Sanctuary for a lost prince 2

I wanted to give the elf's homeland a beautiful name so I call it Elysion. Now I read up other fanfics, I will try to use their original names.

Listen to Fate/stay Night's second opening and Linkin Park's "In the end".

I tried so hard, got so far

But in the end it doesn't even matter! I went too far to lose it all

But in the end it doesn't even matter.

(Linkin Park)


Prince Nuada

She astounded me asking that question of pointed ears. I had not wanted to reply. Nobody questions me, not humans who are empty shells. Unforgiveable! But she being a youngling, did not know that. I could not be furious though I tried. My hatred does not extend to women and children. So mature and confident, this Laira.

When I got up and felt the pain, she had been nearby and rushed in to help me. A mystery, this persistent bleeding. My people are renouned for the swiftness in healing injuries, less than a few hours, but it seemed this was a refusal to... The throb went on mercilessly. But it was endurable.

I deserve no less than death. Having trained myself to be a hunter of the enemy, I easily despatched people in swift blows. But the memory came to me, a fevered dream of our guardian mother, Ariadne. She touched my forehead. We were in a flourishing and flowering garden city, resembling my home! I miss that. The earth had become possessed of machines, cattle. They razed our home, destroyed the rainforests, plundered the oceans. We were driven to extinction, save for a small handful of the Fae. Legend has it they went through a Veil to another era of Earth. My Elven Kingdom of Twilight returned to this time. To this day I comprehend little of my forefather's decision.

Because they had no respect of us, calling us the Forgotten. The ruthless persecution went on. This notion weakened me.

Why had Lady Aria woken me from my stone sleep? While I was out cold, the mortal Joe had said hospital, to send me there. Disgusting, where they inject you with needles and have things done to you. I'd rather die here! My mind drifted, finding it hard to concentrate on one coherent pathway. Throbbing agony once more sliced. I bent double. My sister called to me. I begged her spirit to rest, leave me alone.

Where are you? I feel your presence. I forced her voice back. The smell of broth or soup cooking wafted into this room. Fresh greens. My stomach growled. I sat up, dignified as much as possible to receive the girl. She was no less than sixteen, I estimated. "Hi!" she greeted me. "Let me feed you."

"I can handle this." My hands shook as I took the bowl. It helped to warm my freezing body. Why did they rescue me, since I felt this cold and lifeless? Laira supported my weak trembling effort.

"Sure. But it's ok to help you. You are starving." Her tone was so poignant and brooked no argument.

I smiled. She did not cower from me at all. Well she would change her mind when she researched the history of the warrior elves. Laira touched my long white locks in wonder. "Want some more?" she asked when I finished.

"No." Exhaustion returned. I hated this weakness but I needed to lie down. My body continued the wretched humiliation of shivering. I tried to stop.

She went to a wardrobe. shaking out clothes of all shapes and colors, Laira showed a black one to me, called a sweater. What about my clothes?

" Where is my robe?" I needed the one clothing that was mine.

She draped the sweater over me and guided me until I wore it properly. How could I, a strong able bodied warrior be needy of a pathetic human to care! Thankfully Laira moved away and I kept myself in check. My loneliness had reached its limit, the secret loneliness I disguised and caged to be the hunter.

"Over there,"she answered, pointing to a chair. "You wanna wear it? Don't, it's so tattered and stained."

"I want it back. Later!" I used My harshest tone, but the tone turned out petulant. This black color accentuated my pale heritage.

"Ok. I will deliver it to you when it's washed. Satisfied?" She appeased.

I nodded, making myself relax. Quiet for the next moment. She remained with me, touching my white blond hair. Slightly telepathic, I picked up on Laira's brimming questions, but her polite consideration held her back. Darkness.

My sister Nuala and I when we were five, playing by the River Elysion. This extended throughout Elven Forest. We loved playing with the mermaids, faeries and our friends from the Verian and Meriee clans. Our colors were of the forest, skies, water and flowers. Not the black of my exile… tree-climbing! Such carefree times. We are twins, always connected. I love you Nuala. Don't leave me. You should come with me. What place is this now?


"Your Highness, you're gripping my hand." that voice woke me. I resented this interruption, yet I was hurting her too. She winced.

"Sorry." Letting go, I moved further away. "You shouldn't come so near when I sleep."

Laira did not feel angry. Instead, she said, "You called me a name, Neva something? Never heard a man say sorry before. You are something."

I did not know what that meant. A human expression. Did she mean I had done something? Scanning her revealed nothing.

She went on, "Your hair is sheening like the moonlight. I love it! So incredible and smooth."

"Thank you. but, don't you want to sleep?" I did not wish to be her pet dog, stroked and prodded.

"I cannot, see this is my bed. I figured you needed a bed and since you were unconscious it wouldn't be right to make you lie on the couch. Don't worry."

I made to rise immediately. This was so wrong, I had reprimanded a girl and used her bed! But the pain was returning in a flood to my joints, like a fever. My headache too.

A masculine voice said, "She willingly did this. Just rest. Won't do to be more injured."

My wandering gaze focused on a man in the doorway. "That's my brother, Joe. This is Prince Nuada." Laira's tone held resentment. Joe's face was devoid of any feeling to me, only affection shone for his sister. His protectiveness reverberated off him against me, a stranger.

"I won't do anything indecent. Too weak to." It was stupid to be vulnerable, I had long schooled my torso to harsh terrains, lengthy amount of physical exertion. My telepathy seconds this trait. Despite my reassurance, Joe continued to watch me.

"You'd better go sleep in another room. I can sleep alone," I said, facing my back on the girl.

Laira yawned. "But you need me, Your Highness."

"Do you have another place to sleep? I didn't know… I could have gone elsewhere." What the hell was I sputtering? I almost swore in elven.

"You mean how Joe was acting? He's a bull, that one! I don't care."

I closed my eyes. Didn't want to cause a rift between them. My own close relationship with sister and father had been treasured, until she betrayed my trust. Although they argued, I was sure these two mortals loved each other. "No I will be fine. Please."

Laira still remained until my breathing became deep. I felt her step away to the door and close it gently. The light went off. Finally I could return to the dream which made me so happy. .. But the happiness eluded me, turning to my recent nightmare:

When I turned eighteen, my father King Balor lost to those low lives. He surrendered our beautiful lands of Elysion to barbarians. They misused our resources, driving out all the myths and natives so they could occupy more and more. Finally we moved underground, taking some plants with us that thrived underground. The lack of sunlight turned our tanned skin into the pallidness of the undead. So fearful of being exposed. Naturally I protested. I wanted to free our people.

But no one stood with me. Ashamed of them, I went into exile and vowed to return when they needed me again. Clash of swords, blood spraying on my face. The sing of elven metal and breaking blades. I am powerful. No, used to be. So many years have aged my natural agility. I fell from grace. No!

A bottle of something was on the table beside the bed. Labelled: painkillers. Laira had thought I would need it. I refused to take it. The fey often die from manmade chemicals.

I left the bottle where it was and holding the bedpost, tried to get to my feet.

Nausea rose in my stomach but my knees held. I desperately needed a bath. For now my chest wound had staunched but I was covered in sweat. Why am I in this wretched state? Placing myself in human hands.

No Nuada. You awoke because you have been given another chance to redeem yourself. Your folk still need you.

How can I do anything? My health is so poor. I can't save them, I replied bitterly. The voice's owner was unknown but her words of soothing Elven brought me some calm and peace. I needed more time. Had I declared war? I vaguely remembered doing something drastic but could not quite think clearly. Now I was leaning against a chest.

"Hello, Prince- sorry forgot your name." the mortal was back. She could not see where I was in this darkness, shaking her head from side to side. "What happened? Where are you?"

It touched me that her concern spilled over. I am a killer of your race. Once more, my hostility towards her race did not touch this girl. "I'm here. My name is Nuada, my friend." I said it slowly.

"Ok. Let's check on you now." She flipped on the light. I shaded my eyes. "Sorry!"

" Please turn it off. I like the darkness." When Laira had supported me back into bed, she flipped off the switch. Softly she asked why I had stood up when I could have asked for assistance.

"Couldn't sleep. I did not want to disturb you." The pillows were a comfort to me, seldom had I slept on a bed since my exile. In truth the pain made it near impossible to sleep.

Laira held a pitcher of cool water, which she said was from the tap. It tasted good, refreshing. Then she went out. Returning again with a basin and cloth. "Noo-wa is it? and I've gotta salute or bow. Which you prefer?"

This offhand comment made me smile. It was adorable, changing my name like that. "Yes. But you need not bow. What about your name, Ly-ra or Lay- ra?"

She giggled. Whisper of cloth on my skin. "Lyra," she said

"All right, Lyra. Thank you for saving me. I am in both your debt." She wiped my perspiration. I sensed no fear from her, only curiosity for me and my kind. "I would like to bathe. " Laira showed me the bathroom, which was only nearby. Then she explained about the cleansing things and demonstrated the use of the shower. There was a towel I could use too.

I thanked her. The human shower foam smelled of lavender which I enjoyed using. After I was completely washed, I noticed a bathrobe had been left on the door for me. Joe was waiting outside.

They both looked groggy and lacked sleep. "I am sorry to trouble you. Go to bed."

Joe nagged her to leave me alone and walked out.

Laira did not budge from her chair near me. "May I ask, how old are you? 30?"

Definitely older than that. I lived through many lifetimes. Truth or lie? I decided the lie was good.

"Why were you underground? It was filthy…. And who wounded you?"

So many questions. Her gaze lingered on my golden eyes, still studying my unusual features in admiration. "I was looking for someone. Then an enemy ambushed me and I was wounded."

But these answers would only serve for now. More questions pressed to the fore of her mind- how long had I fought, who were the enemies, why did I have other scars on my body and face. She fell asleep, leaning back on the chair, hair fallen astray. She was not exotically or outstandingly beautiful, but her small stature gave her delicacy.

I was still terribly weak the next few days. Recovery was painstakingly slow. Joe became more forthcoming, said hi when he passed by and made little conversation. Constantly his worry was getting me into hospital, but I adamantly refused. As long as I did not exert myself, there was scarcely pain and blood. Both of them could cook well, or they brought in takeout- something bought outside. I wanted to speed up my recovery, so I ate meat too. Laira made me delicious broth. I liked eating with them, there was companionship. Since Wink my troll friend had died, I was often alone. Wink I missed sorrowfully- few words, large stature and my playmate. I made friends, few and far between, among the fay. We are a suspicious lot, often giving friendship in return for some bribe or favour. The trolls were simpler.

"Why are you sad?" the girl asked me. She touched my hand.

"I'm fine. Just thinking about… my people. You call it, homesickness. " I replied. With contact like that, I brushed her mind. Below the questions, Laira was different from Joe's aloofness, she showed loyalty to her friends, not discriminating against other races. Reason why she was open to learning about me. her fascination and obsession with Atlantis and lost worlds. A mortal who cared so deeply and passionately of conservation and accepting. "Nuada. I got it right this time. Feeling better? "

I nodded and let go of her hand. "I am improved in mood." I sank onto the couch and closed my eyes. For now, I was able to manage the distance to the living room. But there was still some blood on my bandage. They did not know- I made sure to wear a shirt. I stifled any indication of agony by focusing on something, like the soft music playing. I found the rock music too noisy, but there were classic songs which I loved.

Laira did not leave me alone. She always asked Joe to go on their trips for artefacts. I guessed they were relic hunters. They were not as wicked as poachers and hunters. I found myself excusing my rescuers each day that I remained in their home. I am getting soft…