A New Friend

Morning comes quickly and I awake fueled for the day. Today is the Welcoming Banquet. Although I have seen King Frederick and Queen Louisa many times from afar, I have never been in the same room as them. And not to mention the fact that the Wizard King of Tartarean will be there.

King Verlock hasn’t been King for very long. It was only recently that his Aunt died and he took over as King of Tartarean. The Queen Lauriel’s husband was forced to step down since he was not related by blood to the royal family. Although new to being a King Verlock was famous well before his new title. He has spent years proving that goblins are not vile creatures and can actually be quite loyal if you spend enough time with them. And he has sent Armies to our Aid many times when orcs crossed the borders of Girandole. Not to mention the fact that he has fought in numerous wars and is a known legend on the battlefield.

I climb out of bed and run over to my wardrobe, selecting a dark red gown with black lace decorating the bust and waistline. I toss my robe aside and begin lacing the corset. It's a mighty big task without another person's help. Before I can finish there is a knock at my door.

“Who is it?” I call out not wanting to answer the door undressed.

“It’s Amelia, I was wondering if I could come get dressed in here.” I hear from the other side of the door.

“Oh perfect! Come in.” I say and the door swings open. She walks in and chuckles to find me bent over with my arms behind my back pulling at my corset strings.

“Here let me.” She walks over and start tightening the corset. “To be honest, I was really hoping you could help me with mine. After doing it myself yesterday my arms are sore and it just took so long.” She tells me, “there, all done.”

“Okay you turn.” I say and wait as she discards her pajamas and climbs into her dress. “This is definitely better. Please come over anytime you want to dress together. It will make the whole ordeal a lot quicker.” I say finishing up the last few pulls on her corset. “Plus it is always nice to have some girl time. What do you say we sit on my porch and finish getting ready?”

“I’d love that.” She says and we walk over to two moss covered stone chairs. “So I have been meaning to ask you…” She pauses “ do you… well do you know someone here?”

“What do you mean?” I scruffle my brow at her
“I mean well, it’s not like I was meaning to eavesdrop but since the rooms are so open I can hear quite a lot, and well the first night we got here it sounded like you were arguing…. With a man.” She blushes and my mouth drops into an oh.

“I…well hmmm…”

“You don’t have to tell me, I was just curious and I didn’t want it to seem like a secret that I heard you.” She rambles worried she overstepped a boundary.

“No, it’s not that it’s just. I’ve kept this secret for a long time and well, I’m not sure if I am allowed to say.” I tell her almost wishing I could confide my secret friendship with someone.

“I won’t tell anyone. It will be as if I don’t even know.” She assures me.

“Well, several years ago, I came across a hidden grove. It was neither on Human or Elf land, but somewhere in the middle.” I begin braiding my hair as I talk. “Inside was a young Elf, and as soon as I knew I wasn’t trespassing on Elvish territory we became instant friends. We would meet in the grove every couple of days and spent our time explaining each other's worlds” I pause to let her take in what I’ve said.

“That’s amazing, so you already have an inside scoop on current Elvish culture. So does he live around here or something. How did he come see you in the castle?” She sits on the edge of her seat.

“Well that's the thing. I have known him for the past seven years as Aired Gildi. But when I got here I found out that my friend was Prince Elauthin and that he had kept his real identity a secret from me.” I tell her and she explodes. Giggling and squeals like a dying pig.

“You are secret friends with Prince Elauthin! How could you not know? Why wouldn’t he tell you? This is so juicy!” She squeaks.

“I know and so when we were fighting he was explaining his lie.” I explained to her.

“That’s so cool! So what is he like? He hasn’t said a word to us since we arrived so it’s very hard to read him.” She asks finishing up her hair.

“Well he is kind, and likes to joke around, very sarcastic, but come to think of it, I may have taught him how to be sarcastic.” I giggle, “And he cares very much about what you think of him. If I even hint to be mad he is on his knees begging for forgiveness. He is very loyal and I know, although our friendship has been a secret, he would do anything to help me if I asked for it.” I smile thinking about him.

“Sounds like a romance novel.” She teases and my cheeks turn pink.

“No well, it’s not like that. We are friends.” I push

“Are you sure about that, because that’s not how I sound when I describe a friend.” She responds

“Well, it’s complicated. I love him, sure, but never a romantic love. We have been friends for so long but it was never about romance. We could only meet in our grove; there was no way we could be together outside of there.”

“But now that we are opening the border?”

“I don’t know. Honestly, I think I’ve always had a small crush on him, and now that I get to see him all the time, I catch myself staring at him and excited for the next time I get to see him alone.” I confide my deepest secret to her.

“Oh my gosh, this is seriously the cutest thing I have ever heard. Let’s finish getting you ready so that tonight you can make your man see the most beautiful woman ever.” She grabs my shoulders and pulls me up.

“No, no, I don’t think he has ever thought of me in a romantic way. He is a prince for god sake and I am just some random human girl he happened to befriend. Not to mention the fact that they live for thousands of years. I will just be a small blip in his life.” I sigh reminding myself why I have never told Elau how I feel.

“That’s ridiculous. You are the prettiest woman I have ever seen. Your hair falls in natural perfect curls, your hazel eyes seem to trap me at every glance, and you have the body of a goddess.” She points out all of my curves as she says this. “Living for a thousand years or not, being with someone as beautiful as you only happens once in a lifetime and you have to be kidding me to say that he doesn’t think of you as anything more than a friend.” She rants, staring at me ever so seriously.

“Do you really think so?” I feel some hope rise through my chest.

“I’ll tell you tonight, ask the Prince for a dance and I can observe from afar.”

“But…”

“He can’t say no, you are an ambassador it is expected you will mingle with the Royal Families.”

“Okay, fine.” I smile at her and feel blood rush to my cheeks again.