A Slave in Elude

My Secrets!

No, this cannot be happening!

I lunged across the room to my desk. How had this happened? Who? My stomach sank even further when I saw several pages were missing.

"No, no, no!" I cried softly. I checked my single drawer, I searched my clothes chest, desperately hoping they were somewhere here. When all corners had been scoured, I returned to the sabotaged book. Flicking through it I found which dates were gone. I remembered only vaguely what I had written. Some had been about my body going through the womanly changes, one had been the night after I had been kissed by a silly boy (I had promptly slapped him), and one...

I froze, licking my incredibly dry lips.

Maybe my promise was broken.

...

Dear Me,

I am growing weary of the stares and playing silly games with children. My body is changing. Today marks my sixteenth birthday and my third year with my monthly blood. How could he expect me to keep such an impossible oath!? Never to admit that I am grown when everyday I hear Grandmother, Baker Darls, Cleric Nic, and even a few children too tell me I'm grown.

I'm grown.

But they can't keep saying that. True or not, it needs to remain silent. Oh, but I cannot even say to them why! If anyone knew why I act this way. If Ivera knew...

They would cast me from home maybe even the town.

I don't know what to do. I wish mama and papa were still here.

...

The rest of my night was spent tossing and turning. Who could have picked my lock? I knew it wasn't Grandmother. She would have sooner demanded I open it to her or broken the lock.

I awoke feeling ill and disoriented. It felt early still but oddly the house was well awake downstairs. Chairs scraped the floor, a pan clanged, and what should have been a mouthwatering smell of fresh eggs and hot coffee wafted heavily up. I rolled in bed, curling in on myself. I was too sick to think about food no matter how delicious. Someone knew my secret. I chewed almost violently on my bottom lip to the point it began to bleed. What should I do? Running away seemed logical and safe, but I felt dread at the thought. As if worse could happen! The unknown was eating me away already.

"There are terms you must learn. Worry not, however, for I will teach you them the day I return to fetch you."

His words were so clear in my head. I shivered. Saliva began to pool in my mouth and throat, warning of the incoming vomit. If I could hear him like this it meant my oath was broken. My Granny Athalee had told me stories long ago about the three major fae and even the forgotten fae. She had warned me so fervently though about Elves and promises.

Had she feared this?

Worse. Had he planned this?

I couldn't decide which possibility was more terrible than the other. My heart ached to run to Athalee and beg her forgiveness and ask her to help me. I knew she would. There was no question of it.

A sharp rap on my door stirred me from my self pitying. It opened without so much as a pause or call to reveal Ivera. Her tall, broad frame stooped into my room to stand imposingly at the foot of my bed.

"Merid," she sniffed. Her voice was as pompous as ever. Not even death would destroy her holier-than-thou personality. She cleared her throat imperiously, the air of anger and power perfectly coiled around her. "I have decided that these shenanigans will go on no longer. As of today, a young man has stepped forth to claim your hand. You will go with him tonight and on the morn, you will wed him and never set foot in my home again." The anger lashed out then. "I don't know what I did to deserve such an ungrateful, insolent, and idiotic grandchild. Today has been long, long in the making." Her cold blue eyes glared down her crooked nose at me. At least there wasn't a smile of satisfaction. She seemed almost indifferent to my fate while I fought my swirling emotions and twisting stomach.

I was to be married. No, I couldn't. I wouldn't!

Ivera did not wait for a response as she swept quickly from my room. I had to act, to do something. I tumbled to my feet, mind numb as I moved mechanically around my room. Marriage? The word did not fit in my mind. The concept didn't fit to my life! I struggled to breathe, hands tearing through my dark hair and ripping away strands.

Calm yourself.

Oh, no. Him again. I froze painfully in my steps.

There is no need to run. I will find you no matter where you go.

And that, rather than terrify me, pacified me. Eerie calm took control as I went to my clothes and began tossing away all the fine dresses and plain ones too. At the bottom of the pile sat a pair of leather trousers, a deep red tunic, and set of boots nearly crushed flat. I'd saved my meager allowance for these years ago. I doubted they still fit, but it wouldn't hurt me to try.

I slipped into the trousers that hugged just a bit but with enough room for me to move easily. The tunic still flared around me though was snug on my shoulders that had grown broad. I glanced down at myself, thinking that this was insane. But what choice did I have? Lay like a rabbit for slaughter or fight like a rabid dog. I chose rabid.

I finished dressing and slipped out my window into the cool morning, taking nothing except my will to run.