunic was a dark brown contrasting the tan color of his pants. The big difference was that there were no sleeves and his giant muscles bulged outwards. He had dark black straight hair cut short and worn shaggy. His eyes sneered and pierced into me with what felt like hate. They were the most unsettling shade of yellow. This man was a predator.
“Lady Vera I presume.” His voice was rough and thick. I had heard it before. Today in my bedroom.
“Echo?” I asked as I attempted to straighten my dress so I could climb to my feet.
“Oh, you have heard me before haven't you? You ran to your little Prince so he could fight for your honor.” he sneered.
Surprising me he stepped forward and reached out a giant hand to help me to my feet. I didn't want to grab it, yet it would save me from embarrassing myself further by falling on my face attempting to get up on own. My hand settled in his and a sharp electric shock reverberated down my arm causing my heart to skip. I dropped my hand and rubbed it into my dress as hard as I could. I scooted backwards on the floor and looked up at Echo. His eyes were wide and his mouth hung open like his jaw was on a hinge. This wasn't possible I am connected to Garrik, not this human hating Echo.
“Echo! What did you do to Lady Vera?” Garrik's voice echoed down the hall as he turned the corner. It had been seconds since I had ran into Echo and fell to the floor but it felt like minutes, hours, days. I felt exactly the same looking at this giant of an Elf-man as I did when I looked at Garrik.
“I did nothing to your human. She turned the corner and ran into me, fell to the floor. I was about to help her to her feet.”
I felt a tingling feeling as Garrik lifted me from the floor from behind.
“Tread softly, Echo. You may be a Prince where you are from but here you are a trainer, and Lady Vera is my flame. Your dislike of humans will not be tolerated.”
A prince? Why does every elven prince make my heart go wild, and what kind of elf is Echo? I nod to Echo still stunned into silence as Garrik led me away.
“Be careful around Echo. He does not like your kind and he is a Dark Elf. It does not mean he is a bad person. Dark Elves balance the Light. Light Elves bring forth the arts, music, education, all things that can be enlightening. Dark Elves are protectors of the realm, warriors, but they are also very talented healers. The Light has scouts, warriors, and healers as well it is just more of the Dark's specialty.” I nodded my understanding as we stepped into my room. Taryn was pulling gowns out of my wardrobe.