Books and Love

Ever took a deep breath and opened the door of the royal library. The library was dark and looked ancient. This was a place where Ever had so many precious memories. She stepped inside and closed the library door. She thought of lighting herself up but avoided doing so because something about the darkness attracted her. The darkness smelled like roses and sunlight. She closed her eyes and concentrated, she thought of the first time she saw Cael and then began to paint the memories of the night when she danced with him all night. The beautiful memory for her first kiss with him engulfed her mind. She heard a strong pounding, it was strong and familiar. She listened carefully, it was Cael's heartbeat. Happiness flooded into her heart.

She smiled and called his name, "Cael."

The sound of his name being uttered by Ever's voice made butterflies erupt within Cael. He smiled with happiness, happiness of his dream coming true. Finally he had found the girl whom he loved for five hundred years and she loved him too. He was so happy.

He snapped his finger and all the candles in the library which surrounded them lit up. He saw his love standing at the entry of the library. She walked toward him, he felt as if she was walking in slow motion giving him time to admire her beauty. Her maroon long dress flowed through Ever's tall, slender body. Her long grey inked hair was falling along her back like the Derath waterfall. She looked exactly like the Queen. Her fox like ocean blue eyes were Cael's favorite.

Ever remembered the first sight she witnessed of Cael, the mischievous boy who had burning red eyes and tousled hair but today his hair was combed neatly which made him look like a real gentleman.

In the middle of the room was a square shaped wooden table with two chairs. Above the wooden table was a candelabrum. One tall, silver candelabrum commanded attention from the center of the table. There was silvery cutlery shining brightly under the light of candelabrum. At each place stood an empty wine glass with beautifully folded napkins on the table. There were two plates of pasta on the table waiting be served to its guests.

Cael took Ever's hand, "My lady." He said and kissed her hand.

They smiled at each other. He pulled the chair and assisted her to sit before seating himself. He opened the wine bottle and poured it into the two glasses, placing the bottle aside.

"I love this." She said looking into his eyes.

"I knew you liked the library the most." He said smiling.

"How?" She asked in surprise, nobody knew that the library was the most important place for her at the Capital.

He just smiled and avoided answering her question instead he said, "You're beautiful, my lady."

"Thank you, but you don't have to call me my lady." She said and took a sip from the wine glass.

He smiled, "Then I shall call you Ever." She nodded.

Cael took a sip from his wine glass and looked at Ever who was staring at him.

"What do you love the most?" Cael asked.

She took a moment to contemplate everything she loved and then spoke, "Capital, family, Julian, Books." She paused and sipped her wine, "What about you?" She asked.

"Fire land, family, painting and YOU," He said and smiled, it was a sad smile. He expected her to include him in her list but she did not.

"I'm hungry, shall we eat?" She asked, taking the fork in between her fingers.

He nodded and both of them started enjoying the meal. The pasta was cooked perfectly with cheese and it had the taste of tomatoes, it was still warm.

"Who cooked this?" Ever asked while having her pasta.

"Can you keep secrets?" He asked sounding unsure of whether he could trust her.

"Of course." She said, focusing his attention on him.

"I cooked this." He said, waiting for a good reaction from her.

She coughed, "What? This is great. I love this pasta. You're great cook, Cael. And you don't have to keep it a secret, you can tell me.��

Cael smiled with happiness and shyness.

"I tried to tell people that I'm a great cook but everyone says men don't cook."

"You can do whatever you want. There's no such thing as men do this, and women do that."

"Nobody knows that I can cook, not even mum and Parisa." He said shyly.

"I'll keep your secret." She said, looked at her plate with surprise, she had already finished half of her pasta.

"What else can you do?" Ever asked.

"I draw."

"That's interesting."

"What do you do?"

"Read tons of books. Do fencing and archery."

"I've heard Julian Roosevelt is your best friend."

"Yes and he's my favourite writer too."

"What's your favorite color?"

She grinned. "Red. What about you?"

"Black."

She finished her pasta and poured some more wine into her glass and waited till Cael finish his pasta.

His mind was scattered, filled with nervous anticipation. He was so excited, even giddy. He could not hold a conversation or sit still while his thoughts danced in infinite directions. He finished his meal silently during which Ever gulped down several glasses of wine.

Finally he finished his meal and emptied his glass of wine.

"You want to dance?" She asked.

"Music?" He asked.

Ever stood from her seat and raised her hand, green sparkles releasing through the tips of her fingertips. The green sparkles danced with the air and created three small human like trees, their heads were decorated with different colored flowers, their hands as branches, their bark was the body of the trees and were very small in size. Two of them had violins; one had a flute, all their instruments made with plant like structures.

Ever offered her hand to Cael who he stood from his seat, taking ahold of her hand and walked closer to her. With interlocked hands they walked into the center of the library. Ever snapped her finger and the small human like trees began to play music.

Ever placed her arms on Cael's shoulders, who pulled her closer to him and put his hands around her hips, whirling to the music. She placed her head on his chest so she could hear his heart beat more clearly.

"Thank you for making me happy." Ever said.

"I'm glad you are happy." He said, whirling to the romantic music with Ever.

"Eli is getting married tomorrow." Ever said with her eyes closed, enjoying the sound of Cael's heartbeat.

"She's lucky, Alexander is a good guy." Cael said.

"Hmm." She paused and looked at Cael, "She's not happy about leaving the Capital."

Cael took his hands from Ever's hips and placed them on her face, cupping her oval shaped face. "She'll be alright, the Earth land is beautiful."

Ever turned her gaze toward the three little plants, "Play some energetic music." She said.

The trees put all their energy and played the best music to Ever and Cael. Cael twirled Ever, Ever raised her hand and created a shower of glitter. He pulled her closer and they twirled together. He leaned her on to a book rack and kissed her lips passionately.

It was a raw, open mouthed, almost sexual kiss.

"I love you." He mumbled into her mouth. He put his arms around her waist while her fingers played with his soft hair. Unexpectedly, his hand drifted to her hip. It settled there and pulled her closer.

Ever inhaled sharply. She was against his warm chest. His breathing quickened as did hers. He began nuzzling her neck with delicate kisses. So faint, they were like whispers. Her heart fluttered inside her chest.

* * *

The room was blue with beautiful murals on the wall, hand painted by Cedric. It was full of expensive, comfortable furniture. There was a huge book rack on the right side of room; a huge lamp stood on the right side of the room along with a table. On the couch was Elizabeth, enjoying a nap.

The door opened, Michael and Peter entered the room. Elizabeth woke to the sound of the door opening and sat up on the couch.

"Elizabeth Angel, the bride to be." Michael said as he sat next to Elizabeth on the couch.

Peter placed the wooden box he brought on the table.

"Congratulations, Eli." Peter said as he sat on the wooden chair which was near the couch.

Elizabeth observed the box. She noticed that the box was made of oak; it was etched with an illustration of a flower chain in golden colored paint.

"What's in the box?" Elizabeth asked.

"A gift from us." Michael said and placed the box on Elizabeth's lap.

She opened the box, a spherical object made of glass filled with water which sat neatly inside the box. She took it in between her palms.

"This is beautiful." She said, her mouth ajar.

"Yeah, I have a hundred and six of them in different shapes." Peter said happily, responding to Elizabeth's reaction.

"The next thing is a gift from me." Said Michael, smiling crookedly.

Elizabeth placed the water sphere on the table and took the next gift out of the box, it was a book which had a hard red colored cover with two silver colored flowers on the front of the cover and it was titled in silver color, 'Marriage and love'.

"There are fifteen stories in it. They'll support you to lead a happy married life. There are so many facts about marriage and even about honeymoons." Michael explained and winked at Elizabeth when he said the word 'honeymoons'.

Elizabeth smiled, "Thank you, what about Joseph?" She asked.

Michael and Peter looked at each other and then Michael said, "You know about him, the anti-social guy."

"Thank you for everything." Elizabeth said and placed the box on the table.

"Are you excited?" Peter asked.

Elizabeth smiled and nodded.

"Have you guys had something?" Michael paused and looked at Elizabeth, "I mean like that."

"Like what?" Elizabeth questioned, confused.

"Kissing, touching, sex and other things." Michael explained.

"I've never even talked with him." Elizabeth said disappointing Michael.

"What?" Michael and Peter both asked together.

"Yeah, never."

"Then you should read the third story of the book before tomorrow." Michael advised.

"I will." Eli agreed.

"Alicia and Atlas will be getting married two days after your wedding." Michael said, stretching his legs and placing them on the table.

"Who'll be getting married after that?" Peter asked.

"Ev and Joseph." Elizabeth said startling both Michael and Peter.

"What? Joseph? You mean our Joseph?" Asked Peter, his hands on his head.

"Yes, the eldest of the Waters." Elizabeth said, smiling at the reaction of the two boys.

"How do you know?" Michael asked.

"They aren't matching." Peter said.

"He doesn't talk with anyone, not even with us." Michael said.

"I thought there was something between Ever and Cael." Said Peter.

"Yes, I saw them making out at the beach." Michael confessed.

"What?" Elizabeth and Peter asked together.

"I'm telling the truth."

"No, you're lying."

"No!"

"I saw them eating up each other's mouths in the beach."

"Shut up, liar. This is disrespectful."

"Oh come on, Peter, don't teach me about respect."

Elizabeth laughed as she watched the two brothers argue.

"Yes, I think they have something going on between them." Michael repeated.

"Ever is not like us, she'll marry the one she wants to marry. I don't think mum has discussed the Joseph thing with her yet." Elizabeth finally said.

"I don't think Joseph will ever find a life partner." Michael said rubbing his temples as if he was solving a huge problem.

"By the way, whom are you two going to get married to?" Elizabeth asked raising her eyebrows.

"Michael will never get married." Peter said, laughing.

"I will, I'll definitely get married." Michael made a face.

"Who'll marry you when you play with all the girls around?" Peter grinned.

"I've stopped that long ago." Michael said, looking down.

"What?" Elizabeth looked at him, surprised.

"Seriously?" Peter stood from the chair and came closer to them.

"Yes, seriously." Michael said and Peter hugged his brother.

"I'm so happy Mic, finally you've became a good man." Peter said, loosening the hug.

Eli stood from the couch, "Guys I need to get some rest."

"Oh, ok." Peter said.

"Bye, Eli." Michael gave a light hug to Eli.

Peter also gave her a hug and whispered, "Don't be scared okay, everything will be fine."

"Yeah, everything will be fine." She smiled, whispering to him.

* * *

"Alexander, I'm Alicia."

"Come in." Alexander said, putting his diary inside the drawer.

Alicia came in, slowly closing the door. She sat on the chair next to Alexander.

"Here." She gave him a golden box.

He took it, across the top of the box was the letter A. He opened it to find a book inside. He took the book out of the box and turned its pages, it was empty. He looked at Alicia.

"My gift for your wedding." Alicia said, smiling like a rainbow.

"But it's empty."

"Yes, it's for you to write." She paused, pulling her chair closer to Alexander, stretching her arm around Alexander's shoulder, "It's for you to write. You always write a diary, right? From tomorrow onwards write in this book. This book is different. It has life, it can feel you. The Queen gave life to it."

"Thank you, Alicia."

"Alex." She stroked his cheek. "You'll be happy."

"Are you sure?" He asked, enjoying the warmth of his sister's fingers on his cheek.

"Yes."

He sighed deeply and placed his head on her shoulder.

"Alex, I'll miss you when I go to the Air land."

"I know that you don't like the Air land."

"What can we do? Everything is being scattered into pieces."

"Promise that you'll write letters to me."

"I will."

"Who's going to get married after us?" Alexander asked, raising his head from Alicia's shoulder.

"Ever and Joseph."

"What? I thought maybe Ever would get married to Cael."

"She can if she wants to, she'll be our next queen."