A Dragon's Tale Ch. 38

"Oh?"

Mirella smiled. "What's wrong?"

The Brazilian woman hestiated. "I'm uh..." She looked around at the area and noticed the warm air which felt like summer to her, possibly late summer. "Isn't it a little late in the year to be planting flowers?"

"Most flowers yes, but not these." She knelt down by the bare patch of earth and began using the garden fork to break up the earth. "These are mirella seeds, and they won't sprout until after a winter with a good hard freeze."

"Mirella seeds? Like your name?"

The high elf nodded. "I was named for them. Perhaps not coincidentally, they're my favorite."

"Why do you need a winter with a good hard freeze before they will sprout?"

"Let me show you." The elf pulled one of the seeds from the silk pouch and handed it to her. It was a half-inch sphere and was a bit... squishy. She gave it a little squeeze and it yielded under her fingers, a bit like a water balloon. It could yield so much that she could almost press her fingers together, but the skin felt incredibly tough; it would probably be nearly impossible to get through without a really sharp knife.

"You need a hard freeze to break the outer skin, so the true seeds inside can sprout." Mirella explained. "The freezing in winter produces the force necessary to make something beautiful grow from something harsh like winter."

Suddenly, Selene wasn't so sure they were talking about flowers anymore. The elf had a slightly pained, sympathetic look in her eye, though she had a genuine smile on her face too.

"I assume you've had a hard 'winter'?" She asked.

The elf nodded, but didn't elaborate.

There was a slightly awkward silence for a moment before Selene broke it. "How can I help?"

Mirella offered her the garden fork. "I'll dig up the earth and then you can break up the clumps with the garden fork."

The two women set to work, and the caramel-haired beauty found herself enjoying it immensely. Given her frustrations the last couple of weeks, it felt slightly satisfying to take them out on the dirt clumps. She hacked them apart with methodical precision, which felt good; cathartic. She felt even better because she was being useful.

"You know, it's funny." The Brazilian woman said after a minute. "I feel more useful now than I have since I joined the Argo's crew."

"Really?" The high elf asked as she worked to excavate a particularly hard clump of dirt. "I heard you helped with some legal advice for Ethan before he talked to Alana's father, grandfather, and The King."

"Yeah, that's true." She conceded. "Still, I've felt like I'm mostly in the way other than that."

"That's... that's not fun." Mirella gave her an understanding smile. "From what I hear though, Alana might be able to hear her relatives speak her name because of your advice."

"That would be cool." Selene nodded, and the elf's comment on names jogged her memory. "Can I ask a question that might be rude, but I don't know if it is rude because I really don't know the Ten Kingdoms very well."

"I might not answer, but feel free to ask."

"Well, I've noticed that all elves seem to have a descriptive title attached to their names." Selene said as she speared another clump of hard earth. "Like, Anthiel cloud-song, or Alana dragon-bride, or Halvaer house-head. I noticed that your husband didn't introduce you with a descriptive title like that, and I was wondering why."

The high elf gave her pained smile. "He was being kind."

"Oh?"

Mirella scrutinized her for several seconds before nodding like she'd made a decision. She looked down at the earth for several seconds before speaking again. "I do have a 'descriptive name' as you call it, but he didn't use it because he was being kind to me, because of what it is."

"Oh?"

"It's... well, there really isn't a good way to say it in the common tongue. It's only two words in elvish, and my formal greeting would roughly translate to 'Mirella Kiarien, called 'cautionary-tale-with-a-happy-ending'."

Selene stopped what she was doing and looked at the elf, her mouth falling open. "What? That's your name, err, title?"

The high elf nodded.

"That seems rather..." She fished around for the politest way she could think of to put it. "...demeaning."

"It's accurate." She replied quietly. "And it's actually better than what it was before. Before it didn't have a happy ending."

"Oh." Was all Selene could think to say.

"I um..." The elf looked at her with a pained smile. "I wasn't very... wise after my parents died. I ended up being... uh, I ended up with a man who made me..." She took a deep, calming breath. "Well, he forced me and afterwards said that no one would want me because I wasn't a virgin anymore. I believed him and stayed with him even though he wouldn't... he wouldn't marry me or bond with me."

Mirella swallowed hard.

"Hey, it's okay." Selene interjected. "You don't need to talk about it if you don't want to."

Mirella took another deep, calming breath, then looked at her. "I know I don't have to, but..." She paused and blinked several times, her eyes looking a bit watery. "That's why Ralgar doesn't use my title when he introduces me."

"But wait, I thought elves wouldn't speak your name at all if that happened?"

Mirella shook her head. "That's wood elves, not high elves."

"Oh, okay." Selene replied because she couldn't think of anything else to say.

They sat there for several seconds before Mirella took up her one-handed gardening trowel and halfheartedly started digging up dirt again. "That man, he wasn't very kind and..." She winced slightly. "Well, I got good at using magic to heal bruises."

"I'm sorry."

"Anthiel saved me." Mirella continued. "She put the fear of Illuminar in him when she realized what was happening, and she didn't even know me back then. I was just the girl who begged on the corner."

"Begged?"

Mirella nodded, bit her lip, and wouldn't look at her as she spoke quietly. "That man wouldn't let me do anything else."

"Oh." Again, Selene couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Anthiel made sure I was taken care of for a long time." Mirella continued. "She arranged housing for me, she hired me to re-do all her landscaping when she found out I like gardening because I needed the money, even though it already looked perfect." The mahogany haired elf blinked several times as her eyes got watery again, but this time there was a smile in them. "But more than that, she was my friend."

"Anthiel is pretty great." Selene nodded, her opinion of the Argo's pilot skyrocketing even though it was pretty high already.

"She is." Mirella nodded. "She invited me over to her home for dinner regularly, which is how I met Ralgar. He was so different than... thanthat man." She shuddered. "Ralgar was strong but kind, and he challenged me to be better but never berated me. It was nice." Her lips seemingly unconsciously pulled into a contended smile. "It is nice."

"Yeah, I could see that."

The high elf got choked up and smiled wider as her eyes got watery. "And now I'm married to Anthiel's husband and she arranged it. She literally arranged for her husband -- an admiral in Lord Borden's military -- to marry someone who was once a beggar on the street."

Mirella closed her eyes and looked up, seemingly letting the sun soak into her fair skin as she smiled. She looked so blissfully happy in that moment that Selene couldn't help but smile too.

"Anyway, I say all that because Ralgar has been teaching me something." She looked at Selene. "He's been teaching me that I have worth and value, even though I usually don't see it. That I'm worth more than I think I am."

"You are." The Brazilian woman nodded in agreement.

Mirella looked at Selene pointedly. "And if that's true of a beggar off the street, then how much more it is true of a woman who graduated her world's university with a master of degrees, and became a constable for her nation by the age of twenty three?"

Selene blinked.

She couldn't help but smile at the slight miswording, but maybe the elf had a point, and she certainly seemed to know how Selene herself had been feeling.

"How did you know?" Selene asked.

"I've been there; I've felt unseen and worthless before." The high elf replied with a kind smile. "I see your expressions, the slump of your shoulders, and the look in your eyes as you watched Ethan's wives while you have been with us."

"I guess I wasn't as subtle as I thought I was." She grimaced wryly.

"I don't think anyone else noticed. I don't know you very well Selene, but I can see that you care about helping others. If Illuminar brought you into Ethan's life, I'm sure it was for a reason. Trust Him, and that you are exactly where you should be."

"I um, I don't really believe in God at all, much less Illuminar."

The elf looked at her for several seconds before making a thoughtful sound. "I have never met someone who didn't believe in a god, even if it wasn't Illuminar."

"It's pretty common to believe that way where I come from." She shrugged.

"Huh." The elf didn't seem to know what to say about that.

They both went back to working the dirt. Not long after, they finished preparing the dirt and Selene helped Mirella plant a dozen mirella plants.

When they were done, the high elf beamed. "I've always wanted some of these, but never had the chance. Ralgar got them for me when he learned that I loved them."

"I'm glad you got some then." Selene smiled at her. "And thank you."

"You're welcome."

The ex-FBI agent looked at her for several seconds. "You opened up about some really personal and painful parts of your life just so you could help me feel better, didn't you?"

Mirella smiled sheepishly, then nodded slightly.

"Then if I was in charge of elven names, I'd make yours something like: Mirella Kiarien, called 'caring hostess'."

The elf beamed.

* * *

Beth took a deep breath as she looked at the double doors of her father's study. It was carved with several ornate designs and inlaid with gold, and she'd often loved looking at it as a little girl. She'd loved that her father was on the other side of the door, and how eventually he'd come through it and play with her, and eventually Charles too when he'd come along.

Now...

She shook her head.

"Lady Beth, you may enter at your leisure." Her father's steward reminded her.

"I know, I just..." She sighed.

"Lady Beth, if I might be so bold as to offer some advice?" He asked.

"Please."

"Be respectful, but speak your mind. Your father respects those who know what they want and stand up for it."

"I'll try." She took another deep breath, then pushed the doors open. Her father was sitting in a large chair behind an ornate wooden desk. Along the walls of the office were several large and expensive paintings. Gold candlesticks lined the room, although they weren't currently lit. Through the many windows, she had an excellent panoramic view of the town, and she'd always loved that view as a little girl.

However, none of that held much interest for her right now.

Instead, she fixed her eyes on her father. He had always been a giant of a man in her eyes, and still was in many ways, despite everything. When she was a child, he had tucked her into bed at night, read her bedtime stories, and been there when she needed him.

She wanted that back.

"You came alone." Lord Borden observed.

"I asked Ethan to wait outside."

"And he agreed?" He raised his eyebrow.

She nodded, then looked at him pointedly. "He listens to me when I talk."

"Does he now? What about when you wanted him to stay away from Alana after you got married?"

Beth opened her mouth to respond, then closed it. She had seen her father do this countless times. He would steer the conversation with questions, always guiding the conversation and keeping the other person off-balance. She'd already been through that during her and Ethan's conversation with him when they had arrived, and she didn't want to repeat it again.

"You're not listening father." She shook her head. "You're asking questions to guide the conversation, not because you want to hear the answer. Why won't you listen?"

He looked at her from his great chair, making eye contact but not replying.

It was unnerving.

Not wanting to turn it into a staring contest, she spoke again. "Why won't you listen?"

"I am listening." He replied, his expression softening. "But my daughter -- my beloved only daughter -- is being mistreated by a dra--"

"You. Aren't. Listening!" Beth interrupted, clenching her fists and doing everything she could to keep her voice at a normal volume for conversation. "I most certainly amnot being mistreated by my husband."

"Elizabeth, you forget that I have seen up close what a polygynous marriage is really like, and--"

"Father!" The blonde teen said, a bit more loudly than she intended to. She took a deep, calming breath and then forced herself to continue at a normal volume. "You aren't listening to me father; not at all. It's like you can't even hear me. Ethan isn't like your step-father; not at all."

"I have seen no evidence to the contrary, and Grams told many stories of her doing exactly what you are doing right now; trying to convince people that he wasn't a bad man." He leaned forward. "But he was. He was and you know it because you've heard the stories that Grams tells. I made sure you did -- even over your mother's objections -- so you would never end up in that position." He sighed heavily. "And yet now you are."

The blonde teen purposely unclenched her fists and took another deep, calming breath. "I know what you think father, and I know you think that you have all the evidence in the world. But have you considered for a moment that I'm actually happy?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"You have always said that you could spot a lie at 200 paces blindfolded." She continued. "So I ask you right now, am I lying? I'm happy with Ethan. In fact, I'mvery happy being married to Ethan."

"You aren't lying; you believe every word you say." He said slowly, carefully pronouncing every syllable clearly and precisely.

"But?"

"But apparently dragons can compel mortals to do their bidding, and thus possibly their way of thinking. I can only imagine this ability is augmented by bonding." He leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "I knew that you bonding to him was a bad idea, and now it's cost you your free will."

"I still have my free will father. He didn't want me to come up here alone, but I convinced him it was best and he actuallylistened to me." She looked at him pointedly again. "Helistened to me."

"And there was once a time when youlistened to me." Her father replied. "You have never in your entire life dismissed me out of hand before now. Yet now, you don't hear a single word thatI have said. What am I to make of that? Don't you see how that savors strongly of you being influenced?"

There was something in his voice that made Beth pause. For the first time, it actually sounded like he was... well, not quite listening exactly.

Maybe listening-adjacent?

She paused before speaking. "Yes, I understand how it could look that way. It's not that way, but I can see how it might look that way."

"Here's what I know." Lord Borden continued. "I know he was instrumental in the death of a girl in Arcanum. I know he had dealings with a necromancer not long after. And I know that he tricked many in the Ten Kingdoms -- Ivernia especially -- into believing that he is a prophet of Illuminar. These aren't small sins."

"I was the girl, father. The one who died."

He blinked.

For the briefest moment, her father was rendered something that she'd never seen him be in her entire life: speechless.

"How?"

"We were ambushed and I was killed in the struggle." She said, finally deciding that she was done hiding what had really happened. "I was being pulled into Illuminar's light when a spell from one of Saidow's minions snared my ankle and held me until an angel released me. I spent over a week with that angel, I learned astral projection, I confronted a demon, and I saved Ethan's life several times."

Her father looked like his favorite pet had just died. "You aren't well Beth; you need a healer."

"Let me prove it to you."

"How?"

"The angel taught me how to touch things while I'm on the Astral Plane."

He scoffed.

"She did; I'll touch your shoulder, or bump things, or even slide something across your desk."

"You're serious."

"As a dragon attack." She nodded. "I'm going to lay down on the floor before I astral project, otherwise my body will just fall and I might get hurt."

Her father stared at her opened mouthed as she laid down on the floor. She concentrated on peeling her spirit form away from her body and moments later stood up in a purple world. It was slightly disorienting as usual, but not too bad. At her side, she saw the angelic blade Aharown and patted it fondly, then she stepped over behind her father.

She tapped him twice on the shoulder.

He whipped around, standing up as he did so.

She tapped his other shoulder.

He whipped around the other direction.

"Beth?" He breathed.

She tapped his shoulder twice, hoping he'd understand.

"But it could be a mage with some type of advanced invisibility spell." He wondered aloud, then frowned. "Okay, if you really are on the astral plane, then touch the palm of my right hand when I say."

He cupped his hands together, as if he was concealing something in them, but of course he wasn't; he was protecting his palms from being touched. Someone who was merely invisible wouldn't be able to touch either of his palms.

"Okay, now." He said.

It took Beth a moment, but she managed to tap his palm, protected though it was.

Lord Borden sat down in his chair, breathing like someone who'd had a terrible fright. Beth walked over to her body and touched it, which created a jarring sensation as she was pulled back into it. She opened her eyes and slowly sat up.

Her father stared at her.

She slowly stood up, feeling a bit disoriented; but again it wasn't too bad. After a moment, she sat down in one of the chairs opposite her father as he gaped at her for several seconds.

Finally, he regained his composure. "How did you learn that? I've never even heard of such magic."

"I already told you, I learned it from an angel."

His eyes narrowed and his 'stern father' voice came out in full force. "That is quite a story young lady."

"Yes it is, and every word is true." She said, meeting his eyes and not being a bit cowed by her father's tone. She'd felt the full, dragon-powered force of Ethan's stern tone just days earlier during her brief argument with Taloni; her father had nothing on her husband.

"I died father; I died and Ethan risked his life to bring me back."

"By seeking out a necromancer." Her set his jaw.

"Yes, but only so he could use the necromancer's portal to return to his world and get what he needed to save me. I was dead for two weeks, but I sit here alive now because of Ethan."

"He's still lying about being the prophet of Illuminar."

"No, he's not." She said firmly. "I'm sure you've heard of Mount Ianis?"

He raised his eyebrow.

"Shouldn't Ethan's visit there be part of the gossip mill by now?"

"It is, but I dismissed it not worth considering."

"It is though, because it happened." She leaned forward. "My husband had an audience with Illuminar Himself."

He raised his eyebrow. "Oh? And what did Illuminar tell him."

"That he would have seven wives, and--"

Lord Borden laughed mirthlessly. "And who else was there to witness this meeting?"

"Well, no one." She conceded.

He scoffed. "Of course. He meets with God Himself and God tells him that he needs yetmore wives." He shook his head. "Do you even hear yourself Beth? Do you realize what it sounds like?"