Book 01: Day and Night

The King looked at her. "What are you telling me Maya, you are using yourself as bait to draw out the enemy? We already know who the enemy is and that's the dark elves. So, I'm sorry but I can't let you leave."

Her grandmother interrupted. "Sire, she has to."

The King looked at the older elf and shook his head. "No, I won't have people speaking badly against my trusted friends. You will not be leaving the city again Maya no matter what." He turned around and left them. He couldn't believe what Maya was saying. No one was going against the crown especially someone of his people. Someone was setting the wood elves up.

Maya sighed and looked to her grandmother after the door closed. "I have to leave. My husband will attack the city if I don't meet him at the blood elves village."

Nodding, the old elf said, "I know child, run now. The King will think you're here so go and get a head start."

Maya quickly hugged her grandmother. "Thankyou." And quickly darted out the side door which lead out to the balcony and looked around before whistling which would attract the wolves and started to climb down the tree which was closest to the window. She use to do it as a child when she wanted to roam the forest alone.

The wolves heard the whistle and as soon as her feet touched the ground they were ready to leave. "Lets go, we need to move fast. Hopefully Kay'n is waiting for us." They darted through the city making sure they were seen before disappearing into the forest.

* * * * *

They knew as soon as they inside the forest they were being followed. They could feel the elves following them. Maya said quietly, "We'll lead them around a bit before going to the meeting area."

The wolves nodded and both kept up to the same pace as Maya. Maya had other plans she had thought up along the way. She sighed to herself, not letting the wolves in on the plans and they headed towards the dwarves land to the cave and village so the Kingfs men would see what she had. She left her trail easier enough for the Kingfs scouts but it was also easier for the elves that were following her as well to find. She knew she was playing a dangerous game but it had to be done.

* * * * *

The Queen, Kay'n and the guards they brought along had arrived the day before and enjoying their time with the blood elves. Suddenly one of the scouts rushed through the doors and over to the Queen, saying, "She's left the wood elf land and heading to the dwarves land and she's leaving a pretty clear trail for the ones following her."

Kay'n stood up quickly. "She knows we're meeting here. What is she doing." And started to pace the room. The blood elves that were with them looked at him with concern.

The Queen nodded. "If someone had come to me with the information, I wouldn't want them to leave especially if there are enemies out there knowing what I knew. I would of kept her there and I believe that is what happened. She's leaving the trail for the King's scouts to track her. Her grandmother will probably give her an hours head start before letting the King know Maya is gone. And if she's heading towards the dwarves land, it means she wants the King to see for himself what had happen in the last raid on our land. If that is the case, it means he didn't believe what she said so giving him proof.."

He looked at his mother and sighed. "So what are we going to do?"

She shrugged. "Wait for her. When she arrives, let Nasrin go out to her and then you follow. We'll move around to block any sorts of escape and see how this plays out. We have to trust her judgement on this."

He nodded a little. "I really don't like this using her as bait, Mother."

His mother just nodded. "I know Dea'kar."

* * * * *

After they had passed the cave and village, she started to place hidden wards around so she would feel when someone went past them and who they were, just like the one on the General's mark.

The wolves and Maya began to feel the burn of travelling through out the night but they all knew they had to keep moving. She was glad she packed food and water or they would of really felt tired on the game of cat and mouse. As they walked, they ate sugary food and water laced with herbs that would keep their strength up.

They had headed into the blood elves land just after day break. She had felt the presence of the King's men following around an hour after the first team of wood elves and knew she had to stall the wood elves for a while so the King could arrive and see for himself.

Using hand signals of the wolves, she told them what the plan was and they nodded and quickly separated by running up ahead and back tracking to meet up with the King to tell him exactly where she would be. She hoped the plan would work and have them keep tracking her instead of where the wolves went to.

Within the hour, she was on the outskirts of the blood elf main city and she felt a wash of relief over her when she came into safety. then she couldn't help but smile when she heard the musical call, "Mamma!" and her daughter running towards her.

She couldn't help but giggle. "Hello beautiful," and picked Nasrin up and swung her around before hugging her close. "Miss me?"

The little girl giggled and nodded quickly. "Uh huh, missed you bunches. Granny taught me how to use a sword!"

Maya couldn't help but laugh. "Is that right, young lady." And headed into the village and smiled seeing Kay'n waiting for her. "Hello you," she said walking over to him and softly kissed his lips.

He kissed her back and hugged his wife and daughter. "I've missed you. Followed?"

Into the hug she whispered, "Yes, two groups. One should arrive any moment and the other is the King's group and the wolves back tracked to lead them right here." Just as she said that she went stiff when she heard another mans voice.

"You disgrace yourself girl with that thing. Youfre a wood elf, not a beast.h The elf was angry. His skin was darker than normal which always meant he was on the edge of bursting.

Maya turned around slowly and tickled her daughter. "Hello Uncle. Let me introduce you to my family, my husband Kay'n and my daughter Nasrin." She kept herself calm but knew this was going to be the start of the rest of their lives together.

"No, he isnft. Hefs put some demon magic on you to make you love him, come to me now. He raped you to have that demon child. Pass that thing over to me now,h the General yelled.

She stayed where she was, she saw the flash of gray so began the tempting. "Just so you can do what you did to that dark elf village to my child, General? I am going no where with you."

The General was clinching his fists together. "Unlike what the King says, we need to kill all of them so we can finally rest with no wars, Maya. It is us or them, no one that could carry a weapon needs to live."

Maya shook her head. "So you admit to killing the children, allowing their innocence be torn away from them. I know you were always tough on me but I never thought you to be heartless."

"As I said girl, if they are able to carry a weapon, they would at some point and they would of died then. We just made it easier so we wouldnft have to deal with them later,h he answered her.

She could see the gold armour of the King walking up from behind, listening to the conversation between the General and Maya. He made a slight motion and his men crept up behind the men the General brought and covered their mouths and held their swords to their necks so they knew to remain quiet.

Maya shook her head. "So you kill the old, women and children who can't defend themselves for your own cause. And what does the King think about all this?"

"Ha, the King is weak. His father was stronger and knew how to deal with those demons,h the General said.

The King was a step behind the General when he said the last statement. "Is that right General," the King asked.

The General quickly turned around and the deep shade of his skin started to go paler. "Sire, this girl that I called daughter had a demon child. I came to bring her back."

"And Ifm a weak ruler because I donft believe in killing the unarmed, General.h The King shook his head. gI really trusted you General, I thought of you as a brother but I seemed to of been so wrong.h He looked over to Maya, gIfm sorry, Maya, for not trusting you.h

She nodded once and handed Nasrin over to Kay'n who was looking on a little nervously, saying, "Take her inside please," Kay'n nodded a little before turning around and walking away.

Maya turned back to see the King had gotten closer to her. "How can you ever forgive me," the King asked.

She smiled a little. "Just coming to see the truth for yourself is enough, Sire and by letting me remain with my family."

The King nodded. "So it shall be. We won't ever delay your return to them if you ever come to trust us again."

The General was getting angry again with the words that were being said. He would not let his niece stay with that demon and yelled out, "You will never leave the city if I have my say, girl," as he withdrew a dagger from his thigh and threw it towards Kay'n back.

As the dagger left the General's hand, Nasrin screamed. Maya seemed to move in slow motion when she saw what the General was going to do so ran towards Kay'n as fast as she could then stopped as she reached out for him. Her breathing got hard and whispered, "Kay'n ..." before falling to her knees.

She had made it in time to save her love, only to let herself be embedded with the dagger in her back. She sat back on her heels watching everyone rush around her. She heard the King yell, "Hold that man down!"

Kay'n had nearly dropped Nasrin when she screamed and a blood elf close by quickly grabbed the child and rushed her inside the nearest hut as Kay'n rushed to Maya's side and held her in his arms. "Maya.. Don't leave me like this.. We have to much to explore yet."

She looked up to him and smiled a little. "It's not over yet, my love. I won't leave you just yet." Lightly touched his cheek as her eyes started drifting a little heavier.

* * * * *

When the General had seen who his dagger struck, he went paler than normal. He had killed his daughter. When he heard the King yell out, he looked around and darted towards the forest. He had to run. Just as he past the first tree, he felt a solid thump to his stomach which made him stumble back a few steps and hold his stomach from the impact, then he saw something black coming towards his face before being struck which made him fall backwards onto the ground.

He had run in the Queen's direction and the first hit came from her bow and the second hit was from her knee going into his jaw. She looked around and motioned to the General on the ground and two large dark elves came towards him, hissing before picking him up by the arms and dragged him back over to the wood elves.

The Queen looked over to Maya. "Healer, go to her now!" The healer was already going over towards Maya and kneeling down beside her. The King had given the exact same order to his healer and both healers started to work on Maya and what the best way to remove the dagger was.

The dark elves who had the General stopped a few meters away from the King and waited for their Queen as she walked up beside them, with a hiss in her voice, gI believe this thing belongs to you. But if he kills my daughter, then I expect his head for the crime."

The King looked at the General then to the Queen and nodded. As it sank in he blinked. gYour daughter? She is one of my people, your Majesty.h He motioned for his guards to collect the General.

The Queen shook her head as she looked over to Maya and her son, "Dea'kar, let the healers do their work or you will loose her."

The King blink looking over to man holding Maya. "Maya is married to your son.. I'm sorry, she did not tell me that much, only that she was married to one of your people."

As soon as the General heard who Maya was married to he hung his head. He knew he wouldn't survive much longer. The King looked at the General and shook his head. "You stupid man. Thinking about yourself instead of the consequences of your actions." He looked at the Queen. "You will have his head in any case, My Lady."

The Queen arched a brow. "And why is that, Sir?"

"It is against our laws to attempt to kill or kill anyone connected to royal blood lines. The punishment is death,h he answered her.

The Queen chuckled at that. "And the wood elves thought we were bloody. Our culture it's survival of the fittest. If we don't rule strong than we're to prove ourselves in battle. If we die, we die, the strongest takes over."

The King nodded. "He will die today, My Lady."

She nodded at that and saw Nasrin had come out from the hut and over to her father. She went straight over to them and helped Kay'n up as the healers took Maya into the hut to work on the wound.

Kay'n just watched, he couldn't do anything else. He stood up slowly with Nasrin in his arms. "I can't live without her. She has to make it." He stared at the door they took her through.

The King went over to them to catch what Kay'n said, "She is stronger than you give her credit for Prince Dea'kar. This is nothing to what she's been through in the past."

Kay'n looked at him. "What do you mean by that. What else have your people done to her?"

Shaking his head a little. "The healers of my people go through different type of training than anyone else. Elite healers like Maya go through extreme tests. This is nothing to what she had to go through to become part of the royal healers."

Growling escape Kay'n throat. "So you've made her do worse things. So much for a peaceful race!"

The King shook his head again. "It is up to the healer if they want to further their training. We don't push them to do so. Each is told what the trails exist of and each is given a choice to back out of it. They are not forced to do anything."

The Queen touched Kay'n arm. "Go and take Nasrin for a while. Come back once you've calm down. Maya will not want to see you like this once she wakes."

Nasrin gave him one of her big hugs and he hugged her back. He nodded to his mother and started to walk away down the path towards the city.

As soon as the Prince left, the King turned back to look at the General who was being held by two guards. They had striped his armour away so only wearing a tunic and light pants. The King sighed and walked towards him.

The General was staring at the ground, he knew his fate and was letting it sink in.

The King stopped and sighed. "With all the witness's here, there is no one to prove your innocence. By attempting to take the life of someone of royal connection along with being married to a crown prince, there is only one punishment." The King walked behind the General as he unsheathed his sword. "For crimes against the crown and the people, you are sentenced to death."

The General looked up to his King as the sentence was being said and sat back on his heels and tilted his head forward. One of the guards that held his arms moved the Generals hair over his shoulder to expose the back of his neck.

The King rested the tip of his sword on the back of the General's neck. "Do you have any final words, General?" the King asked.

The General sighed. "May the strength that leaves my body give Maya the strength to pull through. I am sorry my soldiers for making you follow the orders I gave you. They had nothing to do with the past raids on the drows." And nodded once to tell the King he was done.

The King spoke again. "From this point forward, if there is any other raids done on any lands without my say so, this is the end result for you as well. Good bye old friend, may the gods protect your soul." Quickly inserted his sword through the General's skin to pass through the spine and down into his body.

The General died instantly when the blade cut through his spinal cord and damaged his internal organs. The guards released the General's arms and the King waited a moment before pulling the blade from the body and it slumped forward. The guards checked for signs of life and shook their heads. The King nodded as he wiped the blood off on the General's shirt before resheathing it. Once the sword was resheathed, the guards dragged the body off.

Both healers came out of the hut just as the body was being dragged away. Both looked tired and drained of energy. The Queen looked over to them after watching the execution. "Well?"

The dark elf nodded to the wood elf as he spoke, "The dagger pierced her heart so it was a pain to remove. We had to combine magics to make sure she would be alright. She should make a full recovery, she'll just be a bit sore for the next week or so."

Then the dark elf spoke, "She's asking for the Prince, my Queen."

Kay'n had seen the healers leave the hut and was running up just to hear the full recovery and asking to see him. He quickly handed his daughter to his mother before rushing inside the hut.

She was laying on her stomach on a low bed, looking towards the door and smiled when he entered.

He rushed over to her side and kneeled down. "Hello you," she said softly.

He took her hand gently and kissed the back of it. "You had me worried, I thought I lost you."

Smiling a bit more. "It takes a bit more than a dagger in my back to kill me."

He nodded a little. "So I hear."

She moved her hand up to touch his hand and moved it a little so he lent forward and she kissed his lips.

* * * * *

They had ended up moving Maya to the main home of the leaders of the blood elves. Along with having the young couple as guests, they had the wood elf King and the dark elf Queen as guests as well.

The King and Queen had talked through out the night and decided the best thing to do was to call peace between their races. For the sake of Maya and Kay'n. Just before they departed to rest, they sent out scouts to the other races asking them to meet at the blood elf main city for a meeting. Deciding to have a little fun along the way.

When the day of the meeting came, they were in the main study yelling at each other when their advisors told them the other leaders had arrived. Their advisors knowing their game, decided to play along as well and lead the other leaders towards the yelling. The leaders were talking between themselves about an all out war and thinking they were going to have to pick a side.

As the doors opened, the yelling had just became loud talking, both the wood and dark elf were fighting over whose archers were better as the King poured them a drink and taking it over to her. The stunned look on the other leaders faces made both rulers grin, "Come on in, our friends," then the King poured a few more drinks and started passing them as the leaders walked past.

The wolves, centaurs and dwarves looked between each other a little confused and the blood elf leader said, "They've been at it all day. Telling each other their warriors are better than the others. I can't wait til they go back to their own lands!"

The wood elf King smiled. "Sorry, a little disagreement which we plan to prove soon and you're welcome to join in if you like. But what we called you here for is we have written up a new treaty."

The wolves rolled their eyes. "So you want us to pick a side? The wolves are staying out of your battles."

The dwarves and centaurs agreed. The Queen shook her head. "Oh goodness, no. He and I have come to a understand and hopefully will make our children's lives a little better. I'm not sure if your seers have seen this yet but both of ours have told us that we will need to bring peace through our lands because there will be a greater danger coming to us soon."

A look of shock came from the other leaders and looked to the blood elf and he nodded. "What she's saying is true. Their even going to the extent of adding outposts on each others land for better defences which they hope we'll all join to have a combined squads there."