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It has been years since I have been to the surface world.
There had been no true reason to come. While there was never a shortage of wished-away tots, few cases deserved my personal attention. There were always members of the court and upper-intelligence goblins that could easily do the simple task of explaining the rules of my Labyrinth. I had a nation to run, and more importantly, a champion to watch. The Aboveground could wait.
And it had. Little had changed, since my last visit. They are still polluting themselves into endangerment, killing off all of their animals, fighting over scraps of land. It is a corrupt, dark place. Though, not much worse than my homelands. The humans could barely stop picking themselves off, now they're turning to the stars to spread their filthy hate. How my champion can stand it, in comparison to my glorious kingdom?
She couldn't. She didn't.
While I have not risen to the surface in quite some time, not a week went by without my champion's face filling my view. Five years had done her well. She is no longer a sniveling child, whining to get her way and throwing minor fits when not getting it. As she had said herself "Life is not Burger King—it's not always your way."
I'm still not entirely certain as to what or who "Burger King" is, but that is beside the point. She is ready. She is perfect. Mature. Clever. Brilliant. Ready.
And not mine. That is the crux of the problem, isn't it? The first champion in centuries, and I've failed to secure her.
I did not expect to see her on this trip. I've come to the Aboveground because of the rarity of the moon—an unpredicted blue moon. These events are wine to a faire king. Blue moons transfuse a great amount of raw energy into the land. Energy faire love colleting. It is like a party, a drug—thick in pleasure, with a quick, tangible high. The air is taint with magic. The feeling is like no other. I've heard it compared to a human's intoxication.
This is why I have come. To see the rare orb, and to take in her energy. While my kingdom has plentiful, there is nothing more pure, more refined than the moon's silver light on faire skin. It is…unbearably prefect.
This lake seems like the best place, as well. Most faire join together in Eire, or any other scared place, in masses. It is a grand event, and the faire join as kin to rejoice. Fairies are social creatures. It is prefect natural to gather together on such a fine night. Yet, as nobility, it is…unseemly for me to mingle among them. As well as dangerous. The far safer method of collection is to just go it alone, even if it feels painfully wrong. I have suffered through much worse than separation.
Then again…
The very worst pain I've felt in my life came from a quick, unexpected separation from my champion. Had I known her will, perhaps I'd have not been so quick to allow my emotions free reign over this challenge. For they found my runner to be a fair one. A fair one, indeed. And these emotions, they had not the sight to predict her departure.
She ought not have left! She was but a child, easily seduced into remaining in my lands, easily persuaded into a life of servitude, easily broken! And yet no, I failed to secure my true victory. The babe would have been a fine treasure, but the runner…the runner, the fair one, was the true prize. A prize I had lost.
The first runner in over five hundred years to beat my Labyrinth. The first to ever reject my parting offer.
Oh yes. She is something special.
But I shan't ever let her know so. The fair Sarah is far from me now. Out of sight, but not out of mind. I've got no leave to bother her. And even if she would allow me leave… Besides, the child had her chance, and she squandered it on the shrieking babe.
I wander among the great pines and oaks, skimming the water's edge as I travel toward the round clearing I spotted earlier on my flight. It cannot be too far now. I spotted it not long after the encounter with the girl on the dock. I honestly hadn't meant to hit her. The sun had filled my eyes when I started flight, and once I started back in from the water—well, to navigate away from her would have been difficult.
Five more steps, and I shall be there. Twelve minutes, and I shall be ready for the ceremony. Three hours, and I can return home.
I push back one full pine branch. The clearing is open to me. Grass, silver in the moon's light, sways gently in the light breeze, which is fragrant with the pale flowers that reside throughout the space. I reach into my satchel to remove the brocade drawstring pouch Elluia packed for me this morn. I remove a pinch of the crushed leaves inside and stride to the center of the clearing. Once there, I fling the powder into the night air and wait for it to settle. Then I murmur a quick prayer and proceed to line the edge of the wood with it. Soon, the poetic scent surrounds me; lavender, thyme and sage. It is a melody of protection, of power.
Tonight is a special night. A time of power. Of bounding. It is said to strengthen bonds, power relationships. Unforeseen blue moons are especially powerful, as they are unbound, and therefore binding. Many of my people choose a night such as this to mate and marry. But that is not my cause tonight. I am here to gather what I can, not bind myself to a tart.
I finish with more prayers. It is time to begin. In the center once more, I call forth a crystal, which hovers before me, emitting a soft light. I chant thrice to call the surrounding energy to me. The clearing's breeze slows, as if listening to my ancient words.
