Sanctuary for a lost prince 1
After seeing Hellboy 2, I just had this idea! The elven prince Nuada captured my heart immediately.
*Edited the inconsistencies, thank u for pointing them out. In the movie, they also had red nosebleed, so i stuck to red blood. But fine, ichor is the actual color.
Prologue: Sleeping Prince
Deep in my slumber, encased in stone. What pain, or suffering befalls me, I know not. Tinkling laughter, golden colors, did I not have happier times? Those humans laid scourge to the world, evil and empty of souls. I forget sometimes, that I have shed blood too, in my quest. How many have died?
One day, I begin to stir from my darkness. Splashing- water. The life-giver dripping on my mouth. The layer of stone wrapped over me recedes. I was so still before, but now I need to breathe. I try to move my fingers and toes.
Then I can sit up, joints cricking and aching comes to me in hazes and patches. Black gives to grey. The barest light through a hole from above illuminates the tunnel I am in. It is a narrow passageway, muddy water underfoot. Peering up, there seems to be a way out.
How long has it been? Where am I?
The last time I was alive and fighting some mutants and people like me. A migraine prevents me from thinking. Voices trail down the tunnel. Clumsy treading, heading in my direction. My heart seizes. Humans! They always torment me and what I have left to call my own. It isn't enough they have conquered the earth. My kingdom is gone. I slide into a crevice. It has been so long since I worked out. My limbs protest duly, after stretching, they become stiff again. But I keep silent except for my breathing.
"We haven't seen this place yet, man," a woman calls, shining her torch. Damn, don't see me. Don't come this way, or I will kill them. With what? I had a sword or spear, right? But there is nothing at my belt. A wave of dizziness overcomes me, a reminder that this body has to sleep again. I struggle to stay conscious. Sharp thorns rack my chest. I touch my shirt, or what is left. Torn in many places, run ragged, the ends of it covering my legs. A spreading brown stain with rust scent. Shit.
Brother!
I start. Impossible. She died! My sister died, though I forget why. She killed herself to stop me from something rash.
Brother are you alright? I felt you awaking.
Stop I don't know who this is. Thankfully it goes away. The humans are close by. Man and woman. No a child, so young. Her hair is brown-red hanging long. She looks puzzled. Dressed in city garb. Her companion is about my height and has brown hair also. He is busy examining my previous restng place- the empty rock. How could I have conceded to collapse on that paltry thing?
"Hmm someone was here. But dunno how long it was?" he says, dusting it. then feels on the rock.
If they realise it's me I will dispose of them, with my bare hands. I can fight them, because they are blind in the dark. The girl speaks, "What do you mean? We're in a sewer. Any chance of the thing being a dinosaur? Hope it is! We'd strike it rich."
"Nope. Nothing."
I relax and lean against the brick. Agony clouds my judgment. How long will they remain here? "Hey shine your light here. Mine's going out," the man urges.
"A fossil, of a small insect? Cool." They open jars, bags and take out gloves. The girl lowers one of the items in. Then they leave at last. I cannot hold my breath anymore. My vision has turned entirely red. My sister's disembodied voice is crying out.
No, stop it please. Stop!
Pulsing blood is trickling at a faster rate from my chest. When did I get this wound? Clammy and shivering. How did I end up like this? I cannot give up, must go to my people. They will know how to heal me. The herbs and flowers can do miracles. If they exist.
"Hello? Is there anyone there?"
"Can't be. Someone's here."
"Yes, bro. my hearing is good."
Curses. "We were followed. Hurry, let's go. Damn those relic people. We need the cash here." Running.
"Hush up. I think it's an animal," the girl shouts.
Lights playing and flashing. I think it is my harsh breathing so I try to make myself as small as possible. "Someone's in here!" The white light directly at my face. No, I won't go with you. I am a prince. You cannot… But as her blue eyes widen, cerulean as the blue jay, mine close. My last sensation of a warm hand against my face. I fall.
Everything hurts, especially my chest. Is it my heart? I do not open my eyes, mustn't let them be aware of me. However the surface is still spinning though I am resting flat on my back.
Later it is stationary. I look around, eyes half closed. I am in a room. My night vision adjusts quickly, as is for an elf. Tables and chairs, odd square things on them. Soft surface, it is a bed I am lying on. Someone has covered me with a sheet. I am slightly wet, but the pain has ceased. The bandage on my chest.
Could they have saved me? They are humans. Humans do not do such kind things.
But I don't have a choice. My strength has utterly gone.
Laira
That poor man had fainted! I was lucky to see that he had needed help. We were exploring under the tunnels for more artefacts and fossils when I heard the panting. Thought it was an animal injured or dying.
Not human. Some kind of mutant? Joe thought it's a ghost or vampire. He had such pale skin, almost translucent, shiny flaxen hair. I loved the sheen of it! Amber eyes and dark lips. The mutant had tried to resist me, until I touched him. Previously traumatized, he fainted on me and I alone could not brace his weight. Joe was so adamant that we dump him into a hospital. I covered his unusual hair with a dark hat and we lifted him. We argued all the way in the car back home. In the end he gave in from exhaustion I supposed.
There will be more protesting. I know. But I couldn't let this man get into a museum for display like a circus freak. He was so gravely injured that he slept all the way in the car. I pondered what research I had done about mutants and legendary heroes. There were many classes like in those rpg games- mages, witches, warlords, dwarves, elves, halflings, demons… so was our guy a mage? I failed to picture him casting spells.
With my basic first aid, I knew add pressure to the wound. I wrapped him with a tight bandage and placed his hand on it. I whispered that he should hang on. The man did not move, save for the respiration which lifted his chest. Good, no fever, no infection.
Clearing of throat. Onslaught number 2. "Sis how long are you planning to put him up? He could be a psychopath."
"Stop being so heartless, Joe. Please! He's injured. Didn't you see?"
"We should've sent him to the hospital and forget it. Have you tried to plan ahead- what if he's got some, some virus, disease! And die on us, in here. The implications, sis. We're always careful after our expeditions. But for this- person… "
"Enough," I stated, rising. Furious, frustrated. Merciless idiot! If only he'd not overprotect me. For Pete's sake, we were professionals! I had cleaned him up as much as possible. Why didn't Joe have a bit of compassion?
"Not more than a week, I tell you!"
Idiot! I wanted to shout, but stopped myself. Should not wake my guest up. I continued fantasizing about the perfect gentleman this person would be when he awakened. Joe pricked me some more, "Why did you lay him on your bed? I swear, once mom left us, all common sense flew out the windows!"
I grumbled softly that he's the one being bossy and impatient. I turned on the tv to the news. Luckily he was distracted by the latest news on terrorism and ranted about that (mostly to himself). I zoned out. We were amateur little Indiana Jones, that explorer we looked up to. Mostly our artefacts went to the museum and they paid us commissions. Joe and me loved exploring places, but nowadays we stayed local-based. It was pointless to fly up to Arizona only to find one bone not a whole fossil. Still waiting for that lucky break! Guess that's how my bro and I stuck together for our passion. Otherwise I would wise up and strike my path.
The captivating world beyond this reality- a mythical dimension- separated our ideals. I'm talking Atlantis, the Lost World which I believe in seeking out. Finding this man was the key to the Fae creatures. It had been my ambition to seek the lost worlds and escape to them.
At about 2 am, I heard a sound. Our guest had woke up! "Hey you alright?" I asked.
His eyes glittered like flashlights. So exotic! He had that rugged kind of cuteness- not delicately built. When Joe had peeled off his cloak, his torso was that of someone who worked out. Muscles rippled under the bandage as he shifted to be more comfortable.
"Who are you?" the man demanded in a deep bass.
I readily introduced myself.. "I'm Laira Severn. We found you under the Dolin Sewers, in the Big Apple."
He nodded, leaning back. Pain etched over his face. He would not cry out. I realised that sound was a muffled gasp. His hand left his chest. The bandage showed an ichor stain.
"You're bleeding again."
He waved a dismissive hand. "It's no matter. My body heals swifter than humans."
I came forward with the box and unrolled a fresh bundle. As I applied disinfectant to it, the man said softly, "I am Prince Nuada of a kingdom long considered lost to mortals."
Stunned, I almost lost my grip on reality. Such awesomeness! And a prince, no ordinary representative of his people. Which world, the fae? So many questions I had brimming to the extreme- mostly my euphoria. They exist! They are no fairy tales. I tried out his name and asked, "Are you a mage? Or a wizard?"
"Elf," came the soft voice.
"Elf? You are real! I thought you have pointed ears." I almost reached out to check, but controlled myself.
Nuada sighed. I think he felt amused. " Yes, they are. We have people of different colors and races. You do not need to cover the wound." He hissed as I cleaned his chest and changed the dressing. Sweat broke out on his forehead. If only we had painkillers. But seeing his reluctance I doubted he took those.
"Are you hungry?"
The prince kept his agony in check. He shook his head, breathing hard. To my ears, no mucus so he should be all right. Lifted his shaking hand to press the wound.
"Laira, it is all right that I stay? What of your kin?"
He had a beautiful accent, Old Kingdom Irish. Like the Middle Earth elves. He gazed at me expectantly.
I said,"It is cool. I want you, you're welcome to stay. How did you get hurt?"
Nuada frowned. I was sorry I had asked, it was too nosy of me. but he did reply, "I was a warrior. Once proud and strong. Now bedridden and ill able to help my people. I have failed them. why have I woken?"
What kind of reply was that? I attributed it to shock and disorientation from his agony.
"Sorry. You need to sleep. I'll make you something to eat." I made myself cheerful.
Some battle inside? He whispered some things to himself and gripped the blanket in a vice.
"Thank you." But no sign of Nuada sleeping- he watched me while I cleaned up the stuff, almost catlike. I felt shy. Joe had not come to ruin the moment. Thank god! He could be a bull. The passion in the elf's heated gaze was not centred on me, on something else. What bothered him so much? Maybe my brother was correct- he needed the medical attention. What do elves eat?
"Um , Your Highness. Are you vegetarian?" that got his attention.
"Yes. I don't consume meat," he said formally.