“The elves are not our enemies,” Rominy says. “Not anymore.”
“An elf killed my pa, Your Highness. Forgive me for being suspicious. I din’t know you done fell in love with one.”
So that’s what’s going on. Elowyn’s heart goes out to the man, and she ducks around her own guards before they can stop her.
“Your Highness!”
Rominy turns at the guard’s cry. “Elowyn, stay back.”
The human man eyes her with disdain, and she sighs. She can’t blame him for his rancor.
“I din’t mean no harm, Your Highness,” he says to Rominy. “I got bairns at home depending on me.”
Bairns? Is he speaking of younglings?
“Then you shouldn’t have attacked my wife.” Rominy’s eyes flash, and he struggles against the guard holding him in place.
Whistling wind, Rominy is angry. Pera gets that same look in his eyes when elves insult Mother for being low born. Or when they sneer at Elowyn or her brothers for having a low-born mother.
Not that it happens often. Most of Lostariel has accepted their low-born queen, though it took time to win over some of the high-born elves.
“Rominy, it’s all right,” Elowyn says softly. “Let him go.”
“He threw a rock at you!”
“He has every right to be angry.”
“Elowyn, I can’t just—”
“Please. I came to help create peace between our kingdoms. This is how we start. By forgiving each other.”
Rominy looks from her to the man, whose eyes have grown wide. A crowd has gathered around them, some whispering about the spectacle before them, but Elowyn focuses her attention on the man.
“I’m sorry an elf took your father, sir,” she says. “I know an apology means little and won’t bring him back, but I offer it anyway. To this day, my own father has nightmares about the battle that took so many lives on both sides. That’s why I’m here. To foster peace between our people so no other...bairns will have to grow up without their fathers.”
Everyone stares at her, including Rominy.
“Please.” She lays a hand on Rominy’s arm. “Let him go.”
“Elowyn—”
“Please. For me.”
Rominy breathes out slowly and turns to the guard restraining the man. “Let him go. But if he ever hurts my wife again, he’ll see the inside of a jail cell, and he’ll be there for a very long time.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” The guard releases the man, and with a last fleeting glance at Elowyn, the man takes off down the street.
“Thank you.” Elowyn lifts her lips to Rominy’s face and plants a kiss on his cheek.
Before Rominy can respond, his guard presses them to walk. “We need to secure you both while we send for a doctor.”
A doctor?
Rominy’s face pales as he looks at Elowyn’s arm. “Elowyn, you’re...you’re bleeding.”
Don’t Apologize for Kissing Me
Episode 45
