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Lilac Snowflakes

by Eyriespirit

Princess Lilac paced up and down the palace. It was ice, and made her paws numb. Zairiu was late. "Zariorn, what is the time?" she called.

"The time is 2:00 pm, Princess. Zairiu is 3 hours late," the guard replied.

Lilac sat down. Where was he? Was he safe? Visions ran through her head, Zairiu being tortured by the enemy (the Skeiths, particularly Prince Remulous, he had hated them ever since Lilac turned down marriage.) featured many times.

"Geleria, may I have a word?" Her best friend, the Gelert princess walked over.

"You are worried, Lilac?"

"Yes. Where is Zairiu? Could he be…with the Skeiths?"

"No. He has more sense."

***

Zairiu looked out into the wilderness. He should have taken the long way!! This shortcut was turning into a long cut.... A storm had set in about half an hour ago. He knew he was in trouble, because he was in SKEITH land.

The Prince was away, though. There was hope. But the King was still around. Romious was one of the worst tyrants in history, and Remulous was worse even than him. He slumped behind a tree. He thought of Garon, a hero of his, trapped in some Faerie cave. At least it was warm!!!!

"Pssst, Lupe. Why are you here?" came a voice from a cloak that betrayed no features. "Lupe, did you not here me? Why are you…?"

"I heard you, creature. Who are you?"

"You mean, what am I?" The voice had humour.

"If you wish so."

"I am a fool, that is what I am. I think you must be to, in enemy lands, without protection, and in a storm to! But if you want my name, I am Zatiriorn, a runaway."

"A runaway what? Apart from fool."

"I am a Faerie, Lupe. A snow Faerie, put into an elfin form."

At last! Someone Zairiu could trust.

"I am Zairiu. May I share your cloak?"

"Take it. You need it more than I."

"Thank you. Hey, if you are a Faerie you can grant us safe passage, using a spell!"

Zairiu slipped under the cloak, and saw the poor elfaerie. She slipped out, and fashioned herself a cloak of snow, which slowly turned to fur.

"No, I can't. I ran away from school. I can do some magic, but only show magic, like sparks, fire, and invisibility. Safe Passage is level 50, and I am level 12."

"Oh. But we can use invisibility."

Once more the elfaerie shook her head.

"I am weak, friend. I need food and warmth. I will, however, make a fire."

"Then I," declared Zairiu, a spark of intensity flashing across his face, "will find us some dinner."

***

Lilac burst into tears. She could take it no more! Where was he? Geleria tried to dry her tears, but nothing worked. It was now 3 o'clock. Lilac ate some chocolate Chias, and begun to feel better. She found herself tired, and took a nap. In her dreams, she was remembering when she had played with Zairiu as little puppy-Lupes. The 4 years didn't matter; they were best friends, maybe more. Lately, he had kissed her hand on meeting, and just last year at the Snow Ball, he had danced with her, and her alone. She missed him. He was like a blessing, when you knew him, he was always with you, and was quite happy to be used. He sculpted this whole world, just for Lilac! A Princess, yes, but still… She woke, and it was 6 o'clock. And he was still missing.

***

Zairiu knocked on the door of the first house he came to. It was a slave house. Poor Wockys were there, 20 of them in one house. They hated their Skeith masters, and it was widely known. Zairiu showed his own identity, and was welcomed. They gave him lots of food. Then they gave him a Faerie The Faerie was one of the Soup Faerie's helpers.

She made a lot of food out of just snow. Zairiu told them his tale, and said when he could leave he would take the Wockys and Aishas with him. Before he met with Zatiriorn he slumped down near a tree. He howled, very softly. He knew the Aishas of Lilac's court would hear him. He sang a slow song, and explained that he was stuck in Skeith country, and couldn't leave. Scared for his life, he confessed he missed Lilac, and he would keep them posted. He also explained that he would probably have Wockys and Aishas with him.

He went to Zatiriorn, and gave her the food. They had a small feast; Zairiu invited the Wockys and Aishas to eat with them, Zatiriorn performed a little magic, and Zairiu sculpted: little ice toys for the young children, modern art for the adults. The Aishas danced, and the Wockys gave beauty tips. That night, Zairiu and Zatiriorn slept inside a warm house. Soon they would leave this wilderness....

***

Nadia hated night watch. The crème de la crème of Aishas, and she was reduced to this. Waiting for an attack, or message. But nothing happened, ever. Until tonight, that is. A message, from a Lupe, for sure. He was singing a sad song, used by Lupes to denote when they were miserable. He howled out that he would be late, was trapped in Skeith country, missed Lilac, and when he returned he would have Wockys and Aishas with him. He also said it was Zairiu. Nadia hardly breathed between hearing and telling this story.

Lilac danced around the palace. He was safe! He was saving someone! And he missed her!!!! She ran to the highest tower and howled her reply: We await your arrival with anticipation. And I miss you, too!!!!!

When Zairiu awoke, an Aisha told him that he had a message from someone who said they were waiting for him, and they missed him. His heart skipped a beat. He felt like dancing. He ducked to the back of the house and sculpted a statue of sweet Lilac. Then he heard them. The Skeiths. He quickly knocked down Lilac, whispering an apology as he did so. A Skeith heard him, and soon apprehended him. He was trapped. This, however, was the least of his problems. He was told at first light tomorrow he would be executed. There is nothing like a death threat to ruin your day.

Zatiriorn woke up. She was fully healed, and once they got out of here she was back to school. She went to tell Zairiu the good news; they could soon move on. She found Moonlite, a little Aisha, in tears.

"They took him away," she whimpered. "He will be destroyed at dawn tomorrow. You must help him!!!"

"I will. He saved me, and I have to return the favour," she vowed.

***

It was late. All the Aishas and Wockys were invisible, and ready to leave. Some had started already. Zatiriorn was going, with Moonlite, to free Zairiu. They snuck up to the battlements, the only way to get to "death row". One soul guard stood there. A Skeith.

Zatiriorn went up to him. "Hello, Mr. Skeith," she said cheerfully, "How are you?"

"I am well, thank you, Miss?" he replied

"Take. You have made a Miss Take"

"I don't follow."

"Yeah, that's right, you don't!" laughed Moonlite, and then hit him.

He was confused, and Zatiriorn zapped him with a simple sleeping spell. They took the keys, and ran to the dungeons. Zairiu cried. He would never see Lilac again. Then he heard a crash. A low rumbling, then Zatiriorn was in the room. His chains broke, and he was invisible. He couldn't speak. He just hugged all he could see. They freed everyone, and this included the Gelert King Galerit, and Liliacia, Lilac's mother. All were invisible, all trudged slowly to the next town, where they camped.

Zatiriorn checked for prisoners, but there were none. This was just Aishas and Wockys, and some of the group stayed, because this was their home. They were safe.

Every village, the story was told, the group became smaller, and Lilac was closer. Eventually just Zairiu, Zatiriorn, Moonlite, her family, and the royal prisoners were left. Zairiu saw Lilac outside the gates of Lupinia, and he ran to her. There were hugs, kisses, and lots of confusion. Zatiriorn stood alone, looking confused, when suddenly Lilac ran to her and hugged her. All were caught up in this mad festival.

Moonlite and her family settled as royal advisors, finding companionship with Nadia. Zatiriorn completed her schooling, and came back to be the court Faerie As for Zairiu and Lilac, they were married a year later.

The End

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