Zalaria hummed a tune as she began to prepare for the annual flower festival.
" Zalaria your father wants you ready on time this time." A small lean woman with a crown of flowers made of the finests jewels.
" you heard her ladies" she said sweetly to her many small servants preparing her.
" i do believe this is the best work we have done so far" the small six inch fairy said as she sat on Zalaria's shoulder.
Zalaria stood and made her way to her father. Her father was tall with broad shoulders much like a tree. She was the tallest of smaller folks. She reached her fathers waist and reached the shoulders of the snow elves of korabain . Her mother reached her shoulders and both woman were lean as the king.
" do you like my dress father?" She smiled as she twirled. Zalaria had small braids in her hair lined with the most gorgeous flowers with her small pointy ears peeking from beneath her hair.
"You are beautiful as always" he said looking down at his daughter.
" when will you bring home a king we are getting old and we want to meet our little saplings" her mother joked as she looked up at her.
" oh look, its time" Zalaria urged excitedly pulling the two outside just to see the flowers bloom.
The event continued as it always had.
Zalaria began to sing the song of the "blossom hour" when their most trusted mushroom and tree guards pulled her inside.
"What.. What is going on?" Zalaria asked.
" there is no time the intruders got in our orders are to protect you." The two foot mushroom guard replied.
She was disguised with a green cloak and a mushroom top to hide her hair. "What about the guests King Vrylin and Prince Soryn did you notify them?"
"They are fine now go,your best bet is to go to the neighboring kingdom" they pushed her through the hidden passageway.
She was well on her way when she saw a baby mushroom injured. She stopped and gently picked up the little one. Zalaria began to heal the little one she looked up to seeing her people and plants suffering.
"Don't worry little one your princess is here" she softly soothed the little one as all the other little mushroom folk surrounded her.
She knew she had to help for her people wouldn't last much longer and there was a high chance that her parents were going to die without her. She rode back into the palace and slid off her wolf.
"What do we do now" a general called out as the few generals tried forming a plan.
She began to walk outside taking her disguise.
"Once i heal the warriors get the nyphms and Let them think we are only nature. When they fall for the trap get the tree folk to surround the intruders. Then get our mushroom and flower brethren to do what they do best. Have the fairies bring the younger and weak ones.Then leave the rest to me." she stood tall with pride.
" but that is too much magic" a tree general said with concern.
" perhaps but id much rather die with honor than die a coward. If i could save you all then maybe *insert your dad's name* can have his son watch over you." She said knowing what she will do can kill her. She stood right outside the palace holding out her hands healing as many injured soldiers as she could. Zalaria knew she was going way past her magic limit. The soldiers reached their positlions. The little ones hid in the palace. The intruders soon found themselves surrounded by trees,flowers and mushrooms. They were scattered about.
"Did your kingdom abandon you" an intruder mocked.
Zalaria let out the distress signal that only plants could smell letting them know to attack. The water nymphs created streams pulling them all in closer. The tree folk emerged from the trees creating a barrier trapping them inside protecting the nymphs. Intruders started falling over as they walked through the flower beds. The flower folk emerged from their disguises holding their bloody petal blades. The flowers climbed the trees as mushrooms flew in and exploded letting out a poisonous gas.
"How dare you imbeciles hurt my people" she breathed heavily as she put her hands together causing a shock wave to burst as her hands touched. The floor shook as the roots bursted through the floor tearing all of her opponents apart with no mercy. Her deep emerald green eyes shined with a ring of gold well past her limit. The battle was over she thought. Two mushroom guards began to bring her mother who was barely alive.
"She needs healing. Hurry" the guards urged.
"Mother!" She cried out.
Zalaria began to run when she fell over. She began crawling to mom in a rush because she knew if she couldnt heal her mom her mother would die. She put her hand on her mother to heal her but before she could she passed out cold.
~
Zalaria's humming of the blossom hour hymn was cut off by a knock. She opened her eyes and wiped her face.
"Come in" she said in a more monotone voice.
Soryn walked in with a plate of food. "Do wood nymphs eat meat? I've never actually met one just read about them so i have no idea" he spoke softly looking down at the dinner of meat bread and cheese. He also brought a mug of milk with him.
Zalaria look at her half naked self then at Soryn. She tied a blanket around herself to cover up.
" i'm not a nymph im a bit stronger than a nymph and yes i eat meat. As long as the plants aren't my people then it is okay. Some plants just look like my people. If you get to know them you can tell the difference" she said digging into the food like she hasn't eaten well in days.
"Easy now don't eat the plate." he chuckled at her eagerness. "Would you like me to get more?"
" yes but first is there somewhere i can bathe and get properly dressed? Wouldn't want to make all your ladies jealous now would we" She teased looking up at him a few crumbs on her face.
"when your finished I'll bring you to your quarters and you may bathe and dress there" he said smiling at her.
"Well then don't stare at me for too long you might turn to stone. Bet they didn't write that in one of your books" she decided to have fun and mess with his mind a little bit.
"Those are gorgons...nice try though" he smiled not falling for it. His knowledge was vast in the subject of magic creatures.
"it was worth a shot i'll be easy on you for now" she said mildly impressed with his knowledge.
He chuckled at her and stood "come now I'll show you to your quarters then once your done come down to the great hall for supper."
" Very well" she responded observing how tall the people were in this kingdom compared to the majority in her kingdom. He stood taller than most. He stood at least eight feet tall, his skin pale and his eyes an eerie ice blue.
He helped her up and held out his arm for her. She took it and they walked through the castle slowly as she was still weak from using so much magic. "you alright mi'lady? We can head back if you can't handle it" he looked at her concerned she would fall over and pass out again. She swayed almost in a daze and collapsed.
"zalaria!" soryn called slowly letting her to the floor.
Zalaria stirred in her trance like sleep as if she was having a vivid nightmare.
~
It was a dark part of the woods she and her the little mushroom children lost and crying. She was rushing towards the sound. Racvaks loved eating the little mushrooms. Among the Racvaks was son of the mad king. That mad grin just like his own father. The two of them only fifthteen at the time charging at each other. When the fights began to get brutal.
~
Zalaria shot up and formed a sword from a plant near by holding soryn still a bit dazed. She breathed heavily gripping her sword tightly.
"Zalaria, are you ok? What was that?" he said checking her over. He had been holding his breath. He didn't even notice till he had to breath again. He looked her over, she had several bruises and small cuts along her body. They will heal in time but clearly something else was amiss.
She trembled with fear and rage until she had no strength letting herself fall limp.
Soryn picked her up and carried her the rest of the way to her quarters in the west tower near his own.
"im okay forget you saw anything." She said not looking at him.
He looked down at her and laid her in the bed of her quarters. And he sat at the foot of her bed and looked at her softly and spoke in a stern tone. "talk." such a simple word left his lips but behind it was the weight of concern for her.
"I'm all my people have left. If I die trying to help, please keep them away from him. I'm doing all I can but I can only handle so much punishments. He won't let me heal which means it is not long before I can no longer put up much a fight. The best I can do is put up a fight with what I got left and take the punishments. I know I don't have much left so I broke out to find someone who might be able to protect my people. The queen with him is not me I don't know who it is." She said trembling softly with the realization that she might die before she can save her people.
"you have been granted asylum within my kingdom you are safe and will be well looked after I promise you, now as for your people I don't know, your kingdom went dark after you were…..taken" he clenched his teeth "I can not risk all out war again however, we just secured peace little over a year ago. I will admit he is a horrible man and should be put in the ground but one man is not worth more useless bloodshed. I will help you Zalaria. That I will promise you" against his better judgement he took her hand in his and squeezed it softly.
"It is as I thought forgive me for troubling you then I'll have to save my people on my own. I have done it before and I will do it again whether I'm weaker than him or not. When I'm healed I will return to my people and you won't have to worry about me anymore. I'll fight and die with honor if I must. I will fight to protect my people.no matter what the cost." She sat up "they are in trouble because of me so it is my job to fix it regardless if I get help or not. I just need to get home" she said with a hint of sadness thinking of her home.
"I can't let you, your people may need you or they may all be dead…"he swallowed hard. "I can't willingly and in full consciousness send you off to die or worse be captured again. I promised I would help you but I can not let you go under these dire circumstances. Take time heal up from your fatigue and wounds and we will devise a plan to help when your better." he said squeezing her hand again.
" he cannot find out I'm here or he will send the racvaks and his men for me. If he finds out you're aiding me he won't be pleased" she said looking at him with a bit of fear in her eyes every torture victim has.
"which is why I'm giving you a gift a very special and sacred gift. but first you need a proper dress. " he offered her a soft smile. "do you think you can walk?" he asked.
" if you are tricking me you'll be sorry" she poked at him and smiled " I think I can manage" she said as she stood.
He chuckled and took her arm, steadying her. "it's a bit of a stroll so if you get tired please tell me." she nodded.
they walked for a ways down this corridor and that corridor before settling apon the door to her quarters. the was a living area with a Shelf of books and a billiard table a bath room and a bed room. "will this do?"
"aye it will, thank you soryn..." she tried their common words it felt weird on her tongue but not awful. she let her guard slip the slightest bit to express her gratitude to him.
she found a simple dress waiting on the bed for her it was a pale blue almost white and a gold trim. "you like it?" soryn asked.
"it's beautiful, why?" she looked at him.
"would you perfer kitchen wear? or perhaps stable wear? I hear horse shit is very fashionable these days." he said sarcastically.
"easy wise ass..." she shot back. and he chuckled.
"hurry up and get changed I have a surprise for you." he said waiting for her in the living section of her quarters.