Erë-Nár's Story

Chapter 6.

The guards pushed me down on the floor in front of the king’s feet. My body hurt since the guards who was sent to arrest me had been beating me a lot so I was less likely to fight back.

-“How dare you” the kings voice was low and full of restrained anger and a part of me knew that I was either to get my head cut off by the king's sword now or be whipped to death later. The guards lifted me up on my knees but made sure that I wasn't able to stand up by holding their hands on my shoulders.

The king took a hard grip around my chin and my eyes met with his.

-“How dare you attack my son? Answer me!” he demanded and I opened my mouth to explain that the maid misunderstood the situation. But I was cut off by one of the guards.

-“The prince had a red bruise on his neck and seemed to be in shock when we arrived”

“It wasn’t a bruise, it was a big hickey from last night” I thought and I cursed myself over the fact that I had left it on the neck where it’s harder to hide.

-“Not just on the neck” Another man said whom just entered the room holding Elóné in his left arm. He stayed next to the king and lifted El's tunic, revealing more hickeys on his chest and stomach.

The king eyes glared at me and before I knew it I laid on the floor with an exploding pain in my head after the strike from the king's fist.

-“Stop it!” El shouted and finally managed to get loose from the man’s grip. He sat down next to me and rested my head on his lap, caressing my cheek.

-“Are you okay Erë?” he asked with such soft and loving voice that it sounded like he was talking to a child.

-“Elóné? What are you doing?” The king asked and stared at him.

-“Look at me but don’t move, I need to see if you…”

-“Elóné!” the king said with a louder voice and El finally looked at him.

-“What?” he asked and those dark eyes shot lightning's at his father.

-“What is going on?” The king demanded to know.

El stared at him and then at the rest of the people in the room before he answered.

-“ I'm stopping you from killing him” El glared at his father’s eyes and when two more guards entered the room together with the queen he leant over me a bit more to protect me.

-“He attacked you and you're protecting him?” one of the guards asked.

-“He didn’t attack me! That maid misunderstood the situation!” El snapped at him and turned his attention back to me when he heard me cough.

“Erë?” He asked a bit worried.

-“I’m fine” I whispered and tried to get a grip on reality.

-“If he didn’t attack you, please explain what’s going on” The king said, he seemed a bit calmer but still angry.

-“He is my lover” El said straight out and met his father’s eyes.

-“Your lover?” the queen asked and looked at me while El carefully wiped some blood away from my busted lip.

-“Yes mother, I love him” El admitted and the queen gave us an understanding smile, a smile you give a child that has tried to do something nice but it ended up bad anyway.

-“Are you out of your mind?” the king asked and stared at us, everyone turned to him and El stood up. The queen ordered a guard to go get Aarond and two other guards to help me up.