A Queen’s Plea • Part I

Soon, too soon, after the cruel death of her mother, the young Malrah Ishtar inherited the title of Queen. The beautiful elven capital, Amsya, believed in a tradition of grace, light, and motherly love for they never appointed males to the throne. She was only a little girl as she was decorated in glistening white cloths, lily flowers braided into her long silver hair, and stood in front of her people. Her older brothers, Lylan and Teon, had warned her to keep her tears hidden while the High Priest dressed her with a sunlit tiara, sign of her royalty.

Malrah could not really rule yet; it became her brothers’ responsibility until she came of age. As she grew up, she showed a taste for adventure. She spent much time in the woods, and hid her face with a veil to travel the city. She hated the palace, and her brothers’ demands only pushed her away. No other teen she met in the city had to suffer so many duties… She often ran off to lose herself in the wild. Malrah, Queen of Amsya, was everything but interested in leading.

One day she had not returned home, her eldest brother Lylan decided to look for her, filled with worries, as a recent war had transformed the surroundings into dangerous traps. Unfortunately, as he was calling for her in the woods, he met with a group of brigands. Humans who thought the war was an opportunity to steal and attack voyagers, leaving a trail of corpses behind them, to be blamed on the rivalries of nations. He defended his honour as best as he could, but was overcome by their number and murdered brutally merely for the sake of killing.

Upon her return the day after, Malrah met Teon’s enraged gaze. Since none of his siblings had returned for the night, he had ordered some scouts to form a search party. The news of Lylan’s death hit him at the break of dawn. He had been suffering alone for hours when Malrah stepped inside, happy and carefree. His anger exploded:

“How can you smile, you stupid girl? Don’t you ever understand the results of your actions? You know nothing, mother’s death, and now Lylan… You only bring about troubles… Get out of my sight, you unaware idiot.”

Malrah, completely crushed by her brother’s attitude, walked away and disappeared into her room. A few hours later, a maid brought her food and explained how her eldest brother had passed while looking for her in the woods. Malrah tried her best to keep calm at the news. As soon as the door closed, she locked herself in and began to cry loudly. She refused her meals and would not open the door a whole week long. Teon attempted to apologize now and again, but the young lady would push him away every single time. One night, she set her mind on running away. Her mind kept her imprisoned in solid walls of distress. She could not bear to think how her presence only caused troubles, she would leave, far, for a long time, and if her path crossed with death, she would only invite it gladly.

The moon shone high, Malrah Ishtar had left the Amsyan Kingdom.

The Blind Mage and the Elven Princess • Part II

Flustered with surprise

She can only nod slightly

And offers her delicate palm

She reaches to join hers with his

With a shiver, they blend hands

The rain falls musically

With each drop, a beat, a sound

Flowing into a loving melody

The waltz begins, the wind rises

One-two-three, oom-pah-pah

And as time flows

And with eyes closed

As the sonata of water

Embraces their hearts

In a murmur, he says:

“I still like the rain.”

A feeble smile, she agrees

With a squeeze of her fingers

She senses a wave of emotions

Fear, nostalgia, sadness, remembrance

In a second, she is overwhelmed

With visions of war and death

And a sky of burgundy falling to earth

“What horrors have you seen?”

Her voice trembles, she knows not

If his heart felt hers too

The man’s grip softens

As if he attempted to let go

But the blind mage holds on

Like a child to a mother

A few steps slower

He immobilizes his legs

Bare feet dig into muddy grass

And a salty raindrop reaches

The young princess’ cheek

Screeching silence

Fills her ears

Quietly, he lifts his head to the sky

In a prayer, he opens his blind eyes

As if he could feel the last rays

Of evening pierce the grey

“I am not from here.” He tells.

“My world is far gone,

And my soul has already perished.

My sole purpose here is to repent.”

A short pause, as the clouds clear

A runaway and a guilty spirit

What world would bring together

The hope of living and the wish of death

“I still like the rain.” She says

“When my heart is astray, every droplet

Remind my body with their cold touch

About the gift of this moment.”

She caresses the man face delicately

“So does the warmth of your skin.”

“I still like the rain.” He repeats

A new music resonates through his core

In a thankful smile, he renews his offer

And with elegance, the pace returns

There is no need for idle thoughts

Because they are now

The dancers in the rain.