Chapter 51

The first word that entered Eliena's mind the next morning was three. Why three? Well, there was a very simple explanation for that:

She had then had three lovers. Leo, Neal, and Sam.

She smiled as she looked at Sam's face. He was easily the best lover of them all—and definitely the most attractive! She kissed his slightly open mouth tenderly and slid out of bed. She grabbed her violet silk dressing gown and donned it, tying it closed. She sat on her window seat, looking out the window at the practice courts she had once loved to watch so much. Now she had no reason to watch them—Leo didn't use them anymore, she felt nothing for Neal, and there were no pages or squires she was interested in. The only man she wanted to watch was fast asleep in her bed. Eliena looked back at Sam and smiled. He was now sprawled out on his belly, taking up the whole bed. She giggled as he snored.

There was a heat against her throat and Eliena jumped slightly at the shock of it. She looked down and saw the blue ember she'd been given by the Goddess was glowing. She turned her head and saw a woman materializing. Fully formed, the woman was tall—around seven feet—with inky black curls snaking down her back, green eyes, and long red nails. Her skin was white, and there was a silvery-white aura around her.

"My mother," Eliena murmured, rising to curtsy.

"No, no, Eliena," the Great Mother Goddess told her, waggling a finger and smiling slightly. "We are to be goddesses together. None of that." Eliena looked up, her eyes wide. "Don't tell me you've forgotten already." Eliena hung her head sheepishly.

"I have, Mother. I apologize." She smiled. "There's been a lot on my mind recently." She indicated the ring on her finger and the man in her bed.

"There certainly has. But you should get used to it now—as a great goddess, there will a lot of pressure on you," the Goddess explained. Eliena flicked her hand.

"Oh, piffle," she said. "Pressure is nothing to me anymore. I live with a fifty pound weight on me every day—its called being an heiress." The Goddess smiled.

"You'll find being a goddess is more strain than being an heiress, trust in it," she assured the young princess. "Take my word for it." Eliena looked at her quizzically.

"You were a hum—" The Goddess cut her off with a raised hand.

"Save your questions." Sam stirred and Eliena looked at him worriedly. "Don't worry, my daughter. He will not wake." Eliena nodded, relieved. That saved a very long explanation. "Look at me." Eliena met the Mother's green eyes—even though it gave her neck strains to do so. The Goddess put a cool hand against Eliena's cheek. "You have grown up tremendously, but there is still growing you have yet to do."

Eliena scowled. "I'm not going to be as tall as you," she grumbled. The Goddess laughed.

"That's not what I meant." She grew serious again. "You are still young, but, by the time of Midwinter, you must be a full adult." Eliena raised an eyebrow. The Goddess shook her head and held up her hand. "Do not ask me questions now, little princess. You will find out when the time is right."

"Can you tell me one thing?" Eliena asked.

"Maybe," the Goddess replied.

"Does it involve my parents dying?" The Goddess said nothing, making Eliena nervous. "Please, tell me!" The Goddess rubbed her temples as if Eliena were giving her a headache.

"No, but it could possibly be worse than that." Eliena's hands flew to her heart.

"Sam?" The Goddess began to fade. "No, wait! Answer me!"

"You said one thing, my daughter." The Goddess looked serious. "And one thing I told you. Grow, my daughter. Grow into the grand queen you will one day be." With that, she was gone.

"Stupid goddess," Eliena muttered.

"Eli?" Sam rubbed his eyes. Eliena turned and saw him sitting up in bed. Her heart softened. Tears entered her eyes at the thought of him dying at Midwinter. She hurried to him and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. "Eli? Are you OK?"

"Promise me something, Sam," she sobbed.

"Anythin'," Sam swore. Eliena's teary, red-rimmed eyes met his.

"Promise me you won't leave me."

"Gods, Eli…" Sam said. "That's a big promise."

"Promise me." Sam could see it meant a lot to Eliena—he'd never seen her like this.

"I promise, lass," Sam replied, cradling her. "I promise not t' leave ye."

"Thank you," Eliena whispered. She kissed him softly. "I love you."

"I love ye t', sweet." Sam kissed her back. Though it was soft and tender, it was full of love, longing, passion, fear, and need. Eliena kissed him back stronger, assuring him she felt the same.

They loved each other until the end, they longed for each other desperately, they had a sheer passion between them, and they needed each other like the sun needs the sky or the plants need the rain.

But, beyond that, they were both terrified. Sam of ruling Tortall one day and Eliena because she wasn't sure if she would ever rule with him.

Author's Note- its funny. I'm listening to Thumbelina and I'm writing a really emotional chapter. GO FIGURE. REVIEW.