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The Mug and the Mead
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2024-08-14 19:21:59Related chapters
The Elven Princess The Utopia
Aelanor's eyes opened with the clamour of bustling businesses coming from the open window. Her companions slept through the din, except Saayan who was nowhere to be seen around the room. She walked up to the window and looked down. Her homeland might be called Utopia, but as she looked down at the cobbled street with all kinds of races, haggling and laughing and helping each other carry weights of marine life from the ships, she realised that the real utopia was here. Here, every creature was welcome. No one was looked down upon by others- except that female orc in the tavern- she thought resentfully. Here, creatures would not fight for power, and here, no one would be banished by their fathers for the supposed crime of falling in love with someone of another race.Aelanor looked at her sleeping companions. She didn't want to wake them up. She knew they all have been tortured in their nightly visions, possibly even Saayan, who, Aelanor didn't know, could sleep or not. Barely making an
Last Updated : 2024-09-28The Elven Princess The Message of the Dove
Her breathe fogged her vision to the yonder. She waited for it to dissipate, so that she would be able to enjoy her last days at this place. She would be sorry to go, but she had no choice. The green and orange rocks surrounding the Scottish Highlands looked exactly the same as they have been over the past fifteen years, but she could not get enough of them. The cold, winter sun reflecting on the seas beyond formed diamonds that glittered with every sway of the wind. Her eyes scanned the horizon that was getting tinted with brown and grey clouds, and she sighed. It was the same all over, but she felt sad for Applecross, the village that she had stayed for so many years, and had come to love. A pair of footsteps sounded behind her, and a younger looking girl came out, her face flushed. She was about a head shorter, and frail-looking. Her face was pale and soft as a petal, and seemed to radiate an unearthly glow. Her
Last Updated : 2021-08-18The Elven Princess The Emerald Forests
"I never really appreciated how much I have changed in all these years of living in the mortal world," Aelanor huffed, "the distance to the base of the Highlands is staggering.""Don't tell me you're already tired," Nimuel smiled through her eyes. She didn't look perturbed at all."We have been walking for almost two days, Nimuel, and I have long since forgotten how it feels like to be an elf again," Aelanor tucked the curls that had come loose behind her sharp, pointed ear, "how I wish I had your feather tread, and that light structure!""It's more than that, I have been walking up and down the hills for the past few months," Nimuel replied, "but you are welcome to feel envious of my innate qualities.""I do not envy you," Aelanor pouted."Right," Nimuel smirked, "anyway, I sent Cugu to ask for help; Jamim will meet us shortly at the base of the hills."Half
Last Updated : 2021-08-18The Elven Princess The Diamond Palace
The clearing shifted to invite the sparkling moonlight in the dark forest. There was some rustling, and gigantic oaks and cedars and others appeared in the clearing, mouths hanging open, unable to believe."Aelanor?" an old voice wheezed."Is that you, Eriobuild?""Yes, my child. You have come back!"Aelanor ran blindly through the trees and the ents, who moved away to let her pass, and hugged the great tree guardian. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as her other friends from childhood formed a circle around her, looking happier than they must have been in decades."Oh, how we have missed you, dear Aelanor!" one of them cried."We thought we'd lost you," sniffed an older one.Aelanor looked all around her, smiling through her tears. All of her childhood friends were there,Ashshell andProtus and Borassus. They looked wea
Last Updated : 2021-08-18The Elven Princess The New Sibling
"I must admit I was quite skeptical about you coming back to The Eternal Utopia, daughter." King Naemar said, "When you left, I thought you were a woman of your words. I suppose that vanished when that mortal husband of yours died, isn't it, Aelanor? Or should I call you Emilia?""Still an absolute delight, after all these years, Father. How you are able to maintain that cheerful disposition is beyond me," Aelanor rolled her eyes."We do not age, my dear, so we do not change, unlike you," he gloated. "And Nimuel, how charming to see you! I trust you do not have any regrets for following your cousin to mortality, and the abhorrent mortal world?""No, my King," Nimuel bowed, "I am quite content in the mortal world, and I do not regret my decision at all. I trust you are great yourself?""Yes, thank you," King Naemar scowled at her, unable to string any more insults, then turned to Aelanor. "What do you
Last Updated : 2021-08-18The Elven Princess Queen Gaelemar
"Mother!"A mortal lifetime of a hundred years was not enough for Queen Gaelamar to forget the voice of her daughter. Her eyes opened slowly, deep into the sockets of her pale, frail face. Her lips were chapped, and white, with green veins running like tree sap through them. Once a figure of great might and beauty, the Queen of the North looked nothing like her former self."Aelanor," she whispered, as she tried to pull herself on her elbows."Mother, I am here," Aelanor bowed down to the Queen's bedside, her face shocked and devastated. "Please, do not strain yourself much.""Oh, my daughter," Queen Gaelamar's face shined with hope and joy, something she had not felt in a long time, "I have no fear of anything anymore, my dear. You a
Last Updated : 2021-08-21The Elven Princess The Shaman
A raggedy-looking old man was sitting in the waiting chambers of the Queen. As the helpers levitated the bed directly into the room, the Queen weak and tired with all the excitement of the morning, Aelanor and Nimuel followed them."O, wise Shaman of the mortal lands, I welcome thee to the castle once more," the Queen said in a weak voice.The Shaman didn't seem to hear her. His eyes were closed, and he seemed to be in some sort of trance. Not wanting to disrespect him, the elves stood there, silent.An eerie energy passed through the room, as everyone lost track of time. It seemed like hours, or seconds that the Shaman just sat there, apparently asleep. Slowly, he opened his eyes."I have never been to the elven lands before," he wheezed.The Queen looked confused as she said, "But, Your Reverance, you did come to us a few years back, and you said some words. Pardon us, o wise Shaman, but none of our counsellors could comprehend them, and you left
Last Updated : 2021-08-26The Elven Princess Lady Saelther
One of the helpers of the castle ran to the back of the palace to call Khoral and Nexus, while the two Females went back inside to see Queen Gaelemar before they ride off."Mother, please take care of yourself," Aelanor said."I will, daughter. I would have never let you go back, but staying here has never been more threatening. I trust you would be healthy and live out the rest of your life in comfort," the Queen said."When all this is over, I will be back. And we will be reunited as a family, in the end.""My Queen, don't worry about us, we will be alright. And you will, too," Nimuel told her."I don't doubt it, my child. Perhaps we will all hold out to the eternity, or enough to live our lives best in the time we are given. Perhaps, Death will visit all of us soon, and we would be gone, just like that. But in the end, we will know that we loved each other, and we will die knowing that.""Don't talk about Death, Mother. We are fighters, w
Last Updated : 2021-09-01
Latest chapter
The Elven Princess The Utopia
Aelanor's eyes opened with the clamour of bustling businesses coming from the open window. Her companions slept through the din, except Saayan who was nowhere to be seen around the room. She walked up to the window and looked down. Her homeland might be called Utopia, but as she looked down at the cobbled street with all kinds of races, haggling and laughing and helping each other carry weights of marine life from the ships, she realised that the real utopia was here. Here, every creature was welcome. No one was looked down upon by others- except that female orc in the tavern- she thought resentfully. Here, creatures would not fight for power, and here, no one would be banished by their fathers for the supposed crime of falling in love with someone of another race.Aelanor looked at her sleeping companions. She didn't want to wake them up. She knew they all have been tortured in their nightly visions, possibly even Saayan, who, Aelanor didn't know, could sleep or not. Barely making an
The Elven Princess The Mug and the Mead
The after effects of the food made all of them a little lethargic, and they pressed a few coins in the hand of the barkeep to save a room for the four of them for the night. The sun was still on the horizon, and the grief and shock of the day was on them, each lost in their thoughts, so sleep was out of question. Not even consulting each other about their next move, they exited the tavern, and the bell tinkled again over the sign, "The Mug and The Mead".Their feet carried them towards the beautiful scenery in front of them. The sun's warm orange glow cast a gentle light upon the bustling dockside. Boats and ships of all sizes bobbed gently in the water, their sails and rigging a tangled web of ropes and canvas. Barrows and carts, laden with an abundance of fruits, ales and wines, and exotic spices, rumbled across the worn wooden planks, as merchants and traders hurried to secure their daily hauls. The air was thick with the sweet scent of fresh fruit and the sound of laughter and ha
The Elven Princess The Golden Barrows
"Where are we headed?" Nimuel asked as the phoenixes finally seemed to lose elevation after hours."The Golden Barrows," Pylaeius told her."What creatures live there?" Aelanor asked."All of them," Aidan said from the front, "all the creatures in the Golden Barrows live together in harmony.""Together? This has to be a sham. Creatures cannot live together; there would be fight for power and survival. Most likely this place is in chaos." Aelanor remarked."You are talking about our home," Surya said, stung. "As for chaos," Seraphim's feet touched down the cobbled streets and Aelanor landed beside him, hard, "see for yourself."Aelanor and Nimuel's face showed nothing but awe. The street in front of them was in chaos, yet it couldn't have been farther than what Aelanor had imagined this place to be. Multiple storied houses with thatched roofs stood on the sides of the street they walked, with flowers and bushes all over the doors and windows. Vendors pushed carts and barrows of apples
The Elven Princess Escape
Pylaieus moved silently towards the panel, and Aleanor followed. She could see carvings on the panel, but they were not in any language she understood. Pylaieus however, traced them with his fingers, and seemed to glean something. He stopped, head downcast, and then looked up and shaked his head slightly, as if to shake a fly away. He turned to Aelanor. "We were taught of a poem as a pledge when we joined the ranks of Dream Isles Guard. It was not, however, the usual kind of pledge, that I had believed. The inscription here," he motioned to the panel, "proclaims that the final call for the life as we know it is in the answer to the defense of the same.""Pylaieus..." Nimuel began with a apologetic tone, but Pylaieus held out of hand to stop her. "I am going to recite it now. I have never really understood the meaning, so you should take an attempt.As I spread my wings to the widening chasm belowWith the crimson and maroon plumage scattering low,It burst forth, and molten gold ope
The Elven Princess Pylaieus
Nimuel shrieked. Saayan went silent. And Aelanor moved faster than the speed of light. She reached behind Nimuel and broke off the head of an icicle and drew it against the intruder."Your endeavor is futile, Princess, for I cannot be harmed by a shard of ice."Pylaieus moved slowly towards them, blue lights falling on his bare skin like thousands of bioluminescent planktons in water at night. His gait was steady, and so was his piercing gaze, that held the trio in a dead lifelessness.""I am warning you, Centaur..." Aelanor took an unsteady step towards him."The name is Pylaieus, and you will do well to remember that.""Pylaieus, listen, it is not what you think," Nimuel said."It is precisely what I think, and understand, Lady Saeltheriel. There is no use trying to deceive me. You are trying to destroy the Kingdom, and take down Elektra with it. But you have no path forward, none at all, getting out of here." Pylaieus said."Then do what you must," Aelanor roared, "and we will figh
The Elven Princess The Cave
Elektra was crouching beside the Shaman, trying to terminate the flow of his soul or something from his body with her fingers. Her face was turned away from the group, for whom the world had stopped moving. Their eyes were on the immobile form of the child, small in death. Somewhere, Nimuel was gasping for breathe, her voice struggling to find a scream that should eventually rise the dead. Saayan was whispering something, something in the language of the Shadow Realm, and Aelanor could not make out anything. There was some sort of cushion being pushed over the eardrums of her ear, and the world around her was trying to fade. However, her objective was clear: to clear out of the Nightmare's Isles without any further casualty. One look at Nimuel and Aelanor ran towards her. "You bitc-" Nimuel's words were muffled as Aelanor's palms covered her mouth and dragged her away. "Aelanor-" "Shh, Nimuel, listen-" "Aelanor, Haz'th-" Nimuel's eyes sparkled with tears and hatred for the witch,
The Elven Princess Betrayal
The adornments around the icy hall took away the breath of every creature that beheld it. Towering blue icicles running down from the ceiling to the floor giving off a bright golden glow constituted the numerous pillars inside. The hall didn't look anything like its name- it was essentially a cave. Silver, blue and white- uneven walls and passages made it eerily charming and almost too easy to get lost inside the giant hall. There were thousands of stalagmites and stalactites around the hall, and the guests had to keep a very sure feet to make sure they didn't stumble on any of them.It was a relief when the chief part of the hall came into view. It was a stretch of sparkling blue ice, with tables and chairs made of same. The dishes too were made of ice, but the food was not cold, nor were anything else. A wall of blue satin waterfall poured forth from the wall of a cave at the far end of the hall. The lights bouncing off it looked like silver silk threads embedded.Elektra was standi
The Elven Princess The Helper of All
Pylaieus lead through a castle made entirely of blue ice, and Aelanor shuddered. She hated the cold winds in these high mountains, albeit it was considerably lesser than what one would expect at such height. There was some magic working in whole of the Dream Isles that kept the frozen water warm enough to walk even barefoot. The group made it to the Queen's chambers . The huge silver door opened to a ballroom, at the end of which were two giant claws of white ice, each two feet wide . And in between was a sparkling chandelier made of ice, with shards poking out every which way. Beneath the chandelier that was entirely made of icicles, was Queen Elektra. The Queen's azure eyes travelled over to the group, and her lips relaxed into a smile. She got up from her throne and approached the party. She was draped in a periwinkle dress; her silver hair flowing behind her and radiating an unearthly glow. Her pale skin looked translucent in the bright lights of the court. She held out a h
The Elven Princess Elgarest
A path of light shining above them, the crew started their journey to the mysterious land of Misty Mountains. Since Saayan and Haz'th could move without any physical fatigue, and Khoral and Nexus had rested well, so their journey forward was smoother than they could have hoped.After a few days journey, they came across a bend in the road that was enveloped with lush trees from all sides. The clearing was so thick that the base of the mountains was not visible until they had come close enough to climb them. The journey upward took a few more days, but their ration and energy still felt full.The Misty Mountains of the Dream Isles was unlike any other mountain they had ever seen. It was white, and the rocks on the mountains was entirely marble. It stood in contrast with the other mountains around it. After five days, they reached the capital city of Elgarest. It wasn't like the rest of the Dream Isles at all.A sprawling castle could be seen from about 2.5 km from outside the city itse
