3

"I don't want to leave." I replied gently into Gaius' hold as we held each other in my bed. We always felt our safest when holding each other. I knew we were holding each other inside my mother's stomach. I had to switch dresses before heading back to my family. Father didn't notice, but Mother and Gaius did. When the celebration was ending, it was announced that tomorrow I would be going to Bethmoora with the elves tomorrow. My torture would start tomorrow.

"Maybe if you show you're miserable enough, Father will see his mistake and ensure you don't marry that putrid outsider." he soothed stroking my hair.

"Why can't I just stay here and get married to someone here?" I replied.

"Being royalty is no fun." he pouted. I looked up at him and just sighed nuzzling into him.

"I begged father to let you come with me and in return, Nuala can come when her brother has to come. But father would not even consider it." I said softly holding him tighter.

"Maybe he will get sick on the ride back to Bethmoora." he said, but we both knew our kind didn't get suck.

"You really want him to die, don't you?" I asked.

"I want any boy to die who you have to be betrothed to." he admitted. I sighed feeling loved by his words. I should have mentioned what happened in the hallway. I should have told my father, but I didn't want the prince to get in trouble. I didn't want to seem like I was purposely causing trouble for the family. So I remained quiet. We fell asleep in the bed together. The sun woke us up, and then a servant entered quietly.

"Good morning little ones. Breakfast is being set out. Princess, your father wants you up and ready to eat so you can depart." she said in a soft tone. We both nodded began to move from my bed. Gaius separated to his room and we prepared for the day. Breakfast was quiet only because I had nothing to say. Neither did my brother. I ate slowly so the earlier journey from my home wouldn't come too fast.

"Gaia, your slowly chewing isn't going to stop what is to come." Father said eyeing me. I shook my head banging my fork down on the table.

"I don't want to go!" I snapped. In a flash, father banged his fist hard on the table making the plates jump. Everyone jumped from the motion and I just placed my hands between my head and looked down.

"Darling, your temper." Mother reminded as she bounced Gai in her arms. She looked at me firmly and then my brother. "Gaia, you see this as a bad thing now because you are a child. But when you are older then you will understand. For now just try and get to know Prince Nuada. He and his sister seem charming." she told. I just pouted and shook my head. After last night I didn't want to be anywhere near that elf boy.

"And we will speak no more on the matter," father interjected. "If this marriage takes place, then we will soon speak of Gaius marrying Nuala. The blood lines will continue and be even stronger when both you and the princess have children." My eyes widened at his words and I looked at my brother to see him glaring at father. Their stares were intense on each other and it seemed father was daring my brother to make some kind of move against him. But my brother's eyes faltered and he looked away.

"Enough of this maliciousness at the table. Gaia is leaving after this and there will only be happy memories at this table from here on out." Mother stated before getting up and leaving with the baby. Beneath the table, Gaius and my hands locked and we squeezed each other for a second. I scarfed down my breakfast at this point. The Bethmoora elves were already at the front of the kingdom preparing to depart. My things were already packed and being carried out to their carriage. I wore a white dress with a blue robe around it. My parents walked with me down the hall and out through the gates of the kingdom.

"You will be back in a matter of months." Father announced as if trying to assure me. I was far from it. I hugged each member of my family tight. Mother however walked me to the large golden carriage being carried by six six-legged horses. King Balor and his children were already inside. Soldiers surrounded the carriage. My eyes were dull and red from crying. I looked at Mother who just leaned down and hugged me tight.

"Pray to Oceana. She will hear your prayers." she whispered in my ear. I didn't want to pray. I didn't want to do anything. She kissed the top of my forehead and helped me step inside the carriage. The smell inside this place was different. It was unfamiliar to me. I was already in a world I did not know. A soldier approached and closed the door behind me. I started crying once more looking out the window at my family. Gaius stared at me with tears flowing down his face. He raised his hand and gently curled his fingers forward as if saying good bye. I placed my hand to the glass and sadly we began to move.

"Do not be sad, Princess Gaia. You will love Bethmoora." King Balor said and I just looked at him sniffling some more. Nuada sat beside him and he had his hands crossed, facing the window on his left. Nuala was beside me keeping a reasonable distance from me. I gently leaned against my side of the carriage and just closed my eyes. I didn't sleep, though. I didn't trust the elves I rode with enough to do anything that could bring my guard down. Every so often Nuada and Nuala would swap seats so they could sit next to their father. When Nuada sat beside me I tightened up, never looking at him. Instead I would glance forward and look at whoever sat with the king. When Nuala did, King Balor would tell her tales of their past. When Nuada did, the king raised a dagger and pointed from tip to handle base instructing him on how to use it.

Nuada was always focused, where Nuala was enticed. I just looked out the carriage window. The white trees pale trees were now starting to fade white. We would be passing through the forest of Harmonoptra. In it roamed many different creatures from trolls to fairies. The lakes we would pass had mermaids who would lift their heads from the water and wave upon seeing me. They had scales you could see through. Their tails were long, some were barbed and the others forked. Their hair was cyan and magenta colored. They screeched at me and waved and I couldn't help but smile and wave at them. The lakes disappeared from sight and what little happiness I felt vanished again. There was a halt in the carriage suddenly and we all looked around curiously. A soldier approached King Balor's side and he opened the door bowing.

"Your grace, some creatures have been following us since we left the Harmonoptra kingdom." he said. King Balor looked puzzled and looked at me then the soldier.

"What creatures?" he asked.

"The elves of this realm call them anguis." he said. Now I was stunned at this and the elves looked at me.

"What are the anguis, Gaia?" King Balor asked.

"Snake guardians created by Oceana. They appear more as we enter deeper into Harmonoptra. They are savage and wild and can attack if they feel threatened." I said noticing Nuada roll his eyes as I spoke of the goddess.

"We didn't notice them when we arrived into Hamonoptra." King Balor told. I nodded looking out the window.

"You didn't notice them, but they noticed you. The stand to the height of humans, with snake eyes and scales. They are very smart and wise and will fight to protect their land." I said.

"Do they speak our language?" the soldier asked. I nodded.

"Yes. I speak to them." I replied. No one else in the realm was able to speak to them without being met with harsh aggression. Maybe it was because I was touched by the Goddess, in some way she created us both.

"They are beginning to form a perimeter, sire. We can't go through them without violence." the soldier told. I was tensed at his words.

"Bethmoora elves no nothing." I snapped before pushing my door open and jumping from the large carriage.

"Princess!" King Balor yelled as I ran down the row of horses trying to reach my way to the front.

"Make way for Princess Gaia!" someone announced as I reached a row of Bethmoora soldiers who had their swords out ready to fight. But as my small form came into view, they moved for me and finally I saw the many serpent creatures standing before the caravan. Large spears were in their hands. Their eyes were sharp and with me being small they stood tall to me. Their bodies were incased in scales that camouflaged them in any environment. Their flesh that was not hidden beneath the scales were pale. None of them had hair or ears for that matter. One of them stepped forward. Larger than the rest I knew he was the leader. I had to look up more at him as he approached me, his spear tight in his hand. His long tongue stuck out for a second before disappearing.

He stared down at me with bright yet empty eyes.

"Where you go?" he asked with a hiss, and I just looked back at the group of elves before looking up at him.

"I go with them." I said. He tilted his head and looked at the elves as well before looking down at me and leaning down, sticking his tongue out at me. He was smelling for any fear on my body. I remained still for a moment and he leaned back with a sneer.

"You come back." he said. I nodded.

"I will." I promised, and he just stared at me for a moment before turning and beginning to walk into the forest, his scales flipping to camouflage him. He was gone now, and his tribe followed his actions disappearing as well. Mother was always worried about me being around the creatures because of the stories they carried. They hunted constantly and there were many of them all over the forest. Father worried they'd attack, but no such attack ever came. I finally looked back at the Bethmoora soldiers who just looked at me stunned. I stared at them for a moment before seeing King Balor approaching me.

"Very impressive, Princess Gaia. We have much to learn from each other about the different creatures in our realm." he said holding out his hand to me. "Come. Let us go." I looked at his hand before looking toward the carriage. Nuada and Nuala had gotten out of the carriage as well and were watching me with curiosity. I looked back at up at King Balor before silently taking his hand and walking with him to the carriage. I said nothing else on the transition from our realm and into unfamiliar territories. There was lush green grass and flowers growing from them. Mountains were in the distance that I was not very familiar with. It was all so different than what I was used to seeing in my home. However, the sights soon started to bore me as I was tired of sitting. I don't even know how long we had been riding.

But finally, we stopped and I looked around to see a brown forest. There were no leaves on the branches.

"We will set up camp here children. Stay close." King Balor replied and opened the door and stepped out. The twins followed out casually as if this was nothing new to them. I just looked out at the forest around us. Soldiers were setting up large golden tents.

"Father, I want to go hunting with you and the other soldiers!" Nuada stated of which his father chuckled.

"Of course, my son. Princess Gaia you are free to stay in the carriage until the tents are up and you can rest." he said. I simply nodded watching as some soldiers were forming a small group with spears and a bows and arrows. What would they catch. Nuada was suddenly before me, eyes looking determined and I leaned back already starting to scowl. What did he want? He then held up the familiar soft cloth from yesterday that he put in my face.

"Here. In case you get hurt." he said. I blinked at it for a moment thinking he could need it if his sister ever hurt herself or even if he hurt himself for that matter.

"You should keep it in case you get hurt." I replied. He shook his head.

"I will wear all my scars with pride." he said sticking out his chest.

"I'm sure your sister would love that." I said. He huffed and wiggled the cloth up to me.

"Just take it." he whined and I huffed in annoyance before snatching it and holding it to me. My fingers ran over the softness of it, and I could already remember the comfort it brought me last night. Woven in gold at the bottom right of the cloth were the letters N.S. I looked down at the young elf. I still wanted to be mad at him for being stupid yesterday and ruining my dress, but instead I nodded at him.

"Thank you." I replied. His golden eyes seemed to brighten at my words and he took a step back and bowed to his toes at me before turning and hurrying off to the group of soldiers surrounding his father. In minutes, they had mounted horse and were moving into the forest. Now I didn't know what to do with myself and so I remained in the carriage just waiting for my tent to be up so I could go in. I curled up on the bench and quietly cried. I missed my family already. I looked at the cloth still in my hand and felt immediate anger toward it. This was all the Bethmoora elves fault. I threw the cloth on the opposite side of me. But once its warm, soft fabric left my hand I immediately missed it. I leaned back over and picked it up and just held it close to me as if it would somehow protect me from whatever horrors I was going to face in their kingdom.