~WB~
Ian heard the boy cry out and looked up.
On the other side of the clearing, the unicorn, aglow with its own silvery light here in the darkness under the trees, emerged from the woods and stood still a moment at the top of the knoll.
It was as Lonnie had said. There were no words to describe its beauty. The unicorn was not white, nor silver but some magical amalgamation of the two. Its long face bore a timeless expression of wisdom and knowledge hard won. Huge velvet eyes pierced Ian's soul; he fell into them and willingly lost himself there. The horn shone with a light all its own, more lustrous than ivory. He saw the creature's tail switch along its flanks as it took in the transfixed figures gathered on the other side of the pool.
All except the boy, who ran forward into the pool, not heeding the water or its depth. Suddenly, he floundered and then disappeared beneath the surface.
Woo cried out his son's name even as Ian moved forward, slipping beneath the cool, clear water, surprised by the depth in the center. He felt the water tug at his coat but Ian was a strong, confident swimmer. He reached down into the silvery depths and grabbed the flailing boy. In seconds they broke the surface of the water, the child gasping and sputtering as Ian passed him to his father, who stood waist deep in the pool and grasped his son's outstretched hands and pulled him close, stroking his hair and murmuring his name, assuring himself that the boy was all right.
Behind Woo, Sara, Lonnie and Irons stood at the edge of the water and stared at beyond Ian. Treading water, Ian turned himself and gasped.
The unicorn stood knee-deep in water, not more than four feet from Ian on the opposite side of the pool. He realized now that the unicorn had been the source of the light that had led him to the boy so quickly. Now it stood and looked down at him, its eyes wide and dark. Ian watched as a single crystal teardrop formed and rolled down its cheek. The tear hung for a moment on the edge of the unicorn's velvet lip and then fell into the water. The clearing was so still that Ian could hear the musical ping the tear made as it merged with the pool.
Ian barely felt the pull of the water in his boots as he looked up into the unicorn's face. His heavy clothing, water-logged now, began dragging him down until only his face remained above water. He heard Irons call his name, his voice distorted by the water that covered Ian's ears, so distorted that Ian imagined he heard concern there in his master's voice. Suddenly tired, he gave into the irresistible pull and slipped beneath the surface. His hands went up automatically but the weight of his coat was too great to resist. Looking up at the unicorn, refracted and distorted through the glassy underside of the water's smooth surface, Ian closed his eyes and resigned himself to his fate.
Then he felt something graze the side of his hand. Assuming someone had extended a branch, he wrapped his hand around the offered lifeline and let himself be pulled out of the depths of the pool.
Except that he wasn't being pulled backwards toward Irons and the others.
He broke the surface of the water and gasped, filling his lungs. Hesitantly, he opened his eyes.
He held the unicorn's horn in his gloved hand. Incredulous, he watched the unicorn step back until he felt ground beneath his knees. He let go of the horn and knelt before the unicorn, water lapping at his chest.
It stood silent and still, ankle deep in the pool, watching Ian and Ian alone, holding Ian's eyes with its own.
Finally, Ian stood, amazed by the weight of his coat and the water-logged gloves on his hands. He stood before the unicorn, waiting.
Ian Nottingham was very good at waiting.
The unicorn bent its head and touched the tip of its horn to Ian's chest. Ian felt a warmth spread out from that spot, a warmth that filled every corner of his body and soul with a cleansing white light that chased away the shadows and demons from the hidden corners, doubts and fears that had been his constant companions his entire life.
After an eternal moment, the unicorn broke contact and Ian gasped, again filling his lungs with life-giving oxygen.
Without thinking, without breaking eye contact with the unicorn that stood and waited, Ian removed the ring on his right hand. When he pulled it over the soaking leather of his glove, he hesitated a moment, unsure. The unicorn seemed to nod almost imperceptibly. Ian removed the glove and held out his hand in front of him, palm forward, fingers reaching but not moving.
Slowly, the unicorn stepped forward. Bowing its head ever so slightly, it touched its velvet nose to Ian's trembling fingers.
He heard the gasps behind him but Ian had eyes and ears only for the unicorn.
Ian turned his hand and ran his palm up the unicorn's long face as the unicorn pushed forward, each hungry for the touch of the other. Like silk was the unicorn's coat, warm and soft with almost no friction. Ian tangled his long fingers in the mane as the unicorn stepped close and dropped its head over his shoulder. Ian's arms crossed over the extended neck and pulled the unicorn close to him, burying his face in the warm, solid flesh.
How long they stood like that Ian never knew. Time simply stopped and waited for them. Waited for the unicorn to drink its fill of one pure touch that asked for nothing in return. Waited for the man to know his worth as he made the unicorn strong once more.
When Ian heard the unicorn nicker softly in his ear, he pulled his arms down and let the unicorn step back and away. It had changed. Its eyes were no longer bottomless pools of sorrow. Yes, sadness remained; the unicorn was immortal, after all, and had seen too much not to know sorrow. But, too, there was a joy and a love renewed, a light that gleamed like a beacon, a light that transformed the unicorn and made it too lovely to behold.
Suddenly, it rose on its hind legs and pawed the air in front of Ian. Then it turned and vaulted to the top of the bank that led back into the woods. It turned and looked back at Ian who raised his bare right hand in farewell when it turned and bounded back into myth and legend.
Ian brought his hand down and bowed his head, looking at his long fingers and reflected on the gift he had received.
Remembering the others suddenly, Ian turned to the other side of the pool, a distance of less than a hundred feet but the chasm between was too deep to be crossed.
He couldn't go back.
He looked at Irons, who had dropped the bridle unheeded at his feet. His master appeared transformed, touched by the beauty of the unicorn. Ian knew love but the devotion that had bound him to Kenneth Irons had dissolved with the unicorn's touch. For the first time in his life, Ian felt free; as a gift bestowed by the unicorn, he couldn't simply give it up.
Sara.
He loved her still, but he knew she would never love him in return, not the way he wanted or needed. Suddenly, he was aware that he deserved better than to pine for a woman who through no fault of her own would never return his devotion. If he left there would be no tears, so nothing held him here.
~WB~
Kenneth watched his creation touch the unicorn and become something else. The change was subtle but when Ian turned around, Kenneth knew a loss he'd never imagined he would ever feel. This boy was now a man and he would never return to his father's side. Already Kenneth mourned, but as Ian raised his hand in silent farewell, he felt a new pride at what he had inadvertently created.
~WB~
Sara watched Nottingham turn around, amazed by the transformation. A single touch, a timeless moment and Ian Nottingham had become something else. A new creature graced the world with its presence tonight.
As he disappeared into the woods, Sara whispered, "Good luck, Ian."
~fin~
Ian heard the boy cry out and looked up.
On the other side of the clearing, the unicorn, aglow with its own silvery light here in the darkness under the trees, emerged from the woods and stood still a moment at the top of the knoll.
It was as Lonnie had said. There were no words to describe its beauty. The unicorn was not white, nor silver but some magical amalgamation of the two. Its long face bore a timeless expression of wisdom and knowledge hard won. Huge velvet eyes pierced Ian's soul; he fell into them and willingly lost himself there. The horn shone with a light all its own, more lustrous than ivory. He saw the creature's tail switch along its flanks as it took in the transfixed figures gathered on the other side of the pool.
All except the boy, who ran forward into the pool, not heeding the water or its depth. Suddenly, he floundered and then disappeared beneath the surface.
Woo cried out his son's name even as Ian moved forward, slipping beneath the cool, clear water, surprised by the depth in the center. He felt the water tug at his coat but Ian was a strong, confident swimmer. He reached down into the silvery depths and grabbed the flailing boy. In seconds they broke the surface of the water, the child gasping and sputtering as Ian passed him to his father, who stood waist deep in the pool and grasped his son's outstretched hands and pulled him close, stroking his hair and murmuring his name, assuring himself that the boy was all right.
Behind Woo, Sara, Lonnie and Irons stood at the edge of the water and stared at beyond Ian. Treading water, Ian turned himself and gasped.
The unicorn stood knee-deep in water, not more than four feet from Ian on the opposite side of the pool. He realized now that the unicorn had been the source of the light that had led him to the boy so quickly. Now it stood and looked down at him, its eyes wide and dark. Ian watched as a single crystal teardrop formed and rolled down its cheek. The tear hung for a moment on the edge of the unicorn's velvet lip and then fell into the water. The clearing was so still that Ian could hear the musical ping the tear made as it merged with the pool.
Ian barely felt the pull of the water in his boots as he looked up into the unicorn's face. His heavy clothing, water-logged now, began dragging him down until only his face remained above water. He heard Irons call his name, his voice distorted by the water that covered Ian's ears, so distorted that Ian imagined he heard concern there in his master's voice. Suddenly tired, he gave into the irresistible pull and slipped beneath the surface. His hands went up automatically but the weight of his coat was too great to resist. Looking up at the unicorn, refracted and distorted through the glassy underside of the water's smooth surface, Ian closed his eyes and resigned himself to his fate.
Then he felt something graze the side of his hand. Assuming someone had extended a branch, he wrapped his hand around the offered lifeline and let himself be pulled out of the depths of the pool.
Except that he wasn't being pulled backwards toward Irons and the others.
He broke the surface of the water and gasped, filling his lungs. Hesitantly, he opened his eyes.
He held the unicorn's horn in his gloved hand. Incredulous, he watched the unicorn step back until he felt ground beneath his knees. He let go of the horn and knelt before the unicorn, water lapping at his chest.
It stood silent and still, ankle deep in the pool, watching Ian and Ian alone, holding Ian's eyes with its own.
Finally, Ian stood, amazed by the weight of his coat and the water-logged gloves on his hands. He stood before the unicorn, waiting.
Ian Nottingham was very good at waiting.
The unicorn bent its head and touched the tip of its horn to Ian's chest. Ian felt a warmth spread out from that spot, a warmth that filled every corner of his body and soul with a cleansing white light that chased away the shadows and demons from the hidden corners, doubts and fears that had been his constant companions his entire life.
After an eternal moment, the unicorn broke contact and Ian gasped, again filling his lungs with life-giving oxygen.
Without thinking, without breaking eye contact with the unicorn that stood and waited, Ian removed the ring on his right hand. When he pulled it over the soaking leather of his glove, he hesitated a moment, unsure. The unicorn seemed to nod almost imperceptibly. Ian removed the glove and held out his hand in front of him, palm forward, fingers reaching but not moving.
Slowly, the unicorn stepped forward. Bowing its head ever so slightly, it touched its velvet nose to Ian's trembling fingers.
He heard the gasps behind him but Ian had eyes and ears only for the unicorn.
Ian turned his hand and ran his palm up the unicorn's long face as the unicorn pushed forward, each hungry for the touch of the other. Like silk was the unicorn's coat, warm and soft with almost no friction. Ian tangled his long fingers in the mane as the unicorn stepped close and dropped its head over his shoulder. Ian's arms crossed over the extended neck and pulled the unicorn close to him, burying his face in the warm, solid flesh.
How long they stood like that Ian never knew. Time simply stopped and waited for them. Waited for the unicorn to drink its fill of one pure touch that asked for nothing in return. Waited for the man to know his worth as he made the unicorn strong once more.
When Ian heard the unicorn nicker softly in his ear, he pulled his arms down and let the unicorn step back and away. It had changed. Its eyes were no longer bottomless pools of sorrow. Yes, sadness remained; the unicorn was immortal, after all, and had seen too much not to know sorrow. But, too, there was a joy and a love renewed, a light that gleamed like a beacon, a light that transformed the unicorn and made it too lovely to behold.
Suddenly, it rose on its hind legs and pawed the air in front of Ian. Then it turned and vaulted to the top of the bank that led back into the woods. It turned and looked back at Ian who raised his bare right hand in farewell when it turned and bounded back into myth and legend.
Ian brought his hand down and bowed his head, looking at his long fingers and reflected on the gift he had received.
Remembering the others suddenly, Ian turned to the other side of the pool, a distance of less than a hundred feet but the chasm between was too deep to be crossed.
He couldn't go back.
He looked at Irons, who had dropped the bridle unheeded at his feet. His master appeared transformed, touched by the beauty of the unicorn. Ian knew love but the devotion that had bound him to Kenneth Irons had dissolved with the unicorn's touch. For the first time in his life, Ian felt free; as a gift bestowed by the unicorn, he couldn't simply give it up.
Sara.
He loved her still, but he knew she would never love him in return, not the way he wanted or needed. Suddenly, he was aware that he deserved better than to pine for a woman who through no fault of her own would never return his devotion. If he left there would be no tears, so nothing held him here.
~WB~
Kenneth watched his creation touch the unicorn and become something else. The change was subtle but when Ian turned around, Kenneth knew a loss he'd never imagined he would ever feel. This boy was now a man and he would never return to his father's side. Already Kenneth mourned, but as Ian raised his hand in silent farewell, he felt a new pride at what he had inadvertently created.
~WB~
Sara watched Nottingham turn around, amazed by the transformation. A single touch, a timeless moment and Ian Nottingham had become something else. A new creature graced the world with its presence tonight.
As he disappeared into the woods, Sara whispered, "Good luck, Ian."
~fin~