The Mearsmaine Chronicles 1 - The Return of the Queen

Chapter 4 - Deep Conversations

The group entered through the city gates and quietly crossed Mearsmaine. Elizabeth was feeling nervous, although she didn't know why. The only race she could see around her were the elves, dressed in a funny fashion: not that their clothes were ugly, because they actually were quite pretty, but she had never seen anything like it. Fortunately, nobody seem to be paying the three of them much attention.

It didn't take long for them to get to the castle. Lizz's face was still painted in surprise and astonishement: everything was so beautiful. When they got inside the castle, she got even more amazed: the rooms were huge! Luminous white walls full of great paintings extended themselves in front of the girl. The floor seemed to be made of pure white marble: she could see herself mirrored on it if she looked down.

'Tell my father we're here, will you Matt?' Lewis friendly asked to someone who looked like a knight.

Matt shook his head in agreement and stared at Elizabeth, who smiled to him. 'Is she the...?' He started asking, being inturrepted by the blond elf.

'She is, Matt. Now, please, go.' And there went the boy.

'You're going to meet your uncle!' Lewis told Lizz.

'And we're going to get rid of you!' Nathaniel added, as sarcastic as ever, which made Lewis roll his eyes and look at him with a «You're a true idiot.» expression.

'I would say I'm the one who is getting rid of an asshole.' Elizabeth answered him.

However, before they could get into a real fight (again), a redheaded elf approached them. Apart from the hair, he looked exactly like Lewis: they could be twin brothers! Nevertheless, Elizabeth had learnt that elves don't age and she perfectly knew that that was Lewis' father: Lawrence James, who immediately smiled at her.

'It's good to see that you found your way home, Elizabeth.' He told her with a wise smile. 'And it is also good to see that you two came back in one piece.' He added, looking at the two boys.

The three of them smiled to the older elf dressed in a red wine rob, which made him look, at least to Elizabeth, like a sophisticated and youger Gandalf.

'I do believe you must have some questions, Elizabeth. A small meal is being served in my private office, which actually is your private office. Would you three like to accompany me?' Lawrence asked them with warming smile.

The younger elves followed the regent. They crossed an enormous room that had a huge and elegant throne at the end of it. Elizabeth stopped to gaze it.

'Already feeling tired, love?' Mocked Nathaniel, which lead Lewis to draw a smile on his face and Lawrence to look at his son, asking him with his eyes why Nate was being sarcastic to the future queen, to whom they should show the greatest respect.

Elizabeth, however, didn't even answer him. They went through a small door and found themselves in a room that couldn't be called an office, but maybe a private library, since its walls were covered in shelves, which, in their turn, were full of dusty old books. There was a big window facing the door and, in front of the window, stood a huge desk made of black wood. This desk was being used, only for that special night, as a small dinner table, having one chair in each side for the four of them sit on.

They did sit on the comfortable chairs and, without making any cerimony (mainly Lewis and Elizabeth), the elves started to eat. They dined in silence, each of them grasping to their own thoughts. As they finished their meal, being the two cousins the last ones to finish, of course, Lawrence decided that it was time to tell Elizabeth her story.

'You look a lot like your father, Elizabeth.' He decided to say, as a manner of introducing the conversation.

Lizz smiled a tad. 'Lewis said that I looked like himself.'