SILVER-HEART
Chapter 104: In The Arms Of a Stranger

Chapter 104: In The Arms Of a Stranger

Many Centuries Ago

"Listen to me, my successor" Basker began staring down at the boy who would one day take over his place and be the next foundation for the future. A bargain this boy was... because of his father, but now he was the very fate that would tie this place together for eternity.

"This forest that surrounds the Holy Library is as old as this place, they came together into existence and it must be treated with respect. This forest is known as the Elven Woods"

"The Elven Woods?"

Basker nodded his root head. "This forest was created by the Elven tribe you see," he cleared his throat. "The Knowledge of the Elven tribe is forbidden and under no circumstance should it be released to the world, it should be kept in the Northern wing, am I clear?

"Yes Master" and then there was a pause from little William. "Do the elves still exist?"

Basker never answered young William’s question and he never got to know if they exist or not. But instead, he got a warning...

"Do not collide with the Elves" were his last words that day and nothing further was said after that.

☆☆☆

William never got his answer from Basker, if the Elven tribe still existed or not, it was all a whole different mystery altogether, knowledge about the elves was considered forbidden, they were too ancient, too ancient for the world that even a faintest attribute was considered sacred.

But this right now... this was enough proof of a question he never got the answer to until now.

The man holding his beloved was none other than an Elf, his pointy ears didn’t only give him out but the unique scent he has. He had long dark amber hair, kept straight and flawless, and not a single hair was out of place. His eyes were a sharp silver that glowed in the dimmed surroundings, like the moonlight itself. His attire was a matching silver attire, a velvet cloak, the hood of it covering the top of his hair.

Around his head was a matching silver crown, like a single thick string and curved like a leaf at the center. His features appeared to be a man in his thirties but William knew all too well that was not his real age.

A smile was evident on his lips and a finger still pressed against them, an action he used to tell William to keep quiet.

"It would be a shame to wake her from her slumber don’t you think?" he said darting his eyes back to Ava, soundly asleep in his arms.

A deep silent growl rumbled from William’s chest, the strong need to rip his arms off overwhelmed him, no one... not even an elf has the right to touch what belongs to him. Ancient or not!

"Do not be aggravated, she came here herself" he raised an eyebrow at the fox guardian’s hostile action and William stilled at his words.

"I just happened to see a beauty such as this and I was unable to take my eyes off her"

’Know your place!’ William snapped, imposing his mind-link on the elf and his silver eyes darted to him.

Their eyes bored into each for a prolonged minute not saying a word.

’You should be wary of how you speak, Fox Guardian,’ the elf’s voice resonated into William’s head and it sounded calm yet chaotic like a storm, he had never heard such a voice, for this held a fragment of power he couldn’t quite place.

’Didn’t Basker teach you about manners?’

’You speak of manners when you have your hands on my wife!’

"Oh," he mused and leveled his gaze back to Ava. "I didn’t realize she was claimed... by you"

He shook his head as if hiding his amusement. "Interesting"

William didn’t like the way he looked at Ava, and the mere gesture caused another growl to reverberate from him, on the verge of pouncing against him, his bloodlust slipping off his menacing form.

"Careful fox guardian you know better than to attack me" he mumbled, not sparing William a glaze and keeping his entire focus on the sleeping beauty in his arms.

"What you did with the pixies was a poor choice, you know better than that, I’m beginning to think Basker chose a poor-minded successor, one who even cannot appear as he seems" his silver eyes raking his entire form.

William instantly shifted, the silver light warping around him and his human form came into view.

"And he’s not even decent," he mocked.

"Take your hands off her!" William’s strong voice came. "While I still ask"

Ava stirred in her sleep but she didn’t look like she was about to wake up soon.

"She came here of her own free will, Fox guardian, and I was kind enough to keep her warm for the night air is chilly, should you not be thankful" he mused but gaining no response he sighed and gently dropped her on the grass exactly as he found her.

He stood to his full length to the Fox guardian who looked inches from ripping his head off and it only made him amused at how aggravated he was, it was enticing.

"The night is treacherous... you should keep a proper eye on your wife and not let her wander too far... too far away from you" The last of his words was a mumble but William clearly heard it.

He kept his heated gaze fixated on the elf until he was nowhere to be seen, the mysterious pressure that hung in the air gone.

¤●¤

There were voices... numerous of them, it was like a calling, I tried to make note of what they were trying to say but couldn’t. And more importantly, I felt like I was in a trance. The voice seemed to be a vocal tune, so angelic, and the more I listened to it, the more lost and tugged I felt.

I didn’t know when I got off the bed, wore my nightgown, and found myself venturing out of the library barefooted. I don’t know how long I walked the forest, I didn’t seem tired, and I did not feel scared. All I knew was I had to reach that tune. It felt so strange but yet it feels like I was connected to it in some way.

I don’t even know where I was going... The tune told me to keep going, and so I did until I got to a tree at the center of the waterfall, climbing the rocks and getting up it. It was when I stood before the tree, the tune finally stopped.

"Hello, strange one"

I gasped, turning to the sudden voice and it was like I was finally awake.

What am I doing here?

How did I get here?

Who is this man?

The man was beautiful and just like William he looked otherworldly. He has long amber hair and stunning silver eyes, his aura was strange and not like the ones I have felt before. It was almost like I couldn’t detect it, it had a strange hue too, silver... first I have seen.

A smile on his lips as he closed the distance between us and I instantly backed away.

"Do not be afraid" he mused tilting his head to the side and I noticed his pointy ears hiding beneath his velvet cloak hood, they were just like Elvenia’s, is he a butterfly too?

"Are you a butterfly?" I bluntly asked.

He broke into a pearl of laughter and the mere sound was like angels singing. How could one be so divine?

"No I’m not, what made you think that?"

"T-The ears" I blushed.

"Oh, I suppose," he shrugged.

I looked around at the alien place. "Please I need to get back home" I knew he could be one of the mystical creatures that reside here and I don’t want a repeat of what happened before when I ventured on my own.

William

I left him, I didn’t mean it, the voices just called me and before I could help myself I was already walking towards it. I have to go back to him.

"Tell me, what is a maiden as captivating as you doing here?" he mused.

"I-I just wandered too far"

"Hmm..." he nodded, turning to face the tree and I did. "Beautiful isn’t it? Nature always has a way of making things glamorous"

"Indeed" I mumbled not taking my eyes off the tree and I could feel his gaze on me now.

"Did you hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"The tune"

I faced him. "Tune" I gulped. "You know what it was?"

"You don’t?"

"I wish I did, it was beautiful and it felt like it called to me"

His smile broadened and it was so enchanting.

"If you’re not a butterfly then what are you?"

"The tune... Ava, listen more closely and you will know what it means"

I blinked in confusion, getting so lost in my head about his words and then a realization struck me.

I did not tell him my name.

I opened my mouth to say something but my vision got blurry, why was I sleepy again?

I dropped to the ground but strangely it was an impossible slow action like something was gently drawing me down, and before I knew it darkness found me.