Chapter 19
A DANCE WITH THE ELF KING
Dread rolled down my back like a trickle of cold water.
Unexpected things? What did that even mean?
Well, it could mean just about anything, and here we were heading into a lively wedding party among an entire town of elven strangers—and we had to maintain the lie that we were husband and wife. I’d need to be on guard.
I hiccuped as a golden warmth tickled my nose. I rubbed at the strange sensation absently.
We entered a wide circle of trees, and inside the impressive circle, the festivities were well under way.
Elegant elves sat at large tables laden with piles of fruits, nuts, and cheeses.
Goblets for wine glimmered red and silver plates gleamed in the firefly glow.
Couples and families danced under the gleaming gemstones to the exuberant music.
I took a step in their direction, longing to join in the dance when Elden pulled me back.
“Take it easy, Little Baker.” Elden shook his head. “We do not want to draw too much attention.”
The newlywed couple, one with brilliant pink hair, the other with orange, shone brilliantly at the head of the center table, lost in each other’s eyes.
They were beautiful. Everyone was beautiful.
The colors and shapes and patterns that swam in my eyes blurred with a new light, and when I glanced up at Elden, my heart sang.
He was strong, rugged, incredibly handsome and tonight, he was all mine.
I cared nothing for tomorrow, for the next week, or years.
All I cared about was the magnificence of the night and the brilliance of my company.
I smiled up at Elden, running a hand down the side of his handsome cheek—a place I’d longed to touch for days now. Then I trailed my hand down his arm, reveling in the defined muscles there.
“Alright, Little Baker, perhaps we should head back to the inn.” Elden blanched, as if he’d seen a ghost.
“Oh!” I huffed as I pulled his large arm closer to me. “Don’t be such a stick in the mud. You haven’t even asked me to dance yet.”
A small smile formed at the corner of Elden’s mouth. Then he hung his beautiful head, black hair cascading around his shoulders, and held out a hand.
“Very well,” Elden said as he took my hand and led me under the twinkling lights to the dance floor. “Shall we?”
The dance floor was nothing more than a cleared-out lawn of cut grass, yet the elves took to it, dancing with bare feet on the soft green carpet. Dresses and suits of fine silk and homespun cotton mingled together as elves reveled in their familiar company.
“Come on, Elden.” I giggled, then happily removed my own stuffy shoes. Fireflies danced through the trees, and ribbons swayed with the soft breeze. The jaunty music shifted into a lively waltz, and I beamed.
Elden pulled off his great big boots with considerable effort, then he wrapped his arm about my waist, and we set off dancing.
My father had shown me several dances growing up.
We’d clear the kitchen and pull back the table while mother played the piano.
It was exhilarating now, using those steps both familiar and new as I stared up into the eyes of the Elf King.
He was so strong, so sure. His steady eyes rested on me as if nothing and no one else existed around us.
I could do nothing but stare at the resplendent male who held me. He was mine. If only for tonight. He was mine.
We danced through the night, cool grass crunching beneath our feet.
I stumbled into Elden more than once, reveling in the strength of his arms. The warmth of his touch.
We made our way to the tables laden with dripping caramel cakes and creamy pumpkin pies more than once.
I laughed at my new friend, Freya’s, silly jokes.
Complimented Hannah on the smooth cut of her gorgeous gown.
Hailed the newlywed couple with hugs and raised glasses—mine full of a spiced cider.
Everyone was kind and gracious, treating Elden and I like old friends. My heart was full to bursting.
How could I have ever thought of the elves as evil, stuffy things? Here, they were free with their ale and laughter, good-hearted, and kind. Eager to please and happy to join in with a hearty laugh.
After we’d danced our fill, Elden and I found a quiet little table tucked in a corner away from the dance floor.
I spilled my deepest secrets, telling of the time when I was nine and had fallen madly for Zachary Peppercorn.
I’d tried to show off by doing some fantastic flips, but that had only succeeded in him seeing me toppled over into the nearby brook.
All the other kids had laughed, but not Sam.
He’d yelled fiercely at the other children, then helped me wipe off the mud in the rushing waters of the creek.
I’d never told anyone that story before, but my tongue was looser and my confidence rose to the challenge.
Elden laughed kind-heartedly and told me of an incident involving his brother and that time he’d transformed into a small dragon to scare him.
But Aldaar had just loved the dragon and tried to pet him.
Elden was just as interested as I was in the food.
He loved asking after the regional vegetables and herbs used in the cooking.
He also admired the floral table settings and eagerly enlightened me on fun facts about each of the flowers in turn.
“Moonflowers are a rare species of plants brought over from my home world.” Elden admired the full white blossoms in the shape of crescents that were part of the floral centerpieces.
“They hibernate in the summer and spring, blossoming fully in the autumn and lasting through the winter. They are used in numerous potions to ward off evil. Their soft petals, if harvested under a blue moon, will never rot. We use them for pillow cushions, actually.”
We traded stories all night as the dark of the evening continued to fall. I was having my third helping of the delicious fried dough and curried beef when Elden said, “We must turn in. Our quest continues tomorrow.”
Our quest? Our quest. Yes. Saving the kingdom and whatnot. It was merely a distant buzzing in the back of my mind. Like an annoying gnat flitting about my ears.
I huffed, but stood on quivering legs. Elden wrapped my arm in his and led me away from the party and out into the crisp night. After a few shivers wracked through me, Elden’s large coat settled about my shoulders. I pulled it tight around me and hobbled home.
The walk back dashed by in a blur. Butterflies flew in my belly. All I could do was chance glances at the beautiful male beside me and…desire him. Truly want him. The pure want of him gobbled me up until I was nothing more than a burning flame. I tripped, almost taking Elden down with me.
A fumbling, bumbling flame.
We reached the door of our room, and I turned to face Elden.
Heat rolled through me. I had to look in his eyes just once.
Just to see if he felt the same. Passion and longing roared through me with an acute fire.
Elden’s gold eyes met mine, so very high up, but all I’d have to do was hop up on my tippy toes and his lips would be on mine.
“Elden?” I asked through heavy breaths.
His eyes grew soft. “Yes, Noelle?”
The intensity of his gaze stripped me bare. I didn’t know what I wanted to ask. All words had flown from my mind and there were only his eyes, his mouth, and my bated breaths in the crisp autumn night. Our bodies pressed together as he leaned over me. His gaze lingered on my lips—
A kiss. It was all I wanted; all I could think about.
I stood up on my toes and reached around the Elf King’s broad shoulder.
His breath guttered as he closed his eyes.
He wanted me too. I felt it in the air. The tension between us was tangible.
As delicious as a golden-brown pastry. I leaned in and—
The floor fell from beneath my feet as Elden lifted me into his arms. He carried me to the bed, then slipped off my shoes. He gently tucked the blanket up around my neck, then rushed across the room and busied himself with kindling the fire.
What?
I blinked, surprised at the speed in which I was so thoroughly rejected. I shivered as I lay wrapped in a blanket so all together cold and alone.
Minutes later, the fire blazed, and I was all at once freezing and burning hot. Depression hit like a punch to the face. Who was I anyway? To think I could love the king? To think he would want me? I was a nobody human. A tiny little baker, as he was so often fond of reminding me.
“What was in that potion, anyways?” I grumbled as chills wracked through me.
“Ah,” Elden said knowingly from where he sat before the crackling fire. The warm oranges and yellows of the flame flashed on the greens and gold hues of the rich fabrics. “You must be coming down from the effects. Don’t worry, the chills and…feelings will subside after a good night’s rest.”
“Feelings?” I croaked and rolled in the bed; blanket wrapped tightly. “I feel terrible.”
“The way Jel explains it, the blight is a curse of evil. Of darkness. So, he fights back the darkness with light and goodness.” Elden’s deep voice rumbled through the room vibrating my very bones.
“But a little too much of that goodness, that light, and you forget all of your doubts. You can act a little too strongly without thinking through the consequences.”
Like trying to kiss the Elf King in front of the bedroom we shared as fake husband and wife. I moaned in complete embarrassment and covered my head. Why? I hadn’t even tried to hide my desire for him.
I would never be able to face Elden again. This was going to be a very long fortnight, indeed.
A low chuckle sounded from the other side of the room. I further buried my head in my blanket and wished for the ceiling to collapse on my bed and put me out of my misery.
“I have made vows, Little Baker.” Elden’s voice rolled like the crackling fire. “Vows to remain chaste until I am wed.”
I blinked at the forward words of the king, blushing furiously. I’d only wished to kiss him, hadn’t I?
My smile softened. “I made promises, too, king. And I intend to honor them as well.”
It was the way of both the humans and elf. The elves had different ceremonies and customs than marriage, but it was the same concept. You chose the person you would commit your life to and became one with them after the ceremony.
I felt that now. That pull to Elden. That need to touch him. But I would not, especially when my mind was potion-addled.
“I am happy to hear that we are in agreement on that matter,” Elden scowled through a smile.
“Yes,” I said, then muttered “unfortunately” under my breath. This potion was dangerous!
I threw a hand over my mouth, then covered myself in my blanket.
A rumbling laugh from Elden indicated that he’d heard me. I shivered in my blanket in the strange after effects of the medicine as Elden found a spare blanket and grabbed a pillow from the bed. He situated himself before the fire and said, “Sleep well.”
The Elf King slept on a floor while a mere human baker took the bed? He’d told me he would earlier today, but watching as the Elf King gathered up blankets and pillows to make himself a bed on the floor was something else entirely. This was strange. Unexpected. Kind, even.
“Sleep well,” I said, oddly touched through a yawn as the fire danced along the intricate tapestries.
Sleep followed blessedly soon after. I welcomed the oblivion.
The next morning, I awoke to the warm smell of eggs, sausage, and yeasty bread. Elden brought in the trays of food, placing one on the corner of the bed for me.
“Eat your fill. This will be our last good meal for the next few days at least.”
“Ugh.” I groaned. I’d never overindulged in anything but pastries before. My head pounded, and my mouth was dry. I felt on the verge of losing my enormous helpings of dinner and caramel cakes. I would never take too much of Jel’s potion ever again.
I picked through breakfast, trying to get my stomach to settle, but focused on the plain yeasty bread which I dipped in my warm honey and dandelion tea.
Elden was already dressed in his traveling clothes, so I tromped up the stairs noisily and changed from my wrinkled green party gown back into my traveling tunic and form-fitting pants.
Cool air puffed out before me as I scrubbed my body quickly with warm water and a cloth.
If this was to be my last nice meal, it might also be the last time I get to clean myself in a good while.
I thanked the stars that I had my monthly bleeding last week.
I hurried to pack my saddle bags, rolling my satin dress the way Rafia taught me, then Elden and I made our way across the bridges that stretched like branches from the great big Towering Trees of the Inn—all in complete and terribly awkward silence.
We found our horses out front, well rested and fed.
I scratched Sapphire behind her enormous ears as Elden strapped our saddlebags to the beasts. Tabitha and Todd greeted us with hearty waves.
Tabitha hugged me tightly and planted a kiss on my cheek. “Was a pleasure baking with you. Here’s a few supplies to speed you on your way.”
She handed me a large sack tinkling with a glass bottle of fresh buttermilk, eggs, bacon wrapped in brown paper, and happily, a large sackful of those salted caramels.
I smiled, touched by the kind gesture. “Thank you.”
“Stay safe, sweet Noelle,” Tabitha shot a wary eye out to the horizon. “A darkness is spreading. Make sure you stay clear of it.”
“And you as well.” I nodded. There had been no mention of blight among the people of Spindlewood last night, but they were aware of it.
The last patch of blight Elden and I came across was only a half day’s ride from where we now stood.
What would the people do if their lands were overtaken? Where would they go?
As if on cue, my legs ached, the pain stretching farther past my knee and over my thigh. It spread down as well, lancing pain across my foot in sharp stabbing scrapes.
Elden and I shared a look, one heavy with meaning. We had to hurry.
“Thank you for everything.” I pulled Todd in for a hug. “It was an enchanting night.”
“Keep her close,” Todd charged Elden, “Hard to find a female both this kind and this beautiful among the fair folk. I’m one of the lucky few.” Todd smiled and pulled Tabitha close into his side.
Elden only nodded, eager to leave this village and his fake marriage to me behind. I may have been a little too… open last night. Unguarded. I couldn’t have actually meant to kiss the king, could I? Heat burned into my cheeks. I was an idiot.
Elden turned his horse, and the two of us rode out of Spindlewood in the early silence of the morning—a strange coldness growing frost between us.