Ever since Mallory was a child she has always dreams of a boy with blonde hair and the most beautiful blue eyes she has ever seen. In the dream, she's older, wearing a beautiful white dress and a golden crown as if she was a bride. They would talk and he seems eager to know her life, what happens in her waking hours. She would oblige, of course.
Whenever she talks about boys, he would frown, but doesn't say anything, she didn't like him frowning so she avoided those topics like a plague around him. He would show her his world while their hands are interlaced, this is his kingdom, he says, a beautiful forest with all assortment of vegetation, animals, and beings not of her world. Mallory loves nature, so she loves everything about his kingdom and everything in his kingdom loves her.
When she was older, she asked the boy why he appears on her dreams, he only smiled and said nothing but planted a kiss on her cheek. She doesn't know why, but she just smiled back like she should already know the answer and then she woke up.
Her dreams of that boy stopped when she turned 16. She missed him, their conversations, and his kingdom, but alas, the dream must end sometime she guessed.
When she was 18, her mother had asked her to accompany her to visit her grandmother, she had not seen her for over 2 years now. It's not that they are not in a good relationship with her, it's just that she lives far away and her mother does not let Mallory visit her alone.
Her grandmother always had stories to tell. She once told her about the Forest God behind their house he was a malevolent god, he would bless those that helps the forest, but condemned those who harmed it. She sometimes brings Mallory to a small shrine in the forest for the Forest God. They would clean it up and place offerings on it. She also told her about the Prince of the forest, mischievous little one he is, he would sometimes play tricks on the people that visits the forest, makes them lost for hours, making the fishes jump so they would get splashed by the river water, or making eerie sound only to find a small rabbit or deer passing by. You could sometimes hear his boyish laughter after he plays a prank on you.
Mallory's grandmother was sick in bed when they arrived, a nurse taking care of her. They talked while she was in bed, she told her stories again and she would share hers to her as well.
One day her grandmother asked her a favor. "Mallory, you know the forest seems to be sad, I think the Forest God is sad that I have not cleaned his shrine, would you be a dear and go to the shrine to clean and serve an offering". Without hesitation, she accepted.
She remembers the way, there shouldn't be a problem going there, she just had to follow her grandmothers' path. She does hope that the forest Prince does not play a prank on her. She smiled and shook her head, those were just stories. When she arrived at the shrine, a man taller than her was standing in front of it. He had long blonde hair and wore a black suit. Now who on earth would enter the forest in such an outfit. She stood beside the man and excused herself as she was going to clean the shrine. The man did not acknowledge her, just kept staring at the shrine. When she finished her task, the man was still there, unmoving.
She bid him goodbye, but before she could walk away, he grabbed her arm. She was surprised and starred at the hands that held her, slowly looking up at his face. She gasped when she saw those eyes, as clear and blue as the sky, she had stared at those eyes long ago. Time seems to have stopped, the man did not speak nor did she. As the sun sets, the man spoke.
"My Mallory"
As soon as the light of the sun disappears, so did he.
She ran back to her grandmother's house, she didn't know what happened, was she dreaming, was it the forest Prince playing a cruel prank on her. Why did that man look like the one in her dreams? Was she dreaming?
When she got back, her grandmother was sitting up and reading a book. She looked much better than when she left and she forgot why she was running away from the forest.
Before they slept, Mallory stayed in her grandmothers' room to listen to her stories again. But this time, it was different, because it was about her and she seemed sad about it.
"You know you were born here my dear" she nodded, "did you also know that you almost didn't live when you were born. I was so afraid of what was happening to you, the midwife tried to revive you, all we could do is pray. I prayed to the Forest God to save you and then you finally took your first breath, I didn't know he listened to my prayer until I slept and dreamed of him. I don't remember his face now but he has such beautiful hazel eyes like that of the earth he ruled."
"He told me his Prince has taken a liking to you, so he agreed to share his life with you to save you. But my dear, in exchange he would like something of you. He didn't say what he wanted, but he said he'll see you again when it is time."
This story surprised her, she didn't expect that. However, it is just a story and there is nothing to be worried about. But somehow there was something tugging at her memory from earlier of that day.
The next morning Mallory's grandmother passed away.
Out of sadness and grief she ran to the forest without thinking, she went to the shrine and prayed that this was not real.
A hand touched her shoulders and she quickly turned to see a man with a long blonde hair and blue eyes. He was also sad and she kept on crying.
"She's finally passed", he said, Mallory only nodded.
"It was her time, there is nothing to be done anymore, she has been suffering for some time now and your presence help her to let go. This is good for her, no more pain, or ache, she was happy to see you again, that's all that matters now".
Mallory suddenly hugged this stranger and kept on crying. He didn't move or pushed her away, he caressed her brown hair with one hand and gently placed the other on her back to calm her down.
After sometime, her sobbing died down, she just needed to cry her grief. She pushed herself off the man and apologized for ruining his clothes.
"I don't mind", he said. "Would you like to get some tea to calm your nerves before you head back home? I live nearby."
Mallory looked back at pathway, ready to reject this stranger.
He held up his hand "It won't take long, I promise", he told her while he waits for her to accepts his offer.
She didn't know why, but she felt at ease with him, but she has not tried to accept his hand yet.
"I'm Michael", still holding up his hand for her.
"I'm Mallory", she responded and finally took his hand.
"I know", he replied. She guessed that since he knew of her grandmother, she must've told him stories about her.
As he led her to a pathless way to the forest, she asked, "How do you know my grandmother?"
"I've lived here for a long time", was his only response.
Mallory looked around, she doesn't know this part of the forest anymore, Michael seems to have noticed her worry and assured her that he could get her back, as long as she is with him, she will never get lost in the forest.
He led her to a cottage, it looked small, but she guessed if he was only using it as a vacation house, it didn't matter. But when she entered the house it looked so much bigger. It was beautiful like it's from those home magazines. The staircase to her left was made of stone and the handle of wood, there is a fireplace beneath it that kept the house warm. There is a coffee table and a love seat with intricate designs, also made of wood in front of the hearth. The whole house seems to have been only made from natural resources.
Michael asked her to sit on the couch as he prepared the tea and seemed to be giddy doing it. He entered a room next to the fireplace, she guessed it was the kitchen.
Mallory contemplated why she has gone with this stranger, yes, he knows of her grandmother, but she doesn't. Is it strange that even though this is a fact, she still trusts him? He is like a dream, yes, just like her dreams when she was younger, he looked like him. Now, why does that sound familiar?
After a few minutes Michael came out of the kitchen holding a tray for the tea.
"I only have jasmine, I hope you don't mind", he said as he placed the tray on the coffee table and poured the tea in fine china cups.
"I don't mind, thank you", Mallory replied as she took the cup presented to her.
He took his own tea and sat at the far end of the love seat, she guessed that he must be doing it to make her comfortable.
Mallory took a sip of the tea, it was delicious, it was warm but not too hot and she hummed in satisfaction. This has put a smile on the face of her host.
After they finished the tea, she thanked Michael again and prepared to leave.
"Where are you going Mallory?", he asked in a husky voice.
"I'm going home", she said, but as she thought about it, where was her home again.
"But this is your home", he said.
She thought about it, was this her home?
"This is all for you", he spoke again. "What I do, is all for you". "Don't you remember me?"
Oh, she remembered now, he is her lover, the Prince of the Forest, Michael.
He smiled at her sweetly, knowing that she remembers him now. All those time that they were together in her dream, however, it was not a dream for him. The moment he gave his life to her, he was hers for eternity.
Her reality and her dreams have been switched the moment the tea touched her lips. He has waited for so long for her to return to this forest. His Mallory, he held up his hand for her to lead her outside which she took without hesitation this time, as soon as they left the house and into the forest, her simple sun dress turned into a white gown and her hair now adorned with crown of leaves made of gold. She will forget her grief and life as a human, it will just be a dream for her.
Her mother will not remember she had a child and will never return after the funeral.
The woodland creatures smiled and greeted the couple, their master and mistress, home. Her smile was wide and it seems the woods enjoyed her presence; the wind blew gently while the tree rustles in harmony.
Mallory looked into Michael's blue eyes and caressed his long blonde hair, "I'm sorry I'm late, I've missed you", she said.
Michael's smile grew wider and held her closer to him and planted a soft kiss on her lips. "Welcome home, love".
Notes:
- Mallory's grandmother's death was the "When it is time", because she made the prayer to save her.
- This Chapter was posted in my AO3 account since 2018-11-20.