Chapter 6
Collin
Collin stood as Mary the maid stepped out of the way and Elise walked in; she was a vision. When Collin had first met her the day the council convened to decide what would be done with the highly intelligent young woman, he had to admit that it was her intelligence that drew him to her. Now though, seeing her dressed in the elegant Elvin dress, with her hair braided and tied in such a way that was both elegant and practical for such a rainy day as this she took his breath away. She walked in timidly “Please have a seat” he told her “Mary you may have cook bring breakfast up. Collin pulled her chair out for her to sit at the small table “Thank you” she said quietly as Collin pushed it back in. Collin took his seat and smiled at her. “I trust you had a restful night. I hope the storm did not keep you awake.” Elise blush and smiled, “I must confess that the moment my head touched the pillow I was asleep and did not wake until this morning.” Collin smiled “Good, I hope that all your nights are restful.” Just then cook came in with the breakfast, “Good morning Agatha” Collin said with a smile “What have you prepared for us this rainy morning?” Collin looked at Elise and smiled, “Good mornin’ ya grace. Good mornin’ Miss Elise. I have made you eggs, bacon, orange juice, toast, and some fresh berries. Though I fear they may be the last of the year.” “It smells delicious Agatha. I trust you saved some berries for the staff.” Agatha smiled as she placed the food on the table, “Yes ya grace. I’ll leave you two to ya breakfast” Agatha curtsied and left. Collin look at Elise who was smelling the food and admiring the beautiful place setting. “Would you mind if I serve you?” Collin asked holding his hand out for her plate. Elise looked at him “I can serve myself. I was waiting until you fixed your plate.” She said shyly. Collin smiled “A should not have to serve herself. It would be rude of me to fix my plate before I ensured you had your own.” Elise picked her plate up and handed it to Collin who took it gently from her. He knew that in order to have any normalcy her role here would need to be explained. “What would you like?” he looked at her, “I like it all actually. Just a little of each?” “I like a little of each as well.” After fixing both their plates they began eating. It was silent only the sound of utensils connecting with plates filled the room. “I think I should explain your role here. First, I want you to know that you are not a prisoner here, if your wish to write your family you may do so whenever you wish, the mail carrier comes once a day. Give your letters to Hugh or myself and we will see that they go out with the mail. If you would like to take a trip or go for a carriage or horseback ride just let me know and I will arrange it. When it is not raining the countryside is beautiful here.” Elise smiled “Thank you, I do wish to write my family and let them know I arrived safe and well.” “Second, I am not sure what they taught you in your classes about companions and what is expected of them, I would like you to know though I will never force you to do anything.” Elise looked at Collin both surprised by what he said and grateful to hear that he was not planning to ravish her anytime he chose. “Thank you, your grace. That means a great deal to me.” For the first time Elise’s smile was more than just a polite gesture. Collin and Elise finished breakfast before Collin asked, “I know this may be an awkward question and if you are not comfortable answering I understand. What do you know about what is expected of a companion?” Collin was expecting Elise to not answer, but she did! “I know that it is more than just keeping you company and attending events and balls with you. I know that it is a very serious thing for an Elvin Vampire to take. They told us that once the ceremony is complete you cannot leave that companion or take another unless your companion dies without giving you an heir. That is the extent of what they told us in class.” Collin stood, she had the gist of it, but he felt she knew more, “Is that all you know?” He asked turning an, looking into her eyes, she looked down “No your grace. I am not sure if this is true, but I did hear that the ceremony does not have to have happened for an Elvin Vampire to “take” his companion.” Elise blushed. Collin knew it was something like that, that she had probably heard. “Elise” he knelt beside her, “Look at me.” Her eyes met his “While there are some who chose to do that. I will not. The bonding ceremony is more that just words it is a promise, on that is meant to be sacred and pure. It binds an Elvin to his companion for all time never again to have another. I believe that it should be kept sacred and pure. I promise you that I will not act as others have by taking you before you have chosen and even then, not until after the bonding.” Elise looked into his dark blue eyes that were dusted in gold specks, she did not know why, but she believed him. “I trust your word your grace. I still have a question though.” “You may ask anything Elise as long as you call me Collin when we are here.” “Collin” she smiled, “I still do not know what I am to do here. I could not just sit around all day doing nothing.” Collin stood, “You may do whatever you wish, within reason of course. I was told that you enjoy studying the ancient history of the Four Powers” he smiled at her, “Especially my people. Would you like it if a tutor was hired to teach you more and help you research more about us?” Elise’s face and eyes lit up, “Oh, yes your … Collin. I would love to learn more about your people.” “Good, I will send for one today. Since it is raining, and it looks as though it will rain all day, I am afraid today you will have to be content with a tour of the house. If you wish that way when you explore on your own, you will not get lost.” “I would like that. Thank you.”
Collin spent the rest of the morning showing Elise the enormous home. “It is such a beautiful house. Do you live here year-round?” Elise asked as she admired the work of art that was the hall that led to the eastern wing of the mansion. Collin smiled at her, while she was intelligent and timid at times he had come to notice while showing her around that when she was looking at a work of art or admiring the construction of a room she became inquisitive and her shyness and timid manner seemed to fade away and replaced with a thirst for knowledge and a hunger to learn about her surroundings. “Sadly no, I wish we could but, in the spring,, we will travel to my families native home where we will spend the spring and summer seasons.” Elise looked at Collin, “Why is it sad?” Collin lend against the doorway “Because, I have come to love this house and we are closer to the human clans here. Its less formal and we can just be ourselves. Collin and Elise not the Prince of the Vampurin and his new Companion.” Collin turned away, he loved the vision he had of Elise and himself here, in this house. No regulations, no one asking about his companion’s pedigree, and no pushing for the bonding ceremony. With each passing moment Collin felt his affection grow more strongly and deeper. He welcomed the day that Elise and himself would be bonded forever and one day when the time came, they would be laid to rest together, never to be parted. “You will get to see your family and the home you grew up in.” Elise said with a smile. He looked at her; the weather outside was grey and gloomy but looking at Elise seemed to make the day brighter. “Just wait after the fourth party and you will be begging me to bring you back here.” “Why can you not spend some of those seasons here?” Elise asked as she sat on the ladies resting chair in the East wings lounge. “Because while we can tolerate small amounts of sunlight in the fall and winter months, we cannot tolerate it in the Spring and summer months. I thought that would have been something you know already.” Elise smiled and a small giggle escaped her “It was but I wanted to see if it was true. Although I am sure you do not burst into flames and die.” Collin laughed “What? Don’t tall me after nearly a hundred years that old legend is still being told.” “Not in the classroom, actually in class they did not say much about it, but the rumor is that you do.” Collin sat near Elise “What else do they say or not say?” “They do not tell us much about being chosen to be a companion except that it is a great honor and that any young woman should be happy to be chosen. They also tend to paint the Vampurin elite as snobs who do not wish to bother with us humans.” “I knew the teachers do not like those who are in power, but I did not know they taught you so little about becoming a companion. It was not meant to be a way to hurt humans, it is an ancient custom that goes back to the time long ago when humans and the Elven Vampires lived among one another.” Elise looked at Collin and the same thirst to know the truth was in her eyes, “I did not know that. Do you mind telling me about how the bonding came to be?” Collin looked at her, and he knew he could not deny her what she was asking, knew that from this moment on he never would be able to deny her. Elise shook a little a rubbed her arms “Let us go back to our sitting room it is more comfortable there and warmer.”
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Fantasy