Liya Barashia carried the water jug with one hand around the handle and the other supported it from the bottom. She kept her head down and paused in her busy work to curtsy lightly when someone in silk, bright colors, or extravagant hair passed her by. As the hallways became plainer and the walls turned to gray stone, the number of people that bustled through dwindled. It was better for the servant this way. From her dainty little steps she moved faster with deep strides as she distanced the jug from her body. Nothing more than tiny drops bounced onto her skin and she was satisfied with that.

She paused and the abrupt movement resounded in an echo of sloshed water. Quickly she returned to her humble and invisible self and killed her breath. From the corner ahead of her, a tall man in a spotless white robe appeared. The servant curled into herself even more, merged her existence with the walls to be nothing more than a simple torch that lit the dim hallway.

This man though, with his cat-like steps and arrogant air, took notice of her. Liya caught only a brief glimpse of his face, rough and cold with piercing, thin eyes. He was a man of power and dangerous caution and to look at him straight in the eyes was a challenge Liya wanted to avoid. With a subtle curtsy she stood in her steps before him with her head down and awaited her cue to speak before him.

"Where are you headed to with the jug?"

"My lord," she tipped her head down so that only the shining leather boots filled her vision. "I was asked to deliver this to Medelin at the bottom of the staircase."

"I see. Move along then."

Liya remained in her spot as she waited to hear the rustling of clothing that signaled the departure of the man. However, after one step the man again addressed her. "You know entry into the tower room is forbidden, do you not?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Good. I will not warn you twice about setting foot on the stairs."

It was not until silence once again reigned that the servant became animated and continued down the hall and past the corner. There were no other halls at this point so the servant didn't need to guess where that man came from. The tower room was forbidden to all but royal family, the servant in charge of the room, and those rare few guests invited.

Medelin, Liya learned days ago, was the one who looked after that room and never left it alone for more than a few hours at a time. From the sparse glimpses the servant had, Medelin was a very old woman with lips that were forever frowning at the world. She also mumbled to herself as she walked using speech only she could understand. She enjoyed her own loneliness and repetitive tasks which made her the ideal caretaker.

The old woman's habit of complaining and disinterest in the world made it difficult for anyone to get close to her. The young servant girl herself knew that very well. Only twice she spotted the woman out of the room and twice she failed to get any friendly word from her. That woman was impenetrable. Nearly out of time and patience, the servant had to take a different route in concocting her plan; being invited in by befriending the old woman was out of the question. Liya looked elsewhere.

The tower had pipes on the outside that emptied out the bathing water into the small garden in the back. After weeks of passing by at any chance she had, the servant was able to determine when the bath was used and it wasn't by chance either. Medelin was strict and consistent with her schedule. Water dripped early in the morning before the waterfall came about an hour after wards, every day. This one hour was all she was willing to wait for.

The guardsman at the end of the single hall appeared at the last turn who sat on a wooden chair, one leg crossed over the other. A gruff man with armored plates over his chest, arms, and legs, he was large and intimidating. He had a sword at his side but left to lean against the wall and his helmet lay on the ground. He is not as cautious as he should be.

At her steps the guard raised his head from a small object he was fiddling with in his palm. His expression was alert but the attention faded to convey annoyance at the disruption. "What is your business here?" He called out.

Liya kept silent until she was close enough to speak at a lower volume. "I am here to deliver some water."

"Water?" The man got to his feet. "What's she need water for? They have plenty up there; carried it myself."

"I do not know. I was simply ordered to take this jar to Medeline."

The man snorted. "That old fishwife. Thinks she can order the entire castle for 'er little pints of water. Give it here." He snatched the jug from Liya's hand and moved towards the doorway he was guarding. "I'll give 'er a piece of my mind."

No sooner had he turned his back to Liya than she shot forward and attacked. One single blow to the back of the neck and he grunted and fell on his knees. One swift kick to the stomach and he was down on the floor completely. Liya had to be content with the unconscious lump at her feet and risk him waking too early. She searched his pockets for the keys and unlocked the thick wooden door to the dark staircase on the other side.

She peered behind her back once as she picked up the jug nearly empty of water. No sounds reached her. She took a moment to breath, then she began her ascend. In the narrow space that spiraled upwards she was careful to hush her steps but discarded that precaution the higher she went. It wasn't until she reached the top that she again walked on light feet.

The servant placed her ear against the door. Nothing. She knocked soft enough to be heard only in the foremost room and again, no response. This was a gamble, one that could possibly end with her death. Either the woman was the one in the bath or the other one. But there was no time to fight with her doubt and reasoning. I'll risk it.

She held the jug with one hand and held on to the keys with the other. After she found the lock on the door in the dark she inserted the key and opened the door. Liya tossed the keys aside and gripped the jug as she raised it lightly, ready to bring it down with force if needed. A deep breath and stepped beyond the doorway.

The room was bright with the sun directly outside the window. She didn't notice it before but now she was swallowed by the fresh smell of dirt, grass and flowers. It was no surprise once she gave a full inspection of the room completely overtaken by nature itself. Everywhere she turned there were pots and vases containing fresh blooming flowers, and some simply sprouted directly from the floor and cracks on the walls. Vines covered the walls and lone dresser to the side. Grapes hung from the ceiling like small chandeliers perfectly ripe and round. The vast variety of colors and scents was absolutely breathtaking that the servant was frozen in her steps.

There was a wild yet serene order in this capsuled paradise. Rather than a dominance of nature against civilization, it was a gentle embrace.

She took a step over the luscious thin grass on the ground that reached her ankles and butterflies took to the air. This alerted the small birds in their nest in the back corner and they too fluttered about. Their movement snapped the servant out of her wonder and she quickly turned her attention to the four poster bed beside the window. The translucent drapes were drawn but the silhouette of long-stemmed flowers and sleeping body were all too visible. Her chance was finally here.

Ignoring the silent magic of the room she rushed forward, set down the jug, and threw open the drapes. For the second time in the span of a few minutes she was taken aback by the beauty that was kept locked in the highest room.

Laid back in the deepest sleep was her target. Liya only knew that a young male rested behind the curtains but she never really constructed an image of him. Whatever she would have created though would be instantly shattered by what lay before her.

Soft clear skin of crème and rose, lips thin and tender, lashes were long and full. His long hair was a perfect blond and without a single knot or tangle in sight. His symmetrical face exuded warmth and gentleness. Rosy cheeks and faultless brow without a wrinkle or crease in sight, this boy was the epitome of graceful beauty.

The servant nearly mistook him for an illusion. The phrase 'beauty lured in the foolish' crossed her mind. It was a word of caution that regarded both the dark creatures and demons that waited in the shadows, and the Fey. A pretty face was one thing but a perfect, breathtaking live doll that mirrored impossible ideals was another.

Then she spotted his pointed ears that poked out from his golden head. It reminded her that he was indeed not human but an elf with fey blood deep in his blood. He was supposed to be a heavenly creature according to travelers' tales. Now that she had one only feet away from her she realized that none of the superfluous descriptions were exaggerating.

But she could take more time to inspect him at a later time. There was still more preparation to be done before she could make her escape. She took hold of his delicate fingers which were intertwined over his stomach and placed them at his sides. Again she reached beneath her skirt for the last object she had hidden. She brought out a smooth black stone and held it against the elf's stomach. She gripped it with her fingertips and rubbed small circles over the elaborate robe he wore. She did so for ten precise counterclockwise turns and then began to glide upwards. It traveled to the center of his chest, then collarbone, neck, and up to his chin. Once it was against his lips she stopped and held the stone in place.

On its own, her free hand moved besides the elf's head and gripped the sheets. She lowered her body on one knee and leaned her body in closer.

Just suck the poison out. Go in, breathe deeply, and spit it out.

She repeated her instructions over and over in an attempt to reduce any chance of mistake. She was specifically instructed with how to wake up the comatose elf. Even if she failed to escape, at least the elf would be awake and then return to the forest where he came from. As long as she accomplished this task, no matter what happened to her, it would be her victory.

As she closed distance she heard the relaxed breathing. She also discovered that the scent of flowers radiated from him as well, as if he were also a blossom in this enchanting garden. The servant blinked and filled her vision with the stone. In a swift motion she slid the stone away and brought her lips to his as she took the deepest breath in her life. The feeling of something both liquid and cold air that entered her mouth surprised her. Without thinking she swallowed once the back of her throat was touched. She pulled away quickly and coughed. She grabbed her throat and stomach and tried to make herself spit it out.

After her initial panic passed she slowed her rapid breathing and instead inspected her body, touched every place her hand was able to. She slapped her cheeks and blinked. She felt fine, no pain or sleepiness.

A subtle movement from the edges of her vision caught her eyes and she turned up. Hazel eyes lucid with life stared back at her. She could instantly make out the utter shock, bewilderment, and distress in those eyes that were incapable of hiding anything at all.

"Who-"

The servant jumped on him and covered his mouth with her hand. When she saw fear creep into his eyes she drew back slightly. "Don't make a sound." She whispered. Once she made sure that the room was still empty save for them she spoke again. "We are going to escape now. Do not make a sound and stay behind me at all times. Do you understand?"

When the boy remained still she gave up the one-sided conversation and took hold of his hand. "Move fast!" She pulled him off the bed towards the exit. The boy stumbled after her but was never given the chance to actually fall down. Even as they descended the servant kept him moving forward to keep him from going any other direction.

Past the staircase, around the fallen body of the guard, and down the lone hallway. The adrenaline began to rush through her veins as her heart increased its beat. She was almost done, nearly at the end of her mission. All that was left was to sneak to the back of the castle and secure the horse she tied there in secret the night before.

At the first corner she stopped and leaned her head back to listen carefully. The elf's rash breathing made it difficult to make anything out beyond a few meters away. From her memory she recalled a short hallway that opened up to different passageways. The servants' corridors, usually empty at that hour, still didn't connect to where they were so it was up to luck now whether they would make it out or not. She would have to take that chance.

Without alerting the other, she turned the corner with urgent steps. Their luck held out for two corridors before another servant was spotted at the other end. She pulled the elf behind her and hissed at him to remain out of direct sight. Although they were still hurried they maintained a pace that wouldn't rise too much suspicion.

"Ah, Liyareth! I was looking for you!"

The sound of her false name caused her to become rigid. At least no one is saying Liya. "Celilia, good morning." She answered. "Is something the matter?"

"Oh yes. The old crone is out to get you. She's angry you disappeared without her orders; and you know how much she loves her seat of power." The woman in her mid-forties continued to step closer until she inevitably saw that her friend was not alone. "Who is that behind you?"

"Just a boy. I caught him sneaking in here."

"But his clothing..."

"He's privately assigned to assist the young lady."

"I see."

Celilia looked at them with a raised eyebrow. "A servant assigned to such a role, I'm jealous. Hmph, make sure to give him a good scolding for running around the castle." Once she reached them she attempted to peer past Liya to get a good look at the other. "You call him a boy but he's practically your age if not a bit younger."

"Yes, well..." Liya, pulled him farther behind her. "He isn't really a man either. I must be going now."

"If you must, then you must." The woman sighed. She fixed her skirt then her tight bun. "I cannot believe I'm already becoming a mess so early in the day."

"It might turn out to be better." Liya bowed her head slightly to signal the ending of their conversation. She tugged the boy behind her and turned the first corner she came across. In that split second Liya had her white apron off her skirt and wound around the boy's head to hide his ears. It easily stood out against his soft-colored fine robes but it was the best she could.

More people appeared in the corridors but they kept to themselves. Though they gave her looks or kept them at the edge of their sight, no one approached her. Maybe it was the air around her or her haste. It was getting harder to hide her anxiety the closer she was to her exit. Her long two months in that castle, working like a slave to the royal family, she was almost free of it.

The boy at her heels remained silent just as she told him, which she appreciated. When she checked on him, turned over her shoulder, she could only see the white of the apron. He kept his head down while they moved and stayed between her and the wall. He had a good sense of her actions and followed her well.

When the final door was in sight, Liya had to keep herself from dashing straight past it. Her hand trembled as she scrambled for the handle which stole precious seconds from her. She had to restrain herself from tearing the door off its hinges when she finally turned the iron handle.

Cool air flowed in to welcome her to the outside world. She greeted it by sprinting into it. Nearly there...nearly there!

The chestnut horse was still tied to a nearby tree. When it heard the oncoming steps it stopped its grazing and called out to her.

At this point she noticed that the boy was breathing hard. He was ready to collapse if not for Liya's grip that kept him that exerted. This was probably his limit considering that he was asleep for nearly a century.

Liya led him to the horse and placed his hand on the leather saddle. "Get on!"

He looked at her with his eyes narrowed and eyebrows slightly furrowed. He took a moment to take in all the air he could before he could make any comprehensible words. "Why?"

"We'll be killed otherwise. Now climb."

"No."

"Do it!"

"No! Take me back."

"What?"

"I was fine before. Why did you wake me up?"

Liya was at a loss for words. Was he serious? Did he honestly prefer his dream world and be moved around and dressed like a little girl's doll? "You were being used by those people."

"I don't care. Take me back."

He was a stubborn elf. A child's stubbornness. Liya straightened herself and cleared away any emotion from her face. She took a slow step forward and looked down at him without lowering her head. "Get on the horse."

This time he didn't retort. His face didn't change but he did move to face the horse and grip the saddle. "I can't." He said.

Liya grabbed his waist without giving him a notice and pushed him up. He made a high shriek as the ground vanished from beneath his feet. Liya aided him with his seating and arranged his clothing so that it wouldn't bother him. "Don't fall off." She took hold of the reigns and led them away. To ride off now would attract the eyes of the people working outside; running from the castle on a horse was never a good sign. There was more waiting to do, always more. It felt as if she escaped from one cell only to realize there was the prison to escape.

This prison was large though and was filled with people of all kinds. It required them to blend in and Liya was well prepared for that. The moment she arrived at the castle she prepared for her escape should she need it soon or if she, miraculously, succeeded in what she traveled there for.

As they moved, Liya inspected the trees around them for specific landmarks. The tree with the mushroom mark. Mushroom mark. Where is it?

Unconsciously she counted the steps as they moved in a diagonal from the castle. The farther they went the more frantic Liya's eyes moved. They darted from trunk to trunk until they targeted a vague outline of a mushroom created from the rough ridges.

She jumped onto it and climbed to the first branch. It was a thick tree with many ledges to grip but the dress and shoes prevented her from any elegance in the act. Her slippers, made for indoor floor, slipped too easily and she stepped on her skirt more often than not. She had to stretch painfully high to complete the last few centimeters for the brown parcel tied securely. When she had it by the corner her muscles relaxed involuntarily and she lost her place. As she fell she pushed back and landed in a crouch to break her fall before she tipped sideways and her head hit the ground.

The dirt was soft enough to keep her from breaking anything. With no injuries she sat up and tore the brown paper to sort through the clothing she bought months ago. They were old and tattered, bought used from the nearest flea market. There was plenty in her size but she had to guess for her new companion since she never laid eyes on him before. For safety she chose larger sizes and now realized they were much too big for the thin creature. He would have to make do with rope as a belt and fold up the sleeves.

Once she had two piles she went to the elf and pulled him off the horse. "Change quickly and hide your ears beneath the hood." She picked up his pile and pushed it into his hands. "Now."

Liya watched him shift through his baggage. She didn't make a move towards her own bundle until he straightened out a pair of trousers and stepped into them. Her own clothing consisted of a simple white gown and brown skirt. There was also a square white cloth to bind her short brown hair back.

Her stay in the castle was her most hated experience in her eighteen years but it did give her new skills. While the other was preoccupied with the strings of his shirt she stepped to the other side of the horse and efficiently slipped into her new clothes in swift, simple motions as she pulled the servant gown over her head. She took a moment to fix the little details on her sleeves and head-wear.

She inspected the elf next and frowned at how large the clothing fit him. Everything sagged and threatened to slip off his body at any second. The hood, while it served its main purpose, fell forward to cover half of his face. He looked at her general direction with stretched lips. "None of it fits." He said simply.

Liya's primary infatuation with a mysterious creature of fey blood was diminishing faster with every word that came out of his mouth. She snatched the piece of rope on the ground. "I'll make it fit." She knelt down in front of him and wrapped it twice around his waist and tightened it none too gently."

"Be careful!"

"Fix the sleeves yourself."

With the knot finished she turned to the horse next. The most she could do was remove the saddle too elegant to fit their new personas. The saddle, along with their discarded clothing, was stuffed into a hollow tree behind the mushroom tree out of sight. In its place Liya spread her apron over the horse's back.

Without stirrups the climb was awkward and required more time. The elf went up first with Liya's interwoven hands as a step. Liya herself had the hardest time getting on the beastly animal and still had to rearrange herself without a single aiding movement in front of the elf.

The horse remained as still as it could, already strictly trained knights. The patience and calm aura eased a portion of Liya's distress. She patted the horse on the side of the neck. It snorted in response and began a trot when Liya shook the reins then sped into the surrounding city

 

2: Chapter 2

It didn’t take long until houses rose up accompanied by the clatter of the horse’s hooves on sturdy ground. Already there was a bustle of people, coaches, and a handful of horses with lone riders moving in a stream that branched out in different directions.   

They slowed down to match the pace of the city and inserted  themselves into its daily life as if they were born into it from the start. The horse showed no problems in the crowd as it weaved past the other moving bodies with expertise.   

Although it was uncomfortable without a saddle it was doable. Liya remained straight in her seat and explored the area with subtle glances. She pushed back the thought of the oncoming pain and even cramps once they got off. This was nothing to her and having made it this far was only a minor concern. Behind her, the elf was doing no better. He had his arms wrapped around her waist and would not stop shifting his lower back and legs in the least. The horse didn’t react but it was only a matter of losing the patience Liya praised it for until it kicked them both off its back.   

Liya slowed the horse a fraction more then left it to its job. She turned her head back slightly with a low voice. “Stop moving around so much. You’ll make us stick out if the horse doesn’t throw us off first.”  

“It hurts!” He hissed back. “You should have kept the saddle.”  

“The knights would pick us off in an instant.”  

“And what’s wrong with that?”  

“I’m probably wanted for saving the victim from their castle now.”  

“Victim? If you’re talking about falling asleep I did that on my own. I never asked to be ‘saved’ from that.”  

“You must still be half-asleep.”  

“I know what I’m saying!” Liya felt him lean around her to make eye contact with her. “And I want to go back to sleep.”  

“Then sleep. I’ll wake you up when we need to get off.”  

“That is not what I mean. How did you do it?”  

Liya shrugged and returned to exploring the roads. “I sucked the poison out.”  

“You sucked it out?”  

“Yes.”  

“And?”  

“I swallowed it.”  

There was silence at her back that was easily engulfed by the sounds of the surrounding life. It was obvious he knew something about what her action meant or what it could bring. She couldn’t resist the opening. “What’s going to happen?”  

At first Liya thought the elf wasn’t going to answer. I’ll just have to ask about it later...  

“Nothing if you don’t want it to.” His voice was lower that Liya had to strain her ears to catch every word. “It will not change anything for you. But it is everything for me and I want it back.”  

Before Liya could reply she heard shouting and horses clatter behind her. “Do not alert them.” She whispered then veered to the edge of the road. The closer the sounds were, the whiter her knuckles became on the reign. When they were at her tail she stopped breathing.   

They rode up beside her and left her behind in the dust clouds that rose from their feet. Men in armor and swords strapped at their sides, some on horseback and others on foot. They stopped people and spoke to them briefly then moved on to the next as if searching for someone. They are bound to stop me too.  

“Excuse me, Miss!”   

Liya flinched and spun her head to the man closest to her. A knight with the green and brown emblem worn proudly on their breast. He raised his arm and signaled her to stop.   

"Yes, how may I help you?'  

"That horse, where did you get it?"  

"This horse...it was lent to me."  

The knight reached to take the rein from her. "Lent?"  

"My...cousin. He's also a knight of the castle."  

"His name?"  

Who was the man the servants always complained about...? "Mardic Lowsen." 

"Lowsen?" The man inspected her face then at last gave her a smile. "I thought his entire family resided in that town over the mountains."  

"My mother is sick and we had to travel this far for medicine. With the dwarf mines so close we were able to find some of their serum."  

"I feel for your mother but the horses aren't for the villagers." He patted her knee in good nature.   

Liya nodded. She gave up her hold on the reins, swung her leg over the side and hopped off. Then she took the elf by the hips and let him down on the ground. She turned to the knight. "We apologize for the trouble, Mr. Knight."    

"Just blame Lowsen. I'll give him a good talking to when I see him. Sorry for having to take it from you." He smiled again as he took the horse. "When you borrowed it," He continued to ask, "did you happen to see anyone suspicious?"  

"I only saw the knights training yesterday when I went to see my cousin."  

"Yesterday?"  

"Yes."  

"I see. Right now we're searching for a kidnapper. One of the young residents has gone missing, maybe poisoned, so if you see someone with an unconscious male of golden hair, let us know."  

"Yes sir."  

Liya watched him become a part of the crowd at the horse's side. They're still looking for a sleeping elf. It was the right option to wake him up. But...  

"So you're a kidnapper and a liar." The elf muttered.  

Her palm searched for him and gripped his wrist. "You're still not allowed to speak."   

The two of them returned to the bustle of the city that pushed them along. Liya veered to the sides and around corners every now and then in the same general direction to avoid confusion as to where she was headed. There were certain landmarks she committed to memory on her occasional walks and these she struggled to follow.   

The more they walked, the louder the elf's breathing sounded at her back. They were lucky the horse was all they lost but Liya still regretted it. They lost speed and, by the gasping breaths, were close to losing their stamina as well.   

"We're almost at the port, so try to keep up."  

"I'm...trying."  

The smell of salt in the air alerted Liya first. The density in the crowed thickened with people rushing from one place to another. Past the last row of houses the scenery opened to the vast ships and endless ocean beyond them.   

Liya scanned the sides of the vessels. When she found the name Melody she dashed towards it. With her free hand she reached into her bosom for the small pouch she kept hidden.   

"W-wait..."  

Liya spared him only a simple glance. "Do you need me to carry you?"  

"I need you...to stop...!"  

She ran faster and even skipped sideways in order to fit through the little slivers of space others allowed them. She stopped, abruptly and clean, when she was at the bottom of the platform that led up to the deck. She singled out a large, hairy man with a notepad in his hand. He was counting and noting things down with a thick black stub on the papers.  

"Excuse me!" Liya made her way to stand in front of him. "Pardon me, sir."  

The man stopped scribbling and glared down at her. "What d'ya want girl?"  

"We'll be traveling with you aboard the Melody, sir."  

"Oh, are ye?"  

Liya held out the small pouch above her face and shook it. "Yes, we are."  

The man snatched it from her hand. He poked through the contents and pulled out a single silver coin. He dropped it back inside and stuffed the pouch into his pocket. "The passengers are all in the main cabin. You'll be provided with dinner after we set sail." He ushered them up and returned to his job as if there was never an interruption to his daily life.    

Liya didn't need a second invitation and readily walked up the slope. She stepped onto the dock but was pulled back. She twisted her body to face the elf. He stood still with his legs spread and set onto the wood. Liya gave his arm a tug. "Get on."  

"No."  

"Now."  

"I am not getting on this ship."  

"You wait until now to say this?" 

"I don't like how it feels. I'm not getting on."  

"Like hell you aren't." Liya reeled back her arm and caught him in her embrace when he fell forward. Then she clamped her arms around him and picked him up. She carried him across the deck as he kicked and struggled.   

Some of the crew glanced her way but deemed it a waste of time to intervene. They cleared her path while one of them even opened the door for her. She nodded her thanks and proceeded down the short steps. "You're going to make us fall." She complained.  

"Then put me down!"  

Liya ignored him. Rather she held him tighter to avoid hurting one of the other passengers sitting or lying in the large space. Her new companions all ranged in size, age, and build. There were old men quietly resting at the edges and women who tried to keep their children from making a fuss. Younger ones formed groups and spoke in low voices or played games with cards or dice.  

Liya went for the walls where the least people sat. She turned the elf away from her, leaned against the wall, and slid down without letting him go. She fixed his body between her legs and formed a clasped belt around his waist with her arms. She placed her head against his oversized hood. "Be a good elf and sit still."  

"Where are you taking me?" He hissed in a hushed voice.   

"Far away from here."  

"Why? What's going on?"  

After Liya made sure no one was listening to their low conversation she asked him another question. "Did you really want to keep sleeping?"  

"You didn't answer my question."  

"Answer mine first."  

"Yes, I did. I still do."  

"Why?"  

"I already answer. It's your turn so explain what's happening."  

Liya drew him in closer. "I'm saving you, or so I thought. You've been asleep for nearly a century, passed around and stolen by the rich like a heaven-sent relic. You wound up in the castle a few years ago, locked away in the tower you woke up in."  

"I've been asleep for that long?" He breathed out. "I know a lot of time was passing but...a hundred years...?"  

"Yes. And while you were in your dream world, men, families, were fighting over for you. I think there was even a small war early on."  

"A war...? But why?"  

"You bless the land around you. Make it rich and fertile despite how dry and desolate it was before."   

Liya felt the body in her arms fall. His shoulders slumped and his head rolled forward.   

"All because of that?"  

"You were a myth, an elf blessed by the Goddess herself; it's the highest honor anyone can achieve."  

He laughed dryly. "Simply for being born an elf and being able to see the fey, ridiculous. I was never blessed by the Goddess."  

"Oh, you weren't?"  

"Of course not! I still get hurt, bleed. I think I almost starved once when I was a child too."  

"I thought elves were resourceful."  

"I wouldn’t know. I was raised by humans."  

Raised by humans? That's unheard of. Or maybe not. While it's true that elves carried different, much more strict morals compared to humans, this one was quite a bit...off. If it weren't for his ears, Liya could easily be speaking with another human. A stubborn, rude, one but human nonetheless. Elves stayed isolated in their forests and contact with them wasn't an often occurrence. Her brother did meet one once and he said there was a certain air to them that easily distinguished them from humans.   

"No wonder..."  

The elf grunted. "I won't apologize if I destroyed whatever sort of image you had of me. If you were expecting something else, it's your own fault for assuming."  

"It's hard not to when everything has always been true. Have you ever heard of an elf living anywhere else but the forests?"  

"Well, no."  

"And that is from a century ago, and no new rumors have appeared."  

"I came from a small village, we hardly heard anything."  

"Hmmm...an elf raised by humans. How odd. Though that does save me some trouble."  

"Such as?"  

Liya chuckled into his ear. "It doesn’t take much to get into a human's mind sometimes. And setting aside your complex origins, you look pretty easy to read."  

The elf slammed his body back and stayed pressed against her. "And you're just a young child."  

 Liya gasped more from shock than pain and then pulled him in with a quick jab into his stomach in return. "A child who infiltrated a castle and escaped with an immature elf."  

He coughed and scooted forward to create a larger distance between them. Not hearing another word, Liya leaned back again to wait the time until the ship departed.   

Already she could imagine her welcome home. Two months was a terribly long time and her recent living conditions did not assuage the anxiety to return. Her plan was a success. Her brother would congratulate her and raise a toast in her name and her father...I want to see father again. He will be ecstatic.   

Her thoughts were blown away by her current reality. The elf bent his legs and curled into himself like her family's cat when she wanted a break from the bustle of the world. "How long do humans usually live for?"   

"It all depends." She answered. "Some live to their late seventies where food is plentiful. Others don't make it past their forties where diseases and monsters dwell."  

"What about in small villages? At the edge of the forests?"   

It was becoming a feat to make out every word he said. It was as if his speech was dissipating into the air. "I'm not entirely sure. If creatures live beyond the trees, the ones that plague humans with death, then not very long. But if it’s a rich forest with fruits and clean air maybe up to their fifties, or more."   

At the end of her words, the elf drew away farther from her. "You really..."  

"Hmm?"  

"You really should have kept me asleep."  

"That wouldn't have changed anything."  

"Exactly. Everything would have stayed the same."  

"I can't believe someone would prefer lies to reality."  

"Ignorance is bliss."  

"Only cowards would agree to that."  

"Better a coward than-" He cut himself off when he realized he was close to shouting. "I don't want to talk to you anymore."  

"Fine by me. Visit your little dreamland, I'll wake you up when the food is done."  

Liya felt her arms ripped apart from each other. Before she could connect them again the elf dove forward to escape from her. He stayed on the ground and crawled to her left where he curled up with his back to her.   

Liya remained alert, her eyes focused only on him. She relaxed when she the floor below her swung and then lurched to the side. Even if the elf decided to run off it would not take much to find him.   

She watched his back rise and fall in a subtle rhythm. If it weren't for his movement Liya would've guessed him to be a simple pile of old rags and clothing laying there. He was so tiny. He might be an inch or two shorter than her but curled up so tightly, he was a little boy.   

This is exactly how Desten gets when he's upset. He always hides away in cabinets or under beds to avoid talking to anyone. He should be eleven now, pretty young for a royal aid. A quiet child who needed to be reassured often. It was often her brother who went to comfort him, or sneak some treat or pastry when they met. I never was able to handle him well.  

Liya extended a hand towards him. She patted his thin shoulder once. "I apologize for my words." The bundle of rags wound into itself more. "I was acting carelessly."   

A taremble pulsated through her palm. She lifted her hand and inspected him closer in the dim light. His small body shivered in abrupt intervals. "What's wrong?" Liya shook him and tried to make him turn around.  

The elf resisted and clung to the floor. "Don't...shake me..." He flinched and instantly covered his mouth.   

"Is it the ship?"  

He nodded and made a noise, a mix between a gulp and a whimper.   

"Try to hold it in. I'll take you to the deck for some air. Can you stand?"  

This time he shook his head and rolled farther from her. He soon realized that more movement made him worse.   

"Stop being stubborn. Get up or you'll be rolling in your own filth soon." His limp body offered no resistance this time. He swayed with the ship even when Liya supported him. When they reached the stairs she held his waist and walked him up as she climbed sideways.   

Up on deck the men were too absorbed into making the ship sail that a sick passenger could not derail them. The elf dash through them and leaned over the side and emptied out whatever he had in his stomach. Liya followed him and stood slightly behind him to rub his back and hold him steady. She couldn't imagine what food he had inside of him considering that he hasn't eaten for more than a lifetime.   

Liya hoped his sickness was temporary, a weakness from his long slumber, rather than a weak stomach. Whichever the case, it couldn't last for more than a day. “Is this your first time on a ship?”  

“Yes…and I hate it…”  

Liya couldn’t stop a soft laughter flow out of her lips. “So that’s why you were putting up a fight before.”  

He glared back at her as he wiped his mouth only to dirty it again a moment later.  

“You’ll be fine. Once you get used to it, it’ll be just like walking on land. Maybe you’ll feel better after you’ve had something to eat.”  

He groaned. “…don’t talk about food…”  

They stayed up there in a small section  for the remainder of the day. The elf revisited the rail a few more times where Liya held him down out of fear that he might tumble overboard. After their dinner, a small plate of curry and bread, he threw up the little substance Liya forced him to eat. He didn’t settle down until they were in the cabin again to sleep for the day.   

Liya had him in her arms again, his back against her chest, with a worn out blanket that bugs and months dined on in the past. It had a murky smell but it did its job and kept the two from freezing. Liya wasn’t falling asleep as her heart pumped the last bit of adrenaline through her body. The elf wasn’t either judging by how he rearranged his arms multiple times to prevent a blockage of blood.   

“Lay on your back. Wood is nothing compared to the luscious bed or feathered pillows but I heard it’s good for your spine.”    

"There isn't enough room."   

"There, now you can move."  

"Your face is still too close."  

"Then close your eyes."  

The elf reached up to pull the hood farther down his face. "Good night."  

"There's one more thing."  

"What?"  

“Do you have a name?” She asked  

“Of course I do.”  

“Are you going to tell me?"  

"Hmph. It's common courtesy to give your name first."   

"Liya Henamay Barashia."  

"Hmmm."  

"Well?"  

"Rhine."  

"Is that it?"  

"Yes. Good night."  

Liya left him alone after that. She repeated his name in her mind a few times. It was such a short, human name. What about a surname? Wasn't he given one? He said he was raised by humans so she figured he was a part of a family. To not be given a name...Was that really his whole name? It occurred to her that he might have lied. Elves never lie, that's what everyone ever said. Is it because they can't, or they won't? Rhine is not a normal elf so he can't follow any of the rules or traditions he doesn't know about. Then again, if Rhine could lie, how can she trust anything he had said so far?  

Ahhh, I need to stop thinking about this.  

She continued to gaze at the dark form in front of her. The outline of his hood and the background were vague and changed every time she tried to focus on it. Blurred with the shapes was her sense of time and wasted minutes of sleep. She knew she was tired and her bones were screaming for rest but it wouldn't come. The snoring in the room didn't help and if she had her hands for herself they would be over her ears.   

Rhine shivered against her arm. She lifted her head, ready to grab him and run up to the deck only to realize that it wasn’t his stomach trapped in turmoil. An indistinct gasp for air resounded from beneath his hood. Half-choked cries and stifled gasps shook his taxed body in sudden jolts. When a whine eluded his thin lips he shrunk in deeper into himself and attempted to lie still.  

Liya listened to it in the dark. She didn’t move, didn’t speak, simply remained still and allowed her eyelids to close off the world. Her thoughts became muddled and the sounds of the ship, the ocean, and Rhine’s feelings twirled together in spirals with the elf at the center. In her last moments a fleeting thought fluttered through her mind. As the cool salty water spread against the cloth of her arm she wondered if it would still be moist in the morning. 

 

3: Chapter 3

 Liya stared, dumbfounded, at the flat blanket at her side that greeted her the moment she opened her eyes. There was supposed to be a lump there, a tight, wound up little ball beneath the threadbare rag. Her heart sent excess blood into every blood vessel in her body. It pumped twice as fast and nearly skipped a few beats. Her large brown eyes widened and searched the empty space beside her. Voices and laughter rang all around her but none of them was the one she wanted to hear.   

As if her eyes played a trick on her, she tore the rag off her body and confirmed that there really was only hard wood under it. Rhine! Where did he go? How could I let this happen!?  

"I'm over here."  

Her torso whipped around at those words. Rhine stood over her with a bowl in each hand. She breathed out and ran her fingers into her hair to clear her brow. I must have slept too soundly. Liya composed herself and leaned back on one arm. "Can I assume one of those is for me?"  

He handed her a bowl then took his place again on the ground. "I need to talk to you."  

Liya took a spoonful and swallowed it the moment it was inside her mouth. "After you were so eager to sleep last night?"  

"It's about what you said yesterday, how you swallowed the nectar."  

"It was nectar?"  

"It came from a flower when I drank it...but I want to know how you got it out. I drank it years ago!"  

Liya put down her bowl and reached into her skirt's pouch. She held out the stone for him. "This stone attracts magic, lets it gather in one spot. I let it concentrate in your mouth and just," she sucked in a sharp breath. "I was actually surprised by how easy it was."  

"Then the nectar is still in your body. We need to take it out."  

"It can wait." His suggestion made Liya suspicious. Didn't he just say earlier that it wouldn't do anything to me?  

"That's dangerous. You might be captured by the spell at any moment."  

His intentions were now clear to her and it didn't impress her in the least. "So you'll sacrifice yourself for me? How sweet."  

Rhine opened his mouth but no sound came out. He closed it and spoke carefully. "I don't want you to get hurt."  

"What you don't want is to remain separated from your precious dreams."  

"It doesn't concern you."  

"My job is to bring you back awake and alive."  

Rhine slammed his bowl on the floor between them. He pushed off the wall and stomped away.   

"Hey! Where are you going?"  

"Outside."  

He's incredibly predictable. Liya finished her meal. The taste remained in her mouth like paste spread on every surface available. She grabbed Rhine's half-empty bowl and carried it with her. People entered the room with their own bowls so she figured the kitchen was still open for handouts. Her throat itched for water especially after the thick meal.   

She spotted Rhine's sagged body as she walked across the deck. He stared out at the waves, his chin rested on the ledge. It was clear that he didn’t want anyone to approach him. Well, it was better than someone discover Rhine was an elf. Worse still if they connected it to the kidnapped victim the knights were after.   

At the kitchen window where a few people gathered around she returned the bowls and asked for water. The cook tossed her a leather pouch and pointed at a barrel outside. She took it and filled the it with water that was darker than she was used to. She couldn't complain though and hoped she wouldn't get sick as she let it run down her throat.   

She stood against one of the larger masts. Across the way Rhine's back stared back at her. She took another long gulp and kicked the wood behind her.   

Their relationship was not going well. Part of the blame laid with each of them. Rhine would not give up his desire to reverse her hard work and Liya...I need to stop with my comments. His attitude irked her in all the wrong areas and triggered an attack rather than her sympathy. She tried to imagine her position in his shoes: woken by a stranger years after everyone she knew was dead. She shuddered.   

His rejection of reality was understandable, but not acceptable. In Rhine's place, yes she would be a bit scared but she would try to move on with her life. She would rediscover her place in the world. Then again, that was because she chose to live while Rhine had picked the nectar at the very beginning.   

Rhine was moving from his frozen pose. His hand lingered on the wood after he took a step back. He took another and noticed Liya's attention. She smiled at him but he only turned tail and headed back into the cabin without another glance.   

She felt the man behind her before she heard his voice and remained still. "Made yer little friend angry, did ya?"  

Liya kept her eyes on the closed door. "I drank his favorite wine by accident."  

"Oh, that'll earn you a decade long grudge, that one will." He laughed.   

"Then I'm blessed I won't see him beyond this month."   

Days passed in melancholy. Rhine made no effort to talk to her. His lips were clamped shut after he was caught trying to steal the stone while Liya slept. She refrained from chastising him but sent a different meaning. Rhine refused to meet her eyes, preferred to speak to the floor on the odd chance he needed to say something.  

On their fourth day after departure, the ship made its first stop. It was a border city that lay on the outskirts of Gumion and closest to Antalia, her home kingdom. This was a large burden tossed from Liya's back. They weren't in Antalia yet but this border city was safe ground. To think, one more day and I'll be back home.  The next stop would certainly be Antalia and from there, a smooth trip back home in a nice carriage. 

Liya sighed from the deck as the crew carried boxes and barrels to and fro. She watched more than half of the people from the cabin walk down and dispersed past the rundown buildings at the port to their final destination. The ship wouldn't be leaving until early the next morning and Liya would have liked a nice stroll in the city but was impossible with her company.  

"Must you keep me so close?"  

Liya yawned in response to the elf at her side. She scratched her slick and stiff hair. I really need a bath. I'll have to soak down for hours. At least I won't have to worry too much with my hair since it's short. "You'll run off." Her gazed strayed to Rhine. A few strands poked out from his hood . His long hair lost its glow and was now a damp yellow. And with that hood on all night and day, who knew what else lay in the roots of his locks.   

"There's still a day left and once we're off, it'll be a short horse ride." Liya stood straight. "We're going back inside." She motioned to the door and followed Rhine inside.   

It was musky and dim as usual, an environment that no longer bothered Liya. It upset her how she spent hours at a time in that space. It was never in perfect shape but it was cleaner when they first arrived. Now there was scraps of food that were spilled that attracted roaches and rodents. There were even a few times an elder or a child relieved themselves down there and although it was cleaned up, the stench never really went away. 

Liya was relieved that the spot she and Rhine kept to opposite of all those accidents. She was the last one the smells reached and if she pretended the awful scents were nonexistent she eventually failed to pick it up. Liya's bones ached as she sat down as she tried not to take any deep breaths. The pain eased soon enough once she positioned herself in her usual position. Rhine remained standing. He held his open palm. "I want to drink water."  

Liya felt around the ground for the pouch. When she found it she flung it up for him to catch. "Here."  

Rhine swirled it with his wrist, listened to the weak sloshing sound and frowned. "There's hardly any left."  

"Are you really that thirsty?"  

"Yes."  

She groaned and hung her head. He's doing this on purpose.   

"I can go on my own. I won't run."  

Liya stared hard at him. "I'm not taking any chances." As she stood she snatched the pouch from him and led the way. "Next time, say so when we're outside." She said so but she did appreciate the cool fresh air outside again. If it were only her on the journey she could stay outside until it got too cold.  

She began to fill pouch, watched the steady stream fall into the dark space. Once it overflowed she sealed it and turned it upside down to make sure it wouldn't spill. "Rhine?"  

"I'm still here." He entered her range of eyesight to stand in the shade.  It was a bad choice with perfect timing. The door behind him flung open and hit him in the back of the head. He tumbled down with his face planted on the floor.   

Liya recognized the man as the same burly sailor that she paid days ago. His eyebrows drooped over his eyes as he frowned at the small figure on the ground. "What're you doing standing there?" He bent down and pulled him back up by his upper arm. He didn't leg go though and reached for his hood. "What's with this hood? You've been wearin' it since you got on."  

"Hey!" Liya rushed at them at her full speed. It was useless though. She watched the scene in front of her with no power to stop it. The hand gripped the top of the hood and raised it from Rhine's head. His hair that was bundled  beneath it fell in a golden cascade of tangled strands against his neck and back. It fluttered lightly in the breeze but not enough to hide his ears from view.  

The man found the pointed crème flesh in his hair instantly. He froze then broke away once he realized just what creature was in his grasp. "An...elf? The elf the knights-"  

Liya swung her knee directly into his stomach without refrain. The man choked out his breath and doubled over his body. Liya took that chance to seize the hood and Rhine and dashed for the exit. She pushed through all the people walking and threw them out of her way. Forward, down, left, straight ahead into the city's crowd.   

We were so close! One more day and it would've gone perfectly. 

Rhine became harder to pull along the farther they ran as fast as they could. "S-stop...!"  

"Not yet." Three more steps and she stopped anyways. She pushed him behind a narrow road and slammed the hood back onto his head. "Tie it."  

"How?" He lifted the material over his forehead to reveal his eyes. "It doesn't have strings."  

"I don’t know. Just..." She pulled up the top layer of her dress and ripped it from the bottom seem. She returned to Rhine and wrapped the strip from the top of his head and under his chin. Once around and knotted at the side of his head. "Try to fight back at least." She said.  

Rhine fixed the hood to remove any obstacles from his view. "What's going to happen now?"  

"Now we walk." Liya handed him the water pouch. "Your water."  

"How far do we have to walk?"  

"The border is just past this town. It'll be easy afterwards, grab a carriage, and reach the castle in two days, maybe three."   

"That long?"  

"I hardly have any money left so even the carriage might not be possible."   

"If we walk all the way, it might take seven days assuming we sleep through the night." Rhine said.  

"Eight or nine, assuming we go at your pace."  

"Or even ten, assuming we stop to hunt our own food from lack of money."  

"There wouldn't be a lack of anything if we were still on the ship."  

"Are you blaming me?"  

Liya scoffed, her arms crossed. "I wasn't going to but recalling what happened, it is your fault."  

"I'm not the one who picked such a loose hood."  

"It's hard to guess the size for someone I've never seen."  

"Then you should've just never gone to see me."  

"Don't start with that again." Liya took the lead on their journey. She matched her pace to Rhine's but stayed slightly ahead of him to keep his silly hood strapped to his head in sight. "You're talkative today though I can't appreciate you bringing back dead topics."  

"If you're going to take me to the castle, isn't that what's going to happen anyways? After all," his voice went up an octave in a poor imitation of Liya's "I bless the land when I sleep."  

"That is not why I'm taking you there."  

"What a petty liar."  

Liya barely picked up his muttered comment. She whipped around and pinned him against  a wall by his collar. "Trust me, elf, that's the last thing I'll allow."  

Rhine staggered slightly when he was released. He massaged his collarbone as he collected himself and took a step forward. "And what makes you so certain you can overpower the king?"  

"I think even the king will be reluctant to reach down my throat for your poison-spell. That is, if he believes you in the first place."  

"Hmph. Who wouldn't believe an elf?"  

Liya found the words stuck in her throat. He has an incredibly good point. An elf's word is incapable of holding a lie. She released a long breath and turned away from him. "Well, you're something else entirely."  

"Still better than what you are."  

"You think you know what I am?"  

"You’re a knight, aren't you? For the king."  

"A knight for the king..." She rolled her eyes. "How silly."  

"He must have ordered you to do this, and like a dog you follow him blindly.  Then you go and call it loyalty and a position of upmost honor. As if the king were a god."  

"I think the phrase you were talking about was 'god's spokesperson,' or, 'the goddess' divine ruler'."   

Rhine ignored her comments. "How much gold did he offer you?"  

"None."  

"Land?"  

"No."  

"Status."  

"Wrong."  

"Then?"  

"A pat on the head for a job well done."  

The emotion on his face flattened out. "We should find a place to sleep. The sun is nearly set."  

"The forest starts at the border so once we reach it, we'll hide out off the trail."  

"We're sleeping outside?"  

"You're an elf; I should be the one complaining."  

Their walk took them past dark. After they asked for the road that led out of the town they jumped on it with their last strength. Liya hid any sign that might reveal how tired she was getting. Every once in a while  she checked her body to make sure her back didn't slack and her feet didn't drag in the dirt. Her breath deepened but she kept it quiet.   

She cast glances towards Rhine. His head was down most of the time but she was sure his resolve was painted on his face in a bright red. Not once did he complain. He also kept the water hidden away inside his shirt to prevent himself from drinking from it.  

Even now, as his arms swung loose and his knees trembled slightly, he didn't stop. It might be the effects of sitting down throughout the majority of the sea voyage and then forced to walk far on solid land. Whatever the case, the two were near their dropping point.  

The moment the trees surrounded them Liya considered her options about her. They would have to stay close enough to the path that they wouldn't lose track of it, but far enough from wanderers. They carried nothing of value that might attract thieves, only the clothes on their back and a gold coin or two. But objects aren't the only things thieves can take.   

She pointed out a large trunk encircled by a few bushes and vines. "There's our bed for tonight."   

"And you are aware it will be cold out here."  

Liya removed her top skirt and spread it out on the ground. She ran her hands against the bark to make sure nothing sharp jutted out. "You have plenty to wrap yourself in. We still have our own heat too." She sat between two large roots that broke from beneath the earth and tapped the ground in front of her. "We're waking up early."  

Rhine sat and laid against her chest already used to their position. Liya wrapped her arms around his waist. She wouldn't be able to have a deep sleep that night, or any night until they made it past the forest. Her senses would have to stay mildly attentive in case Rhine decided to run off on her while she slept.   

If he does manage to run I doubt he'll be able to get far. Liya began to regret how easily she picked that spot. She was quick enough to go along and sleep outdoors but it was a little too cool for a summer night. Too many times she heard the knights of the castle brag about their dismal journeys through dry lands, endless forests, or trapped on a lone raft in the middle of the ocean. A night out in the open was nothing to them so it shouldn't be a problem for her either.  

It didn't take long for her body to begin to tremble. She bit her tongue, drew into herself, thought of warm milk and thick blankets by the fire to stop herself. Rhine must have felt her shivering since he bounced back against her chest. Since he didn't move or say anything, Liya figured he in his dream land.   

She drew back her hands and clasped them together. With Rhine in front of her she managed to warm her hands between their bodies. Her shoulders though were another problem. The threads on her sleeves were too thin and the more time that passed the more violent her shivering became. I'll have to put up with it. We don't have any money anyways and complaining won't make it any less bearable. Liya stiffened her body, screwed her eyes shut, and began to count to a thousand.