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That memory still haunted Lily, still gave her nightmares, even though it was four years ago.
That was back when things had been wonderful. Before tense relations with the Elves had erupted into war, before when Palrim had been three years old and healthy.
Now everything was different.
Palrim hardly left his chambers he was so sick, and Lily and Marile couldn’t get along without him. The two sisters fought a lot, and they’re brother usually distracted them from that. He used to make them smile and laugh together. Now, they only laughed at the others faults. Marile said her younger sister was to into swordplay, and other activities princesses shouldn’t be involved in. Lily said her sister was too vain, and needed to try something new, if she wasn’t so afraid.
If that wasn’t bad enough, their father was at the base camps by the wall that seperated the Elves and Magical Folk in Malsiaa.
If it wasn’t for that stupid dividing wall, there wouldn’t be a war, Lily often thought, we could probably learn to get a long with Elves.
But of course, it wasn’t that easy. Ever since her grandfather’s death, nothing had been easy.
Lily still kept the mark a secret. No one knew except for her and Talon.
So far, her governess refused to disclose to her the full meaning of the burden, though she clearly knew what it was.
All she would say is that she would tell her when the time was right.
Lily was getting anxious about when ‘the time was right’, would finally come.
It came all too suddenly.
It started out as a nice enough day, the day after Lily’s fourteenth birthday, the year she had dreaded all her life. The year she would be getting marriage proposals. It was unnerving to know that at any time she could be taken from her home to some prince she had never met, in a country she didn’t know.
She told all this to Robin, who would listen patiently while he worked in the stables, or on one of his inventions, none of which worked very well.
He offered advice every now and then, which Lily would think about for a few minutes, then quickly dismiss.
“What am I going to do? I don’t want to leave home, let alone leave to marry someone I’ve never met before!” Lily was saying, wringing her hands worriedly.
Robin was about to reply, when the sky, got dark and thunder cracked.
After a few moments, Talon came rushing out of the castle, eyes dark with worry, lips pressed together.
“Come girl, we have to leave,” She whispered, throwing a cloak over Lily’s shoulders, and pulling the hood over her head.
“But why?” Robin asked. “Will you be back soon?”
Talon surveyed him for a long second. “How old are you Robin?”
“Fifteen.”
“Then you should be old enough to know not to question me,” She said sternly.
Robin flushed slightly, and nodded.
“Good. Now, get on Shalri, Lily,” Talon continued, pointing towards a sleek black horse.
Lily shook her head. “No, we should take Whiplash!”
“Whiplash?”
“He’s already out here,” Lily said, nodding towards an old war stallion.
“Whiplash couldn’t make a journey like this,” Talon said.
“He says he can!”
Talon sighed, shaking her head. Lily’s faerie gift was starting out as simply talking to animals, like most people with it. “Fine.”
“Robin,” Lily said, turning to him. “Promise me you’ll look after Palrim? Please, no matter what happens, life or death, you’ll be there for him.”
Robin nodded slowly. “I’ll look after him.”
“Good. I’m ready,” Lily said, getting on Whiplash.
Talon nodded, then got on in front of the girl. Lily waved weakly, as Whiplash broke into a full speed run, past the gates of the castle and into the wild country.