Laylan 3

Laylan sat on a log near the shore of Beskal looking out at the sun. She was thinking about things that had happened since arriving to Cion. She had met all of the elves in Beskal. Had seen the unicorns run in a herd across the Scarside Plains. She had been hiking deep into Crystalwick Forest with Lucassius.

Ah, Luke. He was sweet and very wise. He had helped Laylan in understanding the magick of Cion and the creatures that lived there. He had even taken her out swimming to meet the mermaids.

Laylan had caught herself looking at him, taking in his perfect profile. His blond hair that always laid just right over his shoulders. They had locked eyes a few times but then in an instant, it was over. She was going to start training with him soon, learning to fight. She didn't understand why she would need to fight, Cion was peaceful, but she figured there must be a reason.

“Are you well, M'lady?” Lucassius asked as he approached her.

“Yes, Luke, I am right as rain and just Laylan. I'm not royalty,” she said with a laugh.

“Yes, if that is what you wish, Laylan.”

“It is, so call me Laylan,” she smiled up at him. She stood and motioned for him to follow, and

he did.

“What is my purpose here?” she asked as Lucassius moved up beside her.

“My mother and father can explain it better than I,” he said frankly, “we can go ask them if you would like.”

“No,” she said suddenly. “No, I would rather be out here.” She motioned around and looked up in the night sky. She could feel the Goddess’s presence around her.

“I do know only that you and a human man will be the saviors. He will be the one man who will be made for you and you for him. You are to have the strongest, most powerful love in the universe,” Lucassius stated as if reciting a story, and he looked at his hands.

Laylan felt a ping of sadness within her heart but as quickly as it hit, it was gone. “I will be

happy? Then that is all I can ask for,” she finished. She glanced at Lucassius and saw sadness on his face.

“Yes,” he confirmed solemnly. They continued walking up the shore together in silence. “I made a few things for you.” Lucassius finally announced, breaking the silence. He pulled two pendants from his pocket. One was silver and in the shape of a full moon. The other was a gold sun. They were both beautifully made, intricate in detail and seemed to hum energy into Laylan's hand as she took them from Lucassius.

“Wow! They are so beautiful!” she exclaimed. “You made these?” She was turning them over in her hands.

Lucassius smiled, “Yes, to honor the Sun God, and Moon Goddess. I had hoped that you would like them.”

“I love them!” Laylan exclaimed, nearly squealing. She threw her arms around Lucassius' neck and squeezed him tightly. He hesitantly hugged her back eventually. She pulled back, and he could see that there were tears in her eyes. “I love them,” she cried.

As she stood looking down at the pendants, the tears overflowed from her eyes, ran down her nose and dropped to the ground. She looked past the pendants, to the grass where her tear had fallen and saw a rose. A beautiful, bright red rose had sprung up and bloomed. Laylan knelt down and looked into the rose, where a tiny person laid. The undersized woman stirred and looked up at Laylan, who gasped as she watched the little fairy stand and stretch her wings. The tiny, little fairy had brilliant red hair and her eyes were bright green. Her small lips were delicate pink and soft on her fair complexion. She looked as if she were wrapped in a small rosebud that draped down like a dress.

She looked up at Laylan and smiled, “Hello.” Her voice was fittingly tiny and had a slight chime to it.

“Why, hello, Ivy,” Laylan softly spoke and held her hand out to the little fairy. Ivy flew from the rose and landed in Laylan's hand.

“Ivy?” she asked as she smiled up into Laylan's eyes.

“Yes,” Laylan smiled, “I shall call you, Ivy.”

“Hello, Ivy,” Lucassius said softly as he knelt down next to Laylan. “I am Lucassius.”

“And I am Laylan; you were born from my tears,” Laylan remarked, astonished herself.

“Yes, you were,” Lucassius confirmed smiling big. He looked at Laylan and felt a ping in his heart at the sight of her.

Laylan looked back at him and their eyes locked, she felt warmth spread over her, warming her heart. Lucassius hadn't an idea what this was, but he knew he shouldn't be feeling anything for her. He was an elf after all, and she was meant to be with a human, he scolded himself.

“So, you are my mother?” Ivy chimed breaking into the moment between them.

“Yes,” Laylan answered as she looked down at her. “Yes, I am, as you are my child. My fairy child.” The astonishment still heavy in her mind.