She continued. “You’re standing around discussing my future and haven’t even discussed it with me. Were you going to tell me about this or was I to find out by accident?”
He looked into her eyes. They flashed greener with warning. He tried to calm her with apologetic words. “Melenthia, I’m sorry that you had to overhear that. I swear we would’ve brought you in, when the time was right.”
“Well I’m here now.”
He led her over to the table and she sat down. She looked from one face to another and scowled. You could almost see Sol smiling behind his beard, his alert eyes gazing at her with affection. “I’m sorry you overheard all that, Your Highness,” he said, “but I suppose when men keep secrets, things are bound to go awry.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “What makes you so sure that I’m the one you claim I am?”
Sol glanced at Tomaz and he bowed to her.
“When you were born you were given a great gift, a gift no one for thousands of years has been given. A sword. An Elvin made sword, none its equal. Its name is Tanith. That was more than a mere birth gift; it was the gift of power and of wisdom. It was a gift you were meant to have.”
“I know that part, but I don’t know you. Do I?”
“Not personally, but I was the one who presented it to your parents twenty-one years ago. I was the messenger from Vallis that was chosen for the honored task of presenting it to them. I was the chosen one to keep an eye on you as you grew, until the right moment when you would be needed. That moment has arrived.”
“Why was I not told this before?”
“Because the time was not right. You were not ready.”
“And you think I am now?”
“Even though your brother knew nothing about us and our task, it was us who gave him the insight to train you, the insight to make sure you were safe. We have been watching you, from a distance, to make sure you remained safe. We have been with you since your birth, leading you down the path to this moment.”
“And Fallon, and his marriage to me. Was that in your plan?”
The elf answered, “No. we will admit that you never marrying was not what we intended, but there is always chinks in the armor, even if you are not aware that they are there. Fallon finding out that marrying you and bearing his son was the only way to seal his deal to become all powerful was not expected. Since he knows, we have decisions to make.
“What if I don’t want this burden? What if I refuse to take on this task?”
“You cannot escape your destiny. You cannot deny the world your power, now that you know you possess it. I feel you have always known you were meant for greater things, that you were special.”
“You mean odd. So what, I have no choice? I’m just supposed to give in to what you want, without a second thought about it?”
“You have the soul in which to make the right decision. I have faith you will choose the right path.”
“I’m supposed to choose to be the savior of the kingdom even if it means my death?”
He stared at her, his kind eyes never wavering from her face. “If it is right, the sacrifice will be worth it.”
She stared back at him, her arms now resting in her lap. She was not scowling, but rather pensive, as if she was going through scenarios in her mind. She looked to Dain now. “Do you expect me to make a decision, here? Now?”
“No. I’m sure while we’re planning our part in this, you’ll have time to soul search and choose.”
“So my decision is to die for the world or take the chance at a life with evil.”
No one answered, there was no need. She stood up from her place at the table, all the men standing too. “I will be in the garden if you require anything else from me.”
With a swirl of her skirt, she left the room, leaving the four men wanting of words.
***
She was sitting on the garden bench dipping her now bare feet into the fish pond, swirling the water around with her big toe. Her shoes were put aside, forgotten by the garden gate, her skirts pulled up to her knees. Dain approached her, pulling a dry leaf from an autumn colored tree as he passed. He stood next to her quietly, crunching the leaf absentmindedly. He leaned up against the arched marble garden entry, looking down at her with rapt attention. She felt his gaze and looked toward him, then turned away, focusing her attention once again to the ripples on the pond.
“Please tell me what you’re thinking,” he finally said, breaking the silence that had engulfed them both.
“What am I thinking? I think you’re all insane. I’m odd that’s all. I’m no savior, no hero.”