Word must have spread that other elves had seen me because, by the time I got home, Avy and Kira were there waiting for me. "what have you got yourself into? Once a maid and now an elven warrior to the Princess" Kira spoke, helping me into my house. I smiled as I saw them. "I heard the Princess became very angry at his majesty as soon as she saw that Goblin!" she spoke animatedly not believing it really happened. I waved them off, "Never mind any of that, someone on that council wanted it to go terribly wrong", I frowned, I had figured that as soon as I had seen the beast.
"I heard the Princess became very angry at His Majesty as soon as she saw that Goblin!" Kira continued animatedly, clearly struggling to believe the surreal events that had unfolded. I waved their concerns aside, my thoughts still lingering on the unsettling fact that someone on the council had seemingly plotted for the event to go awry.
I settled into my favorite chair as Kira and Avy started preparing some food for me. Their support in my time of need was something I treasured. "Why would someone want it to go wrong?" Kira asked, clearly puzzled, and I couldn't provide a clear answer. "I'm yet to figure that part out," I admitted, the puzzle of the council's motives gnawing at me.
Kira handed me a cup of tea and offered a warm hug, saying, "I'm so glad you're okay." Just as we were settling into a sense of normalcy, the door swung open, and to our surprise, Princess Lily burst into the room. Her sudden entrance startled us all. Her gaze focused on Kira and me, and Kira promptly let go of me, standing back as a sign of respect.
"Why did you leave?" Lily inquired, her expression displeased. Kira and Avy could hardly believe their eyes; they were meeting the Princess in person. I summoned the courage to stand up for myself, replying, "I wanted to be in my own home."
Lily bent down, her actions defying the usual decorum of a Princess. Her hand rested gently on my knee, and the way she uttered my name sent shivers down my spine. She was dressed in a black corset and matching trousers, her hair slightly disheveled, likely due to the panic she felt when she found I was not there upon her return.
Avy's well-timed cough drew our attention, and her direct question to the Princess introduced a note of formality into the room. "Are you going to be staying, would you like tea, your Highness?" she inquired, making an effort to maintain propriety. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the show of etiquette, while Princess Lily responded with a slight narrowing of her eyes, her countenance betraying a hint of discomfort.
Kira, always the protective and fiercely loyal friend, placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, ready to step in if the situation required it. Her loyalty to me transcended any awareness of Lily's royal status. In a perplexing moment, Lily's gaze shifted to Kira's hand on my shoulder, her expression falling. She whispered quietly, "I will be going, I see I am not needed here." With that, she rose from her seat and hurried out of the house with a swift exit that left me stunned and regretful for not speaking up.
As Avy calmly sipped her tea, her perceptive eyes took in the entire interaction. She was far more astute than most elves realized, and it was clear she had picked up on the underlying tension between the Princess and me. Avy was determined to unearth the truth behind the mysterious connection, and her wheels were already turning.
I muttered, "Just great," feeling a sense of unease hanging in the air. Kira, having now taken a seat opposite me, commented, "Well, she's certainly something." I nodded in agreement, grateful for my friends' support.
They remained with me for a while longer, filling me in on the latest gossip. As the evening wore on, I eventually bid them goodbye, and after they left, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. The events of the day and the unresolved questions weighed heavily on my mind, making it an uneasy night filled with thoughts and doubts that seemed to stretch on endlessly.
The following morning, I awoke with a sense of urgency even though I ached all over, my thoughts consumed by the previous day's events. I couldn't shake the unease that had settled over me, driving me to check on Princess Lily to ensure everything was alright. Without hesitation, I headed straight to her residence, determined to seek answers.
Upon reaching her home, I knocked on the door and called out for her, but there was no response. I decided to investigate the back of the house, but it was equally vacant. The absence of any sign of Lily at her residence meant she had to be at the Castle. Without further delay, I made my way there.
My unexpected presence at the Castle garnered the attention of the other trainees and guards, whose surprise was evident in their expressions. "Have you seen the Princess?" I inquired, but the guards merely shrugged their shoulders, leaving me with no immediate answers.
My instincts led me to believe I might find Lily in the dining hall, so I made my way in that direction. As I rounded a corner, I came upon a sight that froze me in my tracks. There stood Lily, her back turned to me, engrossed in conversation with Lord Elendriel. She had not yet noticed my presence, but Lord Elendriel had. In a moment that left me reeling, he leaned down and kissed Lily.
Unable to bear the weight of the sight, I swiftly turned away. The kiss had rattled me, but so had her abrupt departure from my house the previous night. I grappled with an inexplicable turmoil, one I couldn't easily define or understand.
Lily, clearly taken aback by the unexpected kiss, immediately pushed Lord Elendriel away, her tone filled with shock and disgust. "What are you doing?" she exclaimed, her disapproval apparent. Her disdain for the elf was palpable.
Lord Elendriel, however, remained unabashed. "We are to be married; it is only right. Besides, that low-elven girl you seem to spend all your time with now knows we are together. You should have seen her face," he added, gesturing toward the direction from which I had come. Lily, infuriated, turned her head in that direction, her eyes scanning for any sign of my presence. Had she suspected that I would come searching for her?
Lily turned back to face Lord Elendriel, her voice filled with unwavering determination. "I will never marry you, so get out of my goddamn castle." The words dripped with a fiery resolve, and with those parting shots, Lily spun around and sprinted toward the castle gates, her heart pounding with anger and frustration.
Approaching the guards, she inquired breathlessly, "Has Gabi been to the castle today?" The guard nodded and replied, "Yes, your Highness, she just left." He pointed in the direction Gabi had gone, and without wasting a moment, Lily decided to follow, accompanied by a couple of guards for her protection.
Back at Gabi's home, Lily made her way to the back of the garden, where she noticed a footpath and a small river. Her keen senses helped her pick up Gabi's scent, and without hesitation, she leaped over the river, determined to find her.
Meanwhile, I had sought solace in the familiar embrace of the woods, a place that had always offered me refuge and tranquility. I ventured deep into the forest, close to a serene stream. The green canopy of the tall trees, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the vibrant colors of wildflowers all contributed to a sense of calm. The melody of singing birds enveloped me, momentarily easing my troubled thoughts.
"Gabi," I heard the Princess call my name, her voice echoing through the woods. I turned to find her standing there, wearing the same attire she had when I'd seen her with Lord Elendriel. Her presence, so close and yet so unexpected, sent my heart racing.
Lily stepped closer and inquired, "Are you okay?" Her sincerity and concern were evident, but her proximity only intensified the confusing emotions that had taken root within me. "Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, my voice tinged with a note of distance. It was challenging to be in such close proximity to her and experience feelings that I knew I shouldn't be harboring toward the Princess of our kingdom.
Lily's eyes betrayed her inner turmoil as well. "It's just Elendriel said he saw you, but you never came over to speak to me," she admitted, her voice filled with uncertainty. We were both grappling with a situation that defied easy explanation. "You were busy," I replied, my response unintentionally blunt.
Lily seized my shoulders and turned me to face her, her eyes locking onto mine, sending tingles coursing through me. "I pushed him off," she confessed, her gaze unwavering. The intensity of the moment hung heavy in the air. I couldn't help but wonder why she had rebuffed Lord Elendriel.
Feeling the need to maintain a certain formality, I averted my gaze, only to feel her soft touch beneath my chin, coaxing me to meet her eyes again. "It does not concern me; you do not need to tell me," I uttered, striving to retain some sense of decorum. She was, after all, my superior.
But Lily didn't let me off the hook that easily. She stroked my jaw gently, her touch warm and intimate. It was difficult not to lean into her, and I stood there, immobilized by the profound connection we shared. "I am not marrying him," she declared, her voice filled with conviction.
I offered a smile, my eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and empathy. "I don't think you have a choice," I admitted, understanding the complex web of politics and expectations that surrounded her. My own happiness was unimportant in comparison to her duty as a future queen.
Lily continued to caress my cheek, her touch electrifying, and it took all my restraint not to lean into her. I stood frozen, mesmerized by the intensity of our moment. "Don't be silly," I replied softly, the weight of her decision and the sacrifice it implied weighing on me.
Her fingers grazed my jaw, and she whispered, "I am serious," a determined gleam in her eyes. It was a revelation that sent my heart racing, and as we stood there in the woods, our lives and destinies intertwined in unexpected ways, I couldn't help but wonder where this path would lead.
We lingered there in the woods, a companionable silence enveloping us as we sat side by side. It felt as though Lily had inched closer, and I couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in her body language, which seemed to convey a newfound level of intimacy.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the forest, Lily broke the silence, her voice tinged with a sheepishness that was both endearing and surprising. "Will you be training tomorrow? I promise to take it easy on you," she inquired, a mischievous wink accompanying her words. I couldn't help but sweep my eyes over her, admiring her beauty and grace. In my heart, I believed she deserved someone far better than Lord Elendriel. "I'll be there," I assured her, realizing the importance of proper preparation, "but I think we might need to start with some stretching."
Lily rose to her feet, brushing away the forest debris that clung to her attire. She extended her hand toward me, a warm and inviting gesture. "We'll be moving to the field over the next few days, so you need to be at your best. You've got to keep up with me, remember," she emphasized with a hint of playfulness, her soft, warm hand waiting for mine to grasp.
As I allowed her to pull me to my feet, the touch of her hand sent a rush of sensations coursing through me. I was torn between the desire to hold onto her hand and the awareness that I must relinquish it. The intertwining of our destinies seemed to grow more complex with each passing moment, and I couldn't help but wonder where this newfound connection would lead us in the days to come.