fantasy au

this is set in a world that was originally created in a story that was never really finished, so i decided to revive it in the form of an imagine series.

above is a picture with some key terms and definitions (since this is a high fantasy story) so it doesn't get confusing as you read. i hope it's useful! (i will update it on the next parts if there's any new terms that need to be added)

...

"This was a bad idea," I think to myself as I sit across the table from the two highest ranking council members, who also happen to be some very powerful magicae as well. My only comfort is that they'll actually look at me and even better is the lack of the usual disdain and disgust. Instead, they look at me like a person with a little extra kindness that makes me shift uncomfortably in my seat.

"What do you say? Will you do it?" The woman, Nikki, I believe, asks me, and I can see the worry she's trying to hide reflected in her tone. "Will you protect our son?"

"Only for the next three months, right?" I question and glance down at Kandra to see how she's taking it. The wolf has always had a unique sense for these situations, but she remains calm, which is a good sign. "My job ends three nights after his induction?"

"Yes, once he takes his seat on the council, he's under their protection."

"And is there a reason he's not here for this?" The silence from them gives me my answer. "I understand your apprehension, but why invite me here if you weren't sure?"

"We've heard many good things about you from the villages you've helped, and we trust those vouching for you. It was more of a calculated risk in the end." The man tells me. "But we cannot risk you meeting him until we have your decision on the matter."

Kandra takes the opportunity to rest her head in my lap, and I rub behind her ears as I think it over. "I'll do it. After all, I'm sure it'll be better then dealing with trolls for a while."

Nikki's face relaxes ever so slightly and her smile become more genuine with the weight of it lifted off her. "Wonderful, as discussed you will receive a portion of your wages now and the rest upon the end of the agreement. Anything you—or your companion–may need will be supplied by us. Now, if you'll follow me, I'll introduce you to our son."

I stand up after she does and offer a respectful nod to her husband before following her out. We walk along in silence, with only the echoing sound of bustling servants to punctuate the silence. Still, I can feel the unspoken words in the air each time she glances at me with a curious look. "Anything I can help you with?" I ask her after the third successive look.

"No, it's nothing, dear. You just look oddly familiar for some reason." Nikki whispers as she studies me with an insightful gaze, but it's her words that nearly make me stumble.

"I don't know why that would be." I lie almost too easily. It's become second nature to bury and hide that part of my life, "People like myself, as rare as we are, don't often interact with magicae of your status."

"It's my hope that one day that will change. You should not be shunned for being born folamh. I believe it's a gift, just like our magic." She must notice my discomfort, because she changes the topic as we approach a large set of ornately carved doors. "My sons should be in here finishing up their studies for the day. Tom will be so delighted to meet you."

I give her an odd look and wonder why her son would be so happy to meet me—especially under the circumstances. "I'm quite excited to meet him myself." Mostly to see how difficult these next few months will be.

Nikki smiles widely at me as she opens the doors, and we're immediately greeted with laughter and a bustling chaos. It goes quiet when they take notice of me, and I can feel their eyes on me as the static of their magic pulses across my skin. "Boys, I'd like to introduce you to Xenia. She's going to be protecting Tom until the ceremony."

"You're a folamh. Aren't you?" The youngest boy asks as he steps closer tome with a curious look. His gaze drops to Kandra and eyes widen in surprise and awe as he takes another hesitant step forward. "Is that a Karnish wolf? I thought they're supposed to be bigger."

I kneel down to rub behind Kandra's ears and smile up at the boy. "You have quite the sharp eye. She is, but she's still fairly young for a Karnish wolf and was the runt of her pack. Her name is Kandra." She approaches the young boy and nudges his hands with her nose. "That means she likes you."

"This is my youngest son, Patrick." Nikki tells me as he continues to pet Kandra. She beckons me to stand and leads me around the room to two young boys watching us with curiosity, "These are the twins, Harry and Sam." She points to the two young men playing chess.

"And I'm Tom." A tall, surprisingly charming young man says as he looks me up and down. "You're not exactly what I was expecting for a bodyguard."

"For your sake I'm going to pretend as though I didn't hear that." I reply and try my best to not regret agreeing to this. Although, sometimes tells me as the day's go by this is only going to become more difficult.

The day drags by in having to follow Tom around everywhere that by the end of the day I can already tell that the next few months won't end fast enough. "So the servants set you up in the room adjacent to mine."

"Actually, I'm staying in here." I tell him and drop a pillow and blanket on the floor. "Trust me, if I wasn't being paid to protect you, I would be anywhere else. Preferably on the opposite side of the country—or another one entirely if I could manage it."

"So you're going to sleep on a stone floor?"

"Don't tell me you're worried about me. I was hired to keep you safe, and that's what I'm going to do. Plus, I'm not used to sleeping in a bed." I mumble and pet Kandra.

"Wait, you're serious." Tom says with furrowed brows. "Have you ever slept on one?"

I flex my jaw and lie. "No. Now go to sleep, Tom." Kandra looks to me waiting for a command. "Prosh un anoch magae."

"Are you calling me the 'annoying magicae' to your wolf?"

"You speak Netesh?" I ask in utter disbelief. He nods. "Where on earth did you learn it? The only people who really speak it are the monks, and I certainly don't recall seeing you around the monastery."

"I had a tutor who knew a couple phrases. It's not an easy language to learn." Tom replies and his eyes analyze me even in the dark. "So you really trained with the rashad monks? That's not just another courtly rumor?"

"Yes, and that's the last question I'm answering. Honestly, I'm too tired for the whole 'life story' conversation right now. Now, please, go to sleep." I tell him and pretend to fall asleep.

... Two days later ...

I stand in the back, making sure to be hidden by the shadows. My eyes keep moving to the windows and doors searching for any possible threats. Still, I find my eyes going back to Tom. He's been so polite and respectful these past few days. It's so different from how anyone has treated me before.

"Alright, time to work on your dancing. We need to get your waltz cleaned up" Tom's tutor says as he moves his chair aside. "It's quite abysmal as is."

The comment almost makes me smile, but I keep my face solid. I'm not here to make friends or laugh. Nope, I'm here to make sure Tom doesn't get killed. "You, please, come over here. Tom needs a dance partner."

"Sorry, that's not exactly part of my job description."

"Well, it is now." The tutor says as he looks down his nose at me, which is the usual way magicae look and treat me.

"No, it's not, and I won't tolerate you speaking to her that way." Tom interjects, "You'll treat her with the same respect you would treat me. Do you understand?"

I have to take a moment to comprehend what he's saying. "Fine. Would you, please, be so kind as to be Tom's dance partner for this lesson?" Tom's tutor asks with gritted teeth.

Kandra nudges my hand as if to encourage me. So I step forward and take Tom's hand. I follow his lead as the tutor claps out a beat. "He's right you know. Your waltz is abysmal." I tell him without even cracking a slight smile.

"Do you ever laugh? Or even smile?" Tom questions with an odd look on his face.

"No, I don't."

"Then I'm going to make it my personal mission to get you to." He tells me with a devilish smirk. "You have really pretty eyes, you know."

"Focus on your waltz, Holland."

"Fine, but it's still true."

We end up finishing the waltz, and Tom makes a point to try to make me laugh or smile. It makes me look at him differently than I did before. There's something unusual about him— especially compared to the other magicae I've known. He treats everyone he meets with respect—no matter there status or any typical defining feature. Not to mention, he's never once shamed me or acted like I'm less since I don't have magic.

Still, I can't let myself get close though. My job is solely to protect him—even if that means the danger of getting too close to me. So I resolve myself to maintain a distance between us, which won't be easy to keep up for three months, but I have to for both of our sakes.

I mean, my whole life I've been threatened, mistreated, and looked down upon all because of who I am. Just because Tom is a high profile magicae, it doesn't exempt him from danger. He's already in the line of fire as is, and I don't think I can live with another weight bearing down on my conscience. Even if he kind—and if I'm being honest, really quite handsome, I can't think about him that way.

No, I can't let it happen. All I can ever be to him is another bodyguard—nothing more.