From the Depths

It had happened in an instant and she knew she had screwed up. Henry's hand firmly clasped her throat, squeezing tightly. He slammed her back into the wall of the short corridor. The wind left her lungs with his grip tightening around her neck, she couldn’t breathe. A light ringing began in her ears as she forgot about the bread she carried dropping it to the floor and began flailing in an attempt to get his hands off her. He could have just denied the statement, but this adverse reaction? She had clearly hit the nail on the head.

“H-Hen..ry.” She croaked. Instead of struggling she relaxed in his grip and lightly tapped his hand around her throat. The initial attack had shocked her, but she needed to play this the right way. She needed to calm him down, this wasn’t aggression toward her, this was more like fear. She'd seen it many times in the animals she'd treated, they'd lash out without meaning to.

His eyes bored into her, there was no denying that this man terrified her, maybe even for then the King at times. His grip loosed only enough to allow her to take a sharp inhalation of air.

She gasped several times, finally able to breathe again, closing her eyes for a moment to catch her bearings, her eyes still seeing stairs. She decided it was best to keep her voice low.

“I didn’t mean to offend...” She watched as she saw him thinking, his brows furrowed as his gaze searched her own for answers. She wondered if he was toying with the idea of killing her and if he could get away with it given the King needed her.

“I have no reason to spread rumours or let secrets out. Perhaps I could be of some assistance...” She spoke calmly and low enough that only he could hear her.

He released her stepping away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh really! And these red marks on my neck mean what exactly?” She snapped. She shouldn’t have, but for him to just deny it after that reaction, that annoyed her.

He shot her a stern look, she returned his fierceness with her own.

“Look, I see nothing wrong with it-” She tried.

“Good for you.” He cut in. Not wanting to finish the conversation he yanked her along, leading them outside.

She sighed heavily, he was certainly being stubborn. She decided not to press the matter any further, at least for today.

“Where are we going?” She asked for a second time.

“To see the mages.” He wouldn’t look at her, his eyes trained forward as he continued to forcibly move her faster than her feet wanted to move.

She rolled her eyes, that much she already knew. “But where!?”

“At the cliffside by the beach.”

Once outside the castle he hurriedly pulled her to a side entrance, one that surely led to the cliffside. Way he really going to through her off the cliffside? Possibly claim it an accident, oops she slipped!

However when she saw the steps that they were to take, maybe being pushed off would be easier. They began their descent on steps that appeared as though they had been carved from the cliffside itself. The lower to the ground they came, the windier it seemed to become.

Henry had to tighten his hold on her as there were no railings to hold onto, only a small lip to stop your feet from slipping over the edge. If she was blown off the rocks it’d surely be her death. She instinctively grabbed at the back of his shirt to catch herself as a large gust of wind rushed by them.

“Who made these!?” She gasped as her body was blown into the side of the cliff again, knocking her slightly off balance. “They are utterly terrible!”

“We did.” He grunted.

“Oh... well, I mean... they could be worse...” She added as they reached the sandy bottom.

Three cloaked figures awaited their approach. Kirea grew nervous, but the excitement of meeting magic users was overwhelmingly her fear.

“These are the magic uses, I will leave the rest to you.” Henry shoved her forward. It was as though he was done with her and wanted nothing more than to have her out of his sight.

She had a sheepish grin on her face, like a child seeing a playground for the first time. She couldn’t wait to dive in and talk to figures before her.

“Not magic.” One of the figures stepped forward and pulled the hood of her cloak down. “We call it essence, as that is what it truly is.”

Kirea took the woman in, she was freakishly tall and thin. Had beautifully braided black hair that was tucked behind pointed ears and over her shoulders. She could also see a hint of what appeared to be tattoos or markings on the woman’s collarbone.

“My name is Riku, it is a pleasure.” The elf offered a small bow of the head in greeting.

“Ah, um yes, nice to meet you too.” Too much was happening for her to figure out who to give her attention to. “Wait! Where are you going?” She asked Henry as he turned to leave ignoring the elves completely.

“I have to meet the merchants we contacted last night, you will need the items soon I assume.” He didn’t ask a single question and simply left to climb the stupidly large amount of terrifying stairs back up the castle.

“Sorry about grumpy bum over here. Thank you so much for coming out on such short notice.” She turned her attention back to the elves. “So, ah... you’re an elf!” She blurted out without meaning too. She flushed red covering her mouth with her hand.

Riku laughed. “That is quite alright, we do not often come near humans. But work is work, we do what we must to earn a living in this day and age. Times have truly changed since the great war.”

“Kirra would never approve of this.” One whispered to the other who still had their hoods up.

“Pay no mind to them, we are going through tough times. I only agreed to this-” She glanced back at the other two with a stern look. “-because of the work you are doing, we do not aid selfish humans, ever.”

“We are a rather selfish race, so I couldn’t agree with you there,” Kirea commented still in a state of shock and awe. Though at this point she was hard-pressed not to believe all the fairy tales she had heard, even so, she was finding it hard to believe that elves were standing in front of her. “But, I would have to admit, I believe the reason is sadly selfish, were you told what you would be asked to do?”

Riku looked at her with knowing eyes. “We were hired to build a hidden aquarium, big enough to house a human-sized fish. You think I would not know what that is for?”

“If you weren’t an elf I would question that statement. Though I doubt I could convince you it’s for an indoor swimming pool for the King?” She giggled nervously.

“That is not a bad explanation for anyone else but us. As for the creature, I have not seen one myself, but I do know of them. Count yourself lucky to have encountered one.” Riku smiled.

“I-I can’t, not until he is healthy and well cared for.” Kirea saddened. “But I am determined to try my hardest to make him happy with his new environment.”

“Yes, I cannot agree more. The entire reason why the Knight brought you down here in the first place was for us to offer a solution.” She continued.

Kirea listened intently as she followed the elf down the beach, she turned to walk toward the cliff side, her hand running along the hard stone that reached up for miles.

“We can hollow out a portion of the cliff, making it accessible from this cliff face.” She explained.

“Wouldn’t that mean anyone could come in and out as they please?” She questioned concerned. “This is a huge secret that the King doesn’t want others to know about.”

“You needn't worry, access to the cavern will be restricted, as was the order,” Riku added with a knowing nod.

“Are you really okay with this? A magical creature being held captive like this.” Kirea blurted out suddenly. “You have the power to set him free, don’t you?” It was almost a plea, with a whisper she added. "What about the treaty..."

“Why will you not set him free?” Riku raised a brow at her.

“Well aside from the fact that he is sick at the moment, I am fearful for those I love. Without him being here I am no use to the King.” She responded honestly. “Not just my life is at stake.”

“We do not concern ourselves with the beings not being held against their will.” Riku appeared to sadden. “I think it best that you befriend him, then in due time you will understand why we have agreed to help you and him.” Riku paused for a moment. “To be clear, we are helping you Kirea, not the King.”

Confused she blinked up at the elf. That statement wasn’t something she hadn’t expected, but also she had never given her name.

Riku gave her a knowing smile. The elf oddly put her at ease, these elves were powerful and had abilities far beyond anything she could imagine, she didn’t dare question them.

However, the most upsetting thing was that the elf hadn’t been wrong about the siren. He didn’t appear to want freedom. Only time would tell if he would desire freedom once healthy again. If that time came... once again nagging thoughts tormented her, what would she do?