To Hide a Princess

Chapter Five

Elemmire's POV

I wake after a fitful sleep, waking every hour or so. I'm fine though as I've survived on far less sleep in the wasteland. I just have a feeling that today is not going to go the way I would like it.

Then while I am still waking up properly I start to think everything through. I am safe from Legolas as long as he doesn't know my identity so I should change my name again from Nellas Helyanwe. I'll think up something later. And then also I must go somewhere he can't find me although I need to earn more money, I have very little at the moment. So that limits me to this town, it's big enough that it should be easy enough to hide. I cannot be found if I don't want to be.

Only now though do I realise he probably knows where I am this very second. He could easily ask which inn I'm staying at and I'm assuming the worst; that he'll come looking for me soon. I know I have to leave and very soon.

I quickly pack the few things I have; my remaining money, mothers old sapphire necklace, an old notebook with sketches, drawings and maps filling its pages and finally a bit of stale bread and an apple, the cheap food I bought last night in case I couldn't get any today. This will do as food for the morning.

I know that I have to somehow make a living from my remaining money but right now it will only go as far as a week's worth of food. For now I leave in search of a new place to live.

I wander through the town for a while, leading Aranel beside me, going past several inns but I have to turn them down as their too close to where Legolas will have known I was. Suddenly I hear the sound of hoofs galloping close behind me. Panicking I duck into an alleyway close by me and watch the horses race past, towards the inn I stayed at last night. A flash of silvery blonde hair catches my eye before the riders disappear into a new street. I was lucky.

After a long time walking through the town, I find a small inn where I can stable Aranel and stay for several nights. After I book a room under the name Fallyn Geraldi I move to the bar area to buy some more food for the next day or so. As I am having my drink I notice an old harp in the corner, all dusty in the shade. I quickly walk over to the barman who also owns the inn and waits the tables. It's a small business and it's all his really.

"Sir? I was wondering if I could try out the harp in the corner?"

"Milady I would be delighted but it is likely that it is broken. My last musician quit over two years go and it hasn't been touched since"

"Thank you sir, I will see how it plays"

The old barman nodded once to me before continuing with his work sweeping now. There were a few people at the bar, an old gentleman who appeared to be sleeping, a small group of male elves, perhaps my age, and a pair of young lovers. How sweet was romance, I almost want it for myself. Almost. Not enough to reveal my secret and not enough to return to Legolas. These are my safety mechanisms deciding my actions.

I pick up the old dusty harp and sit on the crooked stool in the corner. I play the strings quickly to see if it works and to my delight it does. I close my eyes and begin to play one of the tunes of old that I would play with my mother or with Earwen humming the song softly.

The harp plays beautifully as I now can tell making a light delicate sound that reverberates around the room. My tune sets the perfect mood for the lovers, quietens down the youths and gently lulls the older man to sleep. It is a wonderful old harp, much like the one I had at the old place. The harp was one of my great loves. The harp, fighting and drawing. Though it was always argued that these were not useful in the art of being a queen and that I should use my time to become a better princessa.

Where the willow sings o'er the waters

Where the sun shines gentle upon the land

And the vole wanders through the reeds

And the birds sing sweet melodies

That will be where I wander with my love

With the blessing of the sun unto us

At the end of my song I look up to see the gentle smiles of all those in the bar. Relaxed in the warm room by the light of the candles and the fire. I hadn't realised there was silence until now.

I place the old harp back into the corner of the room and make my way back to my chair. Here I clear away my glass, bringing it to the innkeeper.

As I am on my way back up to my bedroom the innkeeper stops me on my way and speaks to me gently.

"Milady you play and sing beautifully"

"Thank you sir, It was my pleasure."

"Milady? Please excuse me here but I could not help but notice earlier on that you were rather low on money and I thought maybe we could find some kind of, I don't know, a deal of sorts that might benefit both of us."

"Go on sir and I will think"

"Well milady, you sing and play remarkably well and I have been rather in need of a musician to entertain in my inn for a while now. I was thinking that perhaps I would let you stay in my inn for no payment and eat also for no money of you would play every day for me? I understand if you say no milady but just think about it"

A warm smile broke out on my face as I hardly needed to consider the offer to know my answer.

"Sir I hardly need to think at all. It is very kind offer indeed and I gladly will accept"

"and milady? Since you need to earn money, you may keep all the money you earn in tips. I am not saying it will be a lot but at least it may help in part."

"You are truly a good man sir, I thank you. Again I accept this offer. Until tomorrow though, I bid you goodnight."

So, I have found my way to live now and pleasant it will be.