The Princess and the Faun
He would watch her smile, he would watch her cry. He would watch her grown and watch her learn. Most importantly, he would watch helpless as he fell in love. . .
Chapter 04: The Lord of the Wilds
It had been a few days since Moanna's nightmare, she was still a little shaken, but Pan was able to get her to come outside. She didn't want to be alone. If she wasn't with Pan she was with her father, if not him then her mother, where she sat currently. Their castle was so large for being underground. It was like a large mound and they were inside it with spirals and towers that shot out from it, as well as bridges, walkways and gardens that lead to the mountains, plains and forest of their world.
Moanna admired it all as she stood on the balcony of her mother's room.
"Moanna" her mother called.
She rushed up to her mother, crawling up in the bed with her and her little brother. He was so beautiful, a small, chubby baby with golden hair like her mother and dark eyes like her and her father. She wondered curiously if her hair would turn blonde or if maybe her father's hair was once black when he was younger.
Her mother cuddled her closer, glad to finally have her two children back in her arms, she watched as Moanna looked at her brother with curious eyes. "Was he born of the moon too?" she asked. Her mother eyes rose up, she didn't expect that. "No, he was . . . a surprise. Your father and I thought we could not produce another child. I am very barren" she said sadly. "I cannot have children easily" she said when Moanna gave her a confused looked.
"Was that why I was born of the moon?" Moanna asked.
The Queen nodded, "Your father and I wanted a child so badly. We had so much love to give" she smiled and stroked her daughter's hair. "But we could not bare a child. So we went to the Lord of the Wilds. Asked him to help us, but he said he couldn't, but he'd ask the moon to help us. It wasn't long after that, that the Lordo fthe Wilds visited us once again, a child in his arms. He said that the Moon had granted us our request. The mark on your shoulder proves you are of the moon" she said.
"What's he like?" she asked.
"Who?"
"The Lord of the Wilds?" Moanna asked.
"Well he is very old, and he mostly keeps to himself." She said.
"Sounds lonely" she said, cuddling into her mother's side, closing her eyes.
The Queen smiled, "Perhaps, but he is a strange creature . . ."
"Perhaps one day I shall go meet him, thank him for helping us and father" Moanna smiled with a child-like joy. Her mother smiled back. "Perhaps one day you can, when you're older and can walk in the forest on your own" she said.
Moanna spent the most of the day speaking with her mother and helping her with her baby brother, Cáel. They ate, and then Moanna was getting ready for bed when a familiar green fairy fly by to perch on her shoulder. Nuzzling into her hair, making the princess giggle.
"Ah! Your highness, she has grown fawn of you"
Moanna turned, smiling as Pan came into view from the shadows. "Hello Faun" she said watching as the fairy flew to land one of Pan's large curved horns. The old goat bowed gracefully this time, "Shall I tell another story Your Highness?" he asked, his old creaking body steeping over to her bed as Moanna got under the covers. "Perhaps of Great Raja Naja of the dark seas? Or of the White Hart?"
"No"
"No?"
Moanna shook her head. "I want to hear of the Lord of the Wilds" she said holding the blankets on to her chin.
Pan froze. "The . . . Lord of the Wilds?"
Moanna nodded. "Mother said he asked the moon to give birth to me, I'd like to meet him, thank him."
Pan smiled and sat on the side of her bed. "Ah well, the Lord of the Wilds is very old. Older than the forests! Older even than the mountains they root on!" He started. "He is an old creature who protects the forest and guides its creatures, but very secretive, I don't even know him that well"
Moanna was still giving him that look. That disappointed look, thinking she would never meet the 'Lord of the Wilds'. "Ah, but do not so sad my princess!" The faun said stroking her cheek. "I do know that the Lord of the Wilds has always been watching you. I'm sure one day you will meet him. Perhaps even be able to thank him" he chuckled as a fairy chattered and moved to rest in Moanna's pillows.
She began to smile again and Pan was relieved, "Shall I tell you some more stories? Until you fall asleep, Your highness?" he asked tucking her in. To his surprise, she shook her head no.
"I think . . . I think I'll be ok" she smiled snuggling up.
"As you wish . . ." he said bowing.
"Faun!" He turned right back around. "Could . . . could she stay?" Moanna asked point to the fairy that was snuggled in her pillows still. He nodded and bid her a good night before disappearing back into the shadows.
Moanna was still afraid but fell asleep dreaming of what it would be like to meet the 'Lord of the Wilds'.
Agh this chapter is kinda crap. But I wanted to get it out there before doing a time shift. Thank you again for all the reviews and favs! They do help!