Elowyn. Her name is Elowyn.
“Of course, Pera, but the poor prince’s heart is already racing.”
“Perhaps you can settle it for him, then,” King Lorial suggests.
“I will try.” Princess Elowyn closes her eyes and breathes deeply. In through her nose. Out through her mouth. As she continues, Rominy’s own heart slows. It’s enough of a shock to set his heart racing all over again.
“I’m sorry, Pera,” Princess Elowyn says. “The prince is struggling against my efforts.”
“Forgive me, Princess,” Rominy says. “I felt what you were trying to do. It was...alarming, and I’m sure that didn’t help.”
A lopsided smile teases the princess’s lips as she looks at Rominy. “No, it didn’t help, but I promise you needn’t fear the magic.”
Easy for her to say.
“You felt the princess’s efforts?” Father’s forehead creases in a combination of concern and disbelief.
“I did, Father. As far as I can tell, King Lorial speaks the truth. Somehow, my heart is linked to his daughter’s.”
“Can’t this magic be undone?” Mother asks.
“It could,” King Lorial says. “But your son’s heart would stop beating.”
Rominy gulps at that news. “Let’s not do that.”
“No, definitely not,” Father murmurs. “Just because they are heartbound, as you call it, doesn’t necessitate their marriage, though, does it?”
“If you don’t do this, my mother will die,” Prince Cerian says. “Can’t you see how weak she has become maintaining your link with my sister?”
“Cerian,” Queen Nestraya says softly. “Give them time to process this. I already feel stronger now that the distance has lessened.”
Rominy frowns. This is what she looks like when she feels stronger? What must she have looked like before?
“I’m afraid the only way to free my wife from this burden is to complete the heartbinding that was begun at our offspring’s conception,” the elf king says. “The magic of the full heartbinding will sustain itself indefinitely.”
“And this heartbinding,” Rominy asks, “what exactly does it require?”
“It is a joining of everything,” the elf queen says. “Hearts and souls and magic. A deep bond that can never be undone.”
“Everything?” Arisanna asks hoarsely. Rominy looks at his sister. Is she heartbound, too? She must be. To the younger prince.
“Everything in due time,” Queen Nestraya says. “It is a bond reserved for marriage. One which is usually only undertaken to save the life of one binding partner. Or in this case, to keep the heart of a magically conceived child beating. I have sustained the magic myself while the four of you attained adulthood with the understanding that one day, the magic of my own elflings would support the bond.”
“Won’t it make you ill?” Rominy asks Princess Elowyn.
She smiles that beautiful smile she wore the first time she looked at him across the meadow. “No. As long as we stay near each other, it will strengthen me. That’s how the magic is supposed to work.”
“What we did to ensure long-lasting peace between our people is not something the magic was ever meant to do,” King Lorial says. “It was a risk my wife chose to take.” He looks at Rominy. “Please do not let my wife’s gift to your family and both our kingdoms be in vain.”
All eyes turn to Rominy.
Stars above. This is definitely not how he imagined his day going.
Trains and Other Terrifying Things
Episode 4
ElowynwatchesPrinceRominyas her heart races, though whether it’s her own anxiety or his or some combination of both causing it is hard to say. What will he decide?
