Four
My eyes were heavy, and my head ached. I could feel that I was in the softest of beds. The room was spinning. Oh no, lift my arm to my head and began to panic. What made me drink? I hadn't been so inebriated to feel like this in years. I began to cry. Why, why why would I relapse like this? I feel like absolute hell. To make it worse I knew this didn't feel like my bed. The sheets were of a high quality and the mattress seemed to hug my body in all the right places. The smell was of rich earth and fresh spring rain. Something was so comforting about it. I need to open my eyes, but they felt so heavy. To make matters worse it felt like the bed was rocking slightly making my stomach growl. I am going to get sick. My eyes fly open, the world is still a blur as I stand trying to make it to my bathroom. My feet hit the cold wood floor. Wood floor? I don't have a wood floor. Someone tall moves in to steady me.
“Vera, you are okay you need to lay back down.” He, it's a he, a tall he with the most pleasing voice. A voice that flows over my body in a gentle wave caressing my aching head and back. Yes, that is right I am going to lay down and I am going to be okay. I had little fight in me as I felt so awful. I feel myself falling back into a soft bed again, but this time I am propped up on some pillows. My eyes are still fighting to open to no avail.
The voice returns, “Vera, here drink this everything will become clear again. Then you must eat. You haven't ate all day and it is nearing dark.”
A small cup is pressed to my lips that reminds me of the little tiny tea cups they use in Japan. I sip the sweet warm liquid. It slides down my throat thick like honey. I can feel it settling into my empty stomach. A shiver passes through my body as I lean back into the pillows. The bed is still rocking. I feel a slight breeze caressing my skin. Oh Lord. I am starting to remember. I push myself up rapidly causing a new wave of dizzy to assault my head.
“GARRIK! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?” I yelled, it may even have been more of a bit of a shrill scream. My eyes began to focus. I was still outside.
There was a roof of brilliant magenta colored fabric overhead that poured into walls of fabric on either side. It was beautiful. All of my anger begins to seep out and away from me when I saw Garrik standing there in the open at the front of the boat. The sun was setting behind me and in front of him. Garrik stood there bathed in a wondrous golden red light. He was no longer wearing his human clothing. The jeans were gone as was the hoody he was wearing early that morning. Instead I saw a tall lean Elf-man dressed in leathers. Tan leather pants with a deep blue tunic over the top that accented his broad shoulders and the narrowing of his waist in the most perfect way. Around the tunic was a dark leather belt with a scabbard attached. Within the scabbard was a gold and silver jeweled hilt of a sword. Garrik looked the Elf-man that dreams are made of. Authentic elf. Real elf like. All of that was paired with his popular human styled faux hawk of sandy blond hair. I felt myself quiver as heat radiated throughout my body. I want to be angry I want to be so angry, but how could I be angry when I get to look at perfection?
Garrik appeared to be to scared to say anything to me. I could tell he was walking on eggshells. I mean anyone in their right mind would have continued to seethe in anger. He should be expecting that, alas every ounce of my anger washed away. What he did was wrong that is true enough. Yet, because of what he did, I am on a beautiful boat in a mystical land, with the most handsome man I have ever seen. They do not make human men like Garrik. Not even the best male models could compare.
“I need to eat something, I still feel sick and my stomach is completely empty.”
“Yes, of course!” He strides towards me and sits down in a chair. There he bent over and pulled a basket out from under my bed. In the basket was a bottle of wine, shelled sunflower seeds, crackers, cheese, and golden apples. I mean they were really golden. It is the only thing thus far other than Garrik that set this realm apart from the human one. I looked at the wine and scrunched my nose.
“You know I don't drink any more, Garrik”.
“This is elf wine. You won't be able to get inebriated from it. It actually tastes more like a naturally sweet grape juice.” He pulled out a metal cup and poured me some and set it on the table. He kept the rest of the food in the basket sitting it on my lap on the bed for me to help myself.
Feeling unsure about the wine I started with the crackers. They tasted similar to an herb cracker you can purchase at any grocery store. Same with the cheese it tasted the same as any human cheese. I downed an entire handful of sunflower seeds which made my mouth dry. I reached for the elf wine. Skepticism made me pause as Garrik reassured me with a nod to give it a try. There was no ice anywhere, and yet when I picked up the metal cup of wine it was cold to the touch. I sniffed it, yes it smelled like fresh grapes with maybe a hint of cranberry. Feeling reassured by the smell I took a sip. Elf wine is cold, refreshing, and sweet, not like the fake sugar kind of sweet, more like a honey crisp apple kind of sweet. I looked up and flashed Garrik a big smile.
“I knew you would love it! I shared it with you once before a long time ago. I wish you could remember, you made that same face. I made sure to pack you a bottle on the boat in case I was able to get you to come home.”
Those words rushed through me. I stopped and sat the cup back down on the table. With the utmost calm I said, “ I am not going home. You are taking me to your home, not mine. My apartment may not be much, and I may have not been there long, but it is all I have, it is my home.” Another flash of sadness swept across his face and his mouth twisted into a slight frown.
“I am not asking you stay forever, but can you please give it a chance. I will help you rediscover yourself. I want Vera to be the Vera she is meant to be.”
“I am thirty years old, I am pretty sure I know who I am. I am a self reliant strong woman who survives on her own. I am entering my middle years confident in who I am as a person and what I want.” As the words formed on my lips I knew they were a lie. I am in no way confident, nor am I even remotely sure of who I am. To be honest I don't even feel thirty. I am not sure I look it either. I have no kids, no house, no awesome perfect job. Hell, I don't even have a pet.
“Say what you want, Vera. You and I both know there is more to you, so much more.”
With that Garrik stood and walked towards the front of the boat. It is long and narrow, looks like it is built for comfort and speed. The front of the boat curved up into a carved dragon head reminiscent of the boats seen in old Norse viking boats. I move to stand I want to look around.
I climb out of the bed putting my feet on to the wood planked floor of the boat. That is when I realized my feet were bare and I was no longer in my running gear.
“You changed my clothing while I slept?! You saw me naked!”
Garrik doesn't even turn around to look. “I can change clothing with my eyes closed. I am an ELF, plus you were not completely naked. You still have your pink panties.”
“Pink panties? Pink Panties? If your eyes were closed then how in the seven hells did you know I was wearing PINK panties?” Garrik shrugs as if it didn't matter. I stride towards him feeling the cool evening breeze through my new dress then I punched him in the arm as hard as I could. Once again he didn't even look in my direction infuriating me even more.
“How dare you? First, you do some kiss magic to make me sleep. I wake up torturing myself thinking I had relapsed as an alcoholic. I forgive you that slight, but then you change my clothing while I was out. That was rude. It was a breach of my privacy.”
“I have seen you naked before.”
“OVER TEN YEARS AGO when I had my hot teenage bod. I am not ready for you to see my old spinster fat bod.”
“You are not fat.” Garrik rolls his eyes like I had lost my mind.
“I am definitely not hot either though.”
“You are more beautiful, and even more sensual, you are just missing something. You know the boxed up part of your soul.” It came out like a sneer. Like I ruined myself by protecting myself, which he admits he asked me to do.
“This is as much your fault as it is mine, Garrik!” I grabbed his arm and jerked him around so he was forced to look at me.
“How much longer am I on this boat with you?” I demanded.
“Less than an hour, but then we have another hour in a carriage before we arrive at Tindril.”
“What is Tindril? An elf city?” curiosity got the best of me and my anger once again began to fade away. I really want to hold a grudge, but something about Garrik looking at me washes it away every time.
“Tindril is my home. It isn't a full city. Elves are not the city type. They tend to live in tree top towns speckled throughout the countryside. Tindril has hundreds of elvish within its walls, but no it is not a city.” He didn't elaborate any more.
Hundreds of other elves? That means I am going to have to interact with someone other than Garrik very soon. Oh shit, I suck at interacting with anyone in general. I always say the most ridiculous nonsensical things. I also trip and stutter and make a complete fool out of myself. Will they be able to tell I am human? Will they be rude to me being the only human here? I turn around wringing my hands and begin to pace the boat. It was as if Garrik read my thoughts again. I am pretty sure I wasn't broadcasting anything directly at the time, I knew I must have looked nervous.
The evening light was lingering yet it was dark enough that little light lanterns lit up on cue to the setting sun. The lights draped along the sides of the boat and hung within the folds of fabric of the sitting area. Garrik approached me from behind wrapping his arms around me. He bent low and whispered
“Breathe my little Vera, and go look.”
Shivers shot through my body. I know it was from our proximity not the words. He lifted an arm and pointed to a mirror that was standing near the bed.
“You have a mirror on your boat? Isn't that a little vain?”
“Elves are vain, Vera. Everyone knows that even humans. We like to look our best, plus how else would I know if my human glamor looked human enough.”
“Having teal eyes ruins the human look.”
“My eyes look blue to humans and my ears look normal. You have always been able to see through my glamor even at fourteen. There was no fooling you.”
He pulled away stepping in front of me, “Now please go and take a look. We are nearing our docking point.”
I step forward in front of a full length mirror that was expertly carved. Beautiful wooden flowers surrounded the edges. The elves do nothing simple. I turned my focus to the the actual mirror. There I stood. I hadn't even taken the time to look at my dress but now I see it is perfect. The dress felt like it was made for me and me alone. Simple yet stunning. It was comprised of green silk in an empire waist style. The silk of the dress crisscrossed my chest weaving the fabric together. Every third piece of fabric was a bright gold and every fourth piece was a sage green. Underneath my bust the dress flowed outward and down much like the gowns of ancient Greece. Deep dark green, bright gold and light sage swirled around me. My hair was loose down my back and over my shoulders. The freckles across my nose were on full display. My round face was still round and my mouth still wide and my lips full. The colors of the dress had turned my hazel eyes into striking green with flecks of gold. I am a mutt genetically, but at this moment I appear as if I could have been plucked from the Scottish Highlands. I am pretty.
“Not pretty, Vera, stunning. You are stunning.”
I chuckle at his words. “No Mr. Elf-man if the women elves look half as good as you I know I couldn't even hold a candle to them.” I pause in thought but before he could argue I had to ask, “Will they know I am human?”
“Yes. Elvish women are not so short, but at the same time many elves have never met a human. Most have no desire to poke around in the Human Realm. Plus, as I said, they have to use a gate to cross and not many are nearby most settlements. I will make you a promise. Tonight you will not have to talk to anyone.” He looked up as our boat began to slow on its own. “Here we are the docks to Tindril!”
Looking past Garrik I saw wooden docks with majestic carved boats docked on them. The little white lights lighting every one of them up like Christmas. The docks were on both sides of the wide river, and just beyond the docks were deep woods. Every few trees appeared to have tree houses in them. Not like kid tree houses, but giant circular tree houses. The kind you could live in. Many were connected to each other by wooden swing bridges. Each bridge was also lined with perfect white magic lanterns. It was breathtaking beauty. I shivered in the cool night air. Garrik was watching my reaction as he draped a forest green cloak around my shoulders. It was not near as soft as my dress. The cloak was made for the more durable purpose of keeping one warm. That is most likely why it felt like it was sewn from heavy wool.
Our boat began to turn on its own into a parking spot. How lucky Garrik was that his boat found a place right next to a road? An actual road. This one wasn't brick either. The road was made of randomly shaped paving stones. I hadn't even exited the boat yet. I stood there fascinated by the level of natural engineering it would have taken to move each unique stone into place.
Standing upon the stones was an enclosed carriage that was a deep walnut color and pulled by a single tall dapple gray percheron horse. Beautiful, having grown up on a horse farm the first thing I wanted to do was go say hi to the stunning beast. A man was standing on the dock to help steer the boat into place. Garrik stepped out first and then reached for my hand. When my hand met Garrik's I was met with that little electric shock, but this time it felt familiar. It felt right, and I am pretty sure I may have seen a little white spark when our hands met. A smiled curved at my lips as I stepped up and over. I quickly looked down at my feet. I didn't want the attention of the man helping us.
“Sir Tomilson, this is my Lady Vera. She has traveled far to be with us. I expect her to be given full respect.”
Sir Tomilson gave a deep bow, “Yes Prince Garrik. My Lady Vera.” He nodded towards me. I was in shock. Garrik is a Prince? Prince Garrik? Prince Garrik of Tindril? Garrick held my arm as he ushered him inside our little walnut carriage. I didn't get to say hello to the pretty horse, but at this point it no longer matter. Prince Garrik of Tindril?, I thought out loud. Garrik climbed in.
“No it is Garrik, Prince of Median. I live in the Palace named Tindril.”
I stared at him in awe. Not only was a gorgeous Elf-man interested in me, he was also a Prince. Now it makes sense why the Elven Council entertained his request to bring a human woman to the Elmora. The curtains on the carriage were pulled shut. There was a single white light in the cabin of the carriage that kept everything illuminated. Garrik answered my next question before I had a chance to ask.
“I sent a pigeon when we boarded the boat to have a carriage ready when we arrived. We use pigeons not owls” A little smirk spread across his face.
“Was that a Harry Potter reference? How do you even know who Harry Potter is?”
“Once when I was visiting I endearingly called you my little witch. You were quick to inform me that at seventeen you still hadn't received your owl from Hogwarts. That there was no way you were a witch. When I asked for more information on how Hogwarts determined which human was a witch you brushed me off saying it is the way of humans and that I obviously knew nothing if I didn't know about Hogwarts.” His laugh shook the entire carriage. It was a truly joyful laugh, the kind of laugh that spreads like a disease and before I knew it I was giggling like a schoolgirl as well.
“Yes, that sounds like something I would say. I discovered the Harry Potter books around that age. If you really wanted to find me when I went missing you could have checked all the book lines in Missouri the day the book was released.”
Garrik laughs out loud again, “Unrealistic odds. I wouldn't have been able to make it to every book store in Missouri in a day.”
“Truth” I replied. We drift back off into silence as I am still nervous, tired, and starving. I guess what I had on the boat wasn't a full meal barely enough to hold me over. My stomach gave my thoughts away when it released a loud grumble. I wrapped my arm around my waist and pulled my cloak tighter as I flushed with embarrassment.
“I will have better sustenance sent to your room upon arrival. I told the palace staff you were arriving and to have your suite prepared.”
“Suite? I don't need anything that sounds so fancy. I am fine with a small room. I don't want to inconvenience anyone. I am not royalty after all. I also worked as a maid in a hotel for quite some time. I am pretty much the bottom of the bottom.”
Garrik looked at me thoughtfully, “Someday soon you will begin to see your worth”
“You mean my worth to the Elven Council?” a flash of the anger I felt earlier decided to reappear, and Garrik didn't even try to argue.
I leaned back in the carriage. Being from modern day America many people can't say they have ridden in many carriages. I honestly can say that I have. There was some form of shock absorbers underneath the main carriage, that coupled with the intricate natural road made for a smooth ride. I leaned my head against the side and found myself drifting to sleep. It has been a long day, and the time I was out on the boat didn't feel like an adequate rest. I wish I knew the time, was my last thought. My phone was left on the kitchen counter in my small apartment. Not like it would work in an entirely different realm of Earth.