My eyelids fluttered open to the jeweled light flooding through the glass panes. A moan escaped from my parted lips and I lay one hand on my moist cheek. It had been very humid when I had finally succumbed to sleep. Memories of the night before came flooding back to me and I almost winced. I had made so many mistakes! It still bothered me this morn. What had overcome me?

Matters of the heart are of utmost importance to a courtesan. The number one law is never to love at all. Until I am retired and free and I have made a certain amount of money for my house can I fall in love. Well, Mistress Elanne had groomed me to be one of her best and here I was, making a total and complete bedlam of things. I needed to regain some sense of myself

I swung my legs away from the bed and stood. My toes curled under themselves on the sun warmed wooden floor. I took a long breath and willed any troubles I might have to disappear. Groggily, I made my way to the vanity. I leant on it and studied the carvings that adorned the light saffron wood surrounding the mirror. I touched my hair and felt the rough knots in it. I was in total disarray. A ball and dancing until dawn can do that to you. Especially when one is dancing with a master such as him. Alas, I wish I might see his face, for a dancer such as him could teach us all. I wondered if his dancing skills hinted at other talents he might have. I might as well also wish to see his face, to see the man that my heart had warmed to.

I hope that Erik shall not tell Mistress Elanne about my breach of the rules of the masque. But of course he wouldn't, the masque is never mentioned. Odd that I would forget that. A weight fell free of my heart. There may be times I curse the laws of the Flower court, and there are times I bless them.

I looked to the light flowing throughout the room, illuminating the dust in a myriad of dancing colors. Walking over to the windows, I threw them open in a rush and regarded the garden below. A few gardeners were grooming the hedges prettily. The gardeners were all unobtrusive and of course, beautiful. They were all former middle class sons and daughters found to have a talent for gardening. They were extremely costly to hire, but we are the Flower court. Everything is within our grasp; all we have to do is reach.

A wind blew in, making the light ornaments hanging on the netting over my bed wave. One particular ornament, a bejeweled tree, cast wavering rainbows on the yellow walls.

I listened to the sweet crystalline sound of the fountains for a while. The symphony of sounds had always intrigued me as a child. I had always vowed to ask the gardeners how the fountains played, but since I had only been allowed out in the dark, none of the gardeners were ever there. Perchance I would today if I had the time. I was only just beginning to understand this concept of freedom and the sunlight that came with it. It had been so long..

I stayed there for a while enjoying the sun's warmth on my face. Long ago before I had been committed for what seemed an eternity of darkness and betimes, content. I had lain me down in a green field and did just this. Felt the sun worship my face. My face was mottled and imperfect then, now, some would call it stunning. The question was, was there a difference in the core of that girl then and this woman now? Would there ever be?

If I ever went back to that place which I once called home, would the clan pronounce me changed on the inside as well as the outside? I wondered. Some of the people in the clan had……. shall I say odd was of knowing the very core of people. Those special people could divine the winding and tangled emotions, feelings and thoughts of people with only a look into the eyes. When I was younger I would mull over this, but I had never asked questions, it was rather taboo. Now, though, after no such thoughts had reached me for years, I wondered. I hadn't wondered about my past in a long time, only the future.

I realized it was bright, very bright. I was late for the baths and that would mean I was late for my first gathering of Orchids. Gods, only I make such mistakes. How could I forget? No courtesan ever forgets their first gathering, for it is a turning point in their lives. Ironic that I should forget.

Gathering my nightclothes in one hand, I ran through my doorway and down the gracious hallway. A tapestry of dancing deer at the end of the corridor revealed a hidden backstairs. I must have made a comical sight in my velveteen nightclothes fleeing through gorgeous gilded hallways as if the six monsters of hell were after me. The servants would get a good gossip out of this one. It is rare that a courtesan out of the bedchamber is in a state of panic or rush.

Then again, some claim that I am not a true courtesan. It is said by some of the nastier courtesans that since my blood isn't pure because I come from the highlands, I can never hold a candle to the grace and poise of true Donavue courtesans. Well and so, but my blood also gifts me with grace of dance and intelligence, which they with their icy exteriors don't and never will have.

I threw open the doors to the baths, shedding my clothes as I almost ran in. I dove straight into the steaming pool. Hot water enveloped my cool ivory skin and the dried salt in my hair and face washed away. My eyes opened for a split second and the mosaic of mythical beasts that decorated the bottom of the pool danced in my eyes. The colors rushed through my mind as if it were a dancing vision before my throat grew tight without air. I pushed myself off the mosaic floor of the pool and rose from the water. The scent of Orchids wafted around me. The tall candles that stood in niches around the baths gave me a heady, dizzy feeling.

I called for soap and oil and a maid handed me two delicate glass bottles and a sponge. I washed myself slowly, caressing each part of my body. In the flower court, the art of cleaning oneself was taught early, for if one knew how to worship one's own body then others would be moved to do the same. I felt refreshed after this task, as if not only my body had been cleaned, but my mind.

I clambered out of the pool and gestured at two of the maids who patiently knelt at the side to get me a gown. How I detested gowns, but Mistress Elanne wouldn't be pleased with me if I showed up in the usual trousers. One of the maids made her way towards me with a comb and a bottle of scent in her hand with unmistakable intent in her dark eyes. I sighed as she flicked those eyes to a sunken sitting place opposite the pool.

I walked over and sank into the cushions and luxuriously yielding velvet carpet. Two more maids came over and exchanged glances over my swollen red feet and started to rub them. I moaned in unexpected pleasure as my tired, sore feet received a reprieve from pain. The other maid combed out my long hair and began to separate and dry my tresses. I closed my eyes and felt the wooden comb gently gliding over my scalp and the droplets of water evaporating from my skin. It was a pleasant feeling. My limbs grew languid at the attention.

Opening my eyes I beheld the next maid coming back with underclothes, a gown and slippers. The gown was amber colored and had a layer of frothy, transparent material with tiny crystals scattered about, and then gathered at the back of the waist. It had short loose sleeves and was very tight, with a sweeping neckline. It was Dignified and slightly provocative. The client that had been chosen for me was either an older man or someone that Mistress Elanne didn't really know. It was most likely the former. Mistress Elanne normally knew all her courtesans clientele explicitly.

My hair was pinned up very high with pins and yellow flowers and then let hang down my back in a cord of thick red. I hurriedly changed into my clothes and placed my aching feet into the dainty white slippers that had been provided. They were nothing special, simple white kidskin. I strode out of the baths hurriedly and headed for Mistress Elanne's rooms. My first gathering of Orchids awaited me. All the courtesans would gather in the Sun Orchid sitting room and Mistress Elanne would tell each of us of our clients, then we would meet them in due time. It gave me a shiver to say those words. I was to become one of them. I walked gracefully down the normally forbidden winding corridor that led to the Sun Orchid room.

Statues and paintings of nymphs and gods lending themselves to earthly pleasures adorned the walls. I had never been through these hallways before. I wasn't allowed for this was one of the pleasure wings of Orchid. The entire corridor was marble and long yellow draperies adorned the wide windows. I looked closer at the delicate oil paintings. One showed a beautiful human girl, her face was contorted with pleasure as a centaur mounted her. Another showed a scene of several men on one woman at once. The woman had a crown on, a subtle reminder of the power we had held in recent times. Mistress Elanne would want me to be one that Kings & Queens would be moved to choose for their pleasure. I was rather nervous as I swung the doors open to the sumptuous suite of rooms called Sun Orchid.

They were all there. All thirty three of them. They were all dressed in varying colors and hairstyles. Most had blonde, golden or brassy hair. I alone had red hair and I alone was from someplace foreign. They resented me for the attention I had been receiving from Mistress Elanne. All of them looked at me impassively, but inside they grinned gleefully at my folly of being late. As they sat scattered on the carpet, it reminded me nothing as much as a pretty painting of innocent virgins picnicking. Appearances are always deceiving, especially in the court of Flowers.

"Lily, pray tell me where you were?" She asked with a slight edge to her voice.

I gracefully curtsied and replied, "My apologies Mistress Elanne, I overstayed my while in the pools." I had pitched my voice to a pleasantly low ringing musical tone and Mistress Elanne smiled benevolently. Her mood changed from stormy to a languid, balmy summer night.

"But of course Lily, it is your first, after all."

"Thank you Mistress Elanne."

"You may sit over there." She motioned to a window seat.

I moved over quickly and silently and in the stillness of the Sun Orchid room the soft rustling of my dress could be heard. I settled myself comfortably on the striped yellow and orange cushions. Elegance describe the room perfectly. The sun was high in the startling blue of the sky and it beat down through the panes on my upturned face. I closed my eyes and listened to Mistress Elanne discuss the clientele with the others. Then she said my name.

"Lilly?"

"Yes, Mistress Elanne?"

"I have chosen your first client as the one who offered one of the highest prices I have ever seen for a virgin night. His name is Duke Sirius Black of the province of Itheena. He is one of King James best friends and owed his allegiance to Anjouina"

At the mention of the king, several of the courtesans sighed slightly. He hadn't escaped their notice.

"Sirius Black" I tested his name on my tongue. The syllables tasted of warm, heavy brown honey.

"Yes, and he shall be here within the hour with his friends who are also taking others. Now Lily, nothing is known about his particular tastes so I suggest you stay open-minded. I also chance to say that he may want you more than once, so give your attention to him. You may leave to lunch now. Eat only fruit and drink mint water. Go with pride"

I curtseyed and left quietly. I wished to go for a ride on the paths weaving around the flower court before meeting Lord Sirius Black. I decided I wouldn't tell Erik. I needed to be alone to think, to wonder, to dream. I hadn't thought of my future except as courtesan. Was this my future? Was this my grand destiny? I had heard of heroes whose names were whispered among the good and cursed among the evil, but they are nothing more than legends. We all fade into the mist in the end, but I would like to go down burning brightly. Famous courtesans are forever remembered, but just as that. I don't want to be forgotten, but I don't want to be remembered as a famous whore. I wish, for once, that I could do something.

I headed to my room and changed into divided riding skirts perchance I should meet anyone who would rather see me in a skirt than in breeches on the trail. I then took my knives that Mistress Elanne had given me. As I held them up they caught the light, flashing. A haze settled over the room and all I saw was the blue steel of the knives, flashing this way and that. The blue steel gave me comfort in my half anxious half excited state. It is in my blood to take comfort in steel.

Later…….

I gently walked through the gardens in mincing steps toward the stables. I would make small children's bets with myself. If I could fit more than ten tiny steps in the length of the flower mound over there I would be queen of my own country. I continued this for quite some time until I found myself at the stable and thought with a jolt that maybe the dancer man from last night was here. I had wondered if he was one of the male courtesans, but he seemed too foreign. I stepped through the stable door. The first things that I noticed was that his horses were gone. One of the groomsmen who had seen me from far off had already prepared a horse and motioned from me to mount.

"Groomsman, Could you please tell me when the horses in that stable left?"

"Lady de Orchid, I fear that your eyes might be deceiving you, for no horse ever boarded the night in there."

"Ah, thank you."

I was stunned. I had seen them just this morning and the groomsmen slept here. How could they not see the horses?

"Lady?"

"Yes?"

He hesitated, " 'tis a curious thing, but two teapots were found in each stable in the morn. You wouldn't happen to know anything about the teapots?"

"I am sorry, but I don't. Thank you for telling me."

I mounted deep in thought. What were teapots doing in the stables? This made no sense. I was beginning to think that the dancers had been wraiths. Even more curious was that Erik wasn't in the stables. How odd.

I admired the lush greenery and riot of colors on my ride. This was the first time I had ever ridden in sunlight. The trees stood tall and left most of the woods shaded, but for a few brilliant beams of sunshine that shined onto the cleverly placed ponds creating beacons of shining, shimmering light. The overall effect was magnificent. The shade left the glass short, thin and the most beautiful light moss green I had ever seen. It gladdened my heart that such beauty could exist for the most part without the help of gardeners. The Tender Wilds was what they called these woods. It fit.

I wondered what Sirius Black looked like. I had never heard of him before. I have to admit, I am excited. The thought of giving myself to him sent thrills throughout my body. I knew for certain that he was comely. Everyone from Anjouina is beautiful, it is in their blood. King James was a perfect example of this. No! I shall not think of him. Anything, but him.

Something blindingly white struck the edge of my vision and I flicked my head towards it. Standing only a few feet away stood the most stunning, snow colored stag I had ever seen. It's head was raised proud and tall and it stood erect, its powerful shoulders poised for movement. It was absolutely huge, larger than any that my textbooks had mentioned. I stared at it and presently I looked into his eyes. They were green, amazing forest green, Like two emeralds shining out of the snow.

I had forgotten a horse's reaction to this sort of situation though. It bolted and I was thrown forward into rough mane. I wound my hands into that very mane and waited. It had surprised me, but a beast is a beast. There is no use fearing something that's not evil. There is however, fear of solid objects that tend to hit your head at high speed. I fell of with a crash. Dizziness and shock overcame me along with a blunt pain. I coughed and pressed my hand gingerly to my head. I looked up at the branch that had hit me and moaned.

I had landed on the grass flat out. I lay spread eagled and must have looked a sight. I slowly stood up and looked around the forest. I had about a mile to walk back now, Oh Gods. Mistress Elanne would murder me. The forest turned black and white and I sat back down on my heels. The knee high riding boots I was wearing dug into the back of my bare thighs and the divided skirts settled in such a way that a panel of red lay on either side of me and one down my lap, revealing the sides of my legs. One Thousand Curses, I had of course, forgotten the black gauzy underskirts to the riding dress. It was always too hot for the underskirts. My dressmaker had always said this would happen to me if I forgot to wear the underskirt. Now look what happened. My dressmaker would love to see this.

I would walk back to the stables and look like a peasant that had come fresh from a tumble in the barn. Not that I abhorred such a thing, in fact a couple of fantasy's I had back when I was a little younger had involved barns and such, but I really didn't feel like meeting Duke Sirius Black like this. Unless of course, he was into the fresh from barn girl, but I expected his palate to be more refined.

I stood up again and the white and black haze didn't come back. I had my knives with me so if anything dared touch me, well there would be more of a challenge than met the eye. I looked around and with a sinking feeling in my throat realized that I was rather lost in a maze of paths. I decided to head north. I had not traveled more than twenty paces when my horse's wild footprints appeared and another larger, more curved print. I followed the different footprints with my eyes, into the woods until I met the source. Or so I thought.

Fear thrilled through every fiber of my body as something so absolutely evil stood in front of me. It floated queerly of the ground and beside it, the Tender Wilds paled. I felt anger, such great anger that ran through my blood against this perversion. Something made me naturally hate this creature so much that bile choked its way up my throat.

A sinking horrifying feeling appeared beside the hate that rang in my ears, it didn't breathe. I crouched down and stared at the thing. I moved backwards slowly until I found myself in slightly better footing. The thing had the semblance of a human body except that its bare feet that floated a few inches off the ground were bloody and severed. The blood was black and yellow. It was clothed in dirty grey and black; its head covered by a hood made of something tan and grey. Dark yellow matter leaked out of great big red lesions on what some would call hands. The birds had stopped calling.

With a terrifying sound of half scream half choke it came at me quicker than any bird or beast could travel. The strange thing was I saw it as if it were slow and I flicked out my knives from my loosed red sleeves and span away, jabbing at its head with my knives. It turned just as fast as I whirled around and slid into the ground as it came at me again. I raised my knives raised at the sky as it passed over at me.

Strange moaning sounds were surrounding my ears and confusing me. The thing was coming at me so fast, but just as fast I was dodging and taking a few swipes. I knew instinctively that if any part of it touched me then something horrible would happen. It was another form of dance for me, except more terrifying and with weapons instead of pale arms and feet. I was at a disadvantage and would certainly lose though. The entire thing was one weapon, but every weapon was wielded. Where had it come from? The Tender Wilds was not home to perverted evil such as this. I had to defeat it. This was no paltry fight with pauses and grand gestures; it was desperate, at least for me.

I was tiring and my movements had slowed somewhat, but I couldn't let it touch me. I wished it could be over, but something was stopping me from giving up. There was something more I had to do with my life before I could die just yet, so I did the most stupid thing that occurred to me in a thought that had made its way to my petrified mind. I threw my knife at the things hood. It was a sharp deadly whistle of light through the air and with a sickening sound, it lodged itself firmly in it.

I relaxed ever so slightly, but then another tear of absolute dread trickled through my spine and settled in my stomach. It was staring at me and advancing toward me. So I threw my other knife at it. Terror coiled in my stomach and made my movements quicker, the strength in my limbs stronger. It wouldn't help though, as the creature, with unearthly speed, moved to the right of the blade.

My weapons were gone. I almost cried out in fright, if it touched me I would be tainted by it forever. I would never have a peaceful death. So I ran, the thing flew after me. My boots hindered me though and my thighs burned at the exertion. My breathing was erratic and the only sounds that could be heard were the muffled thumps of my boots on the grass and the whisper of promised evil.

I was losing and I could feel it. Bile rose in my throat and terror thrilled through my body. A whip like white branch caught on my cheekbone and a thorn tore through the cloth on my shoulder and caught me as surely as rope. I screamed more in shock than anything and fell. It went right over me and turned around, coming back to finish me. I saw the blackness of it that blocked out the dancing sunshine. It came at me. Rushing, faster and faster than anything I had ever seen. I screamed, there was nothing left to do. I was paralyzed with fear.

The most gorgeous ringing sound ran through my ears though, hoof beats and for some reason, a fearsome growling. I looked up out of my mud-streaked and bloody face and stared, my hands rising to cover my mouth. The huge snow white stag I had seen earlier had attacked it and a large black dog only slightly smaller than the stag was launching himself on the thing. To my surprise, the thing was losing. It was screaming and screaming as the stag impaled its lethal antlers into it again and again and as the dog tore chunks of its cloak and flesh away as one would peel a potato.

I sat there, dumbstruck as the creature fell and with a fearsome scream, disappeared in flame. There was a painful pounding in my head and drumbeats echoed in my ears. The stag and the dog faced me then and I felt a rushing wind that blew my hair back as I stared first at the fine, pure-bred dog and then at the stunning stag. Forest green eyes regarded me and I felt as if someone had punched my chest. The stag felt so familiar, yet it was a stag! The same stag that had my horse running. The dog barked at the stag, which shook its head as if in a trance and backed up a step.

The dog then bounded up to me and without much ado licked my face. I tried to push his face away, but all I got was a slight growl. It continued to lick the blood and mud away from my face while the stag looked on with an unreadable emotion in its eyes. It pawed the ground and just as quick as they had appeared, they disappeared. Leaving me in the clearing. I stared after the pair of them and slowly rose to my feet. A wolf – dog and a stag had just saved my life and soul!

Fear and shock that had amassed in me melted away, leaving me with relief. Fear appeared quickly again. I was alone in the woods. There might be more creatures such as the one I had faced. I haltingly stepped my way to where the creatures body had been, and found my knives. They were shining clean and glinted in the sun. Odd, very odd. Some things were definitely going quite wrong around these woods. What was that? What had just happened to me? What would I say to Mistress Elanne and Siriuis Black? OH GODS NO!

I was preparing to run through the Tender Wilds back to the stables, but as soon I whirled about I was met with a sight. Shock coursed through me once again and my heart beat wildly at the most welcome sight of King James Potter and a striking black haired man. They were in full hunting attire and even had bows and swords. I breathed a sigh of relief and fell at King James feet, rather forgetting my state of half dress. I couldn't believe that they were here!

"Your royal highness, My name is Lilly of house Orchid and I have found myself lost in these woods when my horse ran away and left me here. I was also attacked by an evil creature which I barely managed to fend off and only with…..animalistic help. Your Highness, I know I sound mad, but could you please direct me to my house?"

I gazed at his face from under lowered lashes and all the emotions I had felt the night before rushed back at me three-fold. Up close not even a god could hold a candle to him. He looked down at me with those forest green eyes. So like the stag's eyes. Wait…..he had the stag's eyes. His companion moved over to me and licked his lips and said,

"My lady I would be more than happy to escort you to your very house because I am Sirius Black and I believe House Mistress Elanne is searching for you."

I looked up in shock and he laughed. I began to laugh also, until the shock of it all had me crying. Tears ran down my cheeks and dropped to the grass, where they shone like diamonds on the blades of green. King James offered a long fingered large hand and I took it. What happened next completely poleaxed me. He swung me into his arms and in a deep voice that radiated power said,

"Sirius and I shall escort you to your house madam. Tell us about this creature though. It troubles me that something attacked you."

I gazed in shock at him. There was a deep dark anger glinting in his eyes and his voice had been hard as he had spoke, yet there was no surprise about the creature. It was like he had known. Blood sang in my ears and I twisted out of his arms and landed in a crouch. I could feel the knives sliding into my palms. Duke Sirius looked at me, a slight frown tugging at his features and King James observed me.

I was wary of them. They were good, but King James had the stag's eyes and their presence wasn't just chance. If my guess was right, they somehow were the creatures.

"How did you know about that creature."

My voice seemed hard even to my ears and I waited for their answer. They said nothing, just looked at me with unreadable expressions. King James moved forward slowly, as one might approach a deer. I was torn between running and not.

"Lilly, Whatever you are guessing is probably close to the truth, but take heed; Sirius and I just saved your life from an evil lord's creation. Would you not be thankful?"

He said this soothingly and softly and I relaxed.

"My Lord, you didn't have to lie."

I said this softly and to my shame a tear came into my eye. It was all too much! I was just a courtesan! I hadn't even reached a score of years! My heart was beating and beating and the blood was singing again and I had the sudden urge to touch King James. Unconsciously, I leaned back and James, reacting on urges similar to mine put one large hand in the middle of my back. Sirius stared at the pair of us with widened eyes and looked on.

As soon as he touched me, a soft sound escaped my parted lips and a fast breath of air from his. With light, oh so light and nimble fingers he stroked my spine and his fingers danced across the nape of my neck. I moaned again and arched my back. Catching his hand with mine, I placed it on my collarbone and with great delicacy turned it over and placed the tip of my tongue in the center of his palm for a fleeting moment.

Blood was still singing in my ears and as I looked at him a haze of soft green and red washed over my vision. I felt slightly dizzy with desire and his eyes, filled with lust, drank the sight of my face. Sirius was still watching, now with understanding dawning in his eyes; of what I do not know. I put my hand in his and he drew me up until I was drawn into him. I moved as if in trance. His marble features softened ever so slightly and I felt his muscles shift beneath his tunic.

I gave a start and a small cry as what had just transpired pounded in my mind. A truth also dawned. He was the dancer from last night. I stared into his forest green eyes as Sirius said in tones of hushed awe,

"I think you have found her James."

Dear Reviewers,

Please review.

I would also like to say one comment about the eye color.

Wait and see. I have something planned and I dare all of you readers to try and guess.

I love all of your reviews. Especially the ones that gave me helpful tips and I am extremely sorry about the wait. I have had this chapter done for quite some time. Weeks in fact, but my computer messed up and then I had went for a holiday….. I promise to have the next one up soon,

Twighunter