Chapter 11

"Help! Help! Aunt Cathrine! Aunt Cathrine!!" The wings of a tiny fairy princess were fluttering far faster than ever before in her little life. On the angelic face of the orange-haired sprite was written total and utter fear.

Just one look at the plaintive, white face, it was plain to see she was in need of aid--and for that she had come to the right person. This singular man among men who would risk his life in rescue of an innocent soul or two as he has on many an adventurous quest before.

A certain brother of his was continually out for the thrill of adventure and glory and riches. (So often one went hand in hand with the other two.) And the young boy who had one day become this noble archer had always wanted to tag along with his dashing and daring older sibling. In fact, the famed pair had just returned from a lengthy quest in search of the ancient mountain tales of a singularly golden horned steed of white--the one of legend so named the unicorn.

For mythical creatures named "unicorns" had not been seen in this world for nearly a millennia. They, and their mystic power to teleport, had vanished from the forest of mists one day, a thousand years ago when a greedy king of the netherworld decided to capture the entire forest of unicorns for himself and himself alone, to show off to his rivals of his prowess and abilities.

But the unicorns he had so eagerly touted as caught in his heavily guarded and trap filled forest's edge, had a different idea. And that's when all of them, every one, had vanished, into the air it seemed, without a trace of where, or whence they had gone.

Until recently, during yet another epic adventure a month ago, the archer and his brother had discovered an ancient antechamber in which, if one was ingenius enough to be able to translate the long forgotten language Nital, but let that speak for the intellect of which we're speaking of, was written the prophesied breeding grounds of the unicorns.

It was a place where even a human could live immortal. It was foretold that the breathtaking, beautiful flora there sprung eternal and the creek that never ceased to flow ran immortal crystal waters with sparkling diamonds, emeralds and precious stones.

A place where life was so utterly still and peaceful, where unicorns and small, furry creatures roamed freely and unafraid. For this could be named no other than the land 'Idyllic'.

It was a world in its own world, where weary souls found tranquillity, that is, if the maps and charts were correct in their warnings, only the truest and noblest of hearts could gain entrance into the land of the unicorn.

But if the unpure and untrue dared cross it's canopied tree line, the consequences were, let's say...severe....or so the legend goes.

All that myth and legend were dreams and fantasies that this young archer never held much stock in as he lofty minded brother. He himself merely enjoyed the adventure that was sure to be found alongside him. The feel of the fragrant wind in your hair, the taste of cool, fresh water splashed on your face, the rugged life that was usually denied those in his class--but when did his fanciful brother ever play by the rules?

Rules were made to be broken, he often would state in one of those lengthy, non-lecturing tales of poetry and derring-do. It's a wonder the boy named Trowa ever turned into anything more than the dreamer his brother, who had more than a hand in the lad's upbringing, had raised him to be.

A romantic dreamer, a skilled archer and a handsome hero, all in one. And today that heroicism was about to be tested to its further limits beyond any adventure he had yet to be involved in.

The sought after and treasured prize this time was one of beauty and light beyond measure...carried to him on a fairy's breathtaking wings...

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"What's wrong? What's happening over there?!"

"Maybe it's the bad guys."

"Of course it's the bad guys, stupid!"

"Maybe we should run then."

"Yeah, let's run."

The bickered, back and forth hysterics were courtesy of Trowa's two elven companions. The long eared pair never had bigger eyes than in this minute. They and their young lives had never seen such chaos or destruction. The red fire rising on the other side of the black waters from the roof of the castle of the fairies was indeed something the pair of elves thought was well....frightening.

Fear and mischief were two things that played hand in hand. But before scaredy Duo or Hilde could get their ankle-booted feet arunning, the orange haired pixie who was their playmate in the tree game before, arrives.

Her bright hair was in stark contrast to the deathly pale white sheet of her face's once peachy skin.

"Aunt Cathrine! Aunt Cathrine!! Help! Help Aunt Cathrine!!"

The plea for help, the name of her beloved guardian was called out in fear, over and over. Mariemaia had done as her aunt had commanded in the child's moment of panic.
She had flown as fast and as furiously as her little wings ever dared.

But what now? What do I do when I get across the river? What if I can't find him? What if I can't find Aunt Cathy's brave archer?!

Her frantic mind had raced almost as fast as her pounding like a drum heart. Just when it feels like it was about to explode, both heart and head, she sees him. She sees her hero standing straight and tall across the riverbank, waiting for her. Waiting to save her Aunt Cathy for her.

Mariemaia was growing more and more sure that if anyone could, he could do it. She stayed trained and focused in on his green eyes, reassuring her as the closer she gets to where he was standing. His broad shoulders were stiffened and ready for the daring rescue of his fairy tale princess....somehow....

"Help her! Help her! Help her!" Sniffle, sniffle. Mariemaia glides her wings straight into his welcoming arms. The compassionate man he is strokes the girl's head as she blubbers on his chest.

Trowa felt some sort of strange connection to this orange-haired fairy, as if somehow they were close, somehow related....as if by blood.

He comforts her in his strong arms, as a father would hold his child in moments of the little one's fear of the dark. And the dark on the horizon was certainly a frightening thing to see. The Archer takes one last look at the danger ahead, with determination building within him to save this little girl's fairy aunt--to bravely rescue a damsel in distress--and a beautiful one at that.

His own heart caught in his throat at the horrid thought of such a lovely, delicate creature in the hands of any evil threatening, whoever it may be. He was sure that he was the one who could deliver her tender light from it--even it meant plunging headfirst into the murky, most likely, poisonous with the breath of a dragon about it, dark waters separating him from his fair princess.

But in that moment, a far superior and much quicker, means of transport comes swooping down from the skies above. As if ushered in by Providence, a white pegasus comes flying down towards them---with a large falcon just on her heels, swooping in. She had followed the pegasus' trail blindly. The sunshine yellow hair on the rider of the gold bird was in sharp contrast to the black darkness he was entering down upon.

Though Trowa didn't recognize the falcon, nor its rider, he did know the rider of the winged horse. After all, he hailed from the same kingdom and had come here in search of the Princess Dorothy. She had taken off to the skies with this pegasus when she was supposed to be assembled in the cathedral hall, preparing for her upcoming wedding tomorrow.

She was the sole reason for the archer's visit to the forest today. Trowa somehow sensed that his cousin was coming here today, as had he. They were called by the screams of dangers and the prayers of a pure, fairy princess.....

"Trowa! What has happened to the fairy palace! What can I do?!" Princess Dorothy's own vivid sense of adventure longed to take action herself. She lands her pegasus on the riverbank, awaiting the instruction of her fellow countryman, the man she respected most, only second to one other. She readied herself for her commanding cousin's order to cross the river and vanquish some evils, with the little dagger she suddenly produces from somewhere within the fuschia folds of her long, trailing veiled cape.

"Then guard these little ones for me. Keep them safe until I return."

Dorothy's dreams of adventure and grandeur were not meant to be. The handsome archer ignored her offer to face in mortal combat, no doubt, evils awaiting on the other side of the shore.

This was the battle he and he alone was destined to, since he was born. For though this bravest of men knew it not at the moment--this fairy princess was the one the oracles, the fates, the stars had long ago preordained at his noble birth to find the other half of his gentle soul, rescue her delicate beauty in her most fearful moment of sheer danger. And then take her home to be his princess bride....

His soul somehow recognized that this fairy in danger was it's other half. She would be the one who could bring him from the lonely depths of a heart longing for an unknown time and place. Theirs was a predestined love---a love he had kept himself pure and clean, for her and her alone. So he had found her. Now, for the daring rescue.

In the blink of an eye, a flash of understanding, nodded look between Trowa and the falcon boy over Dorothy's head, and the archer is mounted on the familiar pegasus' back. He and the flying steed take to the darkening skies swiftly, before its former rider has a chance to disagree to being left behind.

"Trowa!! You come back here! That's my pegasus!! TROWA!! I command you! As member of the royal house, I command you!!! Ooh!! Why does that headstrong, pig headed, devil may care attitude run so strong in our family?!" Dorothy, after a good spell of ranting and raving at her departed pegasus that was just stolen out from beneath her by a disobedient rider, shakes a fist. Her face was so angry she was trembling, her whole body so infuriated that he dare to leave her behind.

"How dare you leave me behind!!!" She caterwauls out in frustration, rather unladylike, too. "With these....children.....You know I'm not good with children. They don't like me." Princess Dorothy had the class and breeding befitting a member of royalty. However, she didn't have a smidge of the kind gentility required to entertain young ones.

Besides, I dislike them, too.

Dorothy's face falls as she turns to the trio looking wide-eyed at her.

"I can't imagine why not. You seem an extremely easy person to like. Right, children?" The blonde boy lands his falcon on the shore beside Dorothy and the three charges under her care. His innocent, aqua blue eyes lock with Dorothy's angry, shocked ones, and a calming, soothing effect falls over our angry eyebrowed princess.

"Hold it! Just hold your horses right there!" One shocked little elf, who had plunked a while of courageous selflessness back, stands up at the same height as that of the young, golden haired boy who had just so called him and his friend Hilde "children."

"I don't know if you want to stand guard over this little fairy girl like your drill master said. But me and my gal here, we are NOT children. So we don't be needing your protection, do we, Hilde? We're elves and when danger and bad guys come, we usually just run. None of this bravery and heroism stuff that gets humans killed for us, okay? So just forget about it!" Duo, the smart alecky elf had enough of this victim act that he and Hilde had been mistaken as part of. His limber legs were just itching to make a run for the safety of the trees behind them.

"Come on, Hilde!" He commands after giving the blonde boy a rebellious poke in the chest. He had expected his gal, Hilde, to follow after he turns and starts to walk away---

But Hilde seemed to have other ideas. Her awed eyes were stuck watching the exciting rescue scene across the river, as the archer's pegasus fearlessly flies straight into the burning inferno that once was the palace of the fairies....