Folk Lore (11 page)

“Sera.”
 

He jumped up from his chair and came over to greet her. Swiftly she felt less alone and slightly more like old times once again. At least their friendship was going to remain and she was grateful for him more than ever

“I’ve missed you over the last couple of days, with everything that has been happening we haven’t seen each other as much as usual,” he assured her and she smiled happily at her best friend.

“I’ve missed you too. I really need to talk to you.”

“Sure, straight after lunch. I would like it if you would join us and meet the others properly. You will like them except for Angeles but he’s unfriendly to everyone.”

“I would like that but I only have an hour before I have to go back to my training.”

“You shouldn’t have to learn much. I’ve taught you all the defensive tactics already.”

“Yes, that was very sneaky of you.”  She smiled.
“Keelor wanted to be sure I was inapt in all of them first. This afternoon he is going to teach me to defend myself with a weapon.”

“I wanted to teach you that too but thought it would be hard to explain.”  He smiled his boyish handsome grin so she hugged him for comfort and to show her affection.

“Alright, Sera don’t get all soppy on me.”

Leading her over to the table he introduced everyone again. Angeles stared at her lustfully and she knew it wasn’t for the same reason Keelor looked at her in that way. Angelique looked at her cautiously and Sera found this disconcerting. Audrey and Andre chatted to her as though they were old friends and she felt an instant rapport with them both. Sera decided to spend more time with them when she next had some.

Once Sam finished his lunch, he excused them and Sera detected a look of what she could only interpret as envy cross briefly over Angelique’s face. Sera decided she would ask Sam the nature of his relationship with the vampire, after unloading her problems first that is.

He took her deep into the forest, the sounds and aromas were intoxicating. She understood why Sam chose this spot to talk.

“Spill it, Seraphina,” he said once they were seated on a small soft grassy hillock in the heart of the forest.

“For starters, what happened to calling me Sera? And do not even try and call me princess.”

“Sorry, Sera.
While I’m here it is habit to use correct terms. I won’t call you princess unless I’m around folk who deem it appropriate, okay?”

“I suppose. I don’t know what to do and after talking to Mum this morning, I’m even more confused.”

“Is this about Nermo and his ridiculous dream notions or about Keelor kissing you by the river?”

“Keelor.”

“You couldn’t have picked someone more stringent about the law than him.”

“Yes, I’m starting to discover this which is why I’m confused.”

“Sera, I love you, you are my best friend and I would hate to see anything happen to you. If anyone ever hurt you, well let’s just say protector is the right word for how I feel about you. I always have and not because I had to because I wanted to. I don’t totally agree with the law either but I know I must follow it, even if I don’t want to.”

“Is this about Angelique?”

He looked at her with surprise and then acknowledgement.

“I could never hide anything from you could I?”

“You obviously have been for a while though. I saw the way she looked at us as we left before and she wasn’t too happy about sharing you.”

“Yes, I have been hiding my feelings for her for some time. She probably wasn’t too happy because she can be very possessive. How could I have told you that I was in love with a vampire?”

“You’re in love with her?”

“Unconditionally and ridiculously so.”

“Wow and yes if you had introduced us, questions would have been raised.
How long?”

“About three years on and off. I met her here the first time I came to do some training. I continued my training with her once we met and we’ve been seeing each other when we can ever since.”

“Have you?”

“Slept with her? No. I wouldn’t want to test her restraint, no matter how strong she claims it to be.”

“She feels the same way about you?”

“Yes and she begs me constantly to break the law.”

“How?”

“By allowing her to change me.”

“What!  That would be more than one law and no way are you going to become a vampire.”

“There are worse things.”

“After what happened with my mother and father, how could you even consider?”

“Love can’t be controlled, just as your feelings for Keelor can’t.”

“We are a pair aren’t we? In love with folk we can’t have.”

“Yes but Sera, does Keelor feel for you as Angelique does for me?”

“I don’t know, his lips say two different things, as do his eyes and face.”

“Sera, I know I’ve said this before but you could not have picked a folk more intent on his duty and the law. If you were going to break it with anyone you should have chosen Nermo.”

“I didn’t choose, Sam. When I am around him I feel
...
like I belong.”

“Angel is the same for me. The difference is I could and would become like her, for her. Yes we would both be banished but together and the same. You can never be the same as him.”

“Still doesn’t make it any easier. What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know, Sera.”

“Do you know what happened to Sebastian after he
...
well you know?”

“Yes, he joined a group of vampires who live in the human world but they don’t abide by the law as Angel’s clan do.”

“Why didn’t my dad change rather than die?”

“He thought being a vampire was worse than death. He didn’t have much regard for them at the time, probably because of your mum’s attraction for them or one in particular anyway. It seems you have inherited this from her.”

“Yes, I guess I have. I believe he feels the same as I do but he is so intent on doing the right thing. I can understand how he wouldn’t want to be banished from the circle and his home, it is beautiful here. I know he believes in what he does but I think it’s time the law changed. I think it could be used to our advantage. If Mecaldorf is using it for evil, why can’t we do the same?”

“I have always felt this way, Sera but there is nothing we can do.”

“We shall see about that.”  She stood up.
“I have to go or Keelor will hunt me down. I miss hanging out, Sam. We should again when this is all over.”

“I miss it too.” 

He smiled and walked her back to the fighting field. When he returned to his quiet spot in the forest, he found Angel waiting for him.

“Why did you tell her about us?” she demanded.

Still discounted from her loss of control, she was edgy. Added to this was her bloodlust not being fulfilled on animal
blood.
They’d been instructed not to leave, not even to feed, so both
herself
and Angeles were in tempestuous moods.

“She would have discovered the truth eventually and I don’t and won’t lie to her.”

“She will use it against us, just like her mother did.”

“Annaphina never did that to Sebastian. He took it upon himself to cause trouble by biting her husband. Sera won’t tell, besides she has a secret of her own. Don’t you know it is rude to eavesdrop by the way?”

“I was merely protecting what is mine.”

“You don’t need to protect me from Seraphina.”

“I was assuring your heart was truly with me and your feelings for her were not a threat to me.”

“I have told you many times, Angel, she is my best friend and I’m in love with you. What more do you want from me?”

“You know the answer.”

Keelor was seeking solace by the river when Keela sought him out. She knew where to find him when he felt melancholy and was aware he had much to feel unhappy about. Although they did not feel for each other the way she felt for Calzu
-
her chosen and soon to be partner
-
it would entail an end to their partnership and would leave Keelor without a princess to protect. Calzu was one of many elfin who trained as Keelor had, to come to aid if a rebellion were to
occur
-
an army as such
-
and for back up if anything were to happen to Keelor and she required a new protector.

Keelor would join the army and resume Calzu’s position as commander however this to Keelor would be second best. He was born to be a protector and she ached for him having to give up his post.

Keela was also aware he would be troubled by Nermina’s abduction and the imminent fight against Mecaldorf and his forces. She knew he would not be afraid
-
at least not for himself
-
however he would be aware of what they were to face. His concern for her and now it had come to her attention; he would also be worried about the safety of another princess within the circle. She smiled with irony at Keelor falling in love with a folk whom was not an elf, again. Though he had never felt love for the pixie, simply awe but that was another story. In this instance it was different, she knew Keelor well enough to know this. His respect for the law and his driven nature would be in turmoil with his growing love.

This was not the only ironic factor within the situation; the river he cherished and sought refuge with would remind him constantly of his confusion. She pondered whether Seraphina’s eyes resembling the river he loved simply compounded his attraction. He may think he could keep his feelings hidden however Keela knew him too well. They’d trained together their whole lives and were aware of each other’s idiosyncrasies as most partnerships in the circle were. Theirs however was particularly strong as Keela was very in tune with her psyche.

Coming to sit beside him staring intently into the river, her heart went out to him. She was free to marry whomever she chose and she was fortunate to be marrying the elfin she adored.

“Keelor,” she began and waited till he turned to her and the troubled look in his eyes confirmed her suspicions.
“You are troubled?”

“That is an understatement, Keela.”

“I am worried for Nermina too and what lies ahead however I have never seen you this concerned and we have faced adversity before.”

“Please stop playing the ‘I do not know what is wrong’ game and progress to your point.”

“Hmm, you are testy, this is worse than I imagined.”

“Sensed or foresaw or whatever it is you do.”

“It does not matter. Talk to me, Keelor.”

“There is nothing to say. I
...
cannot continue to break the law yet cannot stop. I know I will not be able to focus in battle should she become endangered. I trust Sampson as a protector however I will be worrying for her nonetheless, which will deter me from keeping you safe.” 

She sighed at the pain she felt as their connection also entailed her feeling his pain and until now it had been rare. The conflicting emotions he was harbouring were breaking his heart.

“Keelor, I know you will do everything in your power to protect me and I trust you with my life. You will make the right decisions when required. As for Seraphina, well I cannot help you with that. You must either push your feelings aside or remove your guilt about breaking the law.”

“I believe in the law too much yet being around her clouds my mind and I lose sight of my beliefs. It is very frustrating.”

“It is what happens when you fall in love.”

“I am not in love with her,” he replied forcefully. She merely smiled.
“She is beautiful and has me bemused that
is
all it is.”

“If you say so.”

“I will regain my focus. I simply have to be stronger and more guarded.”

“If it is at all possible,” she murmured.

“We have more important things to discuss then frivolous emotions. We will be leaving in three days to rescue Nermina and we have much to do.”  He stood up abruptly.

“Please do not close off the opportunity to feel, Keelor, being in love and loved in return can be special.”

“I do wish to discuss it any further, Princess. I must return to the field and continue my lessons with the human.” 

As stormed off Keela stifled a giggle at her best friend.

Keela was wrong. He could not and would not let the human princess into his life. It was forbidden regardless of how she flooded his mind and filled him with overwhelming desire to love and protect her. He simply wasn’t being strong enough, detached enough. Distancing himself from her unless he was tutoring her was the only way. If she was out of sight she would soon leave his mind or so he hoped.

15

Nermina’s Retrieval