Seven; our loyalties shape us

Another one, another one. It is very late at night - for me that is. I know this is short, but I'd prefer to work on little bits at a time. And I hate awkward ends of chapters. Sorry if its a disappointment. New chap will be out soon anyway :).

In the evening Nuala made tea for us. Both her and Nuada shared stories of their heritage and culture. The feasts they celebrated, how life was at the palace, the kind of man their father was. Slowly I felt more in my place, now that they included me. We shared laughs, and Nuala especially was a great conversation partner. She was interested in my studies and I was able to tell her in-depth what I was writing papers on – although I doubted she understood everything. I went to sleep the next two nights with a new warmth in my chest.

Then there was another day spent travelling. Despite my questions, they did not answer with any details, but implied we were heading to a place that was indeed important to them culturally. A grave mood settled. Fog rolled over the highlands as the sun set once again. Nuala shared her shawl with me, wrapping it over both our shoulders. A strange sensation stirred in the pit of my stomach.

The arrival at the site was like nothing I had expected. It was just more rocks and hills and grass and moss and that everlasting wetness in the air.

After speaking words in a language I presumed was Bethmoorian, the ground shook with force. A large stone torso raised from the ground. I stepped back, pressing my hand over my mouth. A gate stood proudly in front of us, in the shape of the strange... thing. Is this where the elves live?

Nuada looked behind his shoulder at me, frowning.

"Do not stand there, come." he said, his voice sharp. Nuala gave me the slightest apologetic smile and took my hand, pulling me along through the open gate.

The sight inside was even more impressive. Larger than any building or cathedral I have ever seen, was a hall. There was no way this world could fit inside such a small gate – or had it been a portal? We stood on a bridge, connecting to several other gates. Each one had the same shape, but different decoration around it. Beneath the bridge there was a depth I could not see the bottom of.

"Nuala," I whispered as I tightened my grip on her hand, "how?" I shook my head in disbelief.

She just smiled.

We reached a particular gate, decorated with carved vines. Inside was a short hallway with a high ceiling. The hallway had doors on each side, decorated with the same botanical pattern as the outside.

"For now," said Nuada, "We shall stay here."

I just nodded, but my head was swirling with questions. For now – how long is that? A temporary stay? What kind of place is this? A headache crept up from the back of my neck towards the insides of my eyes. Nuada opened a door and gestured each of us to another. Nuala was next to Nuada, I was opposite of him on the far end of the hallway. A small creature appeared from the first most room and chittered something excitedly to the Prince. He similar to the one that gave me the cog – two heads, three arms. A servant glad to see their master?

"It has been a long journey, Nuala will help you settle," said the Prince, then he entered his room and shut the door.

Nuala hesitated before entering the room assigned to me. "You shall sleep here. My brother send out word that we were coming, so it has been prepared for you. I hope you shall find your stay pleasant and comfortable."

The room was similar to a hotel room; elegantly furnished in white and soft yellow, it held only a bed, a nightstand with a lamp and a wardrobe made from a dark wood. No other signs of anyone ever having lived here. No windows either, although that is to be expected if we were underground.

"Have you lived here before?"

She looked at me with her golden doe-eyes. "We have. This used to be part of the palace we grew up in, although most of our people left after the war with humankind."

"There was a war? I never knew..."

"I assume humans prefer to forget. Besides, it was a long time ago."

"But you remember." I said, a loaded statement. This explained Nuada's dislike for humans. Does Nuala hold similar opinions?

She nodded solemnly. "It was a dark time, and I hope there will be no repeat of it."

With definite strides, she walked to the wardrobe and pulled it open. "Here are some gowns, if they do not fit properly, let me know. Then I will leave you for now. Get some rest."

With that, she was gone, closing the door with a firm gesture.