As she walked down the path, she could almost forget that she was a prisoner here, trapped in a strange relationship that she didn’t want with a man she loathed and lusted after in equal measure.
The woods were quiet, and all she could hear were the occasional cries of woodland birds and the careful shuffle of her own footsteps.
The air was thick with magic, and the soft glow of luminescent plants illuminated her path. As she walked deeper into the woods, she felt her earlier anger fade away, and a sense of wonder and awe enveloped her.
The gentle whispers of the trees and the delicate fluttering of wings filled the air, creating a symphony of enchantment.
Though she was cautious, Ella couldn't help but be captivated by the ethereal beauty that surrounded her.
The woods seemed to come alive with every step she took, as if the very essence of the land responded to her presence. She marveled at the vibrant colors and intricate patterns that adorned the flora, each leaf and petal holding a secret of its own.
Where was the library, though? She hadn’t left the path, and the deeper she went into the woods, the quieter it became, and still, all she could see were the trees and the butterflies and birds.
No sign of any dwelling at all, let alone a library. If the Elves were supposed to prize knowledge as much as Ryu claimed they did, where was their much-vaunted library?
In the depths of the fae woods, Ella discovered a hidden glen, bathed in the soft glow of twilight. It felt like a sanctuary—a place untouched by time and filled with ancient wisdom.
She closed her eyes, allowing the energy of the land to wash over her, feeling a connection to something far greater than herself.
As Ella stood there, transfixed by the enchantment of the fae woods, a bead of sweat made its way down her brow.
Blinking, she looked around for the source of the humidity in the air and discovered a little hidden pool, nestled among the rocks and earth of the forest. A signboard next to it read ‘Onsen’, the Elven language arranging itself in her mind to reveal its meaning to her: hot springs.
She stepped closer, seeing the steam curl invitingly above the clear, dark water. The water looked tempting. She was on her way to the library, true, but it had been a long walk through the woods, and she would love to soak her feet in the warm water…
The thought of dipping her toes in the water was what decided it.
Toeing off her sandals, Ella stepped quickly to the edge of the pool and sat down, sinking her feet into the water with a sigh. The warm water felt heavenly. She swished her feet around, closing her eyes to better enjoy the sensation.
Unbidden, thoughts of Ryu popped to the forefront of her mind. He’d gone off to his meetings with his court, and just left her behind like she was somebaggage.
A lone voice whispered that it was because he was heir to the throne, and he had a diplomatic role to play at court, but she squashed it ruthlessly, and stoked her anger instead.
She’d been brought here and abandoned to boredom and idleness, even as Ryu professed to be working on a way to sever the connection between them that kept them unwillingly bound to each other.
Was he even thinking of her at all? Frowning, Ella kicked her foot out, and felt a rock tumble into deeper waters as her sole glanced against it.
A bird call sounded in the warm, balmy air, and she looked up into the tree tops. If she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine she was back home again in Strayhaven, and sitting at the beach with her parents, while Thomas splashed around in the background—
“Hello.”
Ella snapped her eyes open to see that a young man was looking at her, a slight smile on his face and frank curiosity in his eyes.
Something about his smile reminded her of Thomas, and her heart squeezed in remembered pain as she thought of her missing brother. It was almost as if her thoughts had conjured him up.
“Hello,” she said, clearing her throat to dispel the lump in it. “Are you also looking for the library?”
“Hmm,” the boy said, still with that small smile. “May I join you?”
Ella blinked. “Of course,” she said warmly, smiling as the boy sat next to her, keeping a respectable distance between them.
“I’m Ella,” she said, pointing to herself. “Ella of Strayhaven.”
Lady Clara’s words about keeping her true name hidden rose up in her mind, even as Ella banished the lady’s son from thought. The memory of Lady Clara’s warning kept her from revealing her true name, though, even to such a harmless boy as her companion.
It had been so long since she had seen a friendly face, she’d given up hoping to find friends among the standoffish, proud elves. She hated feeling like she needed to be wary of him.
But the boy didn’t seem to mind, he only smiled and dipped his head in a shallow bow.
