AN: Woot! Another chapter! All in the same night too! Seriously I must be among the ten people in the world who write a story during a sleepover with friends they haven't seen in months. But hey, I got bored of looking at erm...interesting pics on the internet. I'm a good girl I am!
"Lady Yumi! It is time for you to wake! The ceremony is about to begin."
"Go away!" Yumi through her pillow at the maid
"Please Lady Yumi." Yumi sat up straight.
"Odd?! What the hell are you doing in my bedroom! I'm not properly dressed and..."
"C'mon Yumi." He smiled making Yumi smile back. This was the Odd she liked so much, the one who didn't insist on saying her title before her name.
"You're in a good mood." Yumi commented as she stood up and began to get dressed.
"And your too forward." Odd blushed and turned away. Soon she was dressed and taking Odd's arm they made their way to the palace garden.
Yumi smiled and waved to Odd as she skipped down the path alone. Only the closest female friends of the bride-to-be were aloud at the purifying ceremony. To be truthful, Yumi was rather surprised she had been invited to such an important and meaningful event. Although she was friendly enough with Princess Aelita she had never considered her anything more then the Princess.
It had been weeks since the ball and Yumi had thought of Prince Ulrich constantly. However, her heart didn't ache with the pain of being away from him like the girl's in the books she read. Maybe Odd was right...and it was just a fleeting passion...
She shook her head and smiled brightly as Aelita and a few other elves called out her name. "So, Aelita! You excited?"
Aelita smiled sadly and nodded. Yumi frowned, "Something you're not telling me?"
Glancing around nervously Aelita nodded. "Excuse me, ladies, I need to talk to Lady Yumi in private."
"Yeah? So what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Well uh, Yumi I know we're not exactly the best of friends but...I don't know, I really feel like I can talk to you."
Yumi smiled as she didn't know what else to do.
"You see I...I don't want to marry Prince Ulrich."
Yumi stared in disbelief. "Why not?! He's gorgeous and an amazing dancer and he's...he's just wonderful!"
Aelita raised an eyebrow but didn't question Yumi's reaction. "I..." Yumi nodded encouragingly "I love someone else, an elf from a different clan. His name is Jeremie, but he doesn't have royal blood and..."
"Your father, the King, needs you to strengthen the alliance with the humans." Yumi smiled, "There's no problem then! King Setieth, bless his name, is a good strong king and a proud father. He would not force you to do something you didn't want to do. As for the King of the humans, he is a kind and wise ruler and would not let a simple marriage, or lack of one, affect his terms of alliance."
"You speak so confidently. I don't know if it would be that simple. The Kings may be sensible and willing to let the marriage die but there are others of power who strongly support the arrangement. There's more then alliance here too. This could be the start of a new race. Halflings. They've existed before but never before have the Elves and humans lived so closely. It is possible that one day the two races may even become one."
"Oh who cares! You don't love him so you shouldn't have to marry him."
"I'll think about what you said Yumi but...I don't know." Aelita shook her head and then hugged a startled Yumi. "Thank you Lady Yumi."
"Not a problem my princess.
The rest of the ceremony passed smoothly and Yumi found herself enjoying herself. However when she was alone, in her favorite clearing in the forest, she felt the pain.
It was like being stabbed by a dull wooden knife. The kind children use to practice. Ulrich would marry Aelita, and he would be hers but she would never be his. It wasn't fair! Why did she get the prince? Yumi sobbed as she sat with her back to a large and old tree.
Ulrich stared into his mirror and adjusted his cloak. Satisfied he turned and made his way to the stables where his father was waiting.
"Ulrich my son!" The King greeted from his position on a large red pony. The King was fat, as many human rulers are, and therefore he required a big strong horse. The Red was perfect.
A gray mare whinnied and Ulrich smiled. There was his horse. He walked over to her and whispered in her ear stroking her neck. Finally he mounted and followed his father and The Red into the forest.
"We have much to discuss son. I am afraid that I am giving you power at a rather uncomfortable time. The trolls have long been our enemy and they are deeply insulted by the elves disrespect for their offer of alliance. This leaves us in a situation that isn't exactly pleasant. While I do not believe they will start war with us, there numbers are too few, we need to be prepared for the attacks of individual clans and families. I want you to be careful."
Ulrich remained silent, staring strait ahead.
The King frowned and continued. "I suppose you know where this is going. I worry for Aelita too, and any children you will have in the future. I hope it will be a good many – ow" The King was cut short by an elbow to his gut. "I'm only teasing boy! Anyway, I think it would be wise, if after the wedding, you and Princess, Queen as she will be, Aelita relocate. To the Polar Palace."
"What?!" Ulrich shouted in disgust. "Father, I despise that ice prison!"
"Yes but so do the trolls! Not for long, the foul beasts have rather short attention spans but...please son, only say it out of concern."
"Father you worry too much."
The King sighed.
"Fine, if it makes you feel any better, after the wedding, I'll lie low for a bit, go on a long training trip to some obscure island in the eastern sea."
"The Polar Palace would be better."
"..." Ulrich clicked his tongue and his horse moved into a steady trot.
'The wedding is in three days. I can't believe it." Yumi sighed and absent-mindedly twirled her horse's mane. Odd chatted happily beside her but she heard little of what he said.
"Lady Yumi!? Are you listening Yumi?"
"Huh? Oh sorry Odd. My mind was...somewhere else." Yumi smiled and Odd shook his head.
"I was asking if you had remembered to pack enough clothing for the trip we're to take after the wedding."
"Don't be such a worry wart of course I packed enough."
Odd glanced at the pack mule that traveled behind them and shook his head. "Yumi we're going to be gone for a month. You've packed maybe a weeks worth."
"A month?! What the hell are we going to do for a whole month?"
"Lady Yumi please try to pay attention when I tell you things."
"Sorry Odd. So where are we going?"
Odd gaped in disbelief. "Your kidding."
"Haha?"
"We're going to Tanglewood Island home to the Mystics."
"Oh really?" Yumi smiled, "I remember I went there many years ago, with my father. The trees were so tall I couldn't believe it!" She laughed sadly and Odd looked away.
Three days, he had three days left and then he would be King, worse then that, he would be married. It wasn't marriage itself that scared him, it was the idea of being married to someone he didn't love. He barely even knew Aelita.
Ulrich frowned and released another arrow. It hit the target, it usually did.
That girl from the ball, the one who knew his father, he just couldn't get her out of his head. It was weird; he had only been with her for a few hours yet he could remember her face perfectly. Her laughter, her voice still echoed in his head. He wanted to hear that voice again, to see that face again.
"I suppose I will." He said to himself. After all, she would most likely be attending the wedding. "I don't want to see her then..."
"Who?" The King walked up behind him.
"No one!" Ulrich turned quickly and scowled.
The King sighed and forced a smile. "Ulrich, you really should be looking forward to this wedding. Aelita is a beautiful woman who will bear you strong healthy children. King isn't all that bad either, there are plenty of perks!"
Ulrich fired another arrow.
"Ulrich!?" He knew that voice...he turned quickly and saw her. Standing there with a smile on her face, a smile saved only for him and he felt his heart skip a beat.
End Chapter 2, how'd you like it? Leave me a review please!