A Fairy Tale

CHAPTER FIVE: Mate dilemma

Adam opened up the windows to his room with a sigh. He did not know if he should look forward to seeing his mate or just avoid the whole destiny thing. Not that he did not want his mate. No - far from it.

He sighed as he remembered seeing her last night. Her long, white hair cascaded down her back accenting her heart-shaped face and her red cupid bow lips. Even the fact that she was blind did not diminish her beauty. She has a wonderful curvaceous body and she almost stands up to his chin. But the most attractive thing about her was her rosy white skin which was almost too soft to touch. He could not get over the fact that this young maiden turns out to be his mate.

The funny thing about it was he looked at her like she hadn't aged at all from the time he had seen her as a child until now.

Rose - Princess Rosaline Dumont to be exact. Even her name fills his soul like the scent of roses. He kept glancing at her as she spoke to her parents and was awestruck with her soft manners and gentle smiles. His father smiled wistfully as he saw his son so preoccupied with his friend's beautiful daughter. But Adam was more than enamored, he was enchanted and petrified. He didn't know if his mate would accept him as her mate. Especially, if she already was spoken for.

His smile dimmed a bit as he remembered that his mate came with a very unusual partner. His jaw slackened when he found out the blond hunk was Deacon, the king of the elves. Mavis greeted his cousin and raised the question on why was he accompanying Queen Elaine's daughter. He smiled then, looking at Adam's mate with a fond sigh that made his blood boil. He revealed that he was chosen as Princess Rose's protector in as much as the dwarven queen. That in itself was unusual for royalty to accept the burden of service under another's crown but both royals were unfazed by the attention. It was also a contradictory situation as elves and dwarves do not see eye to eye. But looking at Queen Malory and King Deacon as they talked about strengthening border patrols, it made rumors disappear.

Soon after the princess' arrival, the guardians Adina and Malory excused themselves as they have patrol duties to attend to. They left but not before their eyes lingered at my friends Connor and Mavis. Both of them nudged each other and just shrugged when asked what was the matter. Somehow, both were restless when the women left but they could not explain why.

Adam picked up what he needed for a bath and made his way to the bathroom. He had a lot to do today and thinking of his mate would have to wait till later.

*************

Rose clasped her hands to her lap and looked out of the window. Although her eyes could not see anything, she felt the slight breeze coming from the window. She rested her head and brooded at their situation.

She felt the mate pull.

Last night, when Deacon opened the door, she smelled the most amazing smell of pine and wood smoke. Deacon told her that the alpha's son was closest to her when she felt the pull but she wanted to be sure. When she spoke to Adina and Malory, she was not surprised to hear that they too had found their mates. She had seen all of these in a dream vision. Even her other handmaids would be handfasted to other creatures but for each happy ending, a dire warning comes knocking.

Vivien's influence is starting to enroach the borders of the north. There were reports of women being abducted, men mauled and decapitated and children drained of their blood. According to Lydia, Adina's mother, it seems that the woman was preparing for a ritual. One that would destroy their world. They would need to strengthen their defenses more. If what Lydia said was true, then they need to be ready. She believes that her power will sustain her beauty so once that wanes, who knows what would happen.

She was pulled out of her thoughts when a chair shifted to her left. Deacon was in the room with her as her parents didn't want their daughter unguarded. She was thankful for Deacon, her bestfriend and Beta, who agreed to juggle his responsibilities as king and protector to be her Beta until such time as her mate steps up as her soon-to-be husband and all this chaos blows over. She didn't know how she could have overcome everything that happened to her if not for Deacon and he in turn owe her his life.

She remembered the first time they met. She was scouting out of the castle, bored with constantly attending princess duties and seeing nothing but black when she sniffed the strong metallic scent of blood nearby.

Cautiously, she approached where she could feel the smell coming from. Using her heightened senses as a wolf, she came upon an old oak and found a bloodied elf. Feeling through the elf, she found multiple stab wounds. It was so deep that she thought it was too late until the elf jerked up in alarm and struggled under her grasp.

"Keep calm. I am here." She tried to soothe the elf but he struggled to stand.

"Leave. You'll die if you are with me." He implored hoarsely and tried to push her away. The sound of hooves surrounding them filled the air and the elf struggled to stand, using his sword as his balance. Soon enough, dozens of elves on horseback entered the field and surrounded them. The leader dismounted and approached them.

"Just give up, Deacon. You can never be king and you won't live to see tomorrow." The man sneered. He aimed his sword at Deacon and was about to attack when a bright light blocked everything out. When the light faded out, every elf standing were unconscious except for her and the bloodied elf. Except he was no longer bloodied. Surprisingly, he was healed.

He turned towards the young woman who saved him and immediately knelt down. She glowed with power, her silver hair shining like the moon. She looked like an elven goddess that he was humbled in her presence.

"Who are you?" He asked when the light died down. She smiled serenely and opened her hands.

"Your friend. So you are an elven prince?" He nodded, not knowing that she was blind. "Looks like you have a kingdom to save."

Rose smiled at the thought. Even then she was confident of her abilities. Together, they returned to Deacon's kingdom and subdued the insurgents. His father immediately crowned Deacon as king and would have betrothed him to Rose if she hadn't emphasized that she had already met her mate.

Returning to the present dilemma, Deacon cleared his throat.

"So, are we going to reject our mates?"