HEART OF ICE

CHAPTER 4

"ALEJANDRA STOP!!"

The forest air whistled at a whisper off the tip of the elven blade. It hovered in her hand above the elf who could only watch. He saw the girl flinch at the sound her name. It had been shouted with a force that stopped the wind It had frozen the girl in place.

Silas the Archivist heard his voice echoing away into the forest. He paused only long enough to make sure the teenaged girl wasn't about to bring the dagger down into the elf's neck. "Dear girl, my goodness," he declared. "What in heaven's name do you think you are doing?"

Alejandra lifted her eyes toward the old elf. He was standing a dozen feet away. She felt her breath catch in her throat when she saw the wall of elven archers flanking Silas on both sides. They had their bows drawn and arrows nocked, ready to fire. The heads of each were visibly sharp and clearly deadly. They were also glowing. Alejandra thought of the pellets the dwarves had used in their slingshots. She also realized that each of the arrows were pointed squarely at her.

"You cannot keep meeting people you are supposed to be nice to like this," Silas said, exasperated.

"He was hiding in the forest," Alejandra said. Her throat felt dry, her voice was scratchy. "He was stalking us."

The elf underneath her chuckled. "I assure you I most certainly was not."

"Alejandra, please. I think it's going to be the best idea of the day for you to put that weapon down," said Silas, gesturing with his eyes to the archers on either side of him. "Let's go ahead and have you let the prince off the ground, yes?"

Alejandra looked down at the elf she was kneeling on. "Prince? You are a prince?"

"Honesty demands that I answer yes. Yes, I am a prince."

Alejandra felt her strength suddenly fade away. Her anger subsided, though it had hardly vanished altogether. She lifted her knee off the elf that was apparently royalty, stepping back from where he was lying on the ground. Alejandra felt the piercing gazes of the archers stay fixed on her. The dagger was still in her hand. She let it drop from her grip, the finely crafted weapon slipping from her fingers to plop into the soil near her feet. With another step backwards, the archer's began to lower their bows.

"You'll have to forgive her," Silas said with relief. "She's had a trying time the last few weeks."

The elf on the ground sat up on his elbows. He watched Alejandra standing nearby. She wouldn't make eye contact with him. He couldn't help but smile. He glanced sidelong toward his shoulder, directing his voice at Silas. "Of that," the elf prince said, "I have no doubt."

He returned his gaze in the direction of Alejandra. "Still," the prince said, hoisting himself off the ground. "I will admit my apprentice had strayed a little too far from the rest of the group."

"I was scouting, sir," the young elf said defensively from the top of the shallow slope. "As I had been instructed."

Alejandra looked up at the prince's ward. His long, soft cloak did nothing to hide his boney frame. His face was smooth, the skin of his cheeks painted with a natural, sun-touched blush. Alejandra already knew that elves could live for a very long time. They weren't exactly immortal, but not very far from it. So Alejandra could only imagine what it meant to be a young elf. His narrow frame and boyish features made him look the same age as Moe.

She watched the young elf descend the leafy hill with perfect grace. Alejandra suddenly felt awkward when he walked toward her. She started to flinch as he extended his arm. There was something in his hand. Her breath started to catch in her throat again until she realized it was her own dagger he was holding.

"My apologies for having startled you," the prince's apprentice said humbly. His eyes were waiting for Alejandra's when she looked up from his open hand to his face. "I didn't think fully about the situation and the experiences you've had recently. I can't imagine how shaken up I'd be after facing a member of the Legion generals."

Alejandra stood silently, uncertain of what to say in return. The boyish elf watched her expectantly. "N...no. It's okay. I'm sorry," she said, her voice dry and her words slightly mumbled. "I overreacted. I suppose I'm more on edge than even I want to admit."

"Here," the elf said, extending his hand with Alejandra's dagger resting on his open palm. "This is yours."

Alejandra looked at the young elf's eyes. He didn't blink or look away. There was an innocence in his gaze Alejandra almost didn't recognize. It was a youthful honesty. She was staring at one of the purest spirits she had ever seen. She had a clear memory of seeing that look once upon a time. Her father had had that same purity in his gaze, as well. She had seen it every time she had looked into his eyes.

"Thank you," Alejandra said, hesitantly taking the small weapon out of the elf's hand. He nodded once then began to walk past her.

"There. You see, Archivist," the elf prince said brightly, "we're all friends now." As he spoke, his gloved hands lifted the helmet Alejandra had put a small dent in.

Alejandra heard herself gasp. Her cheeks reddened at the sound of her own breath. Tucking the bronze-colored headpiece between the crook of his arm and his hip, the prince lifted his head toward Alejandra. He smiled at her. "Perhaps we should try a more traditional introduction. Unless you would prefer to spar a little more?"

His voice was almost melodic to Alejandra's ears. It circled her mind like a new favorite song. It took her a moment to realize he wasn't speaking and she hadn't answered his question. She smiled bashfully, feeling her cheeks get hotter. She could only imagine how red they must have looked. "No, that's quite alright. Perhaps just the one round today."

He closed the distance between them with a perfect gait. His steps were measured and precise. He didn't slouch as he approached and then stood before Alejandra. She noticed the way he stood straight, his posture refined and regal. Alejandra's eyes weren't sure where to keep their focus. His shoulder-length hair, damp from sweating within the confines of his helmet, still looked very soft. It was a dark color she couldn't be certain was black but knew it was close to that. It made the sandy-gold hue of his eyes appear all that much brighter and contrasted his fair skin. He was far from pale, but he wasn't tan either. Until a breeze pushed at the strands of his hair, revealing the dull tip of his left ear, Alejandra had begun to forget the prince was an elf.

He was still smiling at her as he extended his hand. "Then a handshake will have to do."

His glove was off. Alejandra felt her heart racing just a little as his long, soft fingers tenderly enveloped her own. "My name is Salysh, son of Saulnyck. I am prince of this realm."

"I am Ale-"

"Alejandra de Rosa. Daughter of Galan the Great. Yes, I know who you are. You have your father's spirit."

"And her mother's temper," Silas exclaimed from nearby.

Price Salysh held his smile and Alejadra's attention. She had barely heard what the old elf had said. "I am greatly impressed," said Salysh, staring into Alejandra's eyes. "If your mother was as tenacious as you have proven to be, she was truly a formidable adversary to anyone who dared cross her or trespass on her family."

Alejandra felt her face get hot all over again as she blushed stronger than ever.

From a short distance away, she heard Silas huff as he turned away from them, "Yes. But she never tried to start a war between allies. That's all we need right now."

I'm so excited you read this part! I hope you liked it. If you did, please be sure to vote! And, if you can, please comment. I'd love to hear from you! Thank you, so much!