Chapter Two

The road to the Capital of Druset was lined with small houses, farms surrounding the small wooden structures. Wagons dotted the path, merchants calling out their wares to the farmhouses, trying to make a quick few coins before arriving in the market.

Remys rode Mystic past some of the wagons, ambling forward at a steady trot, the ginger draft horse, Maiya, plodding along after them, a loose rope around her neck tied off at the saddle horn on Mystic. Her sturdy hooves made muted thumps against the ground as she trotted behind Mystic.

Remys lifted a hand to a merchant who she frequently swapped stories with, gaining a smile and a lifted book to show that he again had stories to share. Trotting past him, Remys looked up at the crest of the hill, the huge sprawling capital positively radiating excitement.

It is after all the Prince's birthday. She had received an invitation to join in on the party, though she politely declined and instead mentioned in her letter that she would meet the prince in town to congratulate him. Dipping her head at the guards by the city gates, Remys was given passage into the city, the immediate sounds of merchants reaching her sensitive ears.

Looking around Remys finally found the Inn she usually stayed at, the attached stable where she headed first. The stablehand slipped out of the backroom and lit up upon seeing her tapping the innkeeper who stood beside him.

"Lady Remys!" The innkeeper called, smiling widely. "Welcome back to Raivale. The same room and boarding I presume?"

Remys gave a coy smile and pretended to think before laughing. "Of course keeper!" Time in the fairy courts had made her avoid using names, though titles are technically names too. Remys dismounted Mystic and gave the mare a rub on her neck before following the innkeeper through the side door, the stablehand bringing her horses to the bigger stalls in the back. Those made for the draft and war horses.

The inside of the inn was why Remys came here time and time again. The walls were a lovely warm wood, bookshelves lining the entire circumference of the main lobby. The floor was a plush cream carpet, the stairs to the rooms on the back left of the circle. A small hallway leads to the dining area.

Walking beside the innkeeper, Remys fished out a small crystal from her travels, attaching it to a silver thread by a touch of magic. "Does this do the little trick?" She asked, more for courtesy rather than needing an answer.

The innkeeper gave a wry smile and shook his head with a chortle. "Always overpaying, Lady Remys. Yes, that will do just fine." With a smile Remys grabbed the gold key from the innkeepers' hands and started up the stairs, her travel cloak lightly dragging against the wooden floors.

At the top of the stairs, Remys strode to the left, going to the room at the very end of the hall overlooking the courtyard. The door swung shut behind her by a small gust of wind, her cloak falling to a heap on a nearby chair. The room was still untouched, her books still on the far wall and the bed still shaped into a crescent from where she slept.

With a soft laugh, Remys slipped over to the desk on the opposite wall from the door, directly under the large window. Looking out she noted the vendors setting up, selling their wares as they did so. When a large white horse rode into the square, Remys gave a light laugh, spinning and pulling her cloak back on as she swept back downstairs, leaving her door open a crack for the hands to put her bags inside.

The outer door of the inn opened and in swept the prince, his finely made clothes standing out in this somewhat modish inn. Remys happily opened her arms to the prince who lunged into her arms, his head resting on her shoulder as he squeezed.

"Hi Grandmother," he greeted, using her mentor title since he was still in public. Laughing quietly Remys led him towards the side of the room where a small private room lay, closing the door behind them as the prince sat down in his chair.

"Afternoon Princeling," was her reply as she held a hand out, a silver chain materializing in her palm. "Your special request. Straight from the dwarven mines."

His awestruck look made Remys smile as she handed the gift over, watching him absolutely delight over the craftsmanship. "You must thank them for me," he started immediately clipping the chain to the front of his cloak to keep it shut. His own magic hesitantly shimmered into the air, one of his brooches clipping the chains onto his cloak.

With a grin, Remys leaned back in her chair, her feet crossing under her chair. The prince bounced quietly in his seat before spilling the news, his eyes glittering with happiness.

"Mother is with a child," he blurted out in a quick breath. "She told me this morning and I was so excited, it's a dream come true and-", on and on the prince rambled, positively radiating happiness. The poor boy had always wanted a sibling. Remys lounged in her chair and listened to the princelings ramblings, a warm smile on her face as she watched the prince animatedly share his contentment.

Little time passed before the prince finished his tale with a murmured apology, though his embarrassment ebbed away at the content look that adorned his Grandmothers face. Though Grandmother by blood she was not, Grandmother by love she was. Remys simply smiled before slowly standing up, offering a hand to the prince.

"I thank you for visiting an old woman on the day of your celebration," Remys teased as the prince stood, assuring her that he wanted to see her. "But I do believe we must be getting you back to the palace child. I promise your parents that I would see them on such a day as this."

The prince gave a warm smile before offering Remys his arm, escorting her out. "Will you be riding your horse?" He asked curiously, leading her out of the modest inn. With a coy smile the sorceress nodded and swept towards the stables, Mystic trotting out of the stables at her call.

Remys' cloak of deepest green swept behind her, never once touching the ground even though the fabric pooled beneath her feet. The edges of the cloak, lined with a silver fur trembled in the light breeze, the bright silver clasp in the center keeping the covering closed. Pulling the hood up, Remys grasped the mares mane with her left hand and swung herself onto the horse, her green skirts settling across the back of the mare along with her cloak which fell almost to the mares knees.

The prince looked over his Grandmother's clothes with a grin, admiring the elf who refused to trade her old garments for those of newer style. The old elven style half gown had a completely bare front, the darkened green fabric only splitting at the waist to the end of the fabric, to form almost a complete skirt around the elfs legs. The brown leather trousers were tucked into knee high elven boots, decorated with small green leaves. The leather breastplate she wore went over her shoulders to protect her back while sharpening to a rounded point in the middle of her waist. Perfect for moving undetected in the forests, the prince mused as he watched his Grandmother settle upon her mount, and nod her head. And undetected anywhere else.

Such a different time his Grandmother lived in once, the clothes more adapted to a style for stealth, protection, and war. He wouldn't disgrace his Grandmother by guessing how many weapons she carried on her. The sorceress always had a good many tricks up her sleeves.

The pure white mare she rode, speckled with spots of brown and black, was one he had not seen in his many years, but that was not saying much. Compared to Remys, he was but a babe. "Is she new?" The prince couldn't help but asking, drawn to the majestic aura the mare exuded.

"No child," Remys laughed quietly, rubbing the mares neck opposite the side the mane fell. "She is not new. I have forgone using her in towns for a good many years. Greed runs high. Though I have come to realize, why should I limit her freedom because of others."

The prince nodded and grinned before setting off, Remys following after him. Eyes turned to the prince and smiles graced faces, though the proud looks soon melted to awe as the elven mare strode after the prince, her rider sitting resolutely.

The duo arrived at the kings' home in the capital within the bell, the tolling sounds echoing through the streets just as the two horses slowed to a walk in front of the manor gates. A group of stablehands hurriedly opened the gates before walking with the two riders to the front of the manor.

Dismounting, the prince swept over to Remys and offered the maiden a hand, chuckling as Remys pretended to decline before clutching his hand as she swung her right leg over to the left side and slid down from the horse. Still politely holding the princes' hand, Remys walked up the steps to the manor, her cloak trailing over the smooth stone like water. Her steps were silent, not even the shuffling of her leather boots making a sound in the quiet afternoon.

The doors to the manor swung open in front of the prince, two guards on the other side simply smiling at the royal before resuming their neutral position. Though they both nodded at the princes' companion before standing resolute.

Her hood falling back, Remys' long ash brown hair fell down her back like water, the slightest waves in the locks coming to a curled halt a little ways below the sorceress' hips. The silvery strands that threaded the brown locks turned a forest green at the tips. Compared to the short cropped hair of the prince, whose own locks were a ruddy brown that messily curled about his head, the elfs long hair drew many eyes of servants and courtiers alike.

The prince strode through the manor, pleasantly talking with the sorceress as he brought the duo to the kings study, where the prince knew his mother and father were going over plans for the Aerial Competition, the next sunrise. True to his thoughts, the royal couple was in his father's study, the queen the first to look up when the door opened.

With a small gasp of delight, the queen roze steadily and swept towards Remys, welcoming the wandering woman into her arms. With a warm smile, Remys returned the affectionate gesture before turning her eyes to the king who nodded stonily.

"Lady Remys," greeted the king, his eyes staying on hers for a short moment before going to his son who dipped his head. "Prince Urdein. I trust your travels into town were uneventful." The prince nodded his confirmation before calmly escorting Remys to the royal stables, knowing that was why the Lady Elf even came with him to the manor.

The queen quickly invited the sorceress to stay the night and dine with the family, to which a warm smile was given and a nod of consent, before the grand doors to the study were shut by a phantom wind, the sorceress' twitching finger the only indication magic was used.

Once outside the study Prince Urdein took a moment before speaking, his voice ladden with guilt. "I apologize for the way my father acts. My mother is still deeply in love with her king, that she does not always treat him the same." Remys gave a sad smile and shook her head with a soft laugh.

"Many only love, truly love, once in their life. You should be proud of your mother for doing what was best for her people and trying to love another; for love is a fickle thing. Many do not know that it is upon them until it is taken away from them."

Urdein nodded at her wise words and smiled warmly. "Wise as the ever growing forests, Lady Remys." With a dismissive scoff, Remys shook her head with a smile. "Truly. You are always so willing to help others before youself. Oneday, I hope to live up to the name you have bestowed upon me." For she had bestowed a name upon the Dragon Prince, her own name, claiming him as one of her own, just as she had his mother.

"The river will always flow through time, it may trickle to a simple drop, or roar to a crashing charge, but the river itself will never falter. Your time will come one day, Urdein. You mustn't look to far ahead, for you will miss the everyday calling."

With a content look, the prince led Remys to the royal stables that lay in the city, the most prized mounts staying here as the prince and his royal guard frequented the city more than the palace. A decision the queen wholeheartedly approved, much to the kings chagrin.

Inside the royal stables, Remys immediately left the prince at the entrance and headed to the stalls, cooing over the animals. Many came to the gates to greet the elf, most of those in the stable having been either trained or healed by her hands. The huge warhorses all nudged the elf in welcome, rubbing their soft, and sometimes scarred, noses against her cheeks before returning to their quiet peace. The two stalls in the back held Remys' attention, the one on the left holding Urdein's horse, while the one on the right held the queens mount.

Slipping inside the queens stall, Remys gasped at the huge clouded leopard who lay sprawled out on the soft bedding, keening in pain. Rushing the leopard side, Remys slowly stroked the females side, soft green magic sparking at her fingertips.

The whimpering sounds soon faded to much happier rumbles of relaxation as Remys' magic swept through the leopards body, burning away the poisonous excrement from one of the animals she had eaten. Rotten meat, Remys remarked sadly, shaking her head as she worked. The main cause of death in animals. Urdein waited by the stall door, not interrupting the healing, though not calling for aid either.

When Remys sat back moments later, the leopard head was now facing her, pupils wide in relaxation as the elf gave a warm smile. A rumbling purr sounded from the clouded leopard before she rubbed her head against Remys' outstretched hands, purring her appreciation.

"You are very welcome, my friend," Remys murmured in a long forgotten elvish tongue, smirking slightly at the confused face which came across Urdein's face.

"That is not an elvish dialect I have studied, Grandmother," Urdein commented once Remys exited the stall, meeting her gaze with furrowed brows. Remys gave a coy smile before nodding.

"No I should think you wouldn't know it," she commented as she shook loose shavings from the edge of her cloak. "It is a language that has long since passed down the river of time and made its ways into the Halls of Ehdall."

"Whose language?"

Remys paused at the question and a flash of silver skin drew her attention to the side of the room but there was nothing but empty space there. "The Language of the Dark Elves." She commented after a moments thought, smiling sadly at the prince.

"Can you teach me?" Urdein asked curiously, leaning towards his Grandmother with an eager look in his eyes.

"I could teach you the entire language, child, but you would never be able to talk with anyone. Those who know it do not speak it, and those that speak it do not talk."

At that, Urdein nodded, realizing that the language would not help him on the continent. He hesitated a moment before shaking away any other questions, instead offering an arm to the slightly taller she-elf and escorting her back towards the manor.

"Come. I am sure mother has dinner being made as we speak. And I know she would love to speak with you again after so long."

Remys walked beside the prince and looked around the courtyard, a disbelieving smile on her face. So long, they say, she mused. Twenty years is a mere moment in the life of an immortal. A hundred years a blink. The mortals scrambled to make a name as their time both came and went, yet for us immortals, time never ends.

"I know you always say that a hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an immortal, or more specifically and elf, but how long has it felt to you?" Urdein asked, catching her train of thought even though he did not once ask her.

"Yes, a hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. For me, it has felt, as you empathize, mere minutes between this visit and the last."

Urdein gaped at her for a moment before letting out a shocked laugh. "Minutes. It feels like minutes for you. My gods. The millennia must feel like a bell cycle then."

Giving a wry smile in response, Remys let the prince lead the way to the queen's personal sitting room. Once outside the doors, Prince Urdein bowed his head with a simple, "I will see thee at dinner," before walking away towards his friends.

A motherly smile slipped out before Remys could hide it, her eyes glowing warmly at the prince's growth from a babe to a boy. Not quite a man yet, she mused as she watched him roughhouse with his friends just beyond the manor walls. But not a child anymore.

Shaking her head, Remys entered the queen's sitting room and was immediately drawn into a hug, the young queen clinging to her savior of many years ago. Remys hesitated a moment before wrapping the queen up in a mother's embrace, soothing her as shoulders trembled and ragged breaths left the queens' lips.

A moment passed before Remys eased the queen, her child, down onto one of the couches, easily sitting down upon the soft cushions. The queen took a breath before giving a watery smile.

"I am with a child, Lady Mother."

Remys nodded and gave a confused look, biting her lip for a moment. "Yes. Urdein told me. He is very excited."

The queen bit her own lip before trembling slightly. "It isn't his." She murmured, her eyes downcast.

Remys took a singular blink to compose herself before quietly speaking in common elvish, the one language she had taught all of her pupils.

"Whose is it then?" Remys inquired, the elvish tongue slipping out of her lips like water.

"I don't know," the queen murmured, shaking quietly. "The king and my son went on a hunting trip. I was taken hostage for a ransom for when they came back. They kept me delirious off of some mixture and I've been sick since."

Remys gave a tired sigh before shaking her head. "Do you want it?" She asked softly, not understanding if the queen wanted her to get rid of it.

The queen looked at her with the expression of a lost child before nodding, then shaking her head. Shoulders slumping, the queen dropped her head into her hands and shook quietly. "I don't know."

With a kind smile, Remys held out a hand, causing the queen to look at her. In her hand, with a flash of blue light, a small orange liquid swam in a clear vial, the cap the shape of a dragon scale. "If you want it, don't drink the vial. If you don't want it, drink the vial."

The queen gave Remys a watery smile before smiling, taking a breath to compose herself. "How have your travels been, Lady Mother?"

And so Remys told the queen all about her travels, from wandering the Dwarvish Mountains to swimming with the Sirens. It might have been bells later, but when the servants finally came to say dinner was ready, the queen and Remys were laughing over old memories, their past conversation long behind them.

Walking to the Great Hall, Remys and the queen linked arms, still talking in elvish, only stopping their idle chat as the king rose from his chair at the head of the table. Remys walked the queen to her seat before sitting on her left, dipping her head to the king before sitting herself down, smirking slightly at the prince who had his friends over at the table.

The king nodded and gave a formal welcome to everyone before sitting down himself, waving a hand for the servers. Instantly the maids flooded the room, goblets of wine being placed in front of every attendee, salads in ornate bowls. Remys gladly ate the salad, relishing the taste of the herbs mixed with seasonings and spices.

Declining the meat entree, Remys simply stuck with the salad and fruit selection, purposely avoiding looking at the entire pig in the center of the table.

During the entirety of the meal Remys talked quietly with the queen, mostly ignoring the king unless spoken directly too. She had never been a fan of her daughters new love. With a tense dinner, Remys retreated to her room after the day, bowing her head goodbye to those at the table. Slipping into the room, Remys noted the small glittering grey stone on the far side of the room and gave a wry smile.

Grey Mavue, the holy stone. With a quiet laugh, she slipped the stone into her pouch and slipped into bed, a starlit smile on her lips.

Maybe one day the moon will outshine the sun.