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The night has finally come to bring the sweet familiar sleep, coaxing each and every thing to succumb to their own drowse.
The Moon carefully watched over its people, bringing its own peace with it. As if to protect everyone, soft moonlight hugged every person in their home, to reassure them that they can finally dooze off and let their guard down after a long, hardworking day.
All was well. Not one word could be heard amongst the people, if not nature's own calls. Soft, fresh breeze whistled through the air, accompanied by the constant chirping of the crickets. Both created a sweet symphony, whereas the leaves and flowers gladly listened while dancing gracefully with the wind.
The Sea was not afraid to show off its own beauty, either; the low rumbling of the calm waves seemed like a dancing ritual for the moon.
Tides were ready to reach for the Moon's stunning stars that were peppered on the dark night's skin, as if to embrace the sparkling moonlight. It was clear- the Sea loved and cherished the Moon, like a soul venerating a powerful goddess.
Oh, for what purpose served the Sea, if not make it's moonlight goddess feel much more astonishing than it already is?
Along with the song of the breeze and chirping of the insects, the Sea continued its dancing ritual, in which the Moon happily assisted.
Peace, warmth. It was all that was needed to pass yet through another night.
Yet, there was one, that couldn't enjoy the abundant gifts the night offered her.
The new beloved Queen of the Faerie Kingdom, White Lily, could not for the life of her close one eye.
She took hurried steps among her chamber, thinking, pondering on how to stop the great evil that was about to settle upon her people anytime now. With the old, still radiant Silver Tree breaking piece by piece, day by day, the Queen could not waste one second to have some time for herself. She sealed it again with powerful magic, but her magic could only do so much.
Her footprints echoed through her boudoir. What could she do? How could she proceed next? How could she protect her beloved people and friends from this grim?
She snarled, irritated with her many questions in her head that yet couldn't be answered. She walked to her balcony, perhaps to blow off some steam.
"Blasphemy!" She exclaimed. "I am the Queen of Beast Yeast, yet I cannot for the life of me think of something to settle some peace!?" she slammed her hands on the cold railing of the balcony.
"What a Queen I am." She continued.
"If I didn't go to the Witches' banquet, if I hadn't let my guard down, this wouldn't have happened. None, none of this wouldn't have happened." She gripped stone railing with such force she was afraid she could crumble it. She lowered her head, almost as to feel sorry for herself.
"Damn you." Snarled White Lily from her gritted teeth.
"Damn you knowledge, damn all of you! Why must I be the one to bear this?!" Lifting her head up, the woman hollered at the dark blue sky, letting the nature know her rage she has upon none other but herself.
"I shouldn't even be here, I shouldn't even be awake!" She slammed her hands down on the cold stone railing.
White Lily was, rightfully, stressed and confused as she only woke up from her thousand-year slumber three days ago. This duty was new for her, as she has never had the possibility to be a queen before, she wasn't ready to take in all the responsibility the royal title offered her.
She didn't really mean that, did she..?
The thud of her hands thumping the stone made her silent at once. White Lily sighed, clearly defeated. She knew rage couldn't help her at the moment.
"Oh, Moon." Cooed the woman, softness and defeat running simultaneously through her tone. She put down her elbows on the railing, in which she slowly shifted her weight on.
"Please, if I am to bear this duty, don't let me bear it alone." She carefully looked up at the moon, as if she was saying her prayer.
A longing wave of saudade suddenly ran through her blood, like she didn't have enough on her plate at the moment. Long lost memories began circling back to her, making her long for something that was just out of her reach.
"Do you remember, Moon, about the boy I told you about many years ago?" She began.
The soft moonlight seemed to have shifted towards her, as if the Moon listened carefully to the longing words of the woman. The breeze had ceased its chord along with the chirping of the insects. The Sea, curious upon hearing the words of the longing Queen, slowly decreased the soft rumbling of the waves.
All were silent, ready to hear out the poor, melancholic woman and comfort her through her times of need. Witnessing the Queen of the Faerie Kingdom talk about a possible love interest, was surely something to sneak an ear upon.
"That blonde, sweet young man with bicolored eyes, who was always beside me in my academy days?" She smiled softly as she imagined yet again the sight of him.
Remembering his soft manner and his silly boy-ish smirk, made her forget all about her worries, just for a quick second.
The moonlight shined bright about her, as if the Moon remembered her juvenile adventures with the vanilian.
That's right, none other than Pure Vanilla could swoon this strong, pragmatic woman like he did. How could the Moon ever forget?
"That time when we were having tea together in our little secret space of the academy, secured for studies and private, for only the both of us could access that little room of ours." She continued, letting her mind wander once again, remembering the long lost memories of when she was young and in her prime.
"He, for the first time, told me that he enjoyed my company, and most importantly, my strong fragrance. None, if not him, ever told me that they enjoyed my redolence of lilies." Her mouth wandered, telling the nature all about her affairs she experienced with this charming young man.
She let herself think about something else for a minute, it was needed to blow off some steam after constantly pondering upon all the negative questions she lately had in her mind.
Laughing a little bit to herself, remembering a sweet, yet quite scandalous experience she's done at the old library, she began:
"Oh, when we sneaked in the library in which no scholar was allowed, to feed on our great hunger of knowledge and to come up with new intentions to make our world a better place." She lifted her arm up and eased her head on her hand, dazed by the sweet memories.
"And when the librarian noticed us and started running after us, oh Witches.. I swear we ran out faster than the light!" She chuckled, remembering how much of a scamp she was when she was just a girl.
"I thought we didn't get to take the Book of Knowledge, I kept whining about it. Until, to my surprise, he pulled it out from Witches know where! What a little smart rascal he was!" The Moon listened to her, enjoying that White Lily finally gave herself a break and decided to let her feelings get the best of her, for even just a moment.
She went on, again and again, unleashing her reminiscence only for the whole nature to listen to every story released from her mouth. She continued to share anecdotes about her life at the academy together with Pure Vanilla, careful to get every single detail about them.
Story after story, White Lily began to feel less and less preoccupied with the danger that was closing in upon her Kingdom. All of her worries seemed to vanish at the thought of this charismatic fellow she had in her mind for quite some time now. He was in Beast Yeast, he wanted to help fight this grave danger. She longed to talk to him, to see him and to answer all the questions she imagined he had for her.
Yet, her duty as a royal Queen couldn't afford to mingle with the woman's hopeless yearnings. She needed to be ready to strike back at the Beasts.
Sighing, White Lily finished with her last story she had for the night. Her heart was aching enough, she couldn't afford to let her heart get the best of her mind. She once again looked up at the moon and asked, pleading for an answer:
"Oh, Moon. If he saw me like this, what would he think of me now?" Sadness ran through her soft tone. The Queen knew it, she was in love, she couldn't help it. She wishes she could.
She wishes she could sort it out with him, she couldn't manage all this duty alone. She wishes he could just forgive her, to love and stay with her just as he promised back in their academy days.
At last, all went silent. White Lily lowered her head again, sulking into her own regret and sorrow. The moonlight slightly dimmed upon the Queen, as if to share her dolefulness. There was no dancing of the waves any longer, much less the singing of the breeze. All stood still to share the grief of the long lost memoirs of hers.
"Why don't you ask him yourself, your Grace?"
A voice flowed like a gentle stream in the dark hollow night, its timbre soft and inviting. Each word carried a tender warmth, wrapping around those who listened like a comforting embrace. There was a gentleness to his tone, a quiet strength that resonated with kindness and understanding.
She gasped, her gaze shifting to this sudden yet soft presence. The man walked out from the coverage the flowers and foliage gave him, closing in carefully with faint footsteps to the woman's balcony.
"Good evening, your Highness." Pure Vanilla's voice, as a tender breeze, greeted White Lily with its soft cadence.
It was unusual for him to be awake at this late hour, but his heart guided him to wander around the Kingdom. Perhaps he, too, needed to blow of some steam from recent events.
That, or the hearts of these two confused lovers longed just hard enough that they convinced them to finally meet.
Oh, White Lily was ecstatic.
He was there, right at her reach. She could see him finally, without any distractions. His floccose blonde hair was, at the moment, as messy as she remembered, his smile was dancing on his face, showing off his cheeky little canines. His eyes were closed, as per usual, but his lashes brightly shined at her, he was clearly happy to see her.
His smile, his eyes, his hair, his little stubble resting on his chin. Explosion. He was as delightful as she remembered him to be.
Her heart was pounding out of her chest. She finally had a chance to talk to him, to hear him talk to her. She wanted to jump off her balcony right into his embrace and wrap her arms around his defined neck of his, hugging him as long as time allowed her to.
As happy as she was, White Lily was still the Queen, and couldn't express any form of excitement upon finally being in the ex-monarch's presence. She cleared her throat and adjusted her posture, making sure her royal appearance was as clear and visible.
"Switched roles, I see." She began, remembering that one time, thousand years ago, at the funding of the Vanilla Kingdom, she was the one to address him as a king.
"What are you doing up at this late hour, Pure Vanilla?"
"I was about to ask the same, White Lily." He smiled up at her, trying to playfully have a conversation with her.
It was in his ordinary being to be playful. He thought it was a great opportunity to create or renew bonds between people who have been separated for a long time.
Yet, his tendency to make her ease up seemed to fail. She displayed a soft frown on her face, clearly not satisfied with his response.
"Please, spare me the royal incitement, Lily. Do you not remember how close we used to be?" He delicately asked her, using one of the many names he used to call her. He was bold, yet careful enough not to accidentally step over her boundaries. They haven't seen eachother in a long time, after all.
Oh, blast this. Who was she kidding? This man was her best friend.
"You are such a nuisance.. when somebody tries to act tough on you." She lets out with an amused sigh, sharing his playfulness he pried out of her. She allowed herself to lean her weight on the railing of the balcony again, letting her guard down, as it was just the two of them.
"Ah, you would know." He giggled. He once again began to step closer to the balcony, successfully jumping and getting a hold onto the detailed railing. He climbed up her balcony, sitting and resting on the baluster so he can talk to her better.
A bold move once again, but now that he knew she shared the same playfulness and she did, in fact, not stray from her old habits, he decided to act like his old self once again. She paid no mind, in fact, as he trying to get some balance, she tried to pry his fingers from the balustrade which he was holding. He gasped mockingly, feeling betrayed by his own friend that tried to get him to slip and fall.
"You! You're trying to get me to fall? What if I hit my head?!" He exclaimed, acting hurt by her actions. He enjoyed the fact that she didn't lose her mischievous demeanor after all.
"Maybe that way you'll finally go to bed!" She responded, imitating his tone.
They messed with eachother for a while until they decided it was finally time to settle down.
They renewed their bond after many years, gaining yet again the trust they initially had. They were catching up on eachother, asking how and where they've been. They were having a normal conversation, like two normal people, without any titles on their shoulders that weighted them down.
After a long chat, they stopped talking, simply enjoying some well-earned silence in eachother's presence. Until the thought occurred to her:
"For how long have you been sitting in that foliage?" She nervously asked him. Has he heard of the stories she told the Moon? She hoped to the Witches not.
"Not for long." He responded, leaning his head on his criss-crossed arms that were resting on the balcony's railing.
Good. Very well then.
"...Just long enough to hear some of your stories." He added sheepishly, grinning and showing off his canines at her once again. She looked over at him with fear.
"Curse you." She replied, her tone exasperated. Shoving his face away in another direction. That damned smile of his. She, too, turned her face away from him, she was way too flushed by his statement.
He laughed, and her heart skipped a beat.
His laughter, soft and serene, painted the scene with hues of delight. Like a whispered secret shared with the wind, it carried a melody of mirth, fluttering through the air like a butterfly's gentle flutter. Each chuckle was a note in a symphony of happiness, weaving a tapestry of joy around her, who was fortunate enough to hear his sweet euphony.
"Were you longing for me?" He purred teasingly, trying to get once again a playful reaction out of her.
Instead of replying with a rebellious phrase to Pure Vanilla, her heart guided her to do otherwise. She didn't want to lie to him.
She did, in fact, long for him, too much as she would like to acknowledge. She sadly looked over to him, and he could feel a shift in her behavior.
"Yes, yes I have.." She stated, observing his surprised face. "In fact, I still do."
He remained soundless.
"I have been longing for you for quite some time now, before I even woke up." She continued to tell him, finally pouring all the burden inside her heart out to him.
"I've missed you dearly, Vanilla. Is it.. too soon to say that I would have loved to have you by my side all this time?"
He stood completely still, unsure of what to say. He didn't know she shared the same interest as he did in her. He expressed no emotion, he wasn't smiling nor frowning.
A pungent sharp pain dug its way into her heart when the man didn't reply.
She suddenly remembered her royal duty, once again acknowledging that she was still Queen of the Faerie Kingdom and not an adventuring nomad any longer.
She couldn't afford to waste time on some unresolved feelings between them two.
She shook off her pain. Then, straightening her posture, she yet again addressed him with an authoritary timbre.
"Please, return to your chamber, Pure Vanilla." Her own words hurt her, but it was only fair for them to hurt. She didn't want him to go away, but it had to happen. She needed him to go away so she can continue her plans.
But he was no fool.
"No." He cooed, as softly as his being could, trying to soothen the woman and get her to feel like herself again. For he, felt the same for her.
"Listen to your heart, White Lily. Feel it pounding." He grabs her delicate hand and holds it in his. Their skin touching made her heart skip a beat.
She loved it, she wanted more than a simple handhold. She swore she could have melted right in that moment, but she simply, couldn't.
"What is your heart telling you, Lily?" He questioned with hope in his voice. He just needed more, more reassurance that she truly feels the same, as he still cannot process the confession the woman almost made.
"That you need to see to your chamber immediately. Your time with me is up. Go, at once." She dragged her hand away from his embrace. Her voice more severe than before.
No, this is not what her heart truly wished for. She wanted to be able to love him freely, to scream her never-lasting confession to him and finally have someone that can easily lift the burden from her shoulders as easily as he could. She wanted to share her knowledge with him, to finally talk to somebody that could understand her.
Perhaps, in another life time.
"Lily, please, I-"
"For what am I to you if not a fool, Pure Vanilla?!" She lashed out and silenced him. Blasphemous heart, yet again getting the best of her. "I am but a fool, a fool in love with a man just out of my reach, can you not see?!" She hollered, distressed, and almost at the brink of tears.
"For me, you are everything and so much more. For you, I am probably just a foolish woman. But I can prove myself right, to you and to everyone, I can prove myself by protecting my citizens from this great evil. So please, go!"
She was histeric, her words hurt her deep down. What if she made him lose interest by her actions? She was a fool, the most foolish of them all.
"Just a foolish woman?!" His change of volume in his tone quickly hushed White Lily. He never dared to raise his voice, and most importantly not at her. But this time, it was needed.
"Do you know what you are to me?" He continued, his breath shaky.
"You're something to believe in again. You're the type of person that ceased to exist for me, a fine and honest woman."
Gradually, his voice turned at its initial hushed whisper. He lifted himself up and jumped over the stone railing, so he could stand right before her eyes. He walked closer to her, gently taking her hand in his again and the other slowly snaking up her waist, as to bring her closer.
"Oh, my darling.." She felt her soul soften at his touch. But yet again, her duty as a Queen was much more important.
"You're such a child.. take your foolish little dream and heart and go. Please, go!" She shoved him away, she didn't need this at the moment. She turned away from him and started walking away, desperate for some distance so she could pour her tears out.
"What is it, what's wrong my dear? Why can't you talk to me?" He followed, and stopped her from going any further by grabbing her by the arm. A gentle, soft, yet firm grip.
"You know nothing about me!" She turned to him, snarling between her teeth and tears in her pained, vermilion irises.
"You've only got to know me again for three days!"
"Three days?!" He exclaimed, opening his pale, yet bright eyes. With pain in his vision and voice, he dragged her to him, gently pulling her into his embrace, hugging her waist and not allowing her to go any further away from him.
"Lilith, I've known you all my life." He whispered to her.
Her breath halted. Witnessing the lost monarch of the Great Vanilla Kingdom with his eyes open and whispering her favorite name he used to call her of them of all, was truly something she was keen about.
"All your life." She scoffed, yet she couldn't help but lay her head on his well defined chest, hearing his heart pounding the same as hers did.
"It's true.." He added, snaking his arms around her, making sure to close any gaps and to keep her in his embrace. "Have I not promised you that I would love you no matter what?" He leaned his head on top of hers. Speaking as his mind drifted further.
"At the academy, I thought I would be so lost without you. Not once have I ever thought about leaving your side." He continued to pledge his love to her.
"And I am not keen to leave your side now." Loosening up his grip on her, he exhaled.
"But if you feel like I'm burdening you, if you feel like I'm keeping you away from protecting your beloved citizens, I can go, and I'll never bother you with my feelings ever again."
To his surprise, White Lily finally hugged him back.
"If I kiss you now.." She lifted her head up, looking at his enchanting, glaucopid mismatched eyes. "Will you finally give in, will you promise to go back to your chamber and let slumber take its toll?"
She stared at his softening bicolored eyes she loves so much, observing the entirety oh his face.
His forehead, decorated with the star he achieved by doing his Great Trials, his enchanting eyes, his perfect nose, his rosy cheeks, and finally, those soft lips of his she so badly wanted to feel against her own.
Yes, he was the sweet boy she remembered.
"Will I?" He let out a breathy chuckle, in which the Queen happily reciprocated. Yet again, his playfulness gets the best of him.
He steadily approached his face to hers, as Lily was much more of a smaller stature than him.
"Will you?" She replied playfully. Lifting her face up more so they could be closer to eachother.
As she leans in, and in the quiet moments before their lips meet, she studies his.
His lips are soft, like rose petals caressed by the dawn's touch.
They beckon her closer, yearning for a tender embrace, like a sweet rendezvous.
And there they are, the two confused lovers, separated by mind and united by heart, finally giving in to true love's kiss.
As their lips softly touched, they both forget about the worries they had in their mind.
None other existed in this world but them, they stood close to eachother, hugging and reassuring themselves that they were there. Together, finally, after the destiny had them separated for so long. Too long.
After what seemed like an eternity that lasted just a second too soon, they parted. Both red in the face, unsure of what to do next. They remained embraced closely, observing eachother.
"You look like a tomato." She blurted out. Sticking her tongue out at him.
"You look like a beetroot." He striked back with a jocular snub. Cheeky bastard.
She cracked a laugh and hid her face by the crook of his neck. Punching him in the chest. He joined in on her laugher and nuzzled her hair. He tightened her arms upon her, keeping her in his hold.
They felt like the rebellious youngsters they once were.
"I'm so happy." He confessed to her, his words muffled by her hair.
"Mmm." She purred, concurring with his statement. "Don't forget what you've told me." She reminded him what he hoped she would have forgotten by the time they parted their lips.
"A promise is a promise." He breathed out. He let her out of his warm embrace and stepped away from her. She smiled up at his defeated face, who had a faint bit of disappointment that they couldn't share a bit more time together.
"Come." She grabbed him by the hand and guided him back to the balcony.
He once again held the cold stone railing, hopping over the balustrade, careful not to slip, and making sure there was no way of falling, he turned her gaze upon her again, wishing for another addictive kiss of hers.
"Now, goodnight." She spoke softly at him, petting his face, her voice rumbling low, but just loud enough so only he could hear her.
"Thank you my lady." He replied, words dancing between his teeth. "Be careful of my heart, won't you?" He put his hand on top of hers, keeping it close to his face.
"You see, you are taking it to bed with you tonight."
She smiled at him, she loved how his sweet words made her swoon so easily. In his quiet demeanor, she loved how he communicated with softness. His words, gentle and sincere, wrap around her, creating a cocoon of warmth and allure.
"Please, don't break it..." He lets out, his gaze shifting from happy to sad all in such a short fraction of time. She couldn't bear it. She quickly kissed him again, to hush his worried voice. His heart belonged to her, and her heart belonged to him. There was no other circumstance that would change this, ever. Parting her lips from his longing ones, she knew it was time to finally get this lover of hers get some rest.
"Goodnight, my dear. Goodbye, until tomorrow." She let go of him.
He smiled at her, finally hopping off her balcony. She stared at him as he walked away, and suddenly, her mischievous mind wondered.
"Are you really sure you want to sleep in your chambers tonight?" She loudly spoke to him, wanting to see if she'd get a reaction.
He turned around, dumbfounded.
"What are you proposing?" He asked her, heart aching for a response. Did that mean he can spend the rest of the night with her? That would be his dream come true.
Instead of replying, she gave him a toothy smile and winked at him. She turned around slowly, giving him a last challenging look before walking back to her room.
"Please, my Queen, wait!" He happily yelled after her, running back to her balcony with the excitement as equal as a child.
Goodness, what state this woman brings him in.