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He had watched the crow flight out of sight, and then went to his desk to compose a speech for the feast for that night. He would not tell them her name, as he hadn't to his mother and father, but would go on and on about how in love he is. He had just began to write , as his quill was in hand, when he someone he recognized landed in front of him. "Well, hello my friend. What do you bring me from her?" He asked as Haden placed a piece of parchment in front of him. As Firther picked it up, Haden took off out the window and back to Felicia.

Fither took the parchment and opened it as he sat down against the pillows on his bed. He read her words of love and smiled even more at the part where she'd written "Always and forever yours, Felicia". A chance meeting born a love that already seemed to be greater than ever imaginable. He sunk down onto the bed and closed his eyes. He began to think of the woman he'd only just met. In his dream they were there on the land between the Oaks. They sat together against a tree, and he was holding her in his arms playing with her hair and holding her close to his body. He spoke poetry to her. Elven poetry of love, and destiny. Somewhere in his mind he wished that he could ask her to marry him, but he could not yet.

Suddenly he awoke to someone knocking on his door. "Firther, son, I wish to hold counsel with you." His father said. Firther stood up quickly and stuffed her note under his mattress. "Enter father." he said. As the King entered his sons room he caught a whiff of a bird from a far land. Saying nothing of this he turned tp his son, and embraced him like a man. "Son, i am sorry that I doubted you. You did find someone to love. I just wish that you would tell me so that I can send for her to have her live here in our Kingdom. We have begun construction of your own palace just off the cliffs in the forest. We knew this to be your favorite location in the woods, and figured it was the best place." The king smiled. "Now, what say you to coming down stairs and seeing that the feast is to your liking?" He said patting his son on the shoulder.

Firther smiled at his father. "Yes, I should come down. It would be a grand idea to make sure that it's good enough for not only me, but that it will be good enough for my future bride when that time arrives." he said proudly. Let me just get dressed and I shall be down to the banquet hall shortly." He said.

His father made his way to the door as Firther turned to find his best cloak for the evening. "Oh, and Firther my son." He said suddenly standing in the door way. "Why is it that you can not tell me her name? I wish to greet her father with open arms, and an any time welcome into our kingdom, as well as safe passage. I'm also thinking that a total alliance, and back up in battle no matter what." He said with a king like dream in his eye. Firther strode to his father's side. "All in good time father. All in good time." He said placing his hand on his father's shoulder. "When the time is right, I will announce it to the entire kingdom from the top of my castle in my cliffs. She will then join me by my side, and we will be wed. I plan to ask her for her hand after I have received her father's permission."

His father smiled at him. "Just like I did with your mother. I knew that we'd raised you right." He said smiling. "I'll meet you down in the Banquet Hall. No son of mine will have a feast that isn't fit for his queen." He said winking and making his way down the stairs.

Firther closed the door, and made for his bed. He reached under his mattress, and pulled out the letter from Felicia. He could smell her scent on it, and it positively drove him mad. He needed to be with her. Putting on his best black and silver cloak, he neatly folded her letter and put it in his breast pocket. In his speech he fully intended on reading a small passage from it to let the kingdom know that they were truly in love. Finally, he made his way down the stairs, and found his father in the Banquet Hall.

Firther walked up and stood beside his father.

"Ah son. You look better than me, and I'm the king!" he slapped his son on the back. FIrther chuckled. "Father, I will never look better than you. Only equal, and that shall not happen until I become King myself." He said with a bright smile on his face.

As his father was about to make a comment, the doors to the hall in front of them burst open. In strode a dark clad figure with his head facing the ground. He strode up directly to Firther and his father, and upon reaching them stopped. "I hear tell of great news." the stanger said looking up and lowering his hood. An elf with slender facial features, and broad shoulders looked up at Firther. "You can't be getting married with out your best man now can you?" He smiled, and took Firther in his arms in a hug. Firther smiled and hugged the stranger. "Firther it is good to see you again! It has been too long." He said pulling back and inspecting the Prince. "Ihaco, where the hell have you been? I heard that you have been traveling. Come, we must ride through the forest, and I will show you things that you have missed, and tell you the news." He said slapping his friend on the back.

*~*Time skip*~*

One hour later The were riding through the forest on their way to the cliffs by the lake. When they arrived, they saw that it was about one fourth of the way completed. "This is some site, Fither," Ihaco said whistling.

" I agree. I"m looking forward to living here with my future bride." Firther smiled. Then he frowned. "I wish I could tell my father, but I know that he will not approve. " Firther looked down at the ground.

"Firther, I'm your best friend. You can tell me, and I swear that I won't tell a soul. Not even a wood nymph!" This made Firther smile once more. "Well, if you make a promise that strong. I suppose." He paused, nervous as to what his friend would say. " Her name is Felicia. She's the Princess of the Kingdom next to us. The werewolf kingdom..." he trailed off. Ihaco's mouth dropped and his eyes grew wide. " A werewolf!? Firther, I knew you were crazy, but all this time of not finding a elven bride has made you insane!' He stared at his friend. "Firther..."

"No Ihaco, I'm in love with her. Our meeting was by chance, and by fate. I will not loose her. I have dreamed about her since I was just a boy! She's the one, Ihaco! I know it." He said

*~*Time Skip*~*

Three hours later the feast was well under way. His father gave him the approving nod, and he stood up. "Everyone, as you've all undoubtedly hear by now I have found myself a bride. I have not yet asked her to marry me, but I know that she will." He smiled. " I have here, a letter from my love, and I would like to tell you all, just by reading one small passage, how much she loves me. I want you all to know of the compassionate woman who will one day be your Queen." He pulled out her letter.



He paused while he folded the letter neatly, and placed it in his breast pocket. "And so with that having been said, I hear by toast my love. Though she may not be here, she is in my heart." He said raising his glass as the guests followed suit. "Now, please, finish your meals, and dance the night away. I must retire for the evening as it is late, and I have much to do tomorrow." He announced, and departed to his room where he undressed, and lay quite comfortably unclothed in his bed.

Suddenly a bright light erupted in his eyes, and he awoke with a start. "What the hell?" He said squinting to look. It was Ihaco. Luckily, they'd seen each other naked many times, and Firther had nothing to be ashamed of. "Dude don't you knock?" he asked. Ihaco plopped himself in a chair next to Fither's bed. "No, and you never did either. Now listen. I came to say I was sorry. If you love her then I'll do my best to accept her. I want to meet her when you two do the whole exchange thing. Also, if it should be an attack for any reason you're going to need back up. Now, get dressed. Breakfast is ready in the dinning hall for us." He said throwing Firther a robe, and chuckling.

They made their ways down to eat, and found themselves along with the left overs still piping hot. "I call the bacon" Fither said sitting down, and shoveling the meat onto his plate. "That's fine by me so long as I get all the eggs" Ihaco said smiling. With a mouthful of bacon Firther said "Tell me of your travels, and how many women you slept with." Ihaco nearly chocked. "Women? TONS of women! I'm telling you you should have gone with me. You would of had a great time." "Dude, you were searching for your mother. I wasn't going to be the one to have to like choke her when she tried to kill you. Did you find her?" Ihaco smirked. "Of course, but she didn't know me. She tried to get me into bed with her until I told her I was her son! That drove her off, but not before, as you knew she would already, tried to kill me." They both looked at each other seriously, then suddenly they burst out laughing.

"Let's go out and spar a little. It's been a while since I've hit you with any arrows Ihaco." He said laughing. So for the remainder of time until he had to go down to the dungeons and get the prisoner they sparred out in the courtyard.

Firther and Ihaco laughed and carried on like children on the Day of the Mortal God's birth day. Finally, they called it a draw, which they almost always did, and called it a day. Heading inside Firther noticed it was nearly two o clock by the sun dial on the balcony just outside his father's chamber. "We need to get down to collect the prisoner." Firther said seriously. Ihaco nodded, and so they made their way down one of the secrete passages ways that led to the dungeons.

Firther looked at his friend. "So you're going to distract the guards how again?" he said curiously confused. Ihaco laughed. "Those guards are into women just as much as me. I plan to have their backs turned to you, and tell them of my travels. They do not yet know of my return, and I used to come down here to talk to them about their women romps. Now it's my turn to tell them of mine. i will have them captivated with my tales."

Firther nodded. "That's all very well good and said, but what do we do when the werewolves put up a vocal argument do to the fact that we're taking one of their own away from them. I mean, I full planned on telling them what was going on. Not the guards. "He added at Ihaco's confused look. "Fine, we'll wing it." Ihaco said as they came up to the door that came out just above the guards. Out the strode looking godly, and the guards looked at them. "Prince Firther, and look who's wit 'em/ Old Ihaco. We heard you've been traveling. Tell us of your...adventures." The pleaded. Firther took this opportunity to speak. "Why don't you all head up to the mead hall for a drink or two, and that story. I've come to check on things here while my father and mother are away." The guards looked at him dazed. "Go on" He said smiling. "IT's perfectly fine, and I'm not going to tell them that I let you off the floor to drink now am I?" He said laughing.

The guards left with Ihaco. Once they were well out of ear shot Fither made his way to the cells. Walking past a few of them, and hearing the snarls from every wolf he past, he finally came upon the one he's been looking for. He looked at the adult werewolf inside. "I've come for the child. The boy there." He said pointing gently. "The adult int he cell lunged at Firther. "Why? So you can kill him?" She said angrily. "Elves aren't that heartless you know." He said irritated. "I met with your princess. We're making an exchange, and if this all goes as according to plan you'll all be free tomorrow." He looked into the cell next to the one with the child. "And you," he said to the lone werewolf inside. "You're her brother aren't you?" He asked. The ragged wolf inside stared at him. "Yes I am. Is there a problem?" Firther didn't like the look of him too much, and was going to have to hate to tell him that they would one day be brothers. " There is no problem, but please, seeing as you are royalty. Let's us make a pact. If we kill her, and you are all not free tomorrow I will come down here, and let you all personally tear me apart." He said. "Do we have a deal?" He said looking at the werewolf Prince. "Agreed" he said ,"But i will not shake your filth hand." Fine. Now give me the boy." He said softly. He opened the cell, and the little boy came out slowly. "Let's get you a meal shall we?" Firther said. Back in the secrete passage, he's laid out some lights and dropped off some food for the boy to eat. "here we are" he said. "Please don't be afraid of me." He said as he noticed the boy winced a little at Firther's soft touch. "I'll tell you a secrete, but you have to promise not to tell anyone. "He said. The little boy nodded fervently still fearing for his life. "Ok. Well, I'm in love with your Princess Felicia. I want to marry her, and make her my Queen. I know that that doesn't sound like a good idea to you I'm sure, but I really do love her." He said sitting down and placing the food in front of the boy. "Here eat." he said with a smile. "We have a long trip a head of us. "He winked.

Ihaco rejoined with Fither and the Werewolf boy about ten minutes late. The boy scooted back in terror away from him. Ihaco looked at him with a smile. "Don't worry, I"m not going to hurt you." he said. He thought for a second though that it may have been the blue tinge to his face that caused the boy to be frightened, but then he remember the boy couldn't see his face for the darkness that still surrounded him. "So what now?" Ihaco asked Firther simply.

Firther looked up at Ihaco. I have a plan to get him out of here, and into the woods. But it's going to take a lot of acting on your part okay?" He said that last part to the boy in front of him. The little boy nodded in understanding. He didn't want to be killed. He only wanted to see his mother and sister again.

They waited until the boy was at last finished with his meal, and then made their way to the lowest level of passage ways. They took at left at the fork, and came to a door that lead to the outside by the stables. Firther looked down at the little boy. "I'm going to tie this rope around your hand, and we're going to pretend that we're taking you out to hunt you. We're not really going to do hurt you at all. It's all just pretend. Can you cry, or pretend to?" on cue the boy started to cry. "You're very good at this little one." He said giving him a pat on the back. The rope having been securely tied, but not hurting him in anyway, they made their way out to get two horses.

They mounted, letting the boy walk between them. "remember, look even more frightened than you are now, and we're money." Ihaco said in a whisper to the boy. The little boy was still crying just as well as he had started. "Everything ready?" nods all around. "Okay, let's go." Firther said nervously. They started out, soon getting half way to the woods. Suddenly, they heard a voice. It was one of the guards, and Firther had expected this to happen fully.

"Prince Firther, Lord Ihaco, where are yout aking that small prisoner?" Firther turned his horse around handing the end of the rope to Ihaco. Turning his horse he said back to the guard, "We take this prisoner out for a hunt. He will be back int he cell no later than dusk. Though if he gets hurt, and should fall into a hole, and die that is none of our concern. That will leave this world at least one werewolf shy of a full army in the future." He said with a humble laugh. The guard laughed as well. "You right, Price Firther. Let's hope that he falls into a hole then. Please my Lord carry on with your plans." The guard said with a smile and a bow.

Ihaco gave Firther the end of the rope once more, and they were off into the woods quickly. Once out of sight of the guard, Firther untied the little boy, and hoisted him up onto his horse. "Hold on tight. We're almost there, but we have to get there quickly. Felicia will no doubt be there soon." He nodded to Ihaco, and they were off their horses galloping over the fallen leaves of the forest. In no time at al, they made it to the free land between the Great Oaks, and rested. Firther and Ihaco dismounted, and Firther took the little werewolf boy off as well, and stood with him. Ihaco tied up the horses to a tree, and they stood and waited.

Firther longed to see his Felicia again. He longed to hold her in a tight embrace. Soon his heart began to race in anticipation. He needed to be with her. Right or wrong he needed her as his wife beside him to rule as Queen of two worlds come together by fate. Soon he thought he heard the running of two animals. Wolves.

Firther put his arms around the little elven girl. "Tira Solera, M y darling cousin how I have missed you." He said looking down at his cousin. Her mother and father had passed away sometime ago of broken hearts due to little Tira having been taken prisoner. He would not tell her of this until they were safely back home. Noting a small stream nearby, he floated a little of the water over to him and created a ice rose that would never melt just for his little cousin. "Here you go my kin. For you." He said bowing with a smile as he planted a kiss on her cheek. He decided then that Tira would live in the castle with him, and he would raise her as his own. Bushing some hair from her face, he looked up and smiled at Felicia. Suddenly he felt a stinging sensation on the back of his head, and he realized that Ihaco had smacked him a good one. Rubbing the back of his head he smiled sheepishly. "Uhm. Yes this is my best friend Ihaco. Ihaco this is Felica." he said gesturing o her as Ihaco nodded in return and made a slight face undetectable towards the two werewolf girls in front of him. Figuring Firther wanted a few minutes alone with Felicia, he picked up Tira in his arms and stepped away to play with her for a while.

Firther took a few steps toward the woman he'd so suddenly fallen in love with. "I've missed you" he said quietly not daring to get any closer in fear that her friend may lash out at him. Then not caring what would happen he quickly went to her and wrapped his arms around her. He held her close feeling her heart beat against his chest, and feeling her warmth. Though it had only been the day before he really had missed her. "You never once left my thoughts, and I even dreamed of you Felicia. We had a feast in honor of our love last night, but none know that it is you that I have fallen for. For what would my Kingdom think of my having fallen in love with the enemy?" He said affectionately. "Care do I not what they think, but would my father, the King, know he would start a war, and would forbid our love. I do not wish any harm to you or your Kingdom. I do hope that you know this." He leaned his head down to kiss the top of hers. Nuzzling his nose in her soft hair he breathed in smelling the beautiful scent that he would forever long for no matter what.

Remaining silent for just a few moments, he took in the sight of her. She was still just as beautiful as the day before, and he'd fallen in love with her all over again. "Felicia, my darling, I'm crazy about you. I see you now just as I did yesterday. Not as an enemy, but as a companion." Here he drew apart from her and looked at Tessa. "Madame," he said bowing. "I should like to ask for your permission to kiss Felicia. Please do not deny me what it is that I have longed for during the eternal night in which I was apart from her." He waited with baited breath as he looked into Tessa's eyes waiting for her answer. Ihaco rolled his eyes at his love sick friend. He would never fall in love like that, and if he ever did he knew that he'd want to be shot on the spot. Giving a snort he continued to play with Tira.