I suppose my reaction was enough for the elf, for she smiles and leads me out of the bath. I begin to erupt from the magical spring, the cool water leaving my body as I stand near the edge of the pool. Caspa and his elf soon follow as he regains his position next to me. Lady Isla walks in front of us, dismissing the women as another wolf, dressed like Brucian, appears and hands us two pairs of white pants with matching white shoes. I am rather overjoyed to put on clothes…just feeling some sort of comfort is calming. The pants feel like silk, soft on my skin, and the shoes are flats but warm my feet nonetheless.
"Now, you look like royal dogs." Lady Isla states, looking from me to Caspa. "This way will you."
She takes us back to the courtroom. The King, Queen, and Princess are now alone: chatting amongst one another. Yet, there is a rather broad girl who wears a collar similar to ours, wearing a white dress, standing by the Queen. I presume that she is her wolf. Caspa and I have to kneel again in their presence as Lady Isla smiles at the royal court.
"Do the dogs please you, My King?" she asks, curtseying once more.
The King gets up from his position, his features merry as if he is the happiest person alive. "Goven, goven (Good, good)," he states. "Mighty fine in deed. Stand up you two."
Caspa and I stand at his command.
The King paces before us. "My name is Elreid. I am the King of Eloisa and am very pleased that you handsome dogs were brought to our court."
Elried then turns his attention to me and tilts his head backwards. "Luuvia, come her will you."
The stunning princess stands gracefully. Her blue eyes do not waver and her hands are gently placed on top of one another as she walks down the stairs. It would be wild to say that it was impossible for me to divert my eyes. The King seemed to chuckle at my reaction, knowing very well that this was a game of cat and mouse.
Yet, as Luuvia nears, I cannot remove my gaze. I do not know what she was thinking, for her face showed no sign of grief or happiness. But when Elreid leans his head towards her, eyeing me, and says "are you happy with your dog" I could barely stop my heart from pounding.
She chose me?!
Luuvia says nothing, her cool blue eyes turning from me and facing her father. "He will do."
Elried seems pleased. "Good, my love. Show him to your quarters, I will stay here to train this one."
Luuvia curtsies at his response, as gracefully as a butterfly, and motions for me to follow her. I do not hesitate for my feet carry me to her backside as I quickly glance back at Caspa, seeing his weak smile as the King approached him. We are now on our own. That only builds my anxiety.
My fear of the unknown fades as I look up to see the golden court fall from our view, as we venture out on a walkway where I can see Illandra from above. The clean white marble beneath my feet is luxurious none the less, and I cannot help but touch the cool marble walls, looking down at the city. Many of the royals are out and about in the streets, chatting, laughing, and making the wolves do their bidding. The site disgusts me, seeing my kind being beckoned at every snap. I couldn't stop from contorting my lips.
"Ho!" I hear to my left, as I look down at a crowd by a scaffold as a body is thrown to the side, its head rolling to its right. I stare harder and to my fear, it's Brucian.
My knuckles turn white as I snarl at the scene: bile climbing its way up to my mouth. Luuvia suddenly clears her throat, as I snap back to the duties. Even in my anger and sadness, I must hurry to her side so I am not punished. Yet, as I near, she turns to face me. Her features are stern yet pleasant. However, her lips are firmly pressed, knowing for sure the collar would activate.
"What is your name?" she asks, folding her hands into a cup in front of her.
"Kaesar…" I pause, "Lady Luuvia."
She squeaks a laugh, making my ears perk. Rather because I thought she would be angry or that I did not expect it. But, the way she looks, covering her mouth with one hand and gently looking at me, gave me butterflies. The unimaginable scene of Brucian begins to fade.
"You don't have to use such petty things with me, Kaesar. That is a nice name," she says, turning and continuing down the arched marble path.
I follow her, still perplexed by her actions, as she turns to a marble staircase which leads to the top of the Government's stronghold. I look up at the skyscraper, seeing the Mercusian dragon's snout point in my direction. He is watching me ever so closely to make sure my actions are of no harm to the princess, yet I pay him no mind.
"May I ask you a question, Kaesar?" she asks, continuing up the brilliant staircase.
"Yes Lady…I mean Luuvia."
"Were you shocked by my father's verdict?"
My eyebrows raise, for I'm unsure how to answer. Should I say I am pleased to be with her, since she caught my eye the second I came into the palace. No, I couldn't. Plus, being by the King's side would have been a great advantage, yet with Caspa there, he will surely tell me of his plans.
What to say to her…
"I heard you shout to him about something, so I suppose not," I say, trying to end the conversation.
"I see." she states, as I hear her shoes clack to the top of the staircase. I follow after her as my eyes widen. Before, we climbing this marble balcony and the next, we are being lead through an enchanting forest. The trees are mesmerizing, some drape down towards my face and others shoot towards the mystical sky. The grass sways, its strands moving across my legs. I stop for a second. The woods reminding me of home…of my mother…safety.
Yet, also not at all.