Story Requests

Preparing

Everything was shaking, vibrating back and forth. Selena blinked her eyes open and found Calen kneeling beside her, a hand on her shoulder. "Selena! It is time to start packing," she whispered slowly. "Asher is already awake. Dress into some warm clothes, use a comfortable bag and take as little as possible. Come downstairs when you think are ready." She gracefully stood up and left the room, closing the door behind her. 

Selena rubbed her eyes and got up off the floor. Her body was sore and stiff and she felt nervous, but excited. As she glanced out the window she noticed the sun had not yet risen, and darkness hung overhead. As she absentmindedly opened her parents drawer, she realised all the proper clothes she had were in her room. Where Asher was. 

"Oh for the love of—" she exclaimed, exasperated, and went out. 

Asher glanced around the girl's room curiously. It was a medium-sized room, tidy and not too packed with stuff. He noticed on top of her dressing drawer she had several bottles of watery perfume and a whole set of different brushes, combs and hair-things. "Girls," he muttered, and rolled his eyes. 

As he raised his arm to lift to unzip his jacket,  he had expected to feel a spasm of pain and a wave of nausea. But he didn't feel anything. He drew back his sleeve and gasped. The wound was gone. But how—? Oh. He sighed. Probably an elvish spell Calen had used on him. They had spells for everything. Well, more like 'magical chants' or whatever. When he had been back in the palace with his tutor, he had been made to study everything about elves as an alliance used to exist between the royal family, and his parents thought he needed to know their ways. 

Just as his thoughts dissolved, the door opened and the girl walked in. 

"Greetings," he said, waving his hand as he spoke. 

She raised one eyebrow and stared at him. "Do royalty people really speak like that?" she asked sarcastically, and then immediately blushed. 

He sighed. "I am supposed to speak 'formally'. The King and Queen of the Ambitious Kingdom taught me the ways of formal speech!"

"Well then." Awkward silence radiated from them both. "I-I just came in here to get my clothes. And some... other things. Do you mind?" 

Asher shook his head. "No, no not all. I mean, it is your room." He sat on the bed and watched her search for things to pack. 

"So," he expressed after a few minutes of more silence. "Do you wish to tell me your name?" 

She looked behind her. "I'm Selena." 

"That is a... very pretty name. It does suit you so." 

"Thanks. Um..." Selena hesitated. "You'll need to have some clothes other than what you're wearing. Do have things on you?" 

Asher shook his head. "No. When I ran away from my parents, I didn't pack much. I thought I would be back the next day. I never really get very far." 

Selena nodded. She tossed him a backpack and clean clothes: a  jacket, a pair of pants, a T-Shirt and a pair of shorts. He changed quickly into the pants, jacket and T-Shirt and stuffed his other clothes and the shorts into the bag. In his satchel he carried the scroll, which he draped over his shoulder and so the strap came under his left arm. 

They went downstairs together and entered the living room, where Calen had laid things out on the table. In containers she had packed bread, crackers, dried fruit, nuts and granola bars. Food that would last long. They each had one full water bottle and a blanket, that was rolled up tightly and tied with an elastic band to keep from unfolding. 

But the first few things they both noticed were the strange, enchanting objects she had placed on the table. There were two necklaces, made of a single, small, glowing rock that was oddly shaped, one red rock and for the other necklace one blue. They were strung on a thin, silky like cord but when Asher picked it up it was as strong as graphene. 

Two daggers were in the middle of the table, the sharp steel ending in a perfect point. Next to them was a flute, long and made of smooth, white wood. It had strange, black markings on it. The last object was a small book. The cover was a pale blue, fading into silver, and it had the drawing of a twisted tree on the front, encased in a circle. 

"Now," Calen said, looking the two humans in the eyes, "These things you will need to take on your journey. Asher, take this flute." She picked it up and handed it to him. He opened his bag, but she stopped him. "Wait." Suddenly, out of nowhere, she produced two belts. They were brown and had each had one glowing jewel on the left and right side, one had blue jewels and the other had red. 

"Put on these belts. I implanted both your fingerprints in them and when you press the jewel on the right side after placing your things into them, they will come free with only your touch." They slipped them on and waited for further instructions. 

Asher was about to politely ask how she got their fingerprints implanted into a belt, but Calen guessed her thoughts. "That is not for you to know," she said, and Selena nodded solemnly. 

"The flute is for you, Asher. When you blow two high notes and one long low one, elves will come to your aid. It can only be used by your royal family, as an alliance once existed between us. Both of you, take the daggers. And the necklaces. The blue is for you, Selena, and the red for Asher. Blue represents the Clever Kingdom and Red for the Ambitious Kingdom. Same as the belts." 

She waited until they had both finished her instructions, and then spoke again. "And lastly, the book is all elvish enchantments. Follow what the book says and you will get what you need. Selena, take it." 

Selena tucked it safely away in her bag. Then they both took a water bottle; Asher took the food and Selena the blankets. 

"Now, my last instructions to you. The four gods, Artemis, Onnophris, Calypso and Caèl, are all in different locations. Here is a list of where they are, but read it silently for we never know who may be watching. You are at war." She slid an envelope onto the table to them. Asher hesitated to pick it up. Calen motioned to it. Asher's fingers grasped the paper and he lifted it up off the table. 

Selena stepped closer to him so she could read over his shoulder. Asher glanced up at her and then opened the letter.