An enraged scream was threatening to escape out of Aria's mouth. The reprimand hung on her tongue, waiting to spill out. She wanted to scold the guard for treating her as anything but the princess she was. Yet, doing so would mean revealing her identity. Aria was not one to let her status go to her head, but she hated being mistreated. It left a bitter taste. One that she could not ignore. Years of emotional abuse from her father and brother had made her despise it.

Tired and bruised wrist yanked against the chains that held Aria's hands above her head. Yank. Yank. They barely bulged, but that did little to stop her from trying again. Yank. Yank. It was futile. Yank.

"You never sit still, do you?" Aria recognized Elvin's voice right away. Rawness underlined his tone, nerving Aria's heart. At the same time, it was smooth as silk, calming down that same uneasiness it caused.

"Come to take me to my execution?" Aria spat the words at him bitterly. She refused to show any hesitation. If these brutes would execute her. She would curse them freely and hold her head high as they cut it.

Elvin smirked at her spunkiness and approached her carefully. Despite her bound hands, it was still possible the human would try to kick him. He smirked at the thought.

Elvin paused for a second, admiring the fierceness behind her scolding face. Human women, from what he had heard, were timid and docile. It seemed there was much to still be learned about his enemy.

He slipped the blindfold from Aria's eyes. Silver met rustic caramel. One stared into anger, while the other saw curiosity.

"I have come with a proposition," Elvin spoke. Placing a bulky dark metal key in front of Aria's line of sight. It was not his intention, but it taunted her.

"What would that be?" Aria asked, eyes fixated on the key.

"We require a white magic-user. We will train you in the magical arts, and you will stay here within the confines of the city serving our people."

Aria's mouth gaped open. She could not believe the audacity of the elf. "As if I would agree to be your servant for the rest of my life."

Elvin released a small grunt in displeasure, "the other option is death." He had no desire to force her into any of this, but this was the only option that would keep her alive. "We will not force you, but these are your options. You will have to make a choice."

"That hardly seems like a choice. Indentured servitude or death, I don't think I am quite sure which one is worse." The offer was comical. They wanted her to agree to be their lifelong prisoner.

"We would not mistreat you here. You will be given a bed and food. Guards will be with you at all times to make sure you do not attempt to escape, but otherwise, you will be allowed the freedom to roam the city. Be warned though, the scouts are under strict orders to shoot you down if you stray too far."

Aria contemplated Elvin's words. There really wasn't much of an option. She could always pretend to play along. Just until she found the right time to escape. But what was she running for? To marry a man she did not want to? Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise.

If her sister were not out there, she would jump at the chance. But how could she hide here when her sister might be sent instead of her. Maybe, her brother's threats had been empty; he cared for Lily. So maybe...just maybe, he would not force her to marry such a horrid man. If only there was a way for her to know. To make sure that her sister would be okay, she would gladly stay here as a servant for the rest of her life.

"May I make a request?" Aria asked in a timid voice, intentionally sounding innocent.

"Yes," Elvin was glad she at least was considering his offer.

"I would like to know that my family is okay, even if I cannot return to them."

"We have ways of getting information from the human kingdom. If it ensures your cooperation, arrangements can be made."

"Kye McGrain, she is the handmaiden to the youngest princess of the Azure Kingdom. I would like to receive weekly updates on her well being." Aria knew the handmaiden would be with her sister at all times. If Lia were to be sent away, so would she.

"McGrain? That is your family name?" Elvin asked. He did not recognize it, so he wondered why Aria had so tightly held that secret. 'What was this human hiding?'

"We have different fathers?" Technically it was not a lie, but Aria did not need to clarify that they also had different mothers. There was a fine line between the truth and a lie. Aria made sure to tread on the safe side. The elf seemed to have a keen sense for smelling deceit.

"I believe that can be done. Do we have an agreement then?" Elvin sought confirmation.

"Yes," Aria confirmed. 'For now.'

"Very well." Elvin was glad Aria had accepted. He had not told her the truth. The true reason that the king had allowed her to stay. How he had bound himself to kill her if she so much lifted a finger against his people. The magic seal on his forearm sizzled, an ever reminder. But he could not allow her to die just yet.

When her magic had exuded from her palm, it allowed his heightened senses to finally smell her. That smell had been driving him mad ever since it graced his nose. As soon as his nose tingled from her scent, it was gone, yet it had left an everlasting effect. Never before had he experienced anything like that. Within that gaze, he had felt anger. Her anger. This human had to be the one his mother spoke about. 'The girl with the redwood hair.'

'But what was so important about her that his mother would waste her dying breath on her?'

He placed the key within the shackles. They snapped open, allowing Aria's hands to fall. Aria's fingers rubbed her wrist, soothing the redness. She hoped her skin wouldn't scar.

Elvin extended his hand as an offering, but Aria only looked at it with disdain.

Pushing herself off the ground, she spoke coldly, "I think you will do well to not forget that I am no more than a bird in a cage here." Aria was surprised to see even the semblance of guilt pass by Elvin's face.

Not knowing how to address her words, Elvin walked out of the door and simply held the cell door open for her to walk through. Aria was glad to leave the confines of the cell. Yet, it felt like walking out of a small cage into a bigger one. At the very least, she would be glad this one did not involve chains.

Aria followed Elvin's leading form as he made his way through the many. They were made of those same obsidian colored stones. Magic seemed to roll off them. They passed many still guards, and all thought their bodies did not flinch, their eyes watched the human closely with disdain. They exited into a large open area where many men and women were currently training.

A couple of carriages away, was a worn down patch of grass. Years of training har eroded away at the vegetation, leaving behind only a faint mark. Weapons hung on a rack, waiting to be picked up and tested. Some elves fought with swords, others with spears. They all wore fighting leaders over light green clothing that strapped tightly against their bodies. Some of the males were topless. Yet, the females seemed to not even notice.

Aria was amazed at the tenacity with which the elvish women fought, equal to that of any man. At first, she had thought Amaria an aberration. One that, against all the odds, managed to become a fighter. But, it seemed to be the norm in this part of the land.

Aria remembered when she had told her father she wished to learn to fight. He had slapped her across the face so hard she had fallen to the floor. Told her a weak girl like she should know her place. Her cheek remained swollen for days. The emotional scar, for far longer. How different would her life have been if she had been born a fae?

"Are all women allowed to become fighters?" Aria questioned, her eyes still glued on the warriors.

"Yes. It is not the custom for humans, correct?"

"No." Seizing the opportunity, Aria asked, "is it something I could learn?" If she ever needed to escape, she would need to get better-attacking techniques than running at someone naked. She couldn't count on her next foe being male.

"Perhaps if you prove trustworthy, my father could be convinced to allow it." Elvin tried to dissect out her purpose in asking to be trained in combat. But he was interrupted by the approaching figures of two female soldiers, Estel and Nessa.

"Prince Elvin, you have requested our presence," the female warriors spoke. Their voices were perfectly synched.

Nessa's silky long hair and eyes were as dark as the night sky. There was a silver half-moon marking her right cheek, just below her sight. For a second, Aria could have sworn she saw the light diffract above her head. But it was gone so fast, she knew not if it had been a speck of dust in her eye.

In contrast, Estel had sun-kissed skin, long dirty blond hair, and pale golden eyes. She was a beauty like she had rarely seen before. But there was nothing delicate about her. She looked deadly in her warrior attire.

"Have you been informed of your assignment?" Elvin asked. The women nodded their heads silently, awaiting his instructions. "This is Aria, you shall guard her from now on."

Nessa somewhat reluctantly nodded her head in acknowledgment.

On the other hand, Estel kept her gaze on Elvin, ignoring Aria's entire existence. She had been surprised at the news that the prince had arrived with a human woman. A tinge of jealousy rose within Estel at the information that the prince seemed to be protecting her.

"And your names?" Aria asked with a gentle smile. Despite the fact she wanted to sneer at the blond one, she needed to play nice and obtain their trust.

"Estel," - "Nessa," they answered at the same time.

"Now that you have made acquaintances, follow me," Elvin spoke, turning knowing that he would be followed.

Unaware of the nasty look she was receiving from Estel, Aria looked around the plane. She tried to take in everything around her, making a mental map of everything. From the courtyard, one could enter the castle through the side. From there, she noticed a large corridor that led to a throne room. They made their way up a set of side stairs. It seemed to go on forever. While Elvin, Estel, and Nessa barely broke a sweat, Aria's breath was beginning to become erratic the longer they climbed.

"Humans, so weak," Estel grunted.

Aria thanked the gods when they finally exited the tower of stairs, into a small corridor. A single blue door could be seen at the end of the hall.

Elvin pulled out a key. Unlike before, this one was silver. It shined with such lushness, like it had rarely been used. When the door opened, it revealed a majesty of a room.

The room was adorned with the finest of furniture. At the very back of the room, laid a grand bed adorned with too many pillows and silk. A large chandelier made from glass in the shape of snowflakes dangled, refracting the light from the window, and illuminated the space. Next to the bed was a dresser with a few things laid on top of it. As if they had been left there to be forgotten. Everything looked frozen in time. It embodied the essence of an incomplete picture.

Elvin entered the room and motioned for Estel and Nessa to remain outside, before handing Nessa the key.

Aria couldn't help but look around mesmerized, unaware that Elvin had locked the door behind them. It was far more glamorous than the one she had at home.

"You will sleep here," Elvin informed.

"These quarters look too good for a prisoner,"

"Perhaps. But the walls have been embedded with magic to contain powerful magic. It will serve to contain yours well as they grow. It will be difficult to control it at first; we cannot have you harming our people."

Aria would have sneered at that comment, but she could see the actual concern in his eyes.

"Why would you even need such a room," Aria asked, not expecting a reply.

"It was the resting chamber for my mother in her final days." Elvin's face saddened with melancholy, making Aria feel guilty for asking the question.

"Why did she need such a room?" Aria's voice softened. The nurturing side of her wanting to console Elvin. His face was as stoic as ever, but his eyes spoke volumes. She could see great sadness and pain within them.

"As her body weakened, her powers grew erratic. She spoke of great lies, wars to come, and death like never before. Some called it prophecies. Others called them delusions." Elvin was not sure why he was divulging so much information. Perhaps, it was because so many had stopped asking. His mother had become a memory in so many of his people's minds. Yet, to him. Those words kept her alive.

The sadness in Elvin's eyes seemed to transcend the space between them and reach Aria. "What did you believe them to be?"

"It does not matter," Elvin ended the conversation. His guard had been lowered far too much, and it unnerved him. He needed to remember his training. Humans were not to be trusted. "Rest for today, food will be brought up. Tomorrow your training begins."

With that, Elvin knocked on the door, once it was opened, he left.

The door closed once again, trapping Aria inside.