Harad's tent was at the edge of the camp, the location apparently befitted his commoner status. He led me inside almost ashamedly, the half of the interior was cluttered with artifacts. Twists of grass were intermixed with speckled rocks, feathers were tossed among pieces of bone. "Lieda was quite a collector." He explained. "I know that you'll be living in her place, but please don't throw out her things. I would like to keep them for when she returns."
"So you're convinced she'll be given back to you?"
"As long as you have that snake on your arm, Lieda isn't a goblin bride."
I thought about that, the charm would only leave my arm with the death of one of us. Heartened I stroked it, but I wasn't sure about Lieda's fate. "How do you know she was meant for the King?" I asked. "She could be married to his military commander, or any other high family's son."
"He promised that she was to be his. I watched her when she was taken."
"What do you mean? Why didn't you stop it?"
Harad looked at his hands. "The other night, my fiancée and I thought that we'd go camping outside the border. It was a stupid idea, but it was almost our marriage moon and I already doted on Lieda. We danced under the moonlight, thankful that our ceremony would come within a month. Overlooking a lake, we watched two sets of starset, and then retired with the dawn. I was happier than any man had a right to be.
"The sun hadn't fully risen when I felt a disturbance in the tent. A pair of purple eyes was hovering over Lieda, and she was being lifted from bed by invisible arms. She was screaming, begging me to help. Blindly I rushed at her attacker, but was thrown back easily. He took her away into the woods. I dogged his trail and although I could barely see, I made time on the goblins with my woodcraft.
"They stopped to make camp in the forest, because goblins have crepuscular vision, and are nearly as day blind as elves. The whiteness in front of my eyes was tinged with red and I managed to kill two of her captors, but not the King. He held my love still, keeping her frozen and unable to do anything but listen to my demise. But the goblin King did not kill me. I thought that he'd take out a horrific goblin revenge on me for killing his guards, the kind of revenge that would not be out of place in a legend. Instead he bent down and whispered into my ear.
"'You are very brave, elf warrior.' He growled. 'In any other circumstance I would destroy you as an enemy, but tonight you have been harmed enough. Be comforted that I will be a good husband for this woman.'
"I interrupted him. My Lieda was still a child.
"'Be that as it may,' he said. ' Tonight she will be a wife to me. Instead of killing you, I will leave you with the memory that you have failed her. That appears to be revenge enough.'"
"I screamed in protest and begged for death, but I could hear him walking away. I could hear Lieda's footsteps as she scrabbled to escape, and eventually the sound of her being dragged along with him." Harad looked into my eyes. "It is said that goblins never lie, so I know that Lieda's fate is to bear the next goblin King. I can only hope that she dies before it can happen. She was a proud, innocent girl, I wish her the satisfaction."
I was horrified at his story. The goblin King never lies, and if he was both my wife and taking another, what would happen to me? Golden scales caught my eyes, and I touched the snake as if it were a luck charm rather than a protection one. I was the King's Wife. No elvish story could take that from me.
"I need to write a letter." I said. "The goblin King must have been confused when he took Lieda. The kingdom needs me in the function of King's Wife. If I write to him, an exchange can be made." Harad looked at me with such hope that I felt empowered. This task, helping people, must be the additional duty of the King's Wife that I hadn't been told about.
"You're willing to put yourself back underground in exchange for Lieda's freedom? You would give up the stars? You are truly a heroine."
Harad didn't understand that Marak's eyes were my stars. "Of course." I assured him. "I love him."
"I will go get you paper and a quill immediately." He raced off, literally sprinted out of the tent. I was inspired by his love for his fiancée. She must be quite the woman to capture his heart so thoroughly. I only hoped that she didn't catch Marak's. Harad returned before I could dwell on it too much. I poised the quill on the parchment, knowing what to say.
Dearest Marak,
Somehow Sagrah's charm failed and we were separated. I've been taken hostage into an elf camp and the Camp Lord proposes I marry a young elf. His fiancée has been taken into the Kingdom. I fear that you've have mistaken me for the girl, Lieda. I spend every moment awaiting your return.
With all my love,
Anna
"Harad?" I asked.
"Yes?"
"This needs to be given to the goblin King. Is there any way you can post it at the border? I know that guards patrol these borders."
Harad bowed, his eyes sparkled with excitement. "Right away." And he was gone.
