You Are Mine. Only Mine

Elgin was chopping wood in the forest, when Maester Jovelinus came near him and said, "Sit down and rest a little, son. You have been chopping wood since the early morning and you are harming both your body and the ecological balance of the forest. Here, drink some water." Elgin kept the axe on a tree stump and drank the water.

Elgin was staying at Maester Jovelinus's cottage for the past three months after he left the kingdom. Maester Jovelinus was once a teacher of the elf magic school and lived with his wife and son in a small village situated near the banks of Yatsu river. But, during the civil war between ogres and elves, the ogres raided his village and killed his wife and son. Maester Jovelinus killed thirty ogres that day and was arrested by the ministry under murder charges after the treaty between King Alapaca and then, king of ogres, King Michalus, Krymon's uncle. The ogres voted for the execution of Maester Jovelinus as he killed more ogres than the number of his family members, but Elgin's father voted against this decision along with the majority of the council members and Maester Jovelinus was put under the supervision of the Royal Council of Retarded and Uncivilized Convicts.

Maester Jovelinus continued his further study there and soon graduated with philosophy and medicine as his core subjects. Maester Jovelinus further obtained a masters degree in dark arts and diplomacy. Soon, he was appointed as the minister of Royal Affairs and Diplomatic Treaties. During his forty-five years of tenure in the office, he conducted more than five hundred official treaties between different kinds of lower and sub-lower sects of elves of the kingdom. He got many marriage proposals, but he never remarried and remained a widower. During the early years of the First War of the West, Maester Jovelinus along with many scholars of both lower and equivalent rank migrated to the green areas of Mount Tysogame.

Maester Jovelinus wanted to participate in the war and die fighting evil, but Elgin's father denied his request and advised him to stay in Mount Tysogame. The demons never tried to attack Mount Tysogame as it was quite far from the kingdom and also it had no particular interesting aspect apart from beautiful rivers and lakes. Maester Jovelinus is currently two hundred and fifty years old and has lost most of his charm. But, still is much more agile than his coeval friends. Maester Jovelinus considers Elgin as his son as his own son would have been Elgin's age if he was alive.

Elgin looked at Maester Jovelinus and said, "I'm being a trouble to you, ain't I? Don't worry, I will leave as soon as Kystion dies in the war." Maester Jovelinus asked, "Kystion's death is not the reason for your delay. I perfectly know that you are a brave man and hiding in this forest to avoid participating in the war is not plausible." Elgin said, "Some things are best when they are kept secret. My reason to not participate in the war is one of them." Maester Jovelinus laughed, "Your grandfather used to say such things too. That man died with a lot of secrets and maybe many scars. I don't say that transparency is always good, but sometimes it ruins many possibilities that can lead to a better future."

Elgin said sadly, "Philosophy is not going to solve my problems, Maester Jovelinus. At least, not this time. My tension is inevitable." Maester Jovelinus said, "You don't want to tell me the secret. Fine. But, remember the farther you stretch the catapult, the more severe the damage will be." Elgin looked at the sky and sighed, "I never even imagined in my wildest dreams that I have to suffer from such a weird dilemma, where both the sufferer and the punisher are me. I thought love would be easy, but now I know why everyone warned me to stay away from it." Maester Jovelinus smiled, "A mosquito dies while trying to live, yet the next mosquito does the same knowing his fate won't be any different from his predecessor's. Even if you suffer today, you won't stop dreaming for a better tomorrow. Such is life and such is love. You are not suffering today because you loved a woman, but because you loved her wrong."

Elgin asked, "How can anyone love someone wrong?" Maester Jovelinus smiled, "Did you ever tell her how much love you have in your heart for her? Did you ever make her feel special and desirable? Did you ever make her moan in pleasure during intercourse? Did you ever make her feel secure around you?" Elgin said, "You are right, Maester Jovelinus. I never tried to be honest with her. She deserved honesty and pure love from me and instead I just kept deceiving her. I'm a disgrace to the word "lover"." Maester Jovelinus smiled, "Then, why are chopping wood, Elgin? Go. Go and tell her all the feelings you kept suppressed in your heart. Just go." Elgin looked at Maester Jovelinus and hugged him. He rose and transformed into an eagle and flew towards the kingdom.

Elgin landed on the ground and looked everywhere for Cindy. The palace was familiar to him, but with so much ogres it has become difficult for him to recognise the rooms. He took the form of a female ogre and walked towards one maiden and asked, "Can you tell me where the lady's room is? I am new here and am quite unfamiliar with the rooms." The maiden smiled, "Of course. Let me show you the way." Elgin followed her and soon they reached the toilet. The maiden said, "Here, you go sister. Don't use the second cubicle. It remains clogged most of the time." Elgin said, "Actually, I want to do something else." The maiden asked, "What?" Elgin smiled and blew some green dust on her face. She felt unconscious and Elgin took her and threw her in the second cubicle.

He took her form and came outside. He roamed everywhere and searched for Cindy's room. He mumbled in anger, "Where the fuck did that old bitch kept my love?" He was about to burst in rage, when he looked at two ogres giggling. He went closer and asked, "What are you two laughing about?" One of them said, "I just came from the mortal's room. Her belly is moving abruptly and she is very flatulent. Such a funny creature." Elgin asked, "Where is she?" The maiden asked, "Who are you and why are you asking?" Elgin smiled, "I also want to see." The maiden said, "Fine. But, what is your name?" Elgin said, "Dune." The maiden asked, "What kind of name is that?" Elgin said, "Ask my parents." The maiden said, "The third room in the corner. Be careful, Dune. She is quite frenzy right now. She punched me twice and screams all the time like a mad person." Elgin walked towards the room and entered inside. Elgin was both happy and sad to see Cindy.

Cindy was quite bigger than what she used to be. Maybe, it is due to the pregnancy or some reaction of the numerous medicines that were used on her. Elgin created an invisible barrier around the room and then came to his real form. He sat near Cindy and kissed her forehead. He said sadly, "Only if you were an elf or I was a mortal, our story would have been so different. This pain, agony and moral dilemmas would have not existed. If only, we were the same." He kissed her belly and put his ear on her belly and listened to his child's heartbeat. He slowly patted the belly and rose.

He took a look at the medicines that were given to Cindy on a daily basis. Most of them were sedatives and glucose. He looked at Cindy who was soundly sleeping under the effect of the strong sedatives. Ogres and elves use very different kinds of medicines and therefore they can't interchange their medication as it can have adverse effects on their bodies. Elgin threw away the medicines and kept some of his own medicines that he brought himself. He carefully minimised and maximized some of the dosage considering the mortal body of Cindy. He picked up Cindy and opened her clothes. He then mixed two medicines together and made a dark brownish paste. He then slowly applied it all over her body and then slowly massaged her body.

He smiled, "I am the first elf in the history of elves to give a massage to his pregnant wife or in this case, mother of my child. Usually, the mother does the massage as a tradition but I don't have a mother and nor does she." He then washed her body and then wiped it with a soft towel dipped in warm oil. He then, wore her clothes and put her back on the bed. Elgin cleaned all the mess and then came towards Cindy and kissed her lips. Elgin took out the pendant from his neck and tied it around Cindy's neck. Elgin smiled, "I dreamed of giving it to you when you accept my love. But, all dreams don't come true." He took the form of an eagle and flew away through the window.

Elgin landed in the front hall of the underground palace and took his real form. He was about to walk, when he felt a familiar aura around him. He smiled, "Missing me so much?" Aliyah came from hiding and punched him, "How can you let Alice get hurt? Didn't you promise me that you will keep her protected?" Elgin asked in shock, "Alice got hurt? How?" Aliyah said, "You tell me, mister careless." Elgin narrated his whole situation and Aliyah punched him again.

She said angrily, "Did you guys take some oath to irritate me immensely forever? Vexana is a bitch. You are a dog. Cindy is pregnant. Alice is comatose. Kystion is a traitor. The demons are powerful and I'm a helpless ghost. It looks like even Mother Manaca is laughing at my situation." Elgin said, "That's why Vexana didn't tell you. You overreact every time." Aliyah said angrily, "I overreacted? Alice is in a fucking coma and Cindy is fucking pregnant. Do you even understand what a deep ass- tearing shitty situation we are in? If Kystion attacks today or even if there happens a civil war, who the fuck will stop the war?"

Elgin said, "Don't be so dependent on Alice. She is not responsible for stopping the ogres. She is fated to kill Xao Chang, not some random ogre." Aliyah said, "Don't teach me what is what. I know more than you. I have spent five centuries in the spear, while you were busy in your own shit. Xao Chang is not some pedestrian that will be easily found. Alice has to make him come to her or even consider her as a threat. Killing these "random ogres" is her way to Xao Chang." Elgin said, "Whatever. Ask Vexana what happened with Alice. I am angry with Vexana too. She must have made a very big blunder for Alice to use so much blood energy." Aliyah said, "I'm sorry for the earlier behaviour. I just became a little tensed with the bad things that are happening or is going to happen. Anyway, how's Cindy? Is she feeling well?"

Elgin smiled, "Not like that. Maybe, she is feeling too well, but I don't want anyone to touch her. The baby is fine and alive. I massaged Cindy as per traditional rituals and fulfilled the duty of my family towards her." Aliyah said, "Kystion is not going to marry her anytime soon as some death has occurred in the palace. So, bring her and if you need help, I am ready to kill as many ogres as you want." Elgin said, "That is not necessary. Cindy is quite volatile right now and..... no, we should bring her here." Aliyah said, "Okay. But, at first tell me where is the ammunition room?" Elgin asked, "Why?" Aliyah said, "I'm thinking of beating that bitch with a spiked baton." Elgin smiled, "Getting kinky, hah?" Aliyah said, "Shut up!" They walked towards Vexana's room.

Vexana was looking outside the window, when Aliyah caught her from behind and threw her on the ground. She then kicked her and said angrily, "How can you let something like this happen?" Vexana said, "I had no option, Aliyah. If I had told you, you would have beaten me which is what you are doing now anyway." Aliyah said, "Not what would happen. What happened? How did Alice get into a coma?" Vexana narrated the whole story, excluding the rape part.

Aliyah said, "These scums have to rest at all. Father raped and killed my aunt and son died trying to rape my friend. I'm just scared of what Kavana would do now. He is not a fan of violence, but he is definitely a brutal murderer when he wants to kill someone. Without Alice, controlling Kavana would be quite tiresome and lethal. But, are you sure Gregor didn't raped Alice? I mean she used a lot of energy and I don't think it was just for an attempt."

Vexana said, "You can never understand the trauma a woman feels when she is physically assaulted. You cannot determine the level of rage she might have had at that moment." Aliyah said, "If it is that way, it is good. But, if otherwise, then you know the consequences." Vexana asked, "What consequences?" Aliyah said, "According to the old relics and textbooks, if the bearer of the spear is not a virgin at the time of the holy union of her body with the spear, then the union will be nullified and in that case the purity of the spear will be threatened. A threat to the purity of the spear is a direct threat to the purity of Mother Manaca.

The sages will never tolerate this insult and will destroy the spear at once. Then, you know what will happen." Vexana looked at Elgin and then Aliyah and then sighed, "Looks like we missed a close call." Aliyah said, "Don't show your teeth, Vexana. The war is still there. The more time Alice spends in coma, the more distant her connection will become with the spear." Vexana said, "I have sent Nayani to fetch the herbs from Mount Tysogame, she will arrive here in three days."

Aliyah said, "Good. Triple the security around Alice's room. She is in a very vulnerable position and our enemies may take advantage of that." She disappeared in purple smoke. Vexana looked at Elgin and asked, "Why did you call her?" Elgin said, "Why would I call her? She came on her own." Vexana said, "Let's go and do what Aliyah said. I don't want to get any more beaten." Elgin and Vexana walked outside the room.....