The streaming rays from above wake me up in this mystical realm. I roll onto my chest, sleepily, even though I am still not used to my surroundings. I howl low, stretching my front paws and lean back on my hind legs. Shaking myself off, my ears perk up towards the trees as they stand like towers above me. Their light green hue envelops the land, but there is no sound. No chirping of birds, no galloping of forest dwellers, it was just me and Luuvia.
Luuvia…my thoughts trail to the elf princess in the cottage doors behind me as I return to my acceptable form. I am pleasantly surprised that my clothes are still intact, regardless of my transformation. They too must be touched by magic.
"Of all the dogs in Elosia, she just happens to get you." I hear a familiar voice…Philis.
His steps must have been so soft that they evaded my hearing. However, what puzzled me the most is why he was here at all.
I get up from my position, standing straight and staring deep into his eyes. Yet, I do not utter one word, even though my mind jumbles thousands of snarky comments I'd love to send as a reply. This of course, makes Philis smile as I hear his heavy boots clog up the stairs. He places his hands behind his back, standing inches away from me.
"Minding your tongue for once? I see Lady Isla has given you the keys to saving your life in this kingdom."
My face stays stern, glaring back at Philis. So much so, that his face seems to contort as I feel a sudden surge run down by spine. The pain was unbearable, like swords slicing at my back, as I exhale roughly, falling down towards his feet. Philis' boot crashes down upon my back, making me gasp roughly, clinging onto the floorboards: trying to fight for my life.
"I don't want to ever see such a vengeful look on your face ever again dog. You best remember your place, or I will put you in it."
With that, his foot pushes me harshly, making me fall on my side. The pain ceases but I am out of breath and can feel sweat trickle down my eyebrows. Philis, in light of my reaction, grins at a job well done until the cottage door open rather abruptly. In the doorway stands Luuvia, wearing a dark green fitted dress with blue ocean waves upon her sides. She quickly looks over at me; her expression unchanging, as she then turns to Philis.
"Why must you come here in these hours and start a ruckus? What is it that he did to you?"
Philis straightens, as I slowly get up from my position: trying to regain my composure. "You need to train your dog better Luuvia. You don't want them acting as if they are equal. That will only lead to one consequence." he stated, looking over at me.
"And we wouldn't want that, do we my dear."
Luuvia says nothing, just stares into his eyes as he gently takes her hand and presses his lips upon them. I eye him as he does so, staring up at her calm collected face.
What is this gesture?
"I am only looking out for you in the end, Luuvia." He says, regaining his posture and dropping her hand.
"I am aware of this Philis. I will make sure to train Kaesar appropriately, and if I need help, I will make sure to ask you."
You've got to be kidding me! No!
Philis' eyes sparkle at her comment, gently brushing Luuvia's golden hair back with his right hand. She follows his hands and then connected with his eyes.
"I desperately wish we could have spent yesterday together. I wanted to apologize for my delay but getting the dogs to their owners took longer than I expected. Tonight, I will have a meal prepared and hope for you to join me."
Luuvia gently places her hand over Philis', staring into his eyes. "I will dine with you."
Philis is grateful, grasping her hand and pressing his lips against her cheek. I can do nothing but stare at him getting so close to her. With that, Philis turns and leaves. His boots clank heavily on the wooden stairs as his form disappears into the grass of green. Luuvia remains in her spot, staring out after him.
"Do you not care for Philis?" she asks.
"What is he to you?" I ask, not entirely wanting to answer her question.
Luuvia turns to me. It is with acts like these that I feel she is reading my mind, searching my thoughts.
"I am to marry Philis, Kaesar. The princess of Eloisa has married the elf with the golden eyes for centuries. It is tradition."
"He's not good enough!" I blurt, not totally realize what I have said until after I open my mouth.
This makes Luuvia chuckle, making me feel rather insignificant. "Philis is rather stern, but he is also very sweet and caring. No, I don't agree with him on many issues, but we do hold decent conversations."
I sit in silence, angered by the fact that of all beings, Philis would haunt my life of servitude till the day I die. Not only that, that he would be by Luuvia's side. But what was I to do; it was not my place.
"I don't care for him because we have history."
Luuvia nods, "I am aware. Of all the wolves in Elosia, you are the sole one he continues to mention."
I have to smile at that. Apparently, I made a point.
"Yet, even with this history, what is it he's done to you?"
I don't show my agitation by looking away from Luuvia: peering into the forest. "Philis has had it out for me since the rebellion. He wants me to be tamed and I refuse to give him the glory of it. Yet, my issues encompass your whole kind. I know that here in the Gov...Eloisa that you all think of us as these heathens, but our kind thinks of you as unrightfully rulers. People who are chosen by birthright, not as you all would have us believe: some righteous purpose or heavenly anointment. How is it that you can treat our dead as lifeless beings and for us to be beaten and killed for fighting for those we love? We fight for your loved ones every day, yet ours are thrown to the wayside: like my father and brother. Is that right in your eyes?"
Luuvia says nothing, just looks towards the green grass as it sways in the silent air. Her silence is as good of an answer as I will get, of course she will not side with me. She is of the Government, yet she must see some reason. She hasn't made me obey her as Philis has, she even asked me for a favor. She must have some sympathy…she must have a heart.
"Come inside Kaesar," she states, turning her back on me and entering the small cottage. I, of course, follow and take my place at the feet of her bed as Luuvia sits her long pale legs hanging over the side.
"You hate Philis because of your feud and our kind for what they did to your family?" She ponders, looking me in the eye. "Philis can be harsh and I have seen the way he treats wolves under his command. Yet, it is his job to uphold customs here in Eloisa."
The wrench to my heart was turned one inch.
"But I am truly sorry for your loss. I also apologize that even in their deaths, you were unable to provide the customs of your pack. If I could change that, I would. But sadly, Kaesar, the wolves have been enslaved in Eloisa for centuries. Even though I do not agree with everything that has happened to your kind, my father rules over Eloisa and this is his kingdom."
The wrench turned again as I felt the blood run from my body. She was good. She bonded with me and told me what I wanted to hear, and her beauty blinded me from reality. But in her words, I understood my place in her kingdom and my fears burned within me. I must never forget as I had done in her presence.
She was an elf, and I was just another wolf.