Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(2)
“My lady, are you ready for the ceremony?” Her voice sounds soft and angelic, and it used to soothe me as a little girl, but now she looks at me wide-eyed and gasps.
“Child, you don’t even have your dress on. Your father will skin my hide if I don’t get you ready in time,” she scolds. Flapping her hands in the air she’s frantically running around my room trying to gather things I need to get ready.
I look at her running around and grin.
“Oh Elvena, father wouldn’t dare do that to you. You are one of the most important people in this kingdom, and the most sought out prophetess. Your prophecies have helped save our kingdoms for hundreds of years. You are as much an asset as I am, and also, I love you too much. You’ve been an amazing caretaker, teacher and companion to me. I would kick father’s ass if he ever tried to get rid of you.”
She stops running around and stares at me with love in her eyes and laughs at my crude choice of words. She’s never approved of my vocabulary. It must have rubbed off on me from my trips to the mortal realm. Elvena is half brownie and half elf. Even though she has elf blood in her, she is still a short and beautiful woman. Her curly brown hair hits her shoulders and her eyes are the color of amber. Elvena is the one who has taken care of me while my parents were busy with court business. She is also the one who proclaimed the prophecy that has been widely known throughout the land.
“You will serve this kingdom well, my dear. Your powers are above anyone’s imagination and you will do great things. Only time will tell what those great things will be. Now let us get you ready for the ceremony. What dress have you picked out for tonight? It needs to be something special so those boys will have something to fight over,” she says and giggles.
After seeing my facial expression over the last comment, Elvena was laughing so hard she snorted and couldn’t stop. I always loved her laugh. It would bring a smile to my face even in the worst of times.
“Xylia and I travelled to the mortal realm to pick out our dresses for the evening.” At her exasperated look, I cut her off before she could interrupt. “Merrick was with us if that makes you feel any better. We were well protected and you know very well that I am trained in battle. Merrick has been training me for years and I’m an excellent dagger thrower.” I said this with total conviction. I’m a skilled fighter and I can take care of myself.
By her slow growing smile I knew what Elvena was thinking. The only thing she heard of what I just said was that Merrick was with me. Merrick has been my life-long friend and we’ve grown very close to one another. He has taught me how to fight in battle and has made me an excellent warrior. Only Elvena and my best friend, Xylia, know about my trainings with Merrick. My parents and the council would never approve of my training. I guess I’m supposed to look pretty and be the well-mannered princess they all want me to be. That’s not who I am, and I have shown that to them numerous times, much to their dislike. I didn’t get my reputation of being stubborn and hard-headed for nothing.
The fae can travel to the mortal realm, but my parents frown upon my sisters and me going because it’s dangerous and we are not fully protected. I travel to the mortal realm to go shopping, pick up books, watch the people, and sometimes to just get away. It’s nice to pretend I have no duties and be a carefree twenty-one year old woman. Being around Merrick all the time has definitely had people speculating.
“I know what you’re thinking, Elvena, and that’s not going to happen. Merrick is my friend, end of story.” Her smirk told me she thought otherwise.
“I believe you, child. But I don’t think Merrick will hold up that end of the bargain. Say what you want, but that boy has feelings for you. He watches you when you’re not looking and his eyes show the longing he has for you.”
Sighing, I say, “I care for him as a dear friend, nothing more.”
I do care about Merrick and I really hope he doesn’t feel that strongly for me. He hasn’t told me so and until he does, I will not address it.
“If you look in my closet over there, Elvena, you’ll see the exquisite emerald dress I picked out for tonight. I fell in love with it and I knew I had to get it.”
Elvena goes to my closet and pulls out the dress. She looks at it up and down and has a smile of pure mischief on her face when she says, “Oh yes, Princess, you will cause a mighty stir tonight. You won’t be able to keep any of the young men away from you once they lay their eyes on you.”
She brings over the dress and lays it on my bed. She also pulls a little silver box out from her pocket.
“What do you have there, Elvena?” I ask curiously.
“Open it,” she says. I open the beautiful silver box and in it is the most amazing looking gold encrusted ring with a purple stone set in the center. The stone is a deep purple color and it has an iridescent look to it. I have never seen a stone like it before. The band has words of the Old Fae language engraved in it, and I stare hard at it trying to make out the words.
“Elvena, what do the words say? I’m having trouble translating,” I ask.
“It says, my child, Mind, heart, body, soul…I protect thee. It’s beautiful, is it not? This was my ring as a child and I decided that since I no longer needed it I would pass it along to you. It happens to be your birthday and tonight is a special night. I thought you deserved a special gift and it will also help protect you when your guardian can’t.”