Chapter 3

As the blood poured from his severed head and his body crashed to the ground all I could do was stare I saw the light leave his eyes and I knew he was dead I knew I was alive. I had been saved. Saved but by who I finally dared to look up at my savior he was beautiful too beautiful.

His face was perfectly even and chiseled to perfection. I could see his night blue eyes he had highly defined cheekbones soft silky golden-brown hair. His hair looked so soft same with his face but his face also looked hard and angry.

I didn’t feel like I was really in my body everything was fuzzy: “mortal trash” I hear the man spit he looks not too much older than me, he turns to cover me in his black cloak I realize he is wearing clothing to nice to be from any to clean to be from my village it was all black suit with silver stitching it looked like it actually glowed or was that just something my brain was making up because I had been hit quite hard in the head but as this man wraps his cloak around me and pick me up he says “you have my protection” as that is said I feel at ease I don’t know why but I do. I feel heavy and tired and as I’m fighting to keep my eyes open the man turns his head and I see pointed ear then nothing black.

*

Bright everything is so bright. I haven’t even opened my eyes, but I can feel the sun on my face. It is warm and gentle. It made me feel at ease only until I cracked my eyes open and realized I was nowhere I was in a large room with matte black the floor a white and black marble I was laying in a bed draped in many blankets that were the deepest blue almost black look the bedpost was a shinning silver with matching silver night stands I tried to sit up to get a better look of the place.

“I won't do that just yet” the husky voice drawled from where he was sitting on a settee across from the bed I was in next to a burning fire.

I took a quick glance out the window an escape route but were too high off the ground I could early spring blooming in the massive gardens down below. The window covered the whole wall. That man draw towards the bed he moved with an elegance I could quite comprehend as he came closer I looked for a weapon or a way out but I couldn’t find and escape. I think he saw the fear on my face because he said “I will not hurt you have my protection” a million questions sprung to my head but the only one I could manage out of my mouth

“Who are you?”

That is all I said my voice sounding weak and feeble. “I’m Gem I’m the price of Meallta” Prince of Meallta that was no mortal kingdom. I knew where I was, but I didn’t quite believe it.

“I’m in Elgold aren’t I,” I asked he had pointed ears he was beautiful too beautiful. He had a grace and movement about him that wasn’t human. It couldn’t be.

“yes”

The words rang threw me. Even though I asked I hadn’t expected the answer to be yes.

This was the first time I looked up at his wide smooth golden brown eyes it looked like he was assessing whether I would explode or take the information well. I was currently deciding the same thing in my mind

“I need you to take me back to the mortal realm”

Gem, sat down on the edge o this massive bed “no can do you were in pretty rough shape when I found you I believe by mortal law they would most likely kill you for that piece of shit's murder.”

Right he had killed my uncle right in front of me and the last people to see my uncle and I were Rosie ad my aunt no one would believe if I said a fairy did it. Faire I was actually in the faerie realms. “I have to go back please” I begged my voice still horse from the screaming I had done

“as I understood it you have nothing and no one in the mortal realm to go back to as well as I offered you my protection and for a fae male that means a lot I can’t just send you back when you still not heeled”

Right, I was injured I looked down at my arms full of bruises I then noticed I had been put in different clothes I was I a simple capped sleeve white flowing nightgown who had to change me into this. Gem seemed to also notice “ah a female servant I believe her name is poppy she changed your clothes we didn’t think you would want to wake up in ripped-up rags. I should have said thank you like my brain was telling me to do but I just nodded I slowly sat up gem coming over to place pillows behind me every movement was difficult and painful.

Your injuries were quite extensive we had a healer they tried to do there best but we weren’t sure if your mortal body could handle the amount of magic needed to fully heal to so we did the major thing like you head injury and you broken bones were set but they still remain broken 4 ribs and your leg was shattered and both writs broken as well I hadn’t realized but when I looked down to my hands the were wrapped tightly and I could just barely move my fingers my leg had a similar wrap all the way down it. “did you know the man that attacked you” gem asked me his husky voice curious and kind “ yes the man was my uncle” then I saw it just for a moment ice hot rage in his eyes but then he blinked and it was gone “ your own kin would do that wow mortal really have gone to hell” and well I couldn’t really argue with him yes I had met many good mortals but It always seemed like there were more bad then good.

A knock to the door had gem up on his feet he opened the door a creak and let a man in he was tall the same height as gem but he hard dark skin with short curly hair atop his head his eyes were like dark chocolate the light from the window was shining perfectly in his eyes he too and a strikingly beautiful face and the pointed ears. “wow you look like shit” Just scowled at the man “I’m Jensen, by the way, is nice to know your alive and gem hasn’t been fusing over a dead mortal girl” gem shot him a glance “I haven’t been fusing” Jensen rolled his eyes and he turned his look back towards me “do you have a name girl” it looked like he could pry his name out of my mind with his eyes

“Ashe”

I said with all the strength I could muster I was proud of my name my mother always spoke about the power of names and how my name should be spoken it held more power that way but Jensen just broke out into slaughter

“oh your father is going to kill you gem good luck” Jensen continued laughing “Ashe” he wheezed “not only did you offer your protection to a mortal of all people but her name means the only thing capable of killing us in the mortal realm.” It is widely known in the mortal realm that fairies can be killed by ash wood but I never believed it I never believed in fairies I scoffed at my situation. Both Gem and Jensen looked to me with questioning glances.

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“This isn’t real I must have hit my head very hard I’m not in the room with two fairies,” I said shaking my head. Jensen blew out a whistle “ you would be right about one thing your not in the room with fairies we are fae and to call a fae a faire is a grave insult but this” he said gesturing around the room “is very real I’m afraid” he clapped his hand on Gems shoulder “you better never let her anywhere near your father he might rip her to shreds just because she would insult us” I couldn’t contain myself

“first off I didn’t ask to be here and if I insulted you I’m sorry but I didn’t even believe a day ago that fairies existed so how about you stop talking about how I’m going to be killed okay I’ve had quite enough” gem look started to ask Jensen took a couple of steps towards me I could tell he wanted me to be afraid of him I held his stare never faltering. Even though I was terrified of the phantom ache and feeling of my uncle's hands all over me I took a steadying breath. “brave, stupid but brave mortal I think I like you” he said a grin appearing on his face gem stood and looked to Jensen maybe you could grab us some food I’m sure Ashe is hungry” the way he said my name was different it was like my name dripped with honey.

Jensen quickly left to go grab us some food gem sat at the end of the bed I’m sorry for him gem said. But he said it with a smile I could tell they were best friends. The room fell silent for a second gem and I just looked at each other until I asked “how did you find me?” I was walking three the forest looking for sprites when I smelt your fear I could almost taste it you weren’t just terrified but I could as taste hot rage I had to see what human was capable of such a strong emotion then I saw what was happening and I normally don’t interfere in mortal issues its forbidden in this kingdom but I felt like I need to help I felt drawn to help I cant explain it but you needed help and I offered you my protection. You looked awful.” I rolled my eyes “that’s not what I meant I just knew you either die or be killed if I left you there so I took you back here. How did you take me here exactly some type of portal.” Gem laughed I gave him a quizzical look

“I took you across the never-ending seas to here Elgold. “that makes no sense the never ending seas are never ending” do humans truly not know the realms of Elgold is across the never-ending see its just enchanted so humans cant see it. I thought all humans knew that.” I took a deep breath this whole time they were just across the sea how was that possible how had no one ever discovered it even on accident.

“can you please tell me what your thinking I cant tell I can almost hear your brain thinking to hard” I scowled at him. “I’m serious I cant tell I can usually I can just read a humans emotion by there face but you I cant really figure it out” I chuffed a breath out I wonder why he couldn’t figure it out probably because I didn’t even know what I was feeling I was nervous and terrified but for some reason I felt safe and I was away from that horrible brothel so I was happy that I was gone but said that I I’m here and overwhelmed by all these emotions. I went to brush my hands threw my hair and realized had been brushed and clean I really was being taken care of. Tears were stinging my eyes and I think it was just the day I had but I let them fall I didn’t care if the prince was standing here or anyone I was hurt I more ways then I thought I could be I have been beaten before but what almost happened I cant forget that I felt violated in the worst ways possible. I let the tears fall I wanted to fall apart but I couldn’t I couldn’t trust these people they have been welcoming so far but I learned for my father that it is okay to fall apart but when you feel safe and even though I felt safer here I didn’t truly feel safe I hardly knew anything about fae and I didn’t know if they could be trusted. I let some tears fall but I reigned in my emotions taking a few deep breath and wiping my sticky cheeks.

“are you alright Ashe” gem as he leaned down to my level “no I’m not okay but I’ll survive” that was all the honesty I would offer “I have to admit you are an incredible interesting mortal its quite intriguing.” I was unsure what he was reference I thought I was totally normal there is nothing interesting about be “Most mortals cower at the sight of fae yet you out of all the emotions you feel terror is not among them. But I was afraid maybe not terrified but I was definitely afraid I listed asked

“should I be afraid”

I realized I shouldn’t have said that I could hardly move with out wincing so I had no escape no matter ow hard I tried but he just looked at me

“yes”

was all he said as Jensen returned through the door with food two trays full of food. “I wasn’t sure what you like so I grabbed almost everything.” “I can see that” I murmured, and Jensen shot me a teasing gaze. The food was placed in front of me and before eating anything I smelled and tasted a small measure. mother always taught me how to check for poisons in food “I can assure you if I wanted you dead I wouldn’t poison you too difficult.” Gem said from where he had grabbed a loaf of bread and sat in the site across from the bed “one can never be too careful I quipped back I saw a plate the had a light pastry and gravy and I went to pick up a fork and knife but it was too difficult with the warps around my hands I couldn’t curl my fingers in enough so I turned to things I could grab with my fingers there was meant that I knew I should most likely be using a fork for but I grabbed it by my fingers and plopped it in my mouth “remind me to not let her eat around anyone until I teach her how to use a knife and fork gem giggled.” I gave him a vulgar gesture which made Jensen chocked on the wine he was drinking “so gem your in luck your father is leaving for the summer palace in the morning” the summer palace he had more than one place “why would he do that its still early spring “he wants to usher in a brighter summer or at least that what Ziyad said but we all know he’s just looking forward to the tropes he has gathering” tropes I had to ask all the questions in my head I was so thoroughly confused

“where are we?”

“Elgold Meallta the western kingdom of gold.”

“So there truly are two kingdoms within Elgold” I asked trying to get a base for knowledge about Elgold yes we have use Meallta and the bastards across the broken woods fior this kingdom is ruled by my father King Achlys we are currently in the capital Otto and were in the onyx palace. The Onyx place that made sense why the wall and floors where made of dark stone. The kingdom of Fior is Ruled by a false young king they are terrible manipulative people that will do any thing for power. You don’t have to worry about them they wouldn’t dare cross the broken woods it would be an act of war and they don’t have the armies to defeat our that’s what my father is gathering his army mostly likely to boast in Fior face”

“you offered me your protection what dose that mean” Gem and Jensen glanced at each other “it basically means exactly that you have my protection I vowed to protect you until you were healed so until then no one should touch speck to or even look at you with out my permission I’m sworn to protect you from anything witch also means I cant directly or even indirectly kill or harm you in anyway” “why…why would you do that?” Jensen laughed in the corner “I’ve asked him the same question too many times” “and ill tell you the same response I don’t know I just felt like I had to” that was weird why would someone feel like they have to do that. and a fae prince nonetheless. I told you were so afraid and angry I could taste it I’ve never felt that from a mortal and you were still fighting even as I picked you up you were squirming trying to fight me I was amazed by the sheer strength in you and you looked..” he trailed off “ I just had to offer you my protection”

“I have so many questions” I said to no one in particular. “we might have answers Jensen countered from the corner.” What do the series totally hide themselves from the mortals “we have to the world wasn’t split into two reams for no reason humans and fae can’t live in peace the fae have too much power I would feel bad for humans if we lived among them.” Okay I understood that my mother had told me as much but I wasn’t sure what was true and what wasn’t. “why were you in the forest looking for sprites” “ I hoped they would be able to help me in the inevitable war they might have had some very important information but they would come out and forest sprites are notoriously bad tempered if they don’t want to talk to you.” “did you get the information you needed” “unfortunately not I was a little distracted” and when he looked over to me I was unsure why my cheeks heated but they did nonetheless. As I went to look up again we Heard a loud bang on the door “open this door now by order of the king”