Cerian turns serious again and nods. “I’ll do my best. I know my duty to Lostariel and to our family.”
“That’s the spirit. I need to fetch Tharios. I’ll see you soon.”
Astheirpartyapproachesthe barrier, the royal family forms a line facing it, and Elowyn glances at Cerian where he sits tall in the saddle beside Tharios. At least Tharios seems content with their arrangement with the humans.
Mother smiles weakly between Pera and Elowyn as Pera draws Mother’s pale hand to his lips. The magic required of her to make this day possible has left her weak. Tharios says she used to fight alongside Pera, but it’s hard to imagine. For all Elowyn’s life, she’s been frail. Hopefully, this joining of their peoples will return her former strength to her. One person’s magic was never meant to be split so much across such a great distance.
In fact, the closer they get to Nunia, the stronger Mother looks. Do the humans realize how much the elf queen sacrificed to give them children of their own?
Once the ceremony is complete, the magic of the heartbinding should become self-sustaining. Mother’s magic won’t be needed to keep the human hearts beating.
Turning toward the shimmering barrier of air and fire magic, Pera raises his hand, and a gap forms in the wall large enough for their family to pass through together.
Will the humans be waiting for them on the other side, as the human king promised so long ago?
Pera presses forward, and with a barely contained thrill of excitement, Elowyn nudges Starlight out of the gloom of the Wildthorne Woods into the bright plains of Nunia, where her future awaits.
A Tale of Two Princes
Episode 2
Rominywaitsatthebarrier with a squadron of soldiers behind him—weapons stowed to appear less threatening. Their presence is as much for the elven royal family’s protection as his own. It’s been decades since the war between their peoples ended, but Father thought it best not to take any risks.
That’s assuming King Lorial returns as his son swore at Arisanna’s cradle twenty years ago.
Once again, guilt plagues Rominy. His very existence is due to the sacrifice expected of his sister. It hardly seems fair. She faces everything with calm acceptance, though. As she always does.
Arisanna waits with their parents in the nearby city of Feressa, where Rominy will escort the elven royal family upon their arrival. From there, they’ll take the train farther south to the capital city, Levina, and if everything goes according to plan, Arisanna will marry the elf prince tomorrow.
Then the next day, she’ll leave with them.
He eyes the glittering barrier that’s stood for more than twenty years now. Hopefully, it will be passable again soon—for everyone and not just the elf king and his son.
That’s what this marriage alliance is all about. Lasting peace between the human and elf realms.
Rominy’s stallion shifts beneath him, and Rominy watches with a tightness in his chest as a gap forms in the barrier.
It’s really happening. The elves remembered the bargain struck so many years ago. And they’ve come to collect.
Rominy exhales slowly to slow his racing heart and puts on the most welcoming expression he can muster as a line of six horses emerges from the gap in the barrier. The elven royal family? That must be King Lorial leading the way from the center. He sits tall in the saddle, his silver hair long over his shoulders. His face holds a quiet calm as their eyes meet across the open meadow.
It only makes sense that the elf woman at his side is Queen Nestraya. She looks ill. Is she unwell? Her dark hair lies limp along her too-pale face, and Rominy tries not to stare.
To the king’s left are two more dark-haired elves—one must be Crown Prince Tharios. Hopefully, the one with a cheerful expression and not the one eyeing the soldiers with aloof disdain.
Does King Lorial have another son they weren’t aware of?
Beside the queen, a young woman with silver hair like the king’s smiles widely as her eyes dart around the meadow before landing on him. A daughter? Clearly, the royal family of Nunia is not the only one that’s increased in size since the treaty was wrought.
Another woman rides at the elf princess’s side, but she looks nothing like the king or the queen with her blonde locks and bright blue eyes. And rounded ears. A human? Or, more likely, one of the flaxen-haired mountain fae? What’s the story there? Perhaps they’ll find out soon.
“Your Majesty,” Rominy says in the carefully practiced tongue of the elves. “Welcome to Nunia. I am PrinceRominy, and I am to escort you and your kin to Feressa, where my parents and sister wait to greet you.”
The blonde fae glances at the princess and grins, and the princess bites her lip as she meets Rominy’s eyes. Then the fae woman whispers something to the princess, and the princess nods as her whole face lights up in a stunning smile.
“It might be easier if we speak in the human tongue, young prince,” King Lorial says in clear Nunian. “Your accent is very thick, though we appreciate the effort.”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” Rominy says in Nunian as his face heats. “It is not for lack of effort, I assure you.”
