Sarah felt the brush of fingertips against her forehead, cool and soothing, just before she opened her eyes. Leaf green eyes stared back into her dark blue ones. She saw creases form at the edge of the eyes then her gaze refocused to include the rest of his face as he drew back a little, smiling down at her.
"Ah, at last she awakes. Welcome back to the land of the living, oh visitor to our realm. It is many a day since a human has graced this kingdom with a visit."
Sarah stared up at the gorgeous male sitting beside her bed, regarding her warmly. Try as she might, she could not make sense of what he said or what she saw. This man looked like elves were described in books she'd read. Good Lord! His ears were even pointed, peaking out from the thick straight silver strands of hair that swept back from his high forehead and flowed down over his shoulders.
"What? Where am I?"
"You are in the realm of Faerie, in the kingdom of Nayum, and I am Nayum, at your service. What is your name?"
"My name is Sarah. How... how did I get here?"
A frown creased Nayum's brow. "Unfortunately, that I cannot tell you. You were found in a forest not far from the castle by my hunting party. We took you up and brought you here for healing. You have slept for two days straight. I had a party go back and search, but no sign was found of how you came to be here."
Nayum looked sheepish. "Forgive me for asking but... you are human, are you not?"
"Yes," Sarah replied.
"Ah, I thought so, but it has been so long since there was discourse between our worlds that many have begun to doubt that humans truly exist."
Sarah started to smile at the thought of humans being no more than a legend but winced instead. Her head still hurt abominably.
Nayum set a cool soothing hand over her forehead and the pain receded a little.
"We did not dare do much in the way of healing since we knew not what would be beneficial or detrimental to your kind."
"Well, I feel pretty much alright." She started to sit up but Nayum quickly put his hands on her shoulders.
"I do not think that would be wise."
The door opened and a feminine version of Nayum peeked into the room. "How is she doing?"
Nayum turned. "Ahhh, Lirael, come in. Come meet
Sarah.
She will be staying with us for a while."
The pretty Elven maid walked in and Sarah saw she wore clothes much like her brothers; trousers and tunic in forest colors. Her hair was the same long silver and her eyes the same green but there was something more carefree about her face.
"Welcome, Sarah! We are so glad to have you with us! I just know it is going to be fascinating getting to know about your world."
Nayum smiled at the two women. He knew he could leave Sarah in good hands with his sister, others might be suspicious of a human but Lirael would take care of her, in any way necessary. He frowned. He really needed to put more time in practicing with the knife fighting at close quarters. Lirael was far better than he.
"I am afraid I should deal with some matters of state. I will leave you two ladies to get acquainted." He bowed slightly to each of the women and smiled warmly at Sarah. "I will come back later to check on you, Sarah."
As soon as he had left, Sarah attempted to sit up again. Smiling indulgently, Lirael helped her. "I will not stay long, you need your rest to recover. Whatever happened, you took a nasty bump to the head."
Sarah took a deep breath and leaned back against the pillows. She was just beginning to piece everything that had just been said into a cohesive narrative. "So, Nayum said this was his kingdom so that means he's the..."
Lirael nodded. "My brother is the king, and a good one too. Fair and kind but he does not back down when pressed for something unreasonable."
Sarah looked around a little apprehensively at the stone walls around her. "So, is this a castle?"
Lirael nodded but noted her companions odd look. "Have you never been in one before?"
"No, people don't really live in castles where I'm from. The people with a lot of money live in big houses that might seem a little bit like a castle, but no one has built a castle, that I know of, in a very long time."
Lirael grinned. "How marvelous! This is just the kind of thing I want to know about. Tell me all about your world!"
*****
The two girls became almost inseparable over the next two weeks. Sarah told Lirael all about her home in the state of New York, in the land of the United States, and Lirael took Sarah farther and farther afield, showing her the land as Sarah felt more able.
Nayum joined them whenever he could, saying little but basking in the chatter of the two women. He found himself becoming very attached to Sarah. Her warmth and kindness spoke to his heart.
One day, toward the end of the second week, the three took a picnic out to a meadow. They lounged companionably and consumed the feast the cook had prepared for them to carry along. Lirael got up to look for a flower she wanted to show Sarah, leaving her alone with Nayum. The king looked down at Sarah lying on her back on the blanket they had brought with them.
"Sarah?"
"Yes?"
"Stay with us until we can find a way to send you back to your world," he said. "In the castle. Let us make it your home."
"How long do you think it will take before they can send me home?"
He looked at her quickly then away. He was torn. He wanted her to be happy but he prayed she'd never leave. He'd simply have to find a way to make her happy here.
"Elves have been working on it for centuries and none have succeeded that I know of."
"I see, then I guess I should accept your offer." Sarah smiled up at him.
Nayum smiled and reached out a hand to lift a curl resting on her shoulder. "Your hair is so different, so deep and rich. There are strands of black and gold and brown." He saw Sarah shiver.
"Are you cold?" He jumped up and held out his hands to pull her to her feet. They were facing each other.
"No," she said.
At that moment, Lirael came bounding back. "I found it!"
The couple turned and exclaimed together over the flower Lirael had brought back as she looked from one to the other. She had a feeling she had just interrupted something significant. She resisted the urge to smirk or crow out loud. Things were going beautifully.
*****
The days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months. The three spent a great deal of time together, but more and more, Lirael found excuses to leave Nayum alone with Sarah, watching the ember she had witnessed catch flame. She was perplexed though, neither seemed to realize the feelings the other held. Then, one night, things came to a head.
Lirael was walking with Sarah toward their bed chambers from the library late in the evening when they ran into Nayum, almost literally.
