Starling Sinclair: Thank you so much for your review. I'm glad you enjoy the genre. I was worried that there wouldn't be an SM fanfic audience interested in the subject. As for the time period. It's supposed to be a little iffy, although it was meant to be more present day. Endymion's sneakers and the boys' diction were modern day attributes. I will add hints more as the story progresses. I'm guessing the blacksmithing was partly responsible for the confusion too. I'll explain that later in this chapter. Thank you for bringing the issue to my attention. And once again, thank you for taking the time to read and review.

Bluebell Glades

Chapter Two

The sun's bright rays stung my eyes. Instinctively, I shut my eyelids tighter and turned over to hide from the offensive light. Pain instantly shot through my body causing me to clench my jaw. My fists tightened.

Why did it hurt? What happen-

I stopped in mid-thought and forced my eyes open. As dreaded, blurs of green and pale blue filled my vision. Memories of the recent events flooded my mind. Frustrated, I slammed my fist into the dry dirt.

Damn it! It wasn't a dream. But then, if it wasn't a dream, what did I see?

I smirked as I recalled loosing my consciousness. "Must have been a rough fall," I muttered aloud, massaging my bruised side.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and rolled onto my back. The whistle of the breeze and the gentle rustle of flowers set me at ease, and I gradually slipped into a peaceful trance. Seconds passed, then minutes.

Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.

Then my ears picked up another sound. The longer and more carefully I listened, the more I was able to distinguish what it was. Undoubtedly, it was voices. Two to be exact, most likely females judging from their pitches. Maybe they could help me out.

With great care, I pushed myself off the ground and slowly crept towards the source of the voices. I cautiously took one step at a time, so as to prevent further irritation to my bruises and alerting the strangers of my presence. It seemed they were situated amongst a small cluster of trees nearby. As I neared it, the clarity of their words grew stronger.

"Lavena, how could you?" One voice questioned, obviously irritated at her companion.

"I was just playing around."

They were so close now, merely on the opposite side of the large oak tree in front of me. I slumped against it, still hidden from their view and them hidden from mine.

"Don't you understand what you've done? He's not a boy! Didn't you see him?"

"Of course I did, and what a fine and lovely specimen he is."

"Lavena, I'm not joking around! He doesn't belong here. He's human for crying out loud."

Her words baffled me. 'Human'...? And just what else was he supposed to be?

"Fine, fine. I'll send him back."

"Good." There was a long pause, and for a while she seemed satisfied, but only for a little while. "Did he see you?" She questioned sternly.

Lavena, it seemed that was her name, hesitated before answering with a small waver in her voice. "I don't think so?"

The other female groaned in frustration. "If he saw you, you can't just send him back the way he came! It's divine law! "

"Look, we'll just take him to the village or something."

"He's human. He doesn't belong here. We need to take him back... now!"

"Yes, and we'll find a way to do that from Eamon... in the village."

"Lavena!"

"Just chill out, Serenity, and go with the flow. It's not a big deal. I'm sure it's happened sometime before. Anyway, I'm gonna go check up on Arwin. Take care of the human for me." I heard the loud rustling of foliage as she spoke and assumed she was abandoning her companion.

"Lavena! Hey, Lavena!!! You can't just leave me here with him!" The other girl screamed before heaving a loud sigh and muttering the words, "Little twit."

I frowned in confusion. Who were these people? Well, there was just one of them now. I could handle one. Mustering my courage, I stepped away from the protection of the tree and into clear view. My previous pain was gone, replaced by dire curiosity, but the moment I attempted to steal a glimpse of the mysterious person, a blinding light erupted from her place.

Instinctively I turned my head to the side as I squinted and shielded my eyes with my hands. It was only a few seconds before the light dissipated. In front of me stood a young woman with flowing long blonde hair, adorned in a simple white dress. Her back was to me.

My mouth was hung slightly agape. "Wh-what just happened? What are you?"

She jumped at my words and immediately swung around. Her light blue eyes were wide with alarm. "What are you doing here?" She demanded.

"I'd like to know the same thing. Do you have the answer?"

She shook her head from side to side while slowly backing away. "Just go home," she commanded in a quiet voice before turning to walk away.

"I don't know how. If I knew, I would've been gone a long time ago. Look, I'm sorry," I stated, reaching out to stop her departure. "I didn't mean to startle you. I just want to know what happened." The instant I made contact with her wrist, she screamed and ripped her arm free from my grasp.

She glared at me while cradling her offended arm. "Don't touch me!"

For a moment I stood stunned by the passion in her voice. Had I really harmed her so badly? Concerned, I stepped towards her, careful not to disobey her command. "What's wrong?" I whispered.

She stared at me in fear.

"Let me help you," I pleaded, offering her my hand.

It was an extremely bad decision on my, because she freaked out upon she saw how close my hand was to her and unleashed another wave of light...and this one seemed stronger and more dangerous than the last.

- - -

"Mama?" I called out with a yawn as I was tucked into bed for the night.

"Yes, Endy?"

"Can you tell me a bedtime story?"

The dark-haired woman sitting next to me smiled warmly. "Maybe tomorrow. I don't think you'd make it through a minute of one right now. You're practically already asleep."

"No, I'm not," I proclaimed, sitting upright. I rubbed my eyes sloppily and stifled another oncoming yawn.

My mother chuckled at my antics. "All right, Endy, but just one. Now, back under the covers."

I smiled triumphantly and obeyed, shuffling down between the blanket and the bed. Satisfied with my position, I glanced back up at my mother expectantly.

"What would you like to hear a story about?"

I bit my lip thoughtfully. What did I want to listen to tonight? My eyes brightened when an idea hit me. "I want dragons, knights, princesses, kings, faeries, ghosts, roses, and swords!"

The response to my enthusiasm was an amused laugh. "That's an awful lot of things for just one story."

I nodded. "But the bestest stories have all of those, Mama."

"Well then, I guess I'll just have to fit them all in somehow, won't I? After all, I want nothing by the best for my little Endy. Hmm... how shall we start?"

"'Once upon a time," I suggested cheerfully.

"Ah, but of course. Well, then... Once upon a time in a faraway place, there was a kingdom where the kindest faeries all lived. One of these faeries was a princess who lived in a magnificent gold castle."

I tapped my mother on the arm. "Was she pretty, Mama?"

"Why, she was the prettiest of them all, but unfortunately she was not very happy."

"How come?"

"Her father, the king, had arranged for her to be married to a prince."

"Then why wasn't she happy?"

"She didn't love him."

"Oh."

My mother nodded. "Well, one day, the King went to visit his daughter in her room, but she wasn't there. She had been kidnapped by an evil ghost who wanted to destroy the beautiful kingdom. The King sent his finest knight to rescue her."

I yawned, and then blinked my eyes repeatedly to fight the rapidly approaching train to Dreamland. "Was he strong?"

"Oh, very! When he found the princess, he had to slay a fierce dragon with his mighty sword, and with the help of some kind faeries, he was even able to defeat the evil ghost. When they returned to the kingdom, the King asked the knight what he wanted most so that he could give it to him in thanks. The knight replied that he wished to marry the princess. The king had no choice but to agree."

"Was the princess happy?"

"Very much so for she had fallen in love with the knight. Their wedding was a big celebration filled with dozens of roses. People from miles away came to see it. Even the faeries that lived deep in the enchanted forest came."

"Did they live happily ever after?"

"Of course, sweetie. Of course."

"Good. I wish I could meet a faerie one day, Mama. Maybe, she could help me too," I mumbled, closing my eyes. "Good night, Mama. I love you."

"I love you too, Endy." She planted a quick peck on the forehead. "Sleep tight."

- - -

I awoke with a start. "Mama?" I hadn't dreamed of her in ages.

"Ah, I see the young lad has finally taken it upon himself to wake up," a masculine voice merrily declared.

"About time," another voice huffed. I had heard that voice somewhere before.

"Where am I?" I croaked hoarsely, abruptly sitting up. The sudden movement reignited the pain in my side, and I curled over in agony.

"Take it easy, lad," the first voice spoke again. "Those injuries of yours still need some time to heal."

I titled my head to get a clear view of the speaker. He was sitting on a stool placed only a couple feet away, clothed in multiple layers of grey and white robes. His hazel eyes gazing back at me with good humor, and his short brown hair was neatly cropped.

"Who are you?" I asked, puzzled.

The man grinned. "They call me Eamon."

"Eamon?" I repeated softly. Now where had I heard that name before?

My eyes widened. The girls at the glades. They had spoken of a man named Eamon who lived in the village.

I peered past the man and was not surprised to see a familiar figure poised behind him. It was the same blonde female I had seen, the one who had caused the light to erupt not once but twice. Serenity, I believed her name was. It was a beautiful name, one fit for a princess of a children's story. Unfortunately, it suited neither her rash behavior, nor the hateful glares she kept casting in my direction.

Diverting my eyes from her uncomfortable stare, I curiously scanned the surrounding area. I noted the soft mattress beneath and the overhanging cloth that eventually carried to the ground in waves of a pale amber shade. A tent. It was small and cluttered with stools and an abundance of assorted items, some of which I had never seen prior to this moment.

Suddenly the entrance flap to the tent swung open and a shrill voice filled the room. "What is this I heard of the human? Serenity, I thought I told you to take care of him!" Strands of orange hair danced wildly around the face of a petite girl as she dashed straight for the blonde.

"Well, Lavena, you didn't give me a chance to object," Serenity retorted.

Lavena... She must have been the other girl who left Serenity. I had wondered what she looked like. She was a little shorter than her friend, but her presence was great. The ruby red dress she wore fell to her knees and wings adorned her back. Wait a second... Wings?

I took a more careful glance at her only to confirm that they were indeed wings. In fact, they bore a strong resemblance to those of a butterfly. Curiously, I slid off the bed to inspect the other two. Sure enough, more wings. Why hadn't I noticed Serenity's earlier? More importantly, what in the world were these creatures?

"What did you do to him?"

"Nothing, just a small ounce of power. That's it. Besides, it was all in the name of self-defense." Serenity folded her arms defiantly.

"You could have killed him!" Lavena exclaimed.

"And made it easier for all of us."

"Serenity!"

"Silence," Eamon bellowed, effectively ceasing their bickering. "That is enough. The lad needs his rest. This bickering will not help anyone, and you," he glanced at me with a hint of warmth, "back to bed."

I nodded dumbly. Lavena approached to help me to my resting area but was stopped by Serenity.

"Don't go near him," she warned. "His hands are made of iron."

Lavena's green eyes widened and she quickly scuttled away from me.

What could that girl be talking about? My hands, made of iron? It was insane. All of it. Everything that girl sputtered out was totally and completely insane.

Frowning, I inspected the backs of my hands. Nothing seemed wrong. I flipped them over. The palms were slightly dirty so I wiped then on my khakis before continuing my examination. They were a little coarse from working with the metals, but it was a small price to pay. Garron had always prided himself in continuing his family's business in what he called the 'good old-fashioned way.' It was the oldest business in town, the trade being past from generation to generation. Now I, being the closest thing he had to a son, was next, but I doubted I could ever fill the shoes. I couldn't even complete a simple iron blade without error.

I gasped. The iron. That was it. I had touched it with my bare hands before I left with Andrew. Maybe the girl wasn't so kooky. I opened my mouth to explain the misunderstanding, but Eamon was faster.

"I have already cleansed him of the iron," he informed the girls. "Now let him rest."

"Shouldn't we return him to his world and let him heal there?" Serenity asked. "Surely even meager human medicine can heal his minor injuries."

"No, he must heal here. He is too weak to journey home. We shall discuss the methods when he has healed."

"If he does not leave now," Serenity boldly threatened, "I shall not help him."

"Serenity, we do not have a choice. He will leave at later time. Do you understand?"

Serenity stared at Eamon for a moment before nodding grimly. She then sent a final glare to me and exited the tent with Lavena on her heels.

I gazed at the heavy flap they had used to leave, taken aback at her actions. "Why does she hate me?" I whispered to no one in particular.

Eamon shook his head. "She does not hate you."

"Then why the hostility?"

"She too has wounds that must heal; only hers are not that of flesh." His cryptic words were quiet. I felt that he had done so intentionally so I dropped the subject. He returned to place on the stool. "Now rest. I am getting tired of repeating those words. You were already asleep for three sunrises. Two more and you should be well again."