"What just happened?" Leonie tried to ask as the hall door closed behind them. Clearly everyone except her had understood what had gone on inside.
"You're a Council member now, kid," Marcus announced as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Leonie came to a halt, making the whole group stop with her.
"What did you say?" she stared at Marcus, then at Dorian.
"I said you've become a member of the Council," Dorian replied carefully. She had been through a lot today, and inside she had already come close to breaking once. He could have spared her all of this.
"By law, every kind of elf must be represented there. Of course there used to be a forest-elf member. And now that you're here—the only forest elf we know—the law requires your caste to be represented. And obviously only you can do that." He gently started guiding the stunned girl up the stairs.
"Brilliant idea," Marcus clapped Filarion on the shoulder, and Filarion modestly added only:
"I always said they cling too rigidly to our outdated laws."
Marcus laughed, but Leonie stopped again and turned toward the cheerful group in disbelief.
"How can you all be this happy about it? I don't know anything about elves! How could I possibly be part of a body that governs a people? I'm only twenty years old! How could my voice matter among elves who are thousands of years old? This is ridiculous!"
She looked at Dorian, expecting support, but an indulgent smile played on his lips.
"First of all, Galeth is the oldest among them, and even he is only eighteen hundred and twenty," he began—earning Leonie's clear disapproval for brushing the problem aside.
"Second, most people would kill for that position. But our world doesn't need those who want power—it needs those who care about others. Everything else can be learned."
Marcus snorted, rolling his eyes as he spoke.
"Well, imagine hearing that from you."
Dorian growled and pulled Leonie along, not even deigning to answer Marcus.
"Dinner at Revna's?" Aeson called after him.
"We'll meet there," they agreed, and then everyone disappeared into their rooms.
"Dorian," Xavier spoke up last, hurrying after him.
"If you don't mind, I'd go back to our troops. We've been away too long—I should check on them."
Dorian studied his old friend's face for a long moment, then nodded. It truly wouldn't hurt if he went out to the soldiers, and it wasn't hard to guess Xavier needed time to process the decision that had been made.
"Thank you for coming with me."
Now it was Xavier's turn to nod; without even looking at Leonie, he turned on his heel and hurried off. Marcus said his goodbyes as well, while Dorian ushered Leonie into their shared room and closed the door behind them.
Dorian stopped and turned toward her.
"You did well," he praised her awkwardly.
Leonie walked to the bed, sat down, and buried her face in her hands. She had survived. They hadn't locked her away, and they hadn't sent her back to the humans' land.
"It ended well, didn't it?" she asked. She wasn't sure their meeting with the Council could be counted as a success. They didn't welcome her—that was certain. And some had only agreed she could stay so they could use her power, assuming they were right at all. If she failed, they would throw her out immediately.
"You have a lot to explain," she lifted her head, then immediately recoiled—because Dorian was already crouching right in front of her. How could he move so quietly?
"I know. And I will tell you everything. But for one day, that was more than enough excitement for all of us." He took Leonie's hand.
"You were very brave today."
He hadn't been able to show it, but he had found it astonishing that Leonie had spoken up despite how afraid she had been. And she had even tried to protect that wretched Denniel, though she had no reason to. She had a kind heart—far gentler than what the tasks ahead would demand of her. But he, Dorian, would shield her from everything. At his side, no harm could come to her.
"I wasn't brave," Leonie sighed, shaking her head. "I was terrified. I almost fainted, and everyone could see it." A tear appeared at the corner of her eye.
"I have no idea what book you were talking about, but I don't think I have enough strength in me to find it—or to heal the tree. I don't think you should put your people's fate in my hands. Your father was right. You made a mistake when you brought me here." Her tears ran down her face. She was so tired.
"Even if you weren't capable of it, I still wouldn't have made a mistake," Dorian murmured as he wiped the tears from her face.
"But I believe you're far stronger than you could ever imagine." And now he wasn't thinking of her magic.
Leonie looked into Dorian's gentle gaze, but didn't speak. He was wrong. She knew it.
"And now we truly need a little distraction," Dorian sighed. His expression revealed many things, but not that he genuinely found the idea entertaining.
"Come. Let's go and visit Revna."
Leonie went rigid. She didn't want to meet Dorian's other partner. Maybe they weren't even lovers. Maybe she was his wife. Jealousy bit into her heart so sharply she could hardly breathe. If only she understood why her palms started to sweat at the mention of Revna. If only she knew what she was meant to believe.
Dorian had promised to help her find her family. Essentially, they had struck a bargain—learning in exchange for help. But then there were those kisses… his care… or was he simply protecting her because he needed her for the mysterious book and for healing the tree?
Still—everything he had said couldn't possibly be manipulation. He had called her his partner, his beloved. He had asked her to remember what happened at the gate. In that moment, she had felt he truly wanted her. But what if it had only happened so he could protect her from the elves? In the Council, they had said that by making her his partner, he had secured status for her. Her thoughts made her dizzy.
"I thought you were going alone," she managed, embarrassed, and Dorian frowned. He had noticed that Leonie always tensed at the mentionito for name "Revna," but he didn't understand why.
"If you're too tired, you don't have to come, of course. Marcus will stay with you, just in case."
He himself didn't particularly want to go see the girl, but she would probably wring his neck if he didn't. And though he would never admit it—Revna did matter to him.
"Did I hear we're not going anywhere?" Marcus burst in without knocking.
Dorian rolled his eyes. He would have to tell his friends not to treat his bedroom like an inn—especially now that Leonie lived here too.
"Yes. Leonie is tired."
Leonie looked at Marcus, who quite clearly wore a disappointed expression. And although her stomach tightened again with nerves, she shook her head. She didn't want Marcus to have to neglect his friends because of her.
"No, no. I'm fine. We can go."
She jumped up quickly and stepped around Dorian before she could cowardly change her mind. If only she knew why he wanted her to meet his lover. Was this simply how things worked here? Could an elf have several wives? How was she supposed to behave with Revna? And she was wearing Revna's clothes.
"Then we can leave," Marcus clapped his hands brightly.