Sometimes the name they give you is all wrong. My parents named me Seraphtys- the Elven word for hope, but they couldn’t have been more incorrect. My hope died the day the dailei was assassinated, and it was then that my world came crashing down around me.

The haendai were the first to leave the forest when the war began. They were the smart ones. Emerin, tyrant that he was, was determined to have all kingdoms under his thumb, those of the forests included. As soon as word came that his forces were approaching from the south, they fled to the western Shal Mountains, where they were more likely to survive. It was better, their leader said, to flee their homeland and await the day they could safely return, than to stay and allow themselves to be slaughtered.

With the haendai gone, the kimbien’s leaders came more often. Most of us felt that things would be safer if we combined our forces. As such, the kimbien eventually came to our lands as permanent residents. No one minded. The extra forces were a comfort, and the space within our walls was great.

The stranger came on the fortieth day of Porscil, in the 307th year of the Faeythe. It was our custom to welcome all strangers, and standing alone outside of our walls, he looked as though he could never pose a threat to us.

As the daughter of my kingdom’s ruler, I was to be one of the group to welcome this stranger. I made my way though the city on foot, long auburn hair tied for the sake of keeping it out of the way- ears standing up, listening closely in case anyone called to me, pine eyes aglow. As I walked, many eyes came my way, not due to my identity- for I often interacted with citizens- but due to the way I was dressed. Part of the greeting custom was for me to be in full nobility regalia. However, because of this man’s sudden arrival, I’d no time for such things. Now I wore riding boots, a knee-length skirt, and a sleeveless top. When word came to me, I had been working with our Beastmaster, training several panthers, and had time only to grab my family insignia necklace from my quarters.

“Princess.”

I turned at the sound of the head of our military’s voice. Like most of our kingdom’s population, he was an elivia. He was attractive enough, with a wife, and two young children. I’d known him my entire life. “Yes, Dax?” His name was Lainadax, but for as long as I could remember, I’d only called him Dax.

“Today it is only you and myself welcoming this man into our country, as to our knowledge, he is not royalty, nor a government official. Are you all right with that?”

“Why should I not be?” I flicked my ears his direction good-naturedly. “We do not need the entire royal family to greet a single man. Tell them to open the gate, please.”

“Of course.”

I waited the few moments required for the gate to open, and with Dax at my side, walked out of my kingdom's walls.

The stranger appeared even less threatening close-up. He was quite obviously an elf, but not a full blood. I wasn’t sure, but I believed it may have been the blood of an angyl lying under the strong scent of elven blood. He was frail, I could see, with raven locks falling to his shoulders, and amber eyes flooded with fear. He wore leather, and I wondered if there was a spell on the pants and sleeveless top to make them hug his slight form so well. And- despite the frailty of his body- there was a sword sheathed in a belt around his waist, looking rather out of place.

“Hello, stranger.” I spoke boldly. “My name is Seraphtys Rowlia. I am the eldest child of this kingdom’s ruler, Kilaros Rowlia, also known as the dailei. I welcome you into my kingdom, to stay in my home, as a guest of my family.” I paused and gestured to Lainadax. “This is Lainadax, our military leader, for the simplest possible explanation.”

The male stared at me imploringly, as though begging me to realize something. It broke my heart- for some unfathomable reason- that I couldn’t decipher his gaze. “I… I am Vhaeraun.” He whispered, nearly inaudibly. “Thank you for your welcome. I accept the invitation of staying in your home.”

Vhaeraun? The name sounded vaguely familiar, though I couldn’t place it at the time. Perhaps I had heard it once or twice previously. Disregarding this, I merely continued to smile warmly at him, and turned to go back into the confines of my kingdom’s walls. “Please, come with me.”

The next day, my father appointed me to hunt down my brother Resar. He was fifteen-years my junior, and constantly gallivanting off with women. With his lack of maturity, it was a good thing that it would be I who inherited our father’s throne, not him.

On my way to the castle exit, I ran- quite literally- into Vhaeraun. He wobbled for a moment, but I helped him to stay standing. “I apologize for that. I’m in somewhat of a hurry, I’m sure you understand.” I was taken aback by the tears that made an appearance in his eyes. Had I really crashed into him that hard?

“Your Highness- Seraphtys, I mean… I’m so sorry.” He sounded as if he were truly about to burst into tears.

“It was I who crashed into you, Vhaeraun, and thus I who should be apologizing. Would you like to accompany me? I can show you around the kingdom while I track down Resar.” I smiled brilliantly, wanting to make him feel better. I truly desired to see a smile grace his features.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline your offer.” He shook his head. “Forgive me, but I’m very interested in seeing your library. I’ve heard it is grand.”

“One of the greatest you will find. If you can locate my sister Erena, I’m sure she’ll be pleased to show it to you. She falls in love with anyone who takes an interest in the place. I hope you enjoy your day, and I’m afraid you won’t be seeing me at dinner this evening.”

Now it was he who appeared taken aback. “You won’t be there?”

Though I was curious as to why he should be so concerned with my absence, I pushed the feeling aside. “No, I will be taking dinner in my quarters, as I have academic pursuits I am required to catch up with.” I studied his face, wondering how he would react to my next words. “You are welcome to join me, if you wish to.”

“I-I wouldn’t want to i-in-“

I held up a hand to cut off his stuttering. “If your presence would bother me, I wouldn’t have invited you. Please, dine with me this evening. As a guest of my family, I would be much obliged if you would join me, for just tonight. Perhaps you can tell me something of yourself.”

Vhaeraun inhaled a single deep breath. “As you wish.”

Before I go further into my story, I suppose I should make something clear. At the beginning, I said my hope died when the dailei was killed. While in essence, my life was destroyed that night, my hope was only partially cut-off from the remainder of myself. No person can truly lose all of the hope they have ever held.

The word may only be a small one, but it has so much meaning. ‘Hope’ is a thing children are born full of. As they grow, it is likely that some of this hope will fade, flaring up at just the right times. ‘Hope’ is what every being in existence feels as they watch a star shoot across the heavens. ‘Hope’ is many things, and yet one, undying body in a heart. For the longest time, I believed mine to be gone. I recently realized it was there, hiding within.

Don’t misunderstand my story. I don’t want to be pitied. I want people to understand that to sacrifice your hope is to sacrifice yourself. I want it to be clear that nothing lasts forever, and everything can be renewed.

That evening, Vhaeraun arrived at my quarters precisely when I’d told him to. He surprised me, a smile present on his face when I opened the door. I made no comment while he entered, fearing that if I did, the expression would cease to exist. And I liked it.

“You look nice.” He spoke more loudly than he had in our previous conversations- though he sounded as though his throat were dry. “Beautiful.”

I giggled slightly. “Vhaeraun, I am dressed no differently that I usually am.” This was true. Father really wouldn’t have approved, but I hadn’t bothered with even my insignia necklace. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Thank you, but I am fine. And I’d like to thank you as well for inviting me to dine with you. Also, if you don’t mind me saying, your quarters only serve to give you more beauty, for you shine so radiantly against your décor.”

Now I was very surprised, and couldn’t resist commenting. “Alone with me you seem to be making it a point to be charming. Before this, you hadn’t smiled at me, and you seemed so shy.” Here he looked as if he were about to interrupt, but I went on, having no intention of giving him a chance to say a word until I was done. “Just so you know, I prefer this you, and it would please me if you would continue smiling.”

He chuckled. “You certainly have no qualms about speaking your mind.”

“Of course not. I was raised on the fact that I am royalty, and should speak as such. On another note, in relation to you- if you don’t mind my asking, that is, where are you from? You speak like royalty, and you’ve told us nothing of yourself. We don’t even know your family name.”

The smile on his face faded. “Seraphtys, my family is nothing to be proud of. I avoid speaking of them, if I can.”

“I suppose… What would you prefer to speak of?”

By Vhaeraun’s fifth afternoon in the kingdom, I was prepared to pull my hair out. It was in no way his doing, however- his presence simply made it easier to have a mental timeline. My birthday fell on the first day of Venisara, which was only eight days away when he arrived. Other birthdays hadn’t been as irritating as this one though, for it would be my three-hundredth, and thus, sacred.

It was becoming tiresome, having servants running up to me in packs. All I wanted to do was relax, and spend time with our guest.

He was sweet, and regardless of his confusing nature, I could feel myself falling for him. By confusing nature I mean, at times he was confident, and didn’t hesitate in saying things to me. Then there were points when he was as when we met- whispering, eyes fearful, incessantly apologizing.

That particular day, I was again being chased by those trying to perfect my birthday. I really needed out. Thus I elected to find my guest, and ask if he would like to do something with me.

Again, I ran directly into him. Being in the hall, I naturally expected him to appear upset, but he didn’t. Rather, he smiled, eyes twinkling. “I was hoping to see you.”

I cocked my head a little, to show my bewilderment. “Were you? To be honest, I was looking for you, to see if-“

“Seraphtys,” he broke in, again surprising me. “I have been in your kingdom a mere five days. And I may not have spoken of my family, due to my finding them distasteful, to say the least, but I’ll promise you this. Soon, I will tell you everything.”

To be honest, I was far too stunned to do anything beyond nodding my head.

It was the evening of my birthday that I learned why Vhaeraun had been apologizing. The day’s celebrations passed normally, until the final part- a display from our Dragon Dancers. With Vhaeraun at my side, my father behind us in his throne, and the rest of my family standing in various places on the balcony, nothing seemed amiss.

I wasn’t paying attention. Beyond the day we met, Vhaeraun hadn’t carried his blade.

Now he was.

As the dance was ending, he turned to me, sorrow apparent in his eyes. “I am so sorry.”

I opened my mouth to question him, but he was already turning away. Part of me knew, I think, what was about to happen. I was frozen in place. Vhaeraun bowed to my father- drew his blade. I squeezed my eyes closed, dropping to my knees. Still I heard the blood spatter against the marble floor, and the scent filled my nostrils. I was aware, without looking, that my father was dead.

For a moment, there was silence. Then there were guards clamoring toward Vhaeraun. I forced my eyes open.

“Stop.”

I received stares from many on the balcony, Vhaeraun included. Focusing on his tear-streaked face, I drove myself to my feet, and approached him. He was apologizing again and again with his eyes.

I whispered. “Why?”

“I’m-“

“Don’t tell me you’re sorry!” I shrieked. “Tell me why! My father never did a damn thing-“

All hell broke loose in that instant. We had always known that our gates could never hold back Emerin’s armies when they came. I bolted to the balcony in time to see the gate come crashing down, and warriors flood in. Tears streamed down my face as I watched the slaughter of my people now taking place below. I half-turned- Vhaeraun was approaching me. The last thing I wanted was to hear his voice. My ears were already filled with the cries of the dying. I couldn’t take it.

I moved beyond him, toward my quarters. It figured that my insignia necklace, around my throat, was sharp enough to be a weapon. I raised it, preferring to die at my own hand than by a warrior of Emerin.

“Seraphtys, don’t.”

“Vhaeraun.”

“No.” he shook his head, and somehow the necklace was in his hand. “You cannot believe how sorry I am. I was under my grandfather’s direct orders.” I tried to interrupt, but he was now before me, a hand over my mouth. “Yes, I am Emerin’s grandson. Please come with me. I want you to live. See this war out, at my side. Resurrect your family name when everything is done.”

It was the look in his eyes that made me say yes.

"Are you finished yet?"

I glance up at Vhaeraun standing in the doorway. A smile spreads over my face. It's been more than twenty years since we met, but he remains as delicate-looking as ever. I've learned that appearances can be deceiving. He's powerful. He ended the war- but that is a story for another day.

He steps toward me and gazes into my eyes. "Well?"

Did I mention that his voice is gorgeous? He's a stunner, to be sure. I suppose I'm lucky to have him. And I love him. One day, I will have his child. That day is far off, and is yet another tale. Oh, how I digress.

"You took your time." I murmur, climbing to my feet. "Don't tell me the Council threw another fit about the changes you're making."

He sighs, pulling me into his arms. Normally I don't go too easily- I prefer to challenge him, and that's one thing he loves about me, I'm sure. Now though, it is different. He is busy lately, exhausted, and I know all he wants to do is hold me. I return his embrace, relaxing against him.

"Of course they did." He finally answers my question. "But I saw it coming. They don't like my returning countries to freedom. I don't care what they want. I have always intended to do this. And my concerns lie on you. Do you plan to leave me?" He smiles sadly. I'm aware that he has always assumed I would prefer to go away when I was finally able.

I tilt my head back in order to look at him. "Vhaeraun. In the more than twenty years you've had me here, what possesses you to believe that I desire to abandon your company? I'm only in love with you."

Relief floods his face, and his hold on me tightens. "Thank the gods."

Vhaeraun has always been expressive. Never once has he hidden from me the things he's feeling. And right now I feel his warmth, his relief, and especially his joy. He radiates emotion. Each time his arms go around me, I want to stay there forever, and right now is no different.

He sighs deeply, and repeats his question from earlier.

"I am. It's never easy to recount the tale, but… I truly felt that it needed to be done."

I still want to revive my family name. If the story I just told no longer mattered to me, I would not have spent time on it. Now though, I feel it can wait. First, I want to help Vhaeraun undo the damage his father and grandfather caused this world.

My eyes light up, and I smile brilliantly at Vhaeraun. "We were going to have a picnic by the waterfall in the forest, weren't we?" I give him a moment to nod before going on. "I need just a minute. The perfect ending for my tale just came to me."

He concurs, and steps back, allowing me to approach my sheaf of paper once more.

In the end, perhaps the name wasn't so wrong after all.