Act 1 Part 2
As if Arthur had summoned him, the man in question followed by his groomsmen strode into the room. He looked gorgeous as usual. His long blonde hair tied in a red ribbon, his sapphire eyes sparkling in delight when he saw the brothers. He wasn't wearing his wedding clothing yet, so he must be just visiting.
"Bonjour mon cher!" He announced giving Arthur a hug and Iain a kiss upon the cheek
"Hello Francis." Responded Arthur trying to hide his eagerness but Iain knew him to well for him to succeed against him
"Ah believe he wis talkin tae me Arthur." Sneered Iain
Arthur said nothing as the albino groomsman sniggered at him, and the brown haired groomsman gave him a pitying look. The long haired blonde just smiled at him and returned to fussing over Iain.
"Francis, ah will be fine! Its jus a weddin." sighed Iain to the long haired blonde
"Just a wedding? Non! Eet ez our wedding!" responded Francis excitedly
As Iain was trying to untangle himself from Francis, he saw a figure move from the corner of his eye. He turned full on hoping with all his heart that it was Sylphide, but he couldn't quite make out the figure. Someone was defiantly there. That someone was standing in the darkest corner of the room, swallowed up by the early morning shadows.
Iain finally made it out of Francis's grasp, and strode quickly leaving the others on the other side of the room. He could tell that the figure in the shadows was of slight build, and placed a hand on its shoulder.
"Sylphide?" Iain asked his voice betraying his hope
To his surprise and bitter disappointment it was a pale blonde haired man, his hair parted to the side and one side of his fringe held up by a cross hair clip. A rebellious curl was on one side of his head, trying its best to escape the hair clip and the rest of his hairstyle. His icy blue eyes looked at Iain with disgust.
"Sylphide? You speak another's name like that when only moments away from your own wedding?" Snapped the pale haired blonde
"Who invited ye Lukas?! Ah dinnea ask ye tae come." Spat Iain in his temper and disappointment
"Well that's a lovely how do you do." Lukas scolded
"Go an boil yer head." Hissed Iain
By now the others had caught up. Arthur looked at Lukas with surprise, and then delight. He knew Lukas from past encounters. Mostly because Lukas was the witch in the area, and all the brothers, especially Arthur, dabbled in magic. Francis and his groomsman had absolutely no idea what was going on.
"Gentleman, let me introduce Lukas to you. He is somewhat the residential witch for the north. " Arthur told them
The three men stared at Lukas with wonder and a little bit of fear. Not everyone viewed magic as favorably as the Kirkland brothers. And as Iain was glaring daggers at him, Lukas wasn't sure if he would be getting a good reception.
"If you like I could tell your fortunes." Lukas offered nonchalantly
"No, yer leavin." Snapped Iain
Iain didn't notice the way Francis's eyes lit up at the word fortune. Like all hopeless romantics the idea of getting his fortune read greatly appealed to Francis; he and his groomsmen where soon offering Lukas a seat by the fire and drinks. Arthur stood by Lukas's right side watching the proceedings with interest and watching Francis a little too closely. Something that Lukas noticed.
"I will only tell the couple who is to be married their fortunes." Announced Lukas
"Ah dinnea want tae hear whit ye have to say." Sulked Iain
Nobody took any notice of Iain. In fact both Arthur and Francis where apologizing for his previous behaviour. Iain sat in the back of the group as Francis was asking for his fortune to be read. Lukas looked at Arthur who nodded. Not that Lukas needed permission, he would have done it anyway.
"Your wedding today will be a beautiful event, the talk of the town for years to come. However, there will be one large surprise. You will marry Arthur, not his elder brother Iain, as Iain loves another." Lukas told Francis
If a pin dropped in the room it would have made a noise like a canon fire. Francis was looking at Lukas with shock and horror. The groomsmen where glancing at Arthur and Iain as if sizing the two up. Arthur was stunned. Iain was fuming and looking murderous.
"GET OUT O MA CASTLE NOW!" Iain roared
Iain practically picked Lukas up and threw him from the room. Arthur sighed and shook his head. His brother was a moron, arguing with a witch was just asking for trouble. He went to the shadows where Lukas had been and noticed that Lukas had left his cloak behind. Before he could move from the shadows Iain came into the room.
"Iain! You threw out a witch for moi? Zis iz truly love no matter what zat lying witch 'as to say." Francis gushed hugging Iain
"Aye. Easy now, we should git ready for ta weddin." Iain told Francis gently with a sweet chaste kiss
"Oui. I will see you soon mon amour." Francis replied leaving the room with the groomsmen
Iain seemed to be relieved that his groom had left. Iain turned to the clothing that Arthur had left on a chair opposite to the one he had been sleeping on. As he approached it a figure appeared from thin air. Her expression was one of pure joy to see Iain.
"Sylphide!" Iain exclaimed
"Yes, I came to visit like you said I could. Oh Iain, how could you love that man? I love you! Please tell me you love me as well." Sylphide cried out sadly
"Sylphide today is ma weddin day! I cannea say tha ah love ye." Iain replied
Sylphide gasped and clutched at her chest. Tears began to run down her perfect face. Iain watched her and moved uncomfortably. He really did feel strongly towards the fairy. But was it love? Had Francis made him feel like this? No, he had never felt this strongly towards Francis. Perhaps this was the real thing. Maybe this was love.
Iain took a couple of steps closer. He paused and Sylphide watched him with wide teary eyes. There was only one way he could erase all his doubts. He sped up his walk to an almost jog closing the gap. He held her in his arms. Sylphide returned hi s hug and they held each other, delighting in each others scent and warmth. Iain felt his heart rate increase and a joyful giddiness.
"Aye Sylphide, ah love ye more than anyone else."
"You do? Even more than Francis?" asked Sylphide
"Aye Ah do." Answered Iain
As the two kissed passionately, Arthur inched out of the room. Once he got into the hallway he ran down the hall, took the staircase to the lower level and flung open the main door that led into the great hall. Guests, Francis, and the groomsmen were gathered. Most where gossiping. Some were picking at the plates of food on the great oak tables that took up the room.
Arthur ran straight up to Francis. Many saw him running and turned to him as a source of entertainment. Arthur cared little for the on lookers, only for the man before him who he loved. Francis, the man he would sacrifice his own happiness to make sure he was happy. He had allowed this wedding thinking that Francis would have his fairy tale ending, but now there was no way that Iain could make him happy.
"Francis you cannot marry Iain! He is in his sitting room now with another. He has just announced his love to her! I saw it with my own eyes. Francis you mean everything to me, and I don't want to hurt you, but if I do not bring this to your attention I will end up doing so." Arthur told Francis and the on lookers by default
The guests, everyone always eager for a tasty little scandal, all rushed to see for themselves. Leading the way where Francis's own groomsmen. They burst into the room, but they saw nothing but the lone figure of Iain holding a white rose in his hand.
"Whit is ta meanin o this?" snapped Iain
"There's no one here!" cried a guest
"We would have seen a woman on the staircase!" yelled another
"Ach it is just wee Arthur being jealous. We all ken tha he wanted Francis for himself!" jeered another
The crowd dispersed, heading back towards the great hall or to the little chapel in the castle grounds where the wedding was to take place. Soon the only ones left standing in the room where Arthur, Iain and Francis all looking uneasy.
"I saw her! A black haired woman, no a fairy! Iain if you don't wish to marry Francis then say so! Don't hurt him." Said Arthur
Iain looked at Francis. Francis was looking very hurt and confused. The three had known each other since childhood, and Francis didn't know what to think. He knew Arthur could be very resourceful if he wanted something, but he was also very loyal to those he held dear. Arthur wouldn't lie and hurt him like this for no reason.
"Iain?" Francis asked
"There wus no woman Francis. Ye would have seen her leave this floor as there is only one staircase." Iain told Francis
"Oui, you are right. I must excuse myself. I will see you at the chapel in a few minutes." Francis replied with a smile but his smile faltered for a second
Iain watched Francis leave. What was he going to do? He didn't love him like he loved Sylphide. Should he call off the wedding? No, he couldn't. If he did that the scandal would ruin the Kirkland family name, not to mention that a fairy who kept disappearing was hardly someone you could rely on to be with you forever. He turned to Arthur who was looking furious.
"I know what I saw Iain. Why did you lie to him? I also recognize that fairy now. Her name is Sylphide isn't it?" Arthur asked
"Aye, sae whit if it is?" snarled Iain
"She is one of my fae. She is sweet and good. You have to choose Iain, but I will kill you if you harm Francis because you want them both."
And with that Arthur left the room. Iain watched him leave. His heart was heavy in his chest. He picked up the golden ring he was to use in the ceremony to bind Francis as his husband from a nearby table. He gazed out the window towards the mountains.
A movement from behind him made him turn. Sylphide had returned and had somehow taken the ring out of the box without him knowing. He whirled around to face her.
"Sylphide give tha back!" yelped Iain
"But my dear Iain, did you not say you loved me more than that man? Surely I am more suitable to wear this ring!" Sylphide replied placing it on her hand and admiring it
"Well ah did..." Iain stammered
"Then I must show it to my friends and family!" Announced the ecstatic Sylphide
The fairy glided across the room with Iain chasing after her. The two fled the castle and ran deep into the moor. The hills soon swallowed them from the sight of the castle and from the little chapel where everyone was gathered to witness a wedding.
Cast:
James= Iain Kirkland. I don't wasn't to call him James, because my brother has that name and I do not want Scotland to share that name
Effie= Francis Bonnefoy
Gurn= Arthur Kirkland
La Sylphide= random fae
Madge/witch= Lukas Bondevik