As the stars slowly began to fill the night sky the King of the Light Elves sat at the head of the Banquet table. His cheeks slightly flushed from all the alcohol he had ingested throughout the day. A servant had just refilled his goblet once again and he stood preparing to give a toast.
His trademark white hair glistening in the candlelight. The whole banquet hall became silent as he raised his goblet. His piercing yellow eyes taking in all the faces around the table. "My dear Lords and Ladies! Queens and fellow Kings! in just 2 days time the wedding to bring together my son, Prince Ashra Lesarius Sirius and Princess Fraya Bellimine Ember, of the the fire elemental elves. May their life together be long and happy. Please, remember I also have a daughter who will need a suitable match in a few years time as well! but, that's a matter for another time! let's eat!" he chuckled and drank the remainder of his cup.
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Princess Fraya sat beside Ashra obediently. Her fiery red curls only accentuated by the orange glow of the candles and torches all around. Among her kind red hair was nothing special. It was just a trade mark of her people just as the glistening white hair of the light elves or the black onyx of the Dark elves. She paid no mind to it most days, until now. Ashra almost seemed transfixed by the red curls. This caused Fraya to blush deeply.
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Ashra didn't know how long he sat there pretending to care that Fraya was there. He didn't love her. Not that he didn't find her attractive. But, his heart already belonged to another. He stared intently at her red hair to keep her placated and blushing so he didn't actually have to talk to her. After a while though his mind began to wander and he found his eyes looking frantically for his sister who had apparently slipped his mother's watchful eye.
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The Queen was so busy politely talking to their guest she didn't realize her daughter had slipped away. The lords gathered around her. She felt suffocated by their hungry predatory gazes. Suddenly she deeply regretted wearing such a form fitting dress. The dazzling Gilded Gold dress hugged her curves giving off an elegant yet sexy appearance.
She was pretending to listen to the vultures as they continued to talk and Circle closer to her. She tuned them out as she saw her reflection in the wine in her glass. Her eyes weren't nearly as striking as her husband and children. her eyes were more of a pale tan, almost sandy. She was of a lower standing. She was the most beautiful woman in their kingdom at one time. Her husband was of course the crowned prince at the time. He could have chose any Noble woman. Instead he chased after her, a peasant woman. Simply because she was far more beautiful than all the others. Bright white hair was a trade mark of the light elves royalty. So, many still find it shocking when they see her cream colored hair. Almost white but with a tinge of something else. She hated it. She was so happy when her children were born looking exactly like royalty instead of standing out like her. Where are my children??, she thought to herself.
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Meira slid away from her mother. Her excitement was too much to bare. To her all of the kingdoms King's, Queen's, Prince's, Pincess's, and nobility gathering in her families Palace was like a dream come true.
She wandered around the hall. Her large Golden eyes taking in everything and everyone. To the far side of the hall she noticed there was a table of.. HUMANS!
Her excitement grew as she drew nearer to them. They seemed just like elves only more rough looking. She also noticed in horror that their ears were horribly deformed.
Reaching up she gently stroked the sharp points of her ears to make sure they were still there before noticing a rather large human male was glaring at her. She was frozen in her tracks.
She had never experienced hatred from anyone. Her eyes widen and her heart rate sped up. The man slouched forward towards her and grumbled in a low dangerous voice, "What the hell do you think you're staring at, Brat?".
Suddenly a strong arm encircled her and she realized she was being carried away. Meira slowly began to relax. Of course her brother would come save her, she smiled to herself.
The arm around her loosened and put her down once they had reached a reasonable distance from the aggressive humans. Meira stumbled back laughing and came rushing forward to attack her brothers legs when she suddenly was looking into deep violet eyes instead of the bright yellow of her brothers.
Her eyes widened in alarm and she stumbled back again. The stranger didn't say a word. He just stared down at her. his expression was calm and emotionless. She knew from his violet eyes and onyx colored hair that he was a dark elf. She shivered remembering the scary stories of their kind that her mother always told her when she did something bad.
Without thinking she blurted out, "I didn't do anything wrong! Please, don't eat me!" at that she hid her face behind her hair and crouched down low.
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Sighing the dark prince glanced around the hall before looking back at the tiny princess curled up in a ball on the floor.
In one single motion he turned and walked away. His mood turning sour fast.
He had walked about 3 feet when suddenly tiny hands were grabbing onto his arm. He stopped in his tracks. She wasn't prepared for that so she ended up stumbling again but caught herself quickly. With her hair still in her face she stared at the floor. "Thank you.. for before.. when you saved me. I'm sorry I insulted you. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
His eyes widened for a split second as what she said sunk in. Is she saying she's no longer afraid of him?
In the background musicians began to play a beautiful melody. Many people had gotten up to dance in the ballroom adjacent to the banquet hall.
"will you dance with me?" a tiny voice whispered.
He nodded his head and they made their way over. He let her stand on his feet as he spun them around. Her face tilted back suddenly as excited giggles escaped her. Her golden eyes catching the lights and at the same time lighting up the world deep in his heart that had been dark for so long.
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