《Daughter of Fire》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    I definitely slept wrong on my neck last night. As I go to pick up the bottles of ale and bring them up to my aunt. Before I head upstairs I quickly make my makeshift bed sleeping with the ale is better than sleeping in the cold so that¡¯s my little home the ale room my aunt and uncle never come down here so they don¡¯t mind as long as I¡¯m not seen and I don¡¯t interfere with anything. Its early but I like to get my chores done quickly so I have time to find myself food I ran out 2 days ago and have had no time to go hunting so hopefully I will today.


    As I luge the bottles up I see Rosie sitting at a bench rose is one of the ladies who serves and offers her services here at the brothel. ¡°Aww Ashe sweetheart would you be a doll and pour me a glass.¡± Rosie had curly golden-brown hair and golden skin. Her eyes were the richest brown almost black. I poured her a glass ¡°long night¡± I said as I slid the glass across the bar. ¡°I had 3 customers all through the night and oh did I make some money,¡± she says tapping her breast was where she would keep all the cash she earned she would have to give half to my aunt and uncle but it was still quite a good sum.


    For the past three years being here I have been pressured to do what Rosie does. That is the only time ill get compliments from my aunt she says I¡¯m so beautiful and I¡¯m just wasting my beauty. I have nothing against Rosie or all the other women who work here it''s their job and there always kind to me it''s just something I don¡¯t think I could do all those women are way stronger than I could ever be. I came here when I was thirteen and I work at the bar giving the girls the order but once I turned 15 I grew I got a nice pair of breasts which annoy the hell out of me and I no longer looked like a child so men would try to get me to serve them and when I told him no he was quite angry that night. My uncle threatened that if I refused anyone else he would beat me to a pulp I told him I would never sell me my body. And he gave me that beating he promised I couldn¡¯t walk for a week. So from then on as long as I refuse to work and serve them men I¡¯m not fed by them I have to get my own food and they don¡¯t give me a salary but they give me a warm room with a fire no matter how crappie sleeping next to ale is at least its someplace to stay.


    I wouldn¡¯t get very far in this world I¡¯m a woman for one my education stopped when I was fourteen not that that would get me very far and I had my no family. My aunt and uncle aren¡¯t even there my father''s cousin''s son and they make me call them aunt and uncle. Ashe, you excited for your big day tomorrow¡± ¡°shh Rosie¡± I couldn¡¯t let my aunt or uncle know I hoped they had forgotten it seems like they had because every year for about 2 weeks before my birthday they start being nice to me again trying to convince me I mean something to them every fucking year I have fallen for it but all they want is the type of clientele I bring in when I was 16 I was out in the market with my uncle getting supplies for the brothel he had been really nice finally said my aunt was out of line and he even had given me a bed I feel so stupid looking back I should have known he was just out trying to get potential clients because when we went to the dressmaker her called me his best girl and said I make him the most money. He bought me a dress. A memory I don¡¯t care to relive that was the worse night of my life. He told everyone around town that I was his new worker and I would be giving my services of course that wasn¡¯t true but his years is the only year they haven¡¯t tried maybe because I¡¯m turning 18 but Rosie doesn¡¯t need to blow my cover ¡° oh come on Ashe do you think they really forgot¡± ¡°no Rosie I¡¯m not an idiot I just want to lay low so nothing goes wrong.¡± ¡° sweetheart you need to get the hell out of this place¡± ¡°thank you Rosie but pointing out the obvious isn¡¯t going to help me.¡± She laughed I went to start cleaning the table ¡°sweetheart I¡¯m just saying your parents wanted the world for you and they ¡­ they would hate to see you like this you have so much potential sweetheart you just need to use it.¡±


    Rosie always talks about my parents even though in my whole life I only saw her maybe ten times around my old house she come and stay for a few days then I wouldn¡¯t see her for another year or so. I know I was only 13 when I lost my parents but I hate it every time Rosie says she knows more than me they were my parents. I know I have it coming for me tomorrow and Rosie is my only friend right now so instead of responding I just start passive-aggressively start cleaning the table ¡°tsk¡± is all I heard from Rosie and that made me smile a little. I was mopping the floor when my uncle came in he didn¡¯t say anything to me he just went upstairs to his office and slammed the door. Not a good day apparently. I take a deep breath and trudge on.


    My chores were tedious and exhausting but I was done by midday and grabbed my bow and hunting knife and took me trek to the forest to hunt for my food. I taught myself how to hunt so I¡¯m pretty shit at it so hopefully I get at least a squirrel or rabbit. It''s early spring and everything is muddy but there¡¯s still snow. I quickly set some small traps and walk deeper into the forest the mid-day sun is so bright I sit down against a tree and just soak up the sun when I was little my mother and I would walk through the forest picking wildflowers and talking to the sprites which I still think I made up. But never the less every time I¡¯m out in the forest I think of her and it makes me smile according to Rosie I look more like my dad one part of me is my mother I just need to unlock that part of myself. Whatever that meant I did have her eyes my eyes were an ocean blue but some days they looked grey. My father would say I had a storm in my eyes waiting to be unleashed. My mother had the brightest red-orange hair it curled nice and thick, her skin I remember it like porcelain always clear and bright. My father had eyes of light green pale like peridot he had short, cropped hair it was a light brown in the sun he had blond highlights. Mom always said my hair was the perfect mix of both of there a golden strawberry blond. Mines almost down to my navel but it''s never out of braids these days. We were happy I guess as you could ever be my father worked he cut wood for a living and my mother was a healer she knew how to use every herb and think in the forest to help you I also knew what I couldn¡¯t and couldn¡¯t eat what would kill someone and the antidote mum would just teach me everything about every plant in the forest we spent most of our time out in the forest and she would let me help her when she saw patients or hurt people I enjoyed it I learned a lot my parents always had people in and out of the house. They were always kind to me but some seemed not strange but different. I think they helped people re-locate. From what I don¡¯t know but they were never at our house for more than a night.


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    When mum and I would spend our afternoon talking with the sprites in the forest sprites are these tiny fairies that lived in the woods because they loved humans. They used to braid my hair and would give me flowers and make me crowns. But I don¡¯t know anymore once my mother got sick I ran out to the forest begging the sprites to help me but I couldn¡¯t find any not a single one so I think I might have imagined them as something of an overactive mind. On our forest journeys mum would talk about the fairy realms and how they were once one large realm where humans and fae and faerie alike would live and love they were ruled by human kings and queens but the fae rebelled and the humans were about to lose the war but a powerful fae king wanted the best for both people so he used all his magic and life force to split the realms the king was in love with a mortal and when he split the realms he wanted peace between both people. The king wanted a world where the realm could once more combine. My mother told me of the two kingdoms that now ruled the faire realms Elgold was its name apparently thee were two powerful kingdoms the land was divided one kingdom was a kind and bright kingdom while the other was dark and full of secrets. Both kingdoms were ruled by kings who would do anything to save their kingdoms. The Elgold was a wonderful place full of magic and all different types of creatures my mother said it beauty was unmatched golden trees and sunsets every color imagine able lovely huge castle with horses and gilded everything. I used to ask so many questions but I think they''re just fairy tales now but I hold onto them most people believe fae exist not that anyone has ever seen one but people have ash stakes and wear iron to keep fae away but there is no proof that there real so let them have their fairy tale.


    A rustle in the forest knocked me out of my thoughts it sounded like footsteps but I slowly got up and looked around there was no one in sight. I¡¯m probably hearing I trudged deeper into the forest the sun was starting to set still I found nothing so I turned around to head back my uncle would need me to restock the ale before the midnight rush. Hopefully, there is something in my traps if not ill try to slip an apple or two from my old neighbor''s yard. I had taken 2 steps when a heard a giggle it sound like a little girl I walked around searching for the source of the noise I called out but no response once again I heard the giggle I ignored it this time I really need to get back to the brothel Evera¡± I heard whispered in my ear Evera was my mother''s name she was known to most people as Mrs. Armentrout ¡°who is there who speaks my mother''s name.¡± I cried ¡°be ready daughter of fire for your movements will turn lives to dust and kingdoms to ash hold your power and be ready. Evera soul lives on in you good luck daughter of fire¡±. It sounded like someone was standing right next to me whispering in my ear. ¡°show yourself¡± I yell into the empty forest I¡¯ve been out here too long I¡¯m going crazy. This isn¡¯t happening I wipe my hand over my face moving some of the strands that fell out of my braid I blew out a breath. What is wrong with me it''s probably just all the reminiscing I was doing thinking of sprites and magic. I need rest today this is not a great sign if I¡¯m hearing voices that¡¯s not going to be a great start to my adulthood.


    I tugged back and check my traps I laid out 4 traps and all of them had full-grown rabbits in them I had never caught more than one rabbit at a time this was more food than I ever had with all the fur I could make a new blanket. I collected the rabbits and made my way back to the brothel. It was already a little busy so I had to sneak in the back so no one would see me I didn¡¯t feel like having a beating. I crawled in the window I quickly prepared my food to eat then I threw on bulky clothes taking a look at the clock I saw I needed to bring up the ale for that night so I headed to bring up the ale I made no eye contact with anyone dropped the ale off and quickly raced back down to my room. I would stay awake until a little past midnight. As I sat on my ramshackle bed playing that message I heard in the woods over and over again I knew it couldn¡¯t have meant me it must have been a mistake sprites and fairies weren''t real I was just missing my mother I was tending to the fire when I heard feet scuffling outside the door I quickly ran up to the door to see if I could hear who was there. I didn¡¯t recognize the steps there was a knock on the door I didn¡¯t answer we were in a cellar no one knocks on a cellar door ¡°girl if you are in there and don¡¯t answer the door¡± ¡°avia what the hell are you doing down here¡± avia was another one of the girls who worked here she was only a few years older than me had worked here since her 18<sup>th</sup> I pulled the door open she was in her work anterior her chest falling out and her corset pulled so tight I don¡¯t know how she was breathing. ¡°avia what the hell are you doing down here¡± ¡°its midnight¡± she said as if I knew exactly what that meant I. I gave her a confused look ¡°happy birthday¡± she pulled me into a tight embrace and pulled something out of her pocket. This is a gift from Rosie she wanted to give it to you in person but she is busy avia pulled out a small chain it had a small green stone peridot like my dad''s eyes. Ugh thank you avia and be sure to thank Rosie for me¡± aww miss Ashe you have a great day¡± ¡°thanks¡± avia gave me another huge hug and went back upstairs I held the necklace in my hand I was about to bring ale up so I put the necklace in my pocket I brought the ale up my aunt giving me a slap for letting them get too low and then I went to bed for the night

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    I woke up at dawn the next day my true 18th birthday I was finally an adult and in this world that changed a lot of things most people are generally more protective of children and it now felt as though that protection had been stripped from me not that it had helped me before however it was no truly gone. I put a quick log on the fire it was very early morning so I threw on my best dress which was the only one that fit me probably it was dawn so I throw my clock on and went to watch the sunrise. I loved early mornings It was always calm and there were usually birds chirping and all small animals running around. The morning is brisk and I can hear the crunch under my feet as the snow and frost still layers the ground. I make a b-line for the stream where I go to feel quiet and I feel like my birthday I deserver some quiet. I go sit on my usual rock dipping my hands in the fridge water. Ugh, I wish my parents were here to see what I looked like. I hoped they would be proud of me but I¡¯ve accomplished nothing hopefully they would be proud of me for respecting and being kind to people my parents always taught me to never judge and always give people a chance because there is always a whole story to someone and we just walk in during a chapter. Hopefully, this is a new chapter for me I go to shuffle the rocks away to find a pouch I have hidden there for the past three years I lift up the pouch it is heavy and I only have 2 coins to add to it. I count 200 coins last week I spoke to someone in the village there is a small hut on the south side of the village far away from the brothel he would sell it to me for 150 coins its totally unfurnished and doesn¡¯t come with anything. Tonight I will sneak out and pay the man I have already been by and put the firewood there so I will have some for tonight when I move in. hopefully in the next few days I will get a bed and maybe a table for my home but I¡¯m so excited to finally be out. I throw the coin purse in my pocket and take in the rising sun  I take a stilling breath. I can''t show like anything is off I have to be normal. I¡¯m so happy I do a little twirl and head back to the brothel.


    The sunrise has a nice little pink and purple Hughes. Ugh, today my new chapter starts. And I will make my father proud growing up he always said how proud of me he was and he said as long as I stay myself he will be proud of me so this year I want to figure out how I am without all the negative Ness I need to find myself. As I get up I once again hear ¡°be strong daughter of fire¡± I whip my head around and I could have sworn I saw a tiny pair of wings whip behind a tree. I run over but there is no one and nothing there.


    After 5 years could the sprites finally be talking to me again? What do I have to be strong and who is the daughter of fire and why now absolutely not sprites and magic aren¡¯t real it something made up for children. I head back pulling my hood over my hair that I left down it is naturally quite straight however it¡¯s a little wavy because it had been in a braid all night. Gods save me I really am going crazy. My feet are wet and cold so I quickly head back to the brothel. Before anyone knows I left I come in the back door and sneak down to my room I quickly fold all my things so tonight I can make a quick getaway I won¡¯t tell them I¡¯m leaving they wouldn¡¯t let me so I will just sneak out in the night. I quickly check my rabbit fur it''s not quite ready so ill have to wait until tonight.


    I go to start doing my chores no one is here this morning or if anyone is there not down in the bar area there is some shattered glass, I quickly wipe up the floor is just disgusting to super sticking and smelling it must have been a busy night. I re-stock the bar and clear everything up go to the back shed to bring in more nuts and other small snacks I restock and place them out it''s strange that I haven¡¯t seen anyone, yet it''s nearing midday and we open in the early afternoon. I ready trays and do a little bit of a deeper clean behind the bar. My aunt finally strolls in she looks strange a little off ¡°good morning¡±  I said kind of quietly ¡°have you spoken to anyone today have you heard anything¡± ¡°no¡± I respond I¡¯ve been alone all day ¡°you haven¡¯t had any sprites talk to recently¡± ¡°you know I don¡¯t believe in sprites¡± I said turning around continuing to wipe the counter ¡° I didn¡¯t ask if you believed I ask if they had spoken to you.¡± She barks at me. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. why do you ask?¡± ¡°No reason we need you to clean these floors again the awful quite like yourself get your useless self to work and speak to no is that understood.¡± ¡°yes¡± I say going to refill a bucket to do the floors one more time.


    My aunt full believes in sprites and fae and fairies she probably had a ¡°vision¡± my aunt was a short and plump lady she had ratty brown hair and deep eyes she was no exceptional beauty but I believe that in her youth she might have looked better but even though she does appear maybe ten years older than her actual age. My uncle had shoulder-length dusty brown hair he was in decent condition for being a terrible drunk. He had grey dull eyes but he was strong I saw him pick up whole barrels of ale. He had a gut no doubt due to the alcohol. He followed my aunt into the brothel he looked pissed but confused as he stormed up to his small office space. I hear things being smashed and yelling I try not to listen. And really make sure to do my chores well I didn¡¯t want that anger turned onto me.


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    It wasn¡¯t until late afternoon when my aunt and uncle came out Just as Rosie came running threw the door I did think it was weird that no girls were here yet but I thought we were just opening late my uncle occasionally does that when he¡¯s had a long day. Rosie looked frazzle and afraid which is a looked I had never seen on Rosie before so I think I could be reading her expressions wrong. ¡°leave Rose my uncle says Rosie comes to stand in front of me ¡°fine I will leave but ash Is coming with me¡±  my uncle huffed a laugh ¡°are you insane rose she¡¯s not going anywhere¡± ¡°she is 18 she can make her own decisions she coming with me¡± Rosie said it more like a command I had never heard her speak like this ¡°get the hell out of her rose¡± my uncle yelled Rosie didn¡¯t move she stood her ground in front of me guarding me even though I¡¯m quite a bit taller than her my uncle went to make his way down the stairs as Rosie whirled around to face me I could see at this point the bruise that was forming on her face it looked like she had been crying too but I hadn¡¯t heard or seen and tears ¡° run to the stream she says as my uncle breaks out into a run my instincts move my feet because my brain isn¡¯t working I¡¯m not processing the words I just start running I hear a cry from Rosie then I made a dumb decision I turned to look back my uncle had thrown Rosie to the ground and was too close to me as I whip my head around to open the door but a firm had grabs me by my hair dragging me backwards.


    It¡¯s a sharp pain being dragged by my hair I am trying my best to kick and punch out of his grip he¡¯s holding on so tight. It isn¡¯t until he starts to drag me outside that I start yelling and screaming for someone anyone to help me I¡¯m going to die on my 18<sup>th</sup> birthday. I¡¯m dragged over tree roots and snow I keep feeling sharp pains as broken twigs poke my legs he¡¯s bringing me into the forest to kill me. Once he stops and throws me to the ground I feel a twinge of hope stupid hope as quickly as my hope came it was gone when his foot connected with my ribs I knocked the air right out of me I didn¡¯t have time to think as is first connected with my cheek. My head is ringing but I zeros in on his words.


    ¡° We have raised you since you were 13¡± a kick to my back


    ¡°We gave you shelter yet you ungrateful bitch¡± another hit to the face this time right in the middle I felt my nose break and heard it to


    ¡°I respect a girl with a bit of fire but you need to be taught,¡± he says as he stomps down on my leg I think I whimpered in pain.


    Get up


    Get up


    Get up I¡¯m screaming in my head fight him fight back. But I don¡¯t my thoughts stay there just thoughts. he picked me up by my hair holding me to his eye level.


    ¡°I was kind to you but after you threaten my wife you need to be taught a lesson.¡± He punched me in the stomach and the noise that came out was not a noise but just a breath of pain.


    ¡°you know I think I understand why you still refuse my offer every year.¡±


    He said no longer punching me I could feel the blood running from my nose and my cheek  as he grabs my face


    ¡°you¡¯ve never been fucked¡±


    At this moment I realize that he¡¯s not going to kill me he is going to make me wish I was dead. I use what little fight I have left to try and break free of his grasp not that I could get far because I¡¯m almost positive my leg is broken. He lets go of my hair and my face falls onto my stomach in the snow and mud the sun is almost set and I know by the time it''s gone down fully I will be forever changed.


    As I¡¯m on the ground trying to get to my knees I feel his hands on my back then he rips my dress apart. I can tell he takes a moment to stare maybe he has forgotten what my back looks like. But thanks to him it''s full of scars he technically didn¡¯t inflict them himself but I feel his weight come down on me he kisses my back I movement that makes me lose my whole stomach contents. He then whispered


    ¡°beautiful¡±


    In my ear, he constantly talks about how much money he made on me that night. I try one last time to get him off me he just flips me over my back to the ground. my face I know is sticky from tears and blood. He takes his forearm to my neck cutting off the oxygen as h does that his other hand comes up grabbing my breast I try to scream and yell and fight him but all that comes out is another small whimper.


    My visions starts to go black I¡¯m being suffocated maybe hell kill me so I won''t have to experience this anymore. Once again stupid hope. He lets go of the pressure on my neck I cough trying to get any oxygen, not my lungs they feel as though they''re on fire as I do that his hands come down on my chest and pull my ripped dress down exposing my breast, he grabs them with his filthy hands. If there was anything left in my stomach it would have left me. I felt so violated so dirty. I felt fire rising up inside me from the rage and pain. And then his hand closes around my throat again he goes down and kisses my jaw he smells awful I¡¯m almost positive he washes once a month. He kisses both my breast my vision going black and spotted quickly he lets go of my neck and reaches for his breaches he un dose his breaches and as I¡¯m horrified with the understanding about what is about to take place what has already taken place I look at his head just as swords severed it from his neck.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    As the blood poured from his severed head and his body crashed to the ground all I could do was stare I saw the light leave his eyes and I knew he was dead I knew I was alive. I had been saved. Saved but by who I finally dared to look up at my savior he was beautiful too beautiful.


    His face was perfectly even and chiseled to perfection. I could see his night blue eyes he had highly defined cheekbones soft silky golden-brown hair. His hair looked so soft same with his face but his face also looked hard and angry.


    I didn¡¯t feel like I was really in my body everything was fuzzy: ¡°mortal trash¡± I hear the man spit he looks not too much older than me, he turns to cover me in his black cloak I realize he is wearing clothing to nice to be from any to clean to be from my village it was all black suit with silver stitching it looked like it actually glowed or was that just something my brain was making up because I had been hit quite hard in the head but as this man wraps his cloak around me and pick me up he says ¡°you have my protection¡± as that is said I feel at ease I don¡¯t know why but I do. I feel heavy and tired and as I¡¯m fighting to keep my eyes open the man turns his head and I see pointed ear then nothing black.


    *


    Bright everything is so bright. I haven¡¯t even opened my eyes, but I can feel the sun on my face. It is warm and gentle. It made me feel at ease only until I cracked my eyes open and realized I was nowhere I was in a large room with matte black the floor a white and black marble I was laying in a bed draped in many blankets that were the deepest blue almost black look the bedpost was a shinning silver with matching silver night stands I tried to sit up to get a better look of the place.


    ¡°I won''t do that just yet¡± the husky voice drawled from where he was sitting on a settee across from the bed I was in next to a burning fire.


    I took a quick glance out the window an escape route but were too high off the ground I could early spring blooming in the massive gardens down below. The window covered the whole wall. That man draw towards the bed he moved with an elegance I could quite comprehend as he came closer I looked for a weapon or a way out but I couldn¡¯t find and escape. I think he saw the fear on my face because he said ¡°I will not hurt you have my protection¡± a million questions sprung to my head but the only one I could manage out of my mouth


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    That is all I said my voice sounding weak and feeble. ¡°I¡¯m Gem I¡¯m the price of Meallta¡± Prince of Meallta that was no mortal kingdom. I knew where I was, but I didn¡¯t quite believe it.


    ¡°I¡¯m in Elgold aren¡¯t I,¡± I asked he had pointed ears he was beautiful too beautiful. He had a grace and movement about him that wasn¡¯t human. It couldn¡¯t be.


    ¡°yes¡±


    The words rang threw me. Even though I asked I hadn¡¯t expected the answer to be yes.


    This was the first time I looked up at his wide smooth golden brown eyes it looked like he was assessing whether I would explode or take the information well. I was currently deciding the same thing in my mind


    ¡°I need you to take me back to the mortal realm¡±


    Gem, sat down on the edge o this massive bed ¡°no can do you were in pretty rough shape when I found you I believe by mortal law they would most likely kill you for that piece of shit''s murder.¡±


    Right he had killed my uncle right in front of me and the last people to see my uncle and I were Rosie ad my aunt no one would believe if I said a fairy did it. Faire I was actually in the faerie realms. ¡°I have to go back please¡± I begged my voice still horse from the screaming I had done


    ¡°as I understood it you have nothing and no one in the mortal realm to go back to as well as I offered you my protection and for a fae male that means a lot I can¡¯t just send you back when you still not heeled¡±


    Right, I was injured I looked down at my arms full of bruises I then noticed I had been put in different clothes I was I a simple capped sleeve white flowing nightgown who had to change me into this. Gem seemed to also notice ¡°ah a female servant I believe her name is poppy she changed your clothes we didn¡¯t think you would want to wake up in ripped-up rags. I should have said thank you like my brain was telling me to do but I just nodded I slowly sat up gem coming over to place pillows behind me every movement was difficult and painful.


    Your injuries were quite extensive we had a healer they tried to do there best but we weren¡¯t sure if your mortal body could handle the amount of magic needed to fully heal to so we did the major thing like you head injury and you broken bones were set but they still remain broken 4 ribs and your leg was shattered and both writs broken as well I hadn¡¯t realized but when I looked down to my hands the were wrapped tightly and I could just barely move my fingers my leg had a similar wrap all the way down it. ¡°did you know the man that attacked you¡± gem asked me his husky voice curious and kind ¡° yes the man was my uncle¡± then I saw it just for a moment ice hot rage in his eyes but then he blinked and it was gone  ¡° your own kin would do that wow mortal really have gone to hell¡± and well I couldn¡¯t really argue with him yes I had met many good mortals but It always seemed like there were more bad then good.


    A knock to the door had gem up on his feet he opened the door a creak and let a man in he was tall the same height as gem but he hard dark skin with short curly hair atop his head his eyes were like dark chocolate the light from the window was shining perfectly in his eyes he too and a strikingly beautiful face and the pointed ears. ¡°wow you look like shit¡± Just scowled at the man ¡°I¡¯m Jensen, by the way, is nice to know your alive and gem hasn¡¯t been fusing over a dead mortal girl¡± gem shot him a glance ¡°I haven¡¯t been fusing¡± Jensen rolled his eyes and he turned his look back towards me ¡°do you have a name girl¡± it looked like he could pry his name out of my mind with his eyes


    ¡°Ashe¡±


    I said with all the strength I could muster I was proud of my name my mother always spoke about the power of names and how my name should be spoken it held more power that way but Jensen just broke out into slaughter


    ¡°oh your father is going to kill you gem good luck¡± Jensen continued laughing ¡°Ashe¡± he wheezed ¡°not only did you offer your protection to a mortal of all people but her name means the only thing capable of killing us in the mortal realm.¡± It is widely known in the mortal realm that fairies can be killed by ash wood but I never believed it I never believed in fairies I scoffed at my situation. Both Gem and Jensen looked to me with questioning glances.


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    ¡°This isn¡¯t real I must have hit my head very hard I¡¯m not in the room with two fairies,¡± I said shaking my head. Jensen blew out a whistle ¡° you would be right about one thing your not in the room with fairies we are fae and to call a fae a faire is a grave insult but this¡± he said gesturing around the room ¡°is very real I¡¯m afraid¡± he clapped his hand on Gems shoulder ¡°you better never let her anywhere near your father he might rip her to shreds just because she would insult us¡± I couldn¡¯t contain myself


    ¡°first off I didn¡¯t ask to be here and if I insulted you I¡¯m sorry but I didn¡¯t even believe a day ago that fairies existed so how about you stop talking about how I¡¯m going to be killed okay I¡¯ve had quite enough¡±  gem look started to ask Jensen took a couple of steps towards me I could tell he wanted me to be afraid of him I held his stare never faltering. Even though I was terrified of the phantom ache and feeling of my uncle''s hands all over me I took a steadying breath. ¡°brave, stupid but brave mortal I think I like you¡± he said a grin appearing on his face gem stood and looked to Jensen maybe you could grab us some food I¡¯m sure Ashe is hungry¡± the way he said my name was different it was like my name dripped with honey.


    Jensen quickly left to go grab us some food gem sat at the end of the bed I¡¯m sorry for him gem said. But he said it with a smile I could tell they were best friends. The room fell silent for a second gem and I just looked at each other until I asked ¡°how did you find me?¡± I was walking three the forest looking for sprites when I smelt your fear I could almost taste it you weren¡¯t just terrified but I could as taste hot rage I had to see what human was capable of such a strong emotion then I saw what was happening and I normally don¡¯t interfere in mortal issues its forbidden in this kingdom but I felt like I need to help I felt drawn to help I cant explain it but you needed help and I offered you my protection. You looked awful.¡± I rolled my eyes ¡°that¡¯s not what I meant I just knew you either die or be killed if I left you there so I took you back here. How did you take me here exactly some type of portal.¡± Gem laughed I gave him a quizzical look


    ¡°I took you across the never-ending seas to here Elgold. ¡°that makes no sense the never ending seas are never ending¡± do humans truly not know the realms of Elgold is across the never-ending see its just enchanted so humans cant see it. I thought all humans knew that.¡± I took a deep breath this whole time they were just across the sea how was that possible how had no one ever discovered it even on accident.


    ¡°can you please tell me what your thinking I cant tell I can almost hear your brain thinking to hard¡± I scowled at him. ¡°I¡¯m serious I cant tell I can usually I can just read a humans emotion by there face but you I cant really figure it out¡± I chuffed a breath out I wonder why he couldn¡¯t figure it out probably because I didn¡¯t even know what I was feeling I was nervous and terrified but for some reason I felt safe and I was away from that horrible brothel so I was happy that I was gone but said that I I¡¯m here and overwhelmed by all these emotions. I went to brush my hands threw my hair and realized had been brushed and clean I really was being taken care of. Tears were stinging my eyes and I think it was just the day I had but I let them fall I didn¡¯t care if the prince was standing here or anyone I was hurt I more ways then I thought I could be I have been beaten before but what almost happened I cant forget that I felt violated in the worst ways possible. I let the tears fall I wanted to fall apart but I couldn¡¯t I couldn¡¯t trust these people they have been welcoming so far but I learned for my father that it is okay to fall apart but when you feel safe and even though I felt safer here I didn¡¯t truly feel safe I hardly knew anything about fae and I didn¡¯t know if they could be trusted. I let some tears fall but I reigned in my emotions taking a few deep breath and wiping my sticky cheeks.


    ¡°are you alright Ashe¡± gem as he leaned down to my level ¡°no I¡¯m not okay but I¡¯ll survive¡± that was all the honesty I would offer ¡°I have to admit you are an incredible interesting mortal its quite intriguing.¡± I was unsure what he was reference I thought I was totally normal there is nothing interesting about be ¡°Most mortals cower at the sight of fae yet you out of all the emotions you feel terror is not among them. But I was afraid maybe not terrified but I was definitely afraid I listed asked


    ¡°should I be afraid¡±


    I realized I shouldn¡¯t have said that I could hardly move with out wincing so I had no escape no matter ow hard I tried but he just looked at me


    ¡°yes¡±


    was all he said as Jensen returned through the door with food two trays full of food. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what you like so I grabbed almost everything.¡± ¡°I can see that¡± I murmured, and Jensen shot me a teasing gaze. The food was placed in front of me and before eating anything I smelled and tasted a small measure. mother always taught me how to check for poisons in food ¡°I can assure you if I wanted you dead I wouldn¡¯t poison you too difficult.¡± Gem said from where he had grabbed a loaf of bread and sat in the site across from the bed ¡°one can never be too careful I quipped back I saw a plate the had a light pastry and gravy and I went to pick up a fork and knife but it was too difficult with the warps around my hands I couldn¡¯t curl my fingers in enough so I turned to things I could grab with my fingers there was meant that I knew I should most likely be using a fork for but I grabbed it by my fingers and plopped it in my mouth ¡°remind me to not let her eat around anyone until I teach her how to use a knife and fork gem giggled.¡± I gave him a vulgar gesture which made Jensen chocked on the wine he was drinking ¡°so gem your in luck your father is leaving for the summer palace in the morning¡± the summer palace he had more than one place ¡°why would he do that its still early spring ¡°he wants to usher in a brighter summer or at least that what Ziyad said but we all know he¡¯s just looking forward to the tropes he has gathering¡± tropes I had to ask all the questions in my head I was so thoroughly confused


    ¡°where are we?¡±


    ¡°Elgold Meallta the western kingdom of gold.¡±


    ¡°So there truly are two kingdoms within Elgold¡± I asked trying to get a base for knowledge about Elgold yes we have use Meallta and the bastards across the broken woods fior this kingdom is ruled by my father King Achlys we are currently in the capital Otto and were in the onyx palace. The Onyx place that made sense why the wall and floors where made of dark stone. The kingdom of Fior is Ruled by a false young king they are terrible manipulative people that will do any thing for power. You don¡¯t have to worry about them they wouldn¡¯t dare cross the broken woods it would be an act of war and they don¡¯t have the armies to defeat our that¡¯s what my father is gathering his army mostly likely to boast in Fior face¡±


    ¡°you offered me your protection what dose that mean¡± Gem and Jensen glanced at each other ¡°it basically means exactly that you have my protection I vowed to protect you until you were healed so until then no one should touch speck to or even look at you with out my permission I¡¯m sworn to protect you from anything witch also means I cant directly or even indirectly kill or harm you in anyway¡± ¡°why¡­why would you do that?¡± Jensen laughed in the corner ¡°I¡¯ve asked him the same question too many times¡± ¡°and ill tell you the same response I don¡¯t know I just felt like I had to¡± that was weird why would someone feel like they have to do that. and a fae prince nonetheless. I told you were so afraid and angry I could taste it I¡¯ve never felt that from a mortal and you were still fighting even as I picked you up you were squirming trying to fight me I was amazed by the sheer strength in you and you looked..¡± he trailed off ¡° I just had to offer you my protection¡±


    ¡°I have so many questions¡± I said to no one in particular. ¡°we might have answers Jensen countered from the corner.¡± What do the series totally hide themselves from the mortals ¡°we have to the world wasn¡¯t split into two reams for no reason humans and fae can¡¯t live in peace the fae have too much power I would feel bad for humans if we lived among them.¡± Okay I understood that my mother had told me as much but I wasn¡¯t sure what was true and what wasn¡¯t. ¡°why were you in the forest looking for sprites¡± ¡° I hoped they would be able to help me in the inevitable war they might have had some very important information but they would come out and forest sprites are notoriously bad tempered if they don¡¯t want to talk to you.¡± ¡°did you get the information you needed¡± ¡°unfortunately not I was a little distracted¡± and when he looked over to me I was unsure why my cheeks heated but they did nonetheless. As I went to look up again we Heard a loud bang on the door ¡°open this door now by order of the king¡±