Connor

With his vampiric powers growing stronger within him, Connor had to rest most of the day and wait until night to come back out. He was fine with it, as the whole situation with the elf queen and Lydia had worn him out. Now, he sat at the edge of his bed in the cottage he was staying in and listened to all the sounds of the night.

"I'm glad you're back, Lydia." Connor said aloud without turning around. Lydia had been out all day and he heard her soft footsteps as she approached their cottage.

"Yes... I am sorry for leaving. I needed time to myself." She replied and sat on the edge of her own bed.

"I understand." Connor nodded in reply. Though he may not have grasped the entire situation, he could understand having painful memories of your family.
"I just need to know...who are you exactly, Lydia?" He asked and looked in her eyes.

Lydia sighed and looked on in the moonlight. As Connor stared into her face, her features began to change slightly. Her face become thinner, her eyes more slanted, and her ears grew pointed. Connor always thought Lydia was beautiful before, but now she was extraordinarily stunning to look at.

"My name is Lydia Aquine, I was princess of Amar for quite some time. When I turned 100 years old, I was betrothed and groomed to become queen." She started. Connor frowned slightly at hearing the news of her engagement.

"Soon after that, I decided I did not want to be queen, no, instead I wanted to see the world and the other kingdoms. My father... he warned me about staying in elven lands, but I did not listen." She sighed sadly and rubbed her arms.

"Lydia... I do not mean to upset you. You do not need to continue if you do not wish to." Connor interrupted.

"No, thank you Connor," Lydia replied shaking her head slowly,
"But you must hear my story."

Connor nodded and allowed her to continue.

"I went off to unknown wilderness and areas. Well beyond Amar or even Aster, but eventually I was called back home. It was time to stop being a child and accept my responsibilities. However, on my way home I was kidnapped and held for ransom by what I thought was a large group of humans. When night fell, I learned this wasn't the case." She paused and again looked upon the moon, the moonlight brightening her eyes but casting a shadow into the room.

"As it turned out, my kidnappers were vampires who wanted control over lands in Elven territory. They were using me as bait. My father, bless him, agreed and came to retrieve me in secret with a small group of guards. However, the vampire clan had no intention of letting me go and their leader bit me and set me loose upon my kin. At first I attacked my father and his guard, but quickly I began to regain my senses. I believe because I was an elf first, not human, that my magical spirit allowed me to fight back against the curse." As she spoke she arose and began to pace around her bed. She did not look at Connor as she told her story and kept her eyes close.

"I was faster and stronger than before, than any elf ever was. The vampires killed my father's guard and later made me watch my father die..." She paused for a moment and sighed.

"I killed every vampire in that clan that night, and any I found in years to come. When I returned home to my mother, with news of my father's death and the marks of a monster, she blamed me for everything and banished me out of the kingdom and removed my place in line for the throne."

"I was heartbroken and angry, my new vampiric side taking over for years. I did things I was not proud of, but I had no mentor or knowledge on how to be a vampire or a disgraced princess. Years later, I lost count how many, I came to Eversong and met your parents. Your mother and I became close friends, she accepted my vampire half as I accepted her witchcraft." She smiled fondly as she reminisced.

"She gave me a charm in my ring I wear, it hides my elven and vampire features, though internally they still effect me." She added and rubbed her ring softly.

"I was there when your father was accused of assisting a witch and I was the one who warned your mother. I watched you and your sister for all these years not only because vampire can not have children of their own, but because I have blamed myself for leading Meredith to her death." She whispered the last part and looked away.
"If I handled it differently, if I had stopped her, maybe she would still be alive."

Connor walked over and embraced Lydia softly. He sat her down and sat by her on the edge of the bed.

"Lydia, you must not blame yourself. The only people who are to blame for my parent's deaths are the Nitehardts. Trust me, they will pay for what they have done to my family and all of Aster." He told her firmly.

Lydia looked saddened but sighed and smiled slightly.
"I am relieved to hear you say that, Connor." She replied.

"I apologize for my behavior earlier, I am afraid I did not help us gain the elves' loyalty." She added.

"Do not worry, Lydia. The queen did give us an option, if you are willing to agree to it." Connor replied.

Lydia seemed to think about his statement and stared out the window.

"If I swear to become princess again and potentially queen, they may separate me from you and Avalonna." She replied after a moment.

Connor frowned after he realized this was true and sighed to himself. He then had an idea and struggled to share it with Lydia.

"What if you were betrothed? They would have to let your prince join you and become king wouldn't they?" He asked as he thought he felt the room grow warmer.

Lydia smiled fondly and touched his hand.
"I know what you are trying to say, Connor. I am no longer betrothed to any man, but you know we can not be together in such a way. Even though you may be immortal now, I have already lived several more lifetimes than you."

Connor frowned slightly but decided to take his chance.
"You need a king that will live as long as you, do you not? Elves live for centuries but they are not immortal." He offered.
"If we were the same age, what would your answer be?"

Lydia shook her head softly and kissed Connor's forehead.
"I do not plan to live forever, no vampire has. As for my answer to that..." She was cut off by a knock on the door.

Ambur opened it slowly and saw Lydia and Connor sitting together on the bed.
"A thousand pardons, Lady Lydia. I did not mean to intrude." He commented and looked straight ahead at a wall.

"No, 'tis alright, Ambur. What are you here for?" Lydia asked. Connor cleared his throat and sat a little further away from her.

"You're mother, excuse me, the queen, requests that you make your decision tonight. She would like to begin preparations or have you located elsewhere by morning." Ambur replied.

"She has a strange way of showing her affection, doesn't she?" Lydia asked to nobody in particular and stood up to face Ambur.
"Inform the queen that I shall be there momentarily to tell her my decision."

"Yes, Lady Lydia." Ambur said and nodded as he went off in a hurry.

Connor smiled at Lydia as she sat back down.
"I like what being here has done to you. You act as a young person should, not one of your age."

Lydia smirked slightly and touched her nail to Connors forehead.
"I may act as a young woman while I am near my mother and home, but you will be wise to respect the amount of years that I am your elder." She replied smoothly.

Connor grinned but before he could manage to say anything in return, Lydia placed a kiss upon his lips and went without another word to go find Queen Aurora.