Ch.111 What’s the Catch?'Wyvern's blood... Why! WHY, would he do this to us!? Why would my husband poison the Elder Tree we were growing for our people!?' Yuliana thought as she lost the strength in her legs as she fell to the floor.
"Whoa!"Rya said as she grabbed her before she could hit the ground along with Nieren.
"MOM!? What happened? Why did you fall down?" Nieren yelled as she also reached down to help Yuliana up.
"I-It's okay! I-I um... I—" Yuliana was having trouble answering her daughter.
She didn't want to tell her that her father was most likely the one who killed the Elder Tree and abandoned them to the fate of the human army.
Rya noticed the troubled look showing in her eyes.
'Sothings not right. I'll cover for her for now.' Rya thought as she said, "She just twisted her ankle. I'll fix her up in a jiff."
Rya gave Nieren a reassuring smile.
'Huh? Is she covering for ? I think she is!' Yuliana thought as she recomposed herself.
"Yes. I seed to have twisted sothing by mistake. Haha. I guess all the shock of the Elder Tree sapling made lose my footing for a mont." Yuliana said as she tried to sound normal.
Nieren sighed with relief, "Haah... You scared , mother... Is there anything I can do to help?"
Rya smiled at her, "No, I'll just take your mother over to her chair and give it a look."
"Y-Yes once I sit down I'll be alright. But, can you do a favor, Nieren? Can you take the Elder Tree saplings and put them out in the back so they can get so sun?" Yuliana said as she slowly walked towards her chair with Rya holding her arm.
"Sure, Mom. I'll do that now then. Hey Wolf, can you lend a hand and grab one of the pots and follow ?" Nieren said as she walked over to grab two of the saplings.
"Ah? Sure! Got it!" Dalia said as she followed Nieren to the back door.
Once the two left the house Rya turned and whispered so low that not even a human could hear her if they stood one foot away.
"I saw the look on your face. You know sothing about the purple droplet, don't you." Rya said with a serious look on her face.
'She noticed!? Gah! Of course, she noticed. She's a Dark Elf. Hah... I've been bested at every turn. I better just tell her so she can do whatever she wants to my life. It's not like I'm going to get the High Elves to co to my aid after what they did.' Yuliana thought to herself as she blushed.
Yuliana looked around quickly to make sure her daughter wasn't around before she spoke in a calm voice, "Sadly, yes. I do know... My husband is a High Elf noble that tad Wyverns. He was supposed to be our link for an elven alliance between our kingdoms on different continents. He liked to use his wyvern's blood on his arrows. And he used a drop of it to weaken a dark swamp thicket that the Orcs like to use as a defense. We thought it was the humans that sohow killed our Elder Tree but it was him. He and his n betrayed us! By the Gods, I feel like a fool for not realizing it after all these years."
'Shit! This sucks! And Nieren is a Half High Elf Half Wood Elf? No wonder she didn't want to say anything to her daughter. She must want to protect her. I don't bla her one bit... Hey! I wonder if she could answer a question that's been bugging ?' Rya wondered to herself as she looked over to Yuliana.
"So, Yuliana I have a question for you. Do you know where the stories about us Dark Elves originated from? I'm not familiar with them at all and it seems everyone has a knee-jerk reaction when they see ."
Yuliana had a puzzled look on her face.
"Huh? Don't you know the stories are based on true events? About how they attacked the High Elf city of Ordon and slaughtered them? Or how they rape and pillaged the High Elf coastal cities? And the ti when the High Elf elder sage, Lila, used the power of the Elder Tree to teleport their entire army onto the beach of a small town called Dierna to fight the Dark Elves. The High Elves soldiers went to stop them and were slaughtered right in front of their families! And the ti when the High... Elves... The High Elves? Wait! Ah... I know there has to be a story that doesn't involve the High Elves. Ummm? No? No... Gah! I swear there's a story out there! Just not one I've heard!" Yuliana said to herself as she continued to search her mory.
Rya stood there patiently waiting for her to recall the tale.
After a few minutes, Yuliana stopped and shook her head in frustration.
"No, I can't rember any other stories other than the ones you just ntioned. Why would that be?"
Rya shook her head, 'So, the higher-ups of the High Elves must have hated Dark Elves. But they also went after these Wood Elves? What's their angle?'
"Well, the High Elves don't seem on the level to . I an they killed your tree for so reason. And no offense, but what your husband did sounds like what a Dark Elf would do in those stories you ntioned. Just saying."
Yuliana opened up her mouth to speak but thought better of it.
'S-She's right! But this could be a trick. I know I could do the pros and cons list about her and I could co up with a lot more cons than pros.' Yuliana thought to herself.
'First con, she stopped my defense vines! B-But she did not turn them against when I was arguing with my daughter. Damn, that's a pro!' Yuliana thought.
Rya noticed Yuliana's internal battle going on in her head as she seed to have a thoughtful expression on her face.
'Okay, she also cured my three Elder Tree seeds like so type of saintly healer. Haah... That's another pro! Ummm? Ah! Damn! This Dark Elf has done everything to trust her... Okay fine! I'll be civil around her but I still need to watch myself. She is the first Dark Elf I ever t in my 400 years of life. How am I supposed to know if those stories aren't true?' Yuliana thought as Nieren and Dalia ca back into the house.
"Finished placing the saplings in the sun Mom. How's the ankle?" Nieren asked as she looked down at her mother sitting in her chair.
"Hmm? What ankle? Oh, my ankle!" Yuliana said with confusion at first.
"She's fine Nieren. Anyway, we need to get moving if I'm going to et up with Hajdah." Rya said to her friends.
"Oh, Yeah! Sorry for delaying everything. Mom I ca by to drop this stuff off for you. First this," Nieren says as she drops a sack of gold coins on the table.
"Where did you get all this gold?" Yuliana asked with surprise while she walked up to the table.
"I won it at the goddess festival. At the Hex-horn ring toss! And it was all thanks to Lady Rya who unrigged the rings!... Aw! It was sooo satisfying, Mom!" Nieren said as she puffed out her chest proudly.
"You were there at the ring toss booth?" Rya questions Nieren.
"Y-Yeah, that was when I thought all Dark Elves were evil and I that you were planning to destroy Ironside... I'm sorry about that," Nieren said embarrassed.
"Oh? Well, it's okay. If it wasn't for you I would probably still be enslaved. So, let's call it even then?" Rya said smiling and patting Nieren on the shoulder.
'She helped my daughter win all this gold!? Th-That's another pro for Rya!' Yuliana thought.
"I think I need to do a little more before I would consider myself even with you Lady Rya. Anyway, Mom, here's the most important items I wanted to give to you," Nieren said as she took off her backpack and pulled out a wooden sword and a Crown that belonged to her uncle.
'V-Valko's crown?' Yuliana slowly moved her shaking hands closer to her dead brother's Crown. She never thought that she would be able to touch it again. But now that her daughter brought their family's treasure back to them.
Her fingers slightly grazed the gold crown that was designed to look like vines interwoven. And the red gemstone that was set in the middle glowed slightly as the small diamonds on the tips of the thorns glittered in the light.
"It's real... How? The Kings Slayer wasn't close to death's age yet?" Yuliana was shocked to see that her dead brother's crown was real. It couldn't have been possible.
"Pff! He was at death's age when he collared Alpha and was about to kill Beta. That bastard got what he deserves," Dalia said as she crossed her arms over her chest causing her cleavage to rise up showing so of her breasts.
"Yeah Mom, the word probably hasn't reached this part of the city yet. But the Black Rose rcenaries were trying to invade the city yesterday. Crown Prince Quinus was able to raise an army to confront them and Lady Rya defeated a lot of them including the Kings Slayer. While the prince defeated the commander Rodulf. The Black Roses are no more, Mother. Uncle's been avenged and I was able to help." Nieren said as she looked proud at her accomplishnts.
"She killed the Kings Slayer and gave you Valko's Crown?" Yuliana quickly turned around to face her daughter.
"Yes. I thought Lady Rya was going to keep it at first but she handed it to without asking for anything! Everything she's done was to protect everyone in the city! She's really a good person! The stories about the Dark Elves were false!" Nieren said as her cheeks started to turn pink.
Yuliana turned to Rya with a puzzled expression on her face.
'S-She's avenged my brother and our people, returned my brother's crown, and saved the city? She could have claid ownership of the wood elves if she kept the crown, but she didn't! Why is she so kind? Why is she such a... saint?' Yuliana thought as she was trying to digest everything that happened.
She looked at Rya in a different light now. Her daughter was right; Lady Rya was really a good person.
'W-Why did I attack her? I-I don't deserve this kindness from her.' Yuliana thought as she felt tears stinging her eyes.
"Hmm? Are you okay?" Rya asked as she placed her hand on Yuliana's shoulder.
'Whoa, I'm crying!' She wiped away the tears before they could fall. 'No, I can't allow myself to cry in front of her! Not now!'
"Thank you, Lady Rya. But I don't deserve this kindness after acting hostile towards you... I-I don't know why I didn't believe your kindness was genuine. I-I'm sorry," Yuliana said as she bowed her head low in sha after feeling the guilt hit her hard.
'Thank God she's co around. Maybe she can be a reasonable person now.' Rya thought as she brought her hand under Yuliana's chin and lifted her head up.
"It's alright, Yuliana. Let tell you what my fiance told . We all make mistakes. It's what we do you fix them that makes us good. So, be smart and use what you learned from your past to improve yourself. That way you won't repeat the sa mistake... Right?" Rya said as she smiled warmly at Yuliana.
Yuliana felt warmth in her words and nodded her head.
'N-No wonder my daughter wanted to beco her friend. Rya is so nice and warm! I haven't felt this relaxed in decades! How am I supposed to compete against that? I wish to beco her friend too! I can't lose her! She's the first elf to aid after the fall of the kingdom. My maids, my friends, my husband, they all abandoned and my daughter.' Yuliana thought as she looked into Rya's eyes.
"T-Thank you, Rya... I don't know what to say... Would you like to be the queen of the wood elves?" Yuliana asked timidly.
Rya was surprised at first but smiled brightly at Yuliana's words. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm going to be the future queen of Fiafyr."
Yuliana was surprised by Rya's answer.
"Wait!? That ans your fiancee is?" Yuliana asked confused.
"Prince Quinus redydd. He's my best friend and lover," Rya replied happily.
Yuliana was shocked. 'So she loves him? She loves a human!? The thought never crossed my mind! I an, humans are similar-looking to elves. But they just don't live as nearly as long as us. She doesn't mind that? She's a strange elf,' Yuliana thought.
"Awe!? You're going to marry the prince! Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Nieren asked
"Haha? I don't know. It seems so surreal to . I feel like it will wake up to find out it was all a dream," Rya said with a giggle.
"A dream you say? Hold on!" Dalia said as she ran up to Rya and pinched her cheek.
"OW!? DAILA! I know I'm not dreaming! It was a figure of speech!" Rya said as she rubbed her cheek.
"Huh? Figure of speech... You know when you say such things it confuses . So, you only have yourself to bla, Alpha," Dalia said as she smiled.
Rya was still rubbing her cheek from Dalia's pinch.
"Oh yeah! Mom, I almost forgot to tell you. I'm retiring from being an adventurer." Nieren said.
Yuliana gasped when she heard this.
"What!? Really!?" Yuliana asked surprised.
"Yes. Rya and the crown prince wants to be her lady-in-waiting and her retainer. She doesn't know much about Royal etiquette so I'm going to help her and I'll be going to the city of Tairal. I was hoping you would join ." Nieren said to her mother.
'Huh!? Nieren wants her mother to join us. I wish she asked first!' Rya thought.
"Nieren? Why do you wish to have your mother join us?" Rya asked.
"Well, I can be your retainer with no problem but I'm a little bit rusty on the etiquette front. I want to make sure I can keep up with the other ladies of the court. And my mother is superb when it cos to Royal etiquette," Nieren explained.
'Oh? So, she was worried about not being able to help . Well, I don't see a problem in it if Yuliana wants to join us.' Rya thought.
"So, do you want to join us, Yuliana?" Rya asked as she looked right at her.
Yuliana looked conflicted, 'My daughter wishes to join her in the human capital? But we should be trying to free our people and rebuild the Wood Elf Kingdom. A-And she's not an adult yet! 44 years old is too young to be running around on her own. But I understand her wanting to be with Rya. I feel it too.'
Yuliana looked at Rya with a sad look in her eyes. "I'd love to join you, but I need to free our people from slavery and rebuild our kingdom once the Elder Trees grow big enough to protect us. It pains to not accept your offer. And you should help Nieren."
"But Mom! Rya is going to help free our people! She promised she would!" Nieren said.
"Hmph..." Yuliana sighed. 'That's nice, but Rya wouldn't just go out there and fight for nothing. There must be a catch. No one just helps to free soone else's own race for free. She didn't expect my offer to beco my people's queen.'
"Why would you free my people, Rya? It sounds too good to be true." Yuliana asked suspiciously.
'Huh? Oh! Yuliana thinks I want sothing out of this. Nah, I just hate slavery after getting collared. I just want to eradicate slavery from this continent at least.' Rya felt she needed to explain herself because she knew her mother didn't trust her.
"Well, I have a goal to abolish all slavery on the Agon continent. And after experiencing it first hand I can't help but feel the need to free not just the Wood Elves but everyone. And I know it's a long shot but that's not going to stop from trying," Rya said.
'WHOA! She wants to do what!? Really!? Wow! This girl is nuts! I an she's done a lot but she wants to do the impossible,' Yuliana thought as her expression changed to one of surprise.
"Hahaha, your face says it all. You must think I'm crazy. I don't bla you," Rya chuckled.
"Y-You're not crazy. I wish slavery was abolished, but I think you're asking for the impossible," Yuliana said.
"Mom! I've seen her already do the impossible more tis than I can count over the last two days! Just give her a chance," Nieren chid in.
'Nieren? I-I have never seen her like this... Haah... Alright, I'll give her a chance. Hopefully, she'll start saving my people in 50 years from now.' Yuliana thought.
"Alright then, Rya. Your words are convincing and I know you won't hurt my people. But I still need to ask for sothing," Yuliana said.
"What is it?" Rya asked curiously.
"When are you planning on rescuing the Wood Elves from slavery?" Yuliana questioned.
"Hmm? Well, I'm learning new magic at the Mages Guild and I'll probably have to deal with Quin's uncle and the nobles that side with him. Plus we might need to deal with the arranged marriage with a princess from the Divine Three. So, once things are settled? I think in two to three years from now? That of course if nothing else cos in out of nowhere to delay things of course," Rya explained.
'T-TWO TO THREE YEARS!?!? But the Elder Tree won't be big enough to protect us?' Yuliana thought.
"T-That seems quick? Um?" Yuliana stamred.
"Hmm? Is there a problem?" Rya asked curiously.
"W-Well... Yeah! I won't be able to protect our people until the Elder Trees are big enough. I thought you start saving them in 50 years?" Yuliana exclaid.
"50 years? Nah, no point in waiting that long. And if you're worried about having a safe place for your people, we can talk to Quin and find a forest in the Fiafyr Kingdom's territory. I don't know the logistics but I feel it shouldn't be hard to convince him," Rya said.
"S-So you give us asylum? Well, if you can promise that then I will help you, Lady Rya. Just give three weeks to get my things in order," Yuliana said.
"YES!!! Mom, you're going to be so happy!" Nieren cheered as she hugged her mother.
"Haha, that's sweet dear. Thank you," Yuliana laughed nervously.
"Umm... Alpha? It's almost noon. We probably want to get going if you want to the Guild before one in the afternoon?" Dalia asked.
"Damn! I lost track of ti. Hey Nieren, let's get a move on unless you have sothing else you need to tell your mother?" Rya asked.
"Nope! I'm just happy Mom's coming. She deserves to live in a palace again. I think we should go!" Nieren said happily.
"Alright then," Rya said with a nod. "Alright Dalia, lead the way. Talk to you later Yuliana and try not to attack when we et up again."
"Haha? Yeah, that won't happen again, Lady Rya!" Yuliana laughed nervously as she waved goodbye to the three of them as they left the house.
Yuliana sighed, "Nieren wants us to live in a palace again? Hmm... Well, it will be different living in a human palace inside of an Elder Tree. I just hope things don't get too crazy around here. I'll worry about the details later..."
Yuliana looked at her brother's crown on the table.
"Brother... Your crown is finally ho. Thank the Gods and the spirits for Rya. She might be the hope we have been looking for."
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