Even though we told Ylyndar everything, he seemed reluctant to let us continue to our planned destination. Letting humans and lycans enter the capitol was clearly out of the question.

After a long discussion in elvish he returned from his group and greeted us once more. "Handaril will take you to one of our outposts where you may rest while I take this news to my parents." It was not the answer we wanted, but it was better than nothing. So we accepted and Ylyndar left in a hurry, apologizing for his bad manners and promised he would share a meal with us the next time we met to celebrate our marriage and the union of Gera and Faria. It was obvious to us that he saw us both as the rightful leaders of our lands, and it brought me some comfort to the situation. Or he was an excellent liar.

Handrail was apparently the name of the elf who stopped us from entering the forest. As Ylyndar left he guided us through the dense vegetation on invisible paths explaining that a lot of the plants were poisonous and that we needed to stay on the trail. I walked first behind Handaril, after me walked Mathew who I noticed kept a worried eye on me. After him walked Angela and Kalim. Both Frej and Eric decided it was better to shift and trotted on four legs last in line and sniffed the air from time to time.

"The Rostorim outpost is a small village," Handrail explained. "It served as a trading post long ago, when the entire continent was inhabited by my people."

"Excuse my lack of knowledge and perhaps rude questions, but how long do you usually live?" I asked.

The elf chuckled. "You are wondering if those who lived back then are still alive?"

"Yes."

"I'm afraid not. We usually live up to three hundred years. Some four or five, but it is rare."

"And how old are you?"

"Onehundred and five."

"You look so young!"

The elf chuckled again. "Thank you, your majesty. That is very kind of you to say."

As we walked through the magical forest of the eastern part of Uthil I saw a whole new world before me. Glowing fireflies the size of small birds. Pale stags with antlers in swirly patterns reaching tall on their heads. Colorful frogs were quaking from the treetops and it felt as if the trees themselves were trying to speak to me. "Did all of Lionora look like this at one point?"

"I wouldn't know," he answered, but gave me a smile over his shoulder. It seemed like he enjoyed my questions. "Are all humans as curious as you?"

"They're not," Mathew chuckled. "My husband is one of a kind, I assure you."

"That's what I thought." The elf's expression changed to a bitter look. "The tales I've heard about humans have never been good ones I'm afraid. That's why we were excited to hear from our prince that he was delighted after meeting you."

"He was?"

"Indeed. He said you were a breath of fresh air amongst your race."

I couldn't help but walk a bit taller after hearing that. But knowing we weren't welcome in their capitol, and not being greeted as royalty in this country made the happiness short lived. Elves disliked humans, and the words of their prince would probably not be enough to remove their resentment towards the other races.

"Don't forget the sense of superiority to us," Alpha growled inside my mind.

"How could I?" I chuckled. "I feel like a toddler waiting to be judged in some weird royal pageant."

"What is a pageant?"

"A contest of sorts. Where, mostly young girls, compete with each other to be the prettiest and show off their skills."

"And who are you competing against?"

"The history of humankind."

"Ouch."

"At least some of them seem to like me."

"Of course they do. You are quite likable."

It took us less than an hour to finally arrive at our destination. I halted, captivated by the serene, almost otherworldly village before us. The elven homes seemed to have been coaxed from the very roots of the forest—trees twisted gently upward, forming organic walls and arching rooftops interwoven with living branches. Moss and delicate vines draped gracefully over these structures, softening their shapes and giving the village an ancient, untouched feel. It was as if the forest itself had whispered them into existence.

Luminescent blue flowers lined the winding pathways, their glow subtle yet bright enough to light our way like the street lanterns back in my city, though far more enchanting. The doors and windows of each home were smooth and oval-shaped, resembling the shapes of river stones, their frames adorned with intricate carvings that depicted stories of forest spirits and ancient heroes. Above, lanterns crafted from polished wood and glass hung from tree branches, swaying softly with the breeze, casting shimmering patterns across the ground.

What struck me most, however, was the harmony between the elves and the forest creatures. Deer and foxes roamed freely, unbothered by the presence of their elven companions, while birds flitted through open windows, occasionally perching on the elves' shoulders or even offering gentle melodies from nearby branches. Here, there were no leashes or fences—no sense of control, only mutual trust and respect. The village itself seemed to breathe as one, each creature an essential part of its natural rhythm.

Despite the beauty, I felt the wary eyes of the villagers upon us. Though our guide led us with a calm demeanor, the inhabitants paused in their activities to study us with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Their eyes, a shade brighter and keener than any human's, held worry, tempered by centuries of caution. They had good reason, I supposed. We were strangers here, and both humans and lycans had earned reputations as violent and unpredictable outsiders.

"You will stay here. Inside this house."

I eyed the soldier, his cold tone making it clear this wasn't a request. Just as I was about to offer a polite acknowledgment  when Angela stepped up beside me, her sharp eyes scanning the village around us with suspicion. "Are we prisoners? Or are we allowed to leave the house?"

The elf's lip curled slightly, his gaze resting on her with unmistakable disdain. "You are our guests. But with that attitude, I advise you to stay inside."

I couldn't help but stifle a snicker, biting back a laugh at the exchange. Turning to Handaril, I adopted my most formal tone. "As your guests, we will, of course, respect your traditions and not disturb the villagers too much."

"Thank you, your majesty," Handaril replied with a bow, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a hint of amusement. "I will see to it that you have everything you need."

We entered through a wide opening in the massive tree trunk, stepping into a hallway that felt like the very heart of the forest itself. The walls were smooth and rounded, crafted from living wood, and the scent of earth and fresh leaves hung thick in the air. The hallway stretched forward, leading to four other rooms, their entrances framed by intricately carved archways.

"How is this possible?" Kalim whispered, his voice full of awe as he touched the smooth wood, still unsure how the elves had managed such feats of construction.

Eric muttered something about magic under his breath as he looked around, clearly impressed by the craftsmanship. "This one's the biggest," he said, gesturing toward a large door on the far side of the hallway. "I'll share with Frej, so Angela can have a room to herself."

There was no argument, and we all agreed to the arrangement. We didn't have much time to explore the house before the door swung open, and an elven woman stepped inside. Her pale golden hair was tied back in a loose braid, and her slender fingers gripped a large tray laden with steaming food. She paused, her eyes flickering across each of us, assessing our presence with an almost imperceptible tilt of her head. Without a word, she placed the tray on a nearby stool, her gaze lingering for a moment longer before she retreated swiftly, leaving the food behind.

"All vegetables and nuts," Frej grumbled as he eyed the spread with an air of discontent.

I raised an eyebrow. "Don't think elves eat meat, I'm afraid."

"Could have guessed that." Frej crossed his arms, clearly dissatisfied with the meal before us.

"You'll manage," Mathew chuckled, unfazed by Frej's complaints. He grabbed two plates, then turned to me, offering his hand. "Come on. Let's sit down."

We settled into a cozy sitting area, the room bathed in soft, dappled light from the open windows, the sound of birds and rustling leaves a quiet backdrop to our meal. Surprisingly, the food was delicious. The stew was rich and flavorful, and the roasted nuts added a satisfying crunch. Despite its simplicity, it was nourishing, and I found myself finishing my plate without hesitation.

"Not bad," Mathew said with a satisfied grin, leaning back as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I could get used to this."

I nodded in agreement. The lack of meat didn't bother me as much as I thought it might. The taste was so vibrant and fresh that I didn't even miss the usual heavy fare. Frej, however, didn't seem to share our appreciation, his scowl deepening with each bite of his vegetable stew.

But we ate in silence for a while, the peaceful atmosphere of the village settling in around us. It was strange—here, so far from home, surrounded by elves and the wild beauty of the forest—but it didn't feel entirely unwelcome.

At least, not yet.

A/N - Sooo.. it's been a while since I updated this story. I'm sorry! I've missed these characters but I needed some inspiration to continue.