Page 21 of To Love A Monster
“Forgive me, My Chief. You said that if I finish my training, I could join you. I fear I finished quicker than I thought.” He said in a low tone as I noticed his gaze looking past me at Halla, a smirk on my lips as I could practically feel his heart begin to race in his chest. I knew that if any orc or human could win Halla’s heart, it was Krim. He had a gentle way about him but was a fine berserker in battle.
“No need to ask for forgiveness, Krim—I am glad you are here. This is Halla, Daughter of King Hammel; she is the brave dwarf who saved me from my wounds and my mate from that kingdom's halls.”
“An honor—Halla.” Krim stumbled on his words as I noticed a blush over his cheek, his long dark hair moving over his face as he turned away from her. “Has Lady Aylin returned?” He asked as Halla excused herself to skin the rabbits as I prepared the deer.
“She has not, but she will. Fear not; she is well protected.” My words comforted him, but my mind raced with questions as I noticed his gaze over at Halla. “Are you feeling something for her?” I whispered as his eyes widened and his usually green cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. Krim was a full-blooded orc, but his brow and tusks were more like his mother than his father, whom most humans cowered from. “It is nothing to be embarrassed about, Krim. She is a more than worthy maiden for a warrior like you.”
“She would reject me, Chief. The stories you told of her, and to see her now in all her beauty and strength, I—am not worthy of her. She needs an Orc like Lygar or Tanvas, not an orc who is too scared to take a maiden into his bed. I have never felt the lips of a maiden on mine.”
“That is foolish, Krim. You are worthy of her, and if you truly feel in your heart that she is your true mate—you must try and court her but be prepared—she is not like other maidens. She has a fire in her belly.” I teased as a smile rose onto his lips, our bodies jerking as the air suddenly filled with a dark and ominous song of a horn. “HALLA! What is that!”
“I never thought I would hear that sound again in my lifetime, Sir Daegon,” Halla said as the song filled his soul with sadness and dread.
“What is it, Halla!”
“That is the final call of the King—The Mad King Paeris—is dead.” Her words caused my heart to sink into my belly as fear overtook me. I sensed in my heart that my mate, my sweet Aylin, was still living, but I feared she was in grave danger.
“I must get to her! She could be in danger!”
“ARE YOU MAD! The King is dead, Sir Daegon. The guards will kill us on sight!” She protested as I informed Krim to return to the village, inform others of the news, and be ready for war if needed.
“THAT IS MY MATE! I WILL NOT LET HER DIE OR ALLOW ANY HARM TO COME TO HER!” I shouted as my voice rumbled around us, Halla not flinching as her gaze locked to mine. “Forgive me—my anger is misplaced,” I said as I watched Krim ride off alone, my stomach sinking once more as worry filled my thoughts. I knew that if I lost Aylin, my heart would surely die, and the line of my house would perish.
A FARCE QUEEN
AYLIN
My eyes slowly fluttered open, the pain engulfing my body as I feared I would be sick if I sat up too quickly. My mother’s face came into view as I felt her warm embrace, and a terrible feeling overtook me.
“Mother?” I whispered as her soft, delicate hands clutched my face, my eyes closing as she tenderly kissed the top of my head. “Mother?” I said again as I saw the sadness in her eyes, my stomach sinking as I realized I was lying on a soft, warm bed.
“The curse has been lifted, my child—and you are no longer burdened with immortality.” She said as I gasped in delight, my arms going around her neck as I hugged her close, my gaze catching my father’s as I saw him standing by the large fireplace that took up a single wall, his gaze grim.
“What is wrong, mother?”
“When you leave here, Aylin—I never want you to return. Live the life I could not give you with Daegon and love your future children as I love you.” She whispered as she hugged me again, tears streaming down my cheeks as I knew her words to be true. I could not return to this mountain, and she could not escape my father and their poisonous bond.
“I love you, Mother,” I said as I watched her slip from the large bed and approach my father, my heart racing as I realized I could no longer feel his thoughts. Not only had my father lifted the curse and taken my immortality, but he also took my ability of foresight. “Come with me, mother—the village will accept you—"
“You are free to leave—however—know that if you or your orc step foot in my Kingdom again, death will be instant. Your mother is bound to me; if I allowed her to leave, her heart would not let her.” He said in a smug tone that sent anger through my body. I wished I could strike him, but I knew that if I dared—his guards would run a sword through my body.
“You are right, Paeris. I would not make it out of this Kingdom before I felt the heave of my heart to run back to you.” I watched as my mother slowly and hesitantly wrapped a single arm around my father, his slender arms embracing her as his eyes suddenly widened.
“MOTHER! NO!” I screamed as I watched dark red blood soak through the blue fabric of her gown, my father pushing from her as I saw the slender dagger fashioned from pure white crystal sticking from his abdomen. The smile on my mother’s lips broke my heart, for the only way to escape my father was to welcome death with open arms. Her body did not have a wound as my father did, but her spirit faded as my father lay dying.
“Valaris?” He breathed out as he fell to his knees, his arms reaching for my mother as she fell back into my arms, my sobs filling the room as I called out for help. The guards rushed into the room, their faces full of shock and fear as they witnessed the death of their King.
“You cannot leave me, mother! I need you.” I sobbed as I cradled my dying mother in my arms, blood spilling down her lips as I slowly and painfully watched the light drain from her eyes. Crying out in pain was all I could do as I hugged my mother’s lifeless body, the guards giving me space as my cries filled the large chamber.
“What happened here, Lady Aylin?” Ivasaar asked gently as he knelt beside me. My eyes felt heavy as I accepted the silk cloth. He offered to wipe my eyes, his kindness something rare among most Elves.
“Mother—she—she killed King Paeris.” I sobbed again as I gently pushed a strand of hair from her face, my heart leaping as a deep booming sound roared around us. “What is that!”
“It is the Horn of the Vale, Lady Aylin. The entire Kingdom now knows that the King is dead.” His words made me sick as I feared for the future of a Kingdom my father had banished me from. “Who will rule the Kingdom, Ivasaar?”
“You—Lady—Queen Aylin.” He said as I gasped in horror, my heart sinking as I knew in my heart that I wanted more than anything to abdicate the title and return home with Daegon.
