(Disclaimer: I do not own Strange Magic; just my OC's whenever they are mentioned)
(Authors Note: Hello dear readers. I'm so sorry for keeping you all waiting but I had other projects to work on as well as this story. I hope you're enjoying this story so far because I simply enjoy writing it for all of you (and myself of course). I hope to post more content in the future. Until next time, stay safe and stay awesome!)
"English/Common"
"Memories/Dreams"
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The trip to the construction site proved to be a welcomed distraction for Marianne. Sure, her dream still lingered in the back of her mind, but at the moment she was busy showing Bog around the future border town and explaining what each building would eventually become:
"Over here will be an Inn for travelers to stay, hence why it's the largest building that's currently under construction. And over there beside the mushroom line is the message station. Next to the Inn will be a large stable, and the other buildings will mainly consist of housing units for town residents. Of course, there may be additional buildings added some time in the future, but for now I think this will suffice. Oh, and of course there will be a sentry post atop the tree here," she gestured towards the large tree beside them. "And another will be built on the opposite side of the settlement."
Bog fondly smiled at her enthusiasm, "It seems you've gotten most of the layout figured out. I'm glad to see that everything is coming along nicely."
"Indeed," she agreed. "We're hoping to finish construction before the frost sets in. Hopefully we can establish the settlement by then. Anyone is welcomed to live here, so if there's any goblins who wish to settle here, they're welcomed to. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, anyone residing here is welcomed to stay in the Fairy Kingdom's underground hibernation tunnels during the winter months as a means to stay safe and warm. Unfortunately, we won't be able to make hibernation tunnels here this season, but we're hoping to start their construction next spring."
"Understandable; ye already have enough projects to last the rest of the season."
"I could say the same about you. How are the tunnels coming along?"
"Remarkably well. At this rate, they should be complete before the leaves change."
"Then the next time I visit your castle I shall have to see them," she smiled as he gently caressed her cheek.
"Aye, that you shall, my fair princess."
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-Later that afternoon-
Parting from Marianne was always difficult for Bog, but he needed to return to his castle and inform Brutus and Julius of his plans to travel to the Black Chasm, for he intended to have them accompany him. Sure Stuff and Thang were as loyal as they come (as was everyone in his kingdom) but if he happened to run into any sort of danger, Brutus and Julius would be his best line of defense, for they were the strongest of his guards and the most fearsome. It's not that he couldn't fend for himself but for his Mother's sake he promised to have a pair of guards accompany him.
At the moment he was saying his goodbyes to his beloved fairy princess. They were currently hidden atop one of the border trees and enjoying a private moment together. "I wish you didn't have to go," Marianne sighed as Bog tenderly kissed her neck and rubbed the space between her wings.
"I know," he whispered into her ear as one of his clawed fingers slowly glided along her side, making her shiver in pleasure. "But I cannot afford to stay longer than required at this time," he groaned as she skillfully ran her nails along his back and between his wings.
"I understand," she softly moaned and licked his ear. "Will you write to me again soon?"
He gave a nod and caressed her cheek, "Aye, that I will. I shall write to you as soon as I am able to do so; however, I have urgent business to take care of, so I may not be able to write for at least a day or two. But make no mistake, as soon as I am able, I shall write to you every day until we are together once more."
"I'd like that," she stated as she met his gaze. Both Marianne and Bog then shared a long, passionate kiss before reluctantly saying their goodbyes and parting ways for the time being.
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Upon arriving at his castle Bog headed off to speak to Brutus and Julius. Thankfully, he didn't have to look far as they were down in the tunnels digging. He informed them that he intended to journey to the Black Chasm tomorrow morning and that he required their assistance should any unforeseen circumstances occur. Both willingly agreed to the task and set off to pack their travel gear for it would likely be a few days trip.
Afterwards, Bog entered his study to begin planning the best route to take to the Black Chasm. Granted, he and his guards would be flying but not all paths were safe, even in flight. For instance, the first route led through a section of forest that had a large population of spiders which could prove treacherous should they accidentally fly through any webs. The second route had fewer trees and would leave them exposed to aerial predators and finally, the third route was overgrown with sharp thorns; however, it was the safest path to take and provided ample protection from predators of all shapes and sizes.
With a sigh, Bog packed up his map, glow crystals and pickax inside his satchel before heading off for some much needed sleep. Tomorrow he and his guards would have to leave early if they hoped to reach the Black Chasm before sunset. In truth, he wasn't looking forward to venturing into that foreboding abyss, but it was the only place to find an amethyst for Marianne's engagement ring. She was worth it.
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Meanwhile, Marianne was comfortably lying in her bed and dreaming of pleasant things as opposed to last night's episode: It was far too real and had her worrying that it was actually a premonition. If it was, she hoped it wouldn't come true or that it was wrong. Shifting onto her side, she pulled her petal blanket over her shoulders and smiled as her dream piqued her fancy:
She and Bog were flying around the Dark Forest in a mock-chase sequence that resulted in her being pursued into the boughs of their favorite tree. Upon landing, Marianne was playfully cornered against a large branch, to which Bog stated, "Well, well, it would seem that I've caught myself a fairy, and a pretty one at that."
A blush appeared across her cheeks as she looked up into his blue eyes, "It seems you have, oh mighty and fearsome Bog King."
"Hmm, do you think flattery will save you?"
"No, but it was worth a shot," she shrugged.
He merely chuckled before sensually kissing her neck while running one of his clawed hands through her hair as the other slowly rested upon her waist. As he did this, Marianne slid her long, delicate fingers along his chitin-plated chest and down his abdominal plates, making him groan in pleasure.
Marianne's dream suddenly vanished and was replaced by a nightmare:
She was no longer in Bog's arms, but in Roland's! Her outfit had changed from a queen's regalia into her former wedding dress. She tried to get away but for some reason her body was completely numb. She wanted to scream but no sound came out of her mouth. All she could do was watch as Roland carried her off to their marital bed where he locked the door behind him and laid her down. "Now that we're married we should provide our kingdom with an heir, don't you think?"
"...O-Our kingdom?" was all she could say as he emitted a chuckle and slowly began to remove his armor.
"Why yes, my Queen. Didn't you know that your Father relinquished the throne to me and made me King?" Once his armor was off, he stood before her in his leggings and tunic, "And as your King, my first order is to consummate our union in which you WILL give me a son." He then stalked over towards the bed and slowly began fondling her paralyzed body all while she felt tears sting her eyes.
"No!" Marianne awoke covered in sweat while tears streamed down her face. She got out of her bed and headed down to the washroom to draw herself a hot bath, hoping that it would take her mind off her nightmare. But it didn't.
She continued to cry long after the water turned ice cold and she began shivering. Suddenly snapping out of her stupor, Marianne drained the bath and slipped out of the tub where she dried off and adorned a robe before heading back into her bedchambers and donning a fresh nightgown. Her eyes warily glanced over at the bed for she feared falling asleep and being met with a similar nightmare or something worse.
No. She refused to sleep.
With a sigh, Marianne grabbed her sword and headed outside for some pre-morning training. She hoped it would clear her mind and make her forget about her terrible dream. As she practiced, her mind turned to Bog: how she wished she was with him right now. He always made her feel better and knew how to make her smile. A sad smile crossed her lips as she thought about her handsome goblin King. How she longed to be in his arms again. Granted, it had only been a few hours since she saw him last, but it was becoming harder to part from him, even if it was for a few days at a time.
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Meanwhile, Bog awoke to the smell of porridge and noticed Griselda enter the chamber with a tray in her arms. "Good morning my precious boy. I thought I'd fix you some breakfast before you headed out for your journey."
He slightly rolled his eyes but offered a tired grunt, "...Thank you Mother."
She waved it off and set his tray on the desk, "Of course my dear. I wasn't about to let you leave without making sure you ate something first. I know you're eager to head out soon, but you need to tend to your own needs first. Now eat up before it gets cold. I'll be back in a few minutes to see you off."
He gave her a nod, to which she waddled out of the room and left him to his breakfast. As he ate, Bog's mind turned to Marianne: even though he had seen her mere hours ago, he was already missing her presence. He hoped to remedy that as soon as he returned from his journey to the Black Chasm.
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Once finished with breakfast and equipping their gear, Bog and his guards left the castle and began their journey north through the Dark Forest and over towards Blackstone Mountain where the Black Chasm was located. Taking the safest route through the briars and thorn bushes, they were careful to fly in a single row so as to not get caught on the sharp thorns. The further they went, the more foreboding their surroundings seemed, but they continued to push onward.
Hours passed and by the time they finally reached the edge of the Dark Forest, it was already midday. Stopping to rest, they glanced northward and were met with an eerie sight: Blackstone Mountain. Unfortunately, the only way to reach the mountain was to cross a large, open field. They'd have to leave the dragonflies within the safety of the briars and walk on foot from here because the area was too open. They'd be picked off by birds if they attempted to fly now.
No. It was best to play it safe.
Carefully and quietly, Bog and his guards slowly descended from the briar bushes and into the grass below where they stealthily made their way across the field within an hour's time. Slow, yes, but safe. The last thing Bog wanted was for Brutus and Julius to fall prey to a bird or any other predator lurking within the grass. Snakes were a real threat to goblins as well, but thankfully they didn't see any sign of serpents during their trek through the field. A small blessing, but a huge relief on their part.
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The sun was starting to set by the time Bog and his guards finally descended down into the black chasm. Down, down, down they went into the bowels of the mountain and were met with an eerie silence as no wind could be heard or light could be seen. Black was the abyss they now found themselves in and while they had night vision, they had to also rely on the soft light of a glow crystal to properly search for gemstones. Yes, they could see without the crystal, but they needed its light to reflect off the various geodes and gemstones that were scattered about within the rocks.
At the moment the only gemstones they found were diamonds, garnets and quartz, but no amethysts. This meant they'd have to go deeper into the chasm which filled them with dread: though it was eerily quiet (aside from their footsteps), they knew they weren't alone. Bog kept a tight grip on his staff as he and his comrades slowly descended deeper into the abyss. He hoped they'd locate some amethysts soon because every second spent within this accursed place was another second closer to being ambushed by the unseen entities that lurked within these tunnels.
Minutes later they finally came across a vein of amethysts, to which Bog handed his staff to Julius while he pulled out his pickax from the satchel and began mining out a chunk of the purple gemstone. He hated that he was making so much noise but it couldn't be helped: he needed an amethyst and he wasn't going to leave without one.
Finally, after several minutes of mining, a chunk of the precious gemstone broke loose from the vein, to which Bog placed it and the pickax within his satchel and retrieved his staff from Julius before they all headed back towards the exit.
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The moon shone brightly overhead as Bog, Brutus and Julius crossed the field and entered the briar bush where the dragonflies were casually perched. Seeing as how their task was complete, they decided to start their journey back through the Dark Forest and homeward bound. Bog was especially eager to return home for he planned to cut and shape the amethyst into a perfect gem for Marianne's ring.
"So BK, when are you going to propose to Marianne?" Julius asked with a fanged grin.
Bog answered with a smile, "I was hoping to ask her on midsummer's eve."
"But that's next week," replied Brutus.
"Aye, that it is. I've already been given permission by her Father to marry her, so there's no need to worry on that end. My plan is to marry her before the frost settles in and winter forces everyone underground or into hibernation."
"She'll make a great Queen and wife for you BK. I'm glad you're finally happy."
"As am I Julius."
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Meanwhile, Marianne was soaking in a hot bath completely exhausted from working in the construction site with the elves, worker fairies and brownies. She was sore everywhere and had aches in places she didn't realize she had. While she wasn't a stranger to physical work and heavy lifting, she overexerted herself and was now paying the price for it. Her wings felt like they weighed a ton and her muscles ached worse than they did when she first started sword training. In short, she felt terrible. Sure the hot water helped immensely, but she knew she'd be feeling sore for the next few days. With a pained groan, she submerged herself underneath the heated water and wet her hair before re-emerging and washing it out.
Afterwards, she washed her aching body while her pixie handmaidens changed out the water so she could soak her tired muscles. Closing her eyes, Marianne allowed herself to relax and her mind to clear. She emitted a sigh as she felt her body loosen up and the tension leave her muscles.
*knock, knock, knock* "Marianne, are you in there?" Dawn's cheerful voice sounded from the other side of the door.
*sigh* "Yes Dawn; you may come in."
The door opened for a moment before closing again, to which the younger princess happily approached and knelt beside the tub, "Marianne, I have some exciting news to share with you. I think you're gonna love it."
"Well we won't know until you tell me what it is first," she tiredly stated.
"Dad just told me that you're welcomed to invite Bog and his subjects to the midsummer's gala next week. He thinks it'll be a great opportunity for our kingdoms to build new bridges and strengthen our alliances."
"That's...That's wonderful news! Oh I can't wait to write to Bog!"
"And I can't wait to see you finally wear that blue gown," she winked, making her sister blush.
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Upon exiting the bath and adorning her nightgown, Marianne headed over to the library/study and began writing an invitation to a certain goblin ruler:
My Dear Bog King,
You and your subjects are cordially invited to the Fairy Kingdom's annual Midsummer Gala. The event will take place outside of the palace, underneath the starry sky, and will be held from sunset to sunrise. Formal attire is traditional but not mandatory (Your boutonniere will do just fine with me). Let me know if you and your subjects are able to attend so that my subjects and I can plan accordingly. Thank you.
Sincerely, Princess Marianne
With that, she sealed up the invitation with wax and the royal seal before taking out another piece of parchment and writing him a more private letter:
My Handsome Bog,
I know it has only been a short while since we departed, but I long for your company. I must confess that since the night before your departure I've been most troubled by premonition-like dreams and nightmares of unspeakable character. My reason for telling you this is not to alarm you, but to ask if you might know of a cure? I wanted to ask you first before seeking the Sugar Plum Fairy's assistance. If you know of something that might help, I would be most grateful.
On a side note, I cannot wait to see you again my love. I miss you when we are apart and I savor the times we are together. If you are available and if you would permit me, I would very much love to visit you in your castle sometime within the next few days. Please let me know if that would be a possibility.
Forever yours, Marianne
Sealing up the second letter, Marianne then headed back to her room and flew out the window and over to the border where she passed the sealed letters to the mushrooms and informed them that they were to be delivered to Bog.
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-The next morning-
Bog, Julius and Brutus arrived at the castle looking weary as their journey left them feeling exhausted. As thanks for their assistance and company, Bog gave them the next two days off to rest while he headed up to his room and set his satchel on the desk while placing his staff against the wall. As much as he wanted to work on Marianne's ring, he knew if he didn't sleep, he would risk making a mistake that could potentially destroy his work beyond repair. No! He could not afford to mess this up. He needed everything to be perfect.
With that, he tiredly trudged over to his large moss bed and collapsed into it, falling asleep almost as soon as he hit the soft material.
"My son, you're finally home!" Griselda happily stated as she entered the room holding two letters in her hand. She approached the bed and found her boy was completely passed out and in a deep sleep, obviously exhausted from his long journey. Of course he would be: he flew the whole way whereas his guards rode on dragonflies. It was only natural that he'd be exhausted. With a motherly smile, Griselda pulled the blanket over her son, making sure he was well covered before gently kissing his cheek. "Sleep tight, my precious boy." She then turned to leave his room, placing the unopened letters upon the desk, and softly closing the door behind her.
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-Later-
Bog awoke feeling completely rejuvenated and well-rested. With a groan he sat up in his bed and stretched before standing up and spotting the letters on his desk. A smile appeared across his face as he read the invitation, "Perfect! I'll propose to Marianne during the gala. And I already know Mother will be excited to attend the festivities…"
He made a mental note to notify his subjects of the invitation, but for now his attention was focused on Marianne's second letter. He was concerned about these nightmares she was having, but didn't know of anything that could help her. Then again, she did mention that she slept more peacefully when he was with her. Maybe if she were to sleep in the same bed as him, she wouldn't be plagued by nightmares or frightening premonitions. Plus, she did say in her letter that she'd like to visit him in his realm again.
Thinking to himself, he knew of no major events or issues that would have him miss out on seeing her or spending time with her. With that thought in mind, he sat down at his desk and began to write a response to her letter:
Dearest, Loveliest Marianne,
First of all, I would like to thank you for extending an invitation to the Midsummer Gala. I shall inform my subjects of the event and try to provide you with an estimated number of guests that will be accompanying me. While I plan to attend, I cannot speak for my subjects as they are free to choose whether or not they wish to partake in a large, social event.
Second, I'm afraid that I do not know of any remedies for bad dreams. But if you wish to ask Sugar Plum, she may have an answer for you. All I can do is hold you in my arms and kiss your fears away, which I would do so in a heartbeat.
Third, as far as I know, the only thing occupying my time is the continued construction of the tunnels and restocking the winter stores within my castle. Otherwise, I am free for a visit. I would enjoy having you stop by at your earliest convenience for I too desire to see you again, my pretty fairy princess.
Eternally yours, Bog
With a smile, he sealed the letter and flew out of his room and through the castle until he was outside and over by the mushroom line. Handing the letter to the closest mushroom, Bog stated, "Could you please pass this down the line and say that it must go to Princess Marianne."
The sentient fungus gave a nod before passing the sealed letter over to the next mushroom who passed it to the next one and so on. With that task complete, Bog returned to the castle and headed back to his room where he grabbed the chunk of amethyst from his satchel and began to examine it: it was a gorgeous, deep shade of violet like Marianne's wings. Of course he would have to carefully shape it down to the desired size. Knowing he'd need stronger tools to accomplish that task, he brought it down to the smithy where a large, horned goblin by the name of Derk, worked and resided. He had been the royal smith for over forty years and had taught Bog the basics of smithing when he was a lad.
The older goblin was currently shaping a piece of metal when he spotted the King approaching, "Why if it isn't me old pupil. What brings ye down to me humble smithy?"
He held out the chunk of amethyst and replied, "This here is what brought me."
"By thunder, that's quite the gem ye picked up lad. Only place ye could have found that rock was by delving into that there Black Chasm."
"Aye, I just came back from there earlier this morning."
He crossed his burly arms over his broad chest and gave a fanged smirk, "And pray tell me lad, what were ye down there in the first place? Ye're not the sort to be makin' such long and dangerous journeys for no reason."
Bog looked him in the eyes and answered, "I needed an amethyst for the center inlay of a ring I'm making for Marianne."
"Well bless me soul, ye're going to propose to her."
"Aye, that I am. I just need to cut and shape this stone before I can forge and shape the metal band. I was hoping that I could use some of your tools to help me with all of that."
"Ye're more than welcome to use whatever ya need. But if I may make a suggestion: would ye permit me to cut that there rock for ya? I don't doubt your skills lad, but I've been cuttin' stones and shaping metal long before ye were born. Now, ye'll be good to shape it however ya please, but these here gems can be a wee tricky to cut away at and one wrong move can result in a crack."
At that, Bog gave him a nod and handed him the gem, "I certainly don't want to make any mistakes because I don't think I'd be able to retrieve a replacement before midsummer's eve. That's when I plan to propose to her."
Derk emitted a slight chuckle as he sat down at his workbench and carefully began chipping away at the amethyst, "She really made quite the impression on ya. Well that's good. I'm happy for ya lad."
"Thank you Derk."
"Of course. Now, I best be gettin' this rock ready for shapin'. I'll let ya know when it's done."
"I appreciate your assistance."
He waved it off while focusing on his current task, "Tis no trouble at all lad."
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After nearly an hour, Derk finished cutting away at the amethyst and presented five decent sized gems for Bog to choose from. Only one was needed, but the others would be saved for future projects. A slight smirk appeared across Bog's face as he thought about making jewelry for his children later on down the road...assuming he and Marianne could even have children. He hoped they could. If nothing else they would certainly try. He was open for adoption, but he really desired to create a new life with the fairy he loved.
Shaking his head of these thoughts, he returned to focusing on his current task and that was choosing one of the five amethyst chunks to shape into a proper inlay for Marianne's ring. Inspecting all of them with a careful eye, Bog finally chose the center stone as it was the most flawless and beautiful of all.