Fantasy My love, the King

[ManicMuse]

Welcome to a realm where magic flows like a gentle river and the mystical beauty of the ethereal creatures reign supreme. Our story is a tapestry woven with the threads of ancient lore, ethereal landscapes, and the enchanting grace of the Elven people. Within these virtual pages, you'll discover the essence of an Elven-inspired world, where nature's harmony and enchantment entwine. We deeply appericate you stopping by and reading our story. This adventure is a closed piece being written by ManicMuse & Fae_Whisperer

 

[Fae_Whisperer]

The Elven King was miserable and his life was honestly a nightmare. Sure he had a beautiful queen, and a son for his heir, but they both were terrible. They had no regard for servants, and they honestly treated everyone as their lesser. Sure, everyone was their lesser but there was simply no humble redeeming qualities about them.

The King, although being miserable, never had any consorts yet and didn’t see a reason why. Sure, he was miserable but that didn’t mean he wanted to cheat on his wife. Elves chose lifelong partners and stuck with them. His wife though wasn’t an elf so she didn’t see the same thing he did. She was ungrateful and spoiled and only wanted to mess around with her servants and neglect her child she had born him.

One day, when the king was out on an excursion in the forest, he came across an injured doe- her leg was in a bear trap and it appeared she had been struggling, but had given up. She frightened when she saw him- apparently his kind had spooked her before considering her reaction.

—

Lillianna's heartbeat raced when the strange man approached her- a forest nymph. She didn’t even remember why she was over here in the first place, but now she was stuck, her leg broken and weak due to blood loss. What would the man do? She had tried to get away from him but again really couldn’t do much.

(I'll make a character sheet for Lilianna later lol)

 

[ManicMuse]

Pre-post​

---

The pre-dawn stillness was refreshing. The crisp winds blew through the canyon, leaves turned yellow and orange and littered the ground. He wished to share it with his people but the Queen forbade it. This was Royal land and anyone who set foot on it was seen as a threat to the crown.

He scowled, knowing it was pointless to daydream about things that could never be. Instead, he walked into the forest, feeling obligated to appreciate its beauty. It was the first day in months where he had no events to attend or oversee. The wind washed through the trees, causing them to shiver and rustle. A pair of Blue Jays swooped down upon the King, but he chuckled while shielding his head from their pecks.

"Alright, little buddy. I don't want to hurt you. I'll just keep moving and you can go about your business," he chuckled while taking a step back. However, just as he moved, one of the creatures swooped down towards him again. As he shifted his weight to avoid the attack, his foot landed on an uneven patch of roots, causing them to suddenly give way.

He tumbled down a small hillside in the ravine and came to a stop, lying still. A sharp burning sensation in his lungs made him wonder when was the last time he had the wind knocked out of him.

---

He sat up and realized that he was in a seldom-visited area of the woods. After getting up, he brushed off the leaves and twigs from his cloak and picked a direction to continue his journey. He was not in a hurry today. As he traveled deeper into the woods, he noticed that the sun had started to rise and he found himself on the edge of the royal forest. To his dismay, he noticed an unusual number of traps laid out, most likely done at the behest of his wife to protect her forest. He was standing over an unsprung bear trap, glaring at the iron contraption.

He picked up a stick and threw it at the device to disarm it. As he did so, he heard the soft rustling of leaves and clanging of chains. He cautiously approached the source of the noise to find a doe caught in one of the traps. Initially, he felt anger, but he suppressed the emotion and replaced it with sadness. He knew that leaving the animal trapped would result in a slow and painful death. Slowly he approached the trap from behind and pulled out a dagger. He thought that a swift death might be the most humane thing he could offer the poor animal.

"I'm sorry. Find peace in the next life. Don't hold this against me," he said softly, closing in on the creature.

As the man prepared to strike the animal with his blade, something in the creature's expression made him pause. He remained still, staring back at the animal for a moment, before finally sheathing his weapon. It was then that he noticed that the area where the animal lay was devoid of leaves. This observation did not provide any answers, but it did raise more questions in the man's mind. He approached the animal with caution, and then carefully reached down to release the trap that held it captive. A look of remorse crossed his face as he gripped the rusty levers of the trap, causing it to slowly widen and release the animal's mangled leg. Swiftly dragging the animal away from the trap, he threw the heavy iron trap a few feet away, where it snapped shut with a loud clang. The chain holding the trap in place clattered against the base of the tree, as the man looked on with a grim expression.

 

[Fae_Whisperer]

Once released, Lilianna made a heart wrenching wail as the strange man dragged her from the trap. She had seen the dagger earlier, and had only assumed death was waiting for her next. She had to prevent it-- so with her last strength, she shifted out of her wild form back into her elf like appearance. She was covered in loose garments, obviously shown that she had lived in the forest for awhile.

"- Please! D-Don't hurt me!" she begged in a distraught manner, her eyes wild and glazed over with fear. What had her so spooked? Obviously it could have been the trap from earlier, but someone might have purposely trapped her there. Fae folk...druids..some that his wife currently did not like and wanted 'infecting' her forest.

 

[ManicMuse]

As the clanking of the chain finally ceased, a miraculous transformation occurred. The timid doe, with an aura of enchantment, gracefully morphed into an elegant elven creature, captivating Eli's senses. His mind briefly meandered through the corridors of magical knowledge, recognizing the art of transformation that this mysterious being had just performed. His gaze shifted from the ethereal figure to her tattered clothing, finally resting upon her mangled and painfully wounded leg.

"- Please! D-Don't hurt me!"

With empathy and a sense of duty, Eli unclasped his cloak, swiftly enveloping the suffering creature. He couldn't help but express his concern, his voice laced with compassion, "That leg looks rather dire. How long have you been stranded out here?"

Reaching for his water bag, he gently placed it on the ground beside her, encouraging her to quench her thirst, his tone now soft and reassuring, "Please, take some water."

However, his focus soon shifted to the immediate surroundings, the area previously inhabited by the forlorn being. With deliberate steps, he began to sweep away the leaves and dried plant material, revealing the clearing beneath. His hands deftly collected a few leaves and small sticks at first, gradually moving on to longer, sturdier sticks.

Drawing nearer to the elven creature in the cleared space, he commenced the construction of a miniature campfire. Once the kindling was neatly arranged, he performed a graceful, arcane ritual. As if conjuring a snowball made of invisible energy, Eli softly muttered incantations, summoning a faint luminescent spark between his palms. With a gentle push, he directed this ethereal spark into the carefully assembled pile of leaves and sticks.

In a mesmerizing display, the fire began to take shape, its warm and flickering light casting a soothing ambiance over their makeshift campsite.

 

[Fae_Whisperer]

Lilianna watched with a frightened gaze but her breathing had slowed and she seemed to calm down just a bit. Her leg ached more than she realized, and the pain shot up from it, making her wince as she moved.

Hearing his question she looked around, remembering her surroundings. “Days..I-I’m not sure,” She spoke, soon watching him perform the arcane ritual and her eyes followed his magic all the way to how it ignited the branches.

She then took the water he provided and drank from it heavily, obviously very dehydrated and didn’t care that some of it passed her lips. When she was done she put the water bag down, and wiped her mouth. “I am grateful that you appeared when you did..although I apologize for being wary- one of your kind went out of his way to purposefully harm me.” she paused before adding- “So I ran, and ended up snared in this trap, he then decided to leave me to the wolves.”

Forest life was sacred, and to just harm an animal like that for no good reason..could be a punishable offense.

Eli would then notice an arrow wound on her lower abdomen- obviously still bloody and open. She had put pressure on it with her hand- whoever had injured her first, had taken the arrow away so as they could not be traced back.

 

[ManicMuse]

Eli sat silently, his eyes locked on the growing flames as they consumed the smaller twigs and branches. The fire crackled and spat, gradually warming the chilled forest air.

“I am grateful that you appeared when you did..although I apologize for being wary- one of your kind went out of his way to purposefully harm me. So I ran, and ended up snared in this trap, he then decided to leave me to the wolves.”

"Days," he muttered to himself, a testament to her resilience in the face of the unforgiving wilderness. He shook his head slightly, brushing away the disquieting thought that anyone else might not have fared as well.

As he listened to her story, a deep frown etched across his face, his eyes darting between her and the forest around them. It was clear that this intruder had little respect for his territory, the natural order, or even the rules that governed these lands.

His gaze shifted from her to the forest floor, the leaves and underbrush rustling softly in the autumn breeze. His eyes scanned the ground, looking for any sign that might provide clues to her assailant. The puncture wound on her abdomen was a source of concern, and he knew that time was of the essence.

The changing of the seasons to fall brought with it a sense of urgency. There hadn't been a freezing frost yet, which meant there might still be some useful herbs in the vicinity. These herbs could be ground down to create a poultice to aid in her healing. But for now, the risk of moving her was too great.

He turned his attention back to her, his voice steady and reassuring, "You should rest here. I'm going to refill the water bag at a nearby spring and see if I can find something to eat." With that, he rose, closed the distance between them, and collected the water bag.

“I understand your caution, and I don't blame you for it. It's a harsh world out here, and one must always be on guard. But know that I'm not like the one who harmed you. I respect the balance of nature and the laws of these lands."

With the water bag slung over his shoulder and a small pouch for foraging at his side, Eli took one last look at the campfire, its flames dancing in the shade of the afternoon. Then, he made his way into the dense forest, his steps silent and purposeful.

The forest was alive with the sounds of nature: the chirping of crickets, the distant hooting of an owl, and the soft rustling of leaves as a gentle breeze swept through the trees. He kept an eye out for signs of the herbs he needed, his senses attuned to the secrets of the forest that only those who lived in harmony with it could decipher. As he walked, his thoughts returned to the injured stranger he had left by the fire. He couldn't help but wonder about her story and what had brought her this close to his Kingdom. Deep down a part of him feared what would happen to her if a random patrol came through and found her.

With each step, Eli felt a growing sense of responsibility for her well-being. He knew that their fates had become intertwined in this vast, world, and he was determined to do everything in his power to help her heal and find her way back to the world from which she had come.

 

[Fae_Whisperer]

Lilianna listened to him speak, and watched his gaze shift between her and the forest around them. She was thankful for the fire he had created, it warmed the chill she felt from her injuries- more than likely she was running a fever as her body was fighting off infection. If her leg even could be saved..she knew it would most likely never feel the same, and she may be limping on it for the rest of her life. Her side injury from the arrow would be a bit easier to heal, so she wasn't too concerned about it. If she only could just get some herbs and make a pulstice...although she knew she couldn't move- unless she wanted to risk injuring herself more.

Closing her eyes for a brief moment, she listened to the man's next words, and then opened her eyes to watch him take the water bag. She then noticed there was a small pouch with him on the side of his hip, which she recognized, as she has had one in the past-- it was mainly meant for foraging. She could easily assume he was also going to collect some herbs for her wounds, and the sharp pain in her leg and her side reminded her that she would have to thank him profusely later.

And she also knew that she would have to explain herself a bit further than she already had-- judging by his appearance and the way he held himself- he certainly belonged to the high elves, the ones who ruled over this land and kingdom. But, she would wait until his return to do so. As for now she tried to focus the last bit of her magic energy on her leg, trying to will it to heal, but of course she had no such luck.

 

[ManicMuse]

The forest embraced Eli as he moved deeper into its heart. The towering trees formed a natural canopy that filtered the dappled sunlight, creating an intricate dance of shadows on the forest floor. His keen eyes scanned the ground for signs of the healing herbs he sought, and he paused occasionally to inspect the leaves and flowers of various plants.

As he foraged, Eli couldn't shake the feeling that the stranger's arrival was a harbinger of change. The delicate balance of his secluded kingdom seemed to teeter on the edge, and he wondered if her presence was a mere coincidence or a sign of something more significant.

After a short while, he discovered a cluster of the herbs he needed—small, delicate blooms with healing properties. He carefully gathered them, being mindful not to disturb the delicate equilibrium of the forest. As he moved back towards the camp, he pondered the mysterious stranger's tale.

Upon returning stepped more firmly to create noise and alert her to his presence. Closing the distance he knelt beside her, presenting the herbs in his cupped hands. "These should help with the pain and speed up your recovery," he said, a hint of reassurance in his voice. He began to prepare a poultice, expertly mashing the herbs and mixing them with a bit of water to create a soothing paste.

As he worked, Eli spoke, "I couldn't find much in terms of food, but I'll set some traps later. For now, rest and let the herbs work its magic." He reached out attempting to apply the herbal poultice to her wound with a gentle touch, the cool relief would slowly seeping in.

Fae_Whisperer (I totally caught another cold. But hey, I got a post up!)

 

[Fae_Whisperer]

Lilianna remained there, her eyes still closed as she waited for Eli to return.

Upon hearing him approaching she opened her eyes and looked to him when he knelt down. Examining the herbs in his hands she nodded to his words, soon watching him make a pulstice, noting how he took care with every ingredient he used. She truly was thankful for his apparent knowledge, and a sigh of relief left her lips. But that sigh soon turned into a sharp inhale, as he applied the poultice, but then she shivered at the cool feeling.

"I appreciate your help," she spoke to him finally, her eyes falling on her wound to her leg- the poultice acting as a barrier between the wound and the outside elements. All that was left was to wrap it, keep it secure and less prone to infection.

She truly did not understand why she was here, she wasn't supposed to be- but being chased.. it wasn't like she had much of a choice. Looking to his face, Lilianna wondered what troubled him, as she could barely decipher that concerned look in his eyes. She knew that it must not have been her, they had only just met..no, this look he had try to hide seemed like something more was on his mind... but she didn't feel like it was right of her to ask so soon as she barely knew him.

( ManicMuse oh no! Just focus on rest and recovery, we can always resume the rp later ^-^ )

 

[ManicMuse]

"I appreciate your help,"

The kind words acknowledging him brought a smile to Eli's face, and he nodded in response. "Of course. It is my job to protect all those on these lands, be they residents or, in your case, guests."

The sun began its final descent, gradually melting into the horizon and casting elongated shadows, then darkness in every direction. Hours earlier, Eli had made the sober decision that they would have to spend the night in the forest. A return to the safety of the township was a several-hour hike, and reaching the castle would take even longer. Despite the option to signal for help with a few golden sparks into the air, Eli hesitated. He didn't want to subject the young woman, already under stress, to the potential consequences of alerting the Queen. Additionally, more people in the vicinity could further obliterate any traces of the individual who considered themselves above the laws of the land, someone Eli was keen on confronting.

With Lilianna on the path to recovery, he collected pine needles and fetched a bit of water, filling a metal mug that usually hung uselessly from his belt. As the coals brewed pine tea, he unpacked an emergency shelter that his adviser had persistently insisted he carry. If word got out that it had finally proven its worth, Eli would never hear the end of it. Using rope and sticks, he fashioned a modest triangular tent near the crackling fire.

“It's not much,” he remarked, surveying the makeshift shelter, "but I think it'll be slightly warmer than sleeping under the stars again. I'll make sure to tend to the fire throughout the night. Perhaps your attacker will still be in the area. Seeing fire in the night, may draw them back to the scene of the crime."

 

[Fae_Whisperer]

Hope you're feeling better! I've been hella busy T-T managing my own website is brutal lol)

Lilianna watched as he began to make the pine tea, noting the mug that had been on his belt from earlier. From what he had said- that she was a guest, she began to think about other things, especially how she had gotten to these parts of the woods in the first place.

She was chased. Simple as that - all because she had been in her wild form, as she had enjoyed the feeling of running through in and out of the trees. But for some reason this did not feel like a normal hunter, this one obviously had more malice and just left her out there to bleed to death. If her attacker had truly been a hunter, he would have killed her immediately.

Her thoughts were drawn short as Eli had brought her back to reality and she had noticed that he made a makeshift shelter. "Oh..where did you..?" She began to ask, because she had been lost in her thoughts that she hadn't seen him unpack it. Nevertheless she thanked him and at the mention of drawing the attacker back to where he had been, she couldn't help but appear a bit fearful. "A..Are you sure that is a wise idea?" she asked, noting that perhaps he wasn't armed, but she couldn't quite tell at the moment.

 

[ManicMuse]

"Oh... where did you...?" Eli smirked as he stepped back to admire his handiwork—a tiny, haphazard shelter. "A... Are you sure that is a wise idea?" Fishing around for a suitable pointing stick, Eli began to drag the pine tea cup back from the flames before settling onto the ground beside the warm fire. He took his time selecting a few more small branches to add to the modest blaze.

"Not bad, right? I always thought that bag was rather cumbersome on my belt. Small, but I always thought it made my rear look a bit larger under the cloak," he chuckled, his hands emphasizing the humorous remark as he gave a side grin. The flickering firelight played off his dark blue eyes. Continuing, he wagged his finger, "I owe Ceasa a bottle of wine. Bet him I would never in 10 years use the thing. Made it to seven years. He's going to be so smug for the next year."

He paused, taking a moment to clear his throat as if he had forgotten himself. It had been too long since he had felt that much joy. Memories of happier times and the pranks he and Ceasa used to play on one another flooded his thoughts. However, those days were long gone. Ceasa and Eli hardly spoke now. Ceasa, a lead advisor for the Captain of the Military, and Eli had little time for even a pleasantry passing in the halls between royal duties. But that's just the way of the world, right?

Eli ran his hands to the end of a branch, snapping it before tossing it into the fire. "Yes, I have a personal interest in finding out who would dare to do such things in this land. It is well known that the Ruling Kingdom of this territory requires humane behavior toward all living creatures. I mean, there are also rules about not wasting meat, but clearly in your case... well, it sounds worse even saying that part out loud," he rambled a bit, stumbling over his words. Looking away, he sighed, "What I mean to say is there are laws of this land as a whole. Though this patch here is the private forest of the royal family. So anyone so brazen as to do this here has earned my full attention."

(Oh no! I hope your stuff is not on GoDaddy. All my clients on there are having issues.)

 

[Fae_Whisperer]

(You know, I should really check here more. If you want, I wouldn't mind the occasional discord message that you replied to this thread XD - and everything I had was on google domains but now they transferred to squarespace and it sucks)

Lilliana listened to him as he spoke, no- rambled on. She found him to be quite interesting and with the right setting, one could think he was monologuing. But, she didn’t wish to interrupt him, so as quiet as the doe she was, she continued to watch his face, and his mannerisms. She figured the way he carried himself he had to be someone of importance, and how he talked, so eloquently (Well, as much as one of her kind thinks is eloquent) she was captivated by his every word, even though she was in physical pain.

Listening to him speak further she tilted her had a little. What did he mean by here was the patch of land of the royal family? Wasn’t that more north than they were? She knew she had to stay out of Royal territory, less she be reprimanded and anger the king. She had heard a great deal about him, that he was a cruel and malevolent ruler. And his wife was no different. She then came to a realization. “You know the king and queen! And yet you’ve helped me..I-I don’t want to get you in trouble,” She didn’t want anything to happen him. For he had been so kind to her so gentle. She couldn’t understand how such a nice man came out of such a harsh kingdom.

He’d take notice that she had that misconception known about his kingdom. Most likely lies spread by his wife to make sure the whole kingdom fears them, because that’s what you want, isn’t it? Fearful subjects. Subjects that obey.

 

[ManicMuse]

Eli reached over to test the pine needle cup temperature after being pulled from the fire. He winced as the searing heat from the metal cup reached his skin, causing him to hastily retract his hand. Inhaling sharply and clenching his teeth, he felt the throbbing sensation in his fingertip, a clear indication that the contents of the cup were still too hot to drink. Shaking his hand in an attempt to alleviate the pain, he furrowed his brow at the words spoken to him.

He contemplated the situation, realizing that if anyone else had discovered her, the outcome would have been vastly different. Navigating this matter was a challenge, and he acknowledged the need to address it the next day. However, for the moment, preventing unnecessary stress was a priority, and the salve needed time to work its magic.

Despite focusing on Lilliana's well-being, his thoughts circled back to the matter of the King and the Queen. He wondered whether he should share this information with her. Skepticism crept in, considering the possibility that this might be a ploy to isolate and eliminate the King. Eli couldn't shake the feeling that, if it were an assassination plot, it had injected a dose of excitement into his otherwise mundane life.

Returning his attention to Lilliana, he nodded in response to her comment. "Ah, yes. I know them well. I work in the castle, which is why I had the privilege of taking a stroll in the Royal forest during my day off. It's a demanding job, but it does come with its perks." He gestured toward the forest, where the trees' canopies swayed gently in the breeze, and the first stars began to emerge in the night sky.

"Wait, why did you say it that way? And yet I helped you... Do you think the King would punish someone for doing so?"