Chapter Two

How can I dare to reveal myself to him? I watched as he wove his way among the trees, choosing to abandon his hunting party in favor of the cool quiet of the forests. I think I love him. He is so beautiful it would be impossible not to love him. Long fiery red hair cascaded to his shoulders, bright blue eyes, ivory skin, and his lips (oh his lips!) are the perfect shade of red. Speak! I pleaded to him in my mind. Speak so I may also speak to you!

As if he had heard my thoughts, his head snapped up, and he called out. "Who's here?" Thank you!

"Here!" I echoed back to him, putting as much joy into my tone as I could.

"Come!" He said, his eyes gazing through the trees, seemingly into my very heart. He's so beautiful!

"Come!" I answer back. Shall I join him? But I cannot while I cannot talk.

"Why do you shun me?" He shouted. He must come to me, I cannot come to him.

"Why do you shun me?" I asked back, trying to hide the sadness in my voice.

"Let us join one another!" He shouted, and my will broke.

"Let us join one another!" I flew down the hill to him, throwing my arms around his neck, gazing into his eyes. I love you! Then he recoiled, and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

"Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!"

"Have me!" I begged brokenly. But he only turned and fled as fast as he could down the hill. I dropped to my knees and cradled my face in my hands, putting as much sorrow as I could into my tears.

I must follow him! I speed down the hill, making sure to hide behind trees during my descent. He was sitting there, looking into a pool I had come to know well during my stay in this forest.

"Why, beautiful being, do you shun me? Surely my face is not one to repel you. The nymphs love me, and you yourself look not indifferent upon me. When I stretch forth my arms you do the same; and you smile upon me and answer my beckoning with the like." I heard him say to the water. So he has found someone else to love him.

I heard him sob, "Stay, I entreat you! Let me at least gaze upon you, if I may not touch you." I sat down, curling my legs up to my chest, dropping a tear every time I heard him say some endearment to his love. Why could that not be me? I waited for him to move on, but he did not. I shall stay and wait for him. I told myself.

So I waited. For days and nights I did not move from that position. I watched as my love withered and I could feel the same happening to me. Neither of us moved to eat or drink, neither of us could stop to rest. Then one day his life ended.

I could see the moment his spirit fled. His shoulders slumped, and he fell face first into the water, presumably into the arms of the water sprite he had found to love. But no arms rose from the water to embrace him. Then a terrible thought occurred to me. I ran down the hill, not caring as my feet bloodied and bruised. When I reached him, I realized my suspicion had been correct. There was no room for a water sprite to be there and for me still not to see her. There had been no water sprite. My love had fallen in love with his own reflection.

My tears came fast and bitter. I could have prevented this! If I had only loved him enough to chase him! I could have stopped this!

I stood and turned, preparing to walk off, then I turn back. I placed one chaste kiss on my love's cheek, and then I ran. I knew what I would do. I could not live without my love. I would join him in the land of the dead.

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-Storm