The Elven King's Consort

Chapter 31: Estranged

For a long time, the light clicking of my heels against the stone floor was the only thing that could be heard. I walked a bit of a distance from him keeping my eyes and ears open for any possibility of an attack because part of me felt this was all a trap while the other made excuses for why that would be foolish. I wanted to ask him many times why we hadn't stopped yet, but I couldn't sum up the courage to do so. I was afraid of the answer. I began to convince myself that he was leading me to the king to have a private meeting and to get away from the crowded ballroom.

I glanced behind me, my anxiety forcing me on edge, and had it not been for my sanity with me, I'd have thought many times we were being followed. But we weren't, from what I could tell. Those shadowy objects were simply enormous luxury vases and carved statues of mythical beings. The soft candle lights flickered each time we passed one, threatening to blow out and blanket us with thick darkness, pulling away our vision.

Suddenly, he stopped and turned slightly as if he was making sure I was still following him. We maintained a safe distance from each other, which was comforting, but I never lost sight of him. Moving his head back around, he continued on silently, and my mind began to race just as fast and loudly as my heart. How much longer of this? I couldn't help but become impatient.

My footsteps quickened as I tried to catch up to him, and that's when I began to notice how much my feet ached and throbbed. This isn't good, I thought. Any more of this, and I'll have to abandon them. I clenched my teeth and balled up my fists next to me, fighting the urge to yell at him to stop so I could rest.

I nearly collided with him as he had stopped so abruptly. Steading myself, I watched him open a door to a room and look at me, beckoning for me to enter first. I shook my head no.

"You first," I commanded.

He stood there a moment as if contemplating, then pushed the door all the way and walked in without looking back once. I swallowed hard past the rock of anxiety that formed in my throat. This was by far the most foolish and thoughtless thing I've done yet. But if the king stood on the other side of that door awaiting me, it was my only chance of speaking to him, and I needed to strike up a deal. All of this so far was absolutely necessary. Maylyn, I hope you are fairing well, and the people have not broken your spirit. Trust me, sister, I will bring back help, and then, only then, shall you be able to live in comfort. I couldn't help but pray and hope.

Stepping forward, I walked in to be blinded by the bright light, unaccustomed to it because we were practically walking in the pitch-black hall for so long. Blinking many times, shapes and forms that were blurry began to come together.

The man I assumed was Keyair stood in the middle of an unused bedroom. The light from the chandelier was turned on, although a cloth hung halfway off, concealing a few of the bulbs. Staring and taking in the room, I noticed that many white cloths covered the furniture and protected it from the accumulation of dust, preserving everything.

"What is this?" I asked, unable to take my eyes off the abandoned room.

The fireplace hadn't been used in years, and the room suddenly became eerily cold. This was not the king's room, and, looking back at the man, that was not Keyair. At that moment, I reached for the sword, taking comfort between my shoulder blades, and attempted to take it out to defend myself. But I was too slow. He'd appeared out of nowhere and ceased my efforts. My wrists caught in his, and he placed them down, holding them tight but oddly gently so as not to hurt me. I stared up, confused and taken aback.

"Don't," he said, rendering me frozen in shock. That familiar voice caused an eruption of emotions to overwhelm my heart and course through my veins.

Releasing my wrists, he pulled down the mask and dropped it to the floor. It swirled, making a soft noise against the dusty wooden floorboards, but I couldn't take my eyes off him.