I'm so glad you all are liking the story so far! Thank you for your kind reviews! I'm going to be embarking on NaNoWriMo in a few days, so I probably won't update again for a month. Please forgive me! Do not fear, though, because I am desperately in love with this story, and I may find a way to sneak in working on it during November... we'll see! ;)


Chapter 4

Eyveniel

"Well, fair princess! How goes it with you?"

The jovial voice of Coranth rang through my mansion, deep with the interplay of melodic tones that made his voice resonate like an orchestra, powerful and commanding, a voice that could be anything but ignored.

My heart went through a change as radical as that of a bird leaping into flight, for I had not expected him quite this early, and I had received no warning of his arrival. Oh, slow down! I ordered it, but the command was half-hearted, for I could no more order it to cease its pounding than I could order myself to be gloomy on this day of all days.

Not bothering to restrain my smile, I glided to the top of the grand staircase just in time to see my servants shut the front door behind him, and to see him turn from thanking them to look up expectantly for me.

Oh, how I wanted time to hold still for that moment so that I could just stand there, drinking in the sight of him! Everything about him glowed golden, illuminating the front hall. His golden hair, laden with flashing sparks of sunlight, swirled about his face. Every time he moved his head it moved with him, in a swishing motion that seemed to tell of the swiftness of its owner. His face possessed a fascinating blend of depth and hardness, its outlines etched in stone like the face of a cliff – making his smile shine even brighter when it broke forth, noble and beautiful to the last degree. But his eyes… never have I seen such burning intensity, nor so forceful a will looking out of those windows to the soul. How I would hate to ever be the object of his anger! But to be one whom he loved…

"My lord Coranth!" I greeted him, trying to keep my voice at a normal level. I would much rather have called out his name and dashed down the stairs to fling my arms around his neck, but such an action was not befitting a lady of propriety. "It is so good of you to come!"

"My pleasure!" he said, leaping up the stairs to meet me and taking my hand to lead me the rest of the way down the stairs. "I trust that things have been well? You have not lacked for anything?"

"Oh, nothing!" I assured him hurriedly. "The servants are all most polite, the cook outdoes herself with each successive meal -- and the new lamps you gave me last time you were here work beautifully. Really, I am quite content."

We entered my sitting room, and after he assisted me into a chair, he seated himself across from me. I continued detailing how happy my life was until I ran out of things to say, all the while feeling a little color steal into my cheeks at the thought that I had lied when I said I was content. Coranth listened attentively, but when I had finished he looked at me with concern.

"Tell me, Eyveniel," he spoke gently. "If you are really as content as you said, then what is it that brings such a sad shade into your eyes?"

I was startled and a little frightened that I had not succeeded in fooling him, and I was about to deny that I was sad at all, but he foresaw my argument and halted me.

"Come now," he continued with a kind, encouraging tone. "I see the reserve in your face. What is it that you wish?"

Could I really tell him all that I wished? No, I could not. It would have been all wrong.

"Well," I said, looking at the ground as I was unsure of what to say. "There has certainly been no fault with any of my.... my physical surroundings. This mansion is more than spacious enough for me, and I have everything I need."

"But you are lonely," he said.

I looked up at him, startled. "How...?"

He chuckled softly. "There's no surprise in that, now is there?" he asked. "I can see it in your face, and I know you have often lacked for company. But come," he cried, his voice changing and returning to that bright, glowing tone it usually had. "Word has reached me that you have not been entirely lonely! Tell me about this dancing partner of yours!"

I blushed, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the turn the conversation had taken, and not exactly sure why. "Joremn?" I said. "Well, I should think you would know all about that already, seeing as how you see him every day."

"It's difficult to get Joremn to tell me about anything concerning you. And besides, I want to hear it from your own lips."

"Yes," I agreed, thinking back to the conversation I had had with him last night. "Coranth, is it true that you are often in danger? When you go to fight the Prince of Corruption, I mean?"

He frowned, taken off guard by the abrupt change in topic. "Did he tell you about that? I didn't expect...."

"He did," I said. "It's the first time since we've known each other that I have heard him speak of it. Oh Coranth, promise me that you will be careful!"

"I.... I will," he said, leaning backwards a little as if it would be easier to comprehend me if I were several inches farther away from him. "I always try to take every precaution, I can assure you of that. But why this sudden preoccupation with my safety? I am alive and well now, aren't I?"

I didn't know what to say to him. I found myself looking at my hands. "But I've only just now realized what peril you are in," I said. "Of course I have a right to worry." I looked up at him. "And what would I do if you were suddenly taken from me?"

He stared at me. "Do I mean that much to you?"

I told myself firmly to stop fidgeting. "It is like you said, Coranth. I am lonely... sometimes. And you have been.... you have been like family to me."

What strange shadow of a thought was it that lingered for a moment over his face? What hidden emotion, there and then quickly buried again? I could not say.

"I... am honored that you think.... so much of me," he said slowly. "I... forgive me. I will try to visit you more often."

"I did not mean my words to be a reproach," I said.

"They were not," he replied. "They only reminded me of something my heart has told me many times before. I cannot help but feel responsible that you are so lonely. I should have come more often, and I will, in the future."

My heart leaped at the thought, but I could not pluck the one thing that lightened my soul out of his words and leave the rest ignored. "But why should you feel responsible?" I asked. "It is not your fault."

"Is it not?" He spoke the words with a sort of dreamy air, as if they were never meant to be more than thoughts, spoken to himself and not spoken aloud. After several seconds he snapped himself out of his reverie. "Yes, well. How on earth did the conversation ever get here? Come, you must be hungry, and I am holding up your repast."

"No, please, stay," I said, as I always did whenever he tried to leave in this manner. "The moon grapes have ripened and been pressed into wine, and the silver apples are finer than they've been for many a year. I have a feast prepared for the both of us."

"Splendid!" he cried with a grin. "My lady, you always outdo yourself every time I come!"

Having said this, he offered me his arm and escorted me into the dining room of my palace, where we talked of many other things, none of which had any real importance, and which had no real purpose save to fill up the empty silence and to help us set aside the memory of the strange conversation that had just transpired.