A Task At Hand {Prince Nuada}

[queen]

Marillah Goldwater forth daughter of a noble Elven clan stood at a troll's market stand. The troll was disgusting but Marillah had learned to deal with it over the century and a few years. She was here on a task by Prince Nuada, an importent task. Turning her head she glanced over her right shoulder, her yellow eyes squinted as they scanned the busy market, looking for anyone who enjoyed to linger. Her long white blonde hair was tied in a tight braid that flowed down her back. She wore it in a braid often, seeing her hiar as more of a distraction and inconveniance then beauty.

Out reaching a flawless pale hand she pointed with a slender sharp finger towards one of the five maps a troll had lined up upon the wooden surface for her. Marillah's task was to find a map that held one of the four treasure's needed for Nuada and his army. Of course Marillah offered her services to the Prince, his father had been great friends with her own father, who was still alive, very much alive to Marillah's discomfort.

After pointing to the third map the troll quickly placed the other's in thier holders and they soon dissapeared under the velet blue sheet that hid many other items. The troll held out his hand, dirty and it looked sticky. Marillah wrinkled her slightly upturned nose and reached into her black robes pulling out a small pouch of gold elven coins, she didn't bother to hand thm to him, instead she tossed them with a slight clink onto the wooden surface. Eleven coins were much more wanted then troll currency. Taking the map that was now in it's cylinder case of dark wood she turned only to be met with a sharp bump.

Marillah's yellow eyes looked up to the person who she had bumped into, her eyes went from fierce to soft. It was Nuada, clearing her throat she placed a pale hand to her clothed chest, slightling gripped the opening of her black cloak "Prince Nuada I'am sorry" she said in a stern but femme voice. "I have found the map" she said holding it out for him to take.

[King Nuada Silverlance]

The rancid smell of rotting fish greeted Nuada as he stood beside the market vendor. Blood and free standing water mixed underfoot, coating his boots in the slick texture but paid little heed to it as he rested a hand atop the handle of his sheathed spear. He watched the market before him with keen golden eyes, individuals nearly bent under their burden as they drifted to and from, selling the leftovers from the world above. His hand tightened over his spear, the leather wrapping creaking under the pressure. Next to him a sprite tugged at the loose folds of his breeches and he glanced down at the tiny creature as it proffered cupped hands in a beseeching manner.

The Prince studied the beast, it’s thin form gaunt from hunger and it’s remaining single gossamer wing bent at a terrible angle. Beady eyes stared unmoving from behind the mass of bright blue hair that seemed more like twigs then actual strands. The sprite chirped hopefully and dropped its head at the Prince walked away. Wrapping elongated arms around it’s bare frame, the creature sighed and jumped solidly as a square of cooked meat landed in front of it. Lightening fast, it snatched the food up and disappeared into the darkened shadows of vendor carts. Nuada adjusted his sash, tucking the small bag of coins into it’s former position and walked across the market square.

The brilliant shade of elven hair could not be mistaken in the drab underworld and the Prince closed the gap between lady Marillah and himself in quick silent strides. He absorbed the impact as she turned into him, unmoving as she excused herself. His eyes returned the fierceness with a cool look before drawing the offered map. Nuada took it and the grime line of his mouth parted.

“Excellent.” He studied the map’s casing, twisting his wrist slightly to see it in better light. Finally, the balance of fate had shifted in their favor. The Prince slid the case into his red sash, hidden by the emblem of his family crest and clapped a hand atop Marillah’s shoulder. “Let us return to the council and commence with our findings.” He kept his words simple and distant. While he trusted his brethren, elf and troll, it was always good to be cautious in the open. He momentarily tightened his grip on the she elf’s shoulder but his attention was elsewhere as a cloth vendor next to them held up a bolt of brilliant blue cloth edged in gold. He watched for all of a heartbeat before breaking away from the female and took off in a quick even stride.

[queen]

Marillah's yellow eyes flickered to the creatures around them, watching to see if anyone was too interested in what they were doing. She spotted nothing but still, that didn't mean there wern't ears and eyes open. She let her own pale lips turn into a small quick smirk as Nuada too kthe map in it's casing.

"Yes lets" she replied after he tightened his grip upon her slender shoulder. She was about t osay soemthing about the other treasures but decided against it. Marillah's brow furrowed as Nuada turned sharply and walked off quickly, she gathered her long black robe and black dress and hurried after him, her long tight braid of silver and gold hair swayed as she came up beside the Elf prince.

Marillah was not a daf elf, she knew why she could read it in Nuada's eyes. But of course she would say nothing, it was smarter and more respecting that way. As they pushed thier way threw the tight crowds Marillah walked with a grand air, her chin slightly upward not to seem superior but to search. For anything that seemed remotely suspesious.

[King Nuada Silverlance]

The striking elven kin were not unnoticed in the market, very few of his people were found in the dirty underground world and even fewer were royalty. A few eyes watched but mostly out of curiosity and with the prospect of selling merchandise. Nuada stepped around a tall thin troll dragging a large nondescript item behind him. His bent frame was ragged and raw, the stench of his clothes invaded the Prince’s nostrils and he curled his upper lip slightly. His life amongst these people did not make him turn a blind eye to their plight, his disgust was directed at the state of his brethren. A pale scarred hand rested atop his sash as he walked.

Nuada made no second glance behind him to see if his second in command was following. He knew she would and by the shift in the barest of winds brought her scent to him, revealing how close she walked beside him. His trust was thin, but his choice in the female felt right, she would not betray him and in turn betray their people. The weight of the carved wooden casing was distracting in a pleasant way, Marillah had accomplished what he asked and soon the map would lead them towards their victory.

The laughter of children rang out amidst the heat and commotion that made up the market and several youngsters of varying ages and races appeared from behind a vendor and scattered around the two elves. They weaved around the couple, laughing and screaming, yelling and talking all at once in their childish play. A young goblin tripped in front of him sprawling herself float out nearly atop of his feet causing him to stop. Through the gnarled flesh and ivory tusks, she immediately burst into tears, thrashing wildly. Instantaneously the rest of the children crowded around the fallen and Nuada felt the tiny hands of a pitpocketer from behind. He turned sharply, holding onto the pommel of his sheathed spear so it remained at his side instead of lashing out in a wild swing and glared upon the little transgressor, a small male fae being.

[queen]

Marillah wrinked her nose and her pale lips pursed in a digusted look as Nuada and her weaved thier way through the market place, it was a large place but she knew her way around it very well. Her eyes were wondering somewhere else when she hit Nuada's back, he had stopped, her hands had stopped her from body checking the prince. Marillah did not apoligize. She watched with yellow eyes rimmed with red as little children ran aroudn them.

Marillah knew instantly what they were trying to acomplish, she was no fool, she had traveled the market for too long to know cute little children running about wern't to be trusted. It was sort of cynial but that was the type of attidue needed in an area like this. As the small fae boy picked Nuada's pocket from his tunic she saw the prince turn hand upon his hilt. She smirked and swiftly grabbed the boy's forearm. "Boy tell me why you would pick the pocket of this noble elf prince?" she asked leaning over the boy and causing her shadow to spill over him. The boy cowared and Marillah's lips curled up into a smirk.

Holding out a pale hand the boy quickly dropped what he had taken from Nuada and ran off followed shortly after by the tusked girl and the rest of the children. Marillah turned to Nuada, the smirk still upon her face, she tried her best to keep from laughing. "Here never trust little ones" she said taking his hand and placing the stolen item into it's rightful owner's palm. When Marillah's skin touched Nuada's the world slowed about them and she saw flashes of his thoughts, she quickly pulled her hand away from his. Sid stepping the pricne she quickly made her way through the crowd, her braid swaying behind her.

Marillah knew they were nearing the council, she just hoped they would listen this time.

[King Nuada Silverlance]

He stared down his nose at the fae like boy, his pale lilac skin muddied up to hide the ethereal features of his faerie lineage. The glamour that hid his delicate form beneath the swaddling clothes was easily seen through. Golden eyes watched the children flee and looked down at the finely built silvery hand grasp his larger. His brow furrowed, pulling at the faint scaring that marked his face. “They did not go for the map.” He replied, the obvious choice to not react apparent in his cold stare. He had waited to see where the hands would go to first. The map was discarded in favor of the pouch of golden coins. Since he had returned to his kingdom, heir to the thrown despite the death of his father at his own hands, money was literally disposable at the wealth cowards threw at it to remain in his favor.

He eyed the hefty pouch, curling his fingers around the rotund shape and squeezed, the coins unyielding to his touch. Useless, utterly and pathetically useless. In the darkest corner of his mind, hidden beneath the folds of hatred and malice, he could feel the other half his soul’s voice. Sweeter then any faerie honey, softer then the whispering wind, it brushed against his consciousness just as he felt Marillah’s hand break the contact. Kohl lined eyes swiveled up but the elven maiden was already turning away, too late to see the disappointment in her hasty accusations. He had lived amongst these people, the many that so few even looked upon, shared their world and sorrows and for it he became a stronger Prince.

He watched in silence the she elf walk away, her slender strong build moving steadfast through the bleak market. Without a second glance, he slacked his wrist and let the pouch slid from his palm, hitting the cobblestone ground with a wet smack. It didn’t go unmissed and Nuada moved on to let the individuals inspect what had been left behind. It was easy to close the gap between him and Marillah and he leaned closer to her, brushing his shoulder against hers.

“Move ahead and bring the general with you to the council room.” His distaste of Vryntil rivaled his grudging approval of the swell of soldiers. He said little on the matter in the presence of others and yet the two clashed on more then one occasion. “I will meet you there.” Before she could protest, Nuada changed directions and stepped through a small opening just a several trolls meandered through, effectively hiding the Prince from sight as he melted into the market square once more.