The Return Of The Unicorn
By: Midnight Maiden
(Disclaimer: All characters belong to Peter S. Beagle)
Chapter 2: The Blood Washed Sea
I left my hair down. I felt more free, more beautiful with it blowing in the wind, like it had always done in my days as a Unicorn. I wore a gorgeous light lavender gown but concealed it with a hooded cloak. I didn't want Lir to recognize me when I returned; I wanted it to be a surprise.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lir watched the sea from a tower in his newly built castle. The sea only reminded him of his Unicorn so he stood to go back inside. It was very lonely here and he could see why his uncle might have been the way he was. The red bull haunted Lir's dreams every night and he cursed him. It was his fault, all that stupid bull's fault, that his Amalthea was gone.
He had tried so hard to win her affections. It was because of her that he had become a hero. He had slain dragons and ogres, but she hadn't cared. When he had finally won her heart, she had left him. And not because she'd wanted to, but because she'd had to.
He stopped in mid thought. He wanted to be reminded of her and how much she had loved him. He went back out to the balcony and sat down again. The sun was beginning to set and the ocean cast a red shadow, a reminder of the bull's imprisonment. By chance he looked to the large stone bridge that lead to his fortress and saw a cloaked figure walking across.
He went back inside and waited by the door. His guest would be here soon and it would only be polite to greet them himself. The usual bell sounded and he opened the giant wooden door.
When he opened it a person stood there, so heavily cloaked he couldn't see their face, or anything but a few stands of white hair, blowing with the sea's breeze. The figure threw their arms around him and cried silently. He wasn't sure what to do so he asked gently, "Do I know you?"
The mysterious person stepped back and giggled weakly. "Very well." She pulled back her hood and Lir gasped.
A beautiful woman was looking at him through gorgeous violet eyes. Loose strands of he silver hair blew across her ivory face. It was a ghost it had to be, a ghost haunting him with the thing he wanted so badly.
All too soon the women disappeared and a Unicorn stood in her place. –It is me Lir. It is me—she whispered in her enchanting Unicorn voice. A single tear fell from her eye and Lir brushed it away.
"You feel regret," he whispered sadly.
She became Amalthea once again and quickly grabbed the cloak at her feet. "I do, and that is why I returned. My biggest regret—mistake—was leaving you behind."
He pulled her into his arms and rested his chin on her hair. "How?"
"Shmendrick," was the short reply.
"Shmendrick? He actually turned you back?" Lir asked, disbelievingly.
She smiled up at him. "I made him."
"Amalthea. This isn't right. You'll forget who you are, you'll forget the Unicorns." Lir rationalized.
"I can be either so I'll never forget."
"Shmendrick too I suppose. But how did he of all people manage to do that?"
" Didn't you know? He is the greatest magician in all the world now. He has powers beyond belief. He is very modest about them but they are definitely there."
"Oh well it doesn't matter. I don't care as long as you're here."
"Me either"
Lir lowered his head and touched Amalthea's lips to his. He started to pull away but she deepened the kiss. The two stumbled backwards into the castle and tumbled on a couch, still kissing passionately. Amalthea, who was under Lir, twined her fingers in his hair as he gripped her waist and shoulders. When the two finally broke apart Lir whispered, "You'll stay?"
She kissed him sweetly for a long time before answering, "Forever"
In their passion the two had hardly noticed that the sea was stained blood red and was crashing violently against the castle walls.
By: Midnight Maiden
(Disclaimer: All characters belong to Peter S. Beagle)
Chapter 2: The Blood Washed Sea
I left my hair down. I felt more free, more beautiful with it blowing in the wind, like it had always done in my days as a Unicorn. I wore a gorgeous light lavender gown but concealed it with a hooded cloak. I didn't want Lir to recognize me when I returned; I wanted it to be a surprise.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lir watched the sea from a tower in his newly built castle. The sea only reminded him of his Unicorn so he stood to go back inside. It was very lonely here and he could see why his uncle might have been the way he was. The red bull haunted Lir's dreams every night and he cursed him. It was his fault, all that stupid bull's fault, that his Amalthea was gone.
He had tried so hard to win her affections. It was because of her that he had become a hero. He had slain dragons and ogres, but she hadn't cared. When he had finally won her heart, she had left him. And not because she'd wanted to, but because she'd had to.
He stopped in mid thought. He wanted to be reminded of her and how much she had loved him. He went back out to the balcony and sat down again. The sun was beginning to set and the ocean cast a red shadow, a reminder of the bull's imprisonment. By chance he looked to the large stone bridge that lead to his fortress and saw a cloaked figure walking across.
He went back inside and waited by the door. His guest would be here soon and it would only be polite to greet them himself. The usual bell sounded and he opened the giant wooden door.
When he opened it a person stood there, so heavily cloaked he couldn't see their face, or anything but a few stands of white hair, blowing with the sea's breeze. The figure threw their arms around him and cried silently. He wasn't sure what to do so he asked gently, "Do I know you?"
The mysterious person stepped back and giggled weakly. "Very well." She pulled back her hood and Lir gasped.
A beautiful woman was looking at him through gorgeous violet eyes. Loose strands of he silver hair blew across her ivory face. It was a ghost it had to be, a ghost haunting him with the thing he wanted so badly.
All too soon the women disappeared and a Unicorn stood in her place. –It is me Lir. It is me—she whispered in her enchanting Unicorn voice. A single tear fell from her eye and Lir brushed it away.
"You feel regret," he whispered sadly.
She became Amalthea once again and quickly grabbed the cloak at her feet. "I do, and that is why I returned. My biggest regret—mistake—was leaving you behind."
He pulled her into his arms and rested his chin on her hair. "How?"
"Shmendrick," was the short reply.
"Shmendrick? He actually turned you back?" Lir asked, disbelievingly.
She smiled up at him. "I made him."
"Amalthea. This isn't right. You'll forget who you are, you'll forget the Unicorns." Lir rationalized.
"I can be either so I'll never forget."
"Shmendrick too I suppose. But how did he of all people manage to do that?"
" Didn't you know? He is the greatest magician in all the world now. He has powers beyond belief. He is very modest about them but they are definitely there."
"Oh well it doesn't matter. I don't care as long as you're here."
"Me either"
Lir lowered his head and touched Amalthea's lips to his. He started to pull away but she deepened the kiss. The two stumbled backwards into the castle and tumbled on a couch, still kissing passionately. Amalthea, who was under Lir, twined her fingers in his hair as he gripped her waist and shoulders. When the two finally broke apart Lir whispered, "You'll stay?"
She kissed him sweetly for a long time before answering, "Forever"
In their passion the two had hardly noticed that the sea was stained blood red and was crashing violently against the castle walls.
