Planet Taelinas
The impending wedding ensured peace between the two warring nations. At least that was the guise presented to the Yewn and the Taelin. Luciana, daughter of the Taelin Queen, knew better. After all, her mother was not known for her compassion or fairness.
"Luciana," Berith snapped at her inattentive daughter.
The Queen was beautiful with her long pale hair and ethereal looks. Even with her serene beauty, all who knew the Queen knew that she could be as fierce as she was beautiful. The princess took after her mother with the same silver-blond hair, big blue eyes, and porcelain skin.
"I am sorry, talia." Luciana strove for sincerity, but fell short. "I know I will have to gain Garrin's trust so he confides in me. Then we will know how to defeat the Yewn once and for all."
The Yewn were enemies of the Taelin. Although they appeared to be identical species, the ancestors of the Yewn arrived in a giant flying metal ship. The ancestors were from a place called Earth. The first settlers from Earth described their planet as barren. It had been ravaged by war, disease, and environmental instability.
"We will take back our land for Ganu."
Luciana nodded as she recited a sacred prayer in the Taelin tongue. "Garanka rinu awani."
Ganu only spoke to two of the Taelin. The first was the Great Queen and the second was the current queen, Berith. Their goddess Ganu came to the queen in a dream. She told Berith that the time had come to reclaim their planet. No longer would they have to live deep in the forests and underground caves. They could roam free and take back the land for all, not this odd idea of land ownership the Yewn had. But Luciana would miss her home in Verik, the maze of tunnels and caves that hid hundreds of rivers and enclosed thriving forests.
"Practice your english."
With a frown, Luciana followed her mother's order. "Yes, ta- mother."
"Good. Now, about your wedding night..."
-
Garrin raised a brow and looked up from his desk work as he heard another sigh. Across the room sat his lover. His very displeased lover. He explained to her that nothing had to change between them, but they'd have to be discreet as to not anger the Taelin. Although with their mysterious ways of procreation given the lack of any males in their race, Garrin was not certain on their take on infidelity.
"I don't know why you have to marry her. I doubt they plan on keeping the peace. The princess, if it will even be the princess, will probably murder you in your sleep," Fiona muttered.
"We have to do this. The Taelin have access to resources we need. With the toxic air outside the barrier of our settlement, we can't very well get to the resources ourselves."
When his ancestors arrived about two-hundred years ago, many of the settlers had gotten sick from the poisonous air. It was a creeping sickness that killed slowly. They had set up a barrier, planting their own flora within the semi-permeable dome to keep the 'good' air in and the 'bad' air out, yet still allowing for slight gas exchange. Over the years, some had developed an immunity to the outside air. Garrin and his kin had. That was why his father had been the elected leader of their growing community of nearly two-thousand people.
"I guess we can't all have a Taelin ancestor," Fiona shot out sarcastically.
It was a known fact that Garrin's ancestor, one of the first settlers, had married and mated with the Great Queen. They had one child. The only successful offspring of human and Taelin heritage. After the First Offense, the Taelin retreated into the forests, cutting off all civil communications with the humans.
"It is a pity. We'd have a better picking in the looks department," Garrin replied, purposely seeking to annoy Fiona. "The Taelin are the very depictions of goddesses and fairies our ancestors had."
Fiona scowled, her dark brows pulling together. "I have never seen one up close. I've heard they are either immortal or live for a long time. And they can choose when to stop aging. Your bride could very well be over a hundred years old."
"As long as she doesn't look it."
A vase flew passed Garrin's head, shattering behind him. He cringed at Fiona's shrieks. She was very beautiful, even in a rage. Her dark curls bounced and her slightly tanned skin flushed as she paced back and forth. Those full lips were spewing out threats that oddly aroused Garrin. He was always attracted to that fire in Fiona.
"-seriously! She could very well kill you, Garrin! Call off the wedding or I swear that I am leaving you."
Garrin knew this ultimatum would come eventually. He had a duty to his people and his attachment to Fiona would not jeopardize his chance at bringing peace and security to the Yewn.
"Then leave me. You don't tell me how to run this community and I won't ask you to stay. Either sit your ass down or leave like you threaten to do."
