Chapter 18 Heartsong

The Climb- Miley Cyrus

Laira

How could the prince have murdered his father? Nuada was very worried that I would not accept him after this confession. Inside, he was prepared for me to walk away from him. Had I not prayed for his recovery?

So I decided not to judge him. "To condemn you would be wrong, Silverlance. You've already felt remorseful." The elf reacted by embracing me. I was taken aback! He trembled with warring emotions of agitation, sadness and relief. His golden hair tips tickled my face. I loved this of course, such close proximity with a handsome guy!

"Thank you." His smile tugged my heartstrings.

While Nuada led the way in front, I asked Nuala why and how he had commited regicide. He must have been possessed. She said, I am proud that you don't hurt his feelings. This morning my brother asked for forgiveness. It surprised me, I didn't expect such a reaction. He is not an apologizing kind… Father died to protect the truce between our races. Brother did not approve of the truce, and as you know he had gone on exile. He returned to claim back the rest of the crownpiece. Father wouldn't give it up. I was scared when he stole a sword from the guards and killed every single one of them! I had tried to plead with him not to. Then when he stabbed Father, I knew all was lost so I fled with the final piece.

I see… I stopped speaking to her internally, since Nuada had turned around to call us. He smiled. " Girls hurry up! Give me your hand." He helped us across a broken rock. I bumped into him.

I will always be your best friend, I thought. I decided that it would be best to come to terms with the horrors in my own time. Meanwhile, this Nuada is different. He wanted forgiveness. I had trailed behind. The twins lapsed into 'foreign movie time' meaning gaelic language. It is my personal term for the non subtitled version. I understand that they connect better with their dialect, but it will be nice for someone to translate. Once a few elves and fairies visited the prince, I hadn't understood anything. Ack!

The clearing came into view.

" Brother, you need to rest. Let's sit down for awhile."

He seemed to be leaning heavily on her. His lips had turned paler. "Thanks." He drank from the bottle Nuala held out. Nuada caught his breath.

No wonder Uriel had forbidden him to leave his room. The prince's strength had not completely regenerated yet. But no use nagging him, though I cared plenty!

So I pretended to be angry. "I felt leftout when you spoke in your own language. You acting in a foreign movie? Can I please know what is going on?"

Nuala was new to this joke. She apologized with a wide innocent beam. Her twin smiled, taking my right hand tenderly. His golden eyes glittered. "Haha, indeed. We shall speak English afterwards. I was just discussing when we could meet again. Abraham won't always be around. What else, did I miss anything?"

Nuala nodded. "About there. Thank you for your care, my twin's been uncooperative."

"I was very good," he objected, in good nature. " Don't want any doctor to see me. Come

on!" He almost broke into a run.

****

I cross my heart, pledge to you

All my love to have and to hold

From this moment on, just as long as the stars shine above

I will be true, I promise you, I cross my heart

(Cross my heart)

This song suddenly surfaced in my mind. I hummed it to myself.

****

When we reached his ward, Nuada changed into fresh pajamas and fell asleep once he touched the pillows. He didn't even awaken when his sister dropped the Silmarillion. She grinned, flipping it. "Oh, I don't know brother has taken to reading. He never liked to."

"Really? He asked for books, so sometimes I bring a few to lend. I gave him this, don't want to keep. You guys like such lyrical proses."

"Oh yes, Laira." She looked radiant and sweet in blue. The patterns of butterflies ran over the fabric. She read out a few paragraphs softly. Nuada didn't stir. She sat down, kissing his cheek.

"May I ask you something? Do you have a partner?" She glanced up at me.

"Er, no. Haha you mean him and me? Far from possible. He avoids romantic issues with a vengeance." The girl elf smiled and returned to reading the book.

I felt drowsy. After a bit, I laid my head on his stomach and listened to his heartbeat. Rise and fall.

You don't mind at all? About my sins. They are so grave. He thought.

I can't believe you're still brooding. No, I don't! Argh, Sleep.

His fingers ran through my tresses gently. "You are going to be fine. Yay."

Then he shifted.

" Oi!" I sulked.

"Sorry. I'm hungry now. Feel like a snack from the troll market."

Nuala said she would buy what he craved. "Now? I do not mind, it's good you've regained some hunger."

Nuada smiled endearingly. "Never mind, next time sister. I want cornflakes with fruits."

The meal was polished off in a flash. We were really pleased. This meant almost full recovery, even if he got tired doing physical activity. They held hands for a moment, engrossed in it. Softly, Nuada said, "I understand the prophecy now. You have unconditional kindness… that is how mortals will help me, help us. Even if I do not deserve it."

I wanted to reply but at that moment, Uriel clapped. He had let himself in. "Wow the prince speaks the truth at last!" We laughed.

"Don't you dare side him."

"I think he is right." I added.

"Why didn't you knock asshole?"

"I am your doctor, entitled to come in anytime. Let's see how you're doing, my Lord." Nuada relaxed as he pressed his chest and listened to his heartbeat. I waited if he would find out the prince went out without permission, but no.

'Don't rat on me Halfling! I don't like being imprisoned.' He reminded me.

No guarantee. Hehe.

Nuada gazed at his elf companion. "Can I go now? Is it all clear?"

"Well seems fine, but I will have a human specialist to check your blood. He can make certain. Can go back to your room now. No training."

"Crap more needles. So boring, but I have no choice." He got up from the bed, very active now. Nuala and I gathered up his stuff and followed.

It occurred to me that Nuada had not heard Uriel coming in.

"Oh I am going deaf." We burst into mirth.

On the way to his original chamber, the prince threatened to hit Uriel.

"How do you like Fairyboy? I think of fairies dancing about."

"Do you ask for death? Don't presume I won't hit you." Nuada made a fist and punched his arm. The extroverted elf laughed merrily. How lovely their hair glossed.

"Relax! It is all right to joke every now and then. I made a fake crown for you. Let's see how good it looks."

Nuada growled. They stopped when a human man in a lab coat greeted. I pricked up my ears. "Yes, this is the prince. Can you help him draw blood samples?"

The door opened when the prince slid his card through the machine outside. "Please enter ladies."

Nuala touched his hand and whispered. He nodded solemnly. She added,"See you later. I'm going to collect something."

I waved to the princess. She left.

Nuada said, "Thank you Halfling."

He cleared a few books to make way for the Silmarillion, new stationery and papers. I spun on the chair merrily. He looked amused, golden eyes glittering.

"Tell the man to wait. I need to bathe now."

"Sure, friend. Can I play some music?"

"What kind?"

"Romantic songs."

"Go ahead. As long as it's not noisy." He closed the door. Water ran.

I thought over what his twin had revealed to me. She hoped a woman can take care of her brother in her absence. I'm a child to him, Nuada definitely fancied mature girls. Those Elmright elves were single and pretty young. Blue eyes, short blond hair, snazzy dressers. When would they come again?

After the refreshing bath, the elf came to lie down and was soothed into his dreams. Romantic songs can do that! I don't always hear them, haha, but today is a good atmosphere. Then the doctor came in. His tag said Dr Hardy.

I patted his shoulder. "Wake up. He's here."

It will hurt like hell!

He was not convinced by the man's friendly demeanor.

"Your highness, please roll up your sleeve. Which arm can I do on?"

Nuada held out his left arm. The doctor looked for a vein to poke in. Needles and vials on the table. "Is there another way to do this?"

"I am afraid not. It will be fine. Relax, look elsewhere."

Nuada sighed and looked at me. Dr Hardy swabbed alcohol on the elf's arm.

I asked, "Nuada think of what you want to eat later. Do you want jelly?"

He tilted his head. "Yes, orange flavour. I've not tried that yet. Want to eat together?"

I smiled. "Sounds cool. I want to have the same!"

Collected 2 tubes of honey fluid. More to go. The prince paid no attention to the pain. "Do you think it's a phoenix?" I delved into a lengthy and tedious discussion about the rarely seen bird and the quetzal.

Nuada winced as the vial was changed to another tube. I felt for him, for I hate needles too. But he was thinking of a reply.

"Ok done. Press hard. See it wasn't so bad was it?" he said in a bubbly voice.

The elf relaxed and leaned back. "Agreed. In my home, I never needed such things. When will the result be known?"

"One week."

"Thank you." It surprised me how polite he behaved to a race he abhorred.

Dr Hardy smiled packing up his things. "Enjoy your lunch. Paste the plaster for him. Glad to see you're recovering."

Nuada watched him leave. "It sounds like a phoenix, Halfling. But they are extinct… you saw a real one? Did you get a picture?"

"Yes! I saw one outside this morning." I couldn't help adding.

His face was stern, then he grinned and held my hand. I laughed. "You liar! I'd have seen it too. To distract me with a lie. The stories are very much alive."

"Yep, I just looked through a phoenix book. The latest relative is a quetzal. A green bird from the Amazon. It's got a pretty long tail. Anyway it helps to talk about other things. Then you didn't notice the pain right? You should thank me." I danced out of reach.

The prince shook his head. He went to the window. After a moment he mused, "I hate needles. He should just cut me and let the blood flow out."

"Yuck. I'm gonna puke! Needles just enter the vein and draw enough for a sample. What you suggested is worse. And you'll collapse."

Nuada insisted he preferred that. "My master carved my ritual scar with a thin knife. I don't mean a huge blade."

"You a strong warrior afraid of tiny needles?" I concluded. It was comical. It's ok, I'm scared too. Your hand felt chilly.

"I am not afraid. Dislike and fear are two different areas.. Damn why am I rationalizing to you?" he scoffed.

Pressing a button made a woman come running in. The patient selected what to eat. "Two meals please. Thank you."

In a few minutes, food arrived! Good news to my stomach. "Itadimas! Can you pronounce it?"

"Meaning?" he said the word slowly.

"Japanese for tuck in."

"I see." He picked up the utensils and brushed off the gravy. Potato wedges, greens, chicken grilled. One small bowl of soup. The skin was removed! What I only realized when I bit in.

"What is it? You look funny."

I chewed. "No fat. Tastes plain."

"It's unhealthy. I always ask for it to be gone."

"Aw!"

The elf smiled. I generously watered everything in soup. Nice! Gravy made up for it. You know what Silverlance's finicky pet peeve is? A royalty characteristic-- He would not touch the gravy or soup first during the meal. Soup was usually consumed separately.

When he was bedridden and Red fed him, the prince adamantly refused to eat the soaked food. Red interpreted his plea as a whine-

'Perfectly tasty! Meat in ketchup. You don't want it?' Ended up that portion was gulped by the demon.

His highness sulked. 'So disgusting.' Because he was coughing, the harder crispy foods would trigger worse fits. That's why the food needed softening. Don't know how we managed.

Nuada gazed at me curiously. He was sipping the soup now.

Hmm laughing at my eating habits?

Yea you're real fussy. Meal equals war.. what's wrong with wet soggy food? You had a bad throat.

Horrible. I don't like anything on the food. This is delicious though. He licked his lips.

"Then spicy? Chilli sauce." I asked.

"Nope definitely not. You need that?"

"Yes, a little sweet or salty. Incredible that you can take it plain. Sometimes Joe makes curries. All's good to me."

He nodded and scooped some gravy on my plate.

"It's because you eat very plainly in your culture?"

"Everything is natural and mostly raw. Some of my elven companions like sweet sauce. It is my personal habit." He paused to taste the jelly. Delighted smile.

"Forgive me if I gave trouble to you that time."

I smiled. He sounded sincere enough. Nuada was very quiet. He read, whispering some words. He strolled close to the window. Then he glanced at me observing him. "You are bored. I'm content like this today."

"Waiting for some entertainment."

"Who? My friends? They will be here soon."

"No you. I'm expecting some performance."

Flat amber stare. He came to me and tapped the book on my head. "I do not act. And I am supposed to abstain from exertions."

"Yea I completely forgot." I lied, scratching my head. Nuada snorted. His figure was still taut and finesse though much weight had been lost. The veins snaked up his upper arm.

I could see the bones protruding through his thin shirt.

"Never mind then. How about this…" I explained what I wanted to do. I got some paper from his desk and made comparison charts. Divided into twin 1 and twin 2.

"What are your key differences? I plan to compile what I've found into a paper. Don't worry no naming. All kept confidential."

The elf smiled and took a seat. "I will try my best. What do you wish to know?"

For habits he listed randomly. "She tends to daydream. While I rush into things immediately. Other than appearance, we don't share many things in common. My hobby leans to weapon collection, while Nuala loves the arts and books. I cannot tolerate longwinded poetry."

"Oh you left something out. Temper." He pinched my ear. Ow!

Nuada

"Sorry sorry! That hurt." The Halfling sniffed, rubbing her ear.

"None taken. But you're too much. Do you really have to include that?" I said lightly. Having a browse, the other twins were similar twins, identical. Alastair and Rennie, names changed.

"Are they human?"

The halfling's quizzical look. I smiled. "Yep before you guys and Liz, I've not met any non humans."

I thought what else to add. "Actually my sister does have a temper. She will shout if she's anguished. But no one knows outside our family. Namely at me."

She laughed. "I cannot imagine her shouting! Why?"

"Of course not, Nuala is always polite to the public. I will express my anger more openly while she does not. She always restrains herself. One example was the issue of the Golden army. Do not tell anybody. (she said ok)

"All right. My sister refused to come out from her room when I called for the construction of the golden army. Some hundred years ago. Nobody could make her eat. I went in one day and commanded her to eat. 'you will eat or I will make you' something like that. Nuala railed at me, with fantastic English and gaelic.. a lot of things. I clearly felt every turmoil and pain. Made me confused. Usually she will bottle up her emotions, more saddened than furious. Superior language."

Laira agreed. "I have this tendency too. Interesting."

I sighed. "I should've reconsidered. Now I understand why they stopped me… Halflings like you would've perished if the Army had awakened. I did not know of the humans and elves mating." She fondled my hairtips.

"It's ok, Nuada. You have changed now. I have faith. Lighter topics, handwriting? I haven't seen Nuala's before."

"Quite similar." We can write with both hands. For Nuala if she is careful, it is less messy than mine.

"When the tutor wanted to punish me for not doing homework, my sister covered up and wrote on my book. I sneaked off to play and always claimed I finished already. She did not notice!" Comical to remember that.

"What did you do?"

"Playing games with the guys. It was more fun than sitting indoors, unless the weather was real bad."

"What games? Tell me!"

I rubbed my chin. "Like soccer, ours is much rougher. You often get scraped. Then we race horses, kelpies, go looking for small fairies."

"Haha, so cute. But it's so evil of you to bully her. She has to help you."

"Why not? We are brother and sister," I replied smugly. I felt her indignance of girls having to labour on my behalf and chuckled. I talked more on our schooling. Didn't know how I got educated. "The governess, yes that word. Taught us English and literature. I hate those subjects. History and practical things, going outside attracted me more. I fell asleep during her boring talks. If I failed to sneak out, sleeping was next best. How carefree I had been. Mother was alive then. She never restricted me. Father was very strict. He always caned me if I disobeyed. But I don't resent them."

Laira listened attentively. "It's a miracle you can speak coherently now. Guys prefer tinkling with stuff than languages. My bro too. Oh how can you a royalty be so naughty?"

Shrek's answer- "One of a kind prince." We laughed together. "Those elves aren't like me."

"Hmm, I still want to check them out."

I did not feel hurt, males do not care of such things. But offended yes. She came to visit me. "You can't. You said you are going to write this, stay focused."

"Fokussed." corrected Hellboy. I had unwittingly allowed him in, since I heard the familiar footsteps, but didn't notice. I faced him. He smiled.

"Hey, bored in da room, elfboy?"

"What elfboy? I'm not a boy. Fairyboy?" I retorted. Still this tickled me. My mood was extra light today.

"Fokus is the gasbag's talk, Laira."

She smiled and smacked palms with him. "Nice imitation. Fairy slash elfboy."

I smiled. Hellboy showed me a beer can. "Drink up."

I shook my head. "No my body is a temple. I don't want to lie down for another few months."

He grunted. "Man! Just drink! You're an amusement park, Nuada. A little one won't hurt ya."

"No." I pushed the can away. "Next time. Why are you here?" I glanced outside. Nobody.

"To check how ya doing. Join us for guys' night, where we get happy and dream."

Stupid dumb pastime. However he sounded polite for once. We'd become neutral now. "Ok." The demon had been quite patient with my whims.

"This evening's open. Will you mind the humans?" He ticked off a few I knew on his huge fingers.

"Sounds fine." Red chuckled and gulped some more.

The girl insisted on going to see the other darn elves! "No don't go! Sit down."

"Not now, later. Sheez, if I kept it a secret, you wouldn't whine."

"I do not whine. What else, we like the same food. Plain too," I added, touching her shoulder. She scribbled it down.

The demon laughed dryly. "Kids will be curious prince. Need to open options for future boyfriends." This opinion pissed me off. I gritted my teeth. What was so wonderful about them? They were decorative range attackers. Cowards.

"Yes you're so right, Red! I am going whether you like it or not."

Seriously I think girls need to stay focused! They never get anything done.

*A review would be wonderful! Took quite long to make things interesting, dealing more with Nuada's relationship. feeling obliged is never easy, will he see Laira romantically? read on