Kierra takes me to the only properly made building I’ve seen so far. It is only a single story high but it stretches the length of several buildings. Inside, the floor is dominated by a small pool of water the color of milk. In the very center is a burbling spring that feeds it and channels branch off from it, taking the excess water out of the building.

Along the walls are several benches, basins of waters, several brushes, and an assortment of soaps. Kierra guides me to sit on one of the benches. “We cleanse ourselves here before getting in the pool. Here, let me wash your back.”

“Thanks.” I allow her to strip me of my borrowed dress and close my eyes as she begins washing me. A part of me is waiting for her to try and turn this into another escapade of hers but, for once, her actions are entirely what they seem and her hands fail to stray from a decent course. There is a solemnness in the air and I find myself taking on its countenance as I turn to wash her back.

When we are both clean, Kierra takes my hand and brings me into the pool, wrapping her arms about me.

I sigh as the cool water envelopes me, leaning my head back against her shoulder. Somehow, I feel lighter being in the pool. “This is nice.”

“We call it the Moon Pool. It is said that the pool used to be clear as glass. But then, a piece of the moon fell into it, turning it and every stream that touched it a brilliant white, giving it extraordinary healing properties. Great carnage surrounded it as predators fought for control of its powers. The queen’s grandmother led the campaign to secure it. Now, it is our province’s symbol of purity. Those meant to unified are allowed here so that the waters may wash them of all impurities, preparing them for their new life as one.”

“Is it strong enough to cure you of your deviancy?”

“Oh, dedia. I assure you, my passions are very pure.”

Her hand moves between my legs and I squeeze my thighs, trapping it there before it can reach any dangerous places. “Seriously?” I hiss. “In the sacred pool?”

“There is another story as to why the pool is the color it is.”

“…no.”

“This is where every pair comes on the eve of their unification. What do you think they do here?”

I make to stand up but she pulls me back down, chuckling. I swear, this elf. I can’t tell if she’s laughing because she managed to trick me or because she’s telling the truth.

“You really like your games.”

“I do. Games and competition. They push our limits and when your limits are pushed, you become stronger. That, and I love the way you look when you’re uncomfortable.”

To just blatantly say that. Sigh. Oh well. I signed up for this when I decided to stay with her. The only thing for it is to learn to beat her. A worthy endeavor if there ever was one.

My heart gives a little happy flutter as we relax in the water, Kierra ceasing her advances now that she’s had her fun. In the quiet, the reality that I am about to be married gains weight.

Saints above, what will my father say when I come back with an elven bride? What comes next? She has a life here. A respected warrior, a powerful caster, blood relation to the queen. And what do I have?

A low noble title, a bitter father with something to prove, and a place at a prestigious academy I never wanted and that may not even be there for me anymore. That isn’t much. “Are you alright with this?”

“Hmm? With what now?”

“This. Our union. Coming back home with me. There’s so much for you here. They threw a festival for your return, for saints’ sake.”

She turns me around so that I’m facing her. “I am very alright with this. I understand what you are asking, Lou. This is my home and you feel guilty taking me from it. But remember. I am only welcome here because I keep my secrets. You have seen my mother. Do you doubt she would slay me where I stood if she ever discovered the true reason I could not face the trolls?”

I imagine Morgene’s stern expression and wince. Nope. No doubt at all.

“I love my family and I love my home but more than anything, I yearn to be free. That is why I will give up anything for you, Lou. Because even trapped within my mother’s cage, when I am with you, when we share our secret pleasures, that is the only time I feel free.”

I swallow at the strength in her voice. “Oh, Kierra…”

“I hope that reassures you. Unless it is not me you are worried about.” She looks away from my gaze. “Perhaps it is your doubts you are contemplating.”

“What? No!”

“I would not blame you. My people are not ones for hesitating when they know what they want but this might be sudden−”

“Kierra, no.” I grab her chin and turn her back to look at me. “I want this. Every bit of it. I’m sorry if I made you think I didn’t for even a moment. It’s just…sometimes, I can’t imagine how I managed to land you.”

“Your lack of confidence is understandable. You have become powerful by action outside of your design. But everything else is a result of you. Your words impressed the elemental who saw fit to rebirth you. You worked to gain mastery of your abilities. You chose not to abandon me at your first chance and, when you learned of my persuasions, you were the one who accepted me when all of my family would have turned me away. These are all things that you have done.”

I can’t find words to fit the gravity of the situation so I just smile tenderly. She gives me a soft peck on the lips. “Don’t worry, Lou. I have a feeling that our lives together will be interesting no matter where we go. Such is the curse of those who possess great ability.”

Some time later, two elven women appear next to the pool carrying long white robes and towels. This has to be the signal for us to get out because Kierra motions for me to leave the water. We take turns drying each other off. Then she helps me into my robe before tucking my hand in the crook of her elbow as we leave the building.

Outside, dusk is beginning to fall. Whether it is because of their strange sleeping pattern or the noise of the celebrations which have only grown louder, I see more elves about. Many of them cheer as we pass, throwing flowers into our path. I’m startled to feel something pulling on the end of my robe and outright dismayed when I turn and see a small elven girl staring up at me.

Ugh. Children. Never been good with those. They’re so…impressionable. I’m hyper-aware of whatever I say around them could affect their entire adult life. Saints know I’m not the prime choice for a role model.

No, kid. Turn those big eyes away from me. Why do kids look at everything with wonder? It’s pressing on me like a physical thing. Before I know it, I’m crouching down to look the little girl in the eye, forcing a smile to my face. Sigh. “Hey there.”

The girl says a bunch of lyrical gibberish I don’t understand a word of. “Um…” I tilt my head to look at Kierra, who of course is amused by my clear failure. I give her my best ‘help me’ look and she crouches beside me. The two of them exchange rapid-fire words, like two birds chirping at each other in the treetops. The little girl smiles and offers me a vibrant yellow bloom.

“Thank you.” I accept it with a nod. Kierra pats her head and the girl scampers off. The two of us start walking again. “What were the two of you talking about?”

Kierra grins. “Pietra is worried about you. She thinks you won’t last two seconds strolling through the forest. I assured her that you’re tougher than you look and that I would do my best to protect you.”

“Gee, thanks.” I don’t believe this. It really does start from childhood. The music in the air becomes louder as what sounds like an army of drummers join in. “How long is the partying going to last for?”

“It’s going to last and last.” Kierra chuckles. “They’re just using us as an excuse. Elves, especially the Dusk Province elves, love drinking as much as they love a good fight.”

Drinking? Saints above, I haven’t had a drink in months. Yes, please! “What kind of drinking are we talking about?”

“Dedia, surely you don’t think I’d bring you to elven land and not share some of our famous wine? Trust me, one mug and everything else that touches your tongue will taste like stale piss.”

Okay, ugh. Didn’t need all that description. It has raised my expectations though. “Time to join the party.”

“Oh, no. I’m taking you back to my mother’s tree. I’m sure she’s had the foresight to vacate it for the night and I would prefer that we drink alone.” She shifts her hand to my waist and pulls me against her as she says this. “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t worry. We won’t get too excited. Mainly because I doubt mother would react favorably to having her home smell like a troll.”

Oh, I can just imagine how that conversation would go. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

“We’ll make our way to the trees for wine and refills. Along the way, I’ll regale you with stories of my youth and elven history. Then we’ll walk the glades. When you’re too tired to walk or too drunk to stand up straight, I will carry you back and lay you down on a real bed. We’ll spend the whole night embracing each other and whispering vows like two lovesick adolescents. And in the morning, we will be unified.”

“…wow. I’m amazed.”

“By what?”

“You. That sounds downright romantic, by normal standards no less. I thought your idea of romance was drinking wine over a mutilated corpse or sleeping on a bed where the frame is made from the bones of your enemies and admiring their skulls on your wall.”

“You have a terrible opinion of me, dedia.”

Or an accurate one. “Maybe. But since you plan to marry me, you’ve got a lifetime to change my mind.”

“A worthy endeavor if there ever was one.”