Book 2 C 25 Belief

I look at the pitcher in disgust. Someone tried to fucking poison us. God damn it, can we not have a moments rest already?

“Who would do such a thing?” Aerleras ask me, she is in denial that such a thing occurred.

“I do not know, but sadly it had to be one of the Elves.” I say to her looking at her with a sad expression. I can feel her turmoil rising once again, that someone would try to poison us in the Elven village.

“That is not possible, no I can not accept that.” she says now hurt.

“I understand your feelings Aerleras, but we do not have the fruits or ability to make the juice, and it was brought to us by a young Elven girl.” I say to her, my voice is soft now, trying to lighten the blow, if that is even possible.

“We need to find her quickly, then and see who made the juice or had access to it.” she says standing up, determination in her voice.

I nod to her as we both head for the door and find two guards standing outside. They were not there before. As we attempt to move, they block our path. “(By order of the Elders you are to remain in here.)” One says.

“(What? Who gave such orders? Remove yourselves at once!)” demands Aerleras.

“(We are sorry Princess but the Elders were unanimous in this)”., The guard says sadly, as if an internal conflict was being fought.

“(First, I am no longer Princess, but Queen, secondly this is my Husband the King, you dare go against the King and Queen?)” Aerleras now shouts at them.

I see a group of older Elves approaching along the walkaway hurriedly towards us. Aerleras sees them as well and stands with a straight back, her arms crossed in front of her as she watches them approach us, a fiery look in her Violet eyes.

“(What is this about Elders?)”, She now demands of the group who arrive.

“(Princess Aerleras in accordance with our laws, you are with child, a half breed, and it must be terminated immediately.)” says one of the male Elders with disgust.

“(How did they find out so fast?)”, I ask.

“(We too possess magic King Scott Smith. When Aerleras arrived last night in distress, we had one of our healers check her and found the life within her.)”, Says the old male Elf elder.

“(Is that why you tried to poison us?)”, I demand now anger is in my voice.

“(Poison? We know nothing of any poison!)”, says another elder, a female.

I begin to read the minds of each, one by one and find their only concern is to terminate the child, none of them here know anything about the poison.

“(Be as it may, poison aside, you have no right to terminate the child!)”, I say to them,

“(We have every right to do so King Scott Smith, you have no idea what bearing a half breed will do! We must ensure the safety of our Princess.)”, she snarls at me.

“(Did your healer also say the child was healthy and normal?)”, I ask

“(It was impossible to tell for them, not that is matters, the child must be terminated now!)”, says a third elder also a female.

“(Know this anyone who lays a hand on Aerleras or my child, will be put to death on the spot so help me god.)” I cry out for all to hear, my voice rumbles and is menacing.

NOTICE!You have used Voice of the Beast!

Many back away in fear at my outburst, some stand their ground with a look of defiance.

“(You would go against our ways and traditions? You would jeopardize the life of our Princess for a half breed child?)” Accuses one of the elders in the back.

“(That child is mine and Aerleras', we will decide what will happen to it and the QUEEN is not in any danger of losing her life.)” I say to the Elders assembled, emphasizing the word Queen to them.

“(How can you say that? You are new to our people, you have no idea the pain and suffering to both the mother and child! In most cases the mother dies after childbirth of a half breed.)”, cries one of the elders in anger.

“(I know Aerleras is in no danger, she is my wife, my soul mate, my life is hers and hers is mine!)”, I yell now loudly at them, my anger is boiling, outraged that they wold even suggest the termination of the child.

“(You are an outsider, you simply do not understand)”, says a male elder shaking his head sadly.

“(Then let me show you something you will understand!)”, I yell and go back into the room, I see Aerleras' enchanted dagger and grab it. I return to the exit holding the blade in my right hand. “(As long as her heart beats I can not die, and as long mine beats she can not die!)” I yell in anger, then plunge the dagger into my own chest striking my own heart.

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I awake, my chest hurts, I use my left hand to feel where I stabbed myself and feel bandage and wrappings. I raise my head slightly and look about. Sitting on chairs in the room with me are Cindy, Julie, Ki'Diera, Rick, Bre'Tirgan, Doc Snow and two of the Elders. Aerleras is sitting at my side laying across the bed holding my hand, asleep, her golden hair is glowing brightly spread across the bed. We are in the infirmary.

“Scott you are awake!” Cindy is the first to notice and rises from her chair. The others rise too, as she says that. Cindy quickly approaches me, then out of no where, she slaps me with all her might. It stings, but the action says more than the pain.

“You idiot, you fucking stupid bastard, how could you?” She yells at me, then she bursts into tears and jumps onto the bed grabbing me into her arms tightly, bringing my head to her chest.

Julie also rushes over tears flowing from her as well as she comes to my other side to embrace me. Aerleras awakes and sits up quickly staring at me, a look of despair and fear on her face as tears are streaming.

“Why would you do such a thing?” Aerleras asks in disbelief of the event that took place.

I am looking to each one of the girls and feel the mix of emotions coming from them, from Cindy anger and relief, from Julie love and relief, from Aerleras anguish and concern, then I see Ki'Diera staring at me, her emotions are the strongest, relief, fear, love, and anger. A deep deep anger at me.

In a clam and cold voice, “that was quite stupid my warrior.” She begins, then stops, her mind is shut off to me, after a long pause she continues, ”In the Ny'Har'en the act of taking one's own life is seen as cowardice. A fool.” she continues. “You must explain your actions to me in words I can understand” She says now softly trying to comprehend my actions. Her anger is still there, she is shaking from it.

“They wanted to terminate Aerleras' child. They believe Aerleras is in danger of dieing from the childbirth of a half breed, so they wanted to to force the termination.” I start to explain.”I did not take my own life in vain or selfishness, but to prove our lives are connected and one. It was not to shame or dishonor you or myself, but to show the Elves my commitment to Aerleras, no, to all of my wives.”.

Several eyes shoot towards the Elves, and anger erupts from all three girls at them. Cindy's fire aura is leaking thru.

“(We have talked to your Doctor Snow here, tho it is unheard of and we are reluctant, for now we shall let the pregnancy proceed.)” says an Elder stepping forward, he is an old Elf, many wrinkles on is face showing great age. His hair is long to his waist and silver from age, thick hair grows from his ears as well. His face shows not only age but wisdom. His eyes are a penetrating blue, much like the other Elf male I met before. He stand slightly slumped and uses a cane to assist him, his frame tho reveals his height at 6”2' tall, he is frail looking now, but his spirit boasts that of a warrior once long gone.

I sigh in relief and Aerleras jumps at me and cries in relief as well.

“(It may be that humans and Elves may be more compatible than we first thought, maybe it is not coincidence our two races have come together.)” He says and smiles now. The other Elder however is not so kind with her looks and shows disdain at the words.

“(If you have something to say Elder, say it now!)” I bark to her. I can feel her hate for the half breed and sense her unwillingness to accept it.

“(I have nothing to say, the council has decided and I will abide by it's will, but know that I was not in favor of it)”, she says to me her eyes look at me with contempt.

“(I can see that Elder, I hope that in the future when the child is born healthy and strong, you will grow to accept it and care for it as you do your people)”, I say to her holding Aerleras, Cindy and Julie are still holding me too and watching the exchange of words.

The Elders both bow and turn to leave.

“(We are not done Elders, there is still the matter of the poisoning.)” I say to them.

“(There was no poison you fool, it was an herbal remedy added to the juice to remove the child, at worst Princess Aerleras would have gotten sick and this would all have been over,)” spouts the female Elder in anger.

“(You forget yourself Elder, she is QUEEN Aerleras now, QUEEN!)” I shout at her. “(You have a hard time accepting that fact it seems.)”

“(Our Princess taking an outsider as a life partner, yes I do not accept it, she should marry a pure blood! One of her own kind and bear strong Elf children!)” She now vent.”(But alas she recited the vow and took the oath, nothing short of your death can change that now, and even that seems no longer possible as you are all connected in life and in death)”, she sighs then moves to a chair, sits down and beings to cry “(Our beloved princess is lost to us now)”.

“(I am still here you old fool!)” Aerleras now jumps up and walks to the Elder Female, “(You dare try to kill my child in my womb, you hide in secret and conspire behind my back?)” She now shouts in anger, her hairs now taking on a darker color, the sparkling is no longer present, but instead a dark glow appears around her. The Elder female now flinches at the sight of her, fear shows in her eyes, as her hands move to guard her face from some invisible assault.

“(No Princess have mercy on me, I only was thinking of you, our people!)” She cries out.

“(And what of my child? What were you thinking then, you tried to kill it you witch!)” scream Aerleras, her anger now becoming more, the dark aura around her now starts to move towards the Elder female.

“(Spare me my princess, please forgive me!)”, she cries and falls to her knees placing her head to the ground

“(You had no...)” Aerleras begins

“AERLERAS enough!” I yell to her. Something dangerous was going on, the dark aura had an ominous feeling to it, as if death was approaching.

Aerleras stops, her body slumps and she begins to fall to the ground, Cindy, Julie, and Ki'Diera all jump to her and catch her before she hits the ground. I try to raise myself out of bed, but the pain in my chest stops me.

“Lay her next to me please.” I say to them and they gently assist her to me and lay her on the bed next to me. Then I look to the old woman, “(I have no the heart to banish one as old as you, and since the child still lives, my punishment to you is to care for Aerleras and her child for the remainder of your years. I require you speak on oath to that affect, you will do your all to serve and protect both from harm till you die.)” I say to her my voice is growling in anger at her. She is old and frail, but I can use the oath to bind her, make her serve that which she so reviles as her punishment.

“(Yes, yes my King, I swear to serve and protect the Queen and her child until the day I die, I give my oath upon my life that I will do so from this day forth)”. As she speaks the words, she gives off a light glow of white, signaling the oath is in effect.

“(Now begone from here, let us rest!)”, I say to the two Elders, he helps her up to her feet and they both bow and quickly leave.

“Ok, now that is done with, I have something to say to you Scott,”, Rick says as he approaches me.

“Sigh I know Rick, I did something totally...” a fist hits me in the face and my world goes black.

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