AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Elvish weddings take months of preparation,” I said. “There’s no way that my family could stay that long. The costs would be too high. Besides, they’re not used to your customs. It would be too confusing for them.”
He bowed his head in understanding. “Thank you for explaining that to me.”
“Of course,” I said.
“Each House has its customs and traditions. And each Elf has their way of living. I want to learn about your customs and traditions. I want to know what makes you happy.”
“That’s a tall order,” I said with a laugh.
He smiled back at me. “I have all the time in the world.”
His eyes turned sad then, and I wondered what he was thinking. What memories were going through his mind?
“What is it?”
He shook his head, and the sadness was gone as quickly as it had appeared. “It is nothing.” He stood up. “I have a gift for you.”
He walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a small box.
“Is this when the growling starts?” I teased.
He chuckled as he handed me the box. “No, Thimsal. There will be no growling today. A peace offering and a token of my appreciation.”
I opened the box to find a tiara and a golden belt. Both were delicate and covered in jewels.
“These are beautiful,” I said as I ran my fingers over the jewels.
“Turn it around,” he said.
I did as he asked and gasped when I saw cockroaches and mice engraved on the metal. Laughter bubbled up within me, and I looked back at him.
“I made them special for you,” he said with a grin. “A gift from the cockroach prince to his mouse queen.”
I shook my head as I put the tiara and belt back into the box. “You’re something else, you know that?”
“I try,” he said with a wink. “The tiara is meant for formal occasions. The belt is to honor your heritage. A Midarian princess always wears a belt. Even in the Elvish courts.”
The gesture touched me more than he could ever know.
“You made this?” I asked as I ran my fingers over the metal.
“I did. It was a labor of love.” A coy smile appeared on his face. “In Elvish culture, couples exchange gifts they’ve made for each other.”
“I love it. But you didn’t have to go through all this trouble.”
The circlet on his brow glinted in the light. “It was my pleasure. This is part of your dowry.”
“Elves don’t believe in dowries.”
“No, but Midarians do. I want to honor your culture. You’ve done it many times with mine,” he said before his eyes twinkled in amusement. “Unwittingly, you started the first part of an Elvish courtship.”
So that was what lord Caes meant he would know. That day I cooked for him was the first step in Elvish courtship.
“How did you know it was me?”
“The scent of your magic,” he said. “You have a unique aroma.”
He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. “It’s like honeysuckle and sunlight. Hints of roses and vanilla. Underneath it all is the scent of your magic. It’s very... intoxicating.”
