《Once Again: Tales of Destiny》


 Double Prologues and Chapter 1 - Picture Perfect

    Mara as told in her own words


    The city bus arrived. After boarding, I turned toward the window to gaze at the scene one last time. The guy I dubbed ¡®Mr. Sunshine¡¯ glanced up and smiled¡ªrakishly.


    Back then I practiced the art of denial. I was unlike any of my classmates. In a way, I felt ostracized. All my young life weird experiences happened to me, things no one else noticed or saw. By eight or nine I had learned to keep my mouth shut; except, of course, for talking to myself. I came to accept that others did not see glitter floating through the air, or light emanating off of people. Never mind ogres and trolls. Over the years I barely even registered seeing these things anymore.


    For my eyes alone, Mr. Sunshine exuded first a golden aura followed by a purple afterglow that I found particularly enchanting. Admit it, Sweetie, the reason photography captured you as a little girl was to prove to Mom that fairies are real, I had thought. With fervent effort, my younger self had tried every trick I could contrive, yet I never came upon a camera or f-stop setting that could capture the authentic auras witnessed daily.


    Triggered by the golden glow given off by Mr. Sunshine, a swift succession of images flashed through my mind that day¡ª In the garden at age three: Daddy pointing at a pair of tiny shoes beneath the ferns in the backyard. The shoes swiveled back and walked deeper into the shadowed green. Daddy chuckled and held me tight before kissing my brow and setting me down.


    I re-experienced being in first grade during the third week of school: Leaving the lunchroom, a raucous clatter sounded when a lid fell off a trash can. Turning around, a scream escaped my lips as an ogre dressed in the janitor¡¯s clothes cussed and picked up the lid. The humiliation and taunting of my classmates made me sick for a week.


    At Daddy¡¯s memorial service: The entire world glowed with fairy lights, but especially at the cemetery. Most of the guests emitted light, some had wings. And the air swirled with glitter and scents so sweet I would have cried because it enchanted me so. But I was already crying. Little people¡ªI had been told by my father that they were brownies, fairies, and wind sprites¡ªhid in the lilacs nearby. Little people that my mother said did not exist.


    ¡°They don¡¯t exist,¡± I quoted by rote.


    With a slight shake of my head to clear my mind, I dispelled the images in order to deal with the reality of work.


    Aerrvin as told by Bronwyn


    It wasn¡¯t as if he¡¯d meant to sound petulant. Aerrvin couldn¡¯t have asked for a more faithful servant as found in Bronwyn MacIntash. Making a scene on the beach showed a petulance not often revealed. Most days he was his own Purple self. He loved the qualities of being a Purple Fairy; it allowed him to be more playful and carefree. In his opinion, it was better than being Yellow, like his sister.


    Ah, Harmony, he thought as he lounged upon the shore, she¡¯s the one at fault. Without her demands, I would not have yelled at Bronwyn at all.


    ***


    ¡°I am not selfish! I simply want to do as I please, is that so hard to understand?¡±


    ¡°No, Aerrvin, I understand you. I do. It is just¡ªhmm, you are turning one hundred and ninety years old next month, and you have yet to find a bride. Your parents are beginning to despair, and for them, that is saying something! You know how patient they are,¡± the broad Brownie sighed but kept a steady eye on his charge.


    ¡°I know, I know! If tha¡¯ sister o¡¯ mine had waited a pint-size longer t¡¯marry, they would not be ever fretful!¡± In his frustration, his Irish accent grew thick. ¡°Aye, she be t¡¯cause of all me woes!¡±


    Splashing his foot in the tide pool, Aerrvin appreciated the musical sound as he witnessed the sun catching the liquid diamonds before they rejoined the small impression in the sand. Becalmed, he continued, ¡°Just because tradition says the oldest must have a child first, doesn¡¯t mean it must be so. Does it?¡±


    ¡°Well, sir if I may say so, such a thing has never been done. Do you wish to break tradition, just to see what happens?¡±


    Bronwyn had a point, so Aerrvin agreed to think upon it. The Brownie removed himself a respectful distance away. Each appeared in his natural state, being roughly six inches in height. Bronwyn climbed onto a piece of driftwood and settled down to whittle some delicate whimsy.


    Situated between the two starfish in the tide pool, Aerrvin wriggled to find the most comfortable position. He visualized how he looked as his golden hair swirled in the ripples. His vanity showed on his face at the thought. Though truth be told, Bronwyn sat busily carving that very scene from the driftwood upon which he perched. The rendering would attest to the beauty of the fair prince as his hair danced in unison with the sea urchins and anemones.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The tide inched its way up each half hour, so Aerrvin dared himself to come to a decision before the pool became a part of the ocean herself. Stroking the nubby surface of the purple starfish on his right soothed his anxiety over having yelled at Bronwyn. Not only was he Aerrvin¡¯s personal servant, but the Brownie was also his royal historian and advisor. Brownies are brilliant at most any task they are given and are excellent writers. Aerrvin allowed it was quite disrespectful to lash out against him. Here! Here!


    The truth of the matter was that Aerrvin was also partially White in his genetic make-up, causing him to cycle out of his happy-go-lucky moods from time to time. Being in a White Fairy mood meant that Aerrvin felt a need to withdraw from social contact. Sometimes he hid away for days, other times months. During these cycles, all beings learned that he was best left alone. Even so, being in a White frame of mind meant he could ponder more clearly, and make wiser decisions. It was deemed a good trait for a future King to have. Entering The Land of Dreams within the Void, Aerrvin chose to visit long-past memories¡ªevents, dear reader, which he chooses to keep to himself at present. Suffice it to say he pondered upon each fair maiden he had known up to this point. As the tide neared its highest mark, the delightful Wind Sprite, Mirri Sihee¡ªAerrvin¡¯s constant and invisible-to-most companion¡ªadvised, ¡°My Lord, I do agree, tis time for you to put aside your childhood. If I could wed thee, I surely would, as well you know. But go, make a legend of your search, one worthy of the bards in olden times.¡± Delight warmed his soul causing a small fit of joy to bubble out. ¡°Ha! Mirri you are the light that cheers my soul. How could I find anyone who could compare?¡± Aerrvin hugged his precious companion and nodded; his chin tapped softly against her iridescently sheer shoulder. Then lying back down upon the starfish whereon they lay he continued, ¡°But yes, you are correct: Tis time and time enough to be sure.¡± Mirri Sihee ran her feather soft fingers through his golden locks; breathing sweet songs of peace into his soul. With a mental sigh, Aerrvin rose up out of the tide pool. The young Fairy Prince squared his shoulders as he prepared to upsize to full Human proportions and proclaim his willingness to comply.


    1 Picture Perfect


    And if our dreams should go awry, what then my sweet, what then? ~ Morvayne ap Stewart


    Thursday, May 7, 2009


    For Mara, only one thing filled her life with meaning: her art. Photography consumed her imagination. With her camera, she felt she could make a difference in the world.


    But it wasn¡¯t true. Nothing she did could bring him back. None of her pictures captured the proof she sought. The college student had nothing else to cling to, so she allowed her passion for photography to consume her.


    Mara stood at the crossroads of life that day¡ªunaware of the many eyes trained upon her. The destiny of that single young woman balanced upon a pin, a destiny that would affect the lives of everyone. Those watching noticed that Seattle¡¯s morning hum barely filtered into her consciousness as she walked to the corner to catch the bus. Stop and go traffic, belching exhaust from passing buses, and nearly getting run over by an angry bicyclist did nothing to sway her intense focus.


    Swiping a dark curl out of her eyes, Mara spoke to herself, ¡°Hmm, the assignment is to photograph unique images that represent nature in the city. Nature in the city¡ªnature, natural, hmm.¡± Unable to come to a decision for her college final, she emitted an explosive sigh of exasperation.


    Mara¡¯s face brightened as she neared her bus stop in front of an old, vacant laundromat, bustling with new life. Workers were taking boxes into the building from a truck. She settled lightly on a nearby bench, seemingly enchanted by the blond in particular. Since her camera was already in her hand, Mara snapped a few shots to add to her photo journal. An annoying translucent Wind Sprite kept blocking Mara¡¯s view. Exasperated, she grabbed it around the waist and flung it aside, ignoring its protests as easily as she had ignored the bicyclist. Adjusting the zoom, Mara soon captured the object of her interest.


    In the afternoon sun, an aura of gold emanated away from him for a moment. Her next sigh was vastly different from her previous one.


    That was when her bus arrived. Most of her watchers followed Mara to work and later back home, once again. Yet, one alone remained, intent on knowing more about this golden boy.


    May 8, 2009


    ¡°Friday,¡± Mara said, smoothing her curls in front of the mirror. ¡°Today, I turn in my idea for photography. And I have a calculus test. I hate math!¡± Hastily, she applied a pale pink blush and a light skiff of brown eyeshadow to accentuate her lavender blue eyes. ¡°No time for mascara, I might miss the bus,¡± she murmured as she rushed out of her room.


    Mara¡¯s housemate caught Mara mumbling, she quipped, ¡°Talking to yourself again?¡±


    Jill rented the bedroom suite across the hall. They shared Mara¡¯s house, inherited from her beloved great aunt.


    ¡°Not any more than usual,¡± Mara replied as the two went downstairs for breakfast. ¡°What are we doing tonight?¡±


    ¡°A block party to welcome our new neighbors!¡± Jill shimmied down the stairs and into the kitchen.


    ¡°I am woefully ignorant of any new neighbors, but it sounds fun,¡± Mara responded, grabbing an orange and a granola bar.


    Mara¡¯s lack of enthusiasm and odd vocabulary caused Jill to roll her eyes at her younger housemate.


    Offering Jill a shrug and a smile, Mara went out the door. She walked the half block to the bus stop, but she was earlier than needed, so she walked further down the street to the old laundromat on the next corner.


    ¡°Just to check on their progress,¡± she mused. A small, twisty smile pulled at her mouth. She was lying to herself but wasn¡¯t ready to admit it. Mr. Sunshine¡¯s smile from the day before still played with vibrant color in her mind.

 Chapter 2 - A Gentle Breeze

    A Gentle Breeze


    Then breathe my sisters, through the trees, let us sing the songs of life.


    ~ Mirri Sihee


    Thursday, May 7, 2009


    Aerrvin felt her energy as soon as she arrived outside the store. He and his cousin were carrying boxes inside. Oh, now this girl likes me. A lot. She looks pretty sweet herself. The upsized Fairy couldn¡¯t help wanting to catch her attention with magic. Flipping Somersaults, what can I do? He had his personal scent which some found attractive, of course, but he didn¡¯t have time to waft it towards her. Before he could do anything, she turned and boarded the bus.


    He knew a Human could not see Fairy Light, but his vanity caused him to flash his Purple and Golden Brilliance to the world when he felt her emotions brushing against his soul.


    Aside from those two mystical means for garnering attention, Aerrvin considered that the only other course of action was just that¡ªaction. Chancing boldness, he found her gaze as the bus pulled away. Her thoughts were intense, and Aerrvin couldn¡¯t help but offer his most practiced smirk.


    After the bus pulled away, Aerrvin asked Gareth, ¡°Did you see her? She¡¯s The One.¡±


    Gareth, wearing his black hair in a quasi-bun, stopped to stare at his golden-haired cousin. The two looked identical, apart from hair color, and strangely enough, the pair had been born on the same day. Much like twins, they were close to inseparable. And again, like many twins, their personalities were quite different.


    With eyebrows raised, and his Irish accent not yet moderated to American, Gareth asked, ¡°Why the rush? We have yet to spend two nights in the city!¡±


    ¡°Then I must assume that you did not see her,¡± Aerrvin replied. ¡°Her stunning looks rival Athena¡¯s. But more than that, the Aeries love her. Right, I know the Aeries do not reveal themselves to you. But trust me, the Wind Sprites danced around her like a sweet flower in the meadow, even pulling at her hair. Of a truth, she cast one aside!¡±


    Busily unpacking boxes, their companion, Jaera, rolled her eyes. Unable to hold her tongue, she said, ¡°Crikey, Aerrvin, you must have imagined it. We all know a Human can no more control a Wind Sprite than they can sprout wings and fly. You canna¡¯ marry the first Human ta strike your fancy. Marriage is serious business.¡±


    With a shake of her head, Jaera strode away to shelve the newly unpacked items.


    Very well, I will bide my time and allow things to play out as they will, Aerrvin thought.


    Aerrvin beckoned Mirri Sihee with a wriggling come hither motion of his hand. Few are blessed to see Aeries, but the young Fairy Prince happened to be one such bless¨¦d soul. Once the Wind Sprite was close enough for him to whisper to, he said, ¡°Ask those Sprites why they like that girl so much.¡±


    Then raising his voice as Mirri flew away he called, ¡°And learn her name¡ªand where she lives!¡±


    May 8, 2009


    ¡°Hey, Aerrvin, that girl you like is outside,¡± Gareth called. ¡°Why do you think she is The One?¡± He raised his hands gracefully for dramatic effect. Aerrvin joined Gareth at the window.


    ¡°Magic,¡± Aerrvin replied in his rich Irish accent.


    ¡°Oh, no ¡¯tis not fair, nor allowed,¡± Gareth said. ¡°Compulsion is strictly forbidden. Is that not right, Jaera?¡±


    ¡°Sure as my hair is red, but I doubt he used Compulsion. Did you?¡± With decided poise, Jaera balanced on the topmost step of a ladder, hanging chimes on hooks attached to the ceiling. She faced Aerrvin with her impish lips pursed¡ªawaiting his reply.


    ¡°No, of course not. I am high-born and well-schooled. I used an old spell learned from my great-grandfather before he Faded, great is his memory; it makes me aware of someone when they think about me. I can even feel the emotions they emit. Quite useful among, say¡ªfriends and enemies.¡± Aerrvin paused to glower at Jaera. He held no real grudge against her, but as younglings, Jaera often tried to get Aerrvin in trouble with their teachers.


    ¡°It usually only works on those in whom I have an interest, be they friend or foe, and they must be within twenty spans or so.¡±


    ¡°Limited, but useful,¡± Gareth said. ¡°Will you teach me?¡±


    ¡°Later. Mirri says her name is Mara, and right now I sense this sweet Mara thinking pleasant thoughts about me.¡±


    The golden-haired Fairy smiled. Mara¡¯s thoughts were a touch stronger than pleasant, and Aerrvin liked the passion and hunger she projected. He picked up a wind chime and went outside to hang it on the new post installed for that very purpose. Above the post, a bronze plaque advertised the name and nature of the store.


    In truth, Aerrvin could not say why he found her attention any more compelling than the girls he met at the club the night before, or the girl staring at him from the curb. The sandy-haired girl on the curb willed him to look at her. Yet she didn¡¯t garner his attention. She wants me, and is miffed that I won¡¯t look at her, he thought. This dark-haired beauty has emotions bouncing all over the place. A kind of sorrow echoed deeply, beyond his ken. She¡¯s a puzzle I feel compelled to solve. Suddenly Aerrvin felt a secondary stab of malice and despair aimed at him, but it was so swift and brief he could not pinpoint who projected it.


    ****


    ¡°The Craftsman¡¯s Majick. Perfect! Precisely what we need!¡± Mara exclaimed, raising the uninterested heads of her traveling companions for a moment. Mara rarely spoke directly to her fellow commuters, so it didn¡¯t surprise her watchers that those nearby merely glanced or nodded at her and went back to their own pursuits.


    In silence for a change, she wondered, does my angelic Mr. Sunshine work here or is he just a delivery guy? Then to her surprise and delight, he walked out and looked sidelong at her with a secretive smile gracing his face. He proceeded to hang a wooden wind chime on a hook. A sudden puff of air blew his golden locks up off his collar and danced through the pipes, causing the chimes to sound: sweet and mellow.


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± Mara marveled as the bus arrived.


    A fresh scented sea breeze wafted towards her. With reluctance, Mara boarded and took her customary seat halfway back. Closing her eyes, she almost saw an afterimage of a tiny form dancing among the chimes. In her mind¡¯s eye, she saw the breeze lifting the angelic store clerk¡¯s hair up off his collar. Firmly shaking her head to dispel the fantastical imagery, she exhaled a musical swoon.


    ¡°Now, why didn¡¯t I take a picture?!¡± Mara whispered on the crowded bus. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got it! My final project will be about the effects of wind in the city. I¡¯m glad I only have two classes today. I can¡¯t wait to begin!¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Her seatmate nodded absently. She¡¯d sat with Mara before.


    ****


    Mara captured simple images: the flag extended by the breeze, students brushing hair out of their eyes, a seagull hovering in place on a warm current of air. She went to the docks to get the wind on the water. The blustery afternoon offered spectacular shots of sails puffed out and quintessential white caps. In a parking lot, she managed to spy a particularly artful arrangement of windswept trash flung up against a chain link fence.


    ¡°Edgy¡ªdefinitely edgy,¡± she mused in satisfaction. In time, her wandering brought her back to her side of town where she once again stood in front of The Craftsman¡¯s Majick.


    ¡°Are you going in or not?¡± Mara questioned herself. ¡°Yes, of course, I am,¡± she answered.


    Inside, the musty laundromat appeared to have undergone a magical transformation. Bright swaths of jewel-toned silk billowing down the walls offered a cheery effect. Mara felt like she had won a prize as she walked from row to row. With delight, she found photography supplies. Not many craft stores carried them, so with abandon, the photography student selected several things needed to restock her darkroom and even some she did not. Precariously balancing her items, she got in line to make her purchase. Looking ahead for Mr. Sunshine, her countenance fell.


    ¡°So he doesn¡¯t work the counter, after all,¡± she whispered.


    As she waited, she watched a tiny red-haired teen straightening the shelves. At the register, an efficient woman with sandy brown hair and warm eyes turned her attention towards Mara.


    ¡°My! What an armful,¡± remarked the cashier. Her nametag read, ¡°Button.¡±


    Unable to stop herself, Mara blurted, ¡°Your name is Button?¡±


    ¡°Why yes it is, and a finer name I¡¯ve never had.¡±


    Someone behind Mara sniggered. Blushing, Mara pulled out her debit card and completed her transaction in silence. On her way out the door she muttered, ¡°Mm, that didn¡¯t go so well.¡±


    ¡°What didn¡¯t go so well?¡± asked a decidedly smooth voice.


    Feeling the humiliation crawl up her neck, Mara turned back. There he stood next to the wooden wind chimes; the wind once again fluttered Mr. Sunshine¡¯s hair as the soft melody sounded: vibrant and clear.


    With a catch of her breath, she stammered, ¡°Oh, ah¡ªI¡ªI think I offended your boss.¡±


    ¡°My boss?¡± he asked with a single raised brow.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve never heard of anyone named Button before,¡± Mara replied, gaining composure.


    ¡°Never you mind. Button is an old family. . .¡± he twisted his lips in thought before continuing with, ¡°friend. And a sweeter lady you will never meet.¡±


    With a nod at her full arms, Aerrvin offered, ¡°Would you like help with your packages? I do believe I am going your way.¡±


    ¡°You are? Sure, I guess I did go overboard. I got so excited when I saw all the supplies I needed. I couldn¡¯t help myself.¡± Mara handed over the larger of the two bags, shifted her backpack to a more comfortable position, and headed up the block. As they crossed the street in silence, Mara felt his gaze on her from time to time.


    ¡°I am somewhat afraid to tell you my name¡ªsince you go about offending people with unusual appellations . . .¡± he began.


    Mara interjected, ¡°Oh, no! Whatever name, my name is Mara, Mara Jamis.¡±


    ¡°. . . and I am Aerrvin ap Rosewin,¡± he finished with a half turn, and extinguishing the impulse to bow, he flourished his free hand¡ªwithout her notice. Watching to see her reaction he waited, both eyebrows raised, and a near-smile tickling his lips.


    ¡°Ah, yes, I¡¯ve never heard that one before, but it suits you. You¡¯ve got a slight accent. Where are you from?¡±


    ¡°My friends and I moved here from Ireland some time back. We have a place on the peninsula, but I wanted to try my hand as a businessman; so I opened the craft store. I am excited to see how it goes.¡±


    In shame, she covered her face with one hand; Mara did not think she could be more embarrassed. The store belongs to him!


    ¡°Sooo, Button works for you?¡± Mara cringed, not hearing his reply.


    After turning up the sidewalk to her house, instead of fumbling for her key Mara rang the bell for Jill to open the door. Projecting calm, she turned to face Aerrvin, still sporting that slight smile on his charming face. His eyes pierced her soul. He nodded with the fluid grace of a martial artist bowing to his master and then handed Mara her bag. Her heart thundered.


    As he turned away, he called back, ¡°I¡¯ll see you tonight.¡±


    Jill opened the door and gushed, ¡°Oh, sweet! You met the new guy down the street. Isn¡¯t he ca¡ªute?¡±


    Still mortified, Mara moaned, ¡°He¡¯s coming to the party?¡±


    ****


    Jill made a big production out of her parties. Her friends across the street were often invited to set up their mondo bulky speakers on the patio. The young neighborhood never complained about noise.


    As a sous chef with intentions of opening her own catering business, Jill¡¯s food never failed to delight and amaze. The only thing she allowed Mara to help with was decorating.


    ¡°I found inspiration at the craft store, Jill, I hope you don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m hanging these gauzy curtains all around the gazebo. I want to get a few creative shots of the wind catching the curtains.¡±


    ¡°No problem, kid. Do you want Dougie to bring his colored lights to shine on them?¡± Jill asked, rubbing dough from her fingers into the sink.


    ¡°Sure, that would be awesome.¡±


    At 6:00 p.m. and satisfied with her work, Mara made her way into the kitchen. The gazebo already had white Christmas lights spiraling up the columns and around the perimeter of the scrollwork below the roof. Mara¡¯s Great Aunt Lily had kept a stunning flower garden, and often hosted tea parties with her niece and grandnieces. As a result, Mara held fond memories of the gazebo and ensured that she kept the yard up to Aunt Lily¡¯s standards.


    The yard was small, but lovely considering they were right in the middle of the ever-growing Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue megalopolis. Spring in Seattle is not the best time for outdoor parties with a significant amount of success. Rain might fall at any given moment, but it had been sunny, and the temperature remained pleasant at seventy-one degrees.


    The covered patio and the two oversized French doors connected the outdoors with the dining hall. The dining hall stood empty because Mara had sold the antique dining set to pay for that year¡¯s tuition. Overall the place was large enough to host thirty or so of their closest neighbors and friends, which Jill would do every week had Mara not put her foot down: two parties a month maximum.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯d better get cleaned up,¡± Mara said. ¡°How about you, Jill, are you done making all your goodies?¡±


    ¡°Almost, one last batch of mini quiches and then I¡¯m done. Don¡¯t use up all the hot water!¡± Jill called out as Mara ran past to avoid the sponge in Jill¡¯s upraised hand.


    Each reveled in using up as much hot water as they could stand; it was the one real contention between them, but even then they rarely ever ran out.


    ****


    ¡°And what is the dress standard for one of these ¡°block¡± parties?¡± Aerrvin asked. The look of skepticism was not lost on Bronwyn as the two of them surveyed the contents of the prince¡¯s closet.


    ¡°Begging your pardon, Your Highness, it is not as though you are attending Princess Victoria¡¯s birthday party,¡± Bronwyn replied. His nose, aimed at the ceiling, twitched. ¡°It has been sixty years since our last excursion among Humans, and I am sorry to say, party clothes have gone downhill. You will wear no formal clothing tonight; simple jeans and a silk shirt for appearance¡¯s sake. This will have to do.¡± Bronwyn cut short his opinion with a sniff and retrieved an outfit from the closet.


    ¡°Ah well, these jeans are not as comfortable as silk, but they do tend to grow on a body.¡± Aerrvin¡¯s voice became muffled as he pulled on a gray muscle shirt to wear beneath his midnight blue shirt.


    ¡°Thank me little ¡¯uns for that. Each night they wash ¡¯em and wear ¡¯em to soften ¡¯em up. Next time have me wife Button make your jeans, rather than buying or acquiring them elsewise; then they will be perfect from the start!¡±


    Aerrvin nodded in near sober agreement at his most trusted adviser. Both knew he might obey, but more than likely he would not.


    ¡°Now then, we are all set. Jaera, you look lovely as usual. What kind of shirt is that, Gareth?¡± Aerrvin scrutinized his cousin.


    ¡°It¡¯s flannel! Everyone wears it.¡± He grinned. Then opening it up he proclaimed, ¡°I even got the perfect t-shirt to go with it.¡± Sporting a smug grin, he revealed a swamp green T-shirt with the Space Needle on it.


    Aerrvin¡¯s eyebrows rose, touching the fabric he said, ¡°Yes, it looks like flannel, but it¡¯s so thin and not made of wool. Very well then. Are you sure you do not want to come along, Bronwyn?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no. ¡¯Tis quite all right with me. I¡¯ll stay home with Button and me lassies and reminisce about the time I did go to Princess Victoria¡¯s birthday party; you were mere babes then. Besides, I need young Seamus here to go and learn the trade. As I age, I will have a need to pass on the quill.¡±


    Bronwyn¡¯s middle child, Seamus, had been born one month after the prince. The two had grown up together and quite enjoyed each other¡¯s company.


    ¡°Now then, if you would shrink him to his proper five inches, and make him transparent so as not to cause the Humans alarm, Your Highness.¡±


    Bronwyn nodded as his invisible, shimmering son climbed to sit upon Aerrvin¡¯s shoulder using a hank of his hair to keep from sliding off.


    Humans cannot see the shimmer unless their eyes are touched with magic. Brownies are rarely seen, even without an invisibility spell, because they are so adept at camouflage. They live in almost every home ever built. Truth be told, they would offer so much help if only people knew of their existence. Their primary task is to keep pests at bay, rats and Goblins being their foremost enemies.


    ¡°Seamus, you might need to braid a shank to make a more secure hold for yerself.¡±


    ¡°Aye, Father.¡± His fingers seemed to fly as he wove an intricate braid with the hair from behind Aerrvin¡¯s left ear. He finished by tying it up with a strand of gold thread.


    With the ever-present Wind Sprite blowing his golden hair, Aerrvin and his companions set out to attend their first block party.

 Chapter 3 - Of Golden Sunsets

    Of Golden Sunsets


    Trailing feather-soft butterfly kisses across the sky, she paints


    kaleidoscopic splendor in the heavens.


    ~ Aerrvin ap Rosewin


    Friday, May 8, 2009


    Mara¡¯s house sat in the center of the block seven houses down from the Victorian mansion Aerrvin rented. The Fairies¡¯ love of the gentle humid air of Seattle emanated from their very beings; they radiated joy. It was not raining, but clouds were forming to the west. Aerrvin knew the sunset would be fantastic. He despised missing a single one¡ªdusk being his favorite time of day.


    Cold temperatures do not affect magical beings much, but the warmth of the sun infuses bliss into the soul. The current temperature held steady at sixty-nine degrees with no wind, except around Aerrvin, who, thanks to Miree, always brought a bit of a breeze wherever he went.


    ¡°Jaera, I think your Fairy Dust is a little overbearing.¡± With a slight wave of Aerrvin¡¯s hand, a breeze sent a smattering of sparkles free. ¡°You don¡¯t need much to garner attention among college students,¡± Aerrvin admonished as he assessed her attire.


    Jaera was a five-foot, fire-haired, freckle-faced imp of a girl and could get away with wearing her regular attire: pale green leggings with a filmy, flowing short top in shades of lavender and pink accented by a green scarf around her neck. She insisted she kept her curls cut short to make them bouncy. However, most agreed it was to keep her hair from getting tangled in the brambles which she so loved to climb. The only change to her wardrobe was a pair of strappy high-heeled sandals.


    Aerrvin nodded to her shoes. ¡°How easy is it to wear those, anyway?¡±


    ¡°As easy as dancing.¡± Jaera twirled to prove her statement before resuming her natural bouncy pace beside Gareth.


    Approaching the front door, Aerrvin slowed to look at his timepiece. They hoped to be fashionably late, but not too late, considering they were the guests of honor.


    ¡°Ah, here we go,¡± Aerrvin said.


    ¡°You sound nervous, my friend,¡± Gareth said with a grin.


    ¡°Have you tried to woo a wife?¡± Aerrvin asked, with a pointed stare at Jaera¡¯s backside and then back to Gareth as she rang the doorbell.


    ¡°Touch¨¦,¡± Gareth replied with a lopsided frown. He kept Jaera as an option, but like all Fairies, making up his mind was hard. Still, Jaera remained his first choice.


    Jill answered the door. ¡°Yay! You¡¯re here! I¡¯m so glad you came. Let me introduce you . . .¡±


    The Fairy Prince scanned the room. Aerrvin¡¯s delight with the style and d¨¦cor suffused him with a gentle glow. It felt homey. Upon entering the house, one could use either of the two coat closets left and right, then the rooms opened up to either side. To the left was a study with a luxurious brown leather sofa and two matching chairs. Burgundy curtains and pillows complemented both the leather and the navy blue carpet. Positively cozy, thought Aerrvin. On the right and on into the main hall, which should have been a dining room, the beautiful cherry wood flooring shone as with great care.


    ¡°Brownies live here, most assuredly,¡± he mused under his breath.


    ¡°Aye,¡± answered Seamus in his ear.


    The living room to the right soothed the senses with its soft coloring contrasting the study. Guests sat on and around the pale lavender couches; some sat on the rectangular angora rug between the wraparound sectional. With a twinge of jealous emotion, Aerrvin noted guests idly handling the tactile silk and velvet pillows. The aubergine pillows accented the sofas beautifully. The mantel stood out on the western wall as the main feature of the room, marred somewhat by the large screen TV mounted above.


    In the northwest corner sat a curious chair of evident antiquity. The chair had a grand high back, suitable for royalty. The cushioned seat and back were a beautiful shade of pale yellow, tufted with lavender buttons. The desire to sit in something that delightful made Aerrvin itch! Wriggling his shoulders, he continued his quick perusal of the room.


    Near the fanciful chair sat a long buffet table, placed under the front windows and piled high with tempting treats. Aerrvin ensured that Jill knew that neither he nor his friends ate red meat. In the last corner sat a pile of large red, blue and purple pillows perfect for lounging on.


    Still no sight of Mara. Masking his disappointment, Aerrvin greeted his neighbors as Jill introduced him to those in the room; then she excused herself to greet more guests. With one regretful glance at the chair, Aerrvin took the proffered pillow from Gareth and joined him, along with Jaera, on the floor in front of the other guests.


    ¡°Stay seated, you just got here,¡± said a blonde girl.


    She grabbed a friend, and they sashayed to the table where they filled plates with finger foods. A short, stocky man offered to get beers for the group.


    ¡°No, thanks. Water or milk for me,¡± Gareth replied. The tone and clarity of Gareth¡¯s voice could capture the attention of all who heard it¡ªto say it was musical would be an understatement.


    Sliding her eyes sideways toward her friend, another girl went into the kitchen to inform Jill. Meanwhile, Jaera retrieved two lemon-lime sodas for herself and Aerrvin. Soda does not affect Fairies the way alcohol affects Humans, but the carbon dioxide itself was quite addicting to Fair Ones of any kind and induced cheer nonetheless. Gareth thought it altered his voice, so he did his best to avoid carbonated drinks. On the other hand, Jaera could not seem to consume enough.


    The blonde and her friend returned with three plates and sat down on the floor beside Gareth and Aerrvin. ¡°Here you are, sorry¡ªseems to be all fruit and bread tonight. Jill always makes amazing stuff, though,¡± Blondie said, as she picked up a fruit kabob.


    ¡°No problem. Seems all my favorites are here,¡± Aerrvin replied, glancing over to see Gareth brush hands with the girl bringing him ice water.


    ¡°Sorry, no milk,¡± she said, biting her lip.


    Attracting attention is never a problem for Fairies and Elves. Making friends is as easy as drinking water and dancing. The problem for Aerrvin was making a commitment at all. A pull to befriend Mara washed over him. She might be someone I could enjoy spending nine hundred or so years with. But all the girls and half the guys in the room are thinking about me. Granted, not all are pleased; some are jealous, of course. A smile tickled his lips for a moment. He loved how the Ware Spell let him feel the strength of a person¡¯s reaction to his presence.


    Not that he needed the spell to know the effect. With focus, he could hear the blonde girl¡¯s heartbeat and quickened breath; her sense of longing tantalized him. Maybe I should sample more freely first.


    Offering a wry smile, he asked, ¡°What was your name? I failed to pay attention during the introductions.¡±


    With a toothy smile of her own, she replied, ¡°Bonnie Grant. I live one house down from you, I think. You¡¯re staying in the Victorian on the corner, right?¡±


    ****


    Jill found Mara in the backyard. ¡°Mara, you¡¯re ridiculous! You can¡¯t hide out here all night. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s judging you for misunderstanding his status. Who would think a twenty-something guy owned the place?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah it¡¯s just that¡ªI don¡¯t know. He¡¯s so cute he makes me nervous.¡±


    ¡°Fine, stay here and take your pictures. I¡¯m going to send people out to dance; it¡¯ll give you a few people to shoot.¡± Jill paused and then added, ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like you¡¯re getting much wind, though.¡±


    Mara realized she was acting childish. ¡°But I do need to get these pictures. Let¡¯s see¡­¡± Raising her voice, she called, ¡°Hey, Dougie, can you pose for me?¡±


    Dougie was not model material by any stretch, but his craggy face presented a wind-etched appearance. Mara assumed it was from all the sailing he did on the weekends. She posed him on the garden bench after he adjusted his sound system for the umpteenth time. The weathered fence and flowering vines in partial bloom made an excellent backdrop. Twenty minutes remained before sunset, making ideal light and shadows.


    ¡°That¡¯s perfect, Dougie. Try not to smile. Great!¡±


    ¡°My turn, my turn!¡± claimed two fellow students from college. Jill had tried more than once to get Mara to go out on the town with either one of them, but Mara always had an excuse.


    ¡°Okay, let me think,¡± Mara answered. ¡°Oh, and thanks, Dougie, you were perfect.¡±


    He inclined his shaggy head as he backed away before returning to the house. Mara smiled to see a glimmer of happiness in Dougie¡¯s perpetually glum appearance.


    Facing the guys, she said, ¡°I¡¯m trying to show the effects of wind in the city. I can¡¯t take many pictures until the wind picks up.¡±


    ¡°How about a fan?¡± Joe asked.


    ¡°I thought about that, but it would be cheating. The pictures will mean more to me if they are authentic.¡±


    More people spilled out of the house to dance and enjoy the evening before it got too cold. A gentle breeze picked up the curtains on the gazebo right as Mara noticed Bonnie dancing with Aerrvin.


    An involuntary gasp escaped. Squinting, Mara¡¯s lip protruded as Aerrvin took both of Bonnie¡¯s hands in his and swung her about jitterbug style. She turned back to Joe and ordered, ¡°Get a girl with long flowing hair; I need a fantastic shot before the wind dies!¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Joe snapped back with a smile.


    In the meantime, Mara took several shots of the curtains dancing with the music, while studiously ignoring the peripheral rainbow hues she always saw flitting around when the wind blew. The sun turned from yellow to gold, causing the entire gazebo to appear as if on fire, or made of lustrous gold.


    Time ceased when Mara became engrossed in her art.


    ¡°Fantastic,¡± she breathed.


    ¡°It is,¡± said that familiar smooth voice. ¡°What are you doing, by the way? I mean, why are you always taking photographs?¡± Aerrvin asked.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Still taking pictures, Mara replied, ¡°I¡¯m a photographer. My final is due soon, and I need to get these shots before the wind dies.¡±


    Joe returned with Bonnie, the only girl at the party with waist- length hair.


    Smiling to herself, Mara directed them to the center of the gazebo and asked them to pretend they were slow dancing despite the hip-hop pouring from the speakers. Amazingly, the wind behaved perfectly, the curtains billowed, and Bonnie¡¯s pale blonde hair shone gold as the sun settled to orange. The gentle breeze lifted her hair higher than seemed possible; the shot was brilliant.


    Mara could not contain her joy. ¡°This is so awesomely cool!¡±


    Hearing a chuckle, she remembered Aerrvin stood behind her. She turned to look at him and saw the most beautiful sunset ever; the clouds covered half the sky. Brilliant oranges, pinks, and purples melted into each other. Aerrvin displayed as a silhouette against the light. While he stood facing the sunset, Mara admired his shoulder-skimming hair as it flowed away from his face. Without pausing, she continued snapping pictures. When he turned to face her, she stopped.


    ¡°Oops! Sorry, couldn¡¯t help myself,¡± Mara explained as her face warmed. Pushing herself, she asked, ¡°Would you mind standing in the gazebo so I can get a few more pictures? I would like to go around to the other side so I can get you and the curtains in the sunset. Please?¡±


    Looking down at her, he inclined his head with a gentle nod and replied, ¡°Not a problem, as long as I can watch the sunset.¡± In reality, he was trying to comprehend her, but he maintained a calm fa?ade.


    While Mara moved to the eastern side of the yard, Aerrvin walked to the center of the structure. The music became smooth and calming. Gareth and Jaera found no difficulty in joining their companion in his evening ritual, so they sat out of the way on the gazebo stairs. Aerrvin stayed in the center the entire time it took the sun to descend. With the wind billowing the curtains in and out, Mara was confident she had captured grade A photos.


    ****


    ¡°Aerrvin,¡± Seamus said in his ear, ¡°would ye mind if I slipped down and visited with the Brownies? I am sure I can learn quite a bit about yer bride to be.¡±


    ¡°Sure, and I¡¯ll even make you visible again. That Brownie lass under the fern there is rather fetching. For a Brownie,¡± he amended with a mischievous twitch. ¡°And Miree, tell your friends to cease their games in the curtains when Mara joins me.¡±


    ¡°Aye, Love. But are ye certain she¡¯ll be joinin¡¯?


    Aerrvin shrugged.


    ****


    Secretly pleased to witness Aerrvin talking to himself, Mara said, ¡°So I¡¯m not the only one.¡±


    Dusk settled; a pale pink glow remained, fading to purple. With a delighted laugh, Jaera grabbed Gareth and began delicately dancing about the yard. Gareth was pretty lithe himself; the form appeared to be a type of Irish jig, yet nothing Mara had ever seen.


    Within minutes, they had everyone laughing and trying to copy their steps. Dougie turned on the colored lights, but after the spectacular sunset, nothing else compared. Mara took a few shots to honor the effort of putting them up and then decided to quit for the night.


    Inhaling deeply, Mara spoke to Aerrvin, ¡°Thank you. You don¡¯t need to stand there all night.¡±


    ¡°¡¯Tis quite all right. I can stand for hours adoring Helios.¡±


    Settling on the built-in bench, Aerrvin motioned for her to join him. The wind died down, the curtains blurred the view, softening the lights. ¡°So, tell me about yourself.¡± Interrupting as she started to speak, he asked, ¡°Do you always host parties and then avoid your guests?¡±


    Flabbergasted, she didn¡¯t know whether to be embarrassed or angry. ¡°Well I have never¡ª¡± she began, but before she could complete her sentence, Aerrvin took her hand and apologized. Her breath skipped as he stroked her hand, softly running his thumb across the back in a kind of circular fashion.


    ¡°I am sorry. That came out rude. Really, just¡ªtell me about yourself.¡±


    Using her hands expressively, she exclaimed, ¡°You don¡¯t come up to people and say: Tell me about yourself. What am I supposed to say? I¡¯m in my last year of school. I work at the Safe Harbor Retirement Center four days a week. I have a mom, a step-dad, a step-brother and two half-sisters!¡±


    She looked questioningly at him and charged, ¡°Tell me about yourself.¡±


    His eyes sparkled as he pulled on his braid, sliding its silky softness through his fingers. Aerrvin answered, ¡°You are right, you already know I own a craft store and come from Ireland. Ah, here¡¯s something; I have a mom, a dad, and one annoying baby sister. Not much to say. Come on; the night is young. Will you dance with me?¡±


    ****


    Leaving the gazebo a few songs later, Mara shivered in the evening chill. Jaera and the others were relatively calm again. Getting drunk was strictly forbidden; Mara had kicked out guests before, and some never got invited back, not that they cared.


    ¡°Oh, I forgot my camera. . . ¡± she started and then stopped as Aerrvin held out the strap for her.


    Once inside, she realized it was 9:30 already. Maybe it was a little more than a few songs later. Still, it was relatively early as far as parties go. In the living room, Jill started a game of Pictionary, and in the study, Dougie¡¯s group of friends stood around looking at videos online.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s my new computer, guys. Don¡¯t break it!¡± Mara called.


    Sudden sharp hunger pangs hit Mara, having not eaten since tasting one of Jill¡¯s mini quiches right out of the oven at 5 o¡¯clock¡ªand she¡¯d missed lunch altogether.


    Jaera stood on the edge of the living room with a plate of fruit and pastries, ¡°Hungry?¡±


    ¡°Why yes, I¡¯m famished.¡± Mara gratefully accepted the plate and went into the living room to watch the game. Most of the pillows were taken, so she went to her favorite chair and carefully balanced the plate on her knees. When she realized that it left Jaera and Aerrvin without a seat, she started to get up.


    Gathering the free pillows, Aerrvin said, ¡°That¡¯s perfectly okay. I enjoy sitting at the feet of pretty women.¡±


    He flashed a twisted smirk. Jaera groaned, pinned him to the ground, and tousled his hair. The display was rather intimate, causing more than one raised eyebrow. Mara inhaled deeply, letting her breath out slowly. Jaera appeared quite green for a moment.


    ¡°Um, I have not had a chance to talk with you. Are you Aerrvin¡¯s little sister?¡±


    Before she could answer, Gareth gracefully plopped between Jaera and Aerrvin and stole one of Aerrvin¡¯s pillows. ¡°Not even close,¡± Gareth said.


    This comment set off another wrestling match, ending with Jaera on top, pummeling Gareth¡¯s chest with her tiny fists while he laughed uproariously.


    ¡°Sorry. I give, I give!¡± Gareth exclaimed, earning his release. He sat up to straighten his dark hair; a gentle shake and it fell silkily into place around his shoulders.


    Mara was not used to such roughhousing. Her evident consternation worried Aerrvin, so he reached over to Mara¡¯s plate and took a carrot. Handing it to Jaera, he said, ¡°No more soda.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father,¡± she replied and then with a glance at Mara she piped, ¡°No, he¡¯s not my father either. We grew up together, and Gareth is his cousin; I am Gareth¡¯s best friend, so where he goes, I go.¡±


    Gareth tugged on one of Jaera¡¯s curls. ¡°Well said.¡±


    Meanwhile, Seamus returned, having waited behind a flower pot until acknowledged and transformed back to transparency. Once again sitting on Aerrvin¡¯s shoulder, he quickly informed Aerrvin about the darkroom in the basement.


    Breathing deeply to relieve the pressure in his chest, Aerrvin felt gratitude for the tip. Jaera¡¯s antics made him feel perturbed. But his real worry was whether he was doing the right thing. On the outside, he was as smooth as could be. But inside he was a roiling mass of conflicting emotions. If I did fall in love with her and she could not believe in magic, it would be one more heartache to add to my small collection of failed relationships. Ah, the pain! Despite how he hated that pain, he nursed those emotions when feeling down, essentially spiraling into a bottomless abyss of self-torture. Now was not the time for such dark thoughts. He pushed aside his petty worries and watched Mara finish eating a fruit kabob. Her lips are as luscious as that strawberry, he thought. How sweet and tender they must be.


    Licking his lips before addressing Mara, Aerrvin said, ¡°We will have you over one of these days so we can get to know each other better. But for now, show me your darkroom.¡± It was stilted, nearly a royal command; even so, he managed to refrain from ¡®shall and should.¡¯


    ¡°How did you know I had a darkroom?¡±


    ¡°I carried your supplies this afternoon, remember?¡± A half-smile twitched on his expressive lips.


    ¡°Oh, yeah. I have had such a busy day! I can¡¯t remember half of it. Sure you can have a tour,¡± she replied, inviting all three.


    Jaera and Gareth declined. ¡°No thanks,¡± Gareth said, ¡°I want to have a look at your computer. I need to get one myself.¡± He fit right in with the geeks, most of Dougie¡¯s friends were dressed in flannel too.


    Jaera thought Pictionary looked fun, so she went and sat on the nearest empty lap, earning sour looks from the girls sitting nearby.


    The drizzle turned into an absolute downpour; Dougie and Jake came in with the sound system as Mara and Aerrvin walked past. Dougie gave her a polite nod.


    ****


    In the kitchen, Jill busied herself with tidying up. She flashed her pearly whites and gave Mara a thumbs up as Mara motioned Aerrvin down the basement stairs. Mara couldn¡¯t remember the last time she had felt so out of control. Her heart was speeding, and she kept blushing. Probably at senior prom. Did I really think Gerry Fink was all that?


    ¡°Not even half,¡± Mara murmured.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Aerrvin asked.


    ¡°Oh, not even half of the basement is complete. I¡¯ve been remodeling. The house was built in 1890 and has a remarkably large basement¡ªconsidering its age.¡±


    Two exposed walls revealed part of the basement foundation made of river rock and mortar. The room could have been a game room, but Mara did not care for pool or ping-pong. Wires ran along the walls, where photos hung from clothespins. It was bright and clean, with two counters¡ªused for folding clothes¡ªand pantry shelves beneath where Jill kept extra foodstuffs.


    Embarrassingly to Mara, there sat two baskets of unfinished laundry, one washed and one not. While Aerrvin studied the photos, she hastily emptied the washer and started the new load.


    ¡°Okay, so this over here is my studio and darkroom,¡± she said as she waved to the remainder of the basement. To the left, stood the door to the darkroom. The room was 10¡¯x10¡¯. Even though Mara used digital, she preferred the old-fashioned way of crafting pictures.


    While developer does not necessarily smell good or bad, Mara always breathed in deeply when first entering the room. She associated the odor with the magic of watching pictures emerge; it gave her a thrill every time.


    Mara¡¯s excitement became infectious. She exuded her love of photography in an almost tangible way. Aerrvin enjoyed her sense of aesthetics and delight. Her pictures were remarkable. In the red glow, Aerrvin picked up one of himself and Gareth moving boxes into their store; they were each wearing khakis and t-shirts. Gareth was saying something to Aerrvin. The photo captured the prince¡¯s mischievous grin, which he practiced for fifty years to perfect.


    ¡°You take magnificent pictures,¡± Aerrvin said, jauntily sporting that same wicked grin. ¡°Can I have this copy?¡±


    Caught off guard again, Mara gasped softly; Aerrvin always looked as though he were posing for a picture. How could such a perfect being be interested in me?


    She gave her head a shake to dispel the thought and replied, ¡°Ah, yeah, yes¡ªsure. Please, take any of these that you want. I¡¯ve got one of Jaera, which she might like too.¡±


    ¡°Can you show me how you develop a picture?¡± Aerrvin turned his attention to the counter while brushing up against her with seeming casualness.


    Mara forgot to be self-conscious as she efficiently taught him the process. She even laughed at his jokes instead of blushing. As they came out of the darkroom, Jill entered the laundry room with dirty tablecloths and dishtowels. ¡°Hey you two, it¡¯s after 11:30. Not that late, but most people have left, and Jaera has fallen asleep.¡±


    Heading for the stairs, Aerrvin said, ¡°Poor Jae, she has not slept this past fortnight. I guess it¡¯s catching up with her.¡±


    In the living room, Mara found Jaera was indeed asleep, curled up on Kevin¡¯s lap. He did not look like he was too upset about it, but when he saw them, Kevin said, ¡°It¡¯s about time you got here. I think my arm¡¯s asleep!¡±


    The phone rang. Wondering who would be calling so late, Mara answered. Bronwyn was on the line saying that he was in the car outside. Not that they needed a car; Bronwyn just liked to drive. Mara relayed the message.


    Aerrvin bent over Jaera to wake her. Once a Fairy crashes, it takes a lot to get them lucid. ¡°Jaera? Can you get up? Oh, never mind. Gareth you take her. I¡¯ll get the door.¡±


    Gareth relieved Kevin of his burden and held her in the crook of his arm like a wee babe. He gave Jill and then Mara a hug with the other, ¡°Thanks for the welcome party. We had so much fun¡­¡± Turning to another neighbor, he said, ¡°¡­loved the dancing.¡±


    Outside, a sleek gray car with a black top waited. The driver got out, opened the back passenger door for Gareth and Jaera, and then stood to wait for Aerrvin.


    Aerrvin hugged Jill, thanking her for the party and praising her culinary skills. Then he hugged Mara and kissed her cheek. ¡°Thank you for the delightful company.¡±


    His near purple eyes lingered on her face a moment, and she felt her cheeks grow warm. Dropping her own lavender hued gaze, she managed a muffled, ¡°Bye,¡± as her fingers flew to her mouth.


    Then the final partygoers all said their goodbyes and left.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Jill screamed, ¡°I finally did it. I knew I could find someone to interest you!¡±


    She hugged Mara and danced her around the room.


    Mara smiled in return and replied, ¡°I guess you do know what you are doing, and it only took you three years!¡± With a sarcastic smirk, she hugged Jill back.


    Jill went to the kitchen to ensure the oven was turned off. With a sigh, Mara straightened the pillows in both front rooms. The leftover food could wait; they would finish cleaning in the morning. Mara had a habit of ignoring how much food was left because the next day it never matched up with her memory.


    ¡°Best not to think about it.¡±


    At the top of the stairs, she called out, ¡°Good night, Jill.¡±


    Mara yawned, closing the door to her room. She thought about her preference to be particularly neat, so as not to cause extra work for the Brownies.


    ¡°Not that I really believe in them,¡± she said to herself as she reached for her toothbrush.


    Ever since she met a Brownie, whom she named Sylvie, when Mara was three years old, she had learned to put things back in their place. And Mara always cleaned thoroughly every Saturday. She hadn¡¯t spoken with Sylvie since she was five, so of course, she didn¡¯t really think it had happened.


    ¡°Just fairytales,¡± she told herself, pulling on a cotton nightgown. Flipping off the light, she climbed into bed.


    Her window looked out on the backyard where the lights from the gazebo remained on; a soft glow shone on her windowsill. With a smile, she remembered dancing in the gentle breeze behind the curtains. Falling asleep with her eyes open, she saw a tiny figure climb into the window.


    ¡°Sylvie,¡± she breathed as her eyes slid shut.

 Chapter 4 - Curious Dreams

    Curious Dreams


    To dream and feel more alive than ever, that was the gift I¡¯d gained¡ªand lost.


    ~ Amanda Powers


    Saturday, May 9, 2009


    After climbing into the car, Aerrvin reverted to his usual six-inch self.


    ¡°Bronwyn, please let me out. I want to dance a little longer.¡±


    It should be common knowledge that Fairies love to dance and sing the night away. Even in the busy city, right from the car, one could witness several groups cavorting in the rain. Jaera had been joining in that fun for the past wee bit and drinking way too much soda for her own good; she would not awaken until Sunday at the earliest. Even if he refused to admit it, Gareth was hopelessly devoted to the Green Fairy. Not that Aerrvin wanted company. Bronwyn rolled down the window, allowing Aerrvin to flit away.


    Tap-tap-tapping on the bedroom window pane, Aerrvin startled Sylvie as she gently danced about dusting the window casing.


    Sylvie opened it a crack and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m busy here. What do you want?¡±


    ¡°I want to come in.¡± Aerrvin added his winning smile for leverage.


    The smile did not sway Sylvie. ¡°You were here already, the party is over and don¡¯t you be waking my person!¡±


    Beyond him, she caught a nod from one of the guardians of the house hovering in the tree. This approval gave Sylvie permission to let him enter.


    ¡°Fine, you may sit on the bedpost. I am cleaning, and I shan¡¯t have Fairy Dust to clean up as well!¡±


    ¡°Feisty! Now I know why Seamus went about humming in my ear the rest of the evening.¡±


    His comment sent the fair Brownie maiden into a flurry of dusting. Aerrvin scanned the room, and it did not disappoint. ¡°P¡¯raps I shoulda set up an interior design comp¡¯ny¡ªHumans have a lot o¡¯ textiles and furnishings, which do excite me senses,¡± he mused aloud, forgetting his diction. His fascination with texture was legendary in the Fairy world. ¡°I dare say, this wee laddie could even improve a few things here.¡±


    His comment brought a ¡°Humph!¡± from Sylvie.


    Aerrvin danced a little jig when he discovered, decked out as he was, that Mara did not hate lace. He wore purple silk pants, and a spider-web silk shirt, with lace spilling down his chest as well as from the extra-long cuffs he preferred. Over this, he sported a black velvet brocade jacket with tails down to his knees, accented with a lace hankie peeking from the pocket.


    Perched on the foot of her bed, the Fairy Prince admired Mara in her ruffled white nightgown, with her midnight curls cascading onto the lace-trimmed pillowcase. The room seemed to be white on white with possible pale pink touches throughout; it was hard, even with Fairy eyes, to distinguish soft colors in the dark without being right on them. So he flew about to make sure; yes, those were pink ribbons on the lacy curtains, and the satin pillows were a soft pink striped with yellow. The carpet breathed a pale yellow as well. The coverlet has three rows of ruffles and lace!


    ¡°Delightful! You do an excellent job here, Sylvie. The linens are so white and crisp they absolutely glow, and the other levels are quite professional.¡±


    Unseen to her eyes, Sylvie glowed for a moment, herself. ¡°Why thank you. We do our best. Mara¡¯s family has always been very good to us.¡±


    ¡°Tell me about her and her family.¡± He faced Sylvie as she went to the dresser to straighten the knick-knacks and perfume bottles.


    ¡°I already told Seamus,¡± Sylvie said.


    ¡°Sure ¡¯n¡¯ p¡¯raps he didn¡¯t ask the right questions. Humor me.¡±


    ¡°And who are you to be asking me, to tell you about my Human¡¯s secrets at all?¡± she huffed, knocking over a perfume bottle.


    Mara stirred and curled up into a ball on her side, facing the dresser. Carefully straightening the bottle, Sylvie stood with hands on hips awaiting a good reason.


    Aerrvin flitted over to sit next to the Brownie on top of an old stuffed toy tiger; surprisingly soft, and it smelled¡ªlike Mara, he thought and inhaled deeper.


    ¡°I will tell you who I am. I am Aerrvin ap Rosewin, son of her Royal Highness the Fair Queen Laurel ap Rose herself! Moreover, I intend to have Mara as my Queen. I have been instructed to create my own Kingdom here in America, by her Highness, and I have chosen the Pacific Northwest as the center of my own Grand Council. All Fairy Rings will send a representative to me every twenty years. Does that tell you who I am?¡±


    The fretful Brownie bowed as low as possible, and begged forgiveness, ¡°Seamus did not tell me, Your Highness, he only said you were his master.¡±


    ¡°Very well, continue with your duties, Sylvie, and tell me about this dear creature.¡± He eyed Mara speculatively. She seemed to almost gleam in the pale light from the backyard.


    ¡°I am a wee thing, only fifty years old. Mara is my first assignment, you see, which I received by accidentally allowing her to see me. And then, bless me, I spoke to her.¡± Sylvie cringed knowing what was coming.


    ¡°What? How could you do such a thing?¡± Then more calmly he mused, ¡°She believes in Brownies?¡± With his hopes rising, he caressed Mara with his gaze. Remembering the feel of her in his arms as they danced, his fingers itched to touch her once again.


    ¡°Well, sire, yes and no,¡± Sylvie replied as she scrambled up on top of the mirror to remove the dust. ¡°It happened when she was a wee babe of three; she lost her Growly.¡±


    Sylvie nodded toward the tiger, where he lounged. ¡°Her Aunt Lily and Uncle Rupert had this room; since it was their house. As it was, her bedroom was across the hall. There are two rooms over there; her parents slept in the first, and she slept in the second, at the front of the house. They were visiting¨C-as they often did each June. Mara played all through the house, causing all kinds of messes. She mislaid her Growly, and when bedtime arrived, she howled on end. The sound irritated my ears. And¡ªI found myself behind in my duties, you see; because she created so much extra work with all of her disorder. You must remember, Your Highness, I was very young, only twenty-nine!¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Cringing again at her confession, she continued, ¡°I retrieved her Growly and gave it to her, telling her she needed to be more responsible. I advised her always to pick up after herself, as she was causing me extra work,¡± Sylvie ended with a sob. By now she was kneeling before Aerrvin again. Her light brown hair fell forward, covering her shame.


    ¡°Stand up, Sylvie. I am not an Ogre. I have made plenty of mistakes as a youngling myself.¡± Smiling to prove he was not condemning her, he begged, ¡°Continue with the story, please.¡±


    ¡°As you wish. A few nights later, my sweet girl lay awake when I came in to clean, and she asked me my name. I told her it was Celery. She couldn¡¯t say it right, so¡ªshe renamed me: Sylvie. And that is how I came to be her personal servant; she named me. Even though I didn¡¯t mean for it to happen, I am happy to serve her. She is a spectacular girl and¡ªI think you might even be worthy of her,¡± she finished with a squeak as Aerrvin threw a cotton ball at her.


    ¡°Very well, you may leave us. I will speak with you again by and by.¡± Aerrvin remained where he was. Yes, this is a girl I want to know.


    ****


    Mara awoke well rested and happy.


    ¡°What a curious dream,¡± she whispered.


    Closing her eyes, she reviewed what she could recall. Sylvie was there from her childhood fantasies. She remembered thinking of her as she went to bed. And, well obviously, Mara thought of Aerrvin. In her dream, she heard them talking, but not much of what they said. Sylvie flitted about as she always did. She always did? Mara questioned.


    She tugged at her ear as she verbalized the dream, ¡°Hm, so after Sylvie straightened the room, she left. Aerrvin came and sat on my pillow. In an instant, I was barely five inches tall and dancing in the air with Aerrvin, the fairy prince.¡± Mara opened her eyes to verify reality and then closed them once again. ¡°The dancing seemed to last till dawn, then we stopped and watched the sunrise, sitting on the rooftop of the house. Not that there was much to see, it¡¯s overcast and drizzling.¡± She sighed, noticing how real it all appeared even as a memory.


    ¡°No, it didn¡¯t actually happen,¡± Mara chided.


    Giving her Growly a squeeze and a kiss, and then picking up a cotton ball on the floor, she went off to prepare for a new day.


    ¡°Good morning, Bright Eyes!¡± Jill called as Mara came into the kitchen for breakfast.


    She¡¯d slept later than usual; it was ten o¡¯clock. Jill had cleared the buffet, having set all the trash by the door. ¡°No telling how much the Brownies ate,¡± she whispered. Trying to think of something else to say she shook her head before giving up. Jill hardly ever listened to what Mara mumbled anyway.


    ¡°I¡¯m so glad you trained our neighbors to respect your home; it is always such a joy to clean up after a party.¡± Jill handed Mara a bowl of oatmeal. ¡°Sorry, we are still out of milk. I didn¡¯t buy any yesterday because I needed room in the fridge for all the fruit. I am going out soon though. Anything you want on here?¡± she asked, handing Mara a paper with ¡°Jill¡¯s To Do List¡± neatly printed on top.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s all good, but maybe you should get two jugs of milk instead of one.¡±


    ¡°Ha, if you would stop leaving your uneaten midnight snacks sitting out all night, maybe it would go further.¡±


    Mara¡¯s habit of filling a plate full of cookies and pouring a large mug of milk to watch late night TV, and then leaving them on the end table annoyed her mother when she was a child. Her mother scolded her often; now Jill had taken over.


    ¡°You know, you could use a smaller mug instead of this monstrosity. Then you wouldn¡¯t waste so much,¡± Jill said putting it away.


    ¡°But I love that mug! Just buy more milk. If we¡¯re getting low on money I can always sell another chair or something,¡± Mara said with a shrug. It had been a mug her father used for his own midnight snacks. Mara pushed aside her emotions about losing him and focused on her love for the mug.


    Jill rolled her eyes. ¡°If only I had your money, child.¡±


    Housework was a pleasure for Mara. Only two of the rooms were carpeted: her bedroom and the study. She loved making the pile stand up, creating a more opulent look. She had fun dusting because she turned on the stereo and danced about the house causing whirls of dust motes to dance in the morning sun¡ªwhen the sun decided to shine. By noon the rain stopped, and the clouds broke up. I¡¯ll get a little sunshine, after all, she mused. She mopped and waxed the ever-shiny cherry wood floors. By one o¡¯clock, the house was in tip-top shape. Right when she sat to rest, the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find a broad-chested man on the porch; Mara assumed him to be the driver from the night before since the sleek gray car sat in front of her house.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Mara asked.


    ¡°Oh, pardon me. I am admiring your lovely home. I have an invitation for one Mara Jamis, and one Jill Beckett,¡± he said, holding out a hand-lettered invitation.


    After scanning it, she replied, ¡°I am so sorry. I am unavailable at 10:00 tomorrow. I teach Sunday School at that time.¡±


    With a mixture of pride and dread, she awaited his response. Some people were prone to ridicule, and she was so hoping these folks from Ireland were not the type. She realized she had a severe crush.


    ¡°Very noble indeed,¡± he replied with a warm smile and a nod. ¡°No trouble, I have a second invite; this one is for four o¡¯clock.¡± The well-dressed man pulled a near identical invitation from his tweed jacket.


    With an attempt to stifle her grin, she said, ¡°We¡¯d love to attend.¡±


    Not long after he left, Jill came home with groceries. As they put stuff away, Mara told her about the invitation for a late afternoon tea party.


    ¡°I looked through my closet, and I have nothing acceptable. Please come shopping with me!¡±


    While driving to the mall, Mara regaled Jill with all the fun she had with her Great Aunt Lily and her cousins during their tea parties. ¡°I miss her so much. We visited almost monthly when we moved to Bellevue. Before, it was every summer for two whole months. Then, well you know, there was the accident.¡± She paused a moment and rejoined, ¡°And later, Mom made me go with her¡ªto Sequim of all places!¡±


    Jill already knew about the tragic sailing accident, which had caused the loss of Mara¡¯s father and uncle when she was eleven years old. Two years later Lily Agnes O¡¯Toole died, leaving her property to thirteen-year-old Mara. Her five cousins, all girls, had been jealous until the executor read the next part giving each of them $25,000. Mara received no cash, but her mother had been able to find a renter right away which, of course, was Jill. When Mara moved in at eighteen to start college, she did not mind taking the smaller suite. Jill felt at home in the spacious two rooms with its private bathroom. Besides, Mara had always wanted to sleep in Aunt Lily¡¯s feather bed. As a result, twenty-seven-year-old Jill felt no reason to dislike the young owner, and they became dear friends in an instant.


    At the mall, they tried on fifty dresses and settled on three each. Jill bought another business suit, as she was sure her business opportunity was right around the corner, and she would need to go to the bank for a loan. Sure enough, on the drive home, Jill drove past the cafe which she coveted; it was on the corner next to a bus stop, with a small parking lot on the side.


    ¡°Yes!¡± she shouted, startling Mara. ¡°That lousy eatery finally went out of business, and the place is up for lease,¡± she cried and then laughed. ¡°Mara, tell me the number. I want to call the realtor now!¡±


    With eyes gleaming, Jill set up an appointment to meet with the realtor in the morning.


    Then, noticing Mara¡¯s quietness, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You know this is what I¡¯ve been waiting for, right?¡±


    Mara sighed, ¡°Yes, I do, and I am happy for you. It¡¯s just that,¡± she paused to inhale as her chest constricted, ¡°the place comes with an apartment above it. You will move out!¡± She nearly wailed the last part.


    ¡°Oh, sweetie, you are about to graduate, and you will start your own business. You are rolling in money already, and with your photography, you will make more than you ever made off of me as a renter,¡± Jill tried to placate.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it,¡± Mara keened, rising in pitch. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be alone!¡± She hiccupped, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve never lived alone.¡±


    Once in the garage, Jill turned off the engine. Sitting in the dark, she took Mara¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Listen, Mara, I¡¯ve introduced you to every neighbor on the block, and half of them from all of the surrounding blocks. It¡¯s a safe neighborhood. I lived here alone for nearly five years before you joined me. Besides, it will take a month or more to renovate that dive. I¡¯m not leaving tomorrow.¡± Squeezing her hand, Jill got out of the car. Mara followed, wiping away a tear.


    Once inside Jill said, ¡°If you want, we can put an ad in the paper. I am sure you can always find another college student or two.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Mara said, back in control and with a wavering smile. ¡°My step-brother graduates this spring, and I think he has a football scholarship. At least, we all hope for one. Regardless, he will need a place. Mom did not want to kick you out or anything. In fact,¡± Mara continued with a real smile, ¡°she¡¯s ready to pay for fixing up the basement to put him down there!¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Jill replied dryly, reminding Mara of Lucille Ball at her driest.


    ¡°I suppose I can survive a few months alone. I don¡¯t think Ricky intends to move in until fall,¡± Mara said, with apparent calm. Privately she still dreaded being on her own.

 Chapter 5 - Shifting Winds

    Shifting Winds


    Fell winds that blow from heights above be strangers to my soul.


    ~ Brand the Bright


    Sunday, May 10, 2009


    At midnight, Aerrvin set out to dance the night away. Jaera continued to sleep soundly. Gareth roused enough in the nest they shared to wish Aerrvin happy dancing.


    As a rule, Fairies prefer sleeping in nests of soft down or dandelion fluff. So, even when living among Humans, they preferred to shrink down and pile all together with as many others as would fit. With only the three of them, their nest was rather small. Yet, it was quite cozy since they shared it with a mama cat. She would deliver new kittens any day now, and Fairies so love Birth Days. Gareth worried about Jaera missing it, so he stayed with her to ensure she slept well. If need be, he wanted to wake her for the grand event.


    The stars twinkled in the crisp night air. The moon was a waning three-quarter light, seemingly suspended by an invisible string, like an ornament with a silvery blue glow. The Fair One¡¯s nightlife was at its height. Aerrvin stopped to join a musical duo, adding his flute as they played a happy jig for three cavorting Green Fairies. Like Jaera the Green, they were emphatically the wildest Fairies one might meet. Aerrvin chuckled as he raced his way to Mara¡¯s window.


    ¡°Stop right there!¡± commanded a snide Orange Fairy. ¡°Who gave you permission to be here?¡±


    Aerrvin stopped halfway to the window and then flew up to the top of a fir tree where he saw three Orange Fairies with swords.


    Swords! Weapons have not been part of Fairy attire for centuries. Arguably, not since the European Inquisitions. Aerrvin¡¯s mind buzzed as he tried to make sense of the scene.


    ¡°I did not realize this house belonged to anyone¡¯s territory.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re new. From the Green Isle herself, are you? Listen up, The Emerald City belongs to Lord Morvayne; he sends us out to ensure no one messes with Mara. She belongs to him, and you are best advised to go back to where you came from. Unless you want to pledge your services to him? You appear to be quite ¡®Bright.¡¯ He could find a use for you.¡± The Fairy studied Aerrvin.


    ¡°Yes, I would like to meet Lord Morvayne. Does he live here?¡± Aerrvin gestured to the house and gazebo with a graceful sweep of his arm.


    ¡°No, he is visiting with¡ªhmmm, friends.¡± The Orange Fairy laughed a dry rasping excuse for mirth. ¡°Besides, she has a ward on the house; none of our Fairies can gain access.¡±


    ¡°Why do you need inside?¡± Aerrvin casually bounced on the end of a green-tipped branch, gently fluttering his holographic wings.


    ¡°That is Lord Morvayne¡¯s business. Should you feel bold enough to ask him, you may meet us at the Zoo¡¯s Fairy Ring Council on Monday night. We will introduce you to him ourselves. By the way, my name is Ozzie; this is Bud and Jasper.¡± He pointed first to the taller, and then to the stouter of his two companions.


    Yellow and Orange Fairies banded together often, yet Aerrvin had never heard of any counsel based solely on color. He was a Purple Fairy with White traits; his sister was Yellow, also with White inherited from their Mother. Aerrvin groaned to himself; he did not like Yellow and Orange Fairies that much, mainly because of their tempers, especially when they did not get their way. Yellows were often clever at solving puzzles and wards, so he understood why Oranges liked to keep them around.


    The glow around Fairies as they fly allows all who see them the ability to perceive what kind of Fairy they are, and sometimes the strength of their power. Aerrvin¡¯s royal birth gave him Silver and Gold abilities, including the capacity to mask the strength of his powers. Flashing Gold or Silver was ever in poor taste, so Aerrvin did not worry about being identified by his glow. Purple was all they saw.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Spiraling up through the air with a laugh, the prince replied, ¡°And I go by Aerrvin. If the music is right, I will be there.¡±


    With a triple loop-de-loop, he sailed away from both Mara¡¯s house and his own. Aerrvin had never heard of a Fairy Ring Council inside the zoo. He happened to be the nearest royal, so all councils were obliged to send tributes to him yearly, and new councils were to request permission from him before forming. Exhaling his frustration, he headed for the Fairy Ring outside of Tacoma; because of their extensive library, someone there could provide insight.


    ¡°I need information on this Lord Morvayne,¡± Aerrvin explained to the librarian, after rousing him.


    ¡°Hm, he has never made an appearance in any of the recognized councils. This news of a Fairy Ring in the zoo is news indeed!¡± replied the dried-up twig of a Fairy.


    He must be near nineteen hundred years old! Aerrvin marveled to himself. Then, upon registering what the librarian said, he frowned.


    ¡°Now don¡¯t fret, I am aware of a Lord Morvayne, but he is not a Fairy, he is an Elf.¡±


    ¡°An Elf? What is he doing in a Fairy Ring?¡±


    ¡°There will be no more answers until you learn to speak with greater respect!¡± sniffed the librarian. ¡°I attended your birth, you know, and I am acquainted with your father very well. I was your great grandfather¡¯s personal musician, great is his memory. At his leaving, I chose to immigrate to the New World.¡±


    ¡°My apologies, Balmoral, both for my rudeness and for not recognizing you. Please. Can you tell me why an Elf is controlling a Fairy Ring?¡± Mentally Aerrvin pinged with joy. The Great Musician, Balmoral, is a librarian in Tacoma! Most Fair Folks thought he had Faded already.


    Smiling in approval, Balmoral replied, ¡°No, but some ideas are flitting about in this antediluvian head of mine. Morvayne lived here,¡± he gestured his hands to signal the land round about, ¡°among the native tribes before the Europeans arrived. They worshiped and served him while he lived the good life. No fault there, of course. We¡¯ve all experienced Humans falling all over themselves to serve us.¡± He smiled at some ancient memory, and continued, ¡°When this region started to grow, as Humans became more populous everywhere, Morvayne fled to the next dimension as so many others chose to do. But he left word with a band of Yellow Fairies to keep him informed of the doings of Seattle, as the city had been named. ¡¯Tis a pity too¡ªhow they mangled the Chief¡¯s name that way. Be that as it may, Lord Morvayne said he would visit as needed.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± Aerrvin surmised, ¡°these Yellows and Oranges choose to follow him by their own choice. But, that still doesn¡¯t tell me what he wants with Mara. She is Human, right? But then, why is her house warded against Yellows and Oranges?¡±


    ¡°Mara Jamis?¡± Balmoral asked. Receiving a nod, he continued, ¡°Mara is the daughter of Brentwood Jamis, whose father is the last son of the last son of Princess Tigerlily. Princess Tigerlily, as surely you are aware, was one of the few Elven Maidens ever to choose to live life as a Human. As you know, her mother is Her Royal Highness Queen Gwennara, Queen of all The Realms. Our High Queen is in hiding as she defends herself against an unknown enemy. Mara is under observation by several factions, as she may be the final heir. The only other viable contender after Princess Arianna is a cousin, Breezy of Fairlane. The sisters of Tigerlily, namely Daffodil and Arianna, have not appeared in public for over one hundred years. Daffodil is assumed dead. Word is¡ªArianna, who is missing, attended Tigerlily¡¯s funeral cloaked in invisibility. But I have not substantiated it.¡±


    ¡°That would explain the glow,¡± said Aerrvin. Mara emitted a faint opalescence, visible only with scrutiny and one had to be close, as one would be when dancing. ¡°So, Mara has royal Elven blood in her, and is utterly unaware?¡±


    ¡°Apparently.¡±


    Remorse and a twinge of shame washed over Aerrvin for not keeping up on the royal news. Yes, he had heard of Princess Tigerlily and her outlandish choice. To renounce the throne was huge enough news on its own; giving up magic and near immortality was almost unheard of among the Faire. For Mara to be so important, yet left unguarded, seemed preposterous. Too many thoughts vied for his attention. He decided to speak to Gareth about setting up sentries for Mara.


    Changing the topic, the prince asked the librarian a favor, ¡°Balmoral, if you please, it would honor me if you played at my Birth Day festival in two weeks.¡± Then giving directions to his current home, he added, ¡°You need to be in Human form, as I may invite my neighbors.¡±


    ¡°I would be honored, Your Highness,¡± replied the old musician with a graceful bow.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aerrvin nodded in return. ¡°Also, I would be most appreciative if you would do more research on what the Orange and Yellow Fairies are up to.¡±


    Taking out his flute, Aerrvin played a farewell salute worthy of the Master Musician. Balmoral nodded his approval as Aerrvin floated up. With the last note, the prince flared a brilliant silver and sped northward.


    With the warm wind at his back, the flight did not take as long as the trip there. In silence, he snuggled up with the cozy mama cat and his other Nest Mates. With visions of Mara in his mind, Aerrvin promptly fell asleep.

 Chapter 6 - Mystical Moments

    Mystical Moments


    What magic spells have stirred my soul? What life bestirs my heart?


    ~ Clay of Glennferry


    May 10, 2009


    Sunday morning, Mara woke up with disappointment nagging at her. Her fairy prince had not come and danced with her. ¡°In other words, my dreams were normal,¡± she said, flinging back her covers. ¡°What has gotten in to you, Mara? Since when did Aerrvin become a prince? Humph! And a fairy at that!¡± Laughing at herself, she went to shower.


    She ceded to indulgence by wearing her tea-length dress to church. ¡°It¡¯s not that formal,¡± she said, admiring herself and the dress in the mirror.


    In truth, it didn¡¯t come close to the plain pencil skirts and blouses she wore all the time. The cream-colored lace floated airily over the pink silk underdress. The sheer cream-colored sleeves ended with the same palest of pinks in a long silk cuff, held together by little pearl buttons running up to her elbows.


    ¡°Oh, Mara, look what you forgot!¡± Mara surveyed her shoes. Her black heels were fine but clashed with the style. ¡°I guess these will have to do,¡± she said, slipping on a pair of lightly scuffed white flats. Still shaking her head, she whisked up her lesson materials and went down for breakfast.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to miss this,¡± Mara said to Jill, grabbing a fresh from the oven muffin and a banana before sitting down on the stool at the breakfast bar. ¡°No more meals without thought.¡±


    ¡°. . . and preparation,¡± Jill added. ¡°I believe we need to speed up those cooking lessons. Besides, you can be one of my best customers.¡± Changing the subject, she offered, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind being early I can drop you off before I meet the realtor. I don¡¯t want to be late.¡±


    Mara timed her bus route to get her to church right on time, but she loved being a touch early. ¡°This way I can set up my classroom beforehand,¡± she said, heading down the hall.


    Mara enjoyed teaching the 7-to-9-year-old class. Her lesson was about the travels of Paul, and as usual, she had a little craft for her students to do. She planned to teach the children how to make origami boats and then they would make sparkly glue dots on maps to show the path Paul took.


    The organ music welcomed her as she entered the main chapel. To be an example to her students, Mara always sat near the front, often next to the youth pastor and his wife. The cozy old chapel glowed with golden oak throughout, made brighter yet as the sun shone in through the skylights.


    As she sat, the youth pastor asked, ¡°Somebody get married?¡±


    ¡°John!¡± Sarianne¡¯s blotchy face darkened as she smacked her husband with a soft whap. ¡°Mara, you¡¯re beautiful today. Is there a special occasion?¡±


    As the warmth of embarrassment rose to her cheeks, Mara explained her tea party invitation.


    ¡°Oh, it sounds awesome.  You gotta tell me all about it,¡± Sarianne whispered before facing forward as the pastor rose to address the congregation.


    When they stood to sing, Mara glanced behind her and did a double take. Aerrvin, and all of his friends, she assumed, from Ireland sat in the back row. In addition to Jaera and Gareth, who smiled when they caught her eye, there stood Button arm-in-arm with Aerrvin¡¯s driver. Beside the driver stood two girls who resembled Button¡ªonly younger and slimmer¡ªand another one of the guys Mara had seen working at the Craftsman¡¯s Majick. Seeing them together, she realized he belonged in Button¡¯s family too. Next to him stood a young woman with light brown hair who reminded Mara of someone, but Mara couldn¡¯t quite place her. She gave Mara a cheery smile too. With a final glance at Aerrvin, who arched a carefully manicured eyebrow, Mara turned around to sing.


    The hymn was a favorite, Rock of Ages. Mara joined the congregation with her clear alto. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the voices from the back row carried throughout the chapel; the hymn became angelic. The chorister stood a little prouder, and tears slid down the organist¡¯s cheek. Mara herself experienced a lump in her throat as she tried to sing the final lines and then gave up, as most of the congregation had¡ªto enjoy those pure, sweet voices. She was sure the baritone was Aerrvin¡¯s, and the tenor had to be Gareth.


    ¡°Heavenly magic!¡± Mara breathed as she sat down.


    Pastor Mike gave a hearty welcome and invited the visitors to return anytime. When the sermon ended, Mara thought she¡¯d greet Aerrvin, but the group left as fast as they could, shaking hands and excusing themselves while inching toward the door.


    ¡°Ah, well, I guess I will see them later,¡± Mara murmured.


    ****


    After cleaning the glue off the table, Mara made her way to the exit. Sarianne caught her going out the door.


    Sweeping her sandy brown hair behind an ear, she said, ¡°Remember, tell me all about the party and the mansion. I¡¯ve always wanted to go inside the O¡¯ Shea House. And if you could slip it into the conversation, ask them to join the choir!¡±


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± Mara said with a hug. ¡°I¡¯ll see you next week.¡±


    Outside, Aerrvin¡¯s sleek gray car gleamed in the diffused light; the driver motioned her to climb in while he opened the back door. Inside, Aerrvin glanced up in a leisurely manner from the small book in his hand. Butterflies danced in Mara¡¯s stomach from the intense emotion his glance created.


    ¡°Hi, I noticed you didn¡¯t drive a car and thought you would like a change from the bus.¡± His eyes sparkled as he appraised her appearance.


    Mara offered thanks and climbed in. Never in her life had she sat in such luxury. Simply happy to be there, Mara sat mutely enjoying the ride. Aerrvin appeared comfortable without talking, so they rode in silence all the way to her house. Mara climbed out and turned to find the driver also exiting the car.


    ¡°Oh, sorry I, um, I didn¡¯t think to wait. I¡¯m not used to this sort of thing.¡±


    ¡°Not a problem, Love.¡± Aerrvin rested his open palm on her shoulder as the driver shut the passenger¡¯s door. ¡°I am sorry; I have neglected to introduce you to Bronwyn, quite an old family friend. He enjoys serving and gets put out if you don¡¯t let him do his job.¡±


    ¡°Quite right, I do love being my best self, that I do,¡± Bronwyn replied. Then deftly so as not to startle, he returned to the driver¡¯s seat and waved, trusting Aerrvin to make excuses.


    ****


    And excuse him he did. ¡°You need to forgive Bronwyn; he has many assignments from Button before tea time. And I have no preparations at all, so I thought I could keep you company. If you don¡¯t mind?¡±


    He smiled slyly, knowing very well that she thought of him almost nonstop.


    Aerrvin did not trust the evil Elf, nor his followers, and wanted to keep watch over Mara at all times. He did not think it possible, but he was falling for the intriguing girl who didn¡¯t seem to realize that she was not wholly who she thought she was. Maybe it has something to do with being in Human form, this quick action business, he thought. As a Fairy, it took him forever to decide on anything. Once, he took a week to choose what to wear to see his parents during Mid-Winter Festival. He literally stood there naked, until he made a decision! Now, here he was aware of Mara less than a week, and his emotional attachment sent him into fits of worry, hopeless devotion, and feeling overprotective. Is that love?


    ****


    Happy butterflies danced in Mara¡¯s stomach; spending the afternoon with Aerrvin seemed like a dream. As they headed up the walk, he slid his hand from her shoulder, down her arm and then lifting her hand, he rested it in the crook of his elbow. The seemingly courteous gesture sent a thrill through her. Mara remained unaware of Aerrvin¡¯s addiction to tactile sensations and his inability to resist touching the lightweight fabric of her dress sleeves.


    From the foyer, Aerrvin directed her toward the study. ¡°I have not spent any time in here yet. Shall we?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Mara agreed, grateful for his take-charge manner.


    She never entertained on her own. Jill always instigated interaction, and before that, Mara¡¯s mother had been the one to arrange sleep-overs with friends. Boyfriends had been rare. Not that she was unattractive; guys fell all over themselves trying to get her attention. She happened to prefer things like photography, or nature and solitude. Somehow she tended to push guys away, and eventually, they stopped calling. Negotiating relationships was not her thing. Ha, but Aerrvin has my full attention. Fates, please don¡¯t let me push him away. Mara felt a bit guilty about begging the fates rather than pleading to God, but she wasn¡¯t sure God cared about what boyfriend she had.


    ¡°Mara, I love the feel of your house! Did you do the decorating yourself?¡± Aerrvin asked, brushing the rough silk curtains for the joy of it, then he opened them to peer out the window.


    Looking at him from behind and with a small surprise of delight, Mara noted Aerrvin had tied his smooth golden hair back with a length of delicate black lace. Mmm yummy, she thought.


    Breaking her reverie, she replied, ¡°Most of the house, but not this room. This den was my Uncle Rupert¡¯s. When he died, my Aunt Lily kept it the same, even though she redid the rest of the house with the seasons. I decided to do the same. I love the warm, cozy, masculine vibe I get when I come in here. This is a picture of my dad and Uncle Rupert.¡±


    Mara waved at a wall of photos and then pointed out a larger picture showing two men standing on deck, holding up their catch. ¡°They loved fishing on the ocean, but mostly they sailed around the Sound whenever they got together.¡± Mara frowned, trying to shake off the weepy feeling she tended to get when thinking of her father. Oh, Mara, don¡¯t fall apart now!


    Experiencing her melancholy, Aerrvin directed her attention to the other photos on her wall. ¡°Are these your ancestors?¡±


    Mara nodded as Aerrvin took a sepia-tinted photo off the wall. The photo depicted a woman who resembled Mara; only her hair was smooth, and her skin tone appeared dark, especially compared to the man she stood beside.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    ¡°You favor her. Who is she?¡±


    Brightening at a new topic, Mara explained, ¡°That is my great-great grandmother. We know very little about her, but her name was Tigerlily Wallace. She¡¯s from Scotland. To me, she resembles an Indian and lived here¡ªnear the Sound among them, but she was not a Native at all. The man standing next to her was not her husband either. Aunt Lily told me once that she knew a few things about him, but she never had time to tell me before¡ªbefore passing on.¡±


    Aerrvin wandered back to the sofa. Smoothly, in a single motion, he removed his shoes and sat down with his knees drawn up to his chest; pausing all action to gaze raptly at Mara as if expecting a bedtime story. Mara laughed, remembering him sitting on the roof in the selfsame pose, watching the sunrise.


    Mara picked up the picture from the desk and replaced it on the wall, muttering about dreams. She slipped her pair of flats off in two steps and sat in the other corner facing him, drawing her feet up to the side under her as she hugged a pillow. From her psychology class the year before, she knew it was a defensive gesture, but she felt exposed without it. His casual and open manner unhinged her in some way.


    ¡°Tell me more about your family. What were they like?¡± Sympathetic to her nervousness, he too took a pillow and fingered the loose fabric, enjoying the tactile nature of the silk on one side and velvet on the other.


    Mara relaxed and told silly stories from her childhood.


    ***


    ¡°My dad even enrolled me in fencing!¡± she laughed. ¡°He, of course, never had a son, so I did everything he¡¯d wanted to do as a boy. I went hiking and camping, fishing and sailing. And of course, Aikido. I already told you about that first lesson. With college and work, the only thing I keep up is Aikido. Last year, I enrolled in fencing again, and I was better than when my Dad took me. Obviously, back then I was only ten years old.¡±


    Losing control, Mara wiped a tear away. The next thing she knew, she was in Aerrvin¡¯s arms, as he smoothed her curls away from her face, which wasn¡¯t easy because the ceiling fan came on. Unseen to Mara, and at Aerrvin¡¯s direction, the Wind Sprite¡ªMiree Sihee¡ªspun the blades to send a wafting breeze over Mara¡¯s flushed face.


    ¡°Shhh,¡± he soothed. ¡°Do you want to tell me more?¡±


    Speaking into his cotton shirt, Mara told how her father and uncle experienced a freak sailing accident and how their bodies had never been recovered. ¡°I was only eleven.¡±


    Mara hiccupped, mentally took hold of herself, and pushed away. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to blubber all over your shirt.¡± She excused herself to freshen up.


    When she returned, Aerrvin stood in the living room inspecting the fireplace.


    ****


    Aerrvin had not seen the ward on Mara¡¯s house the first time he had come over since it had not prevented him from entering. Knowing what to look for, he intended to inspect each door, window, and opening to ensure that they were all still intact, and to divine how they were crafted. Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t have been surprised since the princess had lived there, but he found the wards quite complex. The corner pieces framing each window and door had well-executed ivy and holly carvings, as well as the Celtic knot drawn in Fairy Dust over the top of each carving. The doors held perfectly clear Elven kisses on each lintel. That is, perfectly clear to magical beings.


    However, the most incredible thing was the maple mantelpiece. Each support holding the mantel contained a carved forest scene. Such fireplaces were so prevalent in many of the European homes he had visited over the years that Aerrvin had not noticed it at all; especially when he itched to sit in the enchanting chair! Even so, woven into the carvings were Elves, Fairies, Brownies, and Gnomes. Enchanting.


    Of further interest to the prince was the shelf of the mantel boasting a long hand-carved chain of ivy and holly woven in Celtic knots the whole length. And the best part¡ªthe center bow of the mantel had been kissed by St. Nicholas himself.


    ¡°Why did I not see this before?¡± Aerrvin exclaimed softly to the invisible Brownie on his shoulder.


    ¡°Probably because you were blinded by the light in Mara¡¯s gaze,¡± sniggered Seamus in the ear of the prince.


    ¡°What didn¡¯t you see before?¡± Mara asked, coming up beside Aerrvin. She extended her hand to stroke the shelf while smiling again at witnessing him talking out loud to himself.


    ¡°The other night I did not notice the mantel. It is fantastic. Who carved it?¡±


    Mara shrugged. ¡°All I know is that my grandfather commissioned it as a Christmas gift for Aunt Lily.¡±


    ¡°Remarkable,¡± he smiled in awe. ¡°I bet you leave quite a plate of cookies for Santa.¡± He faced her with the question in his eyes.


    ¡°Why, yes, I do!¡± Mara swatted him because she thought he might taunt her.


    ¡°He must surely love you,¡± Aerrvin replied with a warm, serious glow replacing the merry twinkle in his eyes.


    The ward was exceptionally powerful; the only thing it would admit was Santa himself. Aerrvin had only seen Santa¡¯s kiss twice before; his parents had received a wedding gift from the Jolly Old Elf with a blessing and a kiss, which in itself is a blessing.  And Aerrvin had toured Santa¡¯s workshop in his youth. The visit included a feast with St. Nicholas and his wife, whose name is never to be mentioned, and there in her kitchen floated the brightest kiss ever left by an Elf. It hung in the air directly above her table. Smiling at the memory, Aerrvin turned to Mara.


    ¡°And the chair?¡±


    ¡°Sit in it,¡± Mara¡¯s voice dropped demurely.


    Stroking the carving along the top, Aerrvin tried to prolong the ecstasy he felt, but finally gave in and sat down in one fluid movement; a smile lit his face. Even disguised in his Human form, he could see his unnatural glow.


    Aerrvin sprouted wings twice as wide as he was tall, they flowed from silver to white while shooting Blue Fairy Dust all over the room. The chair had granted a long-held wish which Aerrvin had never shared. He was not sure if Mara could see the wings or not.


    Sylvie complained about the Dust for a week!


    When a Fairy assumes Human form, their aura is hidden, even from other Fair Ones. For one very powerful, magically, a Fairy can generate wings and fly as a Human. Mind you, Fairies do not have physical wings even when small. The wings are a manifestation of power and depending on a Fairy¡¯s whim, they can have any shape or size desired. The color, on the other hand, cannot be controlled. One is either born with a color or gifted with one. Aerrvin had just been gifted with the power of a Blue Fairy.


    ****


    Mara saw the magical transformation but denied it. You are going mad, girl. She practiced denying what she saw on a daily basis, so without a blink, but with some degree of enthusiasm she exclaimed, ¡°You feel it?¡±


    ¡°Are you making him try out your mystical chair, Mara?¡± Jill asked, coming in from the back door with some papers in her hand. ¡°I swear, anytime she meets someone new, she has them sit in the chair and tell her how they feel. Well, how do you feel, Aerrvin?¡± Jill concluded with a wink. She obviously could not see the wings.


    Looking from Jill to Mara and back, he replied, ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve gone to the top of the world. This chair seems to emanate good karma. Is that what you feel, Mara?¡± Turning his gaze back to Mara with a satisfied glow suffusing him, he awaited her response.


    Mara smiled widely and replied, ¡°Yes, it does seem to put a spring back in my step after a tiring day. I love that chair. I¡¯ve had several offers from the antique dealers when they come. The last offer was $17,000.00. It¡¯s nearly as much as all the other antiques I have sold combined.¡±


    Standing up and reaching out to Mara, Aerrvin as much as commanded her, ¡°Never sell that chair.¡±


    Looking up into his face Mara stammered, ¡°Ah¨Cum, no, I won¡¯t. I am nearly done with school, and I thought I would sell some of Aunt Lily¡¯s jewelry to start my studio.¡±


    ****


    Realizing he was far too serious, Aerrvin gave her one of his practiced smirks. He kissed her on the top of the head and said, ¡°I buy old jewelry, so I get first dibs.¡± Then he hid his wings once more.


    ¡°Tell me the history of this house.¡±


    He behaved as though nothing at all had occurred, in truth, he was ecstatic with his new Blue wings.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard all about this,¡± Jill interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m going to get dressed for my first tea party. Be good!¡± she said with a waggle of her finger.


    Aerrvin requested a tour of the house. In the basement, he discovered one of the wards on a window was missing. ¡°What happened here? I don¡¯t remember this being off the other day.¡±


    Mara held up a corner piece for the window frame. ¡°It split in two when I tried to pry it off. I want to paint the walls, and I thought it would be easier if I took the frame off.¡±


    She showed him the two pieces together and apart with a sweet little pout. Aerrvin immediately went to the window and drew a few meaningless squiggles with his finger right on the glass, rather what would seem meaningless to Mara.


    ¡°No one wash this off,¡± he commanded to the air. Then quietly he whispered to Seamus, ¡°Ensure the Brownie tunnels have guards.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± replied Duncan, Sylvie¡¯s father. ¡°We have doubled the patrols since Mara moved in, and all is in good order, Your Highness.¡± Duncan stood behind a stone in the wall, so all Aerrvin saw was a glint from the harness he used in scaling walls. Mara went up the stairs shaking her head in dismay. Aerrvin soon followed, resisting the urge to reach out and take a handful of the lace swaying directly in front of his face.


    It was 2:45 pm, still time to check the rest of the wards. Assuming Mara kept the jewelry in her room, Aerrvin casually linked arms with Mara and lightly stroked the silk cuff of her dress with his free hand.


    Leading her to the next flight of stairs, he said, ¡°I should like to see some of the jewelry you have for sale.¡±


    ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t decided what I want to sell yet, or even if I will,¡± Mara protested weakly while holding tighter to his arm as they ascended the stairs.


    Mara¡¯s room was to the right. Smiling at the beauty of her room in the daylight, he left her and went to the window, appearing to gaze out while checking the wards. The lacy curtains lay over the frames, so Aerrvin asked Mirri to flutter them. While Mara went to her closet, he added his own blessing of protection by kissing the lock on the window.


    ¡°Make sure you keep the lock on your windows secure,¡± he said opening the window and then closing and locking it.


    ¡°I do,¡± Mara replied, returning from her large closet with a jewelry case.


    ¡°Ah! A fairy!¡± she cried, as the wind swirled a seedpod into the room. ¡°Catch it, and you can make a wish,¡± she added as she moderated her excitement. ¡°At least, that¡¯s what we do here in America.¡±


    She blushed, causing Aerrvin to smile pleasantly in return. His violet-blue eyes sparkled in the light like jewels.


    ¡°Well, where I come from they are for sending and receiving messages. This one tells me it is time to return home,¡± he smiled ruefully at the bit of dandelion fluff and the invisible Wind Sprite who brought it; then he placed it on the dresser. ¡°But first, let me see what you have.¡±


    In the not-too-small chest lay a splendid collection of rings, brooches, and necklaces.


    Picking up first one and then another, Aerrvin appraised each. ¡°These are all in excellent condition, but they need to be worn to keep them in tip-top shape.¡±


    ****


    Picking up the one Mara loved most but never wore; Aerrvin attached it around her neck before she could stop him. He said, ¡°Never take this off. It suits you.¡±


    The necklace comprised three delicate amethyst stones of equal size set in a silver heart encrusted with diamonds to fill in the shape. The pendant hung from a delicate silver chain.


    Mara became inwardly upset because the last time she wore it, she couldn¡¯t remove it for a month. She started to protest, but then sputtered to a stop, as she couldn¡¯t think of a good reason not to wear it. In truth, ever since getting it off, Mara had been afraid to even take it out of the box; but with Aerrvin here, she felt peace. Standing at her mirror, she admired the gems as they sparkled against her pale skin. She knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to remove the necklace quickly this time either.


    ¡°Would you please hold off on selling these, until I check my finances?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. I won¡¯t need extra cash until midsummer anyway, if then.¡±


    Thinking of past midsummer night escapades brought a wicked grin to Aerrvin¡¯s face. Taking her hand, he started to say, ¡°That reminds me¡­¡±


    ¡°Mara Lilyana Jamis! I am shocked! What are you doing with a young man in your bedchamber?¡± Jill mocked, holding her hand over her heart


    Mara shrugged.


    Jill wore a pale blue dress with a simple handkerchief hem, topped by a plain white shrug fastened with a satin ribbon. Sporting new white sandals with a low heel, and with her short red hair spiked just so; she presented a truly lovely sight.


    ¡°Very fetching!¡± Aerrvin complimented.


    ¡°Ditto. You¡¯ve outdone yourself as well,¡± Jill replied, not realizing he had toned down his usual outlandish creations.


    Today he wore a white peasant shirt with gathered sleeves, which Mara thought looked surprisingly like her bedspread. Looking more closely, she noted the sleeves did indeed end with a double ruffle of the very same lace as was on her bed. The shirt tied shut with a black, corded satin string. Left un-tucked, the shirt hung down to the top of his thighs. He wore slim black herringbone slacks. Mara recalled that when seen up close the fabric was actually black and a saturated purple.


    She agreed it was unquestionably fancier than a stock boy in jeans and a long-sleeved pullover. Currently, he was barefooted as he wore no socks and his loafers were in the study. His feet were pure perfection. Her breathing quickened at the silly notion that feet were attractive, yet surely his were.


    The phone rang, interrupting Mara¡¯s appraisal of clothing and feet.


    ¡°Hello, this is Mara. Yes, I will tell him; do you need to speak to him?¡± She paused to catch Aerrvin¡¯s attention, ¡°Aerrvin, it¡¯s Jaera. She sounds excited.¡± Mara handed him the phone and began packing up her jewelry.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Aerrvin answered, smooth as silk.


    ¡°Yes, I did. Well, because it didn¡¯t say why, and I had something going on,¡± he twitched his eyebrows at both girls naughtily. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so?! Is the car outside or do we need to run?¡± Laughing, he hung up the phone, picked up Growly and gave him a kiss, and then grabbed both girls by the elbows and headed them towards the stairs. ¡°I have a wonderful surprise I want to share with you. Can you come to my place, right now?¡±


    Looking at each other in startlement, the girls stood at the top of the stairs as Aerrvin bounced in excitement. Finally, Jill said, ¡°Well I¡¯m ready. Where are your shoes, Mara?¡±


    They arrived in two minutes at the Victorian house, known by some as the O¡¯Shea Mansion.