Chapter 3- Library matters

*In my fic, I will have several clans of elves. Nuada is from the Twilight clan of the elf family tree. I will spell as Bethmora,looks cool.

Song: Sakura by Hikaru Utada

Prince Nuada

"Morning. Rise and shine!" she called out, drawing the curtains up.

"It's not time yet to wake." I shielded my face and moaned, using a pillow to block out the sunlight.

Laira left one curtain over the window to block the sunlight and asked how I was feeling.

Not bad, I tried to use a healing spell over my wound when the burning sensation bit into me last night. Today it felt healed. "I wonder, are you anemic? Too low on blood cells."

I knew the word. "Nay, child. Do not concern yourself."

Her expression was not convinced when I looked at her. She hovered over me critically. "Man you call that fast? It's still bleeding. What sort of blade?"

For an instant, I paused. What weapon I used? Then I realised and replied, "A dagger. Did you happen to see any weapons at that place? Mine had some symbols and was dark in hilt."

Laira asked, "You owned arms? Hmm… now that you asked. No." I cursed in Fey and in all the dialects I knew. Someone must have stolen them when I was unconscious. I had lost the battle, but my spear was near me. I scanned her mind if she was lying. Clear and honest. "I only saw you. Maybe you could try the painkillers. They can staunch the flow of blood."

I refused. Horrible drugs. Time for me to ask the questions now. "Do you really believe who I say I am? An exiled royalty of Bethmora."

She declared fervently, sunny tone much firmer, "Yes, I believed in that all my life. I knew you existed, but you managed to elude our scientific things of detection. Every UFO and mythical creature thrills me. I could show you all the documents I kept printed and filed neatly. And I can't wait to go on another relic hunt. Next one is… but we can't leave you here. " The girl sat down beside me, surveying me. How did she view me? A white skinned man, half naked with only a robe to cover him, physically fit to go to battle.

Her eyes lost their brightness. I had seen this before in human girls before their idols- they dreamt of sex and romance with us. That made me laugh. She laughed too. "Yep you got me there. You are so Cute, prince. I will get you breakfast. What do you like?"

Elven bread. I missed that. "Plain bread. Do you have those energy drinks? I need the strength not to sleep again."

"Milo?" Image of brown chocolate. Great!

After the meal, I felt more energized and more questions blossomed. "Do you know where I can find my people? I must seek them out."

The girl frowned. My hope surged in me, please, please don't let this be a dead end. Then she apologized. "You need to rest. Nuada. Why the rush?"

I growled in frustration. How Goddess? What do you expect me to do, in a mortal dwelling? They have no lead. And I am defenseless.

"I'm sorry." She was sympathetic. I got up and walked to the window. People trawling about, the busy central. The siblings lived in a small apartment. I already felt too confined, preferring the wide open forest range. I needed to run. Do something.

I clenched my fist and rested my forehead on the glass. Usually I awoke earlier but today my resolve had weakened. I've become lazy. Unable to train, would my skills diminish?

Laira asked if I felt all right.

"No. I want to find my kinsmen. I must take action."

"Um, let me get this straight, you are on a quest?" she asked, brightening again. Not a petty human girl who sulked for a long time. Was there divine reason and intervention I got rescued by them? Unlikely. I was liege lord to all the fey and hated humans so much. There was a saying, the more you hate them, you will be compelled to join them.

I made a mental note not to become sentimental. "Our doorways. I need to look for one, at least to get into Bethmoora. Or the troll areas… there are symbols. But I cannot remember all of them." The one symbol of war I could not show to people without triggering another one. Sleeping too long had altered my memory.

She waited patiently. I continued, "Where are your history books? About our kind."

"Let me help! Joe collects huge volumes on symbols, Nuada. We can start there."

She took my hand before I could react and led the way. I had underestimated the size of their home. With the touch of a button, a cupboard swung inwards to reveal countless tomes in shelves. Some dust had gathered. Laira gamely hummed a tune as she climbed up a ladder. I began searching on the other side. I hoped not to go through a tedious process for information.

Soon we had assembled several huge piles of tomes. I could read one totally in my language. Laira went on searching. Symbols for farming, magic, blessings, it had to be here somewhere. Was there another way, short of threatening my way into my kingdom?

Laira

The prince got down to business translating and reading an elven text. Glancing over his shoulder, I could see a myriad number of seals- royal seals from families of trolls, gargoyles, lorelei, sirens… He had not spoken since the absorption and determination. This elf had that going all right- pure hard determination. Nuada also did not cry out when hurt, but kept it inside. Warriors were trained to be inured to hardship. I searched the top shelf. So many cobwebs. Had to clean up. I fetched a dustpan and placed it in the corner.

"What are you doing?" he enquired breaking the silence. Eyebrow raised. I had not seen his golden eyes before, now they were lightened. Elf behaviour. Mentally stored for long term retrieval.

"It's dusty. I could get asthma. Would you?"

"No. Mortal afflictions. Why are you only concerned about asthma now? I could practically see all the white clouds hanging," he said smiling.

I ignored him. Satisfied I got some housecleaning done, I called from above the ladder, "Found it?" It had been 3 months we stayed together. I only left on occasional short relic digs, but I tried to stick around. Nuada always acted tough, but sometimes his wound mysteriously refused to close properly. I wished that he did not have to leave us, though it was inevitable.

It annoyed me that Nuada chose not to care and walked about surveying our relics. He had special knowledge and expertise on the swords.

During one confident conversation, he told me our family name Severn sounded familiar. "Like a distant relative of the Bethamora kingdom."

At the mention of this information, Nuada's ambers burnt like fire. It scared me a little, but he was not furious with us. It was normal for these surges in moodswings. The extreme ends of violence and passion tipped the scale and the tragedy too. He talked of his solitude training, with a big ape Wink as companion. I was content to listen. We never did carry on the topic of our father as an elf.

Telling jokes fell flat on elven ears. I decided, temporarily till I got more evidence and case studies, that elven warrior princes don't like joking. He thought us stupid and clumsy.

"You don't like funnies?" I asked. Nuada had not laughed at the 1001 jokes on animals (which I picked because he liked them! ).

He looked up from examining a small blade used for prying open stubborn locks. He regarded me stoically. This stare unnerved us, the mortals- should-all-be-under me.

I said, "They are stories. At least smile. Try to relax for a bit."

That solemn expression softened. He reached out to touch my cheek. "I don't find them amusing. I prefer acting instead."

"Plays. Stage. You like being a different role!" I imagined Macbeth, Romeo, Oberon and Titania… "yea you like the Oberon stories? I loved reading those when I was ten."

He made a sound and rubbed his eyes. His voice was cute laughing, not too boisterous, and a welcome tone.

"No Laira. Acting and carrying out plans. Strategies. What Oberon stories?"

"As in King Oberon and his queen… aren't they real? They are the fey." I scratched my head.

The prince shook his head. His expression was neutral again. "Not familiar to me. This blade is good. Can I try it?"

He sat up, twirling it around like a ninja. I gave him a lock to pick. That's when I figured Nuada liked to fix things. His hobby was maintenance and smithing. He actually fixed my old- gears clock too.

Because my housemates couldn't make me laugh, I played 'Mr Bean on holiday' on the dvd player. A top rate comedian who cheers any sad person up. Nuada glared at Rowan Atkinson as if the man had personally killed his people. But it was not so serious when he muttered, " Disgusting. Acting for general amusement, such a clownish act." He still watched the movie. I thought his lips twitched but he did not laugh.

Why did he have to take it this way? It is entertainment. Humans need that in our boring empty lives. "It's meaningless. That was why I felt humans have become empty shells who depend on money."

I felt pissed. I am human also! "We don't all! It's just some fun. What do you elves do for entertainment?"

"Dancing, fencing, plants, smithing. From simple activities you derive entertainment," Nuada scoffed. "Not senseless men in tights." You hear the noble tone in that voice. He didn't change one bit his stance towards us, only he felt less inclined to wipe us off the planet. And etcetera, you know his all- encompassing speech to nonmortals 'we are endangered wipe out the humans, take back these lands'.

"Ok man. Me and Joe are human. You want to kick our ass. Come on!" I challenged. I glared at him, standing on the table so I could be taller. Enough with the verbal abuse.

Joe popped in his head. "No she did not mean me, prince. Ly, you're alone. I'm taking cover!" He closed his room door. Coward.

"Don't be ridiculous. I would have slain—I did not mean you both. Besides when we owe someone a favour, we cannot kill them. You are my ally now," the elf explained. "Why would I hurt a small child like you? I'm no beast."

"Child?" I raised my voice. The prince faced me, barefoot, in his black robe. He was so handsome you just wanted to run to him and collect him. But not me now, "Who you calling child?"

He held out his hands after placing a sharp blade down on the floor. His ambers light colored.

"I won't fight you. I apologize. Come down from there." Was that concern for me?

I still wanted to hold on to the anger. I hate discrimination. How could a nobility have such narrow thinking? The elf frowned.

"Hear that? What is it?" He looked at Joe's room. Shifting furniture. "Joe, I'm not going to fight anyone, all right. Don't be mad." I giggled at this. He means crazy. Mad is angry- or quite angry. The blond elf rapped on the door.

I still wanted to feel taller than the prince. Unlike most girls afraid of spiders and heights, I am not. Otherwise how to work in archaeology. So I pretended to see our dusty lamp for dead insects. Nuada said flatly, "Laira you are not a child. I respect you as my equal." What a great admission!

"I don't like your tone when you include us all in the mix. Don't I count as good? As honorable?" I asked in a small voice. He tickled me on the tummy. I laughed so much that he carried me down. I remember his rare laughter ringing out that night. Joe refused to come out until he was certain the prince was calm. We spent hours talking to him through the door. Plus much shifting of furniture.

Coming across one book on mythical animals, and realms, Nuada asked me if we were lucky enough to find unicorns. They are called ki lins in China and Japan.

"Not really. Our luck's down this year. I only found a little unicorn thingie in a shop selling keychains." He smiled. Thinking probably a joke. Now he had some sense of humor. I showed him the insect fossil at the Dolin Sewers. "Is it yours? It's going into my collection."

His brows dipped, and the dark lips scowled. "No. take it away." It was a rare find, an endangered species of cockroach actually. Why did he loath bugs? Opposite of me. "Laira, look at these. I saw a whole pack of them once," Nuada said excited. A page illustrating wolf- unicorns. I tried to show interest. Because he was so happy. I wouldn't use another word to describe it- simple happiness.

And sometimes he repeated stories of his childhood. I always hit Joe if he commented that he had heard it so many times. I suspected Nuada was not 30 as he claimed, maybe 200?

"Um, really cool."

The prince looked disappointed. I was sorry and hugged him. He smelled nice. I liked men in the house, they make me secure. "There are sirens too. Which fey is your favorite? Didn't you tell me you like to explore unknown worlds?"

Nuada was distracted with this book and I indulged him. We talked some more. Little did I know he had found the right symbol. Underneath the volume, when he left to walk about, was a sketch of a seal to the Feylands. My heart clenched. So it comes to this.