A/N: Lol. I couldn't leave you with only that lame prologue so here's the actual first chapter!
"Karen, you knew this was going to happen," a seventeen year old Sarah consoled to her older sister who was weeping softly, "It was only a matter of time. With a woman of your beauty, well of course Menelaus would pursue you."
"It's just not fair!" Karen whispered tearfully, lifting her head to gaze out the open window were she was seated "He's so old. How can he expect me to come back with him? He's horrible!"
He's only a Fae, Sarah protested in her head as she sat down next to her, They don't age the same way mortals do. Karen marrying a Fae had meant that peace could be restored between the mortals and Fae of the Underground, but it also meant that Karen would have to leave the home she had known all her fourteen years. Possibly forever depending on how kind or cruel Menelaus was to her.
So instead of leaving with the royal party a week before her wedding, Karen had (foolishly in Sarah's mind) run off with an elf. Of course, this elf wasn't just any elf, but Prince Arden of the elves of the Aboveground. Somehow, Sarah had been dragged with her sister to the Aboveground, though not by choice. She hadn't wanted to leave the Underground; in fact, she was excited to meet the Fae king and all the rest of his court.
Karen's departure of course sparked fury among both Fae and mortal alike in the Underground. Once Karen's whereabouts had been uncovered, Menelaus had allied himself with the majority of the Underground's rulers, the High King included. That alone had Sarah berating her sister for her foolishness. Her "passionate romance" with the elf prince was beyond ridiculous. Sarah often doubted Karen's "love" for Arden and wondered why she would hate the Fae so much to risk everything to avoid them. Now, ten years later, the war still raged over the right to Karen's hand.
"Things will turn out." she assured instead of voicing her thoughts, "You mustn't dwell on this." She rubbed Karen's shoulders gently. Raising her hands, Karen caught Sarah's and held them tightly.
"This war has been dragged out for ten agonizing years." Karen answered, more to herself than to Sarah, "How can things turn into anything good?"
Sarah sighed. "I never said things would turn into something good. Time will run its course and we will be forced to reap what we sow."
"Count yourself lucky, Sarah," Karen replied bitterly after a good amount of silence, "That you have not been cursed with such looks as I have." Sarah breathed in sharply and quickly drew back her hands.
That had been a low blow. Sarah knew she wasn't ever going to be as beautiful as Karen. No one could be as lovely as her; she had been blessed by an ancient oracle at birth. All Sarah's life, she had looked up to her sister and understood that she would always be the plain daughter. She hadn't minded as a tomboyish child, but time slowly brought an ache of longing into her heart. What-ifs and wishes had passed, leaving Sarah saddened but resigned. Still, being reminded of her plainness did not make her very sympathetic towards Karen.
"Because you are in grief," Sarah stated quietly, backing away, "I will forgive you for your careless words. I will see you at dinner." Swiftly, she turned around and exited her sister's room.
Why did she have to bring it up? It wasn't her fault she wasn't as pretty as her sister. No, the blasted old witch had given her nothing; she had died before Sarah's birth. Sarah couldn't change anything, even if she tried. No one could compare with Karen.
Wiping away a stray tear, Sarah retreated to her rooms. Perhaps a little Fae translation would ease her mind. There was something about the Fae language that fascinated Sarah; she was the only one in the elves' court who could speak it fluently. Many times, the elf king had called on her translation skills which she had provided willingly. The entire Fae culture was one that Sarah desperately wanted to know more of.
So holding back what she knew were selfish tears, Sarah sat at her desk and took a moment to stare out her window. The ocean view was spotted with ships. Ships that bore warriors from the Underground. Sarah didn't know who's side she was on, but she did know she wished for peace. An end to this bloody war.
Picking up a quill, she opened her newest collection of Fae poetry and began scratching out the translation on a separate scroll. All the while, she pondered on how silly this war was. All the lives lost, over her sister. Beautiful as she was, Sarah was certain Karen did not deserve a ten year long war fought over her. It was quite ridiculous really. But of course, here in the Aboveground, a woman wasn't supposed to think such thoughts. Philosophy was for the old men, said both Karen and Arden.
So Sarah turned her full attention to the tale of romance in front of her. Fae were passionate creatures, or so she had heard, and their epics were a wonder to read, translate and copy. Therefore, she was soon completely swept up in her work, until the sun was kissing the ocean waves and a knock at her door tore her from her fantasy land.
A servant poked her head in at Sarah's call to enter. "Dinner is served your ladyship," she announced quietly. Sarah frowned and set her quill down.
"I shall be down shortly." she replied to the servant. Standing up, she placed her hands on her back and stretched. I think a walk through the gardens is due. she resolved as her muscles groaned at the effort. After slipping her sandals on and pulling a tunic over her light shift-dress, Sarah reluctantly walked herself to the massive dining room.
She hated dinners with the entire royal family. Prince Arden always looked scandalized whenever she opened her mouth, and King Priam looked at her with a gaze that made her incredibly uncomfortable. There was no queen, her majesty having died a year prior to Karen and Sarah's arrival. The only one who really treated her with kindness and respect was Agemos, the eldest of the two brothers and his now seven months pregnant wife.
Agemos and his wife Nissa had been good to Sarah her entire life in the Aboveground. She felt at ease around them, and thus the majority of her time was spent with one or both of them. They keep me sane during these ridiculous times, Sarah mused as she approached the broad doors of the dining hall. Two footmen quickly scurried to push the doors open, and with a deep breath, Sarah stepped inside.
"Greetings Princess," Nissa greeted warmly, standing up from her seat. Agemos quickly followed her suite, and gestured that his younger brother rise also. With an exaggerated sigh, Arden stood up from his chair, dragging Karen's hand as he went, forcing her to rise as well. Karen looked much better since Sarah had seen her last, and she wondered what the cause of her change was.
"And to you, Princess." Sarah replied, giving her a genuine smile. A chair was pulled out for her at Karen's left and Sarah gracefully sank into it as the others sat as well. "And where is..." she trailed off as Agemos gave her a warning look.
"The king is busy with other matters." he supplied quickly, "What with this war and such, it is surprising that he has any spare time at all." Sarah nodded and tucked her napkin in her lap. Now for two hours worth of small talk.
The elves were much more formal than mortals and even Fae, as Sarah was forced to learn. Their culture was restricting and demanding, especially towards women and children. Small talk, impeccable manners and formal attire were required at even the most casual of occasions. Politics, religion, daily news (otherwise known as gossip) and especially war talk were taboo subjects at the dining table, leaving very little to speak about in Sarah's mind. She was forced to limit her discussions to that of the weather and latest fashions (which had not changed in the last five years due to the war) and she found it maddening.
"The sunset looked glorious," Karen supplied, breaking the sound of forks hitting plates, "Sarah, was it as beautiful from your view as I imagined?"
Sarah sent her sister a weak smile as she looked up from her roast duck. "I do not know how you imagined it, sister," she replied, "But it was indeed a sight to behold." Silence ensued as each person became caught up in their own thoughts. Its better than trying to spend fifteen minutes discussing the fact that it was sunny today, Sarah mused, sipping from her glass.
Finally, she managed to choke down dessert after an unusually large meal and hastily wiped her mouth, preparing to rise and excuse herself. However, as soon as she dropped her napkin onto the pristine, white tablecloth, Arden stood up and placed both hands on the table. A sure sign he had something to announce. Sarah resisted the urge to roll her eyes; anything Prince Arden made a show about was sure to be foolish.
Clearing his throat, the elf prince took a deep breath before speaking. "I have spoken with Princess Karen this afternoon, and she has agreed to take my hand in marriage."
Sarah's jaw dropped, and through her haze of shock, she saw Agemos furiously fly up from his seat. Nissa looked as though she'd swallowed a frog and Sarah had to force herself to keep from shouting her surprise. Agemos, however, did nothing to contain his disproval.
"What are you thinking?" he demanded, "Fool! We are in the middle of a war. A war we are trying to end. Did you actually think a marriage would solve anything?"
Karen stood as well, taking hold of her lover's hand. "If we wed, there is no reason to fight anymore." Arden replied, "Karen would be spoken for." Agemos rolled his eyes and leaned across the table.
"We discussed this years ago, Arden," he answered slowly, trying to control his temper, "Not only would this marriage create more strife, but it would also be considered null and void if we should lose this war."
Arden glared at his elder brother. "Unless we were wed in the Underground." he retorted, "It cannot be broken then."
Sarah had heard enough. Finding use of her tongue, she stood up and faced her sister's lover. "It is a fool's errand." she stated, "Firstly because traveling to the Underground is nearly impossible at this time. Secondly, because even if you were wed, all King Menelaus would have to do is kill you. Then Karen is unyoked once again." Sarah tried to keep her annoyance hidden, but Nissa's look of horror revealed that her efforts had failed.
Karen sent her a scathing glare and moved her hand up to grip Arden's arm. "Do you not wish for an end to this war?" she demanded, "Or have those Fae manuscripts addled your brains, sister?"
A scene was the last thing Sarah needed and she pushed her chair back. "You are not thinking clearly," she replied evenly, "If you had read "those Fae manuscripts" you would not act in the way you do." She stepped out from around her seat and turned to exit the room. Karen's shrill voice stopped her in her tracks however.
"There is my proof!" she exclaimed, "If I didn't know better, I would say that you side with them!" As Sarah turned around, she caught sight of Agemos's enraged face, and Nissa's ghostly countenance. Arden however, looked at her strangely and she felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
"Goodnight sister." Sarah bid quickly. Turning on her heel, she fled the dining hall. It was time for that walk in the gardens.
After Sarah's hasty departure, Nissa pulled on her husband, who looked as though he was preparing to pounce on his younger brother. "Come my love," she soothed, "Let us retire." With a sound that almost sounded like a growl, Agemos backed away from the massive table. It was only after they had reached the doors that his body loosened by the slightest degree. "He is a fool!" he muttered, "A damned fool who will kill us all."
Meanwhile, Arden had sat back down and was staring into space. Karen sat next to him, gently rubbing his arm. After a good amount of time, he slowly turned to face her. "I have a plan."
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