[Reviews - 16]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 2586 times

- Text Size +







The walk down the hillside was made in silence as William followed the pixies toward the small houses that were scattered along the hills. His eyes alternated between Buffy, the fairies and the movement he could see coming from the houses. Buffy was still unconscious and the closer they got to the small village, the more nervous William became.



The blue pixie that was leading William increased her speed, leaving him and Buffy behind as she flew toward a small house that was practically hidden within the hillside. From what William could see, the house looked as if it were actually made right into earth. Only a portion of the small structure could be seen while the rest seemed to nestle inside the hill.



As William finally reached the road that led between the houses, his steps slowed as what looked like children began to finally notice him. Passing the first house, William smiled as he glanced over at the small person that stood along side of the road before a little smile was returned to him and he realized that these were not children, but some sort of dwarf instead.



The blue fairy flew quickly back to William's side, smiling as she hovered in front of him. "They can help you," she said, looking over at the small group of people that were gathering. "They mean you no harm."



"What are they?" William asked quietly as he looked at the small group as they passed.



"They are hobbits," the pixie replied. "They live here in Verisha."



"Hobbits? I thought hobbits were only folklure." William said wide-eyed.



The blue fairy laughed, sounding like music to William as her wings fluttered faster. "Humans are quite amusing," she said holding her stomach as she laughed. "You only believe what you can see."



"Suppose you're right," William said as he once again glanced over to the people that were slowly growing in numbers. "So, hobbits live in Verisha?"



"Among other things," the fairy said, grinning. "Hurry, Talia is waiting."



William shifted Buffy's weight in his arms before rushing after the fairy. He held her tighter to him as they approached a small house where William could see a white-haired woman standing. As he walked through the gate that entered a small garden surrounding the house, she walked toward him and William smiled.



"Welcome to Verisha," she said, smiling. "I am Talia."



"I'm William and this," William said, looking down at Buffy, "is Princess Elizabeth."



"We know who you are," Talia said as she looked up at William and smiled. "The outside world is an open curiosity for us. Just because we seldom cross the line between our world and yours doesn't mean we don't know of you. Now come," Talia said as she turned toward her house. "Your princess needs care."



William followed her to the door before stopping as she entered. The top of the door only came up to his chest and he smiled before shaking his head as Talia yelled out to him "to watch his head." Bending down, William carefully entered the small house, surprised to find he was able to stand once inside. He wasn't sure if it were magic or just good craftsmanship as he studied the structure. Everything was small in size to accommodate the small stature of its occupants and William couldn't help but smile as Talia once again appeared in front of him.



"I have a room prepared for her," she said before she motioned William forward. "Bring her."



William followed Talia down a small hallway; looking into each room he passed and noticing they were all bedrooms. He wasn't sure where Talia was leading him, but as she finally entered the room at the end of the hall, William was surprised to see a room with "normal-sized" furnishings.



"Lay her here," Talia said as William entered the room and carried Buffy inside. "We'll have her fixed up in no time."



William carried Buffy to the large bed that sat in the center of the room along the far wall before he carefully laid her down. If anything, he was relieved that she would finally get some much-needed rest.



"Now scoot," Talia said as she carried a bowl of water to the bedside table and sat down. "Bertram is waiting outside for you."



"What?" William exclaimed, confused. "I'm not."



"Yes, you are," Talia said, smiling as she moistened a towel and began cleaning Buffy's wound. "She's perfectly fine here. Bertram will see to your needs and you can come back in the morning to visit your princess."



William stood in place watching as Talia tended to Buffy before he finally looked around. He hesitantly walked back to the door, turning his head again to look over his shoulder.



"She will be fine," Talia said softly. "She'll be fed and bathed and get the much-needed rest her body needs. Now go," she told him without ever turning around.



William reluctantly left the room, glancing back at Buffy one last time before making his way back through the house. He was apprehensive about leaving Buffy there, but could tell that Talia wouldn't have it any other way.



Exiting the house, William saw a little man standing by the gate. His hair was long and as white as snow. A long beard hung down his chest and William smiled as he walked toward him. "You must be Bertram?" William inquired as he approached the gate.



"That I am," the chubby little man said with a smile. "Talia asked me to take you in," he told William as he turned and started walking down the road.



William followed, looking back toward Talia's cottage a few times before he fell into step with Bertram. "Verisha is quite amazing," William said softly as he took in the scenery around him. "How long have you been here?"



Bertram chuckled lightly as he shook his head. "Verisha has always been," he said glancing over at William. "But, I've been here four hundred years, give or take a few."



"Four hundred years!" William said loudly as he stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the little man.



Bertram laughed heartily at the look on William's face before he shook his head and started walking again. "Don't look so surprised. Things aren't always what they seem."



"Meaning what?" William asked as he slowly began to follow.



"Well, Verisha has.always been," Bertram said. "We've been here long before the mortal world even existed. Our land once consisted of everything in your realm, but as humans began to descend upon us, we were forced to hide here to protect our own."



"I don't understand," William said, confused. "Humans began to overtake you?"



"Something like that," Bertram told him. "Dark magics are dangerous to our kind. Peace and harmony were threatened, so the elders encased us here, protecting us and the creatures that dwell here."



"You mean the pixies?" William asked.



"Among other things."



"I've heard tales of the creatures that dwell in the Enchanted Forest. Are those creatures here as well?"



"This is the only place you'll find them," Bertram told him. "The only time our creatures venture out of Verisha is when something is needed from the forest. Herbs for medicines, mostly, or when the occasional wild at heart takes it upon himself to venture out," he said smiling.



William followed Bertram through a small gate that led to a house a few houses down from where he left Buffy. He followed Bertram inside, taking in the small furniture and he smiled as he was shown a room much like the one he had left Buffy in. "Do you always keep human-sized furnishings?" William asked, grinning.



"No," Bertram said, smiling back. "This is all done with magic. We don't get many visitors here in Verisha but we can accommodate them."



"Well, I can say it'll be nice to sleep on something other than the ground."



"Ah, and a change of clothing?" Bertram asked, grinning as he opened up a small door that led into a closet. "Everything you need has been provided. Anything you need that you cannot find, don't hesitate to ask for."



William smiled as Bertram walked to the door and left before he slowly walked around the room. As much as he wanted to get back to Buffy, the minute he sat down on the soft feather bed that sat along the wall, sleep seemed to beg him to surrender. Lying back, William's mind flashed pictures of Buffy's face to him before sleep overcame him.







Buffy stirred as the smell of food assaulted her senses. Fresh fruits and steaming meat made her empty stomach growl as her eyes opened. Her eyes wandered around the room and a slight panic set in as the unfamiliar surroundings met her before she sat up.



She grabbed her head, the sudden movement making her head spin before the door to her room opened.



"Ah, sleeping beauty has finally awoken," Talia said smiling. "Are you hungry?" Talia walked to the closet door and grabbed a simple dress in light green and pulled it out. "I know this isn't the most regal of garments for a princess, but it's the best we could do on such short notice," Talia said as she laid the dress out for Buffy and grabbed a pair of shoes for her.



"Who are you?" Buffy asked with slightly wide eyes as she watched Talia walk about the room. "Where is William?"



"Oh goodness," Talia said, shaking her head. "Where are my manners? I'm Talia," she said as she finally stopped to face Buffy. "And, this is my home."



Buffy looked around the small room, her heart quickening as thoughts of William flitted through her mind.



"Oh don't worry about him," Talia said as she poured a bowl of water from the pitcher on the table. "He was sent to Bertram's for the night. I suspect he'll be along soon though." She grinned as she turned back around. "He was very hesitant to leave you."



"He's okay then?" Buffy asked quietly.



"That he is," Talia said, smiling as she walked over to the bed. "I'm sure he's driving Bertram crazy as we speak."



Buffy smiled at that, the thoughts of William always seeming to bring a smile to her face.



"I gather you are as taken with him as he is with you?"



Buffy looked down toward the floor as she felt her face flush before a tiny smile graced her face. The previous day's events slowly played over for her and as she remembered their kiss and his softly spoken words, she felt her heart break as the smile fell away.



"Oh don't worry child," Talia said as she approached Buffy and took her hand. "Things aren't always as they seem."



Buffy looked up as a lone tear slide down her cheek and she smiled in spite of her circumstances. "I'm afraid this time they are," Buffy said quietly.



"Don't you fret princess; the world is full of surprises." Talia smiled. "Now come. Let's get that angry stomach fed and get you cleaned up before that handsome man comes to call on you."



Buffy couldn't help but smile as Talia took her hand and helped her off the bed. She didn't have any idea where she was or how she came to be here, but she felt completely safe. The fact that this stranger seemed to know exactly what she was thinking normally would have freaked her out, but the sincerity in her words seemed to put Buffy as ease for the first time in longer than she could remember.







William walked quickly down the road toward Talia's. He smiled as he passed the small houses on the way and the friendly hobbits that inhabited Verisha seemed to brighten as they saw him.



He had slept soundly for the first time since leaving Alcala and as much as he wanted to remain in bed, the smell of food had also driven him to wake up. Once fed, he had dressed in clothes that were clean and not torn before he darted out of the tiny cottage and headed toward where he had left Buffy.



He hadn't been able to think of anything but her since he had awoken that morning and he knew what he had to do. Her reaction to his admission of love for her had not been the pleasant response he had expected and he realized he had himself to blame for that. He had to tell her and soon.



Buffy sat quietly in the garden outside Talia's house. The array of flowers that surrounded her reminded her of the peaceful waterfall that she and William had found as their fragrant scent wafted through the air and the small petals floated in the breeze.



Her mind had been plagued with thoughts of William and his softly spoken words. As much as she wanted to scream to the entire world that she loved him, she knew it could never be and the fact that she now knew that he loved her in return only made it that much harder.



For the first time in her life, Buffy had found what she had been looking for. The almost cruel reality that she was unable to act on her feelings was more distressing than she had ever imagined. She knew she could never let William know how she felt. A princess and future queen would be stoned for allowing herself to fall in love with an ordinary man, especially one who was the page of her future husband.



As her heart seemed to break once again, Buffy's eyes closed and she tried to hold back the tears that were biting at her eyes. Visions of William seemed to dance before her closed eyes and a smile graced her face despite her sullen mood.



"Someone seems happy this morning," William said softly as he approached where Buffy was sitting.



Buffy's eyes snapped open and her breath was almost completely taken away at the sight of him. He was cleanly shaven, and dressed all in black. His honey blonde hair was slicked back and tied at the nape of his neck, and the sparkling blue eyes she loved to look at seemed to shine as he looked back at her.



She opened her mouth to speak but found that no sound came. He looked even more delicious than he had been previously. The smirk that had irritated her when they first met made her stomach flip over itself as he cocked his head to one side and smiled at her.



"Cat got your tongue princess?" William asked as he walked closer to her.



William smiled as he looked at her. Her hair was shining and flowing over her shoulders as it had the first time he saw her. Her light green dress made her eyes seem to glow like brilliant emeralds. Although he pulled off the ability to speak, he wasn't sure how much longer he would be able to stand there and her not see the effect she had on him as he shifted his weight on his feet.



She was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on and his smile widened as he looked at her. "I take it you slept well?"



"Yes," Buffy softly got out. "And you?" She asked.



"Very well thank you," William said as he stared at her.



Buffy felt the familiar blush creeping its way up her neck and face as William stared at her before she had to look away. She wasn't sure how she would ever be able to look at him and not want him. How could she live in the same castle with him and not constantly think of him? How could she marry a man she didn't love when what she wanted was standing directly in front of her?



"How's your head?" William asked as Buffy suddenly went very quiet.



"Oh, better," Buffy said, finally looking back up as she brought her hand to the small cut on her forehead. "I was a little surprised when I woke and found a strange woman tending to me."



"No more surprising than how I finally found you last night."



Buffy looked away quickly as she remembered running from him and his admission of love before she smiled and changed the subject. "So, Talia says this is Verisha? Have you had a chance to explore much?" She asked, looking back up at him.



"No," William said, sensing her discomfort. "Thought maybe you'd want to do that with me."



Buffy smiled as she looked at him. No matter how hard she tried to distance herself from him, she couldn't help but want to spend every second they had remaining with him. She knew it would all be over soon and, despite the fact that she had a husband waiting on her, the need to spend every second with William had her throwing all her duties to her title out the window. "I'd love to," she said as she stood.



William smiled, letting out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding in before he extended his hand to her. "Well, let's go then. Bertram says Verisha has things that will amaze us."



Buffy smiled as she reached out and took his hand. The instant their flesh made contact, she felt her breath hitch in her throat as she looked up into the crystal blue eyes that seemed to look into her soul. Would it be wrong of her to pretend, just for today, that William was the man she would spend the rest of her life loving? Would it be unfair to him, to allow him to feel everything she felt for him, only to reject him later?





As the questions seemed to rattle through her mind, Buffy felt herself drawing closer to him and her hand found its way around his arm as they both walked down the road between the small cottages. As the land of Verisha seemed to open up for them, Buffy sighed contently as she glanced up at him. The smile he gave her melted her heart and the words he offered her the day before filled her mind as their meaning sent a fresh pain to her ever-growing desire to forget who she was and what her life held for her.

As they slowly walked the road in Verisha, Buffy willed her mind to forget all her troubles and enjoy the time she had with William before the reality of her life came crashing down around her.





You must login (register) to review.