Prologue

A cold breeze blew through the Irish highlands. The soft snow being flung around landed lightly on a rider's shoulder. A young man rode a black steed through the field, the full moon shining on his armor. His mismatched eyes scanned the field; his search had taken him far, but alas, had proven in vain. Taking a deep breath of the chilled night air, he sighed inwardly, letting a white cloud of icy breath leave his lips. He stopped at the sound of a sudden scream filling the night air. His head snapped in the direction of the cry for help, and as he turned his horse, he spurred the beast of burden with his heels.

He and the horse crashed through the trees and underbrush, the high-pitched scream going up once more. A woman's scream, the young man inferred. Spurring the horse to go faster, the beast broke the tree line and the sight of a snow covered field with a large tree came into the view of the young man. He pulled the horse's reins sharply and took in the sight of an enormous beast covered in thick fur, a large tusk protruding from it. The beast reached for his victim, a young girl curled in a ball against the tree, her face hidden and her white slip of a dress in tatters.

The beast's hands came closer and the young man made his decision. Leaping from his horse, he pulled his sword free from it's sheathe and yelled at the top of his lungs. "Turn, fowl beast, so that I may send you back to the depth from which you came!"

He lifted his sword, waiting for the beast to turn to him. It did slowly, it's eyes shimmering in the moonlight like a cat's, and it snarled at the young man. He held his ground as he lofted his claymore, the beast stepping forward with his tusk pointed at the man. He tensed as the beast pawed the ground with his foot. It growled and charged, it's tusks lowered at the Knight to try to catch him in the gut and in the chest.

He sprang away, landing on his shoulder and rolling out to come to his feet, his heavy armor making it hard for him to gain his footing quickly. The beast flung it's arm out as he passed, catching the young man who was still trying to regain his balance. Slamming hard into the earth, the wind knocked out of his lungs, he looked up at the starlit night, hearing the girl's scream once more.

"Rise, Sir Knight, rise!" She pleaded. The young man looked up in time to see the beast baring down on him. He tried to get up, but the armor weighted him down. He growled and ripped a dagger from his belt and slid it under the guard of his heavy plate. He cut the straps that bound him to his armor and rolled out just in time. The beast crushed his armor as the Knight regained his footing, his claymore laying on the ground at his feet. He quickly threw his dagger at the beast's exposed backside, causing it to roar out in pain.

Retrieving his sword, the young man growled at the beast, who had turned back towards him and was now eying him with caution. The young man's mismatched eyes caught the light of the moon and seemed to shimmer like that of a wolf's on the hunt, and the cold wind whipped at his long, raven colored hair. Bringing his sword up slowly, leveling it off, he pointed it at the monster's heart. It roared and proceeded to charge. The Knight tried to step under the tusks, but failed as one of the thick tusks sliced through his chest. A white hot feeling of pain, followed by an oddly funny feeling spread. However, blinded by rage, the Knight trusted his blade.

The beast cried out as the sword pierced it's heart and staggered back, the sword embedded in it's chest to the hilt. It finally slumped over dead just a few feet away. The Knight turned and staggered towards the girl, his eyes falling on her, her bright hazel eyes catching his mismatched ones, and her auburn hair shining in the night sky. He stumbled over, but was caught by the girl. His eyes looked to her tan face, then saw her ears. His hand reached out towards one and touched the tip gently, the girl shivering as her face flushed slightly. She pulled his hand away from her ear and smiled as she reached out to touch the left side of his face. The smooth skin was warm under her hand as she looked into the face of both an angel and a demon; The Knight's left side a perfect reflection of a beautiful man and his right, an ugly, twisted face of a demon. She reached up and touched his right side as well, a golden spark running from her hand to his face. In that moment, she knew.

"What is your name, Sir Knight?" She asked, her voice a gentle whisper in the man's ear. He sighed as his vision blurred.

"Lancelot du Lac, milady." She nodded, blue sparks flying from her hands, wrapping him in a blue light, followed by golden sparks filling the dark night as well. Wrapping the man in blue and gold, the Fairy stepped back as the magic healed him. As it came to a finish, the young girl came to him once more, leaning down and kissing him, her auburn hair slipping into her face. Leaning up, she whispered into the man's ear, "I, brave Knight, am Guinevere of the Fairy Folk, and I am yours forever."

Leaning down once more, she kissed him, a golden spark running through her lips and into his. She sat by his side, waiting for her knight to awaken from his slumber. The Fairy, Guinevere, closed her eyes to await her love.

A young Holly Short smiled with wide eyes at her mother. Pulling the covers close around her, she rolled over, looking up into her mother's eyes. "What happens next?"

Coral Short smiled softly and shook her head as she stood, her long auburn hair reaching to her back and her hazel eyes locking onto those of her child's. "That story's for another day. Now is the time for sleep."

Holly groaned, but lied down in defeat and snuggled deeper into her blankets. Her mother turned and placed the book of the Fairy Kin back onto the shelf above her daughter's bed. She then turned and leaned down towards her daughter, kissing her on the forehead. "Sweet dreams."

The young Holly smiled and yawned. "G'night, Mom."

The woman turned and headed for the door of her room until her daughter called once more.

"Mom?" She called. Coral turned back to her daughter. "Will I find my knight when I'm older?"

The woman smiled; she knew her daughter was meant to do great things. Anyone could see that. "Yes, love, you will. You will find a great knight who will love you for who you are."

Holly smiled warmly and settled back into her bed, her eyes closing as she whispered to herself. "Sir Knight, what is your name?"

Hey Folks, hows life, good to hear. So I got a beta, Zeugirdor, and this is the edited version all shiny and new. Hope any problems you had with my bad spelling and grammar has been cleaned up by my new Beta, Thx Zeugirdor.

-Writer Out-

-Ark-D-gun-