Never Ever

26

Ever rushed to Maya's room, she found Axel and Noir already there, and a guilty looking girl standing over Maya

Ever: Aria Gallow! What on earth?!

The fae scowled at her: You wouldn't understand. You never had a chance, the misfit you are, but me, and the other girls.. To have our hopes and dreams disappear, because of a mere human!

Ever: You do realize that she's a guest of our royals, and an ambassedor for our allies.. You should know the position you are in..

Aria seemed defeated: It was only meant to scare her off. I didn't want to cause any lasting damage

Ever sighed and rubbed her face tiredly..

Romeo appeared: What is the meaning of this?

Aria: Your highness! I...

One of the guards had already informed the prince of what had happened

He cut her off: You have offended the throne, lady Gallow.. What do you have to gain from this transgression? Who put you up to it?

Aria: I was hoping this will scare her off and she wouldn't stay. No one did..

Romeo's eyes hardened: I see. Let this be a listen to you all. It would have been better to talk about your opinions with us, and not act upon mere trifling feelings, without considering the possible percussions on our nation. Your action could lead to war..

Aria paled, and he motioned for the guard to take her away

Romeo: And you! What were you doing, letting her inside the room like that?

Guard: We didn't see the lady your highness

Romeo: You must've at least felt her magic

Guard: We did not..

Romeo muttered colourful words under his breath, then motioned for some of his trusted soldiers to replace the ones that were on guard and question them
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Axel: Did you learn anything from those guards?

Romeo sighed: Nothing, something larger seems to be at play. The lady's jealousy was probably just exploited to cause us more trouble..

Ever: What about Aria?

Romeo shook his head: Nothing new, she insists she acted on her own

Noir: We must be even more careful, more attacks like that could happen

Maya seemed shaken: I - maybe we should just leave. We've brought nothing but trouble

Romeo interlaced his fingers through hers: No.. You've done nothing of the sort

Maya: But your people hate me

Ever smiled: That's not true, don't let those jealous girls scare you off. You are really a hard person not to like. I tried not to like you at the beginning, but I couldn't

Maya frowned thoughtfully: You did? But, why?

Ever looked sheepish: Well.. It doesn't matter now..

Axel smirked, and Ever scowled at him

Maya still frowned, uncomperhending, Noire was curious, but kept his face blank, and Romeo seemed unpurturbed

Romeo: Well, do you see now, that you shouldn't leave, on account of only a few of our people not liking this. It's a change. They will get used to it, in time

Ever and Noir nodded at her encouragingly, and the topic was dropped

Axel beamed an affectionate smile on Ever, she dropped her gaze, and tried to keep herself from blushing
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A couple of similar attempts were faced, but less successful. All the offending parties claimed it was their own idea to scare the humans off, but there was something else in the air, faint, but somehow familiar. Ever could have sworn there was dark magic involved, yet again..

Romeo was getting weary, and disgusted with the amount of jealous females trying to scare Maya away from him

He was beginning to suspect almost every female fae of being mercenary..

The small attempts ceased, and the group tried to relax, only for Maya to be attacked again

This time there was no subtlety or mildness about the attack. It was pure magic, and while it wasn't the strongest, it was clearly fae

Romeo couldn't sleep, and both Axel and Ever were on duty that night

He went to Maya's room, and felt something wrong..

Ever felt the same thing he did..

They both rushed into the room. Their eyes landed on the bed. There lay a sleeping Maya, still as death..

Ever: The sleeping curse..

She ran out of the room, following the trail of magic to its source, and leaving the prince hovering over the catatonic girl

The trail stopped at the door of a chamber, she broke it and hurried inside

The sight that greeted her had her baffled

Ever: Meria!!