Page 9 of A Serenade To The Elf Queen
Chapter 2 Rhianelle
The pale-blue silken dress Lady Deirdre has chosen for the evening ball is perfect. I grin at how the silver embroidery matches my hair. But my smile falters, disappearing as quickly as it comes. It always feels wrong to have any bit of joy after Aerin’s death. Lady Deirdre may have woven her magic to turn me into a nightingale, but I will always feel like a broken bird. Perhaps Clayborne is right. I am not fit to be a queen.
My ears twitch at a sound from the entrance. “Is that you, Aelfric?”
“It’s me, Your Grace.”
I open the door at the hard male voice. “What are you doing here, Darstan? I thought I gave you the night off.”
The knight is quiet for a moment, his tall, massive form occupying the entire doorway. I crane my neck to look at him. “Shouldn’t you be at home with Siofra?”
Delight fills his rough features at the mere mention of that name. By the Aeonians’ rule, the royal guards may not keep land, wife, family or inherit any possession. They are forced to take a vow of celibacy and silence, sacrificing their life completely forthe crown. I’m glad I fought hard to remove some of those harsh decrees.
“With the Archon invoked, you might need me tonight,” he rasps hoarsely. Talking still feels awkward and unpleasant for him.
“Lord Clayborne is honorable. If he said the Archon starts at noon tomorrow, then tomorrow it is,” Aelfric interrupts, appearing from the shadows. “I can take it from here. As long as the queen promises she won’t sneak away from my watch, we’ll be fine.”
My friend narrows his eyes at me.
It’s not my fault you can’t catch me,Aelfric, I almost tease. But it feels awfully childish to say that in front of the honorable Darstan.
“I offer myself as your champion for tomorrow’s Duel,” the behemoth of a knight says. That’s the most words he has ever spoken to me. His bottomless, dark eyes clash with mine. I shrink a little beneath that stare.
“You don’t have to.” I shake my head.
“It’s my duty and it will be the highest honor,” he says meaningfully. “I owe you more than just my life—”
“I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to choose Duel or Damnation,” I tell him quickly.
The reply surprises both knights. Silence falls between us for several beats. They know I would never have the heart to choose Damnation.
Darstan finally leaves reluctantly when Aelfric threatens to call his wife to fetch him.
I fall into step beside my friend, looping my hand around his elbow. “I guess it’s you and me again.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed. I’m going to give you five minutes today,” Aelfric says slowly.
“Really?” I can’t hide my smile at the chance. “Five whole minutes?”
His crushing blue eye softens as he looks at me. “Yes, Rhianelle.”
He releases my hand in front of the gilded door. A light symphony filters from the atrium and my heart leaps with excitement. The knight leans on the wall to stand watch, keeping himself alert.
I shoot him a grateful look. This gift from him is precious. Once I enter the hall, I won’t be able to enjoy the music any longer. My body begins to sway to the soft tunes of the string quartet. I feel like a graceful swan, swimming freely in an open lake. Aelfric drags a hand through his pale blonde hair, stifling a laugh. I must look like a flightless chicken instead.
“What kind of a move is that?” His keen eye gazes down the hall in case someone sees the queen in this embarrassing state.
“It’s something I learned from my friends in Astefar,” I reply with a smile.
Blood drains from his face instantly. The time I spent in the forbidden woods as a child always drains the wits from the bravest of people.
The knight clears his throat after a while. “Ready?”
My heart sinks a little, but I think Aelfric allowed me to dance a bit longer this time. Almost eight minutes.
The gigantic double doors swing open and I straighten my spine. The hall goes silent at my arrival. Some kneel to pray the moment they glimpse the holy Mark of the Blessed on my face, visible only to the most pious of elves. Even I can’t see what it looks like. Of the hundreds of Kings and Queens who have reigned over Aelfheim only five others had been bestowed with the mark. They all have led the Kingdom into the golden era of glory and prosperity.
I can feel their mounting expectation because my marking apparently happens to be similar to the ancient elf whose statue sits at the centre of Aelfheim.
