Dont abduct me I'm Welsh!

Down the rabbit hole


“Monta E’attoya!, I’m not fit for a Gathering.” Valdagerion growled.

“If you do not attend tonight, its going will make people ask questions as to why.” Wise old Calis pointed out. “I believed that you wanted to keep your wounds secret. You will need a good excuse.”

Rillian who was sat opposite him sighed. “I think that Rhi’Valdagerion might be right. I believe that the attack was intended upon Mary. Taking her to another Gathering would be provoking.”

“Then leave the girl here. In fact it would be best if she was to stay behind.”

“What, no!”

“Valdagerion, you can trust your men to watch over her.”

A stubborn glint lit the Rhi’Arran’s pale eyes. “That’s not the point. I have no interest in attending a Gathering while the Queen is determined that I chose of her Rein. And besides why would anyone want to attack a defenceless human slave girl?”

“Be reasonable Valdagerion.” Calis lectured caustically. “You knew full well that there would be those who would not approve of you taking a human bedmate. It would not have been so bad if you had shown at least some interest in females before her, but you never showed any appetite towards them. To some she might even pose a threat to their ambitions for you, a threat to be got rid of. She is a human, and so tecnicaly expendable, aside from her beeing your property she is legaly of no value. You should take that attack as a warning, and not seek to aggravate those that perpetrated it until we know more.”

“And who might that be?" Valdagerion demanded, but the Elf's faces remaned blank. "There is something you are both not telling me. Rillian?”

“I have not yet finished my investigations. I have yet to apprehend the culprits.” Rillian said, not quite a lying. “But like I said, Mary was most likely the target, it would probably be best to keep her below the radar for a little while. Perhaps if they think you have lost interest in her then they will not attempt it again. Perhaps we can hope to drawn them out again by pretending nothing has happened like you yourself wanted and they think themselves safe.”

“After the beating I gave them last time I doubt that they will be back for a second serving.” Valdagerion replied with grim satisfaction. “I suppose that you are right. And Mary was not too fond of the Gathering, though I doubt that she will be happy about my going. Jealous little thing though she wont admit it. We will play this waiting game of yours Calis, though I don’t like it above half!”

Rillian breathed a sigh of relief as he left the chamber. “That went better then I thought it would.”

“Yes, normally the Rhi’Arran would have refused any but the most direct route to his enemies.” Calis nodded, tugging at his long beard.

“Only because he doesn’t know who his enemy is.” The younger elf paused in his step, looking back. “Perhaps we should have told him everything."

“What, tell him that his mother was the one who ordered the assassination of Valdagerion’s human?”

“He would at least know where the danger is coming from.”

“But we do not know for certain that the Queen is behind the attack, we only have our suspicions.” Calis replied. “Normally I would trust Valdagerion’s discretion, but he is unusually volatile over this human. Add that to his publicly strained relationship with the Queen and it could be potently disastrous. Open scandal at best, or call for his immediate incarceration if not worse should we be wrong. Can you imagine what would happen if Valdagerion challanged the Queen over a mere mortal? Better he doesn’t know until we have proof.”



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Mary sighed despondently as she drifted about the chamber, bored now that the elf was gone. Going to the long mirror she looked at the new earrings dangling from her ears, turning her head this way and that looking at the luminescent teardrop shaped pearls. A gift from Val. Or a bribe; the elf having left for some kind of elvish event that she was to forgo, and he was being extremely vague and mysterious about.

After their argument in the street, he had brought the pearls for her as a peace offering. Well actually the first thing he had brought for her was a ring. Mary’s anger had long cooled, and after a meal on the terrace she was quite in charity with the elf once more. It was then that Val slid a small lacquered box over the table towards her, his long fingers tapping on it.

“For you.” He said his rich timber voice, like sweet rich coffee.

“What is it?”

He smiled slowly. “Open it, and find out.”

Nestled on black taffeta was the ring. A beautiful multifacitated diamond nestled between two sapphires set in a rare elfish alloy, unburnished silver in colour, the design a delicate filigree in something akin to an art deco style.

She had gasped, hands flying to her cheeks. “Oh Val, it’s too much!”

Val had taken the ring, and slid it on to her ring finger. It had fit perfectly. “The sapphires match your eyes. Do you like it?”

"Of course, it's perfect." It realy was perfect. Mary had admired it for a few long moments. A diamond ring. A real diamond ring. Just like how she always pictured her engagement ring to be. Reluctantly she pulled it off. “Val, I can’t accept this.”

His brows quirked in confusion. “Why ever not?”

Now this was a delicate topic. Mary looked down at the beautiful piece of jewellery, then caught hold of Val’s hand. “Its not that I don’t like it Val. I do. I love it in fact. I have never seen such a lovely ring. But where I am from when a man… that is in my culture….when a man wants to marry a woman.”

“You mean take a mate?”

“Yes well something like that. Well where I come from when a man proposes to be married – mated – he seals the pledge with a ring. A diamond ring, just like this one to be worn on that finger so that everyone knows that you are pledged to someone.”

Val looked thoughtful as she placed the ring back in the box. “I think I understand.” He caught hold of her hand, squeezing it. Before flicking closed the jewellery box and pocketing it. “So, how would a human man – propose, was it – to his chosen woman Mary?”

“Why would you want to know that of all things?”

“Curiosity Mary.” The elf was favouring her with one of his intense unblinking looks. “We have no such rituals you see, one is bound or not. And by elvish laws one is bound for as long as the mating mark remains.”

"Mating mark?"

He pointed to the defined muscle joining his neck to his sholder. "But we were talking about your ritual not mine."

“Well, when a man and a woman love each other and want to spend the rest of their life’s together, the man takes the woman’s hand, goes down on one knee, and asks her to marry him. And if she accepts…”

“Then the man places the ring on her finger.”

Mary could not help feeling a little embarrassed to have her childish romantic ideals bore before the elf. She knew that he was not reading her mind, but under his scrutany he might have well been. “Yes, well that’s the jist of it. But it doesn’t always happen like that.”

Later that evening, while he had been dressing to go out, wincing as movements tugged on his healing wounds, and avoiding her questions, Val had smirked at her in the mirror as she had watched him from the bed. Turning on her, he had pinched her chin. “Annoyed with me again Mary?”

“A little.”

“So honest.” He smiled. Slowly avoiding jarring his wounds he knelt before her. Mary’s heart began racing. He wasn’t going to…? Val’s smile was magnetic. “Here, you would not accept my earlier gift. But this offering I hope will please my goddess better?”

“Val I?”

He shushed her. Before he gently fiddled at her ears, and she felt him gently push something through the holes. “Val, what are you doing?” She laughed. Ok, so perhaps no proposal. Strangely she felt a twinge of disappointment, but that was swiftly dismissed.

“Come see.” Kissing her forehead, he urged her up and showed her the dangling pearls. The exact pearls that she had been looking at in the shop, though how he had known was beyond her.

“Do you like them?”

Mary had thrown herself about his neck. “They are perfect. But you didn’t need to.”

“I know but I wanted to. Besides you do them justice.”

Val could be so cheesy some times, scarily thing was he wasn’t just spinning her a line, he meant every word with the fierceness of a warrior. The young woman considered what to do with herself. Val had promised not to be late. Perhaps she would greet him with nothing on but his pearl earrings, that would please him.


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Another Gathering and the Rhi’Arran was doing his best to be inconspicuous. To bad that a number of people were doing their best to find him. Vanadesse his sister was the one to succeed, spoting him as he ducked in to a grove hoping not to be seen.

“Valdagerion.”

“Gods!” He groaned, but managed to greet her civilly.

“Mother has us all searching for you.” She chided.

"Has she?" He replied dourly.

“I was beginning to think you had not come again. You know it would be much easier if you answered Mother’s summons. ”

“I am Hirthsgil, I do not answer to her anymore. If she wants me, she needs to speak to the Marshal.”

“She is the Queen, we all answer to her eventually.” Vanadesse replied without inflection.

The Rhi'Arran let out a long suffering sigh. It was true, if his mother was determind to see him, then there was no where in the universe he could hide. “Fine, where is Mother?”


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“Where is the human?” The elf queen asked in her languorous way. Draped elegantly across a throne, picking over a plate of sweatmeats. “I had thought that you would have brought her with you.”

Valdagerion gave no reply. Eventually only shrugging when she looked up at him. “I felt like coming alone.”

“Oh.” His mother said, cupping her chin in her hand. “Well that will not do. I have desired to see this unusual slave of yours.”

“You have no interest in humans.”

“Hmm, most human’s no. But she has golden hair, like ours does she not?" The elf Queen dismissed the servent holding the silver tray with a wave of her pale hand. "She is a curiosity; I have always been interested in curiosities. You will send for the girl.”

Rillian who had accompanied Valdagerion tried to get his attention, a warning look and a small shake of the head.

What in the universe does he mean by that, Valdagerion thought. But any mental comunications would be picked up by the Queen, and Rillian obviously was doing his best for her not to find out something. He would have to ask later. “She is probably sleeping. I would rather her remain where she is tonight, perhaps another time.”

“She is a slave, what does it matter if she is sleeping.” The Queen said. “I want the girl here tonight. Vanedesse has already agreed to get her from your quarters. Perhaps you wish to send instructions as to her appearance?”

Valdagerion bowed his head, clenching his jaw. “As you will your Majesty.”

The Queen smiled again, but it never reached her eyes. “Good, now that is settled there are some visiting delegates I would like you to meet.”


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Draped in shades of gray and silver silk, for the first time in weeks Mary felt adequately covered. Apparently Val’s voyeuristic desires had been eclipsed by his possessive nature. “Late.” Mary sighed in annoyance. It was not like Val to be late. He had summond her hear, and had said he would come meet her. But she had not seem hide nor a shining platnum hair of him.

Vanadesse, Val’s sister had arrived at Val’s chambers with a note from Val. Rillian had come as well, hovering about, watchful. And this was warning enough for Mary. Nethertheless on leaving the chambers, Rillian had caught her elbow. [There is danger. Stay close.]

It was the first time that Rillian had used this way of communicating with her, and she found it hard to understand, but she got the jist. [Val?]

[He is fine. He waits for us.]

So much for him waiting, Mary thought dourly. She had thought that the first time she had attended the Gathering that it had been intimidating, but without Valdagerion she was sick with nerves. Rillian was standing by, his eyes shifting over the crowds; it should have made her feel safer, but instead it only made her wonder just who was out to get them. Rillian had no answer for her. Revelries took on a sinister aspect, curious attention now seemed malevolent, and she shrank back from all who came to look upon her. It was somewhat a relief when Nearwen, Valdagerions youngest most congenial sister approached her, and launched in to enthusiastic – if hard to follow- conversation, having to consentrate doing alot to settle Mary’s jagging nerves.

A servant approached them after a while. “The Rhi’Arran awaits his human companion in the royal hall.”

At last Mary thought. Nearwen waved goodbye, promising to come find her soon. It was a long walk, and Rillian’s hansom face grew only grimmer. Becoming very irate when the guards when they refused him entry. Mary looked up Valdageion’s friend. “What should I do?” She asked as Vanedesse came to meet them.

“You will have to go on without me.” [Trust no one Mary. Keep your whit’s about you.]

She nodded. And he griped her hand briefly, almost crushingly. Gods, elves were strong. Nervously she followed Valdagerion’s sister in to the royal chambers.





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Vast halls echoed with their footsteps. It seemed deserted. Even the noise of the Gathering behind them was muted to nothing when the doors closed. Mary had to make little skips to keep up with the long limbed elf female.

“Where is Valdagerion?” She asked. But the elf must not have heard her as she did not answer.

Another vast set of doors were opened by servants. Vanedesse gestured for her to enter. Mary took a step forward realising the elf was not following, she looked questioningly up at Val’s sister. “Go on in.” She said.

The room was smaller then the hall they had come from. Brightly lit, so much so that it stung Mary’s eyes as she hoverd at the entrance.

“Well come in, child.” A langerous voice said.

Mary spotted a tall female elf, draped in luxurious, fluid green silk, as foreboding as the statue that presided over the Gathering, atop her head a delicate looking crown. Oh Christ, the Queen. Belatedly Mary curtseyed, almost falling over herself.

The elf Queen laughed, the bells woven in to her impossibly long hair shivering. “Come closer human child. Mary is it?”

“Yes your majesty.” Mary’s second curtsy was considerably less ungainly then her first.


Mary felt herself unwillingly drawn towards the Queen, fascinated by her radiance, and captivated by her stare. Coming to a halt, for a moment she felt as if someone was squeezing her heart within her chest. The Queen brushed a hand up her arm. and then drew her chin up, before curling a lock of Mary's hair between slender white fingers. "Now that I have seen you, I can see perhaps what his obsession is. You are quite lovely, for a mortal. Beutiful in a coman way like a wayside flower."

Mary was not sure wether this was a complement, or a back handed insult. The elf queen’s eyes were as silver as Val’s, but while Val’s were like molten metal, the Queen's were glacial, and she knew that she had no secrets from this ancient and powerful being – though what the Queen wanted with her, she could not comprehend. Val’s mindreading’s now seemed like minor trespasses compared with this, and yet Mary knew in a moment she would not remember that the Queen had ever been in her mind……

Momentarily dazed, it took a second for Mary to comprehend what was being said to her. Oh right, the elf queen. Valdagerion’s mother. “It seems Valdagerion has been most wicked.”

“I don’t understand.”

The elf queen smiled superiorly. “You are not of this world are you Mary.”

Mary’s mind felt fussy, as if she was underwater watching another person answer. “No.”

“My son, he took you from your world.”

“He saved me.”

“Yes I know. Just as you saved him.” The Queen soothed. “And because of that I am willing to forgive you.”

“Forgive me for what?”

“That doesn’t matter now.” The Queen said dismissively. She smiled, quite the most beautiful woman that Mary had ever seen. But there was something chilling about that beautie, something serpintine about her smile. “Mary, I want to help you.”

“Help me?”

“Yes.” The Elf Queen taking Mary’s shoulders guided her out on to the stone patio, which formed a sort of walled garden, at the centre of which a large stone pool, stood empty of water. “Here you see. Do you know what this is human child?”

“No.”

“It is a small Porthway. Once long ago, we used these to travel between planets. They are dimensional gates, with one step and you travel faster then time itself. This one leads to the Lands of Man, your home.” The elf Queen pulled out a vial of liquid, held in a black crystal container, holding it up for Mary to see. Very slowly she poared it in to the dry well, where the small amount of liquid spread out almost imposibly to cover the whole bottom of the well, forming a dark pool, so dark that no light reflected on its surface, an abbys. “It is what you most desire is it not, to go back home?”




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“Where is Mary?” Valdagerion demanded of his sister curtly as he came across Nearwen. “I thought that you said you were going to stay with her.”

“What are you talking about brother, you sent a message summoning her to the Royal chambers. Mary is probably looking for you there idiot. Besides why have you got Rillian following her about like a shadow, its not like someone is going to steal her!”

Valdagerion flipped open his writs communicator, Rillian’s face appearing on the screen. Valdagerion skipped the pleasantries. “Rillian, where are you I have looked all over for you.”

“Your not in the Royal chambers?”

“No.”

Rillian cursed. “I’m sorry, they wouldn’t let me go in with her, they said you were there.”

“What do you mean?”

“Valdagerion, Mary is alone in the Royal chambers.”


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Her mind was in panic. She had so much to decide immediately, all Mary’s usual cool reasoning had fled and she was left with a whorl of images and feelings, none of which made much sense, or were particularly helpful.

The wide starry sky’s here, lush islands in the azure seas, breathtakingly beautiful buildings, snowy unicorns, little jewel like dragons, silk dresses, the warmth of Val beside her, his lips on hers, his smell like ginger, sandalwood, and lightning, his gentle touch, his rare sexy laugh starting with a slow smile until he threw his head back and roared with it, those strange beautiful eyes that cut through her sharp as a laser beam.

Then there was her mother and father, their rambling farm house in the welsh countryside – home - with its arga in the kitchen, wood fires, cups of tea, photos and rosettes on the dresser- the newer covering the old frayed childhood ones - worn blankets thrown over comfy leather sofas, her father reading the paper with his bifocals slipping down his nose, spaniels yapping, mum cooking, her sister and brother grinning with Mary in a family portrait, the clop of horses hoofs as they lead them in to the stables on an autumn night.

If she stayed then she would never see them again.

If she stayed she was little better then a slave.

If she left, then she would never see Val again.

Mary tried to imagine what her life would be like without Val, and with no hope of ever reaching him again. And she remembered the manifold ways that this alien world and culture absolutely terrified her, to mention the least a very real threat of being murdered. She thought of her safe world, with rented flats, offices, cars, lulled at night by TV’s, pre-packaged food, trains, and mobile phones. And of how lonely and dull it would be without the elf, and his rich voice, his self-assuredness, and possessive nature, without the comfort of his embrace.

Walking towards the dry well, her steps began to flag some part of her heavy as iron, drawing her back from the darkness. Mary’s heart ached, as if it was being dragged from her. She just had to see Val one last time, it was so very important though she couldn’t explain why. As if by seeing him she hoped to have some revelation and know the answer to this dilemma, even when she knew it would make no difference. It would probably only make it worse.

“Wait!” Mary demanded, pulling back from the pool. “Please I just need a moment.”

The elf Queen did not even look at her, her relentless pressure on Mary’s wrist never ceasing. Mary lent against it panicking now, but it was no use. “You must go now that the portal is open.”

“But I have not said goodbye to Valdagerion.” She looked about franticly, biding for time.

“He will understand. It will be better this way.”

Mary doubted that highly. “Please let me go.”

“MAAAAHHHHHRRRRRYYYYY!” An Imperious voice shouted, swiftly followed by Val who came tearing around the corner, like some hero prince from a fairytale, coming in the nick of time.

Mary did not think that she had ever been so glad to see him. “Val!”

The elf slid to a halt, his fangs bore in an enraged snarl, his every line aggressive, even his hair seemed to crackle with tension. His fierce gaze alighted on Mary, and seemed satisfied that she was safe. He then turned his scrutiny on the elven female who was restraining her. “Mother?!” He said in shocked accents. “What is the meaning of this?”

“She chose this!” The Queen stated, and then releasing Mary’s arm, over balanced, Mary fell down in to the well.

She was falling in to black, crying out with surprise……… landing on her bum with a thump, the black liquid shattering like a car windscreen. “Oww.” So much for magic she thought, that was horribly undignified wincing and rubbing her poor abused back side, as she stood.

“Val?”

His worried face appeared over the rim of the well. “You have you have to get out now.” He said, urgently. The elf lay down along the side, stretching out a hand to her.

“It’s ok, I don’t think its working.” Mary said, but the words had barely left her mouth as she felt the magic take, and something began to drag her down, an unnatural cold stealing over her.

“Hurry!” He called.

Mary stretched her hands out, reaching up to him franticly. Their grasp’s missed, and she looked up in to his frantic eyes. He lent down further, stretching out to his full reach, muscles straining, his face taught. She saw blood stain his clothing, where his wound had reopened. “Come on Mary, up!” Jumping, her fingertips brushed over his palm, his fingers curling to catch her. But it was to no avail, and she fell again, in to the black liquid dragging her down like oily quick sand. Mary felt something wet upon her face, like rain, was Val crying? She stayed reaching out for him, knowing that it was to late now.

Val called out after her, but the magic was dragging her down in to the darkness, fear deafening her. She was going home – she hoped - never again to return. Through space and time she travailed, and Val’s last desperate words now echoed in the eternity.

“I love you Mary, I will find you!”

Then it all faded to black and silence. And she knew nothing more for quite some time.



Weekly Mary opened her eyes, that mad dizzying falling upwards sensation having stopped. She was laying on something cold, and hard. Stone presumably. But it was pitch black. Using her phone, she looked about, it was the very same chamber that she had sheltered in with Val.

……..Val.


The girl was shaking, in shock. She had left something behind. Val had kept her heart, and it was no poetic turn of speech. Some very integral part of her was missing, leaving a vast gaping emptiness where it should have been. The pain in her heart, now thickened in her throat, until she felt as though she might burst with it. She staggered to the entrance, a nights sky above her. Earth, Wales, home. But no Val. Sinking down, she put her head in her hands and wept.

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A/N;

Dont worry i'm not ending it there. As for Mary beeing Pregnant or half elf, well you will have to just wait and see dear readers ;)