Chapter IX
Blood. Smell of death. Cries. You try to race at breakneck speed toward the door, but you are blocked by a man in a balaclava, which will cover your face with a handkerchief full of sleeping pills. You try to get free, but the last thing you see is a woman, your mother, taken by her killers, crying
"Run!" just before that one of the men cuts her throat. Without mercy. Her cry becomes a rattle, then you see only darkness. You think you are dead, but soon you discovered that unfortunately is not so ...
Selene awoke with a start. She was all dripping with sweat. It was night, still dark. This nightmare haunted her from five years now, but she had never got used to it. They had killed her mother in front of her. The more time passed, and more seemed that memories was vivid of what happened that night. Tryng to don't think about it, she rose quickly and went to the bathroom. She rinsed her face and began to dress. In the midst of the good things, she was able to find a green dress, not too elegant, made of cotton. She did not want to give much in the eye. She knew that old store, through the tunnels, is entering the market at the troll, and she felt the need to go there, in fact she would have sold her soul just to relax and not to think about what stirred her mind.
After covered herself with a cloak fitted cap, she walked.
The market was much nicer than what her mother had told to her. That kind of chaos, the strange creatures that noise, were all elements which fascinated her. It was all a bustle of beings of all shapes and sizes were selling everything from food, potions, clothes, books, tooth fairies ...
She passed before a bench packed with jewels, but a simple pendant, made of amber, hit her attention. It was shaped like a small drop. It reminded her the color of the elves' eyes, especially the twins who had helping her.
"Do you want a beautiful jewel, young lady? We have so many!" The voice of the jeweler interrupted her thoughts.
Selene looked up at the strange goblin, and said, pointing at the pendant: "Oh well, I like this, but I do not know if I can afford it ..."
"We can barter, ma'am!" Give me something of your own. "
"... Ehm ... you'd have this knife…it is new, spark, and I think it can be very useful!"
The goblin studied it briefly: "Hmmm ... Done!" said.
During the exchange, the girl was struck by another goblin who was passing, and the clash slipped off her cap, revealing her face.
The seller of jewelry for a long moment was surprised and, panicked, cried:
"Humans! Humans!."
Before everyone's attention was on her, she put her hood over her head and began to escape the crowd. Before long, however, she was grabbed by the arm, a huge troll had managed to reach her. The grip on her arm was such that his claws tore her meat. She let out a cry of pain, which was completely ignored by the creature. Now others joined him and pinned.
"There you are, girl!"
"Let me go!" yelled Selene.
"Sorry, you beauty! Our tooth fairies are very hungry!" The troll grinned in response.
Selene, realizing that her life was in serious danger, tried desperately to free herself. She managed to free one arm, then the other, but she was surrounded by her attackers. The hideous creatures still advanced towards her, certain that she had no escape.
Suddenly a hand grabbed the Selene's right shoulder: she was certain that was another accomplice, but she noticed a spear pointed at the throat of the troll. The person who was on her side, and challenged the weapon. She turned her eyes and recognized the Prince Nuada.
"This lady is with me."
"O…of course your highness," said the creature before retreat. All the magical creatures were left stunned. Nuada was known for his implacable hatred of humans, and seeing him to protect one of them was incredible, but nobody dared ask for an explanation. The noise was muffled by a deathly silence that fell over the entire market.
The prince dropped his weapon, and, looking around, thundered: "Anyone! I repeat: anyone who dares to harm her, will have to deal with me." Then he went away, taking with him Selene.
A few minutes later, the prince took Selene in his cave, and made her sit on his bed, then scolded her harshly: "Stupid girl! You should not walk around without a guide."
The girl said nothing, merely looking down. Only then she noticed the blood that trickled from her right arm. The prince noticed that there were three deep gashes, so left her to get some bandages and a bowl with hot water.
He bent over her: "They do not seem serious ... You can heal your wounds?".
Selene said no with a nod.
The prince said again, with apparent indifference: "I'll have to disinfect them with medicinal herbs: it will hurt you, but you get an infection if I'll not cure them.". He got up and went to get a strange pack, very fragrant.
While the prince proceeded with the dressing, a terrible burning sensation gripped the arm of Selene, which subsided when he healed her.
He handed her a piece of bread, "Eat!".
"Thank you ... sir ..." said Selene with some hesitation.
He looked her eat shyly that piece of bread, then he handed her a glass of water. He noted that she was strangely silent. A tuft of hair had fallen on her pale face, so the prince almost instinctively tried to move it with a finger. At that unexpected twist, the girl gave a start.
"Are you afraid of me, isn't it?".
"N ... no, sir, I ... don't ...".
"Do you think I'd hurt you?".
"No.". She answered honestly.
"What, then?"
"I think I'm in shock over what happened just now!" lied, hoping with all her heart that he did not read her thoughts. In reality she was intimidated, but at the same time fascinated by his rude, strong presence. All that he was personified charm, mystery, and a distant pain. She tried to banish these thoughts from her mind, and looked down, fearing that he could catch her.
Nuada approached, with one hand lifted her chin, Selene felt blaze, her heart pounding.
The elven prince looked straight in her eyes and asked: "Why did you save me at Beethmora?"
"Why should not I did it?". She answered candidly.
"I am an enemy of mankind, you know.."
"At that time you were in trouble, and that is enough to justify my action.".
The prince's lips curve in a grin: "You too, then, indulges in pietism, just like my father and my sister."
"I do not think you are thirsty for blood, Lord.."
"What makes you think that?"
"The hatred that is fed to the man is no doubt, but I believe that your actions were full of anger, not of cruelty."
"This is obvious! How obvious are the reasons that led me to this aversion." Said the prince.
"I guess, but I think you yourself have suffered from your own decision to awaken the Golden Army."
"Really?" said the prince ironically.
"Yes!" was the Selene's simple reply.
The Prince burst into a bitter laugh: "You are a woman of spirit, I have to admit it!" Then his laughter gave way to a scornful smile: "Do you think I feel pain of trying to kill that vapid masses of meat?"
"I read it in your eyes, your Highness.".
At these words, Prince Nuada became serious. A quiver of anger through him.
Afraid of being too far gone, Selene looked down again. She now no longer spoke. All that she felt were his amber eyes fixed on her. She was afraid.
However, she seek to put an end to the oppressive silence, and asked the prince with an unsteady voice:
"Forgive my indiscretion, Highness. But there's one thing I want to hear from you ..."
"Tell me." Prince replied coldly.
Selene raised her eyes, noting with surprise that even the look of the prince was low, as if he struck by a thought, a reflection. She took courage again and asked: "Why did not you get asked me to give the piece of the crown?".
The prince sat in silence for a long moment, then he sighed and said: "As you know I'm thinking about a possible use of your serum as an alternative to war ... But I know that if at this moment I had the last piece of crown, I would not hesitate to hurl the Golden Army against humans. "
Therefore he wanted to avoid using his indestructible army. Selene stood in silence, she would not ask for more. Part of her knew she had hit the mark. The prince, in fact, was nothing but a creature angry against the usurpers who had destroyed the land. Maybe he was angry with his own people, for allowing the man to appropriate what does not belong to him.
After a long moment of silence, in which both stood with his head bowed, Nuada told Selene: "Now is better than rest, you need to regain your strength."
Selene got up to leave, but the prince held her back: "You'll sleep here.".
"But sir, nobody knows I'm here ...".
"I'll send someone to warn my sister, now sleep!" he ordered.
The girl did not want to insist and move him to anger, for this reason she obeyed. She settled on the cushions, and before long she fell asleep.
After Nuada noticed that she was curled up, looking like she was cold. Immediately he took a blanket and covered her shoulders, giving her a bit of warmth. He watched her sleep, thinking that, until a few days earlier, he would cut her throat with his spear. And now here he was, ready to help her. He thought the way she looked him just before, trembling with fear. Immediately suppressed a feeling of tenderness that was popping up in his heart: a man like him could not indulge in stupid sentimentality.
"Women! They are all dangerous" he said to himself, thinking of Nuala, who always had a great influence on him. And now there was this sort of human who knocked down his defenses, just like his sister.
The link between him and the princess had threatened several times that his was much more than just brotherly love. The feeling he felt for Nuala seemed to be dangerously high, and thousands of years lived in exile had not been able to mitigate his whirlwind of forbidden passion.
But now there was Selene: she, that little witch! Nuada could not define the feelings that stirred her presence: tenderness, curiosity, attraction ... No, She had no idea.
Those new feelings were known to him, but yet unknown.
He took his spear, and began training to banish from his mind those dangerous thoughts. A few hours later, he heard Selene moaning in her sleep. She was clearly agitated, shouting meaningless phrases, and cold drops of sweat dripping from her forehead.
The prince stood still, hoping she calm down. He limited himself to approach at bed. She continued to fidget, and began to shout louder, "No, no! Nooooooo."
The Prince grabbed her shoulders: "Calm down, calm down." With a start, Selene opened her eyes, looking around. Nuada began to soften his voice: "Shhh ... Quiet, Selene. I'm here.." Looking at him, her eyes began to moisten, and burst into tears. She freed herself from the wall of the Elf, and snuggled under the covers. The prince did not want to leave her in this state, and gently he pulled back the blanket, revealing her face. He touched her head and said: "It's okay ..." Selene's tears subsided, giving way to a numbness that made her close her eyes again, slipping into a peaceful sleep.