Page 44 of Aofie's Quest
“What of the elves?” I asked Takari. “What of their magic? Can they help you?”
Takari avoided my eyes. “Maybe, but everything comes with a price and to use magic that powerful would leave me indebted.”
“I see.” I bit my lower lip although I did not fully understand. If she wanted to find him so badly, wouldn’t she do anything? Why did Takari seem so reluctant to be among the elves?
A maiden entered, her eyes darting across the bathhouse until she saw Takari and I. “You must be the ones who just arrived,” she said. “Come, your robes are ready. I will lead you to an audience with the queen.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Elven maids dressedus in yards of silk, the finest material I’d ever worn. The coolness weaved around my body and the long skirts fell to my feet. I fingered the light blue silks in awe but kept my mouth closed, unsure of how to act in the presence of elves. I was given slippers to wear and my short hair was braided back from my face and left to hang loose, in their style.
Takari’s short curls were left loose and she wore a pale green that reminded me of the mint leaves that grew in the Beluar Woods. The material was beautiful against her dark skin and she smiled now and again when she touched it.
The elves encouraged us to enjoy light refreshments of blackberries and a smooth liquor to drink. Clean and refreshed, we were led through the maze of halls once again. I tried to walk like them, shoulders held back, neck tall, while holding my skirts up to keep me from tripping over them. Beyond the crystal ceiling, the setting sun cast a blush across the sky, while rosebuds caught and twisted in the wind before gracing the palace with their grandeur.
My feet sank into soft carpets and the scent of cardamom and patchouli hung in the air. We ascended higher and everywhere were the sounds of a stringed instrument, a wild voice singing, and a gentle melody of musical tones. A calmness came over me, greater than the relief I’d felt at meeting my mother. At last, I had fallen in with the right people, who would help me figure out what I was supposed to do. My mother’s final instructions did not seem so wrong among the pleasant comforts of the palace.
A golden archway welcomed us, and jeweled doors stood open as we were escorted into the Hall of the Queen. Stunned, I took in the hall in disbelief. Before us lay an open area lined with elves, and at the very end, raised on a platform, was a wide throne, encased in gold and twisted through with roses. Male and female elves dressed in pure white hovered around the throne, playing on stringed instruments. Their song was gentle and sweet and cast a longing in my heart, a wistfulness to be happy, wild, and free. I caught a glimpse of humans like me, and thought Romulus stood with them, although I could not be sure.
On either side of the throne were fountains, creating a lulling, bubbling sound that only added to the music. Beyond the lines of people were row after row of tables. Crystal dishes sat upon them with green and white flowers. Even though chairs lined the tables, no one sat; they all stood in rapt attention, eyes on the throne.
A row of elves put horns to their lips and at first, I thought it was to announce us, but I immediately saw I was wrong as Takari took my hand and steered me to a corner.
“This is the court of the queen,” she whispered. “Queen Iris of the elven. She will enter shortly and court will proceed with a feast afterward.”
My eyes scanned the room again. The elves and humans weren’t the only ones in attendance. They stood, their intelligent faces sharp and solemn, their slender bodies encased in flowing crimson. Among them stood nymphs with flowers in their hair, men with hairy legs and hooves instead of feet, and even centaurs. My heart beat faster as I thought of the woods I’d left behind. Were the centaurs from Beluar?
The trumpets sounded again, and in glided the queen. She wore a gown of moonlight which highlighted her light brown skin, and a train of pink and red roses flowed behind her. The gown offset dark hair and her slender figure. Her heart-shaped face was long and angular with wide brown eyes the largest feature in them, overshadowing her tiny nose and plump lips. She was so beautiful it hurt my eyes to look at her, as though I must look away in the face of such splendor.
I expected her to sweep down the hall and take her place on the throne. Instead, she moved among the people, walked up to various groups, and held out her hands to acknowledge them. They lowered themselves and no one dared touch her. When she came close to Takari and I, I bent my head, suddenly ashamed to meet her eyes. The gloriousness of her presence overwhelmed me and when she brushed by, the fragrance of roses imbued the air. A sudden need to impress her throbbed within, a strong urge that left me lightheaded and almost giddy. Did others feel the magnitude of her presence? For it fell over the hall like a blanket. When I managed to raise my head again, she’d passed, and others looked upon her as if they could not take their eyes away, even if they wished it.
A bronzed elf took her hand and led her up the short flight of steps to her throne. She turned, her train sweeping down the stairs, and lifted her hands, encouraging all to rise from their bowed positions. Even the music halted at her magnificence as she perched like a restless bird on the edge of her golden throne.
The elf by her side stepped forward. His hands hung by his side and he lifted his eyes as though to address the crystal ceiling. “Her Imperial Majesty, Queen Iris of the Elven—”
The queen held up a hand. His speech halted abruptly. He spoke a few words in the elven language, bowed to the audience, and stepped aside.
I gawked, unsure about the implied etiquette of court, but the queen rose, folded her hands in front of her, and began to speak. The cadence of her voice filled the air with music and my heart fluttered wildly as she spoke. At first, she spoke in elven—I vowed to learn the language as soon as possible—before her speech shifted to a language I understood.
“It is my pleasure to welcome each and every one of you to the crystal kingdom, Anon Loam, and on this night in particular to celebrate the turn of the season. As our compassionate host of the night, Mother Selas, descends, she invites us to celebrate and bring offerings to express our gratefulness for her grace. Before the festivities begin…the mists have parted once again, and others join our fellowship.”
My pulse quickened. She must speak of Romulus, Takari, and I.
“Please, step forward that I might hear your petitions and grant you clemency.”
A hush of silence followed, broken by footsteps. A tall man with silver hair stepped forward and approached the queen. He was dressed in forest green with silver runes on the wide sleeves of his waistcoat. His black boots shone as though they’d recently been polished and I admired his grace as he went down on one knee. It took only a moment before I recognized that of course it was Romulus, impeccable in his clothing. A stir of annoyance went through me as I examined his rugged handsomeness. When the queen smiled at him, something blazed in my heart and I wanted to snatch him away from her.
“Romulus of the House of Norbrin in the land of ice. Please stand.”
He rose. The hardness in his expression was gone, replaced with the same gentleness I’d seen after my release from Jezebel.
“My queen.” His voice was gentle, a hint of music in it as he welded words together. “My scouting quest among the western lands has been successful. I return with a full report for the council as well as a human and a nymph who joined me in the end. It is their words you would like to hear.”
The queen nodded. “Have them come forth.”
Romulus turned, eyes narrowed as he scanned the room.
My gut wrenched. I did not desire to stand in front of the assembly of elves, but Takari took my arm, reminding me I had no choice. I did not look at the queen as we paused in front of the steps, for her greatness made me feel inferior.
