Chapter 3 #2
But for now, this dais was flanked by six elven guards, all beautiful, tall, and radiant. Skin of all human hues, but hair as varied as any wildflower, blade of grass, or burbling brook.
Lila grabbed onto my arm and jolted me back to the present. The music, the cheers, the celebration burst through my ears as if I’d just removed balls of cotton.
Lila squeezed me with a gleeful smile. “He chose me, Noelle. Me.”
I offered a nod in return. “I’m happy that you’re happy, Lila.”
My throat felt tight and I couldn’t—
“Breathe, ‘Elle.” Lila pulled me tight into her ample bosom. “Breathe. I’ll take care of you. You never wished for this. I have you.”
She kept her voice down, but I felt the excitement building in her. The only thing growing in me was nausea and tears. She gestured over to her no-longer betrothed, Axel, who wrinkled his nose at her as if she smelled of horse droppings. What a nasty man.
“Good riddance,” He mouthed.
Lila stiffened, and I felt myself pulling her to me in comfort.
“How can he manage to be both so unpleasant to look at and listen to? A rare gift,” I observed.
Lila looked to me in joyous surprise, then cheerily blew a good riddance kiss to Axel.
Lila and I had never been close. Truthfully, I hadn’t had many friends from the village but Sam, and that was because he was very insistent on our friendship.
He always went out of his way to bring me in, make sure I was invited to things.
I’d played with Lila and several other girls at school, but once I’d lost my father and took over the family baking, well, I just didn’t have time or energy for friends.
But standing here on the dais, awaiting the elves, I felt a shift between Lila and me. A bond forming. Unbreakable. She was my friend, and I was hers, and we’d face what came together. I laid my head on her shoulder and she squeezed my arm reassuringly.
“I have you,” she repeated.
“And I you,” I said through a constricted throat. “Come what may.”
As if on cue, the elves, who’d been off heaven knows where, appeared at the edge of the street.
At their head, the Elf King strode forward.
Bright hair shimmered white as the moon’s beam where the sun kissed its wavy strands.
The king stood taller than most humans in his path.
Even taller than most of the other elves.
His white suit, embroidered in gold, flashed.
His deep green cape waved in the wind like some long-worshiped god’s banner.
The other elves, dressed in finery, sparkling with jewels and gemstones, trailed their liege like goslings following their mother goose.
“He’s gorgeous.” Lila melted.
He was unbelievably beautiful. Strong. Hard. Cold. Hatred seethed inside of me as I stared at the horrible male. I looked instead at my little sister who held onto Mother, head buried in her collar. Heat crept up my neck as my hatred fueled into a silent rage.
The crowd of villagers in their finery looked like peasants covered in mud compared to the Elf King and his retinue.
The elves made their way to the dais, a spear of crystal golds and silvers through a sea of homespun silks.
The Elf King looked straight ahead, not deigning to look at any of his prey, but I noticed his blonde-haired servant taking note of each of us in turn.
This year’s offering. A nervous energy rose through me with every smooth step that brought the king closer.
The mayor made his way to the front of the dais and raised his arms to quiet the crowd. “The time has come to send some of our best and brightest across the Falls! May your time in Ravensong be both enlightening and enchanting!”
The villagers cheered. All eyes were on the ethereal elves, especially on the tall, white-haired king in the center. Some cried, overcome with emotion at his loveliness.
Fools.
If only they knew what was in the elves’ hearts. If only they understood them as I did.
The Elf King stood at the foot of the dais and bowed infinitesimally.
“Thank you, dear mayor.” His deep, commanding voice drew in the crowd around him like bread soaking up olive oil.
I’d never heard a rumbling voice quite like that of the Elf King.
Both of honey and venom. “Your people will be under my watchful care. They shall want for nothing.”
“Except freedom,” I grumbled under my breath.
I spoke the words ever so softly, but the Elf King’s eyes shot up and locked on mine, a flash of what looked like anger at the words.
With my chin raised, a tear trailed down my cheek.
I allowed him to see the pain etched there along the curving planes of my face.
Let him see the lives he tore apart based on his love of a singular pastry.
The hardness in his eyes seemed to shift to something else.
Soften. It was as if his entire countenance altered.
I pulled in a sharp breath. Maybe he’d change his mind.
I stared into his eyes, praying he could see my pain, praying he would let me stay.
He opened his mouth as if to speak. I felt that connection again.
As if some invisible string connected us together. Perhaps…
“We must make haste to the Falls before the Evergate closes,” the Elf King announced loudly to all assembled. He spoke to the crowd, but continued to hold my stare. “Let us delay no further.”
The finality of his words struck through to my heart, shattering any remaining hope like cracked sugar on the floor. The Elf King turned from me and strode from the square, his long forest green cloak swirling about him.
An elf servant passed the reins of the king’s pure white elk to him. He mounted his massive beast in one swift motion, then took off at a trot.
All eyes turned to the three of us as we were expected to follow behind the king.
The king’s servant gestured to the carriage that awaited us at the end of a long path through the middle of the crowd.
Air whooshed out of me, the sound of my last breath of freedom in the human realm.
I took in a shaking breath of servitude.
I would be a servant to the king forevermore.
Lila squeezed my arm again, and I closed my eyes.
So it shall be.
I blew one last kiss to my mother and Daisy, offered one queasy smile to Sam, as I, along with the other village offerings, walked down the stairs of the dais.
We passed the cheering villagers we’d known our entire lives to join the open wake behind the trotting king.
Lila yanked on my hand, and I allowed her to tug me along, head held high. My tears were over.
I would not let them see me cry.
Let them see me beautiful, radiant, strong; not the frightened girl hiding behind the clothing of a man.
Let them remember the joy they felt while eating my pastries.
Let them remember the smiling girl from the bakery who always had an extra mouthful for a family in need.
As I made my way through the cheering crowd, I wondered if I’d ever see that girl again.
Lila and I clasped hands as our things were packed onto the back of the elven carriage. The curved russet brown coach gilded in brass resembled a fantastical oversized walnut. We held our heads high as we took our last steps on the human lands and stepped inside.