Prince Cassian

It was nothing like any amusement park Luan had ever been; the moment the gentry Prince snapped his finger, music rung in the air. One moment Luan was standing in front of the carousel, and the next he was in a green field with Evangeline and Melian on either side of him.

“What does he mean by taking tokens?” Luan asked in a half-whisper.

“It’s one of the ways of joining their revel.” Evangeline said. “If they give you a token like a flower, leaf or rusty coins to hold on to, you can keep it through the night and you’ll be fine the next morning.”

“Why do you think they are kind enough of letting us in?” Luan asked. The look of doubtful flickered across his face. “I mean, they can just let us in without the tokens and drive us mad. That way is much more practical of driving us insane.”

Evangeline shrugged. They were just outside a field that was full of whirling, spinning dancers. Pavilions had been set up on the green, hung with swags of silk. “Keep your voice down. Faeries have sharp ears.” She said.

“I’m Hayden.” Said the pink-haired prince. “Come, my brother is waiting for you.” He spun on a perfectly boot heel and began to lead them down the hill without pausing to see if they were following.

Melian and Evangeline exchanged a look. Nevertheless, they followed Hayden in silence. Luan heard the same strange sweet music playing, flawed with sweet-sour notes, a sort of aural equivalent of honey mixed with tart cherry juice. There was a circle of faeries dancing to the music, their feet skimmed the floor. Their hair - pink, blue, black, grey and icy white.

Luan could see how fair their faces were. Skirting the circles of dancers, they made their way to the far end of the hill. It was a relief to be out of the circles of dancers. Their music jarred his ear at first but slowly changed into a sweet music.

They have reached towering tents, donning with red and silk. There were countless tents of varying shapes and sizes with an elaborate wrought-iron fence encased them into a colorless world.

“We’re here.” Hayden said and leaned his muscular body against the wrought-iron fence. His arms crossed over his chest.

Up close, Evangeline could see small lights began to flicker all over the tents. It was a moment for her to realize the small flickering lights were particularly fireflies.

“I must say that I rather surprise of seeing you here, my lord.” Said Hayden. There was a dark spark of amusement in Hayden’s grey eyes.

“My lord?” Luan looked indignant. “By which you mean my lord, does it imply to me?”

Evangeline could tell Luan was surprised because he stared at Hayden without offering another remark.

Hayden looked impassive. “Who else I could call lord if it is not you.”

“Ah.” Said Luan, quietly and not without amusement. “It’s me. But- no- wait. Why am I your lord?” Luan asked.

Hayden looked at Luan gravely. “This is not a time for idle talk.” He said. “Prince Cassian has requested an audience with the three of you. Especially you, Lady Rosewood. Will you come?”

“Of course, your highness. Your brother requested this audience with us. It’s an honour to be able to have an audience with the Faerie Prince.” Evangeline said, meeting Hayden’s grey gaze with her own.

“By the time you enter through this gate,” Hayden pointed his thumb behind his back. “there is Prince Cassian’s chamber. Please talk with him with due respect.” Said Hayden. Stretched across the top of the tent, hidden in curls of iron, more firefly-lights flickered to life. They pop as they brightened, some accompanied by a shower of glowing sparks and a bit of smoke.

Hayden snapped his slender fingers. Then, the iron gates shuddered and unlocked. They swung outward, inviting them inside. Luan shot a glance at Hayden, but he had reached a massive silk tent, and hung with swags of vine. The tent was aglow, sparkling against the night sky.

Up Close, Luan could see that the tent was swag with thickly woven vines, budded with amber droplets. “Come in.” Said Hayden. He drew the vines apart and ushered them into the chamber.

Melian ducked first, followed by Evangeline and Luan. He straightened up, looking around him curiously. The chamber itself was plain, the fabric walls hung with vines of flowers. Fireflies glowed in glass jars. A handsome man reclined on a low couch by which Evangeline assumed was Prince Cassian. He surrounded by what must have been his courtiers; motley assortments of beautiful faeries who looked like lovely human girls with blonde hair.

“My brother.” Said Hayden, bowing low. “I have brought Lady Rosewood and her companions.”

Prince Cassian sat up straight. He had blue wavy hair and pointed ears. His eyes were clear blue as glass, his gaze sharp as a razor. “Princess Evangeline.” Said Prince Cassian. “Pleased to meet you, and you, my lord.”

Hayden shrunk back, and Prince Cassian did not even look at him. His gaze was on Evangeline and her companions. Evangeline could feel the weight of it, like a burning fire.

“Our apologies, your highness.” Luan said, startling them all. He stepped forward, putting himself between Prince Cassian and his companions. His voice had changed its tone; it was as if he was used of speaking with a gentry prince before. “The trespassing is my responsibility. It is not their fault for coming in here. They are trying to help me meet with the Queen.”

Prince Cassian tilted his head to the side. “To help you?”

“Yes. I got lost in this world and they are trying to help me.” Luan said and he could feel Evangeline stiffen beside him in surprise. Luan willed Evangeline not to show it.

Prince Cassian smiled. “You don’t have to explain it to me.” He said. “I call you here because of the blight.”

“The blight?” Said Melian and Luan looked startled as if he just realized Melian was there the all times.

“On your way out here, there was a small village. I know you saw it.” Prince Cassian said dryly. He gestured at the cushions scattered around the floor. “Come, sit beside me.”

For a moment, Luan looked thrown. He hesitated but Hayden led them over to a pile of silky cushions near the Prince Cassian’s divan. They sat down cautiously. The cushions were very comfortable to Luan’s surprise.

“I know I invited you for joining my revel, but there are some important things I need to tell you.” Said Prince Cassian.

“Would you mind telling me what you saw in the small village?”

Luan’s voice was calm, but the shoulder that brushed Evangeline’s was tight with tension. “Last night, we went to the elves village but there were bones sprawling down the ground along with signs of pentagram.”

“And we discovered an ash looking sand with a strange spiritual pressure.” Evangeline added. “It wasn’t any like any other sand. It was composed of the crushed bones of the elves and humans.”

“At first we thought it was some kind of dark ritual, but it wasn’t.” Said Melian.

“It was a dark ritual.” Said Hayden. “The Erlking performed a dark ritual there though no one knows his reason behind it.”

“The blight.” Evangeline said and Prince Cassian bored his eyes on her. “What do you mean by blight?”

“The ash looking sand you said earlier was the blight.” Said Prince Cassian. “All the vegetations, flowers and trees were death.”

Prince Cassian sat forward in his chair, his blue hair rippled. “I heard you can revive the death?” His blue eyes bored on

Evangeline. “But only on plants not humans.” He added.

Evangeline’s eyebrows arched. “And you want to use my power to revive the forest.”

Prince Cassian’s eyes shone with reflected light. “Clever I grant you, Princess Evangeline.”

“I can’t.” Said Evangeline lightly and she caught the surprised look on Prince Cassian’s charming face. “I believe your Highness knows about the altered changes in this world.” She added.

“I do.” Prince Cassian said. “Ever since the altered changes in this world, the night sky arched in different ways. Even the stars were different.”

Evangeline went on. “And even since then I can’t use my power.”

Prince Cassian cast a dubious look at Melian, as if Evangeline was making up a story. “It’s true.” Said Melian.

There was an imperceptible silence. Even the other Princes were silent, watching their eldest brother. At last, Prince Cassian leaned back on her cushions. “There is another thing I didn’t tell you yet.” His blue eyes flickered to Luan.

“It’s about him.” Prince Cassian said. He jerked his chin toward Luan. Prince Cassian’s gaze brushed him like a moth wing.

“Luan?” Evangeline sounded puzzled.

“Yes.” Prince Cassian said lightly. “The news of the child of the Selene is here has spread like wildfire and the altering changes in this world was believed happened because of you, My Lord.”

Luan said nothing. He seemed, for a change, lost for words.

Prince Cassian went on. “Though it was partly believed by the King himself.”

“What did the King believe?” It was Melian who spoke.

“He believes Lord Luan brought the changes into this world and he meant it not in a good way.” Said Prince Cassian. “In other words, Lord Luan is called the embodiment of doom.” He waved his hand dramatically.

“But Luan don’t bring doom into this world.” Said Evangeline, as Luan remained frighteningly silent.

“Do you?” Prince Cassian’s blue eyes fixed on Luan.

Evangeline looked at Luan, but she could see by the expression on his face that he had no idea what Prince Caspian meant.

“You know how words can be wicked sometimes, your Highness.” Said Luan, recovering his voice. “They spread like cancer and it kills people slowly but deathly.”

Prince Cassian’s lashes fluttered.

“The King is probably blamed me for the blight as well. Am I right, your Highness?”

Prince Cassian’s lips curved into a smile. “As expected from the child of the Selene.” He said. “You catch it pretty fast. The King is aware of the blight in the forest and he put all the blame on you.”

“Even so, the blight happened was not because of me.” Said Luan.

“That seems hardly our concern.” Prince Cassian looked at Evangeline again, this time hard and directly. “What do you think of the blight, Princess Evangeline?”

“I have never seen any blight like this before, but this radiated a more demonic magic than any magic wielder users used.” Replied Evangeline.

Prince Cassian considered. “Demonic magic.” He said, weighting the two words with a heavy irony.

“Do you think this demonic magic is summoning demons?” Asked Hayden.

“I fear so.” Evangeline said with a rarely expressed bitterness. “Though I don’t know who is the actual perpetrator is.”

“Is that what you thought?” Prince Cassian straightened up. “Summoning demons?”

“Yes.” Evangeline said. “There is a crucial part you are missing, Your Highness.”

Prince Cassian bored his eyes into Evangeline.

“The Erlking.” Evangeline said, drawing Prince Cassian and Hayden’s attention. “He is not only killing wandering children. He is killing the elves and adults too.”

Prince Cassian laughed. His voice was bright and cold as icicles. “Who would’ve thought” he said. “that the Erlking is committed enough to kill adults and the elves too.”

“Committed enough?” Asked Melian.

Prince Cassian did not even glare at Melian. His gaze, a luminous blue, was fixed on Evangeline. “Tell the Queen, when next you see her, about the blight. She will know the solution of it. Also, tell her that I will promise her what aid is in my power, should he strike against the King.” He said and went on. “We The Fair Folk hate to be in an unpaid debt.”

“Your generosity is as remarkable as your handsomeness, your Highness.” Evangeline said. “And I think we’re done here now.” She added, rising from the cushion. Melian rose after her and Luan was already talking to Hayden in the corner, by the vine curtain.

“A moment.” Prince Cassian rose.

Evangeline paused halfway to the curtain look like a door, and turned to face him.

“Before you join our revel, take these with you.” Prince Cassian said and threw three rucksacks at Evangeline and she caught it cloddishly.

Evangeline was stunned. “What are these?”

“Your essentials for tomorrow.” Prince Cassian said impassively. “Prince Hayden will give sent you out tomorrow and please make sure you take your rucksacks with you.”

Prince Cassian turned to look at Luan. “I need to see you for a moment. The rest of you can head out first.” He said dismissively.

Evangeline looked at Luan, but he gave her a reassuring smile. Luan walked toward her and put his hand on hers, squeezing hers lightly. “I’ll be back.” He said. His voice was soft as honey and his hand inexplicably gentle. Luan held her gaze for a split second. Then he pulled his hand away, gently disengaging himself, and stepping back. “You ask for me, your Highness?” He said.

Evangeline went to the door, and was not surprised to find no resistance barring her away. She stood with her hand among the vines and turned to look at Luan. Luan was staring at her and mouthed ‘go ahead first’ before continued his conversations with Prince Cassian.