~Matthew~
“Father?”
“Yes, sure,” came the instant and unenthusiastic
reply. Matthew stood in the doorway of his Father’s study, the owner of which
was poured over his desk, surrounded on all sides by towering piles of old and
worn books. His father had been locked in his study the past few days, and
Matthew was going uncharacteristically curious.
Finally, his father turned. “Oh.
It’s you. What did you want?”
Matthew, now feel foolish for
bothering him, shook his head. “I… Mom was wondering if you were… if you were
alright…?”
His father rolled his eyes. “I
understand you being painfully shy around others, but me too? Have you not had
enough to grow used to me?”
Suddenly, Matthew was gently moved
aside by a messenger. “King Thaddeus, a reply has come!”
“Ah yes, good. Matthew, would you go
make sure Kelest is feeling alright?”
* * *
I know he doesn’t mean any harm. I
am just a clumsy elf, and I really don’t have much of a place among royalty,
even if it is in my blood. Mother has
always looked on me with pity filled eyes…
I try my best to not bother anyone,
and to keep in my room as much as possible. I don’t mind it, I learn a lot more
that way anyways.
I find myself standing in front of
Kelest’s door, and it opens.
“Hello Matthew,” she says with her
slow smile, and I smile back.
“Is …everything ok?”
She looks at me with her deep brown
eyes, big and knowing like an owl or
deer. “I think so, for now. Would you like to join me? I was just having a cup
of tea, I would love it if you joined me.”
I nod, but honestly not one bit of
me wants to. As my father put it, I am painfully shy. I always have been, ever
since I was born. Others just don’t seem to… to understand. Especially my
father. He is always telling me that I have to become a great king to lead on
after he’s gone, since my older half-brother is… well, not up to the task, as
we put it. He never approved of my mother, and he left us, a long time ago.
“You are distant today, Matthew,”
Kelest says, and I snap back.
“I, uh, I’m quite sorry, Miss
Kelest. My thoughts are…”
“With your half-brother, a curious
place. Don’t look so surpised, do you think I gained the title of a Glimpse
without knowing simple mind-reading?”
I sit down, relectantly taking the
tea she gives me. It has a powerful oder, and burns as it slides down my
throat. “Er… what… what kind of leaves did you use…?”
She laughs slightly. “Yes, you would
be more used to the mild elven brews. This is a rare tea, actually, it is
suppose to make the process of Glimpsing
easier. It happens to be my favorite as well.”
She falls silent, and I try to make
conversation, though I am clumsy at that as well. “Have… have you always…
always been able to Glimpse?”
She nods, her big brown eyes
watching me closely. “Yes, it is something you are born with. To Glimpse isn’t
future-seeing, as many accuse us of. As we all know, seeing the future is one
of the forbidden magics, and work of only those who work for darkness. No, to Glimpse is something entirely different.”
“But… but you can tell the future,
through Glimpsing, right? That’s why my father wanted you here.”
She smiles at me, and nods. “When I
Glimpse, I become especially in tune with everything. All of Aevalyn becomes
me, and I it. It is… difficult to explain if you’ve never experianced it. When
I become in tune, I can feel the tide of the people, and make conclusions as to
where they are going. Like dipping your hand into a stream, you can feel the
water rushing past, and guess where it’s destination is.”
She sips at her tea, and I try to gulp
mine down as well.
“If you do not mind,” she begins, “I
have to rest before my talent is needed.” She gestures to the door, and I
gladly leave.
***
Matthew travled down the marble hall
ways down to his room, and was surprised to see his mother seated on his bed.
“Matthew, I
wanted to speak to you,” she said, standing, her slim figure robed in all
white.
“What is it?” He
asked. She was the only person that he felt comfortable around, much to the
annoyance of his father.
“Thaddues has sent out letters and…
I wanted to know if you wanted to meet them at the border? Thaddues wants you
to, but if you really do not wish to, I’m sure that I can-“
“I’ll… I’ll be fine mother. I can
meet them, of course.”
She smiled at him, her hair
reflecting the light that drifted in through the many windows in his room. “Thank
you, Matthew.”