The Witching Hour

Ch. 22

Connor, Elven city of Amar

Both Lydia and Connor woke up fairly late the next morning, and neither one of them seemed too eager to go out in the sunlight to go meet the queen.

"How do you bare ever going out in the sun, Lydia?" Connor asked, experiencing how discomfiting the light is to a vampire for the first time.

"Years to practice," Lydia replied with an amused smile.
"Also perhaps some magic."

"Wait, magic can protect me?" Connor asked.
"Why did you not tell me this before I burnt myself?" He said, holding up his damaged hand.

Lydia smiled to herself and got prepared to go meet the elf queen.
"Because, darling, you had to learn on your own. Your hand will heal back in a few moments, and later I will tell you how I avoid getting burned." She said, while putting on a new robe.

Connor saw that he too had new clothes on his bed and changed while Lydia was in another room. It was difficult for him to get ready, as he no longer could see his reflection in a mirror.

"You'll get used to that." Lydia said while coming back into the room.
"Do not worry, you look fine. The elf queen is not as bad as the Red Queen." She said with a hint of a smile.

"I would hope so, though I have never been in front of royalty before." Connor replied.

"It is not such a big deal," Lydia said while getting their things together.
"To be on the safe side, do not speak unless spoken to, dear Connor." She said with a smirk and Connor rolled his eyes.

"If we are going to live forever, then hopefully I am treated better in a century or two." He replied with a smile.

Lydia frowned slightly but did not let Connor see.
"We shall see, and we only live as long as nothing kills us." She stated.

Connor nodded and he and Lydia put up their hoods up and went into the kingdom towards the queen's palace.

The elven kingdom was a spectacular sight unlike anything Connor had ever seen before. It was beautiful, surrounded by grand trees and a clear river. The buildings were made of a exotic material that glistened in the sunlight and they were built in odd but fascinating designs. Elves could be seen all around wearing various outfits yet all looked beautiful and graceful. Some played music, some drew pictures, and some simply relaxed with their families and enjoyed the surrounding nature.

The queen's palace stuck out since it was built high on a hill, overlooking the rest of the city. It too was beautiful and shimmering with light as it's tall towers seemed to wrap around the city protectively.

"Lydia, is there a king of the elves?" Connor asked curiously as he and Lydia walked towards the palace and tried to avoid as much sun as possible.

"There was...he passed away years ago." She replied, masking her sadness,
"Please do not ask the queen about it in front of everyone." She said, changing from a frown to a slight grin.

Connor nodded and the two of them stood at the gates of the palace, where after a few moments, several elven guardsmen came to greet them.

"Greetings. Come with us, we shall take you to the queen." The head guardsman said. He spoke in a pleasant voice but Connor could detect a hint of disdain. He assumed most elves would not like the job of escorting two vampire around.

The walk to the queen didn't take long, and within moments they were in a beautiful palace full of colors and lights that reflected everywhere. The queen sat on a grand silver throne and was talking to a small creature with wings that flew away as Connor and Lydia entered.

"Excuse me," she said with a pleasant smile, she was perfectly beautiful, not a flaw on her. The queen's voice reminded Connor of spring and music.

"I had to have my fairy friend deliver a message for me. Welcome to Amar, Connor Bishop." She said holding out her arms.

Connor was taken aback slightly at the fact that the queen singled her out, but he bowed slightly out of respect.

The queen smiled and walked down from he throne to greet her visitors.

"I am Aurora Aquine, queen of Amar. It is nice to meet you, Connor. It is perhaps even nicer to see you again, Lydia." The queen said with a slight smile.

"It is not under the best circumstances." Lydia replied,
"We come out of necessity, not desire." She stated plainly.

"So I have heard." Queen Aurora replied with a nod.
"Why exactly are you here then?"

"We require your aid, your majesty." Connor replied nervously, he had no idea how to speak to royalty though he thought Lydia was being too bold.

"You wish for I to help two vampire?" Queen Aurora replied slightly confused.

"Yes... Well, no." Connor managed,
"It's not just us who need the help. We plan to fight for all of Aster against the Red King."

At the mention of the King, Aurora frowned and suddenly became more serious. She dismissed all of her guard with a wave of her hand and the throne room doors echoed as they shut, leaving just the queen and her two guests.

"I do not think of them as royalty. Your plan is indeed bold, why do you wish to fight Leonidas and Anthena?" She asked.

"They murdered my parents and burned my village... besides that, they continue to try and eliminate magical beings." Connor said sadly.

"You would know that if you ever left your palace." Lydia muttered under her breath. Connor looked surprise at Lydia's sudden aggressiveness, but the queen did not seem to notice.

"I am quite sorry for your loss," Aurora said sincerely,
"However, I do not understand what you can do about it. You are but few, and the Nitehardts are not only evil and merciless, but powerful and have large armies at their commands. What could you possibly do?"

"My sister and I are the children of a witch from the 13th Council, we have some power ourselves. We were hoping with the other witches and your forces that we would be enough to defeat the Nitehardts." Connor replied.

"Well, perhaps that may be enough to rival him..." The queen said, thinking to herself.
"Though, we all know I prefer to stay in my beloved palace." She said and looked directly at Lydia.

"It is rumored, yes." Lydia replied without making eye contact.

"So it is." The queen stated with a nod and looked back at Connor.
"Separately I do not believe either of us have a chance against the Nitehardts might. They drove us to hide in the mountains and use what magic we can to shield ourselves. However, together with our army and your magic, perhaps we have a slight chance."

"Thank you, Queen Aurora." Connor said with a smile.
"I am very glad-" he was cut off by a raise of the queen's hand.

"However, keep in mind that you are asking me to have my soldiers prepare to die for your cause." She started,
"They will do so because the ends justify these means, however I require a small personal favor of you Connor."

"That seems more than acceptable, Queen Aurora." Connor replied.
"What is it that you wish me to do?"

"Convince my daughter, the princess of Amar, to come home after the upcoming battle and assume her place in line for the throne."

"Where can I find your daughter?" Connor asked with a hint of confusion.

"She is right beside you, aren't you Lydia?" The queen replied and fixed her gaze on Lydia.

"Lydia? You are princess of Aurora?" Connor asked in disbelief, Lydia did not even look like an elf.

"Yes, dear Connor, I am. I was not always a vampire... However I have no place in line for the throne, mother. You made that clear to me decades ago." And with that Lydia moved quickly and became a shadowy blur as she left the throne room. Connor sighed and he and the queen looked on silently where Lydia had just been.

'How could Lydia not tell me he was a vampire and an elf princess? What made her act like this, why didn't she want the throne?' Connor asked all these questions to himself as he left the queen to go find his dear friend.