I was still young when I realized that I was different. Young is a relative term… Young for me is old to others, and younger still to the Dar'okan Elves, although I looked about five years older than the other children my age. Even though I matured faster than my peers, I was naïve enough to believe that it was nothing to be concerned about and that it would stop once I reached a certain height or build.

Then the other children began to tease me, pointing out the differences in appearance between us: My skin was a pale, alabaster white compared to their dappled white, grey, and black skin; my facial features were harsher and more prominent compared to their delicate ones; and my build was curvier than their wisp-like builds.

When they mentioned these things, I began to notice them, too. I was different. I didn't understand why I was different from them, and pondered the thought on my way back to the palace from my studies that day. I absent-mindedly made my way through the dark, shadowy halls of the palace's main hallway, and found myself in front of a large, oak double-door, blackened with age, but still remarkably sturdy. I grabbed the large, silver knocker that could have fit a Giant's hand and knocked three times. It was so heavy that knocking alone bade me draw breath. The doors creaked open and I made my way into the room.

"Princess Kari of the Dar'oka Deep!" My name was announced by an unseen herald, but as I was used to this, I gave it no attention and approached the throne where my father sat. I remember him looking dark and cruel on the throne. I knew that was not the way he normally was, and I imagined the change came from the throne itself. For every time he sat on it, his face would grow cold and unfeeling. It was my misfortune that I came to speak with him as he was seated on it.

My hands grew cold and sweaty, my legs shook beneath my black silken gown. I kept my eyes downcast as I reached the mark a princess was allowed to approach in the king's court. I bowed, as dignified a princess to a king, and waited for my father to speak first.

He did not speak for what seemed a long time, and I kept my head bowed, which was appropriate and enabled me to keep from looking at the imposing figure before me. To anyone who was not accustomed to our court, he may have looked like a statue; like the statue in the temple of Dar. The statue of our main god, Dar, was of course, not my father. Seeing as how my father had no horns growing from atop his head, nor hair made of leaves. But the overall presence was the same. A presence that demanded respect.

"What brings you here?" His voice was deep, and his words and inflections commanded an answer.

I was not used to speaking with my father while he was on the throne and hesitated. If I had found him somewhere else, his voice would have been softer, his words more comforting, seeing me in distress. But I had not. He was on his throne, and he had become someone else. No, he had become a king, rather than a father. I stilled my rapidly beating heart and prepared myself to speak.

"I merely had a question, that I believe only you can answer."

He remained silent for many moments as if contemplating something very serious, but eventually replied, "What is your question?"

"I have noticed, as have other children I take my studies with, that I am different from the others. I do not have the Dar'okan Elf skin, nor their features nor build." I had to pause here to take a breath and steady myself.

"That is not a question. Ask your question now, or leave."

Clenching my hands together to keep from shaking, and my eyes closed to shut off the whispers I heard from the others around me, I asked my question:

"Why? Why am I different?"

Silence. Complete silence. The others had stilled now, in light of my question, and I could not help but think that it was because they knew. I opened my eyes and looked around me. The ministers, advisors, and lords and ladies of the court were standing deep in the shadows, out of the eyes of my father. I stood in the middle of the room, close to the steps ascending to the throne, where a faint light (common in the Dar'oka Deep to signify day-time) shown on me. Slowly, I looked up at my father. His eyes were dark and narrow, as if contemplating a difficult decision.

"You are a Half-Breed. Half Human, half Dar'okan Elf."

It was as if someone had swung a hammer into my chest. I stumbled back a step from the blow of it. I remember my lungs straining for breath, my mind erased of all thought except the sudden information I had learned.

"Half-Bre-" I couldn't make myself say it. "What do you-"

"Your mother, the late Queen Gwendolynn, was a Human," my father interrupted me. "So you, as being her daughter, are a Half-Breed."

It didn't make any sense. Our forest was virtually unknown to even the most astute scholars of the world above, and even to most of the Under-Dark. Anyone who set foot into our forest were hunted and killed. How was my mother a Human?

"Is there anything else?" He said it so nonchalantly, as if this news were old and were no big deal. It angered me. Sitting on the throne or not, how could he turn my world upside down and act as if he did nothing?

"Yes." My eyes narrowed, and my voice grew more steady with my anger boiling inside me. "How can I be part Human? Isn't our forest unknown to the outside world? Don't we mercilessly kill anyone who steps foot onto it? How can I be part Human?! It doesn't make sense!" My fists clenched, and I saw something I never had before. I saw bright light flashing throughout the room. I did not understand it, but I paid it no mind, and focused on the task at hand.

I saw my father's eyes grow wide and a look of surprise, replaced by panic, flashed across his finely shaped features. He leaped from his throne and called out loudly, "Guards! Escort the child to her chambers! NOW!" Guards were suddenly surrounding me and shepherding me out of the throne room without touching me. It was forbidden for anyone other than others of the royal family to touch me. But they did fast of their work and I was soon in my own chambers in the Children's Wing. I was nearly fifteen, and thought myself already old enough to have chambers outside this nursery, but when I looked at other children my age, they looked very much younger than I. If I had been ten years of age, my looks may have matched theirs.

But that was not my concern at the moment. My anger had faded and was now replaced with fear. I had yelled at my father… I had yelled at the king! If anyone else had done it, they would have been taken to the dungeons immediately. I hoped that me being a princess, and his daughter at that, would give me some leeway. Wringing my hands, I walked back and forth across the room, thinking of the best way to apologize to Father. Should I fling myself to the floor and beg for his forgiveness? Or should I maintain my dignity and coolly apologize while explaining my case?

I was still in this state of debate when my chamber doors opened and Father strode into the room. I stopped pacing and ran to meet him, my head bowed.

"Kari-"

"I'm sorry, Father!" I interrupted him. I must have my say before he can give me my punishment, I thought. "I was overwhelmed with the news and didn't understand it. To be honest, I still don't, but I must apologize for my behavior in court. It was undignified as a princess and brought shame to you. Forgive me!"

I heard a sigh escape Father lips, and felt his hand on my shoulder. I looked up into his face and saw what I least expected to see. Sorrow. "Silence, child. Come. Let us speak comfortably, you and I." As expected, he'd become the loving father I liked most. He ushered me to the couch in the center of the room, and sat down. "You there!" he called to the servants near the door, "Bring us refreshments."

"Yes, Sire!" they called, and left the room.

"Now we may speak in private." He said lightly and gave me a mischievous wink. I gave a weak smile, my mind still too burdened by the day's activities and actions to give a real one. Seeing this, Father's eyes grew dim and he reached out to hold my hand. "I know what ails you, Kari, and I know it does not make sense to you right now, but it all will in due time. I am sorry I had to send you from the throne room in such a fashion. As king, I have to maintain that kind of presence so my subjects will not disobey."

"I understand… But what does that mean, Father? How will it make sense in due time?" This was getting more complicated the more the day went on.

"There are some things about how your mother came to be here that you can never know. If you do, the pain you feel now will only be deepened. Seeing you in the throne room today, I knew this was going to happen, but I thought it best you at least know this much about yourself."

I nodded. He was not going to explain any more to me, and I was not going to ask. Asking would only make him angry, and I was enjoying this time with him now, as opposed to when we were in the throne room. I would find out about myself and Mother in my own time, in my own way.

"Father," I said, deciding to change the subject, "Did you see bright lights earlier? It seemed as if the sun from the world above were trying to break it's way through."

"No, I didn't. It must have been your imagination, dear." He smiled, but I saw that he was hiding something… Hiding what, I couldn't tell, but his smile seemed not to reach his eyes.

"There are many things I must see to, as King, and so I must leave you now. Do not cause any more trouble, and stay here." He abruptly stood up and was walking to the door.

"Yes, Father." I replied, standing to see him out.

He turned and placed a cool hand on my cheek. "Remember what I told you, Kari, and everything will be well."
I nodded once more, and he left my room.

Soon after my discussion with Father, the servants brought in the refreshments he had ordered and abruptly left almost as quickly as they had come. The silver platter seemed to glow in the faint light coming from the open windows, and the scent of the fruits on the tray traveled with the wind to give a clean, refreshing scent to the room. I picked up a piece of fruit and absent mindedly nibbled on it while walking to the open balcony, thinking of the day's happenings. The white, transparent fabric of the curtains of the balcony blew softly in the breeze. There were such beautiful things in the Dar'oka Deep, but they all seemed to have the same colors of different shades: green, brown, black, and white. No other colors were found here, but at the time, it did not matter, because it was all I knew. Although many things tended to shine and glow because of the light from the Under-Dark, the glow was always a pale white, and seemed to be the workings of the imagination instead of an actual glow.

Lost in these thoughts and others, a message came in my mind:

Are you alright? I know what happened.

It was from my elder twin sister, Ranien. Dar'okan Elves are always born with a twin, triplets or single children being extremely rare. Born as twins, we were also born with a telepathic link between us, as are other Dar'okan Elves.

I am fine now, I thought. Father is hiding something from me, but I plan on seeking what it is.

Are you sure?

Yes. I need to know about Mother. And about myself.

You'll need an expert then. I'll be to your chambers in a few minutes. Wait for me.

Just as promised, a few minutes later, a knock sounded at the door. I went to answer it and was met with a girl with the same face as me. I let her in, and we both sat on the couch, as Father and I had.

"So how are you an expert on Mother?" I asked, teasing slightly, knowing she was talking about me.

"Be quiet," She responded, seeming to be a bit exasperated with my teasing. "Tell me everything that happened. I was only able to find out what happened by eavesdropping on the ministers."

"First, tell me what you know. It'll be easier to tell you what information you're missing that way."

She nodded and told me that she had heard from various ministers during her eavesdropping attempts that I had come into the throne room and asked the king about our mother. She also said that she had heard I had yelled at him, and he had dismissed me from the throne room to be confined to my chambers as punishment.

I sighed. Oh, how rumors grew… Though I couldn't blame them entirely. I had believed the exact same just a few minutes before. "That is not everything, and some of what you have heard is not true. Father sent me to my chambers because he couldn't speak to me like a daughter in the throne room. Something about maintaining face… But later he told me that I would understand everything in due time, and not to ask any more questions."

"I see…" Ranien's face grew inquisitive, and her eyes darted back and forth. "I agree, Kari. It's best not to ask any more questions regarding Mother or our heritage... At least not to HIM."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember when we got caught and scolded by Father for sneaking into his study?"

"Yes. We weren't able to leave our quarters for an entire week. Isn't that also when he made us get separate rooms?"

She nodded. "Far away enough from each other that our telepathy wouldn't work… But just suppose that his study is kept restricted for a reason. Just suppose there's a book or scroll in there about our mother?"

It seemed to make sense… Father seemed reluctant to speak of her, and he wouldn't allow us into his study… Perhaps there WAS a link between them? Or maybe it was because it was full of other important documents he didn't want his children messing with?

I decided the rewards would outweigh the risk, if anything about our mother was in there. "So. What's the plan, Ranien?" Her plans were always mischievous and partly dangerous, but almost always seemed to work.

"We should sneak in the study tonight and see if we can't find something about her."

"But Ranien-" I started, feeling uneasy about it.

"Do you want to find out about Mother or not?"

When she put it that way, it was hard to refuse. I pushed my fear down my throat. "Fine. Meet me there an hour after the servants go to sleep. We can't have anyone reporting this back to Father."

"Agreed. And be careful of the Watchmen. They patrol everywhere late at night."