Ban's P.O.V.-

The south was nothing like I was expecting. Hot, humid, with lots of green everywhere. The people were colder, not that I cared. And the fairy folk segregated themselves from humans; much more so than up north. But I didn't mind any of that. I was here on a mission; to find the Fountain of Youth.

There was only one problem…. I had no idea where it was, and I doubt any of the fairies would tell me if I asked. With no clue where to even start, I made my way over to a tea house as there were no taverns in sight. No taverns; what kind of place was this? Just a bunch of tea houses. Granted, they were all filled with patrons but still; these people didn't know what they were missing. But I was feeling wary and could use a cup of tea about now. I found an out-of-the-way little hole in the wall where I could sit without sticking out.

The bartender, or their version of a bar tender, was a grizzly-looking man. He had stubble on his chin and a scar on his left cheek. He eyed me from the moment I reached the counter, while still polishing a clear cup. "What you havin', stranger?" "Uh, black tea, I guess?" I didn't really know much about tea. But I must have said something right since he nodded his head and started to get to work. He pointed to a table in the corner away from the light. "Sit there. I'll bring you your order when its ready." "Thank you!" With a wave, I went to sit down. This place wasn't too shabby, if a little dark. Some guys were talking and gossiping amongst themselves, not paying any attention to me. I usually don't listen to gossip; it doesn't interest me but there nothing else to do. So I just casually listened in, not really expecting to hear anything substantial.

"… I'm telling you the truth! I saw her; the other night…." "Get lost! She hasn't been in Malaga in seven years. Rumor has it she ran off to Athens to train under Socrates." "Socrates? That man they just executed by hemlock?" "They killed him? Huh, well that would explain why the princess is back here." Princess? My eyebrow quirked up. Were they talking about the fairy princess? There's a fairy princess? Well what do you know….

"She is back! I saw her outside her bedroom window. If you walk along the beach after dark, you'll see her. And you should! You have no idea, she's breath-taking." I wonder if we'd have the same opinion on that, I thought scratching my cheek. "But what if the king catches us? You know what the fairies do to trespassers." They do what now? "Just stay by the water," his fat hand waved in the air. "They won't see you." Well now…. It was about then that the gruff bartender brought my tea pot, full to the brim, over. "Thanks," I reached out for the cup. I had no interest in women before and I didn't think that was about to change any time soon. But… why not? A cheeky grin rolled over my lips. Let's see if this princess is the great beauty they say.

I waited until late that night; late enough that it was dark out but not too late that she'd be in bed. Tossing off my shoes, I scrolled barefoot in the sea's small waves. It was my first time putting my feet in the ocean; something I never thought I'd do before. The beach was quiet with not a soul in sight. This gave for a peaceful atmosphere; something I also wasn't used to. It was actually really nice, just walking along the sand with the water gently kissing my feet. Maybe… this was one of those small things I was told to enjoy in my youth. Just maybe…

I had almost forgotten why I had come here after walking like this for half an hour or so. It was so quiet, with nothing but the sounds of the waves and wind blowing through the palm trees. But eventually, when the castle came into view, I gazed up to the towering figure. It was dark, with only a few rooms lit here and there. I wasn't sure which one was the princess's, so I quickly scanned over the whole structure. Nothing, or at least that's what I thought. My heart skipped a beat as someone emerged onto the grey stone balcony in the high tower. It took me a second to realize that I was looking at a woman, not a soldier as I initially feared. The dark didn't help things, but I was able to make out roughly what she looked like.

From what I could tell, she was gorgeous. Long light pink hair and shimmering blue eyes. I didn't know if she was the princess and at that moment, I didn't care. It was seeing a heavenly being high above… I'd heard of love at first sight and I doubt that this was it but… something about her. From the moment I saw her, there was something that caught my attention. She had this sad, almost melancholic air about her; a sense of tragedy. And yet, so much spirit. She was complicated, in a good way. I knew that just by looking at her for a minute or so. There was so much personality in her face, the way she moved…. Deep yet reachable; I don't think she was untouchable. I was she was hurt, to be honest. Suffering…..

A piece of me in that instance hoped she would glance down at me. But then what would I do? What would she think? Wait, why should I care about that? She's just a girl; a really, really pretty girl. Still…. I couldn't deny there was something enchanting in her character. Maybe it was the fairy blood, but I bet it was her personality; who she was that made her look that way. She was a beauty…. a beauty too rich, too pure…. And that's when I wondered. Had I ever seen true beauty before this moment? Huh, you know… I couldn't think of an example. I'd seen a lot in my time but nothing, nothing like her….. ok maybe this was that "true love" nonsense everyone talks about. But what good was that? I didn't want her; I wanted the Fountain of Youth. And it's not like she even knew I was alive.

Every fiber, every cell of my being froze as her eyes made their way down to me. "Oh crap!" I actually uttered out loud, too alarmed to notice the defensive position I was now in. She looked at me, confused for a second. Then her lips parted a little as we just stared at each other for a moment; a long moment. I think she was studying me as much as I was previously doing to her. She didn't smile, nor did I; we simply gawked.

I flinched again when she perked up at the voice coming from behind her. I regrettably didn't hear what name they called her or what they said. "Coming!" She shouted back before giving me one last look. I didn't move; my body wouldn't let me. I stayed there with my hands buried in my pockets until she had gone back inside. For the longest time, I remained that way, standing on the sand with the water coming up to caress the back of my feet. I couldn't say why I did that; maybe a part of me was hoping that she'd come back out. But she didn't. Still, I was unable to make myself leave right away. I don't think this feeling that overcame me was happiness or love…. but it was positive, something good. I felt something which could be considered good, after so long…

I don't know where this feeling came from, but it was there. Oh boy was it there. I felt soft and fluttery, yet calm and collective. Hot yet cool….. So many conflicting emotions, all of them encouraging. There was nothing bad; nothing bad came from that brief, brief interaction. It was the first time I could remember something good happening to me with zero bad or negative involved. Everything about her; her eyes, her hair, her lips…. her history. I didn't know a thing about her and yet, I knew…. Just one look and I knew. She's the first person I'd ever seen like that before. And it was beautiful…. She was beautiful. Because of her, because she looked at me, my night was a little better; a little brighter.