"Tell me Molly, how long have I been away?" the unicorn asked as Molly and Schmendrick rode alongside her on their plain brown steeds.
"Nearly eight years my lady," Molly replied.
The unicorn mulled this over in her mind, also contemplating how to ask her next question.
Molly knew what she wanted to ask. The unicorn had once been the mortal Lady Amalthea and some part of her was mortal still. Women understand each other and Molly understood the part of the unicorn that still thought and felt like a woman.
"Lir hasn't found anyone," Molly told her and she saw the silver star in her eye illuminate for the first time since her arrival. "He seems happy again," Molly continued, "Lonely, but happy."
"Molly," the unicorn spoke after a few moments of silence, "do you think Lir will still love me?"
"I do, my lady," Molly assured her, "I really do."
Lir wrapped his billowing cloak tighter around his body. He placed his arms on the cool stone of the turret and then sighed a melancholy sigh as he stared at the reflection of the shimmering moon on the glistening sea. The Bull was asleep now. The normally tempestuous waves adorned with a necklace of fiery red foam were now the tranquil blue of the midnight sky that housed the glittering stars above him. Each time he looked at the sea, he thought of that epic battle between the Red Bull and the unicorn and he could not escape the torment of the memory that his beloved Amalthea brought him.
"No!" he admonished himself in the vaults of his mind. "Amalthea doesn't exist anymore." Amalthea had forsaken their love and chosen immortality. She might have loved him while she was human, but she was no longer human. She was a unicorn and a unicorn she would always remain. Amalthea would remain a unicorn until the sun no longer rose in the eastern sky, until the sea didn't touch the sand, and until someone could separate lonely tears from drops of silver rain.
Lir quietly returned to the royal chamber of the newly reconstructed castle and after removing his blood-red cloak, he slid through the shadows and then stood in the moonlight filtered through the curtains that hung in from the large window. He could hear no sound but the quiet rhythm of her breathing. Lir knelt beside the large feathery bed and took hold of the beautiful hand adorned with the large diamond that sparkled in the moonlight.
"Lir?" Ariana stirred and opened her jade green eyes, searching the darkness for his face.
"I'm here darling. There's nothing to worry about," he whispered in a soothing tone.
"Was there something you wanted, dearest?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep.
"Just to tell you that I love you. That's all I've got to tell you. That's all I've got to say," he replied as he gently kissed her lips and smoothed her silky brown locks.
"I love you too," said Ariana, "Now come get in bed with me,"
Obediently, Lir climbed between the satin sheets and drew her close to his body.
"What were you doing?" she inquired.
"Looking at the sea. The sea is comforting," he answered.
"You have me for your comforting now,"
"That I do," he retorted with a smile.
"Now, go back to sleep darling. Tomorrow Schmendrick and Molly will be here and we can get on with the wedding," Lir said and then he drifted off into the land of dreams; a land of dreams haunted by a beautiful snowy haired maiden and the unicorns of her world.
A/N: Hope that you all have enjoyed this chapter. Please review and let me know what you think. - IrethAnwarunya