Part 1

Context: You ascended from a modest childhood to Queenhood thanks to your marriage to Prince Arlyn. With that marriage came constant meetings with diplomats and envoys, one of whom you found yourself getting closer to. From such simple origins, you'd have never guessed that one chance meeting would have led to a murder, a war, and to you losing nearly everything. Your only chance, now, is to be led through the past and take the one shot given to you in these twilight hours.

Setting: The royal castle - Neferen

Tags: [MM4F][Flashback][Lovers to Enemies][But Not Yet Lovers][Yandere Snow Elf Speakers][Princess Listener][Gender-Flipping OK!][Fantasy][Betrayal][Confession][Oddly Innocent Yandere][Royal Conspiracies][War][Magic][CW: War/Mentions of Murder/Injury]

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[M] = Malferath, the sweet, shy advisor to your future husband [A] = Arlyn, the current Prince of Neferen and your husband-to-be

[Scene opens in the royal hall of Neferen, the first day he arrived some odd ten years ago]

[SFX: Medieval hall ambiance/general chatter]

[You are welcomed into the castle with your guards and party, greeted almost immediately by a nervous-looking snow elf]

[M] “G-Greetings, princess! Welcome, t-to Neferen. Oh, dear, hold on, I must bow…”

[He groans as he bows from the waist down, ears lowered in subservience]

[M] “I am Malferath, the royal diplomat and a-advisor. Prince A-Arlyn has asked that I meet you here, as he is still wrapping up his boar hunting. I-I believe he intends to bring back a sizeable bounty to have prepared for your arrival.”

[Pause]

[M] “T-Thank you for your understanding, my Princess. Please, if the rest of you would take your posts, I will happily keep the princess safe in a secured room. H-Here, you may examine me first, of course.”

[You let out a protest as your guards grab the poor elf and search him roughly]

[Pause!]

[SFX: Footsteps shuffling out and a door closing]

[M] “A-Ah, it’s quite alright. We snow elves know we have a…very tenuous relationship with the humans, hence this marriage. Getting a little roughed up for the sake of peace is no bother. I… I’ve never had someone s-stick up for me like that, though. Thank you.”

[Pause]

[He gives you another nervous smile and pulls out a chair for you to sit]

[M] “Please, have a seat… There we are. Ah… I don’t suppose I could tempt you with a bit of honeywine?”

[Pause?]

[He laughs quietly, getting out a glass bottle]

[M] “Oh, it… might be a touch inappropriate, yes, but I can tell you’re quite nervous to be meeting Prince Arlyn. He has a bit of an r-reputation, but I promise he’s a good man, at heart.”

[Pause]

[M] “W-Well, I can’t say I’ve ever personally h-had the man slap my ass, no. Good thing, too, see? He’d p-probably slap my pelvis in two, eheh.”

[You notice some intricate, beautiful sketches on his desk]

[M] “O-Oh! Aha, yes, I-I do… I do sketch sometimes. I think my desk i-is full of a bunch of them.”

[Pause?]

[M] “Y-You… you want to see them…? A-Ah, OK, just…t-there’s one I don’t f-feel appropriate for y-you to see…”

[Pause?]

[His pale skin turns scarlet as he hurriedly searches through the small city worth of paper on his desk]

[M] “W-W-Why? It’s, um… i-it’s just… stick figures w-with…with large breasts!”

[Pause]

[He pales as you hold up a sketch of what is very clearly you]

[M] “O-Oh fuck. I-I mean-!”

[Pause]

[M] “Y-You… like it? I-I mean… I o-only had a portrait A-Arlyn commissioned to go off of. Looking at you now… i-it was a really good reference.”

[Pause]

[He lets out a nervous giggle, wringing his hands]

[M] “I-I did not make your nose less ugly! You have a-an adorable nose! I-It’s cute how it keeps twitching to get used to the cold here…”

[Pause]

[He laughs this time]

[M] “Yes, I s-suppose my ears have been doing the s-same. A-All the piercings don’t help. I’m c-certainly not sneaking up on anyone any time soon.”

[Pause]

[M] “Of… Of course, you may keep the sketch, Princess. A-Anything you desire…”

[You share an oddly warm moment of silence with him as you carefully tuck the sketch away in a journal you brought]

[M] “...gods, you are beautiful…”

[Pause?]

[M] “N-Nothing! I… I d-didn’t say anything…”

[Malferath and you both tense as the door is flung open and a handsome but severe snow elf steps through, a dead boar slung over his shoulder]

[SFX: A heavy wooden door being thrown open]

[M] “P-Prince Arlyn…”

[Pause]

[A] “Were you intending to keep my bride in here all night, Malferath…? Because adultery tends to be committed in beds, not on messy desks full of silly little drawings.”

[Pause]

[Prince Arlyn’s eyes shoot to you as you stand and square your shoulders, correcting him]

[A] “Ohohoho… My Queen-to-be has some spirit to her, mmh. I like it. Regardless, do try and remember not to correct me again, dear. There’s only so much back talk I am willing to accept before correction is needed.”

[To your surprise, Malferath slams his palm on the table, shaking but snapping:]

[M] “Y-You will NOT lay a finger on her, do you understand me?!”

[SFX: The ambiance falls completely silent, save for the steady dripping of blood from the boar]

[A, deathly quiet] “Malferath, go.”

[M] “B-But… I-I’m so sorry, big brother, I-I didn’t mean…”

[A] “Mal, you will remember your place. You are my advisor, not my competitor. Her highness is to be my wife. Do not cross that line. Understood?”

[M, also deathly quiet] “Y-Yes, brother… F-Forgive me, Princess, I-I won’t overstep a-again.”

[He bows and hurries out, cowering from his brother as he’s forced to squeeze past his considerable frame. Arlyn sighs, turning back to you, and beckons you forward]

[A] “Let me look at you… Mmh… You are beautiful, that is certain. A goddess might throw a tantrum and think you are competing with her. Come. I will have the chefs prepare my kill as a feast, to honor your splendor. And do ignore my little brother, hm? He’s… a good man, but has no spine. No conviction. No drive to do what must be done, at all costs. Another reason why it is I that sits upon the throne. Please, love, take my hand. I shall welcome you to Neferen properly…”

[You allow him to take your hand and tuck it into the crook of his arm, following him into the depths of the glimmering castle, with no idea of what your future will look like now]

[To be continued]