Ternia

Evander

 Coligny's people destroyed the beautiful rugs and sofas. Stains accentuated the already scarred floors and worn door trims.

Us warriors and military members were abused and tortured until Theodora had enough, she didn't know what would make her dear sister stop pushing rose thorns into our eyes and tearing the flesh off our bones. She gave up a ruby necklace in exchange for our lives, and since I was still here to tell the tale, Coligny accepted it as payment.

My bedroom door was ordered to stay open for the case that there was another attack, I had to be up and ready to dart out the door.

The twins of Theodora and Orion often came to visit me, mostly Seraphina so she could escape her mothers hovering.

She knocked on the already open door, she stood wearing a purple velvet dress almost the exact same as one of her mothers. "My mother is pestering me again."

"I'm sorry, Darling. Do you want to sit?" I pulled my coat from a chair across the room.

Her shoes were quiet unlike her mothers, the slight shuffle was all that could be heard. "I'd love to." She gave me a toothless smile. "Mother and father hid Lucian and I away until the matter was cleared. They didn't want us in the middle of a warzone. I worried that they'd hurt you. You've been so kind, I'd be sad to see you dead by one of Queen Coligny's minions."

"I'm glad you cared for my well being then." I smiled softly.

Seraphine crossed her legs, managing to keep her knees together. She had more poise than I've seen some queens have. "I care for people who see more in me than just an heir to the throne. Besides, I won't even get the throne, my mother just wants to ensure that when I get married off later on that I have a good chance of getting with someone nice...and wealthy-per her request." She rolled her eyes. "I've just turned 15, and my mother is so worried about my marriage..."

"Remember what Susan did?" I looked up at her.

"I would love to be like her, to have the courage to say no. To fall in love with someone like she did...but I guess that part wasn't any good because he died and she still had to marry."

"But he died for her." I winked. "Love can be a lot of different things. I love my queen so much that I accepted this war. I haven't left my kingdom in years before now."

"Love is fraud...love makes people do unspeakable things. My mother loves her sisters; yet Bridgetalyn is the only one who shows love back. All Coligny does is try to blow us up."

I couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

"It's not funny, Evander."

"I didn't say it was, Darling."

...

I already had a close relationship with Seraphina before I came here. I had met her at a fairy academy shortly before the Elarian War. But our ways split when the war began, they sent all the students home and forced us to practice alone.

I had a slight crush on her when we took classes together, she was beautiful, smart, she had an elegance. We shared only a few differences, but they were quite big.

I didn't have parents. My mother died in childbirth with my sister when I was only three, and my father left when they declared her dead. Chrystalanthia had two options: give me to the royal army, or kill me. They chose the first option.

I met the princess, well now the queen. Starleen. And she was literally the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She was brighter than every star in our sky. But she was a princess, and I was me.

I wanted her to see me as more than just a tough warrior in calloused skin, so I took the job to fight this battle against Queen Coligny in hopes to win her love.