Makani Keona Druis: Elvish Princess
Summary: "HAPPY EIGHTEENTH, HERMIONE! OH, BY THE WAY, YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS A LIE, YOU WERE ADOPTED, AND YOUR ELVISH PARENTS – WHO THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD – ARE COMING TO PICK YOU UP IN AN HOUR!" Hermione Granger always thought she knew who she was – boy was she wrong. Hermione Anne Granger, know-it-all Gryffindor Mudblood, not any more. Princess Makani Keona Druis, Elvish Princess, soon to be queen? That is more correct.
I'm imagining the Elvish City to be like "Rivendell" from "The Lord of The Rings".
Chapter Two: Long Lost Words Whispered Slowly To MeThe bedroom was large, about twelve metres by fifteen. There were three doors leading off, one on each wall (the fourth was made of window-balconies). One was to the bathroom, one the closet and the third the door to the Hallway outside Makani's bedroom.
The walls were royal purple, with gold leaf cornices. A whole wall was taken up by a set of three intricately carved arches, which led onto a balcony, which overlooked a river, waterfall, and other balconies. A four-poster bed with cream and purple hangings, covers and pillows. Curled at the foot of the bed was a Border-Collie puppy. The only other furniture in the room was a desk and a comfortable chair, and a fireplace.
Saoirse and Quinlan released Makani's hand as she rotated on the spot, taking in the room around her. The puppy awoke, and with a yip of glee, jumped off the bed and began snuffling Makani. Makani giggled and knelt down next to the puppy, which promptly rolled over for a belly-scratch. Makani's smile widened and she complied.
"What's his name?" Makani looked up at her parents, who smiled back.
"We left that for you, Makani." Quinlan replied, smiling. Makani returned her attention to the puppy.
"I think I'll call him… Leon." Makani decided. Immediately the puppy sat up and began licking her face. "You like that name, do you? Ok, Leon it is."
"Um… Makani?" Saoirse asked hesitantly.
"Yes… Mum? Mother? Majesty?" Makani panicked.
"Mum or Mother is fine. But your grandparents – my mother and father – wish to see you."
Makani smiled, relaxed again.. "Great. Um – I think I'll need to get changed first though." She looked down at the nightgown she wore. Quinlan and Saoirse exchanged smiles and left Makani to her devices.
Makani pulled open the door to her right, which revealed a closet full of exquisite dresses, pants, skirts, shirts and vests, and a few sets of drawers, which opened to reveal socks, underwear and other things of the like. The clothes hung in the air, without hangers of any kind, and a few suitable outfits presented themselves. She chose a pair of fitted-flare tan pants with entwining black vines printed up one leg. A black blouse and black ankle-boots completed the outfit. She crossed to the other side of the room and opened the other door to the bathroom, which consisted of a big bath with many taps, a shower, mirror, toilet and benches with cupboards and drawers underneath them. On the other side of the room there was a door that lead to a sitting room lined with full bookshelves. She returned to the bathroom, picked up a brush and ran it through her hair, pulling it all back into a ponytail. She splashed and dried her face and left the bathroom to her room, just as her mother knocked on the door.
"Makani? Are you ready?"
Makani pulled open the door. "Yes. Is this outfit alright?" She spun around.
Her mother replied absently, almost worried, but about what, Makani didn't know. "Yes, it'll do, but come, your grandparents dislike waiting."
A woman and a man sat on twin thrones on a dais, side by side, but not touching. Her brown hair was pulled back into a strict bun and her perfect face was blank, solemn. He sat next to her, frowning, his brown hair cropped short and his dark eyes cold jewels.
"This is the girl? My Grand-Daughter?" He sneered.
"Yes, father. May I present Princess Makani Keona Druis?"
"Come forth, child." She declared, leaning forward in her throne.
Makani took a few steps forward, accepting the hand her grandmother proffered. Her grandmother examined her.
"She'll need classes." She said decisively.
"Classes?" Makani asked, confused. Her grandmother lifted an eyebrow.
"You have much to learn, child. Most things are what you would have learnt as a child, but there is no help for that. You will learn to Heal, Elemental Magick, and various other forms of our Magick. Then, of course, there is Etiquette, History of Elves, and, naturally, how to rule a population. You'll learn to ride, read, write and speak Elvish, and we will generally fill any gaps in your knowledge. You will learn how to accept invitations, and how to decline without offending the person who invited you." Her grandmother paused. "We shall have to change your wardrobe. A lady of your standing cannot be seen in pants."
"Even when riding?" Makani blinked, overwhelmed.
"Especially when riding!" Her grandfather exclaimed. "How unseemly for a lady to wear pants! Unheard of!" He sniffed.
Makani looked shocked.
"Now remove this – this Muggle from my sight." Her grandfather turned away and opened a book.
"Oh dear." Her mother whispered.
"She's my Grand-Daughter too, Artaxiad Siyamak Druis, and I demand that she stays here until I have learnt more of her!" Makani's grandmother cried shrilly.
"Well I refuse to be here while you do, Artemis Alaula Myann!" Artaxiad stood and stalked out of the room, brushing past Makani as if she wasn't there.
"I do apologize for my husband." Artemis apologized stiffly. "He is rather an inconsiderate pig, and I hope you manage to escape his claws." She sighed. "I never really managed to." Makani could tell her grandmother's thoughts were drifting away. Artemis came back to herself with a blink. "Anyway. We shall assign you a guide to show you around tomorrow. The rest of today you may have for yourself, and the day after tomorrow your lessons shall start. Your guide will meet you outside your rooms tomorrow."
"Thank you, Grand-Mother." Makani did a semi-curtsey (the kind you do when you're wearing pants) and followed her parents out of the room.
That night a sweet song drifted through her delicate, lacy, shimmering curtains. Pure soprano voices rose to high notes while husky alto voices embraced them, creating a harmony so perfect it hurt. Makani sat up in her bed and drifted onto her balcony. She leant against the carved marble railing and gazed out into the night.
"When all light fails from the sky,
And nightmares haunt your soul.
Think of me, my love, and I'll be there,
Together we will be whole.
If only you would believe…"
Makani frowned slightly. The words were almost familiar… almost.
"I'll love you when the fires die,I'll love you when the waters recede.
I'll love you when the sky burns red,
And when the earth begins to bleed.
If only you would believe…"
She knew them now. Long ago, a choked voice had whispered tearfully these words to her, holding her tight and splattering her with tears. She lifted her hesitant soprano voice with the other singers, slowly growing stronger and stumbling over little pieces she couldn't quite remember.
"Bring home the smiles,
And the laughter in your eyes.
I know that when I see you,
Our love will heal the skies.
If only you would believe…"
An alto and a tenor voice joined the singers and Makani from the balcony next to her. Makani looked over, startled, and saw her parents dancing slowly, singing softly to each other.
"Keep my song close by your heart,
And know I'll never leave.
I know this love will be forever,
If only you would believe…
Together we will believe…"The song faded away into the night, leaving a peaceful Makani watching her parents dance in the moonlight.