Page 19 of To Love A Monster
“You will be more than welcome among us, Halla. Daegon has told many stories of you and your bravery.”
“Your mate speaks out of turn. I am not as brave as you, Aylin.” Her words confused me since I did not think of myself as brave. I did not know what to think of myself at times. Instead, Daerla often told me that as the chief’s mate, I had to be strong and lead when the time came, but I often feared that if the time ever came, I would fail my people.
“What makes me brave, Halla?”
“Ya left the only home you ever knew to be with Daegon. You put your trust in him and trusted that he would protect you. You are now walking back into the clutches of the Mad King, a man who imprisoned you and left your mate for dead. We are walking into certain death and demanding he remove a curse, alone, not with an army behind us. You, Aylin, Daughter of Paeris, are courageous.” I hugged her tight as her words struck my heart, my fear fading as we walked silently along the rocky path. My heart sank as I saw a sickly cave beast, its black fur matted and its bones showing a clear sign of starvation. I knew that if Halla did not come with us among the Ironshield clan, she too would meet a terrible fate.
“The King will not punish you for accompanying, will he?”
“He will not be focused on me, Aylin.” She smiled as I hugged her again before the large ice doors opened, and several guards flooded out, swords were drawn. Halla walked past them with her cart, her gaze one of worry but also of hope.
“I request an audience with my father, the King,” I said sternly as my thoughts turned to Daegon and how I knew he was worried sick of my return. I did not care what my father said or how he justified his actions. I wanted to bear Daegons child. I was not shocked when the guard took my arm and led me inside the palace, the air cold as I tried not to show how it affected me.
I was brought into my father’s throne room, the air thick with the high elves as they whispered and gossiped as I was brought before him. They were disgusted with me as I were of them, for they thought themselves better than any other creature. My father smirked as he sat on his throne made of obsidian rock and ice. He knew why I had returned. Seeing my mother sitting beside him broke my heart. The light in her eyes had dimmed, and I could feel how desperately she was to escape my father’s grasp.
“Are you well, my dear child?” My mother asked as the room went silent, my arms wanted desperately to hug her, but I knew it was in vain. My father sneered, causing the room to laugh like pigs. My hands balled into fists as my hatred for him grew.
“No, mother, I am not, and father knows why. You dare to smirk at me when you know what you did, what you put upon me!” I yelled as the guards stepped forward, my father delicately raising his hand as he waved them away.
“I cursed your womb for reasons you dare not understand, child! Orc and Elf will never mate! The child would be an abhorrence to these lands, a curse upon our houses!” The room erupted in cheers and laughter as I felt their evil dark eyes on me.
“YOU ARE A CURSE TO THESE LANDS! You killed the dwarves and forced them from their homes! You killed any human and Elf that displeased you, and you kidnapped my mother and forced her into a life of torment! You dare curse my womb for your vanity! I deny you as my father, King Paeris, and I demand you remove this curse!” His laughter filled the room as others in his court began to laugh. Anger-filled tears filled my eyes as I took a deep breath and held my ground. I would not leave the Kingdom with a curse still festering in my womb.
“You deny me, child—I do not care if you claim me, but I will not have your womb filled with that monster’s seed! I will not allow it! Like it or not, my blood runs through your veins! You think I will taint my bloodline with the that of the filth that is the orc?” His eyes went wide as a drop of red blood suddenly appeared on his neck, his fingers wiping it as he turned towards my mother. I was lost in my anger that I had not noticed my mother had taken a dagger and was now holding it to her very throat, a small drop of blood running down her neck. “My love? What are you doing?”
“Do not play coy with me, Paeris! You know as well as I that if I die—you die! Our bond is poisoned, and our love is tainted! If you refuse to give our child the one thing she asks, I will take my life here and now!” She yelled as she pushed the tip of her dagger deeper, my father hissing as he reached for her.
“Why would you do such a thing? Why would you betray me and deny our love!”
“A mother’s love is deeper than a father’s hatred.”
BREAKING THE CURSE
DAEGON
“Sit down, Sir Daegon! You are making me nervous pacing like that.” Halla said as I again looked out the small window towards the hill. It had been less than a day since Aylin had left my side, and my fear had only grown. My heart ached as I remembered the cruel words that I had spoken to Kaig, words that she had forgiven. However, I had not forgiven myself for them, and I knew I never would. I knew that no matter the outcome, Aylin would always be my one true mate, my love, and not bearing my child would not change that.
“I never should have let her travel alone.”
“She is stronger than you think, ye of little faith. She will return, and her belly will be full of your child by the next full moon.”
Her words brought little comfort, but a small part of me knew she was right. I nodded as she handed me a hearty bowl of hot stew and a hunk of fresh bread, a smirk on my face as I thought of all the solitary warriors that would try to win her affection. “You will be envied when you reach my village, Halla. So many orcs and humans will try to win your hand.” She scoffed at my words and sat down, my eyes noticing a small glint coming from under her small bed.
“Are you hoarding gold, dear friend?” I teased as I reached over and grasped something thick and cold, my eyes wide as I slowly pulled out a large and beautiful mace from under the bed. “Halla—is this—” My words stuck in my throat as I took and mace in my hands, the handle bound in the finest leather and the strong iron head bearing the red and black jewels of a now-dead Kingdom.
“Aye—that is Deaths Song, the very mace that killed the human king with one swing.” She said the words with pride, my eyes unable to stop gazing at the magnificent weapon. The weapon itself was one of legend, for it was so heavy that only those truly worthy could weld it properly.
“How is it you have this?” I asked as I handed it to her. Halla smiled as she stood and placed it over her shoulder. It was then I realized who she was, the old stories of the war my father used to tell coming into my memories. He used to speak of a Dwarf king, a respected and kind King who not only ruled over the dwarves but men, a ruling challenged by a selfish and foolish King, Raimar. He was a young and misled king who kept all who opposed him in slavery.
“My father was the one who wielded it. It was made by the forests Elves of Bloodhill and given to my father as a gift for his kindness.”
“The Elves of Bloodhill? No man nor Orc that has seen them has survived. I do not think they exist anymore, for no one has laid eyes on them since I was a mere child.”
“Aye, but my father found one of their younglings wandering near a large stream. He returned her unharmed, and they gave him this for his kindness. They are not like the high elves of this mountain. They are kind and gentle folk, but they trust no one. Their magic blesses the mace and, with one single blow, can force the very soul from a creature’s body.” She said as she set the mace down and returned to her stew, a smirk on my face as I wondered just what other secrets Halla was keeping.
AYLIN
“You would take your own life, forfeiting my own, just so our child can bear that child of a monster!” My father yelled as my mother stood her ground, my heart racing as I desperately wanted to tell her to drop the dagger. I loathed my father and would celebrate his death, but I could not bear to lose my mother. My heart would shatter.
