So yeah, this got more likes than I thought it would. hehe. I do plan to keep this as close to canon as I really can. Some events will have to change, but I'm trying to keep the characters as much canon as I can. This is my first AU type fic, so pardon my dust. It's going to be mainly Felicity's point of view for a bit. I'm still thinking it out though. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks! Let me know if you have questions! You can also find me on tumblr as Lolanae.
After Oliver dropped off the tome, Felicity cleared out the Library. She told the scribes to take an early day and enjoy a long weekend. None of them questioned her, since she did it often when they all got on her nerves. Ember was prancing around on Felicity's desk when she got back to her office at the top of the tower. "Have you studied anything about blood magic, Felicity?" Ember asked nudging the burnt tome.
"I have read some. I swear we have a journal somewhere in this tower." Felicity began to look over the bookshelves that lined her office walls. The rarest and most valuable pieces of work were stored in her office for protection. The rest of the library held more common knowledge works. She ran her fingers along the leather spines of the books. "Ah ha! Found you." Felicity pulled the journal off of the shelf and took it back to her desk. Pure nerves caused her to check to make sure no one was looking in the window before she opened it, even though she was at one of the highest points in the castle.
Ember gave her a funny look, "The only people that could get in are the dragons, silly mage."
Felicity shot a glare at Ember, "Shhh!"
"One day you'll be proud of who you are Felicity," Ember looked up at Felicity with golden eyes.
"One day when natural magic isn't punishable by death if the wrong people see you do it." Felicity sighed and shook her head. "Anyway, back to this." She opened the journal and skimmed it. "Seems that blood mages do show a natural affinity for it, but they can only do basic magic if they don't have blood. To do the majority of their magic they need blood as a catalyst."
Ember paced back and forth on Felicity's desk. "What type of blood?"
"Human only, so you are safe," Felicity said, answering Ember's worry. She swore the whelpling sighed in relief. "The question is why or how Oliver got his hands on this spell book. I only have this journal because I fought to keep it under the grounds of being able to better understand all aspects of magic – good and bad."
"Maybe he found it? Or can someone become a blood mage? Maybe while he was gone?" Ember flew up and perched on top of Felicity's head. She giggled as Ember's tail tickled her neck.
"Silly dragon, why are you up there?"
"I want to pretend I can read like you," Ember said.
"Still wishing you could be human?" Felicity rubbed the end of Ember's tail.
"Yes," Ember laid her head down on Felicity's forehead. "Having a human best friend is the next best thing though!"
"I'm glad." Felicity giggled. She went back to comparing the two tomes. The burnt one only had a few salvageable pages. She grabbed her silver framed glasses and put them on. "Off my head for a moment, Ember." The dark red whelpling fluttered back down to Felicity's desk.
"What is it?"
Felicity was closely looking at the handwriting of the two tomes. "These are written by the same person!" She flipped the journal back to the front page. "Lawton."
"Do I want to know how bad he is?" Ember nosed the journal in Felicity's hand.
"I'll spare you the details, but he is bad news. Very bad news. And Prince Oliver has his spell book." Felicity got up from her desk and looked out the window. The sun was starting it's decent to the west. "I hate mysteries."
"But you solved the one of the burnt book!" Ember danced in a circle.
"Yes, but I found a bigger one. A mystery with many more questions." Felicity fidgeted with hem of the sleeve of her robe. As she watched the sunset, it started to rain suddenly, and she laughed. "Helle must be bored."
"Why must I be bored every single time it rains?" A sprite-like little voice came from behind Felicity.
"Because when rain storms pop up that quickly, it's usually you," Felicity grinned at the water dragon whelpling sitting in the other window. Its turquoise colored scales shimmered with rain drops. "If you are staying, play nice with Ember."
"But…"
"But, nothing. You two girls can be best friends one moment and driving me insane the next." Felicity looked at both of them, and then back at Helle, "While you are here, have you seen the Prince outside the castle at all since he returned?"
Helle closed her bright blue eyes for a moment. "Yes! By the lake the other day. I was playing in the water. I saw his horse tied up near the bank, and I saw him a few hours later. Is everything okay?"
"I hope so, precious." Felicity kissed the top of Helle's head. "Go play in your rain." Helle happily flew off.
Before Felicity could sit back down at her desk, there was a knock at the door. Ember vanished after the first knock. "Who is it?" Felicity asked.
"Oliver," the rough voice from earlier replied.
Felicity sat down at her desk, and Oliver had pulled a chair up next to her. She had never been this close to the Prince before. Felicity shook her head a little bit, "So, this book, you said it belongs to you?"
"Yes." Oliver turned his head and looked a little frustrated.
"Well, it appears to be a Blood Mage spell book." Felicity could hear the shakiness in her own voice.
Oliver's eys betrayed the shock his stoic nature was trying to hide. "Umm, ahh, do you know who it belongs to?"
"A mage named Lawton." Felicity decided to be brave, "I don't want to cause trouble. The Queen has been trying to find all of the blood mages the past few years. So I was a little shocked when you brought me a spell book from one."
"I've never learned about the magical arts. Why is my mother hunting down blood mages?" Oliver looked a mix of confused and frustrated.
"There are different types of mages: Natural born ones and then those that need the aid of something, be it spells, books, or totems. Blood mages use human blood to fuel their spells. It is as shunned as necromancy. Sadly, natural born mages have grown to have a bad reputation over the last few years because of the evils of the Blood mages." Felicity tried to keep her mind focused on Oliver. "Your mother and step-father had been working on this crusade for as long as I can remember. I had to fight to be able to keep this journal here for the sake of just research."
"I see."
"Can I speak openly, Prin..I mean Oliver?" Felicity swallowed hard. Oliver nodded. "I'm not sure what all is going on, but please, be careful. If you need any further research, I offer my assistance."
"I will, Felicity. Thank you." Oliver smiled at her. It was a warm and sweet smile. Genuine was the only thought that came to mind. "Do you need an escort home? It's already nightfall."
"I'm good. Thank you though." Felicity knew she was blushing, but the prince had just offered to walk her home. She showed Oliver out and locked up behind him. Felicity let out a deep sigh as she slid down the door.
Ember appeared in the middle of her office and ran down to her. "Are you okay, m'lady?"
Felicity giggle, "Yes, I'm fine."
"You are almost as red as me!"
Felicity knew she just blushed more. "The prince offered to walk me home. It just surprised me."
"He doesn't know you live here?"
"I think most of this castle doesn't notice me, Ember." Felicity said as she stood up and walked to a book shelf near her desk. She closed her eyes and whispered a few words. The bookshelf opened outward, revealing a staircase. Felicity and Ember walked up to where Felicity's room was in the very top of the tower.
It wasn't a very large room, but it was plenty big enough for Felicity. She had room for a desk up here to work on non-library things, her bed, some precious things that held meaning for her, and for her magical things. A highly detailed and jeweled staff was propped up in the corner by her bed. Felicity walked over to the small window near her bed and popped it open, "Iris, I need you, please."
"Why are you calling her?" Ember asked, blowing a bit of flame on the candles around the room to light them.
"Because, as much as I love you, she's more adept at sneaking about the castle than you are." Felicity said, stroking Ember's scales.
A light giggle came from behind them. "Don't be mad, Ember." Iris said. "I'll give you a lesson if you teach me how to be fierce like you." The air dragon whelpling walked a circle on Felicity's bed, her opalescent scales sparkling in the candle light.
"Deal!" Ember bounced around and knocked over a glass with her tail. "Sorry!" She tucked her tail underneath her.
"What do you need, 'Licity?" Iris had always called Felicity that. She stopped being bugged by it and found it rather cute now.
"I need you to watch Oliver. I have a bad feeling that he is either in trouble or looking for it." Felicity sat down by Iris. She always loved Iris' light sky blue eyes.
"The Prince, 'Licity? Trouble?" Iris crawled into Felicity's lap. "Didn't he just get home from trouble?"
"Sadly, yes." Felicity was worried. "Can you help me?"
"Of course. I will keep an eye on him." Iris bopped her snout against Felicity's chin and then flew back out of the window.
Ember was still on the floor curled into a ball to control her tail. "Maybe if the Prince is open to magic you can tell him what you are?"
"I have told who I am." Felicity laid back on her bed.
Ember flew up and landed on her chest. "Four dragons doesn't count, m'lady."
"And I prefer you four and my books to people and their assumptions." Felicity closed her eyes. "I will keep helping Oliver though. It feels like what I am supposed to do."
"You like him." Ember giggled.
Felicity knew the blush on her cheeks gave her away. "Yes, I do."
That night as Felicity laid in her bed she tried to get to sleep. Ember was happily asleep in a ball at the foot of the bed. Felicity, however, couldn't get her mind to stop. She kept trying to figure out why Oliver had that book and why. Also having permission to call him Oliver and not Prince was weird. And blushing. The blushing. And this sinking feeling that today was not the last time she'd see Oliver in her office asking for help. With a whisper from Felicity, the candle that had remained lit on the other side of the room went out. She rolled over and went to sleep.
