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Description

Full Series:
Elodi and the Lonely Princess <--- You are here!
Elodi and the Story
Elodi and the Story pt.2
Elodi and the Snow
Elodi and the Miracle of Life
Elodi and the Wrong Son

Autumn, Year 759 of the New Age

Glenmore, in the Glenwood.

Featuring Duke Elodi and Princess Landa (NPC)

It was a cool, crisp day in the heart of the Glenwood. Pale light filtered down through the trees, dappling the coats of all who walked below. Elodi smiled and stared at his coat as he walked, enjoying the way the light shifted along his creamy pelt, painting him with ever-changing designs. Once he bored of the sight, he began to look around, in search of something to do.

His momma was away again and Vita had gone off... Somewhere. It was unlike his golden brother to do so, however Elodi didn't begrudge him his alone time - after all, the older colt dedicated all of his time to himself and Beau and, frankly, Vita really needed to get a life. Elodi giggled at the thought, then paused and grinned happily as he got an idea. Beau! He could go find Beau over where she was likely with the court ladies. He pricked his ears eagerly at the prospect of going to visit the court ladies - some of them were a bit harsh and sharp with their words, however the majority of the ladies were really sweet, and they were always more than happy to let him braid and flower their manes and tails. Bouncing eagerly, he made an about turn and made his way over towards the reborn Great Oak where he knew he would most likely find them.

After a steady trek, he finally made it to the tree and, as expected, he found the circle of ladies laying down in an amiable circle, talking softly and tittering quietly. He didn't see Beau amongst them, unfortunately, however thankfully there were some familiar faces. Elodi smiled and immediately broke into a trot, heading over to one of the does he knew best. "Arya!" He called out happily, flopping onto her back. The pale red doe startled at the interruption then smiled brightly, the beautiful slant of her lips transforming her elegant features. "Why, if it isn't my favourite baby duke." She said, nipping affectionately at his curly locks.

With that ice breaker, the rest of the does began chattering softly, cooing over the pale colt that had entered into their midst. Though they had once mourned that he was yet another pale son for their king, they had long since gotten accustomed to the fact - helped along substantially by the little colt's big doe eyes and shy smiles. The fact that he was so endlessly enamoured of all of them was likely a big help too.

As the afternoon wore on, Elodi passed the time with braiding the endless manes around him - ever so carefully ensuring he didn't accidentally pull any hairs too hard. He had just finished curling off the last few strands of the mane of the creamy coated doe that cuddled him to her plush chest when he happened to notice another doe laying away from the warm circle of ladies. Sitting up, he watched her curiously for a moment, pricking his ears towards her and waiting to see if she would return his gaze or join them, however she never did.

"Who is that?" He asked softly, turning his face up to look imploringly into the eyes of the pale lady that held him. The doe looked at him, surprised, before she turned to try and pinpoint e source of his curiosity. When she did, she frowned slightly, laying her ears back imperceptibly, a sad look passing over her face. "The one who sits over there? She is Princess Landa." She said softly, looking away.

One of the other ladies glanced over, having heard the softly spoken name. "Landa? Isn't she the one who was stolen by-" Another doe hushed her gently but firmly, with a pointed look at the overly curious colt that lay in their midst. The lady immediately subsided, but the circle of does shared significant looks with each other despite their silence. They soon set into resuming their previous inane conversations, however Elodi was not easily distracted, what with the fact the lone doe still lay in his sight.

Frowning, he looked up imploringly at his handler. "Why is she all alone over there? Don't you like her?" He asked, sounding upset. The doe holding him tightened her grasp slightly before relaxing with a sigh. "It is not about like, Elodi. It is hard to explain." She said gently, seeing his confused expression. Considering the conversation over, she tuned in to the conversations the other ladies were having, putting in her own input when she could.

Elodi lay in his place over the doe's forelegs, however though he tried to be good and pay attention to his older companions, he could not help but keep looking over towards the pale princess doe that lay ever alone. She looked so sad... His ears pricked to attention as he saw her stand slowly and make her way off into the woods.

Decision made, Elodi stood up from his warm, comfortable place and went around giving cursory nuzzles and goodbyes before he went running off after the mysterious princess.

Reaching the point where he had seen her disappear into the forest, he looked around quickly, frowning and deflating slightly when he saw no sign of her. However a glimpse of pale out of the corner of his eye made him whirl around, and he beamed as he caught sight of her again.

"Princess! Princess Landa!"

The doe startled and turned around, and Elodi's eyes widened as he saw the long, deep scar that marred her otherwise perfect face. The doe looked at him with wary, confused eyes, tilting her head slightly at the sight of her caller. "I... Yes?" She asked warily, laying her ears back.

Elodi flushed as he realised that in his eagerness he had likely been quite impolite. Trying to remember the way that the ladies had coached Beau to curtsy, he shakily emulated the move, letting out a squeak as he overbalanced and went toppling over, long legs tangling. Mortified, he hid his face in his legs and squeezed his eyes shut - not wanting to see the sneer on the beautiful doe's face - however the sound of a light, surprised laugh made him peek out from the safety of his legs.

The princess stood chuckling to herself, her face much brighter and lighter than it had been earlier, when she stood alone. Elodi smiled at the sight, his own clumsiness forgotten at the sight of the scarred doe's mirth.

Finally subsiding with her chuckles, the princess lowered her face to look more closely at him, her face subtly tilted so that her scar was hidden. "Who are you, little colt?" She asked, smiling. Elodi beamed and puffed his thin little chest out at the attention, straightening. "I am Duke Elodi." He said proudly, sea green eyes bright. The princess smiled and gave him a perfectly executed little curtsy, and Elodi flushed once again under her pretty smile. "I... I like your hair." He said shyly, smiling.

The doe seemed surprised at his sudden comment, but she smiled graciously and inclined her head in gratitude, looking him over herself. "Why thank you, little duke. I like your hair too." She said, reaching out to gently touch her muzzle to the stray curls that fell over his forehead, and the tufty fluff that bordered his ears. "I'm inclined to believe you must be a son of our King, to have such distinctive curls. And those pretty green eyes."

Elodi smiled brightly at her words though he tried to control it into a neutral expression, nodding shyly in response. Compliments still threw him a bit off kilter - he was far more accustomed to giving them rather than receiving them - and as such he found himself unable to quite banish the blush from his cheeks.

The scarred princess smiled gently, her own sorrows momentarily forgotten with her preoccupation with the strange, awkwardly sweet little colt that had approached her. Seeing his sudden shyness, she straightened up and glanced around before leaning down in an almost conspiratorial way. "Do you want to see something special?" She asked, a smile curling her lips as the colt looked up from under his eyelashes and nodded shyly.

Landa smiled and turned her attention to a bare patch of ground, focusing. Under their watchful eyes, the ground suddenly flourished with lush grass, causing the pale fawn to gasp and rear back slightly. Though initially startled, Elodi soon leaned back in to get a better look as the princess made a single beautiful flower grow and bloom before their eyes. Elodi had never seen anything quite like that flower, and he said as such to the doe before him. Her face shuttered slightly, smile turning sad as her eyes skittered away. "No... No I don't imagine you would have." She said softly, seemingly falling into her own musings.

Seeing that the doe was getting sad again, Elodi nudged her with his nose insistently, looking at her with imploring eyes. "What's it called?" He asked her curiously, smiling as she once more focused on him. The princess glanced at the flower then back at the colt, smiling. "It is called the White Bride." She said softly. Seeing the way he stared, enraptured, at the flower, she chuckled softly and plucked it from the ground, tucking it in behind his ear.

Elodi looked at her with wide, amazed eyes before he cast a beaming smile at her. "Show me again?" He asked hopefully, ears pricked eagerly. Smiling at the colt's excitement, the princess gave a nod of her dainty head and led the colt over towards a nearby tree. This time, she made the tree's roots grow and arch further, creating loops of roots protruding from the ground until the tree was circled with many large arches - some just large enough for a plucky fawn to crawl through.

With a cheer, Elodi took up the challenge and went diving for the nearest arch, winding his way through the makeshift tunnels with boundless energy as the smiling princess looked on. He continued to do so until a loud call of his name made him snap his head up and look around. "Mama..." He said absently, eyes wide as a slow, happy smile crept across his face. Turning to the princess, he tried to find the words to excuse himself properly, not knowing quite what to say, to express everything he was thinking; that she was wonderful, and too nice to be alone and sad, and that he hoped to see her again soon...

He was beaten to it as the doe smiled gently and gave him a light push with her muzzle. "Go, little colt. Best not keep your mother waiting." She said serenely, straightening up. Elodi smiled shyly and nodded quickly, hesitating before giving her a shy nuzzle and turning to dart off into the woods.

The princess watched him go before sighing softly and turning to leave, her morose mood setting in once again as she was once more left alone. However a sound from behind her made her turn, and to her surprise she saw a panting Elodi standing there, a cluster of small blue flowers on the ground before him.

At her inquiring look, Elodi smiled awkwardly, looking down shyly at the flowers. "I... Well you gave me this flower, so I decided to give you some of my favourite flowers." He said slowly, nudging them over towards her. "But I really gotta go now - mama is probably worried. Salutations and peace to you, princess." He said formally, the stumbled words making it clear it was a line taught to him by another. With that, the pale colt was gone again.

Landa blinked in surprise before smiling slightly, leaning down to pick up the flowers. With the barest hesitation, she slotted them into her tail - something she had not allowed herself to do since... Since that day...

Shaking the thoughts away, she looked back to the flowers the colt had given her. "Everlasting Hope... How apt." She said softly to herself, smiling at the thought. With a last glance to the flowers, she turned and continued her aborted journey into the woods, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time.

Description

Full Series:
Elodi and the Lonely Princess <--- You are here!
Elodi and the Story
Elodi and the Story pt.2
Elodi and the Snow
Elodi and the Miracle of Life
Elodi and the Wrong Son

Autumn, Year 759 of the New Age

Glenmore, in the Glenwood.

Featuring Duke Elodi and Princess Landa (NPC)

It was a cool, crisp day in the heart of the Glenwood. Pale light filtered down through the trees, dappling the coats of all who walked below. Elodi smiled and stared at his coat as he walked, enjoying the way the light shifted along his creamy pelt, painting him with ever-changing designs. Once he bored of the sight, he began to look around, in search of something to do.

His momma was away again and Vita had gone off... Somewhere. It was unlike his golden brother to do so, however Elodi didn't begrudge him his alone time - after all, the older colt dedicated all of his time to himself and Beau and, frankly, Vita really needed to get a life. Elodi giggled at the thought, then paused and grinned happily as he got an idea. Beau! He could go find Beau over where she was likely with the court ladies. He pricked his ears eagerly at the prospect of going to visit the court ladies - some of them were a bit harsh and sharp with their words, however the majority of the ladies were really sweet, and they were always more than happy to let him braid and flower their manes and tails. Bouncing eagerly, he made an about turn and made his way over towards the reborn Great Oak where he knew he would most likely find them.

After a steady trek, he finally made it to the tree and, as expected, he found the circle of ladies laying down in an amiable circle, talking softly and tittering quietly. He didn't see Beau amongst them, unfortunately, however thankfully there were some familiar faces. Elodi smiled and immediately broke into a trot, heading over to one of the does he knew best. "Arya!" He called out happily, flopping onto her back. The pale red doe startled at the interruption then smiled brightly, the beautiful slant of her lips transforming her elegant features. "Why, if it isn't my favourite baby duke." She said, nipping affectionately at his curly locks.

With that ice breaker, the rest of the does began chattering softly, cooing over the pale colt that had entered into their midst. Though they had once mourned that he was yet another pale son for their king, they had long since gotten accustomed to the fact - helped along substantially by the little colt's big doe eyes and shy smiles. The fact that he was so endlessly enamoured of all of them was likely a big help too.

As the afternoon wore on, Elodi passed the time with braiding the endless manes around him - ever so carefully ensuring he didn't accidentally pull any hairs too hard. He had just finished curling off the last few strands of the mane of the creamy coated doe that cuddled him to her plush chest when he happened to notice another doe laying away from the warm circle of ladies. Sitting up, he watched her curiously for a moment, pricking his ears towards her and waiting to see if she would return his gaze or join them, however she never did.

"Who is that?" He asked softly, turning his face up to look imploringly into the eyes of the pale lady that held him. The doe looked at him, surprised, before she turned to try and pinpoint e source of his curiosity. When she did, she frowned slightly, laying her ears back imperceptibly, a sad look passing over her face. "The one who sits over there? She is Princess Landa." She said softly, looking away.

One of the other ladies glanced over, having heard the softly spoken name. "Landa? Isn't she the one who was stolen by-" Another doe hushed her gently but firmly, with a pointed look at the overly curious colt that lay in their midst. The lady immediately subsided, but the circle of does shared significant looks with each other despite their silence. They soon set into resuming their previous inane conversations, however Elodi was not easily distracted, what with the fact the lone doe still lay in his sight.

Frowning, he looked up imploringly at his handler. "Why is she all alone over there? Don't you like her?" He asked, sounding upset. The doe holding him tightened her grasp slightly before relaxing with a sigh. "It is not about like, Elodi. It is hard to explain." She said gently, seeing his confused expression. Considering the conversation over, she tuned in to the conversations the other ladies were having, putting in her own input when she could.

Elodi lay in his place over the doe's forelegs, however though he tried to be good and pay attention to his older companions, he could not help but keep looking over towards the pale princess doe that lay ever alone. She looked so sad... His ears pricked to attention as he saw her stand slowly and make her way off into the woods.

Decision made, Elodi stood up from his warm, comfortable place and went around giving cursory nuzzles and goodbyes before he went running off after the mysterious princess.

Reaching the point where he had seen her disappear into the forest, he looked around quickly, frowning and deflating slightly when he saw no sign of her. However a glimpse of pale out of the corner of his eye made him whirl around, and he beamed as he caught sight of her again.

"Princess! Princess Landa!"

The doe startled and turned around, and Elodi's eyes widened as he saw the long, deep scar that marred her otherwise perfect face. The doe looked at him with wary, confused eyes, tilting her head slightly at the sight of her caller. "I... Yes?" She asked warily, laying her ears back.

Elodi flushed as he realised that in his eagerness he had likely been quite impolite. Trying to remember the way that the ladies had coached Beau to curtsy, he shakily emulated the move, letting out a squeak as he overbalanced and went toppling over, long legs tangling. Mortified, he hid his face in his legs and squeezed his eyes shut - not wanting to see the sneer on the beautiful doe's face - however the sound of a light, surprised laugh made him peek out from the safety of his legs.

The princess stood chuckling to herself, her face much brighter and lighter than it had been earlier, when she stood alone. Elodi smiled at the sight, his own clumsiness forgotten at the sight of the scarred doe's mirth.

Finally subsiding with her chuckles, the princess lowered her face to look more closely at him, her face subtly tilted so that her scar was hidden. "Who are you, little colt?" She asked, smiling. Elodi beamed and puffed his thin little chest out at the attention, straightening. "I am Duke Elodi." He said proudly, sea green eyes bright. The princess smiled and gave him a perfectly executed little curtsy, and Elodi flushed once again under her pretty smile. "I... I like your hair." He said shyly, smiling.

The doe seemed surprised at his sudden comment, but she smiled graciously and inclined her head in gratitude, looking him over herself. "Why thank you, little duke. I like your hair too." She said, reaching out to gently touch her muzzle to the stray curls that fell over his forehead, and the tufty fluff that bordered his ears. "I'm inclined to believe you must be a son of our King, to have such distinctive curls. And those pretty green eyes."

Elodi smiled brightly at her words though he tried to control it into a neutral expression, nodding shyly in response. Compliments still threw him a bit off kilter - he was far more accustomed to giving them rather than receiving them - and as such he found himself unable to quite banish the blush from his cheeks.

The scarred princess smiled gently, her own sorrows momentarily forgotten with her preoccupation with the strange, awkwardly sweet little colt that had approached her. Seeing his sudden shyness, she straightened up and glanced around before leaning down in an almost conspiratorial way. "Do you want to see something special?" She asked, a smile curling her lips as the colt looked up from under his eyelashes and nodded shyly.

Landa smiled and turned her attention to a bare patch of ground, focusing. Under their watchful eyes, the ground suddenly flourished with lush grass, causing the pale fawn to gasp and rear back slightly. Though initially startled, Elodi soon leaned back in to get a better look as the princess made a single beautiful flower grow and bloom before their eyes. Elodi had never seen anything quite like that flower, and he said as such to the doe before him. Her face shuttered slightly, smile turning sad as her eyes skittered away. "No... No I don't imagine you would have." She said softly, seemingly falling into her own musings.

Seeing that the doe was getting sad again, Elodi nudged her with his nose insistently, looking at her with imploring eyes. "What's it called?" He asked her curiously, smiling as she once more focused on him. The princess glanced at the flower then back at the colt, smiling. "It is called the White Bride." She said softly. Seeing the way he stared, enraptured, at the flower, she chuckled softly and plucked it from the ground, tucking it in behind his ear.

Elodi looked at her with wide, amazed eyes before he cast a beaming smile at her. "Show me again?" He asked hopefully, ears pricked eagerly. Smiling at the colt's excitement, the princess gave a nod of her dainty head and led the colt over towards a nearby tree. This time, she made the tree's roots grow and arch further, creating loops of roots protruding from the ground until the tree was circled with many large arches - some just large enough for a plucky fawn to crawl through.

With a cheer, Elodi took up the challenge and went diving for the nearest arch, winding his way through the makeshift tunnels with boundless energy as the smiling princess looked on. He continued to do so until a loud call of his name made him snap his head up and look around. "Mama..." He said absently, eyes wide as a slow, happy smile crept across his face. Turning to the princess, he tried to find the words to excuse himself properly, not knowing quite what to say, to express everything he was thinking; that she was wonderful, and too nice to be alone and sad, and that he hoped to see her again soon...

He was beaten to it as the doe smiled gently and gave him a light push with her muzzle. "Go, little colt. Best not keep your mother waiting." She said serenely, straightening up. Elodi smiled shyly and nodded quickly, hesitating before giving her a shy nuzzle and turning to dart off into the woods.

The princess watched him go before sighing softly and turning to leave, her morose mood setting in once again as she was once more left alone. However a sound from behind her made her turn, and to her surprise she saw a panting Elodi standing there, a cluster of small blue flowers on the ground before him.

At her inquiring look, Elodi smiled awkwardly, looking down shyly at the flowers. "I... Well you gave me this flower, so I decided to give you some of my favourite flowers." He said slowly, nudging them over towards her. "But I really gotta go now - mama is probably worried. Salutations and peace to you, princess." He said formally, the stumbled words making it clear it was a line taught to him by another. With that, the pale colt was gone again.

Landa blinked in surprise before smiling slightly, leaning down to pick up the flowers. With the barest hesitation, she slotted them into her tail - something she had not allowed herself to do since... Since that day...

Shaking the thoughts away, she looked back to the flowers the colt had given her. "Everlasting Hope... How apt." She said softly to herself, smiling at the thought. With a last glance to the flowers, she turned and continued her aborted journey into the woods, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time.