The Lovemark

The Lovemark
The Legend of the Ten
By Carol Edwards aka Eternal Spark
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Chapter 2- Little Prince Lost

A human among Fairies?! Royal Fairies at that?!? The concept may be hard to grasp...but yes as Jessica watched the seasons change with each year. The baby placed in her care was a delight as she watched her son grow. A sense of fulfillment surrounded her being every time she saw the innocent child laugh or smile. And when he first walked and called her Mommy, she finally curbed the pains of motherhood as her prayers had been answered. She sat on her throne, a statuesque chair surrounded by jewels, gold, and silver while gazing at the young boy before her. Jefric, now ten complete seasons of age, had just arrived for her summons and looked at her with eyes of wonderment. Memories...Memories flooded her mind, as she stared into his angelic face; his first words, his uncanny ability to learn languages by sheer touch, his unusual level of intelligence..."Sigh, my wood sprite..."
Jefric smiled at his beautiful mother and giggled. "There she goes reminiscing again." He thought to himself."
Jessica broke out her trance and smiled. "Happy Birthday."
Jefric's sea-green eyes twinkled with mischief. "Hah! So that means..."
"Yes, my love."
The little boy's excitement was so contagious, that she couldn't help but laugh along with him."
"Really, Momma?! I can go into the woods now!!"
She had promised him so long ago and she never broke a promise. Ten years have passed since...then. "Today...." she began as he sat on a cream-colored satin pillow with golden tassels laying by her feet, "you are ten complete seasons and you must learn..."
"Will I have cake and ambrosia today and chicken and roast beef?!" His words spilling from his mouth like water bubbling from a spring.
"Down, Little one. First, one present at a time." She giggled at her enthusiasm. His formal party would be later that evening as tradition states, but now...light emulated from her hands, shaping within itself. The light morphed, becoming angular as a thin crown of solid gold intertwining vines with leaves appeared before his eyes. "My son, you are prince of this realm and every prince must have a crown." She then placed the delicate wreath over his head and his sienna curls glowed against the golden object, as it seemed to dance with his hair.
"Mother! It's beautiful!" he exclaimed. "A golden crown! Can I wear it into the forest? I'll be very careful."
"Yes." she replied. "You may wear the crown, but Lishatoe is going with you." He simply nodded and mentally called for his sister whom was flying full speed into the room to wish him a happy birthday. Jessica gave them both strict instructions as she rose from the majestic throne with silent footsteps. She touched a spot on the world behind her throne and an portal magically appeared out of nowhere. With graceful movements, she motioned to them and led her children down a long passageway, down towards the edge of the mystical veil that kept their world invisible to the real world. She glanced sideways at her little son. Jefric wore typical fairy attire; white gauze layers that encircled his hips, which loosely covered his lower torso, flowing long and low in front and back. On his feet were soft leather sandals, tied securely around growing golden calves. He wore no protection around his chest area for he was magically protected at all times. His child muscles were slowly developing from his daily exercises, forming a very nice chest for a young boy. His elder sister, Listatoe was sitting comfortably on his shoulder, preparing for the quest her and her younger brother were about to embark on. Fighting his anxiety, Jefric closed his eyes and slowly walked through the veil of enchantment.
Seconds later...on the other side, he slowly opened his sea green eyes, staring in awe at the new sights, totally aroused by the different smells and alien breezes touching his body.
"Be careful, Jefric."
He turned slightly, looking at his older fairy sister as her ebony locks blew along side his auburn waves. She was always so protective of him but today was different...he didn't feel like being babied... He wanted to explore. " Lishatoe!" His sea green eyes lowered, staring at her. "Lisha, I am ten turns of seasons now! I am not a baby anymore!"
"I am older..." she calmly replied, "...and wiser, Jefric. Beside...it is your first time outside the castle."
He shook his head in defiance. "Okay then...I want some questions answered..." he replied, crossing his arms over his chest as he always did with he was in the mood for answers. "Out of our family...Why am I the only one big with no wings?"
Lishatoe blinked. She knew he was gonna start up the moment they were away from their mother's presence. "Does the queen have wings?" she answered slyly.
"When she want to. I've tried. I can't...in other words...I am human."
"Yes you are." She saw his eyes shift, clouding a little in sorrow. She already knew the next question even before her brother uttered it.
"Then my father is human." He sighed in the knowledge of wistful thinking. He was human while his family was not. He had so many questions yet his mother would change the topic whenever he inquired about this father. He kneeled down, gently caressing a wild flower growing from a tree trunk. Lishatoe just watched his emotions changing over his anguished face.
"Who is my father?" he questioned, "Why can't I ask about him? Do I look like him?
"Little brother, don't be sad." The raven-haired teenaged fairy replied, hugging her sibling's face...too little to hold his entire body but large enough for the love she felt for him. She knew all the answers of his questions but the time was not right to answer them. "Soon...little brother..." she silently thought cuddly to him closer.
Suddenly, the sounds of humans were approaching and Lishatoe and her brother Jefric jumped high into the trees, hiding among the leaves. A simple open carriage carried two occupants as it was being pulled by four white horses. The man in the carriage giggled as he watched the little girl beside him who was around Jeffrey's age squirm in his lap as they continued down the road. They both wore crown of gold and flowing majestic clothing. The little princess held the reins, guiding the horses while giggling at the older man who happened to be her father. Jefric just watched from the security of the trees, gazing for the first time at others like him. He never would have imagined that by looking at that little girl, with hair of auburn silk and the strangest eyes of hazel gold, he was gazing at his future.
"See I told you I can do it, Daddy." The young girl exclaimed.
"Okay, darling," King Tigere replied to his only daughter, "Now give me back the reins."
Jefric continued to stare at them, entranced by the little girl. "It's a girl." He silently thought watching her every move, "Can't understand the language...human dialect I guess." He looked up at his sister, who was perched on a leaf. "She's a princess!" he exclaimed. "Do you think she would play with me?!"
The look Lishatoe gave him answered his question. "No way!"
"How come? I'm a prince!"
"You are only in the woods to learn! And not from humans!"
"I can learn from her too!"
"If I tell...you will never be allowed in this sector again."
The young boy bowed his head in defeat. He knew his sister, and he didn't want this to be the first and only time coming into the human forest. "Okay."
Lishatoe looked across the trees from her position. "Come! There are others sites to see like Jasmine Lake, the animals and most importantly Uni and Xi, the unicorn rulers of the animal kingdom. All fairy royalty must be acquainted with them when first entering the forest."
Jefric's fox ears perked up in surprise. "Unicorns?!?"
Lishatoe smiled. She knew that would curb his curiosity for the time being. She guided him down the tree and flew directly towards the sacred grounds of the unicorns. A lush area filled with trees and wildlife appeared as if by magic. As he entered the green, he just stood inzemezement. Before him, stood the most majestic creatures he had ever seen. Such elegant animals, most sacred among all of the forest as they were the protectors of the animal realm. Lishatoe nudged her brother to walk closer, urging him to make his presence known. The male unicorn softly trotted towards him and began to open its mind to the child telephatically.
"Don't be afraid." The young boy whispered, gently raising his hand to caress a silky nose. The moment his fingers came in contact with the animal, words were spoken in his mind.
"Young Jefric...as innocent as a dove and as gentle-hearted as a lamb. We will guide you."
"Guide me?" Jefric questioned as he stared into Uni's eyes, glowing with deep understanding. "I've never seen animals up close before...only in books." He felt an urge to hug it...to touch him...he so needed a friend. Sensing the child's urgency, Uni nudged his nose closer, urging the child to touch him. Jefric sighed and rubbed his face against the long nose of the uni-horned horse.
Uni smiled. "You will see many animals in our realm and we will teach you survival skills outside the enchanted forest."
And from that moment, the entire wood loved Jefric. Strange and exotic creatures came from afar to see the royal fairy half-breed. Things were fine for a time as Jefric played as all children but as time progressed and the seasons turned something strange was happening to the young prince.
He was growing.
The roundness of his baby face, sharpen with grace and beauty and his sea green eyes sparkled even in the darkest night. His voice was no longer high as a child's but now soft and deep. Baby fat metamorphosed into hard muscle, as he was now tall and strong standing just over six feet.
Jefric' 15th turn of season passed and as he looked into the water...he didn't even know he was the splitting image of his father at his age. So very handsome and yet...he looked so sad. Lishatoe, now an adult by fairy standards, was looking for her brother. She found him in the human world by the lake, looking at his reflection and sulking.
"What's wrong now?"
His hair was now long, reaching down his back falling past his tailbone. "You wouldn't understand anyway."
"You're lonely."
He looked up. "Very. I need to be around people like me...My own age. What am I called now? A teenager?" He slowly rose, brushing auburn bangs away from his eyes as he continued to speak. "All I do is tend to the animals. I love them but something is missing from my life."
The loud sound of laughter broke the young man from his thoughts. Reflexes faster than light reacted, as he heard the humans approaching from the south. He leapt quietly, silently into the trees as he always did when humans were around. Little did Jefric know...that a simple memory would become reality?
The maidens giggled as they arrived closer to Eclipse Lake. A pretty one, with all of her hair plaited into a long cinnamon braid giggled, asking for her mistress to sing. Another young maiden with curly violet waves just pulled the giggling girl along with them.
Jefric watched the silliness of the maidens' overhead when one, in particular, caught his eye. His sea-green eyes widened in shock. "That girl?!?"
Yes...the little girl he had seen those many seasons ago was dancing before his eyes with the other maidens. She was absolutely breathtaking! Long reddish brown hair like his, just a tad lighter, a sweet heart-shaped face, and curves beyond curves within her long maiden garment. He stood in awe as he watched her dance along with the other girls while others, who were seated, clapped to their own beat. Lishatoe saw her brother's eyes.
That look.
She recognized the sparkling beginning in his eyes and she didn't like it. "Uh Oh, Jefric! Come on!"
"Wait! One minute...she's not finished." He continued to stare downward at the scene ignoring his sister's outburst, more interested with the oncoming show.
"If you don't!" A strong hand grabbed her, covering her mouth and body. "Now be quiet." as Jefric mischievously replied while thinking there were some advantages to being bigger than fairies.
"Ha! She's been dreaming of him again."
Rissa giggled at her friend as the other girls sat around in a circle. "It's not funny."
"So tell us again how he looks."
"Then will you leave it alone?"
"For now."
Clarissa glared at Alicia, a curly top and adorable young maiden from the town of Else, shaking her head. She sighed; knowing her maidens will continue to pester unless she did their bidding. Pushing her long wavy hair over her shoulder, she prepared her voice as she began to sing to her ladies in waiting.
My love...my dream love...
Eyes of sea emeralds, Hair of autumn gold
Skin the shade of peaches and nectars old
Tall and handsome he appears to me
Never changing his gentleness towards me
My Valentine, I dream of you the whole night through
Jefric blushed in shock. "That's me?!?" The song! The girl was describing him to a perfect tee. Lishatoe squirmed in her captivity, swearing if he didn't let her go he was gonna get it. Jefric ignored her threats, continuing to listen to the girl's song.
Why can't I find someone that matches you?
Even the flowers try to whisper your name...
But I can't hear...
"That's it!" Lishatoe was pissed and a pissed fairy was very dangerous to humans. Cackling energy surrounded her body and the force of her anger manifested in an electrical zap, zapping her baby brother to release her. He yelled in pain!
"Did you hear that?" as Rissa stopped mid-note. The other maidens looked around suddenly frightened. They knew about thunteunted forest yet never believed the rumors, thinking it was the way of the elders to scare children away from the forest.
Meanwhile, Jefric was chasing his sister through the forest, swearing vengeance. She had the advantage of wings to his dismay as she fluttered around him just beyond his reach. "Come back here!!" he telepathically yelled as she flew high into a honey apple tree.
She glared at him as she looked down from a branch. "You need to calm down!"
"Why did you do that!" he screamed as he looked up at her, meeting her gaze as she nonchalantly detached a fruit from vinevine.
"She is a girl."
"So...I'm a boy! What is so wrong with looking at her?!?"
With hands on curvaceous hips, she stared at him...really stared at him...sea green straight into identical eyes. "It's not why...it's how...." Being a married woman had taught her many things: the looks, the simple motions of interest...the looks. She had much to teach her little brother. It was on a occasion not too long ago she told her mother that Jefric needed a mate but her mother forbid it, not wanting to cause suspicion if they kidnapped a human girl. She shook her head in disagreement but had to abide to her queen mother's command. She smirked, levitating to him as he ate the fruit, wondering what was going through that pretty head of his. "I saw your eyes, little brother and you were not 'just looking' at her."
Jefric ignored her, not wanting to be bothered.
Lishatoe took that, laughing at him for his innocence. "If you had a girl, what would you do with one?"
He looked up then. "Talk. Learn about the humans and the world beyond the forest."
She shrugged her shoulders in agreement, knowing that would have been his answer. She thought a moment and decided to do something she would never have dared in his presence. An ethereal glow surrounded her and she started to grow. Jefric had to step back, terrified as he watched his elder sister grow to human size without difficulty or stress.
"Lisha?!? You're...b…b…big?!"
Her antenna's twitched as she sashayed towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and planting the softest kiss on his cheek. He shivered in her arms, not expected or even understanding what she just did. "Why are you kissing me?!?" he asked in shock.
She giggled at him and popped back into her smaller form. "Because mother's and sister's kisses are different from kissing someone you don't know."
He blinked. "Oh."
"Yes..." she thought. He would learn in a couple of years. "Let's go home, Jefric."
The moment they arrived back at the castle, Jessica was busy with worldly matters.
"Hello mother."
"Hungry?"
"No. I had an apple, I'm okay."
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Dreamtime.
Jefric's dreams were being haunted...haunted by eyes of hazel gold. The young maiden...her eyes, her hair, her smile...visited him night after night. He could see her dancing, floating by him shimmering beyond his reach. Her honeyed sweetened voice whispering to him, enchanting him with her dance and disappearing the moment he touched her. He jerked awake; covering his eyes as the light of the moon softly caressed his body. He had made a decision...he must see her again.
The following morning, beforeone one was awake in the fairy realm, Jefric left for the human world. He waited in the trees, curiosity always getting the best of him as he waiting for his prey. The soft rustle of leaves alerted him of her arrival as she chatted with some of the forest creatures craving for her touch. Wonderment showed on his face as he admired her for this feat. There was a loud scuffle high in the trees and he looked upward towards the sound. Luckily, he did because an injured squirrel was coming down directly towards him, and would have died if Jefric didn't jump down to catch it.
Clarissa had heard the commotion also and heard voices again. She rose; quietly brushing her skirts and silently tiptoed to the source.
Jefric, not paying attention to anyone except what was in his hands, cuddled her furry friend to his heart. "Sshh! That bird hurt you? I'll make it better, Ebony." One touch...power surging gently from his fingertips activated and soothing warmth flowed: his healing power. The tiny black squirrel purred, curling itself around Jefric's neck in heavenly bliss. He smiled, happy that this simple power could ease its wounds. But because of this...
"Hello?"
He froze, unable to move. For the first time in 15 years he was caught off guard and his racing heart was beating a million miles a minute. Cautiously, sea green eyes slowly motioned to the side, meeting the most beautiful eyes he had ever beheld. But fear overloaded and and he scampered away from her, screaming in his native fairy tongue.
Clarissa gasped in shock as she watched the beautiful wild young man practically shutter from her voice. She screamed for him to wait yet his words...in a language she didn't understand. "A boy..." she silently thought watching the tree he was hiding behind. "A wild child...what a strange boy...Maybe..."
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His heart was beating so fast, drumming loudly within his chest and ears. You would think he was terrified...he was...but not only from the girl. "Mother is going to kill! She'll never let me come here again!" He heard light footsteps coming closer, hearing her every creak and crackling against the dead leaves lying on the ground.
"Don't be afraid! Are you hungry?" Her ears twitched trying to hear him. She sighed; finally walking back to her blanket where her lunchbox sat prepared only for her. "Okay...be that way! I have food!" she yelled trying to entice him out of his hiding place. "I have sandwiches!"
Jefric turned in confusion from behind the tree. "What are sandwiches?"
She sat down, placing her basket on a huge rock, grabbing a sandwich, and looking towards the lake.
Jefric thought a moment as he waited for to leave. But then he thought "if she wanted to kill me she would have by not." He slowly came from around his hiding place, cautiously approaching the maiden. He sniffed the strange scent floating in the air, being wary and on his guard this time. Clarissa ignored him, making sure to not scare him away. The wild boy crouched by the basket, watching the girl's hand disappear within and reappear from the odd looking container. He watched as she slowly placed the good smelling food in her mouth studying everything that she was doing.
"Smell good..” he silently thought, his senses driving him crazy from his lack of ea bre breakfast. "And she's eating it! She's human...must taste good if she's eating them so fast. It can't be poisonous..."
Clarissa watched him, cautiously sit besides her, sliding his hand into her basket, grabbing a sandwich, nibbling on it to test and then going back into the basket grabbing sandwich after sandwich and stuffing them down his throat.
"Hey! You're eating them too fast!" she screamed afraid he was going to choke. "You! Don't!" She tried to grab his hand trying to slow him down but missed because he was so nimble. "You're going to be so sick!"
He continued munching not understanding a word she said.
She sighed, giving up since she was unable to stop him. "I don't know what to do. You don't understand me."
He slowed his gobbling, looked at her downcast face, swallowing hard. "I'm being rude eating her food." He looked in the basket and said "Shotus" in his native language, handing her a meat-filled delicacy. Clarissa blinked in confusion and then saw the sincerity in his face. She reached for it, thanking him for his gift. He replied again, the time touching the tips of her fingers by accident. Rissa tried to thank him again but this time...
"You're welcome" he replied while savoring another sandwich.
Clarissa looked at him in shock. "Huh?! You can talk English?"
"MMMMM!" he replied nibbling on another sandwich. "I didn't understand a word until I touched you."
"Touch?"
I learn languages just by touch. A gift I was born with."
"Oh!" She blinked in amazement. "Okay...my name..."
He smiled before he finished her sentence. "...Is Clarissa. I know about you. I saw you when I was ten turns of seasons riding in a strange cart with a man." He pointed at the thing in his hand. "What were in those things...umm...sandwiches?'
"Raspberry jam!" she exclaimed. "You ate so fast I didn't know what you had but there were some with cheese and meat..." She paused at the remale ble boy. "You know so much about me yet I don't know you."
He laughed when she said that. "I hide in the trees and listen. Listening to the animals, to the wind, to everything in nature. You and those other girls playing those games almost everyday."
She stared at him. He's been watching her yet she could sense no evil from him. "What is your name?" she asked him shyly.
He shivered. He wasn't suppose to talk much less tell a human about himself. Those were the laws of his people. "I cannot say. My mother, the Empress of the fairies..."
Clarissa's eyes widened in awe! "Your mother's the Fairy Empress?!?! -The- Fairy Empress?!"
"Uh huh! I live in a very sacred part of the forest. This is my home." He paused becoming shy from the next set of question he was about to ask her. "May I ask you something?"
"Yes?'
"What is the color of your eyes?"
She giggled from his boldness. "Hazel...it's more than one color and then it's not a real color. Why?"
"Because I've never seen that shade before. No one has that color where I live. They're very pretty. I didn't want to be rude if I continued staring at you."
She blushed in spite of herself. "No...it's alright." She couldn't understand but she felt oddly safe around this boy...so secured and protected. "Thank you but your eyes are pretty too! They remind me of the sea...I've never seen a boy with such bright sea-green eyes before." She felt total embarrassment confessing such a simple thing yet Jefric just sat there listening until he heard a mental summon.
*Jefric...*
He nearly jumped out os sks skin.
"Are you okay?"
He rose, dusting off his clothes. "I have to leave! My sister's searching for me."
"Okay. I'd better be going then."
He watched her rise, beginning to gather her blanket and other items. He knew it was wrong but he had to risk it. It would be the greatest opportunity of aetimetime. "Clarrisa?"
She stopped packing her basket and looked up towards him. "Yes?"
"Um, not to impose or anything but uh...could you meet me back here tomorrow? I have so many questions to ask and I know you do about me! I will answer them if you will...okay?!"
She could sense the anxiety in his voice. He was more nervous than she was but...to converse with someone of the fairy kingdom...to learn of the world of mystery and magic...she smiled at him. "Okay. When the sun is high in the sky."
His eyes bulged out of their sockets, tiny sea green dots staring into her bright hazel ones. He couldn't believe his ears. She agreed! She really agreed! He didn't know why but that was the best thing that ever happened to him! "Okay!" he exclaimed, jumping up hly lly like he was three again. "Til tomorrow!" he yelled as he started running down a path.
She giggled at his antics. "Til tomorrow!" she replied smiling back at him.
"Til tomorrow!" he exclaimed happily but right before he disappeared he uttered these simple words and her heart melted. "Goodbye! Goodbye princess!!" and he ran, disappearing from sight.
She remained there, just watching his form disappear from sight as reality blossomed over her.
"Bright eyes." She whispered, her flowing auburn hair blowing in the breeze. It was him as she slowly walked back home. The beautiful boy was the one from her dreams. She knew it. But who was he? She had to know...the handsome yet mysterious young man...her dream prince.
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At the palace, later that night....Jefric's thoughts consisted of a certain girl. Try as he might, he could not stop thinking about the beautiful maiden. He sat in his bedroom window gazing at the pale moon. The delicate light illuminated the entire room, making everything appear haunting beautiful. Hues of gold and silver graced the majestic walls and the gentle breezes blew within, serenading with the tassels on his master bed. He sighed, slowly raised from his elegant view as his words gained harmony...into song...
"Clarissa, Lovely Clarissa...
Why does my heart pound for you so?
I don't understand this feeling
Yet something starts unreeling
And thoughts of you start pouring into overflow...
He then began to think, trying to understand the conflicting emotions within him. A feeling...emns nns never felt before until he saw that girl again and now there was such an ache within him...An ache trying to be set free. He walked back towards his balcony, watching the fairy lanterns shimmer and some fireflies dancing in the still of the night. "Somewhere deep inside of me, something hidden deeply wants to awake."
The flapping of wings stopped him from his daze. "Elise! My friend." An exquisite white dove landed on his left shoulder. She cooed, snuggling against him feather caressing his cheek. His sea-green eyes softened as he stroked her wings.
"You sense my sadness, huh. Do you know why I'm feeling like this? After one small glance, I was caught by chance and I don't know why. But I must see her...I must see her...lovely Clarissa."
Unknown to Jefric, light green eyes were watching him from afar in the darkness. Sweetwater, the youngest of the siblings watched her elder brother...knowing exactly what was ailing him. She shook her head before she whispered the answer. "He's in love. Just...how? I must tell Lisha."
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Author notes: ^^;; Gomen...sorry it took so long for an update but here it is and it is a dozy. I’m finally gonna try to work out a schedule for writing so I can update more frequently when time permits. Comments are appreciated. Hope you like it.^_^
In the next chapter, "The eyes of recognition-Who am I?", just when things were developing for Jefric and his new friend Clarissa...something or rather some one has other ideas for our beloved hero. But that is only half of the problem! The wheels of time past has begun tin..in...as the future awakens unroll. Stay turned, Dreamers as we will begin to embark on Jefric’s great adventure!