His mother was the first one we met as she was waiting impatiently at the front door for her son to arrive home. “You like to cause me to worry don’t you?” She spoke with a sweet ethereal soothing voice.

“Mother…” Lysander groaned loudly as she tried to wrap her arms around her son in a welcoming hug. The two brother’s behind him snickered as she embraced her son. She glanced past Lysander and her smile softened as she looked upon Merci.

Merci saw an elven woman with slightly grayed dark brown hair, stunning green eyes, and slightly tanned skin. Her age showed but she still looked elegantly beautiful and young.

“Merci is it?” The woman spoke as she moved past her son gracefully and stood in front of Merci, looking down on her with a warm but gentle smile as she held out her hand to Merci.

“Y… Yes.” Merci shook her hand and was welcomed with a firm but friendly hand shake but was surprised when that handshake quickly turned into a hug as Lysander’s mother had pulled her in for an embrace.

“Mother..” Lysander said in a bit of a warning tone. “She don’t‒”

“Remember, I know Lysander, I can still give her a hug right?”

“It’s fine Lysander.” Merci responded as she buried her face in the woman as the woman felt familiar and safe to her.

“There, there.” His mother spoke softly as she brushed Merci’s vibrant red hair. “You’re safe now.”

“Mother I..” Lysander began to speak but decided against arguing with her. “Merci, this woman is my mother, Everlynn. She was Elara’s Mother in-law.”

Merci looked up and into the green eyes of the gentle elven woman, “I’m sorry.” She muttered softly.

“Sorry for what dear?” Everlynn asked softly as she glanced over at Lysander and back at Merci.

Merci stepped out of her embrace, “I don’t know who Elara is. I keep hearing her name and that she is no longer with us. But I don’t know if it means much, but I am sorry.”

Instead of crying or shouting, Everlynn instead glanced over at her son, “How much have you told her?”

“I haven’t told her much yet, mother. I didn’t want to overwhelm her.”

“Well, we have a lot to catch up on.” Everlynn said as she turned gracefully and began to walk with elegance in the castle. “Follow me. All of you.”

All of them soon began to follow her. All but Merci. Merci had a sudden feeling of loss burst through her. This place, these people, they were all familiar to her. Almost like a hidden path that she did not remember. Merci couldn’t help but question if she was doing more harm than good here, as everyone seemed to be full of heartache recently. And for the life of her, she felt that she was responsible for that heartache.

How can I continue to go forward with this?

Lysander soon stopped before he walked completely over the threshold of the large oak doors. “Merci?” Lysander questioned as he glanced back to her. “I promise you, I will explain everything. But it needs to be taken slowly. A lot has happened and it isn’t easy to explain.” He held her hand out to her hoping she would take it once more.

“Please believe in me Merci.” He begged her through the bond.

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“Everything?” Merci questioned him.

“Yes, my dear. I will explain everything, one step at a time.” He motioned with his hand for her to follow.

She contemplated turning around once more but where would she have gone? She didn’t know how to get back to Zanderia, let alone she didn’t want to get back there. Lysander was friendly and the nicest soul she had met in the last three months so she knew she was safe with him. However, she hated the feeling that she was causing him pain, pain she felt he didn’t deserve.

“Please?” Lysander begged one more time, taking another step closer to her. “Please Merci…” His voice ached with heartache as he longed for her but he didn’t want to push her. He wanted her to be there on her own will.

Merci weighed her options one more time and gave in. She walked over and took his hand, which caused him to sigh in relief and a smile fall on his face.

“Thank you Merci, I assure you, you won’t regret it.” Lysander said as they both walked over the threshold of the oak doors.

The sound of the oak doors closing caused Merci to flinch but that feeling quickly faded as the main entrance to the castle came into full view.

The main entrance of the castle was a breathtaking fusion of grandeur and intricate artistry. Dominated by a grand archway, it stood as a majestic gateway into the heart of the castle. The archway was crafted from a combination of gold, white, and black marbled stone, each element carefully selected to create a harmonious and striking appearance.

The arch itself was formed of polished white marble, its surface smooth and luminous, reflecting light and giving the entrance an ethereal quality. Flanking the archway, the black marble provided a dramatic contrast, with deep, rich veins that traced elegant patterns across the stone. This black marble accentuated the arch’s grandeur and highlighted its architectural lines.

The centerpiece of the entrance was a pair of massive, ornately carved doors, made from dark, polished wood inlaid with gold and white marble accents. The doors were adorned with intricate leaf designs, their delicate forms meticulously carved into the stone. These leaf motifs, rendered in a combination of gold and white marble, seemed to come alive, their veined textures and graceful curves adding a natural elegance to the entrance.

Above the archway, a grandiose lintel bore an elaborate relief of entwined vines and leaves, sculpted in the same marbled stones. The gold accents on the vines caught the light, creating a shimmering effect that drew the eye upward. The white marble provided a subtle backdrop to the intricate carvings, while the black marble added depth and definition to the design.

On either side of the archway, the walls were adorned with further leaf designs, extending outward in a lush pattern that evoked the feeling of an enchanted garden. These designs were crafted with a meticulous attention to detail, incorporating swirling tendrils and flourishing foliage in gold and white marble. The black marble provided a striking contrast, emphasizing the delicate intricacies of the leaf patterns.

Following the entrance Lysander walked Merci to a rather large hall. The hall was expansive, its high, vaulted ceiling supported by elegant columns that rose majestically from the floor. The use of gold, black, and white marbled stone throughout the hall created a stunning visual impact, blending luxury with intricate craftsmanship.

As one stepped into the grand hall, the first thing that caught the eye was the floor, a sprawling mosaic of gold, black, and white marble. The floor’s pattern was an elaborate design of interlocking geometric shapes and swirling leaf motifs, rendered in the three colors to create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The gold marble sections seemed to shimmer underfoot, while the black marble provided a dramatic contrast, and the white marble added a crisp, clean brightness.

The walls of the hall were clad in the same marbled stone, with large, polished panels of white marble forming the backdrop. Black marble was used to create elegant wainscoting that encircled the room, with intricate leaf designs carved into the surface. These leaf motifs were rendered in gold, adding a touch of gilded elegance that caught the light and drew attention to the fine details of the carvings.

Large, ornate columns stood at intervals along the walls, each crafted from a rich blend of black and white marble, with gold accents highlighting the fluted patterns. The capitals of these columns were adorned with elaborate leaf designs, their forms exaggerated and dramatic, enhancing the grandeur of the space.

The ceiling was equally impressive, featuring a vaulted design with intricate patterns in gold and black marble. The central section of the ceiling was adorned with a magnificent chandelier, its crystal and gold elements reflecting the light and casting a warm, sparkling glow over the room. The chandelier’s design echoed the leaf motifs found throughout the hall, creating a cohesive and harmonious aesthetic.

The room was pretty impressive following the entrance they had walked through. And in this rather grand hall stood an elven man, Everlynn and the two brothers waiting patiently for Lysander and Merci.