AERILYN
I promise I don't give in too easily. All my life I had promised myself that I wouldn't give in to people's demands too easily. Back then people who were born with power would try so hard to use me for their selfish purposes and I would flat-out deny them of any sort. I too came from a powerful family, more powerful than the rest.
Like I said I don't give in too easily.
Well, I like to say that, but there have been two times well I did give in. And those times were the best decision of my life.
The first time that I had given in was that of my beloved husband. Gabriel. My foolish, funny, somewhat above average looking man who had a bit of an ego or two in him, with such a charismatic attitude to him.
I know when Liam gets older, he'll wonder how his father had ever gotten me within his grasp. Funnily, enough that wasn't the reality of our story with one another. It was the other way around. I was the one that was trying to charm him.
I had never felt the signs of love with anyone or anything when I was younger. It wasn't because I didn't want to fall in love, it was because I didn't know how to fall in love. No elven had ever caught my eye, even the richest ones could not charm me.
My father, a powerful man, would always tease me for this. For not liking anyone in the kingdom. I would simply say that no one has caught my eye.
Father would just chuckle happily saying that I was right, no one was worthy of me just yet.
But that all changed, when I met Gabriel. Where we met, was a bit of an awkward situation. A human boy was lost in the Forest of Elshire. I was playing around with the animals when I saw him crying. Oh boy, he did cry very loudly, I'm pretty sure from what I recalled, that he cried so loudly that the animals I played with all disappeared.
I sighed to myself, looking at the boy. The first thing I thought about was how much of a crybaby he was and how he ended up here.
I was curious, I had never seen a human before, only from books that my Father had given me. I stared for what felt like a while, it's just that I was so immersed in what the boy was doing, and everything he did interested me.
"What are we watching dear.'
"EEEEK!
I jumped in fright, the only reason was that it was my dad.
"Dad! You can't just scare me like that!" I shouted enough that he could tell how embarrassed I was, but not loud enough that the boy would hear.
He looked over to what I was looking at, his eyes widened ever so slightly.
"A human?" He said. I nodded my head, tugging on his sleeve.
"I think he's lost," I muttered.
Father smiled at me, placing his hand on my head. "What should we do then Aerilyn?"
"Help him find his home!" I chirped loudly, to which Father gave out a belly laugh.
"Help him find his home it is then!"
———
I'd be honest I kept my distance from him because I was taught that humans and elves don't mix well together. But for some reason, I didn't see any signs or signals about that.
He was just an average boy, that was somewhat pretty attractive. He was very well-mannered for our age, and he seemed to be very kind and good-natured.
I couldn't help but just stare at him. I didn't mean to but he was just so interesting. When we arrived at our place, my mother and brother were waiting there. They had heard the news of what we were bringing to our place.
My brother had a disgusted look on his face that was full of hatred. All I knew was that he did not want him to be here.
My mother on the other hand was a bit more
sympathetic and caring. We had never brought a human into the Kingdom of Elenoir in forever, it was just unheard of.
I couldn't hear what both Father and Mother were saying about the boy, but I knew that he must be somewhat important like us. The look on Mother's face was serious. I rarely ever saw a look of seriousness painted on Mother's face.
"I can't believe you want to talk to that human." Brother scoffed, not wanting to look at him. "They're dirty little creatures, who have only caused havoc and destruction to our people."
"They're not all the same!" I fired back. To my surprise, I had talked back to my elder brother for the first time in a while. He kept his mouth shut. He knew when to be quiet and when to not be, I adored my brother but sometimes he could get on my nerves from time to time.
"Aerilyn why don't you give a tour to this young man." Mother asked.
I nodded my head eagerly, grabbing a hold of his hand.
"Don't have too much fun dear." Father chuckled slightly, with for some reason a smirk on his face.
What could that smirk possibly mean?
But before I could brother, placed his arm on my shoulder, stopping me with a serious look on his face, staring at me.
"Just be safe with him." He sighed deeply, smiling.
"I will! Thank you!"
And off we left.
———
It was exciting to see the Kingdom, not because I could explore the Kingdom, but because I could enjoy someone's company.
It was a lovely sight, seeing Gabriel so ecstatic to see all the cool things that the Kingdom had to offer. He was immersed in the place, just like how I was immersed in just staring at him.
I could feel my face burning up whenever I looked over at him, I wasn't quite sure why, but my stomach was twisting and turning at an incredible rate. Maybe I didn't eat anything, that may have been the problem.
"Let's get something to eat!" I said excitedly,
dragging him along with him.
My favourite food market that me and my brother would go to all the time every time something fun or deserving happened to us.
"Excuse me, sir, how much is for that." Gabriel pointed out.
"A human! Get out my sight you filthy be-"
The man noticed I was beside him, and I stared him down, crossing my arms. That was all that was needed, for him to submit.
"F-For free!" He stammered.
———
We chewed on our food happily talking about various things about our family. Gabriel was an interesting person that I would like to keep my eyes on. Just for his safety that is and nothing more and nothing less.
"Well if it isn't the human boy that we've heard rumours coming to our Kingdom. . . Stand aside human, you don't deserve to be in the presence of Aerilyn. I shall prove my worth to you!" A boy with his gang, who was our age had circled us, trapping us.
I sighed to myself, as this was one of the reasons that I never liked going out by myself. Boys would do anything to interrupt me. But oh well, I guess it was being a part of a prin-
"Who are you?" Gabriel asked causally.
"You dare question who I am? I am Theodore Vren II! For your insolent behaviour, I would like to begin a duel." He looked over at me. "If you may."
I sighed, standing between them, raising my hand.
"3, 2, 1. . . Begin!" I jumped out of the way.
BOOM!
That looked like it hurt, I cringed.
Theodore had been knocked out cold, by Gabriel in a split second. I'd be honest I was impressed that he had some skill, however, that was not a duel that was supposed to begin, and Gabriel could see in the eyes of the crowd that he must have done something wrong.
Nonetheless, I giggled at his face, grabbing his hand and running away from the sight. That noble deserved to be knocked out anyway.
———
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Gabriel had been staying here for a while, and it was time for his family to pick him up.
It hurt... It hurt so much. Having time to spend every day with Gabriel made me realise something. I realised that the reason why my stomach fluttered, turned and twisted was all because of him.
I had given in. I had given in, to fall in love with him. We were just children, but I knew what it meant to be in love with someone. Mother had told me so many love stories, that this could be the only way to perfectly describe what I was feeling at this very moment. Love.
So when the day came I cried.
"Don't be sad Aerilyn, I'll make sure to write you letters and all sorts of things," Gabriel said trying to cheer me up, as I tugged on his shirt.
"You promise." I meekly said.
"I wouldn't dare lie to a pretty girl like you." Gabriel smiled, kissing my hand.
I gave him a hug for good measure, just to tell him, how much I would miss the sight of him being here.
And there it was again mny face once more reddening like a red tomato. He waved goodbye and I caught a glimpse of his family.
His father was big in size and bulky. Bulky not in fat, but rather in muscle. He had red hair, and wearing a long cape that was made out of somne type of animal fur. His older brother also reminded me of his father, big as well.
I suppose Gabriel was the odd one out of the family, in terms of size as he was a lot skinnier, well more so that he was the average size of a human. I could see where Gabriel had gotten his looks from, from his beautiful mother that represented utter beauty and elegance. I was in awe at the sheer beauty of his mother. Her mother gave me a faint smile, nodding at me.
Their family had a presence of strength and power. However, what was more interesting was her father and my father. I wasn't quite sure as to why, but the both of them stared each other off.
"Eralith."
"Glayder."
They greeted one another. With such hostility, they must have had some past. Father never told me anything about his background, only what was important to him, like family.
They both had the killing intent within them. They were both on edge. Was there something that I didn't know about?
Gabriel noticed this as well. As he tugged on his father's cape. "Could we please go now?" He asked sincerely. In that very split second his father who once had a murderous and killing intent towards my father had simply diminished in a split second.
His demeanour and the atmosphere had changed as well. He smiled at Gabriel ruffling his hair, accepting his son's request.
Just like that... They were gone.
"There, there Aerilyn. You'll see him again, I'll make sure of it." Father said, putting his arm around me, attempting to do his best, to comfort me in any sort of way he possibly could.
"Thank you, Father." I slowly said, sobbing.
Gabriel was the first person I had ever given in to, and he wouldn't be the last person to either. The second and final person I would ever give in to, was my son, Liam.
However, that was for another story. Another
chapter. Who would have thought, that I would be the one falling in love with someone else rather than the opposite way? It was interesting, but it was fun at the same tỉme. I'm glad it happened the way it did.
Who would have…
Figured.