Midnight Shadows
Chapter Two: Convincing the Queen
BY: Tammy

Disclaimer: Anita, Dolph, Jean-Claude, Jason, Asher, Zerbrowski, and any other recognizable characters belong to Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m borrowing them. This was written purely for entertainment and not monetary gain. Cara, Calin, Tanon, the Queen, and Dr. Zimmerman belong to me.

Author’s Note: This story is told from Anita’s and Cara’s view points. They alternate back and forth from chapter to chapter.

Cara’s P.O.V.

“This is not up for discussion, Calin”, I said for probably the twelfth time. We were walking down a wooded path towards the center of Caelian. Caelian was the capital city for the elves of Aradorn.

“I am going to go alone. No one else has the knowledge to open a gateway or more importantly, the power to do so except me. And I’m only strong enough to open it for myself. I can’t expand it or hold it long enough for another person to follow me. For the first time in five hundred years someone can rescue Tanon.”

“I know that Cara. But it’s too dangerous. I’m not saying let someone else do it. I’m saying don’t do it at all. What if something goes wrong? We won’t be able to help you. Are you even sure that you can get back? Tanon’s been gone for so long and you are too important to risk. Without your threat of power the humans may try to invade our lands.” Calin said with a persistent _expression on his face.

I stopped to study his face. He had leaf green eyes, high cheekbones, longish blond hair and the characteristic pointed ears of our race. He radiated sincerity and worry like a boiling pot releases steam. He was my closest friend and I knew he was concerned for my welfare, but he had to learn that I was my own person and that I could make my own decisions. I was the most talented Shalandar to be born since Tanon, and it was my duty to try to retrieve him.

“If I can get there I can get back. I’ll find Tanon and together we’ll return to Caelian. Now I have to go. I have an audience with the queen in an hour and I need to dress.”

“I really wish you’d reconsider. I have a bad feeling about this”

“You always have bad feelings. This discussion is over. Have a good day, Calin” I said with cold finality. You could only push me so far before I had to push back. Calin had been trying to convince me to give this up for weeks. He just didn’t understand that it was not just something I could do; it was something I had to do.

I turned from him and began hurrying up the path toward the city. Well, maybe city isn’t quite the right word. The humans have cities. Caelian is more like a village I suppose. In reality very few elves actually live here. As a rule we prefer the quiet forests and tend to live in loosely related family groups. However, here is where the Queen resided and so there was a constant flow of elves in and out of the village seeking audiences or answering summons which made it seem more populated than it actually was.

I hurried to my rooms high in an old tower that was built eons ago. I did not want to be late for my audience with the Queen. I quickly crossed the room to my armoire and chose a dress of mint green brocade. It was floor length with a tight bodice and sleeves and a high collar. It would compliment my auburn hair, emerald eyes, and creamy skin without being showy. When one visited a queen one chose one’s clothes with care. I did not want to upset her in any fashion. I wanted the Queen to approve my petition.

While I was dressing I thought about what I wanted so badly to do. I could do it. I was strong enough to open the gateway. I had read every scroll left by Tanon concerning gateways. It all made perfect sense to me even if no one else had been able to understand his writings for more than five hundred years. When I read those scrolls I felt like he was talking directly to me. Tanon had left those scrolls never suspecting that he wouldn’t return. I intended to find him and return him to Aradorn.

I finished with the dress and sat down at my dressing table. I ran a brush through my waist length hair. I braided and coiled it above my head like a proper elfish maiden should and once again thought about cutting it off. It was a pain to take care of. But I couldn’t do anything that might alienate Her Majesty and defiantly short hair just might do that. I slipped a couple of pearl encrusted combs between the coiled braids and was ready.

I had just enough time to present myself at the Queens court. Arguing with Calin had taken too much time. I was cutting this audience very close.

The Queen lived in a small keep at the center of the village. I arrived in front of it and was admitted by the sentries. I hurried to the audience hall and was announced by the seneschal. Her Majesty called for me to enter. She wasn’t sitting on her throne and that surprised me. She was standing by the tall window gazing out across the Balline River with a far away _expression on her face.

“Come closer, child,” she said without turning to look at me.

I approached her and dropped into a curtsy. She didn’t say anything. She just kept looking out the window. I kept quiet and studied her through my lashes. She was about 5’10” which made her about 3” shorter than me. Gray hair arranged in an artful bun with a gold circlet graced her head. She was wearing a dove gray morning gown made of satin and velvet and adorned with seed pearls. I guess when you’re the queen you get to wear opulent when you want to. I couldn’t see her face but I knew she had clear gray eyes with laugh lines at the corners.

Suddenly she turned to look at me. I felt like she was trying to delve into my mind just by studying me. I knew my shields were too strong for her to breach but it was unnerving just the same.

Finally she said “Rise child.”

I got to my feet as gracefully as I could after holding that curtsy for as long as I had.

“I’ve read you petition. Is there anything you wish to add before I share my decision?” she asked with penetrating eyes. Few were ever able to withstand those eyes for long.

“Your Majesty, I’ve read every scroll by Tanon. I can do this. I think it’s important that I do. Tanon is regarded the wisest Shalandar ever to guide us. Our people need his advice and guidance. We need him now more than ever with the human population encroaching on our lands and the goblins rising again. He entered his gateway five hundred years ago and never returned. Something must have prevented him. I don’t think he would ever willingly abandon us. I can open the gateway and follow him. I’ll find him and return him to us.” I was beginning to ramble so I stopped. I didn’t know what else to say that would convince her.

“So you said in your petition. Child, what you want is unheard of for 500 years. Tanon petitioned my father asking for the same right to open a gateway to this other world, and my father granted it. But Tanon never came back. We’ve survived without him for 500 years. I’m not sure we can survive without you. Especially given the situation with the humans and goblins you have reminded me of. You are as powerful as he was and you wish to leave us to find him. What if you also don’t return?”

My heart dropped to my feet. She wasn’t going to let me go. I couldn’t believe it. I almost stopped listening.

“However, the council is old and remembers Tanon’s power. They worry you cannot do what he did. They believe you should be permitted to go. You’re young and inexperienced and they worry that you cannot protect us. So what am I to do? Follow my instinct not to let you leave, or follow the council’s recommendation to allow you?”

I was so despondent I almost missed her question. “Please your Majesty, allow me to go. I know I’m only a little over a hundred and have had little experience with using my power outside of everyday things and never to protect us, but I know I can do this. I’ll return with Tanon and everyone will be satisfied.” I let every ounce of persuasion I could muster into my voice.

“Seeing your desire and determination, I’m inclined to believe you will do what you say. I will allow you to go. Do not fail us, child,” the Queen said.

“Oh thank you, your Majesty!” I exclaimed. “I won’t. You’ll see!” Before I could think I hugged her. She stiffened in response, but then returned the embrace.

“Oh, you are so young. After your adventure you may not thank me,” she said. “Good journey.”

I thought her comment was kind of odd, but I made my final curtsy and all but ran from the room to get ready. By this time tomorrow I intended to be on Earth.

INDEXor NEXT CHAPTER