Chapter One: Barcelona
[WARNING: Heavy Themes of Mind Break and Non-Consent]
Eliza bon Barbshank looked through her mirror. Through it, she saw the mountain road that led into elven city of Frillist. Eliza's handmaiden was brushing her long black hair, pulling it past Elizas pointed ears. Eliza wanted to have it free and flowing for the greeting ceremony. In the upcoming journey she would likely have it tied up more often then not, or even cut it entirely if it got in her way.
The mountain elves lived high up in the peaks, secluded from the works of man and other elves. While other elven kingdoms slowly joined under the flag of the Cathrain Empire, the mountain elves remained independent. Now after years of negotiations, Elizas father had come to an agreement with the Cathrain Emperor that allowed for them to continue their independence. As a sign of trust, Eliza would be meeting the Emperor's grandson, and travelling with him to the capital.
Eliza wouldn't be surprised if there were talks of marriage. This trip was probably an attempt to push the Emperor's grandson and her to be on friendlier terms with each other before anything was suggested. Eliza didn't hate the idea of an arranged marriage, it was a logical route of diplomacy. However she dreaded the idea of being stuck on a horse for the next few months with someone insufferably dull, arrogant, moronic, or worst of all: all of the above.
Talfen, Elzas handmaiden, finished brushing. Eliza stood up and stretched, flexing her muscles in the mirror. Her body was tone from decades of training, something she was very proud of. Elves had naturally fit bodies, but getting them into the form that Eliza had took much more effort then it did for humans. Eliza's abs especially were the mark of a dedicated and agile warrior. Eliza knew she was being vain every time she looked in the mirror like this, but she had earned it after all.
With a small wave of Eliza's hand, the mirror returned back to a view of the mountain road. This time, it showed several horses racing down it. Human men and women, alongside some whose species Eliza couldn't identify from here, were having the time of their lives. The snow exploded behind each of the horses, and even without sound it felt like she could hear the yells of excitement. The feeling was infectious, and she couldn't help but smile along with them.
Eliza waved her hand again, and the mirror returned to normal. While she had been looking at the incoming royal and his entourage, Talfen retrieved her clothes for the ceremony. The ceremony would involve welcoming the grandson into the castle, followed by a banquet. Eliza would rather they just be on their way. Still, sometimes you just needed to put on a show.
Even at their speed it would take them another hour to reach the city. Eliza used it to finish getting ready. As she put on the winter dress, furs wrapping around her shoulders, she wondered if she would miss being able to dress like this. The valley below was much too warm for the furs that she enjoyed so much.
Just as she finished with her deep red lipstick there was a knock at her door. Talfen opened it, and Eliza looked to see who it was. Leto the High Elf, leader of the mountains, shaper of laws, and Eliza's father came into the room. Eliza stood up and smiled warmly. They embraced each other while Talfen left the room.
Eliza looked up at him and realized he wasn't smiling. "Whats wrong Father?" She tilted her head
Her father sighed while pulling a chair towards him. "Sit down, I have something I want to discuss with you."
Eliza felt a tension in the room while she took her seat. Her father gathered himself for a moment, something she had never seen him do in all of her 90 years. He spoke slowly "What are your thoughts on our guests?"
Eliza was surprised that he wanted her opinion. "I've been watching them through the mirror. They seem young, naive. Like most humans they live in the moment so it's hard to see what plans they have."
Her father nodded. "Humans have a way of being naive and cunning at the same time. You need to remember that"
Eliza frowned "What do you mean?"
Her father looked at her in the eyes "In the past five years of negotiations, I have sent over two dozen spies into the valleys to gather information on this Cathrain Empire. None have returned"
A jolt of anxiety. "Dead?" Eliza asked softly
Her father shook his head "We don't know. But if they had been, why haven't the Cathrains said anything in negotiations? No moves, even up to the moment we signed the final agreements. So our problem is this: Will the Cathrains make a move, or did they never plan to make one? And if the Cathrains had no plans, where did our spies go? We know too little about the valley, the humans, and even the elves that have united with them. It's your job to find our enemies, and any allies, old or new."
Eliza swallowed and smiled weakly "And here I thought a potential marriage would be my greatest problem"
That gave her father a chuckle "Well that's still a possibility. If the Cathrains are our allies that may be the only way to permanently secure our independence. Befriend the Emperor's grandson, but don't trust him. Make them think we just want a marriage, and find out where our spies have gone. Your mother insisted on sending four bodyguards with you, so you should be safe in the meantime."
------------------
Several hours later Eliza was sitting at her seat in the dining hall. The ceremony itself she had been unable to get a close look at Gerard Cathrain, or any of his accomplices. Now at the dining table, it was just her father, mother, her, guards, and the guests. Eliza had a full view of them, and was intrigued.
Gerard was handsome, of course, she wouldn't have expected differently from royalty. He had red hair that went past his ears, brushed roughly behind them and curling towards his head. He had freckles on his nose that she would almost call cute. His eyes were a brilliant green, and Eliza thought she could feel whenever he looked at her. She wasn't sure how to feel about the places his eyes were traveling either.
His four Companions were interesting. Two humans, a Dwarf, and fourth person who at a glance could be human. Her name was Sunny Day, and there was just something off about her. Besides her name of course. The way her mouth and eyes moved when she talked felt learned, not natural. Like she was imitating what a human would do.
It was all the more obvious when compared to the actual two humans who sat close to her. One was male, named Allen, no last name. He had dirty blonde hair that was cut close to his head. It was spiked up at the front, and shaved down at the sides. He always seemed deep in thought, focused somewhere else.
The female, Mila, no last name, was much more in the moment. Her dirty blonde hair was also shaved at the sides, but the top of her hair was long enough to form a ponytail. Although she was similar to Allen, a difference in facial features told her they weren't related. Her muscles were just as defined as Elizas, something that comforted her. Someone to keep up a workout regiment with would make it much easier.
Lastly the dwarf. His name was Retayn Hammerhell. He was the main bodyguard for Gerard, his eyes darting everywhere. He looked like what the books described, hairier then a bear but half the height of a human.
