The Legend of Alexandros: Belen (14 page)

Valchor led the way holding a small golden lantern. Behind him the group walked in a straight line with Alexandros close behind Valchor. The group, including the six elves, traveled in a perfectly straight line.

“How did you know to come find us?” Alexandros asked Valchor, but the elf continued on walking, which annoyed Alexandros. “I asked you a question.”

Valchor sighed. “Relax human. We night elves will not harm you or your companions.” The moonlight shone off of Valchor’s silver armor. “I am bringing you to my father Dokohan. But do not fear—he is a fair king.”

Alexandros rolled his eyes at the elven prince. Even though Elora was soaked to the bone, her beauty could not be hidden. Valchor’s forest green eyes lit up as he doubled back to her.

“Hello. I am Valchor, prince of Evedsatu, and who might you be?”

“I am Princess Elora of Siruac,” said Elora, cautiously.

“And I am Belen Alexandros, son of Mabruk,” Alexandros said as he stepped in between Elora and Valchor.

With a cocky smug smile, Valchor replied, “I see. Are you her guardian?”

“We do not have the time for this Belen, Raphael needs help,” Alistair said with concern.

“Very well…lead the way…prince,” said Alexandros.

“As you wish, Belen…” said Valchor.

The warm forest breeze slowly started to warm the cold wet travelers. The group kept up a quick pace—all but Winston, who felt somewhat out of place as if he did not belong among the group. As he carried Raphael he thought to himself that as long as he was with his human he would remain safe.

Traveling through the night, Valchor led the way through what might have seemed to be hundreds of miles of forest until they reached a most beautiful meadow. The full moon shone down on the green grass as four deer drank from a small pond. Fireflies radiated a mystical golden shimmer over the meadow. Beyond the meadow the trees were tall, thin, and spaced a bit more far apart. Small wooden homes were built in between the trees, and outside the homes were small moon-silver lanterns that hung from the trees of every other home. The light from the lanterns gave off a golden color that engulfed the area. Elven guards patrolled the village and welcomed back their prince and royal warriors.

“Come with me, wizard,” said Valchor. “Bring the centaur as well. We shall see what we can do to help him. As for the rest of you, my guards shall escort you to your sleeping quarters. In the morning you will meet my father.” He pointed to a massively thick tree that had been hollowed out and made into the royal home.

The tree was as high as the sky and surrounded by a spiral staircase. Many different rooms were inside the tree, the main entrance being the lower level, but the higher the level the more mysterious it all became. Only certain members were allowed inside to speak with the king directly—he remained on the higher levels. The elven villagers preferred it that way because, although King Dokohan was a fair king, he was fearsome as well. He ruled his people with a firm hand and let very little slip by him. Four royal guards escorted Alistair and carried Raphael into the royal home.

Alexandros pulled Alistair aside from the royal elven guards. “Do not leave Raphael’s side; stay with him at all times.”

Alistair nodded in agreement and began going up the spiral steps until he entered what could be considered the second floor of the royal home. Standing together were Elora, Bixbin, and Winston. Winston tried to speak to an elven guard, telling the guard one of his many stories until the elven guard simply left the Dragon’s side.

“My dear, not even the elves wish to hear this Dragon’s eternity long stories,” Bixbin whispered to Elora.

“Oh, Bixbin, leave him…his stories are what make him who he is.”

“Annoying is what he is.”

Just then, Valchor approached them; he walked with such ease and grace, making sure he was the center of attention. “The four of you will stay the night over there.” He pointed to two small cottages near a flowing creek fifty feet from the royal home. “Each cottage holds two so you will have to decide who stays with whom.” Valchor then handed Alexandros a silk white, button-down shirt. “Take this to wear, Belen. It is made by the greatest of the greatest and will not tear apart like the rags you wear now. Besides you cannot and will not be dressed as if you live underneath a boulder in my village.”

Alexandros snatched the silk shirt away from Valchor and held it for several seconds with a firm grip. Elora silently encouraged him to wear the shirt.

Elora slowly stepped to Alexandros as he took off his old grey shirt and placed on the one given to him, to which Alexandros reluctantly agreed. Without further words they decided to room together.

“Well it seems like it will be you and I, my friend,” Winston said to Bixbin with a great smile. Bixbin rolled his eyes and followed the guards to the cottage.

Elora and Alexandros entered their cottage first. Winston entered the second cottage, accidentally pushing Bixbin aside with his tail. Bixbin tried to stomp on Winston’s tail, only missing by a few inches. Winston turned with a small frightful jump after hearing the loud thump.

“What on earth was that?”

“A grasshopper…” Bixbin answered, feigning innocence.

“Oh, dear, we must not let those annoying things in here. Good thing you got it.”

Bixbin drew a deep breath of encouragement, stepped inside, and shut the door for the night.

The mood was more relaxed in Elora and Alexandros’ cottage—the cottage itself was spacious with two small beds, a small round table, and a dark rug underneath the table with a light-green design that resembled the royal home. The cottage was shaped like an average inn room with a circle-shaped window at the far end in between the two beds.

“I hope all will be comfortable for you and the Princess,” Valchor said, jealously.

“I am sure it will be,” said Alexandros and shut the door in Valchor’s face. Alexandros turned around with a smile—until he noticed Elora standing with her arms crossed watching him.

“You know, he may be a snob, but yet he did not have to allow us to stay here,” she said.

“I understand that…but snobs should be put in their place.”

“Well…I guess so. He is somewhat annoying.”

The two shared a laugh. Elora then turned to the window to close the silk drapes that hung down but before she did she noticed in the next cottage Winston rambling on again and poor Bixbin holding both his hands to his ears.

Alexandros sat on his bed and began removing his weapons and some of his clothing that was still a bit wet, leaving only his black tights on.

“If you wish to undress, my lady, I will not mind remaining outside.”

Elora turned to him; she walked over as he sat on the bed. She glanced down to him and gave him a most passionate look and brushed the hair from his face.

“That will not be necessary, Belen…”

She pulled her long dark hair back and gave Alexandros a most loving kiss. She pushed him onto the bed, and he wrapped his arms around her. A small lantern began to flicker. He removed her corset slowly, then her gown, revealing her perfect figure. His heart raced as they kissed, and when he slowly rolled over on top of her, covering her entirely, the lantern light completely faded.

Day One

Alexandros awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and well rested; cradled in his arms, slept Elora. Alexandros looked up at the ceiling for a moment and for a brief second thought about all that has come to be; everything that had happened to him would have consumed him if not for Elora, who was the now most important person in his life; no more could he hide the fact that he was in love with her.

Wishing not to disturb her, he slowly climbed out of the bed and covered her with the soft, white silk bed sheet. He put on his black tights, silk shirt, and boots. Then he stepped outside with his shirt unbuttoned and came to find Winston drinking water from the crystal clear creek.

“Come on over human, drink. This is the most refreshing water I have ever tasted,” Winston said.

Bixbin stepped outside wearing his armor as if he had never taken it off. The morning sunlight shone upon them all as they looked around the valley.

Winston ran playfully up to Alexandros. “Good morning, human.”

Elora, with only the silk sheet covering her, opened the door looking for Alexandros.

“A good morning indeed…” Bixbin chuckled. “Am I right my friend?”

“Shut your mouth, Bixbin,” Alexandros snapped, then turned to Elora. “Good morning, my lady…”

Elora smiled and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. Neither expected to find love so soon, and with all they had been through, it came as a surprise…but a pleasant one. Their night together made all their worries fade away, but now the morning light came crashing in and brought the worries screaming back.

“Has anyone seen Alistair yet?” Elora asked.

“Not yet, my lady,” said Bixbin. “But I am hoping we hear something soon…”

The morning sun slowly faded as rain clouds gathered in the blue sky. Little rain drops began to fall upon the elven valley. What seemed odd was that the four had not yet seen any villagers, but their focus remained on Alistair and Raphael. Elora returned to her room alone to get dressed.

Just then, an elven servant came running toward them.

“Your friend…” he said, catching his breath. “Your friend…the centaur…he is awake. He asks to speak with the princess of Siruac…”

“The princess?” asked Alexandros. “Are you sure he asked to speak to her? Is he well? I wish to see him as well.”

“My directions are to bring the princess to the centaur, sir; all will see him after his wishes are made.”

The tall skinny elven servant then waited to escort the princess.

Alexandros pulled Elora to the side. “Take this.” He handed her a small dagger. “It may not be much but it is something none the less.”

She placed the small dagger between her cleavage. “Do you think they will try and harm me?”

“I would not put it past them if they would…but this is if Prince Valchor tries something.”

“Oh, Belen,” she said, adjusting the dagger.

The boy led Elora up the spiral steps and into the main entrance hall. From the look of the hollowed-out tree she had not expected much…but it was breathtaking inside. Spectacular oak floors; exquisite lanterns hung from the bark walls of the tree lit up the dim room; elven artwork carved onto the walls—a diamond chandelier hung from the ceiling of a huge room. The lantern lights, high above the floor, gently illuminated the surroundings.

“Your friend is here,” the boy said, going down long narrow steps. “His curse recommended our natural pure springs to cure him from the pain he felt.”

“Is he cured?”

“From his curse, yes…from his pain…no…”

He then opened a wooden oak door to the basement level. The room was spacious and round, almost vacant, except for a beautiful stone fountain placed in the center. The fountain was wide and took up most of the room; water trickled out from the sculpture of a beautiful elven maiden. The sculpture of the maiden stood tall; her long hair covered her naked body; her head was down with her hands cupped as if looking at her own refection. The water trickled from all sides of her hand into pool of the fountain. The pool itself was about eight feet deep; it made little sound as tiny waves rippled over the surface. The room, like the main hall, had very little lighting; candles in wall sconces were placed all over the room with shimmering diamonds scattered all throughout the walls. In the pool was Raphael, with his body resting in the water while he lay with his arms folded and his head down on the stone edge of the fountain.

“No one will disturb you,” the boy whispered before returning upstairs. “You two will be alone for as long as you need, princess,”

Elora sat beside Raphael and placed her hand on his back. “Are you all right?”

Raphael gradually lifted his head, his eyes puffy and red from tears; his wet hair fell to his shoulders. He slowly brushed the wet hair from his face.

“My father…is my father truly dead?”

Elora began to cry. “I will not lie to you, because I would never want such a truth to be hidden from me. Your father has passed, but not in vain…he saved you—you meant so much more to him than life itself.”

“Who will teach me what is to be a king? My father has always been there…I cannot do this on my own, I would not even know where to start…”

“I know this will not help much, but I have never told you why I left my kingdom of Siruac…I have lost my father as well…”

And she told Raphael her story.

Siruac

Hundreds of miles away in the haunted land of Siruac, a rage-filled Barbarious sat in his throne room. He stared off into nothing as he clawed the arm of his chair with his remaining hand.

“Dead…dead…dead…is what they all will be. I shall feed their flesh to the goblins…”

Barbarious glanced up slowly as three knocks came from the door outside the throne room. The door slowly opened to reveal the hobgoblin Zuers.

“My lord…the vampire king William has come to see you…”

Barbarious motioned with his skeletal fingers as a sign to enter.

William burst into the room wearing a long black cloak with two long tusks attached to the shoulders; his fangs extracted as he approached Barbarious; his eyes blood red and full of anger.

“Three of my children are dead, wizard. Was that part of your masterful plan or will you have everyone else fight your battle, you pathetic old fool!” William’s voice boomed throughout the throne room.

“There are always casualties of war, my friend…that is the price war pays…” Barbarious answered with no emotion.

“And I suppose your hand was the first victim, or did you just lie down on your back and allow the son of Mabruk to remove it for you?”

Barbarious leaped from his throne and stared into the vampire king’s eyes.

“Do not get carried away now, wizard,” said William. “We both know your magic will not harm the already dead. So do not be foolish. You have no power over me. Do not make me return again, wizard; the next time will not be this pleasant.”