Fauna Quest for the Evergreen Tree chapter 3

Fauna, The Quest for the Evergreen Tree

Chapter 3

King Arrogance Antleroak stared into his gold framed mirror. His thick dark eyebrows raising as he saw some dirt on his crown. His silvery golden hair fell on his back and his lips pursed as his wiped away the smudge of dirt.

“Elidrem!” The King called. His son appeared, Elidrem looked almost exactly like his Father only, his hair was brown instead of blonde, the King's brown eyes inspected his young son like a hawk.

“Why have you called me Father?” asked Elidrem. The King finished his inspection and looked around his chamber.

“Where is Fauna?” asked The King. Elidrem sighed, The King was a selfish dolt but he loved his Fauna, even though she was a half blood, half royal half peasant.

“She's probably in the forest, or the northern quadrant.” answered Elidrem, all he ever wanted was his Father's appreciation and attention. But when he wasn't counting his gold he was cooing over Fauna, who didn't seem to enjoy all of The King's attention. The King frowned.

“I don't know why that girl enjoys spending her time with peasants and trees.”

Elidrem smiled.

“Perhaps because she is a peasant?” he asked smirking slightly hoping his Father would approve of his joke. The King glared at Elidrem.

“Not anymore she isn't. Fetch her please, my son.” answered The King. Elidrem shook his head. Him and his brother Reth were always 2^nd best to Fauna. The King had fallen in love with Fauna's mother and secretly visited her when he was a prince. When he was crowned king Fauna's mother fell ill and died. But not before she had given birth to Fauna, the daughter of the King and the baby of a peasant.

“Of course Father.” mumbled Elidrem. Elidrem left the room and bumped into his older brother Reth, Reth had dark green eyes that complemented his sleek blonde hair.

“Where are you going Elidrem?” asked Reth.

“To find our Father's dear daughter,” answered Elidrem scowling. Reth laughed.

“Why won't Father leave her be? The girl was born to be wild.”
Elidrem did not laugh with him.

“I wish she would stay in the wild.”

Reth stared at Elidrem curiously.

“You can't still be bitter about her getting more attention, she's the youngest and she doesn't enjoy it or rub it in your face either.”

Elidrem nodded.

“Perhaps you're right, but she's just so odd.”

Reth laughed.

“As are you brother.”

Elidrem shook his head and opened the door to the outside world.

Fauna smiled as she combed through Elspeth's hair.

“Your sister is a very beautiful elf.”

Rowen nodded, looking out the window. Elspeth smiled and looked up at Fauna with indigo eyes.

“She looks just like our mother, she's usually home by now.”

Fauna looked toward the window as well, it was getting dark.

“And your father?”

Rowen bit his lip.

“He fled when the dragons came, he just left us in our burning house.”

Fauna looked away and began to braid Elspeth's hair, Elspeth had auburn hair that was shorter than the traditional elvish hair.

“I should go, my Father will wonder where I am.” Elidrem heard Fauna's voice in a house down the road. Elidrem cringed as he smelled hogs poop. Fauna stepped out of the house and waved goodbye to whoever was in the house. Elidrem stepped in front of her and Fauna jumped.

“Elidrem you startled me.”

Elidrem scowled.

“I'm sorry Princess but Father has requested your presence.”

It was Fauna's turn to scowl.

“I don't see why he's always wanting me, Elidrem will you come in with me to count his coins? It's such a drag listening to him talk about his humble beginnings and how much dragon gold he has come by, I swear his gold is why dragons attack us.” Elidrem smiled, despite how jealous he was of Fauna, he really quite enjoyed her company.

“Of course I will Fauna, and dragons used to attack us. It's all over now,” said Elidrem looking at the sky to make sure no dragons were overhead.

“That's what you think, I shot a giant today, something is driving them out of the mountains, and the only things that giants are afraid of is dragons.” as much as Elidrem thought Fauna was crazy there was a small voice in the back of his head that was slightly concerned that the dragons would come back.

“Father doesn't want you putting yourself in danger, the guards can take care of a giant.”

Fauna smiled.

“The guards couldn't take care of one young elf.” she mumbled.

Elidrem's ear twitched toward her.

“What was that?” he asked.

“Did you hear something?” Fauna asked laughing to herself. Elidrem scoffed.

“You upset Willow earlier.”,Elidrem said changing the subject.

“Did I?” asked Fauna a small smile playing at her lips.

“Really Fauna, Willow is a young princess visiting from a neighboring village, you really should be a better influence on her.”

Fauna scowled and raced ahead of Elidrem to the palace. She shied past the guards who began to chase her but Fauna was smarter and more athletic then any of the guards, she shimmied up on of her Father quartz pillars and laughed at the guards who were glaring up at her. Elidrem chuckled.

“It's alright men, it's just the princess.” The guards mumbled to one another and made their way back to the gates. Fauna slid down the pole.

“Those guards couldn't take care of a giant, they can't even take care of a young princess.”

Elidrem shook his head.

“18 isn't very young. You're old enough to be wed.” 

Fauna scowled.

“Enough of that, I won't let Father marry me off to some self centered dolt of a prince.”

Elidrem had to admit that all the princes that had come for Fauna had been very full of themselves. The King walked down the steps to greet his daughter.

“Fauna, would you escort me to the counting room?” Fauna rolled her eyes and motioned Elidrem to follow.

“Of course Father.”

The King planted a kiss on top of Fauna's head and Fauna grimaced. What a life.