Chapter 8

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." -Rachel Carson

After Rowan's words snapped her back to reality, Seraphina stared at the King and Queen before her. Large translucent wings that shimmered in the sunrays. The light reflected a rainbow of colors on them, like glass windows on a spring morning. Seraphina was drawn in by the beauty of it all.

"Human girl," King Alfred shifted in his throne. His eyes were soft but serious as he kept his gaze on her. He could tell she met no harm to anyone. She was just as confused and amazed as everyone else was in this room.

"Rowan calls you Seraphina. Is that your name?"

"Yes," Seraphina answered quickly.

"Please tell me how you got here, Seraphina. As you can see, our world is not like yours. No human should be able to entire."

Seraphina started her explanation the same as she did with Rowan. Her lunch walk, how she followed a light. The cottage. Going through it. She left nothing out in hopes that maybe the King would be able to make some understanding of it. Maybe he could even help her get back home. Seraphina explained not even Rowan could get the door to open to help her leave the world. The door just refused to open for both of them, not even making a crackling sound that it could've been open.

The King glanced between both of them. Perplexed just as anyone else at this news. Questions arose between the staff and guards. Small whispers.

"Rowan, please step out for now. Thank you."

Rowan nodded, bowing as he walked out of the throne room.

~~~

Dorian weaved between the trees of the forest as the moon filled the wet grassy floor with a hazy glow of fog.

Peaceful and relaxing, but that soon ended as a familiar face came into view. Elvina was rushing towards him, happy as ever to see Dorian. Elvina was back from her trip.

"Dorian! I'm so happy to see you! I'm home finally!" Elvina's arms were held wide open as she was going in for a large embrace. Dorian placed his hand up, making her freeze a bit with a firm tone.

"Elvina, it's good to see you as well. But we must talk about something. It's serious so I need you to hear me out and understand."

She looked at him with a confused expression. He knew this wasn't what she was expecting but it had to happen. She of anyone knows better.

"Finding my fated mate will be happening soon. She will be coming around, I can tell." Dorian saw the shift in Elvina's face turn from bright to sad.

"Dorian, that's alright! Because I've always liked you! I love you!" Elvina went to go clasp his hand in hers, but the words and motion were interrupted by Rowan. After being dismissed, he thought it had been better to find Dorian so he knew what was happening.

"A human girl came into our world, Dorian! And she can't leave for some reason! The door won't allow her to!"

Dorian and Rowan bolted off as fast as they could. Annoyingly so, Elvina came along, inviting herself without request.

"A human? How disgusting. Can't they just keep their noses out of anything? They are worse than actual wild animals!"

Dorian's mouth twitched. The corners of his lips curved down into a hidden frown as her words. He never had to deal with humans or see what they could do, but for some reason, he felt hurt by Elvina's words of protest.

"I bet this girl is here to start trouble! Ugh! I bet she somehow got the door to let her in then."

"Elvina," Rowan cut in rather sharp. His eyes were not very kind at all to her, "The door doesn't let human's in at all. I couldn't even open the door back up to let her out. It wouldn't allow either of us to let her go."

Dorian gave some acknowledgment now to his friend's words. He'd been thinking about it but what Rowan said made sense. A human girl wouldn't be here at all regardless if she found the door or not.

"I bet my father will be able to do something," Dorian's eyebrows creased at the thought. Surely the King could do something.

~~~

Inside the castle, Dorian, Rowan, and Elvina met everyone in the throne room. King Alfred, Dorian's father, greeted them with a smile and hands gestured in the air. Seraphina was still standing before the King and Queen. A small conversation between the women and minor praises from Seraphina on the Queen's beauty.

"Father," Dorian chimed, drawing attention now from everyone.

Dorian watched as the girl before him turned around to figure out who spoke. And when she did, both their eyes met. Locked in place, unwavering from even the slightest noise from even the wind against the trees outside.

His eyes flicked around her, still managed to be fixed back to hers, on the shade of chestnut that reflected his appearance from afar.

"Your that human girl," Dorian questioned but seemed more like a speechless comment. Seraphina nodded, not saying anything just yet to him. She was still fixated on how he looked as well. Taken aback by the sight of him.

"What's your name."

"Seraphina Sky," She answered quietly. But it was enough for Dorian to hear.

Dorian knew it now. He felt it as well. Seraphina was here for him, but not even she knew that yet. But he did now. He knew she was it. That feeling he'd been having all day. Finding his fated mate had come to an end. And to think, this feeling would be coming from him about her.