Part Two: The Lady of My Heart
"It is
often spoken that the center of the universe is our earth, but the true center
of our universe is our own heart. For without a heart the rest of the world is
dark and dreary, lonely and miserable. So how powerful must be the one whose
heart blazes not only for their own self, but for all other souls as well?"
-- Merlin
A
swirl of color and shapes moved in and out of a fine mist that clung to the
green dales of Vandermere-Sooth on its seaward side. Arthur sat on a lonely
rock, overlooking the lake that ran sheer to the sea, where it spilled off high
rocks to the beach below and the volcanic rock that spewed forth steam there.
Arthur
sang a short song to himself about his mother:
“On
high, high hills over the downward lee,
She
came forth in light and glee.
Her
eyes would dance
And
her smile would fly
And
so I remember her
To
this day in my eye.
Me
mother of birth,
My
friend of stars
She
gave me song
And
lullabies
Thus
do I long
Both
near and far
For
the sight of my mother
Her
face of stars.”
“That’s
very nice.” A feminine voice spoke quietly.
Arthur,
startled, from his reverie turned and fell off his rock, tumbling down several
feet before catching himself.
A
gentle laughter stopped as he caught himself at the feet of a young girl, with
long pointed ears and a face as fair as the light of the moon.
“You’re
of the Fay!” Arthur almost gasped.
“Ah,
I can see you’re a bright one, as well as quite co-ordinated.” The young girl
said in a taunting way, a smile on her lips.
Arthur
jumped to his feet and bowed to her, then dropped to his knees and bowed.
She
caught him before he could repeat it. “Come on now, I am only a young lass with
pointed ears. No more. No less.” She pointed out, touching her lovely ears
gently for him to see.
Arthur
blushed so red he could feel steam coming off his face. The girl only laughed
again, but this time with more of pity in her tone, than amusement.
“I’m
sorry. It’s just that…” He stammered.
“You’ve
never seen a young lass whose beauty rivaled the stars that your mother
inhabits?” She asked with a tease.
Arthur
liked her despite her tone, and took off his cloak and spread it on the stone
he had sat on. “Please, I’m not being a gentleman. Sit. Please.”
She
sat on his cloak, and then eyed him a moment. “Don’t just stand there. Sit
beside me, I won’t bite.”
Arthur
paused a moment, and then started to sit.
She
made a snarling sound, showed her teeth, and snapped at him.
Arthur
jumped back and almost fell again. He caught himself and then broke into
laughter. He pulled out a half loaf of rough bread and broke it into two
pieces. “I’d be honored if you would break bread with me, sweet lady.”
She
took the bread and then a bite. Her face lit up like the sun a moment. “Ooh,
this is just splendid. However did you make it? I’ve tasted nothing like it
before.”
Arthur
sat at her feet and took a bite from his. “I made it myself. Took all night,
but got it done.”
She
took another bite, her eyes rolling in delight. “Then surely you have put
something very precious in this flour.”
“Nah.
Just a lot of kneading.” Arthur answered.
