Hey Guys!

I hope you all enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Sorry for being a little slow on the update, I have had a busy week! Hope the year is starting out great for everyone so far,

Love Daisy xx

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(Circe's P.O.V)

“Watch this.”

Around half an hour had passed since Ambrose had given me the shock of my life and I couldn’t believe how good it was to see him here, I had realized how much I had missed him. I had told him about my progress in training and he said that my Mother would be pleased. He had filled me in on what had been happening while I was gone, mostly political things that I didn’t really need to worry about yet and after sometime, having exhausted all conversation for the moment, we had lapsed into a comfortable silence.

I looked now as Ambrose, lying on his stomach his elbows resting on the stream bank, dipped the tip of a long slender finger into the water and begin to twirl the water into a little whirlpool, gradually lifting his finger upwards with the movement.

I watched in amazement as, frozen to the end of his finger by a minuscule droplet, he pulled a delicately crafted ice figurine from the water. Detaching it from his finger, he passed the figure to me with a slight smile, where I balanced in on my palm; it was in the shape of a tiny unicorn, rearing up on his hind legs, every hair in his mane and tail visible, every muscle in his tiny body perfectly in proportion.

I gazed at him with wonderment. “He is beautiful.”

Ambrose smiled. “Watch”

Gently he took the Unicorn from me and placed him on the surface of the water, where, to my delight, he did not sink or melt, but instead came alive, the two front hooves touching down to paw at the water, his tiny nostrils flaring as he took off across the surface, cantering in circles. Much to my delight everywhere his perfect hooves touched turned to ice for a moment before melting back into the stream and the beautiful creature paused in front of us for a moment, tossing his mane around proudly before Ambrose twirled a finger and the minuscule unicorn sank back down to join the stream.

For a moment I didn’t know what to say. “Wow.” That still didn’t seem to cover it. “That was … incredible. Like nothing I have ever seen before. Where did you learn to do that?”

Ambrose laughed. “When you have been around as long as I have, you pick up a trick or two.”

“Could you teach me how to do that?” I asked eagerly.

He smiled. “I could, but wouldn’t that take the magic out of it?” His voice was teasing and I pouted.

“Maybe, but I have to learn at least one cool, completely pointless thing. Otherwise what is the fun in having magical powers?” I wiggled my fingers at him.

My mind was still reeling from what he had done. Such beautiful magic, so perfectly crafted. He had to teach me.

“Well I would teach you, but unfortunately you will have to be a little more advanced before you can do that. Controlling a form is very tricky magic.” His eyes laughed at my disappointed face. “Shouldn’t we be getting back anyway? You have been gone from the campsite for a long time.”

“You are probably right,” I said. “Although I don’t imagine they will be too worried, Anthemin knows where I am.”

Ambrose stood gracefully, pulling me up with him. His hand left little tingles on my palm when he pulled away.

“How did you find me anyway?”

He smiled. “As long as you are near water, I will always be able to find you. Your Mother did not wish for me to come, she believed that you would see it as her spying on you, but unfortunately she cannot keep me from where I need to be.” His face was serious. “I promise I am not here to spy on you.”

I laughed, taking his hand and tugging him in the direction of the camp. “Don’t worry, I believe you.”

*

(Obsidian’s P.O.V)

I felt her presence as soon as she stepped back into the camp. She was laughing, her earlier anger gone from her mind for now. There was someone with her.

I raised my head ever so slightly, my hair parting, allowing me to see the man that walked beside her. He was vaguely familiar, with his bright blue hair and distinctive features. A Water Sprite, that was for sure. Now where had I seen him?

It was something to do with the Water Kingdom’s Queen. Ah. I remembered him now, standing slightly to the side as we had approached the castle for the first time, in his high council robes. He was an important man, the Queens right hand.

He smiled slightly at something she had said and she looked back over her shoulder at him as though to confirm that he had found humor in her words. I sneered, how sweet. He followed her through the camp, his eyes careful, darting around the group but never settling on one person, that was, until he looked at me.

I pulled back my lips slightly in a soft snarl, instantly feeling everyone around me in a three meter radius tense unwillingly. The Sprite studied me for a moment passively, his eyes calm, his voice smooth as he replied to something Circe had said, his unwavering gaze locked on my own.

I growled a little louder, feeling a strange sense of possessiveness. But for what? For the girl? Why should I feel that? Our earlier encounter had not revealed much other than I did not hate her as much as I thought I did.

You know that is not true.

I batted at my ear, brushing the niggling voice away and a tug came at my chains. I was forced to break eye contact with the Sprite and instead turned on the person who had dared to interrupt my thoughts.

“What do you want?” The animalistic roar would have had any normal man running for the hills, but instead I was faced with the bright green eyes of the annoying she-elf.

I pulled my lips back from my teeth, baring my fangs for good measure and promptly received a decent wack over the head with end of her bow.

“Stop it.” She commanded. “Sit back down or I will chain you to the tree.”

I towered over her, furious that she thought she could order me around like a complacent puppy. Who did she think she was?

She narrowed her eyes, sensing my rebellion. “Do not push me, half-breed,” She snarled, baring her own, much longer fangs at me, her words coming out in a hiss of fury. “I am much stronger than you think.”

Something in her gaze told me that this was no bluff, so it was with great anger that I lowered myself back down to the ground, glaring at her furiously as I did. As soon as I escaped, she would be the first one to die.

Settling back down in the dirt, I looked back to the Sprite to find that his attention had moved from me and back to the girl. She had brought him over to her little group, consisting of my brother, Hobbson and the black haired girl whose name I did not know.

My gaze lingered on her. Her long blonde hair fell about her back elegantly and she was full of smiles, lost in the conversation with her friends. Something in me wanted her to notice me, wanted her to look this way, if only for a second. I had felt her watching me all day, felt those crystal blue eyes locked on my frame as I had trudged ahead of her, but now it was as though she was ignoring me on purpose.

I turned my head away, looking down at the ground. This was silly, a silly fascination. Closing my eyes, the small brief moments that we had spent together replayed themselves over and over in my mind. I sighed, letting my mind wander back further, I lingered over the time before I had told her the truth, before I had told her it was all a lie. I felt my mind drift away as I thought of the touch of her skin, the smooth, gentle caress of her lips on mine as we wasted away the nights we spent together…

My eyes snapped open and I sat up, running my hands through my hair. I was so confused, I felt as though my mind was split in half. I knew why I had done what I had done. I was sure of that. But then why were her words still ringing in my mind? Her touch had felt good. I enjoyed it, she was right, no part of it felt wrong.

My eyes wandered back over to where she sat, by herself for the moment, with a far off expression on her face as though she was communicating with someone who was elsewhere. My fingers twitched towards her, to stroke her cheek, to ask her what she was thinking but the appearance of the blue haired man broke me out from my thoughts and I scowled.

Circe looked up at him and nodded in reply to something he said. He moved away from her again and her eyes found mine. We studied each other for a long while. There were so many conflicting emotions rushing across her face that I could not make sense of most of them, but there was a steady sadness beneath, a sadness that sat deep in her eyes as we looked at one another.

I almost felt as though she was trying to talk to me, trying to communicate something vitally important and I felt as though I should be able to understand her, I felt as though she knew I could understand her. But if there had indeed once been a link there, it was not there anymore. Disappointment, anger and frustrations clouded my eyes and I looked away.

*

(Circe’s P.O.V)

The morning sun broke through the canopy of trees with a stunning brilliance. Through the breaks in the trees, we could see that the sky was painted with fantastic pinks and oranges. Breakfast was a filling meal of berries and nuts, the fruits in this forest grew bigger than normal and there was plenty to eat for everyone.

Although I was pleased to see Ambrose, I had felt the tension between Obsidian and I last night and it had not disappeared over the morning. I could feel those golden eyes prickling my skin, yet every time I looked to him he was staring in the opposite direction, his face tense, that muscle in his jaw jumping. I needed to get away from him for a while; I needed to clear my head. I felt as though his very presence was causing my cheeks to grow red and my words to trip over each other. So when the procession set off, it was with an apologetic glance to Ambrose that I called Anthemin and left the earth behind to fly through the painted morning sky.

I immediately felt better. Safe on Anthemin’s back we soared through the air on the tail of the other Dragons. Unabonan and Nelonimi had apparently flown ahead to meet with Zalas and Aranel and Zarska had joined them to give me some time with Anthemin.

I threw up my arms and yelled joyously into the sun, trailing my fingers through the wispy golden edged clouds. Anthemin roared as well, shooting out a column of flame which dispersed as we spiraled through it, weaving through the air, hysterically laughing over nothing in particular.

*

We stayed in the air for most of the morning, flying ahead and then looping back around to meet up with the party on foot below us. I flew on my own for a while and we had races, skimming low above the tree tops and startling groups of colorful birds that burst from the foliage calling out their songs. I kept a careful eye out for anymore of the Earth Kingdom’s unusual residents, but I didn’t spot anything too out of the ordinary. What I really wanted to see was the faeries. I wanted to meet one desperately, to see if they were everything that the legends had said they were.

As we moved into the early afternoon we were reaching the base of the mountains and the trees were beginning to thin. We were only a little way ahead of the main party and as we spiraled down I spotted a familiar shape. Landing gently on the ground a little way away so as not to startle him, I gracefully dismounted from Anthemin, crouching close to the ground as I held out my hand.

Erihza snorted softly, his long mane falling forward to brush against the earth as he stamped one delicate hoof. He moved towards us slowly and eventually was close enough to push his nose into my hand as he snuffled against the skin of my palm. Gently I reached up to tickle his ears.

“Hello boy,” I crooned. “Are you looking for a treat? I don’t have one I am sorry.”

Erihza raised his head slightly until he was looking at me with his tear shaped eyes, his horn gently resting on my shoulder. I breathed in sharply, feeling as though he was trying to say something to me. I was caught up in his gaze, in his beauty. It was almost as though if I looked hard enough, I could see another world in his eyes and I wanted so desperately to be a part of that.

“You could take me to them couldn’t you?” I asked suddenly. “You could take me to the faeries?”

I almost expected him to speak, but of course he didn’t. His gaze did not break however and he bobbed his head up and down, softly tapping his horn on my shoulder, warm air snorting out form his sea shell nostrils.

Crack

In one swift movement we both raised our heads, looking towards the direction of the noise. Coming out of the woods was Jenna, behind her, none other than Obsidian. I could hear the murmuring of voices that told me the rest of the troop was not far behind her.

Obsidian’s eyes were fixed on me and I wondered what they had seen. With a stamping of feet Erihza turned and disappeared in a flurry of white into the greenery. Jenna’s eyes were narrowed as she watched his departure before turning her suspicious gaze back to me. She opened her mouth as though to say something but at the last moment decided against it, saying instead:

“Good, you are here.”

She tugged on Obsidian’s chains, pulling him forward s as she marched past us, the rest of the party coming into view now as they picked their way cheerfully through the thin forest path.

*

(Obsidian’s P.O.V)

The morning had been dreary. I had watched her leave on her Dragon just as we were beginning the march towards the mountain. I had stared at my hands as we had walked, feeling empty. I felt as though something was missing when I had awoken this morning but I had yet to put my finger on it. My night had been plagued by dreams, as was usual, but this time I had been lost in the forest and she had been calling my name, begging me for help, pleading with me, but I had been so lost, so vacant that I hadn’t even known where to start looking. It was a horrible feeling of helplessness and one that I was still feeling even now.

Something is different. I knew this. What was it?

I pondered this question as I had walked. Thinking, walking, thinking, walking,

Step,
Step,
Step.

I looked up. It was now early afternoon and the sun was high in the sky above us making the light in the forest below take on a green tinge. I stared at my hands in chains and I wondered. All of a sudden the she-Elf slowed and I looked up. We had walked a little way ahead of everyone, but I could still hear them talking behind us.

I looked forward, past the Elf’s shoulder and I stopped where I stood. She was crouched a little ways ahead of us, her golden hair shining in the sunlight. In front of her was a Unicorn. I wanted to rub my eyes to make sure that I wasn’t dreaming, but I didn’t want the chains to make a noise and startle them. Her white Dragon was curled behind her completing the magical sight and as we watched, for the Elf had stopped as well, the girl reached up a hand to scratch at the beast’s ears, whispering words to him, her exquisite face serene.

They almost seemed to be talking to each other; even from here I could feel that the connection between them was intense. The Dragons head swung around slowly to nuzzle at the girls side and it was at that moment that the she-Elf took a step forward, her normally silent feet cracking a twig underfoot.

Almost as though their movements were linked, both girl and Unicorn looked up and towards us, picking us out from the green foliage. She was so beautiful. Her lips parted in a gentle “o” of surprise, her jewel blue eyes round with surprise. Was it my imagination or did her cheeks flush slightly a she saw it was I who watched her.

The Unicorn snorted, trampling the ground with his hooves as he spun around and cantered off into the forest, long white tail streaming out behind him. I watched her look after him briefly before her eyes were drawn back to us and she rose to her feet.

The she-Elf cleared her throat in front of me. “Good, you are here.” She said roughly before pulling me forward. My dark hair fell across my face as I looked at her from under my lashes. Her head was turned to the side, but her cheeks were pink and her stance unsure. As I walked past her our clothes brushed and with the shiver that ran up my spine came the realization of what was different.

The anger towards her was gone.

*

(Circe’s P.O.V)

His eyes met mine as he brushed past me, the touch enough to send my stomach swooping and my heart beat just a little faster. Those golden orbs shone from under sooty black lashes and just for a moment they widened out from their dull stare, just for a moment there was something else other than hatred and anger looking back at me. My heart thumped in my chest as those few seconds dragged and I turned with his gaze as he moved by, unwilling to break away. He blinked slowly, turning away and breaking the moment, but I felt as though with that stare he had taken my heart with him.

*

I was quiet for the rest of the day, sensing that I needed space Anthemin had gone ahead to join the other Dragons, he had received word that, impatient, they had flown ahead and had already reached the Kingdom and were waiting for him to join them at the entrance. I had shaken my head, typical Aranel. Anthemin had asked if I would like to fly ahead with him also, but I had declined. I wasn’t going to leave my friends.

I needed to be alone though, I didn’t feel like socializing. Instead I practiced my flying, flitting around the forest, up to the tops of the trees and back down again. We were heading up the mountain now, there was a steady incline but Jenna had said that we didn’t have far to go now. I kept my eyes out for anything that would suggest that a giant Kingdom lay ahead but there was nothing.

It was getting towards late afternoon and just when I thought that we would have to stop for another break there was a call from below.

“Up ahead!”

I flew back down to the ground, joining Ambrose and the others. Cobalt and Amaryllis were speaking quietly, her blue tipped hair shining in the late afternoon sun.

“Are we almost there?” I questioned the Sprite quietly. Hobbson was nowhere to be seen, but I could hear his voice somewhere towards the front.

“Yes,” Ambrose said smoothly, taking my arm. “You need to come with me to the front of the procession.”

Leaving Cobalt and Liss behind with the rest of the soldiers we made our way to the front where Jenna stood alone in a small clearing. Obsidian had been transferred to one of the other Elves and I tried to keep my breathing steady as we came to a standstill tantalizingly close to him.

Trying to focus I asked Ambrose what was happening.

“She is opening the gates.” He stated his face impassive. I had to smile, he was always so formal.

“How do you know so much about this anyway?” I asked.

He smiled. “I was alive in a time when the Earth Kingdom wasn’t banished you know.”

I pulled a face. “I always forget how old you are.” I teased.

His face suggested that he was put out and it was such a non-Ambrose expression that I had to stifle a laugh, something that Jenna did not approve of as she looked back at over her shoulder, her face clearly telling me to shut up.

Calming myself down I watched as the she-Elf began to perform a series of delicate movements. She paced in a small circle, her arms pushing and pulling through the air and as she repeated them, the Earth below her began to glow with a golden light.

I gasped as the light pulsed upwards and around her as she swayed almost as though it was dancing with her. Suddenly the trees around her began to move, growing rapidly, branches twisting and turning, stretching up to the sky and forming a beautiful winding archway that was dotted with tendrils of green leaves and pink blossoms.

Jenna stopped in her circle and bowed deeply , her hands spreading out in front of her as though presenting an offering and as she did, what lay beyond the gate began revealing itself. I blinked and rubbed at my eyes and then blinked again. Like the Water Kingdom, it was as though a completely new world had been revealed upon the opening of the gates. The magical world never ceased to amaze and I could not wait to enter.

Jenna turned back to us, her voice clear. “Welcome to the Earth Kingdom. Please order yourselves in terms of your rank and make sure that you are standing with your respective fleet. My elves will take up the rear. If you are with the Princess personally, please come forward now as you will walk with her.”

Cobalt and Liss came forward through the crowd as the rest of the troop organised themselves. It only took a few minutes and then I was stepping forward through the archway and everything else was falling away.

We were on a bridge to start with, beautiful and wooden, swooping with classic curves but it grew straight out of the ground, as though someone had coaxed the wood into growing this way, and maybe they had. I seriously entertained the idea that we had stepped into another world for where there once had been land there was now water and it spread out in a large and beautiful pond, fueled by water that trickled down from the mountain and emptying out into the bush in the direction I knew my stream to be.

“All of this is here,” Ambrose whispered in my ear, gently taking my hand. “The Elven charms hide it from sight. By opening the gate and walking through, you have been granted the gift of sight until you choose to leave. If one does not cross through the gate, they would think that they were simply continuing up the mountain. Although the Elves also have charms that repel people away from their borders, you could find yourself heading off in a different direction without any real reason as to why you need to go that way. Even for a magical being it’s not guaranteed that we will find our way to the boarder. This is while the Elf King sends a guide out.”

I was listening to his words while trying to drink in everything that I was seeing. Past the bridge tall trees lined the main road to the Kingdom, their lush green branches heavy with fruits. Beautiful houses were nestled in-between them, all different shapes and sizes but most of them rounded, coming to a point at the top, almost as though they were flower buds yet to open.  Some of these sweet houses were off the ground, fitting snugly in the forks in the trees.

Beautiful twisting wooden lampposts lined the corners and I wondered how they lit them and what they did to stop the wood from burning. Elves were starting to appear as our procession ventured further into the Kingdom and I could see that they had indeed been preparing for a festival for strings of lanterns hung overhead across the roads and I could see more Elves hanging more in the trees.

The Kingdom itself came into full view eventually once we had rounded a slight bend in the road and then there it was, looking for all the world as though it had simply grown out of the ground. It was everything that I had dreamed, but it was so much more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

The whole castle, it seemed, was built upwards from one gigantic tree. The trunk was so wide that it seemed impossible for anything in nature to be that large, and from it spilled curving steps that wound down to the ground. At the top, there was a giant door, filled with beautiful designs and smooth flowing shapes. From the trunk, the castle grew out on either side, a thicket of branches and greenery, thicker branches stretching up to spiral into turrets, bloating out towards the top of the structures to form what I assumed were rooms. The whole tree was nestled into the side of the mountain and above the Castle I spotted several holes in the mountain that I assumed were the Dragon holds.

I sent out a message to Anthemin, showing him where I was and my suspicions were confirmed as a white shape shot out of one of the holes in the mountain, diving down towards us, opening his wings at the last moment and blasting us all with a gust of cold air.

I smiled at him and ran my fingers over the scales under his eyes making him hum with pleasure. Excited, I looked back towards the Palace where the great doors were now opening. I could not wait to go inside.

*