Faerie Path Shuffle
By Laura Schiller
Series: The Faerie Path
Copyright: Frewin Jones (for the characters) and the artists named for the songs.
1. Flora's Secret, by Enya
Tania and Edric were lying side by side in Passion meadows, watching the flowers change color with the wind: scarlet, orange, gold. Above them, the sky was the deepest, clearest, purest shade of blue Tania's city-bred eyes have ever seen.
"It's amazing," she murmured. "How clean everything is. No airplane trails, no smog...I could stay here forever."
The air was cool and sweet in her face, scented with flowers and honey.
"I know something even more amazing," said Edric, stroking her hair. "It's you."
2. Der Weg (The Way), by Herbert Grönemeyer
Titus watched through tear-blinded eyes as the flames went up around the small, white-shrouded figure of his beloved Zara. It was unbelievable. She should be laughing, dancing, singing with her silvery voice. Anything rather than this.
You filled every room with sunlight, he whispered to her in his mind. Knowing you was like a taste of heaven...this is unjust. Unfair.
He looked up at the sparks thrown off by the fire, and he could have sworn he saw the figure of a girl rising up into the heavens, laughing, riding a unicorn.
3. Verzeih (Forgive), by Reinhard Mey
Edric watched as Tania walked away from him, down the empty beige corridor on her way to the door. She acted as if he weren't even there. "At least try to act like you're fond of each other," he remembered Mrs. Wiseman saying.
She paused; one of the zippered pockets in her backpack was open. This was his opportunity. If he talked to her now, she'd probably just walk away, and he couldn't blame her either...not after what he'd said to her. But when she found his gift, surely she'd consider forgiving him?
He slipped the white Faerie rose into her backpack and left silently.
Please, Tania. Forgive me.
4. Meine Freundin, meine Frau (My Friend, My Wife) by Reinhard Mey
Lord Brython of Kymry smiled as he watched his lady sleep. Morning sunshine was slipping into their white, shell-shaped bedchamber and illuminating the fluttering silk curtains. Hopie's chestnut-colored hair shone warmly against the pillow; the sight of her long soft eyelashes touching her cheeks in sleep was just was beautiful as in the beginning of their marriage, and the lines of care and sadness in her face were smoothed away. His busy wife, always helping people, at rest for once.
5. Goodbye, by Miley Cyrus
Tania sighed and shut the pages of her pink photo album. Those happy pictures just made her depressed – herself and Edric walking arm-in-arm, Edric stretched out on her dark-red sofa, even a kiss photo taken by Jade. Would they ever kiss again after that big fight?
Suddenly her cell phone rang and she looked at the display. Her heart stopped. Could it be - ?
It was. A single word: SORRY.
6. It's In the Rain, by Enya
Raindrops spattered mournfully onto the stained-glass windows of the Palace Library, almost lulling Sancha to sleep as the scents of dust and old paper hung heavily in the air. Her eyes ached with the effort of reading, but she kept on; it was her only escape from the darkness of her mind.
Prophecy was a curse. How much longer would she be haunted with the memory of screaming Soul Books, shrieking out words she could not close her ears to?
Zara...why?
7. Maikäfer (Junebugs), by Reinhard Mey
"Are you sure?" Cordelia asked the crow perched on her wrist.
Sure, Miss. Not a single one.
"How strange," said Cordelia, frowning. "What could be the matter?"
Later, as she told the story to her sisters, Tania nodded. "It's the same in the Mortal World," she explained. "Junebugs are getting hard to find these days. Maybe it's the climate change."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Mortals! Why they should pollute their own world thus, I shall never understand."
8. 7 Things, by Miley Cyrus
Rathina hated Gabriel. His casual cruelty, the way he manipulated people without a thought for their feelings, his insane hunger for power, the way he had hurt her, and especially the way he made her love him so much without a single effort on his part.
Rathina loved Gabriel. His shining silver eyes, his beautiful face, the aura of mystery he wore, the kindness and courtesy he had once treated her with, the red roses he gave her...the way he made her love him was inescapable.
9. Wunder (Miracles), by Zara Leander
Titania stared out at the lush green forest around Rafe Hawthorne's cottage without seeing them. Her heart was far away, journeying with her daughters in search of Oberon.
Far, but not far, for our souls are one. One day a miracle shall happen, and a thousand tales of wonder shall come true, she promised herself. This I know.
Their love was stronger than years of separation the Socrerer King – anything.
10. I Hope You Dance, by LeeAnn Womack
The Seven Princesses of Faerie whirled across the shining dancefloor of the ballroom in a ring dance as their mother watched from her throne, smiling and blessing them silently. How she loved them, different as they were – all unique, all beautiful, like many-colored gems on a necklace.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder, she thought. Living might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking...and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.