The Elf Girl (45 page)

“Yes, those problems are solved and I leave here today with many things to be thankful for. But I now have a new problem I hadn’t expected.”

“How so?” she asked.

“It’s a long story,” I said.

“We have time.”

“I don’t know…,” I trailed off.

“Trust me,” she said, “I’ll only listen.”

I nodded, and told her everything about Stellan and me. I told her about how much we seemed to care about each other. Then I told her what had happened in the barn. It felt good to tell someone who hadn’t been there, someone who could just listen and not be affected. She didn’t know Stellan, not really, so it was easier for me to speak about him. When I was finished, I had fresh tears clouding my vision. Queen Taryn was silent for a moment and looked at me intently.

“I can’t tell you how to fix your problems or how to feel. However, I can tell you one thing. Remember that your power is a very special gift. You have the ability to see things others can’t. You can tell when someone is lying or telling the truth. I know your first experience was an unhappy one, but you will have many more that will turn out differently.”

“I hope so.”

“Why don’t you try it on me?” she suggested.

“What? Oh no, I couldn’t possibly. You are the Queen. It wouldn’t be right for me to know about your whole life.”

“If it will help you, Ramsey, then it won’t matter to me. Here, take my hands,” Queen Taryn said.

She put her hands out to me and nodded in encouragement.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes. Go ahead.”

I bit my lower lip and slowly reached my hands out and placed them over hers. A large, bright flash of color hit me, then the pictures started to form.

I saw Queen Taryn’s birth and childhood, when she was Princess Taryn. I saw the love in her parents’ eyes as they watched her grow. I saw her live a beautiful life in the palace. A few of the pictures were sad. Her parents’ deaths, the war, and the death of her husband, the King. However, most of the images were happy. The most wonderful memory was of Brielle’s birth. I could see Queen Taryn’s love for her daughter as I watched the Princess grow. Even among the turmoil and sadness, Queen Taryn truly enjoyed living and being the Elf Realm’s leader.

The pictures ended, and I was left smiling in the darkness behind my eyes. I opened them and released my hands from hers.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

“See? Your power can show brilliant things as well. It’s also very informative. Before seeing those memories would you have guessed that I liked to ride bareback on a horse?”

I smiled. “Never.”

“Then you have learned something about your queen, haven’t you?” she asked.

“Yes,” I admitted.

“I have to find Princess Brielle so we can see you and your friends off from the palace. Excuse me for just one moment,” she explained.

“Wait!” I called as she turned to leave.

“Yes?”

“I remembered what your power was when I saw your memories,” I told her.

“How I know what others are doing even when I am not around them?”

I nodded. “You knew when Brielle and I went after Zora. Why did you let us go?” I asked.

“I let you go because I believed in you.”

I was taken aback. The Queen of the Elf Realm believed in me, even though I was only a confused elfen from the Human Realm.

“I don’t know what your secret is, Ramsey. But I do know you are special to this Realm. Whatever you may need to do to help us in the future, I trust you.”

I was speechless as she walked away. Before opening the palace door, she turned to me one last time.

“And that also means I know about Brielle’s wild lifestyle.”

“I’m not sure she realizes you know,” I said.

Queen Taryn smiled wryly. “Well, she thought she could use her topaz gem to hide. When she uses it, it blocks others elves’ powers. My power is stronger. I’m far older and more experienced than my young daughter.”

“I have to admit, your daughter’s power is very confusing and strange to me.”

“That’s Brielle for you,” she said. She laughed and then vanished into the palace.

Smiling, I turned back to the water. I liked Queen Taryn very much. She was real. She wasn’t a high-and-mighty royal. She was like any other elfen, just with a little more power. More importantly, she understood her daughter and allowed her to make her own decisions. If only Brielle knew that I wasn’t the only one different in this Realm….

I waited on the bridge until I heard the palace doors open once again. Out came the high guard, Queen Taryn, Brielle, Lady Cora, Addison, Zora, and…Stellan. I took another look and realized Thane and Aditi were missing, as well as Eder and Elvina. I wondered where they were. I picked up my shoulder bag and made sure my dragon egg basket was still safely by my side.

The guards lined up in a row outside the palace. Queen Taryn stood in front of them with Brielle and Lady Cora. Addison and Zora walked over to join me with Stellan lagging slowly behind. We stood facing Queen Taryn as she began to speak.

“It is time to bid you farewell. We have admired your courage and enjoyed your company. Now, you must return home, and we must prepare for our summer guests. We will always remember your time here.”

I wished I could have spoken with Eder before leaving, but my problems with Stellan had distracted me. Now, I desperately wished to converse with him. He had told me to wait until I found Zora to worry about anything else. I had found Zora, so now I felt I had the right to get some answers.

But there was no time left for that now. We were leaving, and he wasn’t present. I would just have to take his advice and let things happen when they were meant to.

Before the royal entourage retreated into the palace, Danica walked over to me.

“Here,” she said, handing me a white card decorated with green and brown flowers. “I would like you to attend my wedding in July. Your sister may come too, along with anyone else you care to bring. I don’t want this to be the end of our friendship. I would like it if we got to know each other better, without me having to protect you.” She smiled. “You truly are a special elfen.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, suddenly unable to raise my voice any higher.

My vision grew blurry once again. We were truly leaving Tarlore. I wouldn’t see anyone here until July. It seemed like a lifetime ago that I was in the Human Realm. How long would it feel like before I was able to return to Tarlore?

Danica squeezed my hand, then left me. I put the card in my shoulder bag.

“Goodbye, my friends, I wish you well on your journey,” the Queen said.

With a wave, she turned and went back into the palace. Brielle had started to follow, and then at the last second she turned around and ran over to us. When she reached where I was standing, she hugged me tightly.

“See you at the wedding,” she said. I could tell she was trying to hold back tears.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I replied, my voice cracking.

I watched her go into the palace, tears streaming down my cheeks. She was a wonderful friend, no matter how strange. The guards and Lady Cora followed Brielle. I turned to Zora, and was about to say something about leaving when the palace doors swung open again. I turned to see who else was running back for a goodbye and gasped. It wasn’t for a goodbye at all.

Instead, it was Thane and Aditi, pulling a very resistant Lura toward us. She looked refreshed from her healing the previous night, but was still dressed in her own clothes, splattered with blood. Her blonde hair looked unruly and tangled. Yet her face showed the same cruelty and cold beauty it had before, and her smile was still dangerous. We waited silently as they passed. As they crossed the bridge, Lura turned to face me.

“You think this is over, elfen? It’s not. You will not live to see your next birthday, no matter what power you now possess, no matter what secret you hold within you. Tell your little plaything he had better watch your back, because Finn will come after you. Don’t underestimate him. Don’t ever think you are safe,” she spat.

Thane angrily pushed Lura forward into a waiting carriage that read
Prison
on the side. The horse pulling it went into a gallop, and Lura was gone. Thane and Aditi walked passed us without a word, and retreated into the palace.

I was left shaking with anger and fear. I knew Lura had called Stellan my “plaything” just to anger me. She had been in the barn when I confronted him.

The fear came from her warning. No matter how much I hated to admit it, I knew what she said was true. Finn would be back. He was still out there. I just had no idea when he would come.

My frown quickly turned into a smile when I saw a large golden dragon soaring overhead. I sighed and gazed at the sky as we walked through the busy streets. Soon, I would have a dragon as well. I thought about what it would be like to watch my own dragon flying up in the sky.

It was a great way to bid farewell to Tarlore.

~22~
Decisions, Decisions

The journey back to Birchwood City was long, tiring, and mostly silent. I spoke only when addressed directly, and I refused to be anywhere near Stellan as we walked. The only ones who talked frequently were Addison and Zora. Being best friends, they used the journey to catch up on lost time. They laughed and giggled about school and friends, but became serious when Zora described her life as a prisoner.

I tried to ignore most of their chatting. I didn’t want to laugh with them. I didn’t want any more excuses to cry. I just wanted the trip back to pass quickly so I could be home. Then I would sort out my problems with Stellan. Now was not the time. I hadn’t decided what I would do about the situation yet.

The trip took three days and two nights. Addison tried to lighten the mood by singing and playing her fiddle, but she was the only one who sang. Zora couldn’t, because we would all pass out, and neither Stellan nor I was in the mood. I enjoyed the music even so. It was pleasant and comforting as I lay awake at night, trying my best to fall asleep. Zora still refused to try my idea of singing me to sleep.

On the last day of our trip, Stellan tried to talk to me more than once. He would tap me on the shoulder, but I would just walk faster. I was afraid to talk to him because I didn’t know what I would say. But after about the fifth time, I finally responded.

“What, Stellan?” I asked in annoyance.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I need a bit more time.”

“All right, how much time?”

“I don’t know,” I told him.

“Ramsey, please,” he begged.

“This isn’t easy for me, Stellan,” I told him.

“I know.”

“I don’t think you do,” I retorted.

I locked my eyes onto his. He looked down. “How much time?” he repeated.

“We can talk when we get home,” I said, not knowing whether that would be enough time or not. But I had to say something to get him off my back.

“All right, I’ll hold you to that,” he said.

I ignored his comment and walked ahead.

***

Stellan didn’t try talking to me again. Instead, he walked a few paces behind me. Addison and Zora led the way back home. By noon, we had reached the field right before the city.

A short time later we walked through Birchwood City’s gates. I sighed with relief at the familiar sights and smells. Although I had spent only a short time here, I knew it was my home. It had always been my home. Now I could share it with my sister. I smiled as I thought of having family in the house. I wouldn’t be alone any longer.

Zora came over and gave me a hug. “We’re home!” she cried.

“I know,” I said, though I wasn’t quite as enthusiastic.

I was upset and confused about the choices I would have to make soon. I wanted to rejoice with my sister but couldn’t summon the energy.

We walked through the busy dirt streets. As we passed, elves shouted congratulations and welcomed Zora home. A few elves even came up and talked with us for a while. Some hugged Zora and said they were glad she was safe. The sun was shining and everything was right…except for one thing. I would have to deal with that later.

Elves everywhere cheered and praised me for rescuing my sister. I finally felt welcome somewhere. I belonged. These elves were proud of me. I was accepted. And I didn’t have to hide my ears anymore. This was truly my home. I felt a little of my despair ebb away.

Then I remembered my human family back in Wisconsin, and a wave of melancholy came over me. I hadn’t thought about my old life much since coming here. I didn’t miss them as much as I thought I should. But I knew it wasn’t because I never cared for my human family. I had just been too preoccupied with my new life and the challenges it presented. I wondered how often I would think of my parents, Dina, and Carmen in the time ahead. However, I knew no matter how much things changed for me, for better or worse, my old life would be with me, in the back of my mind and in a place in my heart. I would never forget what led me here.

Zora and I stopped by Aaron’s shop on the way. As welcome-home presents, he gave both Zora and I a beautiful gold and silver interlaced chain necklace. We thanked him and went into the streets again. Stellan and Addison had gone ahead to see Aaliyah before us. Enjoying the time away from Stellan, I walked happily down the roads with my sister.

We were tired from our journey when we finally arrived at Aaliyah’s house. We needed to see her before we could rest. When we walked through the door, she ran over and hugged us both. Tears fell as she embraced us. I smiled the whole time, relishing the sweetness of the reunion. I had brought my sister home. I made many elves happy with her return. I felt elated by this accomplishment.

“Welcome home, Zora,” Aaliyah said through her happy tears.

We all hugged and rejoiced together, and Addison joined in as well. We had lunch after the tears dried, then Zora and I went home. We put our things away, including our dragon eggs, which we placed beside our beds. Then we spent the remainder of the afternoon talking and finally getting to know each other.