As Lily placed her items down, my peripheral vision caught her movement. Suddenly, Laer's voice interrupted my thoughts, "I was thinking, maybe you would like to go to the market with me on Saturday?" My heart skipped a beat. I saw Lily frown, I just hoped she could not hear this conversation. "Look, I'm flattered, I go with my friends every week and I do not want to lead you on by going with you because it would not go anywhere further than friendship", it took Laer a minute to grasp that he had been rejected and let down lightly. "That's okay, I understand", I felt bad for him, he was a nice elf and any other elf would be lucky to have him. "You are lovely, I would have said yes if it wasn't for the fact that I prefer the company of women," I told him. That would lessen the blow and make him understand why I turned him down. His eyes went wide with realisation. "friends then?" he smiled and I said yes smiling back.
As we walked along the palace hallways, an unexpected cough interrupted our conversation. "Your Majesty," Laer bowed respectfully before swiftly disappearing from the scene. As we continued walking, I could sense Lily's snappy mood today, but I wasn't sure why. No one knew how long her suitor was going to be in town or when they were due to get married. Perhaps it had to do with her own suitor and impending wedding plans. "Got a date?" she queried, her tone laced with irritation. "No," I replied shortly. "Why not?" she prodded, her voice softening with curiosity. "I'd rather not talk about it," I responded, trying to avoid the subject entirely. However, Lily wasn't easily deterred. "He's a great catch, I don't understand," she shook her head in confusion.
Today, we ventured out to a new and unfamiliar forest on the other side of the kingdom - my thirst for a real battle was unquenchable, and I knew I had to leave the training grounds to truly test my abilities. As we made our way through the dense underbrush, she pressed for information about my personal life, but I remained tight-lipped and resolute "he is a great catch for someone, just not me". Eventually she relented, and we focused on our training, which proved to be far more beneficial away from the mocking taunts of our fellow elves. Upon our return to the castle, Damion approached us with an unexpected summons to dine with the king. Instantly, my mind raced with possibilities - would this be a test of my skills, or even my first true mission? "your father requires you both for dinner tonight" he told us. We both just looked at each other. "Just great" Lily muttered under her breath. Lily's less-than-enthusiastic response only added to my apprehension - this could be a critical moment for me.
As she brushed past us and left, I looked over at Damion, unsure of what to expect. "What should I wear?" I asked him, hoping for some guidance. "A dress," he replied curtly. "I heard you turned down Laer, that was pretty brave" he continued. I guess news travels fast. "yeah I did" my mind was preoccupied as I packed up and left. I couldn't help but feel nervous as we made our way back to the castle, knowing I had turned down Laer and now had to face the consequences.
Lily looked beautiful in a velvet plush gown, her hair wavy for once, she must have rushed as well. She came around and sat next to me while the King was at the head of the table and her suit and Damion were on the other side. The servers brought the food out and it was clear that Lord Elendriel was besotted by Lily's beauty, he could not take his eyes off her, whilst she did not even glance his way. Elendriel glanced over at me and squinted his eyes. "You allow low elves for dinner?" he questioned the King.
Lily clenched her fists, I was used to this so I just ignored his stupid question. "she is being trained by.." Lily cut her father off, "What does status matter?" she hated the term, but this meal was not off to a good start. "As I was saying, Lily is training her, I called her to dinner because her test is on Friday and we have some things to discuss" The King clarified. I placed my hand on Lily's thigh to thank her for sticking up for me, I gave her a small smile, what I was not expecting was for her to place her hand on top of mine. I tried to hide my blush. I focused my attention back on the King even though Lily was now rubbing my hand soothingly causing chills to transmit throughout my body. "The council has decided it has been long enough, they will be there to oversee it" I nodded my head at the King. "What is the test?" Damion was keen to find out. The King shook his head. "I do not know, they would not say, but I do know it will not be easy" he clarified.
I was very conscious of the fact my hand was still on her thigh and she was still rubbing my hand, they began to eat so I carefully pulled my hand back to start eating too, I saw the look on Lily's face as I did, it seemed as though she missed the contact as well, I could not get carried away, her suitor and father were sat right in front of me, this was already a messy situation as it was. "I am hoping to take your daughter to the market this Saturday" Lord Elendriel spoke as if Lily was not sitting right in front of him. "Oh, I'm actually going with Gabi this weekend, I promised her I would" She looked over at me, I was annoyed she was dragging me into this and gobsmacked.
Her sudden touch on my leg made me jump in my seat. I nodded in agreement, trying to maintain composure. "Yes, she did promise," I muttered, bringing my hand down towards hers. But to my surprise, she turned her hand over and we found ourselves holding hands. I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness, aware that this was a risky move. "Nonsense, you will go with Lord Elendriel, if I am correct Gabi will be too tired and hurt to attend the market", it was like he was predicting my downfall. I kept my head down.
Throughout the remainder of the dinner, Lily continued to hold my hand tightly. I remained silent, choosing to ignore the flirtatious advances from Lord Elendriel. As the meal came to an end, we stood up and bowed respectfully to the King before making our way towards the exit.
"Wait, I will accompany you home," Lily called out, her voice filled with determination. Lord Elendriel, however, attempted to keep up with the Princess, a hint of suggestion lingering in his words. "I thought perhaps we could spend some time together," he proposed.
Raising her hand slightly to dismiss his advances, Lily replied firmly, "I am very tired and will be returning to my quarters." Her words left no room for further objections or discussion.
As the Princess caught up with me and walked by my side, the darkness of the night enveloped the empty streets. Apologetic, Lily expressed her regrets about the dinner., "I am sorry about dinner" Lily apologised. "it's alright" I assured her. "But it is not, I could curse every elf for the way they treat you, by starlight" Now that was a serious remark, it was clear her concern ran deep, "then you would have no kingdom left" I answered her and smiled.
She reached for my hand and I let her, I guess it was a way for her to reassure me that she was sorry, she herself was seeking solace and reassurance. "I have worse things to worry about, like this test", I was worried that I wasn't ready for it and would be defeated. "you are a great fighter, I know you can win" It was nice to know she had confidence in me but would that be enough? True to her word she walked me to my door, it was only then that she let go of my hand. She stood there under the under the tender glow of the moon as I said goodnight, she emanated an ethereal beauty, a twinkle in her eyes that mirrored the night sky, she was perfection if ever I was looking for it, it was hard to take my eyes off of her but still, she turned around and disappeared into the night.
In the remaining days leading up to Friday, we dedicated ourselves to intense training. I could feel my nerves escalating, a constant agitation that gnawed at me relentlessly. What made matters worse was the knowledge that there were no rules when it came to this test. Being the first low elf ever to participate, the stakes were alarmingly high, and the possibility of losing my life loomed over me like a dark cloud.
Friday morning arrived, and I found myself standing in the midst of exhaustion, having barely slept. Determined not to show any signs of apprehension, I maintained a stoic expression. Following the instructions, I made my way directly to the arena where the test would be held. As I entered, I was greeted by a gathering of esteemed individuals - the councilors, the King, Princess Lily, and Damion. To my surprise, the word had spread about the test, attracting a crowd of onlookers. Among them were off-duty guards, as well as anyone else fortunate enough to have the day off.
The sight of all those eyes fixated on me only amplified my anxiety. My heart raced within my chest, a mix of anticipation and fear intermingling. However, I reminded myself that this was an opportunity to prove myself, to break barriers, and to redefine what it meant to be a low elf. Gathering my courage, I prepared myself mentally for the challenges that lay ahead, knowing that I had trained diligently and had the support of those who believed in me, including Princess Lily.
As I stood there, surrounded by both admiration and skepticism, I took a deep breath, letting go of my doubts and channeling my focus solely on the test before me. I was determined to face whatever obstacles with unwavering determination and strength, ready to surpass any expectations and make history as the first low elf to succeed in such a formidable trial.
Stepping forward with a calm determination, I approached the regal presence of the councilors and the King. Lowering myself into a deep bow, I showed my utmost respect for their authority and wisdom. The piercing gazes of the councilors met me, their eyes conveying a mixture of anticipation and concern.
The King's voice resonated through the room, his words carrying a weighty importance. "You must confront and overcome whatever lies beyond those doors. This challenge is a matter of life or death, and we can only hope that luck favors your courageous endeavors." His words echoed in my mind, reminding me of the gravity of the task ahead.
As I raised my gaze, my eyes connected with Lily's worried expression. Her concern was palpable, and it tugged at my heart. With a reassuring smile, I silently conveyed my determination and the unwavering belief that we would emerge victorious together.
In that moment, I drew strength from the collective support surrounding me. The councilors' presence provided guidance, and the King's words served as a reminder of the immense responsibility entrusted to me. However, it was Lily's concern that sparked a fire within me, strengthening my resolve to face the impending challenge head-on.
Filled with a newfound sense of purpose, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for what awaited on the other side of those formidable doors.