13. Emilia
Chapter 13
Emilia
T he laundress in the palace does a much better job than at the estate. Perhaps it has to do with magic? Lady Dahlia’s dresses are absolutely beautiful. Growing up, I never imagined I would get to see or even feel such wonderful materials. In the village, we had basic and practical fabric. What’s the point in a silk dress when you’re going to get it dirty within the first hour of being awake?
A loud knock sounds at the door to Lady Dahlia’s room. Looking around, I wonder if I am missing something. Lady Dahlia went to have tea with another noblewoman, so I’m alone in the suite putting away her clothes. Another knock on the door propels me forward to answer it. Pulling the heavy door open, I see Milori standing on the other side. Green eyes look down at me as he smiles with that disarming smile. The man probably has a hoard of women falling all over themselves to get his attention.
“Good afternoon, Milori. Is everything alright?”
“Absolutely. I am just here to invite you to a private viewing of the lantern ceremony tonight.” Inviting me… what? He wouldn’t invite me to something like that, knowing I am supposed to be the King’s spirit bond. I must have a look on my face because Milori chuckles at me.
“The King is inviting you to a private viewing of the lantern ceremony tonight.” Heat rises to my cheeks. Of course, what was I thinking?
“Oh, um… I’m not sure I can get away. Lady Dahlia is attending tonight, and as far as I know, she is not requiring us to attend with her.”
“The ceremony is a few hours long; I am sure you can leave once she has departed and return before she returns.” Looking back into the suite, I think about his plan. Getting to know Timas better would be nice, but what if she calls on me while I am away?
“I’m not sure.” I chew on the inside of my lip, mulling over my choices. Stay here in the suite just in case Lady Dahlia needs me, or watch what is supposed to be a magical sight. Something tugs inside me the moment I think about Timas. I haven’t seen him since yesterday, which isn’t all that long, but it feels like it’s been forever. With all the risks I have taken this year, one more won’t hurt. “Alright, yes. Where do I meet him?”
“I will escort you to the King after Lady Dahlia leaves. Does that sound alright?” I smile and nod my head.
“Yes, thank you.” After a slight bow, Milori leaves—excitement bubbling inside me at the prospect of seeing Timas.
The rest of the afternoon went by quickly. After putting away Lady Dahlia’s clothes, she returned to prepare for the lantern ceremony. Sigrid and I had just finished putting away the makeup when someone knocked on the door. My heart skipped a beat. I completely forgot Sigrid would be here with me when Milori came to escort me to the King.
“I’ll get it.” I give Sigrid a tight smile, head to the door, and pull it open a crack. Somehow, I need to leave without Sigrid being suspicious.
“Good evening, Emilia. Are you ready?” Slightly wide-eyed, I look at him and then back in the suite at Sigrid, who is still putting items away.
“Sigrid is here. I can’t leave yet.” Understanding the situation, Milori nods his head.
“I will wait around the corner. A large tapestry is hanging on the wall and just behind that is an alcove with a hidden door. Meet me there.” Nodding, I close the door and turn back to the room.
“What was that about?” Sigrid looks up at me.
“Oh, one of the Fae servants asked if we needed anything. I asked if we could get another bottle of that wine Lady Dahlia seems to like, seeing as she just finished it.” That sounded believable , I think.
“Good idea, though we should have asked for some more towels. I will go in search of some later.”
There has to be a way to leave without looking suspicious.
“I saw Ethan today. Maybe you could visit with him while Lady Dahlia’s away? I can cover for you. ”
“Oh,” I forgot, Sigrid thinks I have a special relationship with Ethan…which could be useful.
“You work so hard, Emilia, you can’t make your whole life about this job. You should go have some fun.” Her smile is so genuine and kind, and I feel awful lying to her, but this could be the best opportunity to leave and enjoy an evening with Timas.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course! Go have fun.” I walk over to her and wrap her up in a tight embrace hug. She is too good of a woman to be working for a woman like Lady Dahlia, and she has been so kind to me.
“Thank you.” I hope she can tell how genuinely grateful I am. One day, I hope to tell her everything. She has been a good friend this past year and deserves to know the truth.
Quickly, I head over to the door to meet Milori in the hall. I think about changing for a brief moment, but if I only have a limited time, I don’t want to waste it. Finding the tapestry is easy enough, and just behind it, I find Milori.
“Ready?” I nod because I don’t know what else to say.
He leads me through a series of passages, all lit with lights that float from the ceiling. I tried looking at how they hung there, but Milori walked quickly, and I didn’t want to get lost in the labyrinth behind the palace walls. Eventually, we make it to what looks like a stone wall. Milori finds something along the wall, and it swings open, revealing a library. The room isn’t all that large, but it is filled to the brim with books and tomes. The walls were covered from the bottom to the top with books, and off to the right was an oversized chair, inviting a reader to lose themselves. I never gave much thought to reading, but this makes me very curious about what is in here.
“The Queen Dowager used to spend a lot of time reading here. She preferred to enjoy a good book rather than socialize with the masses. Now that she is no longer required to stay in the palace, this room is not used as often, but Timas keeps it clean and ready for when she visits.”
Looking around again, I can see parts of the space used and worn. It doesn’t look run down but rather loved and enjoyed. Exiting the door, we enter a large hallway that looks much like the others in the palace. The sun is already setting, and as it hits the stained glass windows, a rainbow of colours dance on the walls and floors. Everything seems so magical here. Milori leads me to a staircase that spirals up a tall tower. By the time we reach the top, I am out of breath. You’d think I would be able to handle the stairs with how much I run around, but no, I am left gasping for air. Finally, stepping out onto the top of the tower, the horizon takes up the entire view. The sight took my breath away at how beautiful it is. We must be on top of one of the tallest towers in the palace. Looking across the channel, I can see the Human Kingdom. The great expanse of green land and trees decorate the horizon. The sun colours the sky in purples, pinks, and reds. Utterly distracted by the view, I hadn’t realized Timas was standing on the balcony.
“Hello, my flower.” Quickly turning, I find Timas standing by a sea of flowers, cushions, and candles. I can’t help but gape at the sight. Timas is wearing his usual blue and white royal robes, and his hair is exactly the same, though it sways slightly in the wind.
“Wow, this is incredible.” He sweeps his hand out, revealing more of the space. A small table sits just slightly off the ground; it’s filled with food—fresh fruit, cakes, cheese, and so much more.
“Come sit.” Tentatively, I walk over to the sitting area. I vaguely hear a door closing behind me, but I am overwhelmed by everything I see before me and don’t pay attention.
“Did you do this all for me?” Finally sitting on the cushions, I look at Timas, who has taken the seat across from me.
“Of course. What kind of person would I be if I didn’t provide for my spirit bond?” Excitement and nervousness twist inside me. Timas makes me feel so special, but it’s also scary to think someone could feel so strongly about you without really knowing who you are.
“This looks amazing!” Smoothing down my dress, which looks very out of place, surrounded by these beautiful things, I try to get comfortable on the cushions, which isn’t hard. It’s like sitting on a cloud…or what I expect a cloud would feel like.
“Can I offer you a drink?”
“Yes, please.” He pulls one of the glasses from the middle of the table and fills it with wine. Setting it in front of me, I reach out to try it. A burst of flavour covers my tongue, a sweet drink that doesn’t have the burn that most Orc drinks have.
“This tastes amazing!” I look over at Timas, shocked and amazed at how good it tastes.
“I am so glad you like it. This particular wine comes from one of the islands south of this one. The variety of grapes grown there are sweeter than most other places.” Nodding, I take another sip, enjoying the flavour.
“You look beautiful, my flower. I am so glad you came tonight.” Looking down at my working uniform, I have difficulty believing I am as beautiful as he says. My hair is likely a mess, and I know a light coating of dried sweat covers my body after running around attending Lady Dahlia. But when I look into his eyes, he seems utterly captivated… by me. Heat floods my cheeks, probably making them beat red.
“I like it when you blush.” And now they are getting hotter.
“Thank you.” Ducking my head, I take another sip. I’ll need serious courage to stay here.
“Now, you must be hungry. Let’s eat. The Lanterns will be flying soon and I want you to enjoy every moment of it, but after you have a full stomach.”
We ate and talked, which was so comfortable that my body relaxed. The tense muscles I have been living with for the past year are finally releasing.
“Don’t you need to be at the ceremony?”
“I already gave my speech. The priestesses will take over the ceremony when it becomes dark enough to light the lanterns.” He adjusted himself, getting a bit closer to me .
“So tell me, my flower. What was it like growing up in an Orc village?” Taking a deep breath, I look at the nearly dark sky. It’s been a long time since I have thought about what my life was like.
“It was hard at first. When my mother left me with my father, I was terrified. Are you sure you want to hear this? It’s not exactly happy at the beginning.” By this point, Timas has moved much closer to me. His arm is behind me on the cushion, and his leg nearly touches mine. He seems to wrap around me, making me feel comforted and protected. He brushes my face gently.
“I want to know everything about you, Emilia–the good, the bad, and the ugly, though I doubt that last one is possible.” I laugh out loud. Despite myself, I can’t help but smile. He makes me feel special and beautiful.
“Mother and I lived in near poverty while in the human kingdom. We travelled a lot. Mother could never keep a job, which forced us to move frequently. I never knew my Father. Mother said he was useless and not worth our time. I asked about him for a while, but she would get mad and ignore me when I did. Eventually, I stopped asking. One day, Mother said we were going on a big trip to meet my half-brother. At that point, I had no idea I even had a half-brother. The trip was long and took us nearly a week to get to the large settlement named Dorron. I noticed things had started changing after a while. We rode along the dirt roads on carts full of goods. The human villages were filled with wooden or stone homes in squares or rectangles, but the villages we were riding through were circular, with large spikes surrounding some and animal skulls hanging outside. Leather covered some of the windows and doors. It felt like we stepped out of civilization and into…I don’t know, another world? We arrived at this house on the outskirts of the settlement. It wasn’t all that big, one large circle with a couple of smaller ones attached to the sides. The front was full of hanging weapons and racks with hides drying. Mother knocked on the post to the side of the opening, and a large man stepped out. He was huge, close to seven feet tall. It was the first time I had ever seen an Orc before." I swallow around the emotion building in my throat because remembering my father hurts.
“He had soft brown eyes, and when he saw my mother, he was shocked. Mother said some things about not knowing where to go, and he invited us inside. Garrick came home from work sometime later. He looked like an Orc to me, except he had my mother’s eyes. My eyes. He was mad–he hadn’t seen our mother in years and wanted nothing to do with her. I thought he was mad at me. I was a child, though, and didn’t know any better. He stormed off and went to his room, leaving me, my mother, and Zornak, my father, in the room. My father was so kind to me. Despite being a giant in my eyes, he spoke to me softly and made a place for me to stay in his room. He slept out by the fire. The next morning I woke early, cold, and realized Mother wasn’t in the bed with me. I climbed out of bed and raced to the door, with no shoes on, standing in the fresh snow. I knew she had left. Left me with people I didn’t know. I cried for days after that, not eating much and not talking. It was Garrick who finally broke through. He would sit with me in silence every day. He would carve and sew clothing to keep his hands busy. After a few days, he finished this beautiful carving of a swallow bird. He told me swallows live in flocks and support each other to live. They symbolize moving forward and finding happiness. He said they were my flock now and would love and support me. Zornak was proud to have me as his daughter. Though I was initially frightened, he worked hard to show me I could trust him, giving me the space I needed and being there when I needed it, too. As I got older, they became everything to me. At around eight, Father moved us to a small village called Mogd. Too many people wanted to look at the human being raised by an Orc, it was uncomfortable to go out at times. The village wasn’t much better in some ways, but eventually, everyone came to know who I was and that I worked just as hard as my brother and father. They came to accept me, some even going so far as to ask to marry me. Father never forced me to do that. I was content to work with him at the blacksmith shop, making me one of the oldest unmarried women in the village. But I didn’t mind, and well, you know the rest, really. Father was taken, and I wound up as a terrible spy.“ Smiling at my little joke, Timas stares at me with an emotion I can’t describe.
“You are so brave, my flower. You were dealt a difficult hand and made something beautiful out of it. I am glad you have people in your life who love you.” Looking up at the stars that have come out, I think about how true his statement is. I am very loved.
He continues, “Did you know that swallows mate for life? Maybe it’s a sign.” Turning to look at Timas, he smiles, making me feel warm inside.
“Maybe,” I whisper. “Tell me about you. What was it like growing up in a palace?”
“My life seems rather boring compared to yours. My father and mother loved me dearly, giving me every experience imaginable. I was raised in luxury and wealth. I wanted for nothing.”
“Why does it sound like you weren’t happy?” His words say it was perfect, but his tone says something else: it was missing something.
“I was lonely for a long time. I wasn’t exactly the nicest of children. My power comes from the natural phenomena of this world. It is powerful and sometimes tough to control, and as a child, I did not have control, especially if I was angry. My temper would flare, and I would burn down a building or shake the ground so much the windows would shatter. No one really wanted to be friends with me. On top of that, I was the heir to the throne, and many were intimidated by me. Milori was the only one brave enough to talk to me. I was nearly twenty when I met him, which is young for the Fae people. We don’t hit maturity until we’re closer to one hundred.”
Hmm, I didn’t know that.
“Milori grew up on one of the smaller islands away from Sonas. His mother fell in love with someone from the lower class and was ostracized by her family. It was pure luck that we even met the day he came to the palace. His mother wanted him to train as a guard, and due to the royal blood pumping through him, he had stronger powers than anyone he knew back on his home island—not to mention wings, which are exclusively for noble houses. He was an oddity in a smaller community of Fae people, so his mother thought he would do better here. I was in the training yard going through a basic routine when he walked through. He commented on my poor form, which led to me challenging him on the spot. The whole thing drew quite a crowd. He kept up with me. We used our powers at one point because I think we were trying to prove we were better and stronger than the other. Of course, I won, but he shocked me enough to make me stop and look at him. He smiled after the fight, said he enjoyed it, and that no one had ever pushed him so hard. After that, we were inseparable. He is the only one who gets away with making sarcastic remarks towards me. I trust him implicitly, which I can’t say for many in this court.”
Timas brushes a knuckle across my cheek as he looks deep into my eyes. He must feel so alone since he only has one person to confide in.
“That still sounds very lonely. Did you spend time with your parents?”
Timas looks away, thinking for a moment before turning back to me.
“Sometimes. Father was busy running the kingdom, which made spending time with him hard, and Mother liked to be alone. Too many people would overwhelm her. I knew they both loved me and made sure to check in, but it always felt a little distant. They were chosen bonded, meaning they hadn’t found their spirit bonds and instead, married for political reasons versus love. They ended up loving each other a lot, but you could tell that a lot of what they did, they did it out of duty. I never wanted that.”
My heart beats a little faster, listening to him.
“What did you want?” Timas moves closer to me so I can feel the heat coming off his body.
“I dreamed of the day I would find my spirit bond—the other half of my soul. The stories of the elusive spirit bond were cherished by all and I knew I would wait for her wherever she was. The desire to have a love so deep you can not measure it. To have such a profound bond with a single person seemed like the epitome of perfection. I know I am sometimes… difficult to handle, but my spirit bond would be able to balance me where a chosen bond would not. So I waited… for you.” I feel light-headed at how ardent he sounds. He waited for me. Where I can only feel a slight pull towards him, he must feel something far more overwhelming. And I’m jealous.
“You are everything I could ever dream of and more. Your bravery and loyalty is inspiring. The strength that lives inside you has helped you survive so much. In time, my hope is you will understand the depth of affection I have for you. It may feel unlikely, but I already feel a deep connection with you. Anytime you leave me, I become very agitated—ask Milori. He will attest to my poor mood.” I laugh because it feels good to bring happiness to his life. Truthfully, he has brought joy to mine.
“You bring me a lot of happiness, too. At first, it scared me–this idea that my person was…well… you . I mean, I’m just a human raised by an Orc–what do I know about the Fae people or even being royalty? It’s intimidating, really intimidating.“ His smile is beautiful, reaching all the way to his eyes. Against the backdrop of the night sky, he shines.
“May I kiss you?” I swallow and nod my head. He leans in and places a sweet and tender kiss on my lips. His hand cups my face, and the other rests on my leg. It felt like we were lost in the moment forever, though I know it was only a moment. When he pulled away, he was smiling bigger than before, and my own cheeks hurt with the smile on my face. This is the best night I have ever had.
“I don’t want to rush you, my darling Emilia. I plan to show you I am worth trusting and maybe one day loving.”
I don’t think he will have to work that hard–I think I may already be falling for this powerful Fae King.
“Can I ask you something?” I’ve been wondering for a while why Timas has all these markings on his body. Sitting this close to him, I can see the faint lines that cover his body, and curiosity wins out.
“Of course.” His eyes shine with sincerity.
“Why do you have these tattoos?” He hums and looks at his partially visible chest with intricate patterns .
“They show how powerful a Fae King is. The brighter the tattoos shine when a Fae uses magic, the stronger the power. Only nobility have these markings and for the most part, they are usually small and only one or two on the chest or back, but for me, it covers my chest, arms and part of my neck. Part of the reason we know I am so strong is because of these tattoos, no one has had this many in the past several centuries.”
Seems a reasonable thing, I guess. “Were you born with them?” He shifts and gets a bit closer to me, which I didn’t think was possible.
“Yes, though, they become more pronounced the older we get.” Hmm, that’s interesting.
“It’s just about time for the lanterns to fly. Come lay here so we can watch them sail through the air. We release the lanterns as a symbol of a new life beginning. Each person releases a lantern into the sky, making a wish for the upcoming year. It can be about a good yield of crops, but commonly, it is to find love for those who don’t have it and to stay in love with those who have found it. We Fae people are quite romantic.” Laying beside him, he turns his head and winks at me. Just over the wall surrounding the balcony, a wave of lanterns rises in the dark sky. Little balls of light in hues of gold and amber shine like small suns. I have never seen something so beautiful. I hold my breath, taking in the sight, afraid that a single inhale will distract me from it all. Soft voices and laughter float in the air from below as the lanterns rise higher and higher, carrying the wishes of the people. I am speechless, watching something so wondrous take place in front of me. Timas sits up and grabs two lanterns I had not seen when I came onto the balcony. Lighting it, he hands me one and softly smiles at me.
“Make a wish.” Closing my eyes, I think about what I want and wish for. I wish for my father’s safe return, but now I wish for something else. I wish for the love Timas described, a love that can not be measured, a connection so deep that two people become one. Letting go of my lantern, it flies high in the sky.
We lay back on the comfortable cushions, watching hundreds of lanterns float across the sky. Hours pass, and I lay in his arms, talking and watching. This night will be one I will remember for the rest of my life.