A/n please forgive the quotes I haven't watched the movie in a year and I can't get to it right now, I plan on watching it very soon, and the last time I read the book I was either seven or eight. Also as you all should know the last unicorn does not belong to me but to the original author I am simply a bored, overzealous fan who is continuing the story to prolong my own suffering. Also thank you Sovereign for the review. By the way as explanation yes I know that Lear's kingdom never had a court but Alya's did and when they were married the kingdoms were combined so the court has remained from Alya's kingdom.
"Because you are not a unicorn and you are dying"The unicorn looked at the childlike spirit and whinnied.
"What do you mean I'm not a unicorn?"
She thrust her head into the air and reared.
Dagda looked up at her mournfully. A shadow moved across his face as the forest dimmed for a moment. Slowly the shadow inched away from his face and the meadow gradually lightened.
"My Lady, unicorns are the symbol of innocence and freedom, they are apart from the emotions of mortals. They cannot love, or hate or dream or hope, and above all things they cannot feel the sting of sorrow or the bittersweet pain of regret. The unicorns live in a pure reality of simple joys and freedom. For this they are freed from such worries as sickness or death. They are the world's reminder of the blissful ignorance of childhood. You however have gained knowledge and experience of these emotions and as the bird cannot go back into the egg nor can you Lady, go back to being the "innocent" unicorn you once were. You have matured in your knowledge of the world. You cannot go back to what you once were. You have lived your life and you have grown. And now the spirits have decreed that you have lived as a human child. You were born, innocent and pure, then you gained knowledge of emotions and you freely accepted mortality. They have decreed that you are now as a human adult, and you must continue to live as such. You have lost the gift of immortality, you pledged your life to death many years ago and now he demands that you become his once again. My Lady Amalthia tonight is your last night as a unicorn when the sun rises you shall become once again the human girl you once were."
The forest was silent. What few animals remained were quickly stilled. Even the sound of the water against the rocks seemed muffled. The unicorn stopped rearing and looked the spirit coldly in the eye. Then she leaned back as a sound began in her heart and echoed from her throat. The piercing moan of a sorrowful heart burdened with regret. To hear such a cry form the throat of a unicorn is painful for any heart, mortal or immortal.
The unicorn quieted and lowered her head once more.
" If what you say is true, then why have you waited for all I love to sicken with age? It has been twenty long years in those years my forest has begun to die, I have suffered the pain of watching as the world passed by me and those who once knew me have most certainly forgotten"
" Even Lear must have forgotten me by now."
This thought came to the unicorn's head even thought she dared not speak it. Lear must have lived his life and moved on by now… today he would be over forty. And likely have married again. No mortal love could wait that long … could it?
She looked at the spirit again and he smiled woefully. And said.
" The spirits determined that the time for your second journey had not yet arrived. That life you wanted was not your destiny. Your destined time to be a human is now. You are needed in the mortal realm. Lear has married and had a son. He is seventeen and soon to be named Lear's heir. But Lear's court has become a treacherous place for a young boy. What they need is a young lady not imbibed with the lies of a court from birth. The pure point of view of an outsider who can keep him safe from the poison of this lifestyle. Originally it would be Lear protecting him, but he has taken a fancy to questing. He loves to put himself in danger. He says that it is part of the duty of a true king to put himself into danger to protect his people. But he has become reckless and we fear for him and for his son.
But there is one more thing you must know. When you were born immortal you were born without a soul. You see a soul is what lives on after death and a soul is what truly genereates feelings. You while it has been decreed are human you do not have a soul. You have begun to feel only because your heart was human. Now you must earn a soul unless you wish to vanish when death comes to claim you. Souls are the privelege of humans and they must be earned. The task of protecting Lear's heir has fallen to you as a trial for your soul. If you succeed you will receive a true human soul and will become completely human. If you fail you will vanish when death comes to claim you for himself."
The first rays of light began to peek over the trees and the spirit smiled.
" My time here is over, the morning awaits and with it your true form My Lady. May you remember your time as my child fondly and walk forward in your journey happily."
With that he was gone. The unicorn turned and looked at what she knew was the last sunrise she would see in her forest. As the light began to rise to caress her mane, she closed her eyes as the familiar sensation of magic flowed through her being. She threw her head back for one last whiny and fell to the ground, a naked, young woman.
A slim shadow slipped into the castle gates. A quick nod to the night guard and password were the only pauses he made in his drive towards the royal chambers. He hurried through the great corridors. To the great wooden doors of the royal bedchamber. The guards outside challenged him gruffly.
"Who be ye?"
Demanded the slightly taller of the two. As the other began to draw his sword. The young man then straightened and identified himself.
" I am Squire Jaysen of Elder Ridge messenger from General Eriks. I have an urgent message for her majesty Queen Alya."
The Squire stood as tall as he could and tapped his foot impatiently. The taller guard turned to the other and said.
" Go an' announce the Squire to milady"
They he turned to Jaysen.
" It'll probly be a moment milady's sleepin' "
The shorter guard soon returned and motioned for him to follow. Jaysen fell in behind as they walked through the reception parlor straight into Her Majesty's bedchamber itself. The Queen lounged on the velvet-upholstered couch in her plain cotton nightdress. Jaysen walked towards the couch and stopped at the edge of the carpet below it. He kneeled and bowed his head.
"My Lady, I have terrible news. His Majesty King Lear has died. His company of knights was caught unawares by a dragon and he and all his companions are no more."
The queen gripped the wooden arm of the couch. Her knuckles turned almost as white as her face as the blood rushed out of her head. She looked out at the sea for a moment as she tried to regain her composure, she was a queen. She turned to a servant.
" Alert the household, there are matter to be tended to if we are to have a proper funeral."
Turning to Jaysen she said.
" Squire you may be dismissed I'm certain you want to go and grieve in your own way."
Then she turned and walked towards her balcony overlooking the sea. Jaysen made a minor bow on his way out and fled out into the hall. As he walked he heard a voice shouting.
" Long live the king"
