Here you go with an extra long update. Enjoy!

Chapter 7:

"Ranaya my dear, where were you last night?" an annoying voice sounded behind Ranaya as she made her way through the gardens.

Couldn't she go anywhere and be rid of this king for once? The dragon man stalked her everywhere it seemed.

"I am not your dear and why is it any concern of yours, Karik?" Ranaya didn't even turn to look at him behind. Her eyes traveled toward the stables. The doors were open and she could see Lando and Harry feeding the horses. She longed to be helping them. Maybe she could go help them and Karik would leave her alone.

Ranaya cried out as Karik seized her arm roughly and whipped her around to face him.

"Don't ever call me Karik. It's Your Majesty or Master." His voice held venom of a snake's and for the first time she saw he had a forked tongue like one. His eyes were more red than black.

"You certainly are not a Master of me, and have nothing Majestic about you." Ranaya spat, her emerald eyes flaming. She refused to let him see her fear.

"You will not speak to your future husband and king in that way," Karik growled, his hold tightening on her arm. His talons tore into her skin and she tried to yank away but his grip only tightened.

Ranaya clenched her jaw at the pain but kept her glare on him. "You're not worthy to be called king. What you do to elves is inhuman."

"What's all the interest of elves lately, hmm?" Karik narrowed his eyes at her. He laughed then, "You are right, my sweet. What I do to those varmints is inhuman. They aren't humans if you recall."

Ranaya didn't answer and bit down on her tongue hard before she gave the man a tongue lashing he deserved. She only hoped Lando wasn't watching Karik's treatment of her.

No one was really around at this hour which made it all the while easier for Karik to say or do whatever he wished—that was except for Lando and Harry.

Suddenly Ranaya noticed Karik was staring strangely at her wrapped hand. She immediately tried to tuck it into the folds of her dress but Karik let go of her arm and grabbed it roughly.

'What happened here?" Ranaya flinched as he began to unwrap it. He wasn't gentle in the least and it hurt horribly. When Lando had put the salve and bandage on it hadn't hurt at all.

Karik scoffed as the bandage came loose and her burn was hit by the midday air. His eyes grew huge as he looked at the green paste covering her burn.

Ranaya began to panic and tried to draw her renewed burning hand away.

"This is elven." Karik voice was dark as he stared at it. "Who doctored your hand?"

Fear was starting to fill her body until she was almost paralyzed. Not fear for herself, but for Lando.

Ranaya's mouth opened to say something but she shut it. She didn't know how to reply.

"Aww, afraid?" Karik mocked. It was clear he was furious. His body was more dragon than man. Just a minute ago his skin had been smooth tan, but now she could see black scales beginning to form. It seemed the angrier he got the more his human façade faded.

Not caring how much it hurt. All she knew was she had to get away from him. She snatched her hand away with the bandage and made a run for it straight to the stables.

"Get back here, Ranaya Yarkish. You haven't answered me!" Karik snarled and began to run after her. She felt heat radiating from him and it hurt. It made her only run more the faster.

Surely if she ran into the stables Karik wouldn't hurt her in front of Lando and Harry?

Ranaya ran so fast she took a nosedive into the hay at the back of the stable trying to stop. Lando and Harry came running up to her.

Lando was the first to reach her and gently pulled her away from the hay.

"Let go of me!" Ranaya screamed, thinking it was Karik. She started to struggle against him in terror.

"Sssh, it's only me, Ranaya." Lando held onto her tightly.

Ranaya stared up at him and relaxed if just for a second.

"Where is she? That miserable thing you call a princess!" Karik yelled in fury. He was a few yards behind them.

She stiffened in Lando's grasp. Her fingers gripped his tunic and she had to keep herself from accidentally digging her nails into his arm.

"I won't let him hurt you, I promise," Lando whispered into Ranaya's ear. He pressed her close to him in a protective gesture.

"No you mustn't let him find you out," she protested, willing herself to unattach herself from him and stand up to face Karik head on. However, Lando's grip was steadfast and it was a weak attempt.

Harry was staring at her and Lando in curious question. He hadn't realized the two were in love. The looks on their faces were plain to see. Ranaya stared him in the eye, hoping he would understand her plea and turn him Lando in to King Darius. The elf would be punished.

"No, Ranaya. I've put up with Karik treating you this way for far too long." His voice held vengeance.

Ranaya saw that in his eyes he was determined and unafraid of what he faced. She wasn't going to be able to talk him out of it.

Ranaya raised her chin to stare up at Karik as he approached the two.

"How dare you run from me!" Karik snarled when he was close enough to Ranaya. His heat burned her and she fought to keep a straight face.

She was half expecting to be grabbed harshly by the king but suddenly she was yanked away by Lando and pushed behind him in blinding speed.

She gasped slightly as Lando withdrew his sword and pointed it at Karik.

Harry backed into the wall with wide eyes. "Lando, what are you doing?" he gulped. Ranaya knew the stable hand could see Karik's true form.

Karik gave Lando a nasty sneer. "You dare challenge me, boy?"

Lando continued to point the sword and glared. "You will not lay a finger on her." Karik's heat didn't seem to faze the elf.

Karik laughed, "And who are you to tell me what I may and not do?"

"Lando, please, let it go," Ranaya gripped his arm. If he went any farther he'd either be found out an elf or worse-could be recognized as Landrian. It was a wonder Karik hadn't already figured out who he was.

Lando closed his eyes a few seconds before putting his sword back in its sheath.

Ranaya stepped in beside him and stared at Karik. "What do you want from me?"

"What I want…," Karik mused. "What I want is to know why you have elven medicine on your hand!" he yanked her toward him. His touch was like a hot coal.

Ranaya cried out and forced her words through clenched teeth, "What's it to you?"

She wished she could see Lando's face. Hopefully he was keeping his face straight.

"It's a lot to me you wench!" Karik gave Ranaya's arm a sharp yank all the while burning to the point she was sure he was branding her. "You are mingling with elves and letting them use their medicine on you, while you're betrothed to marry me! They are heathens. Worthless no good barbarians. They trick humans. Lure them into traps. They are my enemy." Karik's skin turned even more scaly.

Ranaya screamed in both fear and pain. "They are no such things!" Ranaya struggled against his grasp. "How dare you say such things!"

"If I ever see you with an elf I will kill it. I swear." Karik growled furiously. He was getting dangerously close to her face. Darkness closed around them threatening to suffocate all three of them.

"Your Majesty, please release her," Harry pleaded in terror.

"Very well." Karik threw Ranaya on the ground harshly causing her to roll to Lando's feet. "But if either of you two hands say a word to anyone what you have witnessed. I will make sure you two are out of jobs." Karik turned and stormed out of the stable. It was then his body turned into a black dragon and he flew away in a horrible screech.

Ranaya screamed and Lando crouched down beside her. He turned her face into his chest. He didn't seem surprised to see Karik turn into a dragon.

"Are you alright your highness?" Harry frantically asked, coming to stoop beside Lando in worriment. He looked as if he were going to swoon. His face a deathly shade of white.

Ranaya didn't object his formal addressing. She was too stunned of what had happened. She looked down at her arm and was shocked there was no visible. Even still now her skin burned horribly.

"I shouldn't have put my sword away. I'm so sorry, Ranaya." Lando hugged her close to him, placing a kiss on her forehead.

Harry blinked at the affectionate display. A princess and a stable hand, such an unlikely couple. It wasn't supposed to be. Of course he wasn't going to tattle, he loved his princess and respected her choices.

"Don't blame yourself; you didn't know he was going to do that." Ranaya caressed his face. Lando's facial expression as he looked at her was almost as if he was holding a secret but it disappeared quickly and turned to a warm smile.

"Well Lando, I think you did enough work for today. After all that's happened, I think you deserve a break." Harry announced, slapping the elf's shoulder. His face was still white but he looked like he was slowly relaxing again.

"Thank you Master LeFroy." Lando nodded and he took Ranaya's hand to pull her to a stand.

Harry smiled before walking into the tack room.

Ranaya sighed, starting to finally feel relieved to be rid of Karik.

"Now how about that swimming lesson?" Lando asked, with a mischievous grin an hour later.

"I've been waiting all day." Ranaya laughed. She had finally let herself relax after seeing Karik turn into a dragon. She couldn't think about it. She refused to let him ruin her mood.

"What are we waiting for?" Lando took off at a fast run. Ranaya was several feet behind him trying to keep.

Karik was behind them if only for a moment.

"I don't know if I want to do this Lando," Ranaya gulped, taking a step back from the edge of the water. Looking at it from where she stood, the murky water didn't look too inviting. It looked more like a death sentence.

Lando had already jumped in and was swimming on his back. He made it look so easy that it exasperated the princess. His hair was floating out, revealing pointed ears for the world to see.

Of course there wasn't anyone around but Ranaya and Lando, but Ranaya was afraid that someone was going to walk by and see. It wasn't helping her nervousness about being taught to swim.

"What are you afraid of, Ranaya?" Lando asked with one those mischievous smiles he almost always wore around her.

"I'm-." Ranaya gasped as he disappeared under water. She sat on her knees to peer into the water to see if she could see him. She immediately picked out the light shining in the water as him. She frowned as he suddenly stopped glowing.

"Lando?" Ranaya asked, leaning over the rock until her hands and face were over the edge.

The water was still and she began to wonder what was taking him so long to surface.

Water splashed in front of her and Lando popped out of the water, splashing her face in the process. She jumped back slightly in surprise.

"You were saying?" He grinned, his elbows propping on the rock in front of her. They were practically nose to nose. She wanted so much to kiss him at that moment.

Ranaya's eyes narrowed, "I'm not scared." A playful smirk plastered her face. She placed her hand in the water and flicked water in the elf's face.

"Oh, really?" Lando didn't even blink when the water hit him. His grin only grew larger as his eyes twinkled.

"Yes, really," Ranaya teased. She was unconsciously leaning closer to the edge as he backed away slowly. It was so slight she barely noticed.

"Well then, Your Highness. I hope you don't mind me doing this." Lando teased back and grabbed Ranaya's arm so fast she didn't have time to react. She was in the water in mere seconds.

She shrieked in surprise and struggled to keep afloat. Panic was beginning to set in. "Lando!"

Arms wrapped securely around her waist immediately and her face and shoulders were held above surface.

"See it's not that bad?" Lando whispered into her ear. His voice was soft as if he were trying to relax her.

Ranaya didn't answer; she was too busy clinging to him. The feeling of her feet not touching the bottom made her feel strange and wary. Lando's voice barely calmed her.

"Now, let's teach you to float." Lando's grip began to lessen.

Ranaya gasped and held on tighter to his neck. "N-no, don't let go!" she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Relax; it's going to be okay. You'll see." Lando coaxed, his voice smooth and sweet as honey.

"I can't relax when I'm dangling only Lord knows how many feet above the stream floor!" Ranaya shook her head violently. "All I think of is falling down—down into the dark depths."

Lando sighed, "It's not that deep." He held onto her a little tighter. "It's not the ocean or even a river, my princess."

"Then pray tell why did I practically almost drown last time you pulled me in?" Ranaya exclaimed, clutching onto his neck still.

Lando's face darkened at the mention of her almost fatal experience and he looked away from her. It had been him who pulled her in, but he hadn't known she couldn't swim.

Ranaya saw regret in his eyes. "Oh no, I didn't mean it like that." She let go of his neck with one of her arms, knowing he was securely holding her well enough. She placed her hand against his cheek.

The rock ledge was suddenly beginning to look very interesting to him.

"Lando, please look at me," Ranaya pleaded, stroking his strong jaw.

He didn't.

Ranaya took his chin.

Lando finally met her eyes.

"It wasn't your fault. You didn't know that I wasn't able to swim." Ranaya stared into his eyes. "In fact if it wasn't for you I would have drowned. You saved me."

He sighed, "I still can't help but feel responsible."

"I know." Ranaya wrapped her loose arm back around his neck. "Now weren't you trying to teach me how to float?"

"If you'll let me," Lando playfully loosened his grip on her and let her go further into the water.

She shrieked and tried to grab onto him but he didn't let her.

"Be still and relax and you won't sink," Lando explained gently.

Ranaya stilled and her heart pounded wildly at the thought of sinking.

Lando placed a hand over her hammering heart. She knew he could hear it with his elvish hearing.

It continued to thump against his hand as he lowered her into the water gradually with his other arm. "Do you trust me?" Lando asked gently.

"Yes," Ranaya breathed as Lando removed his hand from her heart. Water filled her ears and then she realized she was completely lying onto her back in the water. It wasn't too bad—as long as Lando was still holding onto her.

"Not so bad is it?" Lando smiled softly.

"Not as bad as I thought," Ranaya sighed. In fact it felt wonderful. She felt as if she were weightless.

Lando swam away and suddenly she realized he wasn't holding onto her anymore. She was floating!

Her eyes were wide as she smiled. But then she frowned as she thought of how deep the water was. She tensed up.

"Ranaya relax or you will sink!" Lando called out.

And Ranaya was doing exactly that. She flailed her arms in fear. Water began to fill her mouth.

Lando quickly swarm toward her.

"Lan-," Ranaya gasped as she went under for a few seconds.

Lando grabbed onto her and pulled her up against him. "That was close."

"It was my fault," she leaned her head into his chest. She could hear his heart. It was beating hard, probably out of excitement of her almost drowning again. It faltered a beat and Ranaya wondered why.

"All the same," Lando kissed her hair.

"I still wish to be taught to swim, not just float." Ranaya halfheartedly teased.

"If you wish," Lando chuckled.

The next hour was spent teaching Ranaya to swim. And by the end of that hour she could at least keep herself from sinking. She was able to swim decently now.

"You did well," Lando encouraged as the two sat on the rock, drying off.

"I had a great teacher did I not?" Ranaya leaned her head on his shoulder.

''I wouldn't say I'm the best." Lando said, laying back to close his eyes.

Ranaya noticed he looked utterly exhausted. It concerned her. He was usually so energetic. He could outrun her any day. She was always tired first, but not today. Swimming couldn't be that hard on you could it?

"Lando, are you feeling okay?" Ranaya touched his arm.

When he opened his eyes they were filled with anguish. It scared Ranaya to see him so. It was gone as soon as it came. "Catching an elven cold most likely. Nothing to worry about." He flashed her a smile but it turned into a grimace.

Ranaya decided not to bother him anymore about it, but it still stayed in the back of her mind.

Suddenly there was a thunder of hoof beats coming up the path.

Ranaya jumped up as did Lando.

"Quick, back into the water, and to the reeds." Lando exclaimed, referring to the reeds and weeds to the back of the stream where there was a bunch of rocks piled together. The whole stream was like a little cove.

They both jumped in the water and swam quickly to hide. They backed into the reeds until they were covered.

Ranaya peeked through the reeds as the horse began to approach. To her dismay the horse slowed to a trot. She shrunk closer to Lando. She glanced at him. If Lando showed himself he would be found out immediately. His hair being wet stubbornly stayed parted away from his leaf shaped ears.
The cloaked rider stopped right at the stream and dismounted to get a drink.

Ranaya narrowed her eyes to see who the rider was. Her eyes widened as the rider showed his face as he rose up after cupping his hand in the water.

It was Dari! Her older brother.

She immediately wanted to spring out of the water to hug him but fear of him finding Lando and telling someone that Lando was an elf kept her in her place.

"Do you know who he is?" Lando whispered into her ear.

"It's my brother who I haven't seen in two years. He had to go on a few missions," Ranaya breathed. She knew Lando heard her.

"You can swim up to him. I will stay here until he's gone," Lando assured. It was like he knew what she was thinking.

"You are sure?" Ranaya stalled.

Lando gave her a light push.

She began to swim up to the bank. "Dari!" she cried out.

The Prince looked up quickly in bewilderment but smiled as he realized who called his name. "Ranaya, what are you doing here?"

"Just taking a swim," she laughed. She wanted to hug him but didn't want to get him wet.

"When did you learn to swim? Last time I was here you swam like a rock." Dari raised an eyebrow.

Dari looked much like his little sister. His hair though was a chocolate brown instead of auburn. His eyes were the same emerald color as Ranaya's.

"Well, I learned today." She glanced toward the reeds nervously then back to Dari.

"Oh really? Who taught you?" Dari teasingly asked. He lifted her out of the water and sat her beside him.

"A friend." Ranaya blushed scarlet. She looked to the ground. If only Dari would stop asking so many questions. She was going to crack if he didn't.

Dari stared at her curiously. "Does this swimming and friend have to do with the person behind those reeds?"

Ranaya gasped in surprise. "How did you-?"

Lando was going to be found out. It made her sick to think about it. Maybe Dari wouldn't tell. He never told on her when they were children. But alas, they were grown now and this was a totally different matter than stealing cookies out of the kitchen or sneaking around without her slippers.

"It was obvious the way you kept glancing over there. I also saw some blonde hair peeking through." Dari laughed. "Please tell your friend she or he can show their self."

Ranaya gulped. "I don't know if it's a good idea."

"Why ever not?" Dari was mystified.

"Because he—he's a-," Ranaya stammered. What was she going to do?

"It's a he is it now?" Dari was teasing her.

"Promise you won't tell on him. Not a soul?" Ranaya begged sincerely.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to promise." Dari crossed his arms and gave her a look.

Ranaya sighed, wearily. "Lando, you can come out now."

There was silence then Lando swam slowly toward them. He warily kept himself almost fully in the water. Only from his nose showed.

Dari stared.

"Lando, it's okay," Ranaya explained.

Lando hesitated before he fully rose up to sit on the bank.

Dari's mouth dropped open in surprise. "You're an elf?"

"Please don't tell anyone. He could be put to death if they found out who is he is." Ranaya took hold of the elf's hand to reassure him Dari wasn't going to do anything.

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