Crimson Overlord

Chapter 257  5th Reincarnation 4

Days, Weeks, Months had passed. They got to know each other very well. They found each other in a very profound love with each other but they haven't told each other yet. Freya for instance, was controlling her feeling with all her force but it just won't subside.

They were eating their lunch as usual when Ruslan spoke with prior sincerity.

"I am an elf."

"Wh…at?" Freya said. Surprised.

"I am a Peredhil, a Halfling. Half human and half elf" he muttered.

Freya was still in shock. She never thought of Ruslan being an elf though he has been showing some signs. What kept her very hard to accept this truth is her insight towards elf. She could never tell her secret- the reason why she is now in front of him- for she knew very well that it could hurt his feelings. She refused from being married to an elf- because of its fearsome looks. She never knew that an elf could look like this- very far from how she described it for herself. Abash flashed on her face.

But at some point, this is a different story. She loves Ruslan very much. She is in love with an elf badly.

"It's… er …. Great!" she exclaimed. "Honestly, I never know an elf could look like this. Very… lovable!"

A huge grin flashed on Ruslan's face.

"I love you" he said sincerely.

Freya's heart beat faster. Her feelings indescribable- mixed misery and joyfulness.

They both looked into each other's eyes- forgetting the food on the table. A few seconds later, Freya spoke softly. She is now very determined to tell him the whole happening that changed her life.

* * *

They both went to the palace. Ruslan wanted to ascertain the story behind Emperor Lucian's scepter. For instance, he once owned a scepter. He dug it under the boundary line- as an offering- so that he could enter MIdgard, the human world. He was the son of King Orome, king of Lathrim, from a human, Erica. The human-elf commitment was badly prohibited. So, the two of them separated immediately and Ruslan was left on the hands of King Orome. Ruslan grew up well on a very hidden place that no elf had the knowledge of he being King Orome's son. But as his human characteristics were becoming prominent, his father planned to kill him before news spread out that could throw away his father's glory. And as soon as Ruslan knew this, he evaded.

Once he has proven that he owned the scepter, he could easily cease the curse. A piece of cake. Hope hatched on their minds.

As soon as they reached the palace, Freya led the way towards the grand gate. She was quivering. But with Ruslan's hand on hers, she felt very safe, very protected.

She pushed a silver button at the gate and a few seconds later, the knights opened the gate. Surprised.

"Welcome back madam!" the knights exclaimed monotonously with reverberating voices.

"I would like to see Emperor Lucian, at once" said Freya, commanding.

"At once madam" the major-domo said.

The major-domo led the way to the private sitting hall.

As soon as they reached the door heading to the hall, the major-domo asked "May I know thy name sir?"

"Ruslan, Ruslan Ur" he said in a gentle way.

The major-domo nodded and then proceeded to the room. After a few seconds, he let them in.

"Freya Lucian, it's good to see you again" Emperor Lucian said in a very shuddery manner.

"And who is that?" he said, locking his gaze to Ruslan particularly- to his ears. "An Elf?"

"I'm afraid I am" Ruslan said with a gentle smile on his face.

Emperor Lucian laughed. "After your entire unacceptable refusal and your stupid resolution, you came to present yourself with an elf that you refused strongly. Anyway, you just came in the right time."

Then someone entered the room. Elves, four of its kind. But, they are different from how Ruslan looks like. They are really horrible with their wrinkled faces and white hair. Their short stature did not match their deep green tunic and pants. Though two of them appeared to be really wealthy with their scepters and gold accessories on their bodies, those do not suit them. They are really elves. The elves Freya had described for herself.

"It's my pleasure to have you here" Emperor Lucian said in a very pleasing manner "Elen sila lumenn omentilmo". (Translated as: A star shall shine on the hour of our meeting)

"Vedui'!" (Greetings) said King Orome as he looked at Ruslan with fiercing eyes.

Ruslan took a step back. Fear flashed on his face.

"Fa-" Ruslan spoke but was interrupted by Emperor Lucian's voice.

"My daughter, this is Viel Ur, your future HUSBAND and King Orome Ur, his Father. They came here to process your betrothal."

The two elves took a bow. They looked very like each other. Ugly.

"No Way!" Freya cried.

Emperor Lucian put a fake smile on his face on looked at the two elves. They were emotionless.

"I'll remove your curse only if you follow my command" Emperor Lucian whispered.

Silence embraced the entire hall as Freya pondered. And Ruslan and King Orome exchanging ferocious gazes. Viel remained emotionless while Emperor Lucian remained tensed.

"But… I have already fallen in love!" Freya exclaimed, surprising everyone.

Suddenly he moved closer to Ruslan and let her lips touched his. Ruslan felt a little surprised but kissed her back. Freya felt smug.

Every one watching felt numb- shocked.

"Grrr" Emperor Lucian sighed with anger then put out his scepter.

Ruslan's face was wrapped with mixed shock and joy as she saw the scepter. It was his.

"I own that!" Ruslan exclaimed with so much joy.

Freya felt very relieved. Then she looked at her father with a teasing stare.

Emperor Lucian knew very well that whatever he spells out would be ineffective. He, then, felt very abashed as he looked at King Orome and Viel.

"What a very dramatic scene. At any cost, let's continue the bethrotal" Emperor Lucian muttered. Then he cried out loud "Knights, throw this intruder into prison!"

In no time, the knights were inside the hall and then clinched Ruslan. Ruslan kept on pulling off her hands and defying.

"NO!" Freya shouted furiously as she helped Ruslan be released.

"Father!" Ruslan cried out.

"How dare you! I'm not your father and will never be!" Emperor Lucian exclaimed.

"Who told you it's you?!" Ruslan shouted.

The elves gathered around exchanged gazes of confusion while King Orome remained jittery, tensed.

"King Orome, my father!" Ruslan cried out. Finally.

The two elves, which were marTaur'amandiler (druids), were appalled.

"Now, throw him!" Emperor Lucian commanded.

"Do not!" one of the two elves- Elwing- cried out "Your highness, please leave him for a while". The elf was looking at Emperor Lucian.

"Hmmn… Alright." Emperor Lucian sighed.

"No, throw him into the dungeon. NOW!" King Orome shouted with a blast at the last word.

"Al-" Emperor Lucian muttered but was interrupted as the other elf- Feanor- sang in a very enrapturing manner.

A few seconds later, silence filled the hall again. Everyone felt numb. Then the Elwing sang in a different tune as he looked on King Orome's golden eyes and then looked at Ruslan's.

On the spur of the moment, everything was back to normal.

* * *

Everything went on as it was considered by Freya and Ruslan.

The betrothal of Freya and Viel did not take its place. King Orome was dispatched from his thrown. The hymn of Elwing clearly proved that Ruslan was King Orome's son. And so, he had just committed a crime- having a child without admitting it. It must have been a double crime only if commitment with a human was still prohibited.

Hence, Emperor Lucian, too, was dispatched from his thrown. His undignified resolution- having her daughter be married forcefully- made him lost the mandate of heaven.

At this point, Freya and Ruslan took their sacred vow and married each other. Lathrim and Midgard were merged together in a very peaceful manner as Duke Ruslan Ur and Dutchess Freya Ur reigned over the Dutchy of Midthrim- as what they called the merged lands.

"I love you" Freya said in a very sweet manner as she let her lips touch Ruslan.

"I love you more" Ruslan muttered as he kissed her back.

"And we love you and we'll continue to care for you" they both said monotonously as they locked their gazes on the crowd in front of them. They were having a State of the World Address.

Though it was just an excuse in front of their people, they really love each other. As a matter of fact, they were blessed with a lot children.

°°°

Strangely, the young man Freya married looks like Orpheus, a mundane version of him.