Wanna Be Yours- Chapter 3

Milan had used some little seeds of edible food she found to bring them to life. Leaving bits of fruits and nuts to the bandits.

“So what you are saying is that my aunt. The head of household is a suspect in embezzling funds, she wants you to marry Lucinda for wealth and honor meanwhile, my father who had built his prestige and honor for our family has now crumbled to bits and pieces?”

“That is correct.” Oliver says.

Her sharp nails dug into the palm of her hand. Anger boiling inside her. She had no idea. She wasn’t allowed to leave the tower for a reason. Oliver took her hand, smoothing out the palm of her hand. He sighed at the crescent like marks.

“I was going to tell you.” He whispered.

“When?”

Oliver clenched his jaw. There was no right answer for this.

“You remember when I told you that your magic is a blessing?”

“You said that to comfort me.”

“And I meant every word, however I will show you exactly what I mean by it.”

They reached a barren forest. Empty. Lifeless. Milan silently judged what he was trying to show her. He held his sword up. Nothing happens for a moment.

“Oliver I’m too exhausted for-”

A bright light shines throughout the darkness they’re in. For what was dark and empty was not luscious and bright. Bare trees had now been covered in leaves. Dry soil was now moist and nourished. Milan’s eyes racked over everything as she put one foot in front of the other. His guards stood at the entrance. Watching as he walked beside her.

“How did you do that?” She asked.

“Magic.” He smiled.

The deeper they went, the more curious Milan got. There was a large tree up ahead. But before they could get any closer someone jumped from a tree. Right in front of them, he stared at Oliver. Before smiling. His teeth white with sharp small fangs. Pointy ears and pale skin. His green eyes soften at the sight of him.

“It’s nice to see you again.” The elf said.

“Like wise, Elgen.”

He glanced at Milan and looked away. Then looked again, his eyes almost bulging out. “What?! Mariella?! I thought you passed!”

Milan blinked. “She did.”

Elgen gave Oliver a stare as he shook the man by the shoulders.

“This is Lady Milan. Daughter of the late Duke Damon and Duchess Mariella.”

Elgen paused. He hesitantly took a peek at her. From her dark curls, to her cloudy whites, and to that soft brown skin. Every part of her screamed that she was their child.

“My apologies.” He said taking a step back. He had his fist covering his mouth as he cleared his throat, hiding a smile behind that action.

“Come. The elders would like to see you two.”

They end up in a tree tower. Its branches long, filled with golden leaves. Elgen announces, “Our hero Oliver Leon has arrived…” He clears his throat loudly, a smile on his face, “as well as Lady Milan, the daughter of our beloved late Duke Damon and Duchess Mariella.”

As they entered the elders stood tall. Rising from their seats. One particular elder, her white hair flowed down her back, her skin dark and smooth, and her white eyes softened at the sight of Milan.

“Milan?” The woman whispered. She walked briskly, eager to face her. Oliver stepped aside as the elders looked amongst each other in shock.

“Yes?” She responded.

The elder had touched her cheek. Running her fingers through her smooth curls. Finally when she looked at Milan, all she could see was her mother, Mariella.

“You have her eyes.” The elder whispered.

Milan watched her own reflection. The eerily similar white eyes weren't common. Even after being kept in that tower she knew.

“Evona.” An elder called out.

As she turned back she had taken a moment to calm herself down.

“She’s just excited. We are all grateful for what your parents have done for our kind.”

Milan gently nodded.

“I see.”

Oliver stood beside her, “She doesn’t know.”

An elder named Euros smiled, “Then let's throw a banquet and tell the story one more time.”

The night was long. Elves cheering and partaking in archery contests. And the story had ended with children wanting to hear more.

“So the Duchess slayed the big monster and the Duke healed our people?” A young boy asked.

Elder Euros laughed, “That is right! They saved us. From the evil that lurks outside our protected realm.”

“That’s magnificent!” A girl cheered.

Elder Euros smiled, gently patting the children on the head.

Milan smiled sweetly at the sight. The story of her parents. It sounds quite different compared to what she learned at home. She excused herself from Oliver and Elgen. She strolled down a path. Her footsteps are as quiet as usual. Her fingers brush against a leaf. Igniting it to grow a bit bigger.

“Mother…father.” She whispered. Looking at a statue of them. Milan let out a deep breath.

“What was your true story?” She whispered.

The wind howled as it blew her hair past her shoulders. The moon in the sky was as white and bright as her eyes. She closed her eyes, her white lashes fluttering from the strong wind.

“I can tell you if you’d like.”

Milan turned around and saw Elder Evona. She smiled at the younger woman. “Come.” She said, leading her down a path. They entered a small garden. With white flowers guiding a path of light. They get to a tree house. Evona pushes the door open. Candles flickering on from her magic. Milan looks around. Every surface was clean.

“Elder?” Milan questioned.

They head to the second floor. Books shelves filling the room. Evona sat Milan down by the window. Sitting beside her she brought a book.

“This is?”

Evona let out a deep breath.

“What do you know about your parents?”

“My parents, they…left home and abandoned our kingdom.”

“Is that what you were taught?”

Milan furrowed her brows, “That was the truth wasn’t it?”

“Do you believe in it?”

Milan rubbed her thumb against her knuckles. Biting her lower lip. “I am not so sure.”

Evona smiled, she sat a bit closer flipping the large book open. She taps on a photo. “That is me.”

She looked a bit younger. Her eyes were brighter, and her lips were fuller. Then she flips to another page. A photo of her and a younger girl.

“And that is your mother.”

Milan blinked.

“What?”

A girl born with dark brown curly hair, white soft eyes, and brown smooth skin.

“I have never seen her photo as a child-wait what was she doing with you? How did you meet?”

Evona giggled, her eyes softly locked onto Milan’s. “I met her the day I felt a life form within me.”

Milan furrowed her brows together. Her silence grew thick.

“Sweetheart, I am your grandmother.”