CHAPTER 2
Phoebe jumped into the water and swam under the waterfall, trying to hide from Patric.
"Pheebs, where are you?" Patric shouted over the waterfall.
Phoebe swam out from under the waterfall.
"Patric, is that you? What are you doing here?" Phoebe asked trying to disguise her guilt.
"Phoebe, I have been calling for you, I was worried when you weren't in your nest with your sisters."
"Why is everyone worrying about me? I am not a bud anymore!" Phoebe shot back.
"Phoebe I wanted to talk to you about last night." Patric said as he sat on the water's edge.
Phoebe swam to the edge and raised herself out of the water. She shook off and sat by Patric. He began to speak but Phoebe stopped him.
"Patric, I think you are wonderful and you will always be close to my heart but… Just friends. We are all grown up now." Phoebe said looking at him.
She ran her fingers through his blond shiny curls. He had sea green eyes and pointed ears, like all pixies did. Patric wanted more but Phoebe was not interested He was truly a friend but nothing more in Phoebe's eyes. She had fun with him and they got into a lot of mischief together but Patric had never made Phoebe feel this feeling she had found with this stranger she just met. Phoebe was lost in her thoughts when she heard Patric's voice.
"Pheeb's what are you smiling about?" Patric said looking puzzled at her.
Phoebe didn't realize she was smiling but she had butterflies in her stomach as she thought of her encounter with the tall man.
"I'm sorry Patric, but I need some time to myself, I will talk to you when the sun rises." Phoebe said as she kissed his forehead and leaped into the water again.
Patric sighed and then turned back to the village.
Phoebe swam back to her spot under the waterfall and leaped onto the wet ledge under the mist. She gathered her knees in her arms and rocked back and forth. She was thinking of the kiss they shared and the man's warm lips that over powered hers. She touched her lips softly and smiled as she shut her eyes. She couldn't believe it was him, the boy from when she was so young. Phoebe could feel the same feelings flooding back to her that she had tried to forget so long ago. She tried to convince herself when she was young that she hated the boy because he left her. And now that he was there in flesh, she couldn't help the feelings and excitement that were building inside of her.
********
Cole's body was tense and his muscled figure stood boldly in the doorway. A few small sweat beads ran down his bare chest to his stomach. His chest was catching as he was slightly out of breath from running and the excitement that filled his insides from what he saw. He suddenly changed his smile to an angry stare and clenched his fists when he saw Leroy.
"Well, well what have we here? Leroy said as he slowly raised off the bed.
"I thought I told you to stay away from this end of the castle!" Cole hoarsely spat, looking at the slumped figure on his bed.
"Getting some fresh air my king?" Leroy growled.
"Get out! You make me sick." Cole shot back.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Leroy said with an evil smile.
"You are mad, I said get out!" Cole angrily said between his clenched teeth.
Leroy got a cowardly look in his eyes and scurried past Cole watching him all the way. Cole grabbed Leroy by the neck as he passed pulling Leroy to him.
"I only allow you to be here so the village people don't have to look at you." Cole warned and then threw Leroy into the hall.
Cole looked at the slouched wretched sight of Leroy and then turned away shutting the door behind him.
Cole only tolerated his uncle because he pitied him, and Leroy would cause trouble in the kingdom, if he roamed the streets. Leroy was so afraid of Cole, because Cole was brave and strong and Leroy cowered away from goodness and strength.
"I will get you boy!" Leroy said under his breath as he crawled back to his hole in the basement. The greed and hate had taken over Leroy and he appeared more like a wicked troll now.
Cole laid on his bed and a smile cracked the side of his mouth. He had a feeling that filled his whole body, a warm feeling, it was love. He had forgotten about his uncle and now he was just thinking of Phoebe. The girl didn't give her name but the voice that was calling yelled for a Phoebe. That must be it, that must be the girl's name. Girl, or something else, she didn't have big butterfly wings and she wasn't the size of a firefly like all of the knights told in their stories. But she was magic and she was different for sure.
Cole was caught up in his thoughts and didn't notice Abe had opened the door and was calling to him.
"Hey, I didn't hear you open the door." Cole said raising his head over his body to look at Abe.
"I heard you come back and so I came to see if you were alright." Abe said concerned.
"I'm alright you can go back to bed." Cole said laying his head back down, his insides were still quivering.
Abe turned to walk out deep in thought about where Cole had been. Abe knew he went to the woods and was afraid of what he found.
*******
Phoebe woke up that next morning and her sisters were already out of the nest. She sat up and tried to collect her thoughts. The memory of the man was still fresh in her mind and she hoped her spell worked. She leaped out of the tree and flew to where she helped with the bud and sprite schooling.
"Good morning sleepy head." Krista said as she flew up to Phoebe.
"I guess I needed a lot of rest." Phoebe said trying not to smile, while her insides were filled with joy and anxiety.
"What, did Patric pollinate you last night?" Krista said trying not to laugh.
Phoebe smiled pinching Krista playfully and then they started to laugh.
They helped the little ones with their weaving and then Phoebe and Krista flew to the waterfall where all the Pixies and Fairies hung out.
*********
Cole woke up suddenly in his bed, soaked with sweat and the white satin sheets barely covering his naked body. The sheets were a mess and Cole sat up holding his head trying to make sense of the night. He looked out the window and then chuckled to himself before throwing the sheets aside and walking to his closet.
Abe walked in and sat Cole's breakfast on the table in his room.
"I thought you were going to sleep all morning!"
"Yes, I guess I was tired from last night." Cole answered as he grabbed clothes from his closet.
"Last night?" Abe looked at Cole with worried concern in his voice.
"Yeah, it was very strange," Cole said as he sat on the bed.
Cole slipped his boots on and left the room tucking in his shirt as he shuffled down the stairs.
"Cole! What about your breakfast?" Abe shouted from the top of the stairs.
"You eat it, I have to go." Cole shouted without looking back.
Cole ran out of the castle to the stables and grabbed a rope for his horse. One of the barn servants hurried to his aid bringing the saddle and headstall. The barn servants knew Cole saddled his own horse and liked to do things for himself.
"I need my saddle bags and a blanket." Cole instructed while he ran a brush quickly over the horse, then saddled the tall muscular Buckskin.
"As you wish my king." The servant said bowing his head.
He brought Cole the gear and held the horse as Cole threw the bags on the horse and tied them down to the saddle.
"Where do you run to my King?" The servant respectfully asked.
Cole grabbed the reins and mounted the long legged horse. The horse danced around, fired up and ready to bolt.
"I am not sure." Cole answered the servant and then gave the horse his head and he galloped out of the stables.
The snapping of the horse's shoes on the stone path faded out as Cole rode onto the flat grassy meadow along the wood's edge. Mud and grass flew up behind the horse as Cole nudged his sides forcing him to run faster with each stride.
Abe was drowned with thoughts as he watched Cole from the front gate. He was worried about the way Cole left on his horse in such a hurry. It appeared Cole was headed for the woods but why? What had happened last night?
******
"Pheebs, are you coming?" One of the fairies yelled to her
"No, you go on without me." Phoebe yelled back with a wave.
Phoebe sat at the waterfall and watched while the group of fairies and pixies headed back to the village.
"Phoebe, what is it?" Krista asked as she came to sit by her friend.
"I am just thinking about…stuff." She said hesitating.
"You mean Patric stuff?"
"No, it's nothing really, go with Levi, have fun I just want to be alone for a while." Phoebe said smiling at her.
"Are you sure you are ok?" Krista said unsure why Phoebe wanted to stay.
"Yes sweetie! Now go have fun!" Phoebe nudged her.
Krista kissed Phoebe on her cheek and then flew off.
Phoebe waited anxiously for the man to come back. She told herself if he believed it was a dream then she would never see him again, and if he believed it was real, than she would love him forever.
She was sitting on the very spot on the rock where they kissed.
Then something happened to break her thoughts. Something familiar, something that made her scream inside. The heartbeat, it was coming closer, she looked up across the lake, and there he was standing looking around. She lifted the magic and their eyes met across the water.
Cole started to walk through the water to her and she did the same. When they reached each other their wet bodies smashed together as they embraced. Cole picked her up lifting her feet out of the water holding her tight.
"I knew you would return to me!" Phoebe whispered in his ear.
"I needed to see you." He said so glad to hold her in his arms again.
"I missed you." Phoebe said looking into his eyes.
Cole smiled softly then cradled her in his arms and carried her to the water's edge, laying her down in the plush foliage. He ran his finger along her cheek and then down her neck. It made her tremble, and she had never felt such passion inflame her body.
"I have been waiting for you my whole life." Phoebe said between kisses.
"I want to stay here, in this place with you forever." Cole said helplessly as he kissed her neck.
Phoebe stopped then looked away and sighed. He turned her face back to his with a worried expression.
"What is it?" Cole tensed at her hesitation.
"I can't do this." Phoebe painfully admitted.
"We will find a way." Cole said assuring her, kissing her face again.
"I wish that were true, but my family needs me and..."
"What are you saying?" Cole said as his voice cracked.
"I am not sure. I want to be with you always and you are all I can think about."
"But?" Cole didn't try to hide his dissapointment.
"I am not made for your world and you are not made for mine. We can't do this anymore after tonight you must forget about me Cole." Phoebe sadly pleaded.
" I will never see you again… No, no Phoebe, I couldn't live without you." Cole pleaded.
"I cannot think of a way." Phoebe said sadly
Cole sat up from the ground and rested his arms on his knees leaving his back to Phoebe. Phoebe sat up and laid her head on Cole's shoulder and wrapped her arms around his bare chest. Her touch made him tremble inside and he felt her warm body pressed comfortably against him. He leaned his head on hers and sighed deeply feeling the love for her flow inside of him. The passion Cole felt for her was deep and the love was strong. He needed her and he never wanted to be without her now that he found her.
Phoebe hesitated to tell him that she knew him as a boy, because she didn't want him to leave again. As a bud, Phoebe thought the young boy left because of her, but now that she was grown, she did not know what to think. All that she knew was that she needed him so badly, and she couldn't stay with him.
"What is it my love?" Phoebe whispered on his neck, sending chills down his body.
"I like that." He said smiling at her.
Phoebe smiled and moved in front of him.
"What is it that you like?" Phoebe asked smiling.
"The feeling of belonging to something. Something real that is mine, not something that I bought or inherited, or even fought for. Just something real that comes from deep inside, from my heart to yours."
Phoebe could hear his heart racing, she took his hand and placed it over her heart.
"Touch me my love, my heart speaks the same as yours does. We are now one together...Forever." She whispered softly.
Cole pulled her to him and slowly kissed her with hungry passion. He burned for her and now the time was right. He slid the strap from her silk woven gown down her shoulder, kissing her neck and chest. Phoebe wanted this feeling inside of her to last forever. She rose to her knees in front of him as he ran his hands down her body. She watched him as he slid the other strap down her shoulder dropping her gown around her waist.. Cole looked at her bare breasts, then touched them gently. Phoebe liked how Cole was moving over her and looking at her. His lustful eyes made her want this from him all the more.
"I love you Phoebe" Cole moaned in her ear.
"I love you too Cole" she uttered softly.
They rolled in the lush green and became one, they had a love that was forbidden and the odds were against them.
"Meet me here tomorrow night Phoebe I have to see you." Cole said holding her close.
"I cannot my love"
"Phoebe I have to see you again or I will die"
Phoebe looked up at Cole and seen the desperation in his eyes.
"Please don't leave me in my world alone." Cole pleaded.
"I will never leave you my love." Phoebe assured him before leaving his side and disappearing once again.
Cole became more quiet in the day and hurried off every night. Abe was concerned and knew he was in danger. Abe could sense something was coming but he didn't know what.
One night Cole entered the forest on his horse and jumped off his back as soon as they were out of sight from the castle. He ran to their meeting spot and waited for Phoebe.
***********
"Phoebe, where are you going my dear?" Grams called from behind Phoebe as she was sneaking out of her nest.
"Oh, Grams, I was….going swimming!" Phoebe scrambled.
"It is the time to rest my dear, the moon is watching."
"Yes….Well…I just thought it would be…" Phoebe paused.
"Phoebe, you forget I have known you from a bud?" Grams gave her a half smile.
"Oh all right! I have met someone Grams. He is so wonderful and we are in love." Phoebe said hanging her head.
"You are not happy?" Grams asked.
"Yes, oh yes, I have never felt more safe and whole and…." Phoebe started to get tears in her eyes when she talked about her joy.
"Ok, I understand my dear, but why the tears?" Grams interrupted.
"Grams….He is human" Phoebe confessed.
Grams didn't know how to react to this. It was forbidden and yet Phoebe seemed so happy. After all, this had been done once before. A long time ago in the forest, there was a fairy that fell in love with a King, only the king did not know she was a fairy. The fairy feared to lose him if he knew. It could only be revealed if they believed in magic as well, and the king did not. There is always a price to pay for love and the fairy's price was she would die from a broken heart. When death came to her king, it would come to her as well.
"Grams we need your help, I need your help." Phoebe pleaded.
"You would give this up? All that you know and love? Your home, your sisters, friends?" Grams questioned.
"Grams, my whole life I waited for someone to come and find me, and rescue me. I have found what I have been searching for." Phoebe protested.
Grams gave her a long stare and then floated next to her, and wrapped her arms around Phoebe. Grams knew Phoebe had a mind of her own and she was a spirit that could not be tamed.
"You know what this means Phoebe?" Grams said pulling away.
Phoebe nodded and reached for Grams hand.
"He's waiting, follow me" Phoebe said as her and Grams flew to the meeting place.
********
Back at the castle Leroy was pacing back and forth in the dungeon cellar. He was very familiar with the forest and it's magic. He had laid low all these years and waited for the time to take revenge on his nephew and claim what he thought belonged to him. "I will have the throne and this land and he will suffer the way I did all these years!" Leroy growled. "Just wait until I have what he cares the most about…"
********
"Cole, open your eye love" Phoebe whispered as she touched Cole's shoulder.
Cole sleepily opened his eyes and reached for Phoebe pulling her to him. He kissed her shoulder and rested his cheek on it. Then he realized there was someone else with them. He looked up and saw the light that glowed from Gram's wings and stood up pulling Phoebe with him.
"Don't be frightened, this is Grams and she is going to help us" Phoebe assured Cole by putting her hand on his cheek.
He looked down at her and then they both looked at Grams.
"Grams your wings, what is it?" Phoebe said in a frightened voice.
"There is evil coming we must hurry."
Cole and Phoebe knelt down on their knees in front of Grams. Cole took Phoebe's hand and put his other arm around her.
"I love you Phoebe" Cole whispered in her ear.
"I love you too Cole" she whispered back.
Grams hurried with the marriage ceremony and gave her blessing. Cole got up and went for his horse and Grams knelt down by Phoebe. Grams held Phoebe tight and Phoebe did the same. "I hope you will not suffer for this." Grams whispered
Cole walked back to them with the horse.
"Hurry, you must go now, or they will catch you." Grams warned.
"Who?" Cole asked confused.
"The trolls, I am human now and I'm vulnerable." Phoebe said half ashamed.
"Trolls?" Cole shot back.
"Yes, now hurry no time to explain…Go, go!" Grams shooed.
Cole took Phoebe and lifted her on the horse and then jumped on behind her. He spun the horse around and Phoebe reached her hand to Grams. Grams touched her hand and then the horse spun again and bolted for the clearing. Grams watched as they rode away and she feared her decision.
"What have I done" she said to herself. She turned to fly back to the village but before she could a net was thrown over her and she fell to the ground. She couldn't see and she couldn't use her magic because her wings were bound in the net.
She was being dragged along and there was nothing she could do.
"Master will be pleased" a strangled rough voice said.
********
Cole slowed the horse to a walk. He leaned into Phoebe's neck and kissed it softly. He tightened his grip around her waist and smiled at her satisfaction. Phoebe held Cole's arms around her waist and sighed pleasantly. She shut her eyes and took a deep shaky breath of excitement.
"Cole?" She softly said breathing out
"Yes…" He teased while trailing her neck with his lips
"Where are you taking me my love?"
Cole pulled on the reins and stopped the horse. He slid off the back of the horse and walked around to Phoebe who was still sitting side saddle and smiling down at him. He reached up and took her waist, and she felt his strength as he lowered her down from the horse like she was a feather. He was towering over her and Phoebe felt over powered by him. She looked into his blue eyes and admired how handsome he looked in the light of the flaming orange evening sky. His eyes buried into her soul and made her feel weak with passion. His eye brows were like charcoal lines drawn above his eyes. His sharp features were what she remembered about him as a boy in the woods so long ago.
She felt so complete and she liked her new sensations that filled inside her stomach. She had never felt these feelings before and she would have to get used to her human thoughts and emotions.
"I want to show you something" Cole said as he slowly slid a white scarf around her eyes and tied it gently. He picked her up cradling her in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he walked through the trees and ducked under branches to get to the edge of the cliff. Phoebe had a smile on her lips as she wondered where he was taking her.
"You smile like you can see through my blind fold" he said sarcastically.
"I smile like I am wondering what is next" Phoebe laughed.
"You'll see just a little farther."
********
"Prue, Piper, wake up!" Krista whispered.
"Phoebe?" Prue sleepily answered rising up and stretching.
"No! It's Krista! Phoebe is gone and so is Grams, I have looked everywhere and they are not to be found." Krista said almost in a panic.
"Ok, ah, did you check the waterfall?" Prue said putting her hand on her tired eyes.
"Yes! She is no where! And Grams too!"
"Ok, calm down Krista…Piper wake up…wake up! Phoebe is gone." Prue said as she shook Piper.
"What? Why? Who? Where? When?" Piper rambled as she woke up.
"Phoebe! She and Grams are gone!" Krista said half annoyed.
********
"Ok, are you ready?" Cole said facing Phoebe.
"Yes, yes!" Phoebe laughed.
Cole unwrapped her eyes and she blinked before she saw the sight that took her breath away. On the cliff where they stood Phoebe could see the entire Kingdom. The wind blew through her long dark hair and her brown eyes sparkled in the evening sky. She was over whelmed with emotion and she softly slid her arms around Cole.
"It's yours" Cole softly said after watching her reaction to the sight.
Phoebe was at a loss for words. The sight was so beautiful and now that she was human, she had to find a way to deal with her new feelings. A tear rolled down her face, and she reached up to touch her cheek. She wiped the tear and looked at it. Cole looked down at her and he felt his insides tense in fear that Phoebe regretted her decision to join him.
"Phoebe?" He said frowning down at her.
"I am not used to these new things that are happening to me." She managed.
"Phoebe are you sorry?" He asked afraid of the answer.
Phoebe looked up at him and nestled closer to him, and put her lips on his.
"No my love, I just wish I didn't have to hurt my family to be happy."
Cole felt like he could not live with out her now and she had become his whole life.
They stood on the cliff and held each other, looking out on the kingdom with the wind blowing threw their souls. It would be a new beginning and a new life. But what they didn't know was that Leroy had other plans.