Chapter 21
“What did they wish of you?” Aleron asked Tashama.
“Nothing I wanted to do for them,” Tashama said.
“Could I have done something for them? We are hungry. What do they wish?”
“They are pesky.” Tashama turned toward the fire.
They walked off the pebble beach, and a thud from behind made the prince turn. He laughed. “Thank you, water spites.” He grabbed up the fish and hastened after Tashama. “What did they wish of you?”
“I won’t tell, so quit asking.” Red peppers dangling on stalks nearby caught her attention. “You have chili peppers here.”
Aleron shook his head. “We cannot eat those.”
She pulled one from its stem, then bit into it as Aleron held his breath.
Smiling, she coughed. “Great stuff.” Her voice was hoarse from the burning juices of the pepper.
She cleared her throat, then walked beside the prince’s pack and grabbed up the wet blanket.
She shook it out and stretched it over the fire.
Aleron carved the end of a stick, then stuck it through the center of the fish. Afterwards, he hung it on the makeshift spit over the fire. “Nobody ever eats those things. We thought they were poisonous.”
Tashama smiled. “Great Texas food.” Then she grew serious.
“The sun grows low in the fall sky. The air has already turned cooler by several degrees. Our clothes will not have time to dry properly before nightfall.” Her arms were already covered with bumps from the cold as the slight breeze whisked about her.
The breeze carried the smoke in her direction, and she moved to the opposite side of the fire. The prince rubbed her arms to warm them as they stood before the flames.
“Your shift is still so wet,” the prince said softly.
“Yes, and your breeches, too, but we will not remove them.”
“Modesty aside…”
“No, unless you want me to leave you here alone. Then you may remove the rest of your garments to your heart’s content. I’m certain the water sprites would be intrigued.”
The prince leaned down and pulled her wet hair aside. “Even your hair is still so wet, Tashama. You’re bound to catch a chill.”
“Then it is the gods’ will.”
“You said once you must do what you can, that the gods cannot live your life for you.”
“You left me to fend for myself, oh prince, with men who had not the luxury of being with a woman of their choice for several months. Maybe longer. I was able to carry myself with dignity and respect while living among them. Do not think I’ll succumb to your charming ways, for the sake of staying warm and dry. ”
“I’m sorry, Tashama. I cannot take back the terrible way I’ve treated you, but I am sorry. I was wrong to have dealt with you in the manner in which I did.”
She nodded as she wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to quit shivering.
He walked over and touched the blanket. “The blanket is dry now. Will you not cover yourself in it? I will turn from your view, and you can remove your shift. Then we can dry your garment over the fire. Your hair will still be wet, but you should be warmer.”
He offered the blanket to her.
“Will you look away?”
“I promise. I don’t want you to become ill.”
She took a deep breath. “Then look away, Prince, and do not turn this way again until I tell you to do so.”
“Of course.” He handed her the blanket, then turned his back to her.
Tashama dropped the blanket to the ground, then pulled the shift over her head as quickly as she was able, as her hair caught it halfway.
As she struggled to loosen the hair from the fabric, the prince folded his arms across his waist. When he felt she’d had enough time to remove the gown, he said, “Are you ready yet, Princess?”
“No!” The panic in her voice made him smile.
“What seems to be the trouble?” He rubbed his chin.
“My hair.”
“Do you need my assistance?”
“No, and do not turn this way.”
She dropped her wet shift on the ground. The prince said, “Ready?”
“No!” Tashama grabbed up the blanket and pulled it over her shoulders. “All right.” She held the blanket tightly closed with her clenched hands.
“Much better.” He picked her gown up and hung it over the fire. “Our food is done. Have a seat, my lady.” Tashama continued to stand as the prince pulled the fish from the fire, then cut it up for them to eat.
“Do I have to hand-feed you?” He handed her a portion, but she wouldn’t give up her hold on her blanket.
“I’m not hungry any longer.” She stood in the warmth of the fire.
“You have to eat to keep up your strength, if we’re to evade Loran and his men tomorrow.”
Tashama released her blanket with her right hand and reached for the fish he offered her. She nibbled on the meat, and he sat and stared up at her. “Why do you not sit and rest?”
She shook her head.
“You cannot stand there all night.” He ate his filet.
“When I’m done with my meal, I will lie down.”
He returned to the fire to turn their garments. “They are dry on one side. I’ll gather some more wood. Would you like to help?”
“No, thank you.”
The prince chuckled. “I’ll be back in a moment then.”
The prince headed for the woods, and Tashama hurried after him. Hearing her light step behind him on the fallen leaves, he smiled. “You will have a time carrying any sticks, Princess.”
“I only wanted to supervise you.” She tilted her head to the side.
“I see.” He watched the knuckles of her hands turn white with the grip she had on the blanket. They reached the woods, and he gathered a larger log. Then, as he walked back to their primitive camp, he studied her concerned expression. “You are not afraid, are you?”
“I haven’t slept alone under the stars before, without a strip of clothes on and with a strange man to keep me company.”
The prince laughed. “Well, I do not believe anyone has called me strange before. And I must say,” he said as he pushed the log into the fire, “I have never slept with a naked woman before under the stars at night, either.”
Tashama touched her garment and still feeling it wet, she frowned. “Why does that notion not comfort me?”
He shook his head. “You have nothing to fear from me, Princess.” He touched her hair. “Your hair is still so wet.”
“Yes, well, I cannot remove it either.”
“Nor would I wish for you to do such a thing.”
“Turn away,” Tashama said.
The prince folded his arms across his chest. “I’m not used to a woman telling me what to do, my lady.”
“I want to lie down, but I’m afraid I might expose something I wouldn’t want to.”
“Ah, when you give me reasons for your concern, I’m more apt to consider your request more favorably.” He turned his back. After waiting for a minute, he said, “Are you all right, Tashama?”
“Wait, I’m trying to get comfortable.”
A rock hit another on the grass nearby.
Another clunked some distance in the glade, making the prince chuckle. “Would you like for me to make your bed?”
“No!”
The prince tapped his foot on the ground. “My backside is quite warm, but I want to warm my bare chest with the fire. Are you sure you’re not…”
“Okay.”
The prince watched her as she closed her eyes, and the flickering flame cast a warm light over her ivory face. She licked her lips, then twisted slightly to get comfortable, making the prince sigh deeply. You are sight more wondrous than I’ve ever known.
Early the next morning, Tashama shivered as the fire had long been extinguished. Her back was warm, and she smiled as the prince snuggled close to her.
She closed her eyes, but then voices without words caught her attention, and she sat up suddenly. Seven men and three women sitting on white horses with their blond manes stirred by the light breeze as the party watched her from a few feet away.
She rose to her feet and woke Aleron. He jumped up and pulled his sword from his sheath. She grabbed his hand and shook her head, then turned to consider the blond-haired people with fine features and pointed ears. “Elorian Elves,” she whispered. “They won’t harm us.”
The leader of the group motioned for his women to dismount, then waved at his men in the same manner while he continued to sit on his horse. “What do they want?” Aleron whispered back.
“I don’t know.”
Aleron and Tashama watched as the men hurried to construct a square tent while the women pulled bundles off their saddles. “The woodland nymphs called them to come to our aid,” Tashama whispered.
A male voice spoke to her, and she turned her attention to the leader. “He says we must change our clothes. The forest colors of the elven garments will help to camouflage us.” She hesitated as Aleron shook his head. He’ll learn my language before long. “They’ll cloak us while we travel with them.”
“I must return to Banff.” Aleron sheathed his sword. “I cannot leave my kingdom.”
Tashama turned to the leader and listened to his words spoken without body. “He says you do not have to come with us. You may stay.” She faced Aleron. “You cannot stay, Aleron. Loran will kill you if he finds you.”
The ladies said to Tashama in their silent way, “We are ready for you, my lady.”
“I need to change,” Tashama said to Aleron. “You would do well to do so.”
Tashama walked into the tent. Aleron grabbed the garments offered to him, then yanked his tunic from his chest.
“Why will they not speak to me?” He pulled the green and tan tunic over his shoulders, then hurried to fasten it across his chest.
“Oh, you are tickling me,” Tashama giggled as the ladies helped her on with the gowns.
Giggles erupted from the elven maids. “Because, Aleron, they feel you have perpetuated this war between our peoples and in so doing their own people have suffered as a direct result of the continued conflict—disruption of commerce, thievery on the part of the soldiers who forage into their lands for foods, and so on.”
“Loran is the one who keeps waging war. We only defend ourselves.”
“Ah, it is not that you want to take over my kingdom too?” Tashama walked out of the tent.
Tashama smiled as Aleron stared at her gowns.
She touched the green ribbons cris-crossed between her breasts, accentuating her feminine form, then ran her hand over the overskirts of blended tans and green sheers cut sharply up the length of the garment in triangular form, allowing the viewer a glimpse of her shapely legs.
He took a deep breath as he finished pulling on his boots.
“You could be an elven maiden.” He hurried to repack his satchel.
She pulled her blond hair back over her shoulders.
“Only I do not have the correct shape of ears.” Tashama turned back to listen to the leader of the elves.
“They have brought only one horse for us to ride, as the woodland nymphs carried only word of me on the wind. They suggest I ride with one of the other maidens, while you take the steed.”
“I will ride with you, as I would not want to become separated from you.” Aleron mounted the horse, then reached down to pull her into the saddle with him. “Since they seem to be rather at odds with me, I would not desire to be traveling without you.”
Tashama smiled. “They only fear we’ll slow them down this way.
They say it’ll be many hours before Loran can find a way to cross the swollen stream.
He has already gathered another army of men, however, to accomplish the task.
” Tashama glanced over at one of the maidens who spoke to her, and she nodded and smiled.
“What did the lady say?”
“She says you are very handsome for a human.”
“And you agreed with her?” He pulled Tashama closer. She rested her head against his chest and nodded. “And what do the elven men say about you?”
“They are careful not to speak concerning me.”
“Oh?”
“I am Tashama and will bring peace to the region. I am the key to prosperity for the entire population. You say I cannot lead my people without a husband to do the task for me, but this is not so. Certainly, I will wed soon, but it is not my husband who will quell our difficult times. Indeed, this husband of mine will be important as he will desire to please me, so he can win my favors.”
The prince took her message and smiled. She smiled and rested her head against his elven tunic. “I’m sure your husband will do everything in his power to please you, Tashama.” Aleron leaned over to kiss her head. The elven maidens giggled.
The brilliant ball of flame settled in the west as the party of elves and their human counterparts arrived in Ramoria.
Everyone dismounted from the horses as Aleron helped Tashama down from his steed.
One of the ladies waved her hand to her.
Tashama took Aleron’s hand as they walked along a green moss-covered stone path.
Columns of green marble suddenly appeared, blending into the vegetation as pink-flowered vines wound their way up the striated pillars.
She touched one of the flowers, and the blossom wiggled slightly.
“Have you ever been here before?” she asked him.
“No, and you?”
“When I was little, my father brought me here to trade with the elves. One of the maidens gave me a sapphire—not in trade, but as a gift. I’ve found them to be the most generous of people.”
“The jewel was not a part of your possessions when you were brought to Banff.”
“No.” Tashama shook her head. “During the terror that followed when my father and mother collapsed in the great hall during supper, I left the jewel in my room as Balthazar ferreted me away.”
“To Texas,” Aleron said.
“Yes.” Tashama nodded at one of the maidens.
“What does she say?”
“We must follow her to the place where we will sleep the night. The queen of the elves will meet with us tomorrow. She and her husband have retired for the evening.”
Tashama and the prince followed the maiden up winding stone stairs surrounded by ferns and drooping palms. “Only the queen will meet us? Why not the king? My coronation!” Aleron stopped in his footsteps. “I cannot believe I’ve forgotten about the most important moment in my life.”