The Book of Willow- Princess of the West

30.

Maia zipped her duffle bag with a huff. She took one last long look at her room. They hadn't lived there long, but her time there was already at an end. In the short time she'd lived there she made so many memories. She'd miss this room. She'd miss her life.

Besides, how did one pack for interdimensional travel, she wondered. Chance and Miles were downstairs waiting. They were all leaving the Human Realm tonight. 

They told their parents they were going on a last-minute tour through Europe with her and her family. And with Amber's gifts getting their approval was without question. She was even sly enough to drop the idea in Aswen's parents' ear.

She thought about Aswen. It had been two days and Aswen hadn't returned as Glorfindel expected. Amber insisted on finding her and wiping her memory to resolve the issue but Glorfindel wouldn't have it. As a matter of fact, the three of them had not been able to come to terms on much of anything. Maia, herself wasn't on the best of speaking terms with them either.

Glorfindel was still sore that she had not been prepared. And part of Maia agreed with him which was a first for her too. With the kind of burden, she was being asked to shoulder a fucking heads-up would have been nice. But when she thought back to all her birthdays, little league sports, field trips, family vacations, and the few times she had activities with friends, she realized she had a great childhood.

Had she been embroiled in the struggle going on in Arda sooner she would never have been able to have a life of her own. She didn't have much of one now but whatever she had was officially over. In spite of everything, she understood and appreciated what Amber and Brom tried to do for her.

She sucked in a loud breath and pinched her lips together. Her hands felt cold and numb as she clenched the bag straps. She wished like hell she could just walk away from this. She wished she could pass this on to someone else and go back to her mundane existence.

The only thing she ever wanted out of life was to be normal but fate insisted on flipping her the middle finger at every turn. "Ugh" She bellowed with irritation, shoving the last of her items into the side pocket of the bag before slinging it onto her shoulder.

Absorbed in thought, Maia kept her gaze lowered as she moved through the hall and turned to take the stairs. Suddenly, she collided with something hard, something immovable. She looked up. To her chagrin, she'd run into Glorfindel's imposing figure.

"You know it's really inconvenient to see you every time I turn a corner," Maia grunted before righting her duffle bag and skirting around him.

Glorfindel's blue eyes glowed and his nostrils flared. He had a habit of crossing his arms over his chest when he was perturbed. Maia concluded he must be perturbed often because he always stood there brooding like some Dollar Tree Superman.

"I can't believe out of the billions of people in this or any universe that I wind up with you. Disrespectful, impetuous-"

Maia stopped in her tracks and spun on her heel, "Hey!" She shouted interrupting his tirade. "Don't come for me unless I send for you. I'm not exactly pleased with this situation either."

Glorfindel took one step, bridging the gap between them. The difference in height becoming glaringly obvious as he bent to whisper in her ear. His linen-clad chest lightly grazing her breast. His warm breath dusted over her skin. Maia's breathing came faster as her heartbeat thundered in her ear.

"I suggest..." The tenor of his deep voice drew out. "That you think before you speak. You will abide by me, Maia. You will live by my rules."

A shiver crept down Maia's spine. She turned her head slightly so their eyes could meet. His lips hovered only inches from hers. Maia's breathing became ragged. She wasn't sure if she was breathing his air or if he was breathing hers. She couldn't be sure if the feeling that seized her was fear or something more.

"Or-or y-you'll do what?" She asked with a shaky voice.

His large hand shot out with lightning-quick reflexes, latching on to her upper arm and hauling her against him. His grip was painful but nothing could distract her from his eyes as they blazed with indignation.

"You may kick and claw all you like, Princess, but in the end, I will have my way." His voice had such authority, such conviction, that she almost believed it.

"Maia, you ok?" Chance stood at the top of the stairs with his fists clenched and shoulders squared, glaring at Glorfindel.

Maia snatched her arm from his grip. "Just fine Chance. Andre' The Giant forgot his fucking manners." She turned and slipped past Chance to run down the stairs, feeling relieved to be away from the escalating tension she felt around Glorfindel.

"That guy out of fucking hand. Who does he think he is?" Chance asked as he followed her.

"It seems that everyone has decided what I should do except me. You know what, I may be locked in my figurative tower now but someday he will come." She looked thoughtful as he bobbed her head.

Chance grinned, "Who your knight in shining armor?"

Maia scoffed, "No, my dragon."

Chance's laughter echoed in the hall but soon came to a halt when his eyes found Aswen at the landing.

"Aswen," He whispered in disbelief. "You came."

He rushed to throw his arms around her. She pulled back gently, offering him a soft smile. "I thought about all of this and every part of me wanted to deny this was real. Glorfindel told me that I am a decedent of the Calaquendi Elves of Arda and that's how I made it through his barrier. It was then I understood how I'm connected to all of this."

Aswen turned to Maia, "So, turns out you're not crazy."

Maia sneered, "Sweetie, I'm fucking insane. I'm also, apparently, the only hope any of us has of getting out of this alive. So, what's it gonna be, Precious? Survival or sanity? Either way, you're in this."