What Is Done

Chapter 19 - An Unfortunate Introduction to the Real World

Prince Laverne was often alone as a child. The High Council knew how to keep King Valka occupied. Queen Moria, on numerous occasions, distracted with her own entertainment, left Laverne alone to wander the castle grounds, wondering of the outside world, what lay beyond Arün and the forests of Elven Guard.

Once he mastered archery at age nine, he started carrying his bow everywhere. At some point, he started wearing robes that weren't ankle length. Neither the king or queen expected him to dress properly all day every day. He only dressed nice for parties and visitors. 

Prince Laverne had a better understanding of the world as he grew. He finally felt like he was able to convey his thoughts and feelings to his mother and father. His pale little, bare feet could not be heard by the guards when he walked around. He was able to learn new things consistently. Moria had shown him how to braid hair earlier in the day and his father had taught him about the peace treaties and trade routes Elven Guard had with the Muoen Nation.

It was the warm months, possibly what everybody else called the season of summer. He liked being outside. The insides of the Castle of Glass were cold and empty all year round. Unfortunately, the Castle of Glass' courtyard wasn't a spectacular size. Building a city squished in between forests and not wanting to cut them down will do that to you. 

The boy roamed the courtyard and garden, something he did when he didn't want to do anything else. He had learned this is how elves once lived, among nature. They used to spend more of their time outside than in. Heck, the Ancients' scripts said they'd only built houses for shelter from storms.

Eventually, he lied down in the grass. All was peaceful until the guards on the outer walls began freaking out. "Close the gates!" someone shouted at the top of their lungs. 

Laverne sat up and watched the commotion as the guards sprawled over each other to close the heavy stone gates. The gates were usually open during the day and anyone who had business in the castle was welcome to go and come as they pleased. Servants and guards getting off their shifts were let freely through the front, recognized by their uniforms. They were safe and protected no matter what. 

Today, a suspicious stranger was stopped after a certain point to be asked why they were there. In Laverne's eyes, they hadn't given a suitable answer as to why. Little Laverne saw Sellion appear next to the men closing the gate in a burst of little blue lights and hit each of them multiple times in the back of the head as punishment for something.

Laverne chose to disregard all the screaming but Sellion's voice stood out against the others. He looked to the sky, trying to focus on anything but the clamoring. Clouds were scarce today. 

Then, someone appeared over him and blocked his view.

"Hello, elfling." 

Their voice sounded sinister to him. This elf was not someone he recognized. There were important people within the castle that knew the faces easily. His father, mother, Sellion, the rest of the faces belonging to the High Council. The servants assigned to his room, the ones who cleaned and would do his hair and prepare his baths. This was not one of them. His eyes were black and unforgiving.

His first instinct was to run, but unfortunately as he got up, the elf's arm wrapped around him, promptly restricting his movements. The elf carried him away from his bow and quiver of arrows as if he'd known that was the first thing he'd reach for. He cursed, saying he shouldn't have taken them off. 

As Laverne kicked fiercefully, trying to squirm his way out of the adult's arms, he noticed there were other people inside the walls that wore regalia associated with harboring hatred towards his family. Guards on the wall aimed crossbows, taking out some of the man's friends and splattering the outside with the blood of assassins. When they saw the man carrying Laverne, they stopped.