Enchanting

Chapter 3

Court trials are not fun.

I stood in the center of attention, literally. Prince Shirogane was sitting in his bedazzled throne and all his other royal advisors sat around him in a circle. I hate being stared at, especially by the eyes of the prince, he just seems to look too long, and in the wrong places. Get the gist?

As soon as my trial started, I knew I was going to die. All these fancy, drunken elves knew I had intended to murder the prince, so my life would not be spared. I silently prayed that I would be reunited with my father and brother, and to bless my mother with strength.

There was a lot of incoherent speech and mumbling words, thanks to the stupid elven alcohol. Seriously, how does anyone expect to take care of important matters while drinking? It's a miracle anything gets done here. I bet I could've run around that hall and sliced open every one of their long, pristine necks and they wouldn't've known what hit them. If I'd had a knife that is. The only person who still seemed at least a little sober was the prince, must have a high tolerance to alcohol, because that's the only thing I see him do is drink. Get a hobby, elf.

When all the elves finally realized that there was a living, breathing person in their midst and they weren't just there to congregate and drink, they turned their attention to me and became quiet.

The trial was going bad for me, one, because I didn't have a lawyer (which is totally unfair), and second, no one in this court hall would ever support a human. What was the point of even coming here in the first place? Probably just to humiliate the people there.

"So, we've all come to the conclusion that the she-human must die, correct?" asked an advisor from the corner.

All the elves nodded their heads in approval, except for the prince. He had an inquisitive look on his face, as if he was studying out a college-level algebra problem. Finally he spoke up.

"Perhaps there is an alternative that we can use to our advantage," he drawled slowly. "The young woman was the daughter of the famed scientist and genius Samuel Holt, is she not?"

That's when I snapped.

"How dare you speak his name!" I spat at him. "You're the reason he's dead! You have no right-!"

"Enough!" yelled the advisor, "You have no right to speak so boldly to the prince! You are of the lower status!"

"I'm about to die aren't I?" I quipped back, "Might as well speak my mind? Let all you imbeciles know what awful creatures you are? What crimes you've-?"

Suddenly the prince snapped his fingers and I felt my tongue restrain itself in my mouth. I couldn't speak at all, no matter how hard I fighted to get the words out.

A contented smile settled on the prince's features, a smile of one knowing they have the power. His advisor also seemed tongue-tied, literally, and quite angry. All the other elves had annoyed expressions on their faces as well, but not one said anything.

Prince Shirogane let out an amused laugh.

"Now, now," he chided, "Why must you argue? I was just about to reveal another beneficial tactic we could use on this girl. Will you listen, or must I keep the privilege of speech from you?"

The prince's advisor was fuming, but he managed a stiff bow as to inform his master of his answer.

"Very well," the prince responded, and he snapped his fingers once again.

My tongue fell under my own control again, unraveling from the knot it made in my mouth. Everyone else also let out a collective sigh as the magic released them.

So, the prince held some kind of magic? This was news to me, but at the same time I wasn't surprised. How else did the magical trees and plants grow so quickly, and never fall into a withered state? Did he also possess any elemental magic like the Lieutenant did?

A large, lion-like creature sauntered up to the prince and rubbed its mane onto his arm, prompting the prince to bring his hand out and run his fingers through the glossy fur of the animal.

"Now, as I was saying," the prince continued, "I have a proposition to make."

"Go on," one of the elven counselors said.

"It seems to me that the young woman has no viable concerns with being sentenced to death, am I correct?" the prince asked me.

"All that matters is that I'm reunited with my deceased brother and father."

"Deceased brother and father?"

"You heard me. He is also dead because of you, but why should I expect you to remember every casualty when you've killed so many?"

Some of the elves lifted themselves up from their chairs, but the prince gestured for them to remain seated.

"My dear," the prince said, completely ignoring my comment, "What if I were to tell you that you are mistaken in believing your brother has passed on?"

That statement shook me to the core. What was he suggesting?

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, you heard me quite clearly, young lady."

I bit back a snarky retort and took a deep breath. "My brother is dead, and no trickery from you will cause me to think any different."

"Is that so?" The prince rose from his throne, "Allow me to show you something. Lieutenant, bind her wrists."

Kogane showed up seemingly out of nowhere and used what looked like simple vines to tie up my hands.

Piece of cake, I thought, I can break through these in a cinch.

Unfortunately, the plant-like shackles kept me bound very tightly.

"Those bindings are made from the strongest of oak branches in the elven society. No amount of struggling can free you from them," the prince so-helpfully informed me.

"That's only because you mutated the trees with your magic," I replied, my sass levels dangerously high, "No ordinary tree could grow with such powerful limbs."

No matter what I said, Prince Shirogane was not phased in the least. He only shook his head in amusement as if I was a small child who was struggling to read. "But who among us is ordinary?"

My blood boiled in my veins, and I so desperately wanted to smack the prince upside the head. 

The Lieutenant led me away out of the court room as we followed the prince down a series of corridors and hallways, we seemed to walk forever; My calves burned in complaint.

We finally stopped at a very large set of double doors, which were clearly locked with a jumble of more of those weirdly strong vines. 

Lieutenant Kogane seemed to realize with a disturbing realization where we had come, and he stopped in his tracks immediately. 

"My Lord," he started, "are you seriously considering showing this young woman the secrets that lay within that chamber?" 

Prince Shirogane turned to the Lieutenant and met his gaze. 

"The High Priestess commands it."

Kogane nodded slowly in agreement, any trace of confusion or uncertainty he showed before gone. 

"Now," the prince continued, "I no longer acquire your services. Depart this vicinity."

Lieutenant Kogane bowed low, then turned around and left without a word. What was behind this massive set of doors that was so special? 

With that, the prince turned back to the doors and held out his hand, and suddenly the vines on the door began to twist and turn like snakes caught in someone's grip. So, the prince has earth-bending powers, this was interesting. 

The vines fell to the floor, and the large doors opened.