A/N: Another fic I wrote while in a boredom induced stupor. Only this time, I was struggling to focus. All I wanted to do was sleep. But sadly, I couldn't since I was at work and not allowed to leave to do something productive—like packing my house. So I only have weekends available to do any real packing.
Greensleeves
(Working Title)
"You have no power over me."
Those six little words spelled doom and despair for a man who has everything yet nothing at all. It was true though. He really did not have power over her. But it did not make those words burn any less.
"Love me. Fear me. Do as I say and I'll be your slave."
And he was. He knew not what bound him so tightly to her. He loved her with all that he was and yet despised her. Hated her because she was free. Free to do and be as she pleased while he was left to rot in his own personal hell. No one knew, not even himself, how he became the king of Goblins. Oh how he longed for companionship. But no one loved him. Just his crown.
As he looked back, he realized his fatal mistake: she was too young. She did not understand the concept of love, the kind reserved for lovers. She only knew familial love. He should have resented her for her cruel disregard of his affections. But he could not despite wanting to. The only one to blame was himself. Only he had set himself up for failure.
He watched her through the eyes of his familiar. She was more beautiful than their first encounter. Gone was the baby fat. Gone was the gangly limbs. She grew no taller than before but instead filled out, quite nicely he might add. Her hips were perfect for child bearing. Even her breasts were perfect. Not too small but not overly large like some women. Her eyes, a deep emerald, were just as captivating and her skin a healthy shade of tan.
He burned with jealousy when she allowed boys to court her. What could they give her that he could not? He was her silent guardian. Protecting her from unseen dangers. He recalled the incident with a drunken man. The drunken man had attempted to rape her and possibly murder her. Fortunately or not, she was too out of it—a drug perhaps?—to notice that it was he that drove the man away. Then he watched her give up all of her toys and costumes and took up the mantle of a teacher. What she taught, he was not sure. But he could see that she enjoyed it.
She would stand by the large bay window looking up longingly at the starry sky each night. What she longed for, he could not know. Because of her parting words, he could no longer view upon her dreams nor appear to her as a man. At least, until she called for him by name. He watched as she opened the window to let the cool night breeze in. She had closed her eyes as she reveled in the gentle wind, a small smile playing upon her sweet lips. He heard her give a tiny sigh before making her way to her bed.
Oh how he wished he could see her dreams! Did she dream of him? Please let her dream of him! He flew into her room before transforming into a man—a loophole in the spell. She did not know he was there. Maybe she did. He silently begged for her to call for him. Anything to hear her sweet voice.
He quietly knelt beside her, a look of adoration passing over his features. The desire to touch her was too great, so he pulled off his glove with his teeth and gingerly caressed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. It was electrifying. She stirred but did not wake.
He lingered for too long now and she would awaken soon. So he pressed his lips to her forehead in a silent farewell before standing up again as he tugged his glove back on. With a flourish, a tiny card appeared on her nightstand. He cast one last look before taking flight once more.
When she woke, she picked up the card and smiled.
