"Welcome to Mera Lethas, my Lady." Anithis pressed his lips against the top of my hand as he led me into a building that seemed to be made of pure marble. It was as if someone took an enormous block of stone and carved from the inside out, as the floors, walls and ceiling were all made of the material. I followed him to a spiral staircase and down we went. He was a very soft spoken man, this cream-skinned elf-like man, and I found myself growing rather fond of him. Not in a sexy type way, but more like a friendly, almost brotherly way. "The Drow scum will pay for what they have done to you, my lady. I assure you that much." His words did not assure me though. Apparently Anithis and his fair-skinned people did not call themselves 'elves' but "people of the old" or "Old ones" for short. Vytex and his dark kin were called "people of the mountain" or "Drow" for short.
"Really, Anithis, Vytex didn't hurt me." I had to repeat myself once for him as they were still having a little trouble understanding me with my thick Bostonian accent. Ah well, it did not matter where I was from anymore. This place, this Mera Lethas, was apparently my new home. "And you can call me Kendall if you want." I added as we stepped onto a large landing that held quite a few more marble-carved buildings along it in a row. One of them was my new place and I wondered if I would ever get used to seeing so much white marble. It was almost blinding in fact, but I knew I'd adjust. I just needed some time. Anithis, when he was not away on hunting expeditions or treatsing with the fairies to the west and the dragonkin to the east, would spend as much time with me as possible.
I appreciated his attentions, but my heart seemed to be pulled to the mountains. I found myself wondering if Vytex missed me. Why didn't he make love to me when he had the chance? Was it because he thought me pretty but not pretty enough to do much else but kiss? The though was painful so I tried to not dwell on it. The fact that I was parading around as a princess bothered me as well. The elves... er Old ones as well as the humans both seemed to treat me as such, which meant plenty of "my lady" comments and bowing, scraping at my skirt's hemline. And the clothes they gave me as gifts -- they were simply gorgeous and made me feel elegant and princess-like. Each night we'd have feasts and I'd dance with Anithis. I wondered if there had been a spell cast on me because each time I danced with him, I'd find myself thinking of Vytex instead. It troubled me.
The brown-bearded man, called Trendon, shadowed me always. He was Prince Anithis' bodyguard and best friend, never leaving his Prince's side except when he was with me.
I regarded him as a large teddybear-like man, with rippling, bulging muscles and a smile that was easy to put on his face. It was good to be me.
"My lady?" Trendon's question brought me to attention as I was sitting in one of the many courtyards, contemplating the way things had worked out for me. I stood, staring at him questioningly. "Prince Anithis has requested that you dine specifically in his quarters with him. Do you accept?" The man seemed a little nervous and I wondered what the deal was. After I nodded, he seemed much more relieved, which I thought was cute. It was almost as if he was nervous for the Prince. But the only thing that would cause that would be first-date jitters. Oh. My. Was it a date? Wordlessly, I followed Trendon into the Prince's outer chambers, waiting while he checked on his master.
My fellow human opened the doors wide for me and pecked me affectionately on the cheek as I entered. I was blushing when I stepped inside, admiring the golden decorations that surrounded the marble within the Prince's chamber. It was truly a place fit for a king.
"Ahh, my Lady Kendall, I am so grateful you have decided to join me tonight." Prince Anithis rose gracefully and took my hand, kissing it politely as he led me to the small table set up for two. It was cozy and I smiled at the gesture, sliding in to the chair opposite of his. We began to dine, making small talk. I never spoke of my homeland because I knew it would be too odd for them. How could I possibly explain such contraptions like cars and airplanes? It would boggle their poor medieval-like minds!
As soon as dinner was done, the Prince led me to the courtyard that was set just outside of his bedroom. A tall, thick wall surrounded us, granting both of us complete privacy. He encompassed his arms around me, pressing me gently against his chest. He was wearing a robe and I could hear his heart thudding like crazy under his ribcage. Placing his forefinger under my chin, he lifted so that I was staring up at him, into his startling azure blue eyes. He leaned in and pressed a kiss against my lips, which made my heart flutter. I soon felt my eyes close in bliss as we began to kiss passionately, lips becoming one just like it had happened with Vytex. Only something was missing this time. I couldn't put my finger on it and tried to not worry about it. But still, it ate at my subconscious, needling me until I finally had to pull back.
"I am sorry, my lady, am I pressing too swiftly in my affection for you?" Anithis' words were eloquent, but I didn't think they were sincere. That's what was wrong! Anithis seemed to have a hidden agenda behind everything he did. It was almost as if he were hiding secrets in every action or word. It troubled me, but I tried to just enjoy myself and not dwell on it. No reason to worry. The Prince had done nothing but treat me perfectly.
"I feel as if I have known you my entire life." His voice was filled with affection and I smiled at him, appreciating his words. "How could I get so charmed as to have such a beautiful woman in my arms?" The Prince certainly knew how to push my buttons with compliments like that! "Lady Kendall, I want to take you as my wife. Will you marry me?" I smiled blissfully as I took in his question... until I comprehended what he had just asked me.
"Um, what?"
"Will you be my bride?" Prince Anithis smiled warmly at me, pressing his lips to my left cheek and then my right. "I want you to be wed to me. We can have the ceremony as soon as possible. I want you to be my wife." I gasped at the suddenness of it, stepping backward and out of his grasp as I did. The pain I inflicted from the action made me feel bad but I wasn't ready to marry some stranger! And yet, I would have been so ready to jump in the sack with Vytex? What was the difference? Marriage was binding in the new world I had found myself in, and so I knew I had to be careful with such a proposition.
"Er, that's a little fast for me, Prince." I backpedaled, uncomfortable with the idea. "I need time. I need to get to know you more." He took my hands within his, stroking the tops gently with his thumbs.
"Take as much time as you need, but I want you as my wife by the next full moon." His words were soft, but there was an implication there -- my welcome would be worn if I did not accept. Uh oh. And Vytex probably wouldn't want me back after I had been away so long. I really didn't see any option.
"How soon until the next full moon?" I queried, paling when he told me four days. Four days! I had four days to decide to marry the Prince or be turned on my ear. I knew by the look he gave when I asked that he meant business. Uh oh!
"I would want you pure, of course." Anithis continued as if I had told him "yes". "You are pure, correct?" I hated the look he gave me then. It was point-blank accusatory. As if I were a slut. I nodded, blushing bright pink at the affirmation. He wrapped me into his arms and sighed in relief. "I knew you were. I knew it." Despite the softness of his voice, I felt myself resenting the question. So what if I wasn't? Would he have married me still? Why would that have made the difference?
"Then I shall walk you to your quarters now, my lady, and be left with thoughts of our joyful union." He held out a hand and I put mine on top, letting him escort me back to the marble hole I now called 'home'. He kissed me a few moments just inside of the door and I felt my insides turning to mush. What was it with these men that they made me feel so gooey inside? "Until we meet on the morrow." Anithis kissed me once more, smiling warmly as he exited my room, shutting the door behind him. I felt as if I could float as I turned to walk in the darkness of my room. I went to a candle and began to light the wick, shedding flickering shadows on the wall as I did. The back door was open, which was odd. I did not recall leaving it that way and went to close it as it was bringing unnecessary chill into the room.
I was smiling to myself when I began to pull the soft silk dress over my head, but grunted when it became stuck on my fancy hairdo that one of my maids-in-waiting had prepared for me. I began to mutter unsavory words as I struggled with the stupid thing, until finally, as if hands were helping, it came off of me, leaving me to shiver in my under-slip. It was at that point I realized I had actually been helped and I jumped, startled at the presence of my visitor. But I relaxed the moment I saw it was only Trendon.
