Old Grudges

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"You, elf." A gruff sounding human man was seated in a tavern in the human village of Earlestown. It had once been a bustling market place, a meeting place for merchants and scholars. But now... It was lucky if a handful of hunters passed through on their way elsewhere. The people here lived close to the neighbouring kingdom that boasted that is was the seat of all civilisation, Elven, of course. The exact border was somewhat of a foggy issue, meaning battles often broke out over ownership of land. Elves passed through, most of them simply wishing to look down upon what they considered the uncivilised and rather boring humans, before returning to their own cities of silver.
"Elf?" The dark haired female asked, spitting that one word back at the man who had called it to her as she walked past his table. "You do not address the other women here as 'human', so not call me by my race either." She added rather haughtily.
"Well la-di-da! Ain't you just lady of the manor!" The man sneered, banging his glass down on the creaking wooden table. "Your kind aren't welcome here! You never will be! Get your knife ears back to your own side of the border!" 
The elven woman sighed heavily and with silent and sudden movements, she was in front of the human, her ornate elven dagger slammed into the chair all too close to his privates. "Do not test me, human. I have no humour for your kind this evening."

"I thought he would offer some of our medicine. We have little use for it ourselves." Dahlia insisted, unaware of how warm her hands were. "Or even his magic, my father isn't king without good reason, despite his current flaws."

"One of my hunters said elven blood heals almost everything. What if his weresume the key to..." Saul didn't get to finish as Iris held up a hand. 
"Do not finish that thought. Abalas would have already offered if it were true. He is not so heartless." She said softly.

"You underestimate his hatred of anyone not of an immortal bloodline." Dahlia snorted. "He would offer blood if you had something to give him in return. Something he wanted..." The elven princess rose back to her feet again. "It's a simple choice. He will offer elven blood, and I will marry Rothain."

"Is there nothing else?" Iris asked, watching her brother shake his head. "Something I could offer him? She is my child after all?"

"He wants for nothing." Dahlia replied. "Really... It's fine, and it gets you off the hook too." She added, casting her despondent violet gaze to Saul.

Iris got to her feet. "I will go and speak with him before any decisions are made." She said, smoothing down the front of her dress. "Perhaps there is something he desires aside from his daughter's captivity." She paused and rested a hand on Dahlia's shoulder. "All we can do is try. There is no harm in that. What do we have to lose?"

Dahlia glanced between both siblings, clearly at a loss. "I don't understand humans... Why not just let him take me?"

"Because no one deserves to be caged." Iris said. She bent over and kissed her daughter's forehead. "Wait for me, little one." She whispered. 

Saul watched his sister go, sure her gamble would fail. "No matter what happens, you will not marry Rothain." He promised, turning his gaze to Dahlia.

"Why not?" Dahlia asked as she sat back down. "It seems my marrying him will help far more people than if I drag you into this family feud."

Iris found Abalas still in the dinning hall. And by the time she'd gotten there, she'd lost her nerve. Save for the king and a few of his guards the room was empty. She was glad for this, it was easier for her to sit at the end of the table and say nothing at all.

"Don't talk like that. Nothing will change. We will go ahead with the plan as it is until your father leaves the human lands." Saul told her gently. He rested his hands over her own, wondering why they were so warm.

Abalas was aware of the human princess, though didn't say anything to her right away. He slowly sipped on his wine, occasionally pulling an odd face at the taste of it.

"And what if he does leave? What if he returns with his army?" Dahlia breathed, looking up at the human king. "I won't have so much bloodshed on my hands."

"That wine is terrible, isn't it?" Iris said, catching the look on the elven king's face. She couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped her. "It's elderberry. My father's favorite. The poor man had no taste..." She got to her feet and held out a hand for him. "Come with me. I know where they hide the better stuff."

"I don't think that will happen. Do you?" Saul asked, raising an eyebrow. He wondered for a brief moment if maybe she was just looking for a reason to escape him.

Abalas hesitated slightly. "You know what 'good stuff' actually tastes like?" He asked, an attempt at humour.

"You would risk taking that chance... for some silly elf you think tried to kill you?" Dahlia challenged.

"I said better. Not good." Iris smiled, her tiny fingers closing over a few of his large ones before he could change his mind. She pulled him into the store toom, ignoring protests from his guardsmen.

"You had good reason, right?" Saul asked, his fingers shaking as he stroked his niece's hair. "The longer you hang around me the more reason you find. Correct?"

Abalas was glancing around the store room uncertainly. "This is how you store your wine?" He sniffed, looking like he was about to throw up.

"More reason to kill you?" Dahlia asked, finding this human ever more confusing.

"How do your kind do it?" Iris asked as she held out a glass to him and then poured it half full of her favorite wine. "Don't tell me...it appears from thin air? Is served by lovely elves?"

"You can't think of more reasons?" Saul asked, unable to hide his smile. "I must be doing something wrong."

"It sounds like you have attended one of my gatherings." Abalas mused as he took the glass, watching Iris through this ice coloured eyes.

"I could always fight you, my prize could be your head." Dahlia suggested lightly, the ghost of her teasing smile returning.

Iris nodded. "When I was young. I was mistaken for a suckling pig. I was mortified." She admitted, her cheeks turning a rosy pink. 

"How many articles of clothing would we wear?" Saul asked, still grinning. "Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad way to die after all."

"It would appear you overcame that." Abalas commented. "You have tasted nothing like elvish wine. This swill your people drink? We would not even tolerate it anywhere in the forest." He added, seeming to now ear that same teasing smile his daughter had.

Dahlia had pulled out the small blade Saul had known she had concealed beneath her dress, and held the cool, flat edge against his rough cheek. "That would all depend on how many times I managed to hit you, your majesty." She purred, close enough now for Saul to practically taste her breath on his lips.

"Sadly, this is all that will ever touch my lips." Iris said, demurely looking at her glass of wine. "Unlike you there are many pleasures I will never know."

Saul pushed away the blade and yanked her against him, kissing her deeply. He couldn't help himself. Once was not enough.

"I don't believe that for a moment." Abalas commented. "What pleasures does human royalty long for?"

Like last time, Dahlia was hardly unwilling. Slender fingers were pulling Saul's hair loose from its binding and sliding into the golden lengths. That last kiss had left her burning up inside, and not even thinking that this was not how two royals were supposed to act.

"I am not the king," Iris reminded him, reaching for the glass when she saw that he had no intention of so much as sipping it. Once again she was startled by a strange  spark that passed between them a their skin touched. "I have no right to...ask for...anything..." She breathed.

"I'm telling." Molly laughed weakly, turning her head to watch them. "He told me I could tell him stuff without saying stuff..."
This made Saul frown. "What's your father playing at?" He growled, the moment ruined.

"Who told you so? Your brother?" Abalas asked, flexing his fingers when he too felt that tiny spark. "It seems he controls everything you do." The elven king added, despite the fact that was exactly what he was trying to do to his daughter.

Dahlia was instantly scowling, trying to hide how wounded she was by Saul's reaction as much as his words. The elven princess slapped the human king as hard as she dared. "We are through, your majesty! I am returning to my homeland with my father!"

"I was groomed from birth to learn my place. My father often reminded me that a woman should be seen and rarely heard. My husband, Maker rest his soul was quick to remind me of this. My brother pays little attention to me." Iris said softly.

Saul felt like he was missing something. "Through with what?" He asked, softly.

"I see... too busy crawling through the forest, proposing to women he barely even knows?" Abalas snorted. "Why do you stay here then? Are you dependant upon your brother to care for your child?"

"I don't like your accusing tone!" Dahlia shot back. "Like I in any way understand that twisted little mind of his!" She added, though she had been hurt more by Saul's scowl than his actual words.

Iris didn't meet Abalas' eyes. She couldn't. "Molly has been ill since birth. I have had little choice. I suppose soon it will not matter." She whispered, turning to leave.

"You had thoughts on him before and you were right." Saul muttered, patting Molly on the back as she bEgan to cough raggedly. "You know your father better than anyone else. It was just...it was something to say..."

"And if her illness were not an issue, would you still remain here? As his way of making himself feel useful?" Abalas challenged as Iris turned away.

Saul just seemed to making things worse, and the sound of Molly's laboured breaths wasn't helping either. "Right, something to say once you realised you were kissing an elf." Dahlia spat. "Take care of your niece, I'm making the trade."

"Her illness is an issue. Once she is gone, it will probably be suggested that i join a convent. The Maker needs servants as well I suppose ." Iris said softly, toying with the door handle. 

"No you're not." Saul said quickly, grabbing for her. "There is no reason for two people to die tonight." He said firmly. "You will die if you go back there. I won't stand for it, Dahlia. Do you hear me?"

"Your maker asks for more than he is due." Abalas commented, finally picking u the glass again to taste the wine.

Dahlia's violet eyes were filled with a defiant fire as they glared up at Saul. "Who are you to tell me what to do?" She asked darkly before snatching her arm free.

Iris couldn't help but wonder at the oddly jealous tone to his voice. She caught herself giving him an expectant look as she chewed on her bottom lip. "Well?" She asked softly. "It's Sunflower wine...I made it myself." She told him, sure he was about to spit it on the floor. 

Saul groaned. This was all going horribly wrong. He could feel everything falling apart and he had absolutely no control over it. "Do what you feel you must." He said finally, reaching for the cool towel. Molly's fever was rising and her body was shivering. He didn't have time to fight with Dahlia anymore.