Chapter Ten

"Princess," somebody started rapidly shaking my shoulders, ripping me away from my dams. "Wake up, madam." They grumbled, before shaking me even harder than previous. I groaned and slowly opened my eyes, my head was pounding from the champagne the night before. Tricia, who was standing right in front of me with a frown, had opened the curtains, letting pools of sunlight in my room. The bright light burned my eyes, shrinking away from the hateful light I buried my face into the pillow and pulling the blanket high above my head. Before my feet even touch the ground I could already tell you that my feet hurt like hell from standing in high heels all night, and I was tired from only getting a few hours of sleep.

"No." I groaned as Tricia was pulling at my blanket, trying to steal it away from me. "Five more minutes, Tricia. I wish to sleep forever."

"Five more will turn to ten and ten will turn to forever." She growled and I moaned back in response as she continued to pull at me. "We don't have the time for you to play your little games this morning. You have been summoned and you mustn't keep the Erlking waiting. He is already in a foul mood this morning, and it will be my head if you are late."

"I've been summoned?" I slowly sat up, propping myself on my elbows and peered at the girl before. She had a frown which had caused her complexion to look much older. "For what possible reason does he want to see me at the ass crack of dawn?" Since I have been here, the only time I have been called to was by the Erlking. After that, I was left at the hands of my maid Tricia and my guards Bemus and Easton.

"It's almost ten thirty, your highness," Tricia growled and I slowly threw my feet on the floor. Wincing as I stood up, it felt like I was stepping on needles. "Your father wishes to see you." She tossed the sheet off the bed and onto the floor so other maids can come in to clean it and then proceeded to tug at my arm to steer me into the direction she wanted me to go. I looked around the room, normally there would be a cart for breakfast but not today. So it must be so important that I don't even get breakfast first. That's fine, I thought to myself. My stomach is upset from drinking last night anyways.

I was surprised that Tricia didn't know why he wanted me, I had quickly learned that Tricia liked to gossip about everything with the other servants in her free time. I didn't dare tell her that, she would most likely club me for saying something like that. "I was doing my morning chores when your knight came to me. That's all I know." I sighed and surrendered with her. She smiled, delighted with herself. I strolled and stood behind the dressing screen, stumbling out of my nightgown and tossing it over the top.

"Princess?" A new voice called out and I heard the bedroom door close. Tricia murmured something under her breath as she joined me behind the dressing screen to help me tie my corset. I could never get used to those things and was glad I grew up never having to wear them. "Where are you?"

"She is getting dressed, what do you need, Haltija?" Tricia growled.

"Using my kind as an insult is very unbecoming of you, Tricia." I heard Bemus chuckled. "And I didn't even call you a big hooved fool."

"What do you want, Bemus?" I asked before the two could go at each other.

"Easton is here too, Madam," Tricia mumbled and in the corner of my eye, I watched her roll hers. She pulled the cords of the corset tighter as if it wasn't already tight enough causing the breath to leave my lungs.

I wished I could be wearing an old t-shirt and a pair of jeans again. Corsets are unbearable and they had this horrible feeling that your organs were being squashed together and you can't breathe in them either. I didn't understand how something so painful could be a beauty trend. But I guess corsets were a prime example of 'beauty is pain' saying. "We are simply doing our jobs, your highness."

"So, your job now is sneaking into a lady's bed-chamber, hmmm?" Tricia interrogated the two boys. I wanted to laugh, but I didn't want to face my maid's wrath.

"We haven't snuck in." Bemus giggled. The room fell quiet as Tricia helped me into a lovely light pale green satin dress, it was one that I often wore. It was simple, plain, and lovely together. "We are walking you to the Erlking." I stepped back from behind the screen. Easton and Bemus were dressed in matching uniforms, they were dressed the same way that they had been when they stepped through the mirror not so long ago. Easton had his bow and arrows strapped to his back and Bemus had his two rapiers at his side. They were the same as they were back then, but only this time, Easton's hair was darker and his pointy ears poked out of his long hair like he changed his hairstyle and made his ears longer last night during the dance. And Bemus looked much younger, which was unusual.

I haven't seen the Général, not since that day. I thought. It was if he never existed, there was no hide nor hair of the man and the other two never spoke of him. Bemus had an enormous grin on his face, Easton was looking down at the floor, staring intensely as his cheeks began to turn a pale shade of red. Was he blushing? "Do you know what he wants?" I muttered them.

"Yes." Bemus ran his hand through his short hair, with a grin on his face.

"Then why does he want me?" I wanted answers from them.

Bemus was about to speak but Easton elbowed him hard in the side. I even heard the air escape Bemus's lungs. "We aren't allowed to say." Bemus wheezed out and I sighed deeply.

Of course, they can't.

****

When I walked into the room, the Erlking wasn't alone. The room was large, and when we entered I noticed that there beside him were two more ancient-looking men. The first stood nearest to the king, he had dark blue hair that flowed to the floor as if it were made of water, his skin was a faint blue and almost blue hue. Scales of deep blues and purples covered the knuckles of his hands and places on his neck, arms, bare chest, and under his pale blue eyes. He smiled at me showing two rows of sharp teeth, teeth that resembled a shark. He was terrifying to me, he reminded me of the ocean.

The second man sat furthest away, he was perched on the window seal as a bird would. He looked more birdlike than he resembled a person. By that, I mean feathers had grown everywhere on him. Although he didn't have a beak, his face was hidden behind long black feathers. He shifted his weight, showing off more grey and black feathers when he did. He wasn't naked underneath all those feathers, he wore clothes. I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be an outfit similar to those of a Buddhist monk would wear. I also noted I didn't see either man last night, their looks would have been hard to not notice or to even forget.

"Ah, daughter. Allow me to introduce my companions." I curtsied since Tricia was bowing low right beside me, and I could tell that they were of power. Tricia didn't give me a disapproving look so I must have made the right move. "This is Lord Callum of the Western Mountain Region." He addressed the birdman who fluttered his feathers in response. "And that is Lord Silvius of the Southern Sea." The sea, so I was right, the blue man was from the sea. king Silvius grinned even bigger, showing off more sharp teeth. I curtsied to both of them, my legs felt rubbery and I kind of hoped I would have a nice butt after doing all of this curtsying.

"It is a great sacrifice you are doing for your people and all of the beings that reside in the Magic Realm." Lord Silvius's voice sounded like water running over pebbles and the bird lord nodded his head in agreement with him.

"Sacrifice?" I mumbled slowly, I was confused. I gazed up at the king. "What sacrifice are you speaking of?"

"Do you truly not know?" The birdman inquired, his voice was boisterous and it echoed within the room. "I thought the Erlking had told you already."

"You are going to end the Dragons reign of terror." Erlking clarified. "You will destroy the Dragon once and for all, and help end the Unseelie court for once and all." I gaped at him. Destroy as in murder? I rubbed my ears until I heard a popping sound, I wanted to make sure that I was hearing these old men right.

"Wait. What?"

"Great honor you bring. Such bravery." The blue man gave another creepy smile, bigger than the last.

"Hold the phone." I held my hand up and his smile fell. "You want me to kill someone?" The three elderly men nodded and switched looks between each other. "The Dragon?" More nods. "And that is that super handsome but extremely arrogant guy with long white hair right? The one I danced with last night, right?" Again, more nods. I laughed nervously, scratching the back of my neck. "You got the wrong girl." I shook my head. "I can't kill anyone. I don't even like true crime documentaries, they give me the heebie-jeebies."

"You must," the birdman slammed his hand against the wall. "You will save us from his bloody Reign."

"I can't kill him. Killing is wrong, no matter how you state the reason, it's still murder. And even if I could kill him and wanted to kill him, how would I even get close to him?"

"You will kill the Dragon, you will stop Rowan's Reign and you will save us all. That is an order." Erlking snarled, something in his eyes frightened me. "Understood?" I don't know why but I nodded my head quickly. "Good. You will have him grow close to you, and when he does you will put him in Death's arms." I swallowed, Tricia tenderly touched my arms, making sure I was okay. "You're doing it for all of us." All of this was just too much, I wanted to throw up.

"Ask him to have tea with you." Callum requested, but it sounded like it was more like an order than a request.

"It shouldn't be too hard for you to charm him." Silvius sighed and grinned again. "After all you got him to dance with you twice last night, proving you already have him captive with you."

"Great idea, go to him and ask him to have tea with you in the garden." This is premeditated homicide! I can't do this, I wanted to go home. "Tell him you will be offended if he declines. Use your bodily goods to capture his attention to need be." I was sickened by this man, but hearing the old man say something like that made my cheeks. "You may leave now. We have other business to attend."

I turned to leave as quickly as I could, I wanted out of the room with these messed up people. I walked past Easton and Bemus who stood grimly behind me. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Princess Miriam," Silvius kindly exclaimed after me.

"You three stay," Erlking ordered, my three trusted companions. Tricia looked at me apologetically. "Daughter, go ask the Dragon. It won't be hard to find him." With that's waved me off, sending me on my task.

They all want me to kill someone. A person, a living and breathing person. These people are completely insane. What am I going to do now?

*****

I wandered off down the endless corridors, my mind elsewhere except for what those men mentioned in the room. I was alone, I had sent my companions away. I wanted to be alone. I was thinking of reasonable things, such as my home and my high school. Mostly I was thinking about my family. I wanted my family, my mom the most. I missed how she smiled, her cooking, and how she would be at peace tending to her flower garden. There were lots of things that I wanted to tell her, I wondered if she missed me as much as I missed her.

A chuckle plagued my thoughts away. "It's dangerous for a girl to walk the halls with no escorts in tow." My eyes widened when I saw the Dragon casually leaning against the wall, his right hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword, ready to pounce if the need arises and his beautiful eyes. Oh God, his beautiful eyes were colder than the prior night. They peered into my soul as if he was searching for my secrets.

"You!" I breathed and pointed at him, confusion flickered through his eyes but it quickly vanished. I must do what the Erlking requested, maybe then they will let me go home. I swallowed hard, pushing back my fear and trying to play it cool. I straightened my back and pretended to be the innocent princess that everyone told me I was. "I was told that you're still lingering here, and I was searching for you," I announced, awkwardly I placed one of my hands on my hip and held the other out to him. Something that I had seen done by lots of the noble ladies here and in the movies. Like a gentleman, he bowed and took my hand and placed a kiss on the top of my hand. "My guards had other business to attend elsewhere and my maid was busy doing chores." It was a partial lie, I had sent them away but I knew that they always had other things to attend then just me. "In return, I wandered alone in search of you, your highness." I noticed that off in the distance he had a couple of guards standing still, watching us.

The Dragon's golden eyes widened in awe and a smirk crossed his beautiful face as he straightened himself only to return to leaning against the stone wall. "You were looking for me?" He sounded shocked and I nodded my head, I found it weird how he could seem alarmed by that comment, but the words Erlking told me if I knew I would be too. He cleared his throat and pushed himself off the wall. He gradually placed his sword back down in the scabbard. "Well, here I am." He threw his arms open as he strolled back towards me. "What do you desire from me, my sweet pet?"

"Would you like to join me for lunch?" He laughed and the kind of laugh that caused him to throw his head in his back. "Well if you are going to be that way, then perhaps I won't ask." I crossed my arms and went to walk away from him in the opposite direction. That's right, Miriam. Play it cool. Gain that stupid old Erlking's favor, and then I'll be on my way home. But am I compensating murder? I don't want to be part of this world, but if this is the only way to get home then it is something I must do. But can I kill this man?

"Hey! Hey! Wait a minute, you foolish girl!" I stopped in mid-step, and my eyebrow twitched. I looked back at him, he was frowning. I studied his face and wondered if I could kill this beautiful man just to get home. "Your words intrigued," I looked away and closed my eyes counting to ten. He swiftly walked beside me and gave my upper arm a hard enough squeeze causing me to look up at him, but his touch was not too hard where I would be hurt. "What is your desire from me?" His voice was soft and for some reason, it didn't seem like it would fit him. I blushed and wiggled my arm free from his grasp. He didn't seem that bad.

"I was feeling lonely and decided to have tea, and I wanted to know if you would accompany me and have tea with me in the garden." His eyes widened once again and the quickly went back to their ice-cold stare. "But I can tell you are quite busy, so I'll leave you be and have tea alone." I avoided his gaze, trying to play it as cool as I could get. My heart raced in my chest though, and my palms were sweating. Calm down, Miriam, it's not like you are asking him on a date. It's just a friendly invitation. That's right, I wasn't asking him out. Just a polite invitation, that's all.

"You wanted to have tea with me?" He asked slowly, acting like he never had an invitation before. I wanted so badly to tell him that the king that King wanted me to kill him, but I couldn't and the guilt gnawed at me. I also wanted to tell him that I had no interest in either of their problems, that I didn't like him. But that was a lie, I liked him even though I barely know him. I thought he was kind of nice, he gave me a strange feeling. But instead, I only nodded my head, glancing up at him from under my eyelashes. The Dragon was calm and quiet for a minute before he snapped his fingers. "Claudius." His voice was harsh. And a little green man with large and sharp teeth appeared from the shadows. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest from the freight of his sudden appearance.

"Yes, master." His voice had a hint of dismay.

"Tell Prince Drayce that I regret skipping out on our skirmish this afternoon. So much so I will have to get a rain check." The Dragon closed his eyes, rubbing his temples. I assumed he was thinking hard or he had a headache. "And tell the young Prince that I will duel with him before I return to Yukiguni. Be sure to inform them a more important matter showed itself before me."

"And if he asks what important matter is, Master?"

"Inform him I have been asked for a date with his lovely sister." My cheeks burned. This is not a date, I would never have a date with a jerk like him. Wait, sister? I have a brother? The little green man walked away, bowing low before he did to each of us. "Well, shall we go have tea, my pet?" He offered me the crook of his elbow to hold on to.

"Hold on, I have to go to the kitchen to get it ready," I sputtered, he raised his perfect eyebrows and his lip twisted up. "I didn't think you would agree," I confessed and he sighed deeply before waving to me to go ahead of him. I smiled politely at him, nodding at him. "Then, can you wait in the garden for me? Do you know the way, your highness?"

"I'll meet you there, pet." He grunted and I hurried on my way.

****

Twenty minutes later I found Rowan, I was sitting across from him in silence at the center of the garden, and again I wished I was home. The Unseelie King sat across me with his very long legs crossed and his black-gloved hands folded on his knees with his eyes shut. I had noticed that he had worn gloves often. We waited for the tea to get prepared and I was so nervous that I could feel sweat building up on my forehead, silently I begged for this to end quickly.

"Do you miss the mortal realm, changeling?" He blurted out loud unexpectedly, he didn't open his eyes.

"Yes, I do," I replied to his question softly, I doubt he cared that he was simply making idle talk. But he was the first person to ask me. "I miss it so very much." I glanced down at my hands and folded them in my lap. I missed it more than I ever thought I could. When I glanced back up at the Dragons he had his eyes opened and his face softened. He started to say something, but a maid had materialized with a tray of tea and poured us our cups. We waited until she left us and we were alone in the garden once more he took a sip of his tea, then a rigid look went across his face. "Are you alright?" I sputtered out to him, jumping from my chair, he dropped the teacup on the tiled floor. The cup shattered into millions of pieces at his feet.

"Don't." He wheezed, his clenched gripped the front of his shirt. His eyes were wild as he leaned forward across the small table, reaching out to me. "Drink." He knocked the cup off the table and it too fell onto the ground.

"King Rowan?" Instinctively I lunged forward stretching my arms out for him. His hands were close to his chest, pain distorted his handsome face. "Rowan!" I cried out his name as he fell, I fell beside him. My hands hovering over him, they shook unsure of what to do. Poison. My brain screamed. It was poison, someone tried to kill him. Oh, God. They were going to kill me along with him. There was a lump in my throat, I watched as a couple of servants passed us. No-one stopped to help the Dragon, they looked but continued. He went still and with a shaky I reached out to him pulling him to me. He was much heavier than he looked. Uncontrollably tears began to fall from my eyes and splashing on his still face. "R-Rowan?" Adrenaline was rushing through my brain, he died. He died right in front of me. He was so still, so stiff. I couldn't hear him breathe. I cried and pressed my face against the crook of his neck. To cry for a dead stranger was so unlike me, but he was murdered in front of me. Abruptly, he clasped my arm tightly, his tightly his nails dug in my skin, holding me down beside me. I jumped in fear, my heart nearly leaped off of my chest. The Unseelie King was alive.

"Stay here, Miriam." His voice was sluggish and weak. "It won't kill me."

"But you-" He hushed me and closed his eyes once more. The look of discomfort flashed on his face began to fade. With a shaky hand, I brushed the silver strands of hair off his forehead and out of his face. His skin was cool and clammy as if he was just overcoming a fever. It was was only a few minutes since he took the poison, but he seemed fine. He was getting better so quickly in front of me, that it was like his body had grown immune to it like you would a flu shot. "Are you alright?" I whispered, wiping away my tears. Slowly, he opened his eyes and stared up at me. I wondered if he was going to accuse me, but he lifted his head and moved to where his head rested on my lap. He said nothing more and only closed his eyes to go to sleep.

"What did you do?" A voice shouted and I heard running. I looked over at the sound of the voice, tears streaming down my face. There was a man in a nice clean suit, and a sword was low on his hip. My heart stopped when I looked at him, he resembled me as if he could be my male twin. But unlike me, I could see a smidge of my mom in his face. He looked angry, but I couldn't blame him; it looked as if I just killed Rowan. "Rowan!" He called out, pushing me away from Rowan and cradled the Dragon's head in his hands. I fell backward, scraping the palm of my hand."You've done enough." The man shouted at me.

"I didn't do anything. I swear." I went to touch Rowan's face but the man slapped me hard.

"Get out of here, changeling whore." He snarled, gripping Rowan closer to him. "Leave, before I kill you where you stand." I hurried to my feet, I didn't protest him. I didn't know who this man was, but he was terrifying.

"He wanted me to stay," I whispered, I wanted to be there when Rowan woke up. I wanted to make sure he was okay. I didn't want this. It must be those three old kings doing.

"Miriam." Rowan weakly opened his eyes, his hand stretched weakly out to me.

"Leave!" The man screamed at me, he went for his sword. I hurried away before he could kill me when I looked back I saw the man caress Rowan's pale face and pressed a kiss on Rowan's lips and my heart sank. That must be his lover, and yet why do I feel sad? I turned away before I saw anymore, my heart was heavy and my tears were pouring down.