Sorry, I'm a little late.

I had some trouble with this chapter.

One month later

Wendy twirled around in front of the Baroness.

"Oh, this one is going to make a gorgeous portrait." The older woman said and smiled. "Where are you going today?"

"To the forest." Wendy smiled and looked down at the red dress. "Elias wants to paint me amongst the bare trees and fallen leaves."

The Baroness shook her head. "That young man surely has some odd ideas."

Wendy continued to fidget with the simple, flowy dress. "I think he is wonderful. I do not doubt he will be a famous painter one day."

There was a knock at the door.

When the Baroness allowed entry, Elias stepped into the room.

"Ladies," He greeted them with a bow. "I have set up my canvas in the forest and we are ready to depart."

"Then shall we go," Wendy said, taking Elias's hand.

"What about your escort?" The Baroness asked.

"I thought I was the escort," Elias said with a charming smile.

The older woman looked concerned. "It would be seen as indecent if you two go into the forest together."

"I used to hunt in the forest alone," Wendy said confused, but Eric's mother just looked at her with concern.

"You can rest assured madam, nothing unbecoming will happen between us," Elias said after a silent moment.

The Baroness sighed and let them go.

"We are taking horses, right?" Wendy said as they reached the courtyard.

"Of course, your dress would be ruined by the time we get to the place, and the light would be ruined too," Elias said and looked up to the sky.

A stableboy came with Starlight and another horse.

"Are you able to ride in your dress?" Elias looked her up and down.

"Of course," Wendy smiled and got up on the horse with the help of the stable boy.

She sat like a lady in the stable and smiled down at him.

Elias swung himself up onto the other horse. "Well then, shall we go my Lady Muse."

As soon as they were out of sight, Wendy kicked her heels into Starlight's side, and the horse rose on it's hind legs.

Elias laughed at her, as Starlight went back on all four legs and then set off towards the forest.

The painter followed after her on his own horse, but Wendy barely noticed, she was too occupied, feeling the wind in her hair, and the rush of riding free again.

It surprised her when Elias came up on her side. "How do you expect me to show you the place if you ride faster than I do?" He asked with a smile.

Wendy laughed at him. "Well, I expect you to keep up with me."

She kicked the Starlight's side again, and the horse went even faster.

Elias took up the challenge and they raced into the forest.

He won and led her into a Meadow where he had set up his things.

"I'm sorry if I ruined anything," Wendy said.

"What could you possibly ruin, my muse?" Elias said as he tied his horse to a tree and went over to help her down.

"If I ripped the dress … or my cheeks are too flushed…" she huffed as she glided down from the saddle.

Elias smiled and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. "You are perfect as you are. As wild and as free as a forest fairy. There is nothing you could do to ruin my painting."

Wendy was glad her cheeks were already flushed because she was blushing.

He asked her to take place on a fallen tree. She sat down and after he had adjusted her dress a bit, Elias began to paint.

Wendy smiled as she watched him. He was beautiful as he stood there, engulfed in his art, and looked up at her with sparkling eyes like he did not believe the scene in front of him.

Elias had changed over the last month. He would often watch her with a dreamy expression - it was like he was enchanted by her mere existence. He would touch her quite often when they talked, or when he painted her. His warm hands would just lightly brush against hers, or against her cheek or hair. He had never done anything inappropriate, but when he got close to her, Wendy noticed how deep his brown eyes were, and how something fluttered in her chest.

She had barely seen Eric at all. At breakfast every day she asked him for just a bit of time just to take a walk and then to talk about everything. But he just told her that he was busy with business and that he would see her at dinner. And she did. But they never got to talk away from his parents. She really missed him. And she felt selfish for it. She knew that he wanted to spend time with her. But this was all temporary until the relationship was stable until they got officially engaged. But…

"Is something the matter?" Wendy looked up to see Elias coming towards her.

She must have broken her position.

"I am sorry, I did not mean to…"

Elias knelt down in front of her in the colorful leaves and looked up at her with eyes full of compassion. "Whatever it is that ails your heart, I can help my muse."

Wendy's smile. Elias looked like a prince out of a fairy tale the way he was kneeling in front of her.

She allowed her bare fingers to glide into his. "I was thinking about Eric. I do not feel like we have spoken properly for quite some time." She smiled down at Elias, who squeezed her hand. A breeze pulled a lock of hair loose from his ponytail, and Wendy resisted the urge to touch it. "I wish I could talk to him like I can talk to you."

"That seems to be too big of an ask, my muse," Elias said with a smile. "I much doubt the young master would find your tales from tea parties as humorous as I."

Wendy smiled. "I suppose not. He would probably tell me I should not be rude to the other nobles."

Elias joined in her chuckle and then looked at her with those inviting brown eyes.

"Do you think it is a good idea?" He then asked and rubbed her fingers with his own. "Marrying him?"

Wendy was a bit taken aback by the question. She had been working hard for months - almost a year - to be able to marry him. She had never considered not doing it. "Of course, why would it not be a good idea?"

Elias didn't look at her. Instead, he looked at her hand, where her engagement ring sat. "You are a force of nature. You deserve to dance to the melody of the wind, wild and ever-free. The fierce fire within you might grow dim by the restraints of society."

Wendy smiled. They had often talked about the many rules, that they had to abide by because they were around the people of high society. And she did miss just being able to act and do as she wanted, instead of constantly having to remember what was proper.

But she also remembered how many people had helped her in her quest to be able to marry Eric. The tutors who put their everything into teaching her, the Baroness who believed in her and wanted her to be part of the family, and the Duchess who helped her.

"Where would I even go?" She asked. "It is not like I can return to dancing at my father's inn now after I have been officially named as the lover of Baron Branigan's son and living at his estate."

"You could run away with me."

Wendy looked up at Elias, stunned, as he got up and looked down at her. She finally understood what he had been talking about with the light, as the sunlight hit his tan skin. It made it look like he was glowing in the afternoon sun.

Something fluttered in her chest again.

He was still holding her hand. "We would travel around the world. Enchanting and spreading joy with our art and music. From time to time, we would return to our roots. Where we would be welcome with open arms and share stories of our travels."

Wendy smiled at the thought of the dream and let herself live in it for only a second. She had never thought of traveling herself, but Elias made it sound so inviting.

The beautiful man lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

She did not know if she had ever felt like this.

Beautiful…

Wendy turned her head at the voice and smiled at the elven queen who stood behind her.

Yes … you seem very beautiful … today … my little hunter…

Wendy chuckled under her breath and looked at Elias.

But Elias wasn't looking at her, instead he was looking behind her.

Wendy turned to the elven queen confused.

The otherworldly woman smiled warmly, and her endless eyes glittered in the sunlight. Then Wendy looked back at Elias, who was still staring.

"Can you see her too?" Wendy asked.

Elias' eyes darted down to hers for a moment, but then back up to the Elven Queen.

"Is she real?" He asked dumbfounded.

Wendy turned so she could look at both of them.

That ... is in the eye … of the beholder…

The elven queen's voice echoed all around them and seemed to startled Elias.

"Wendy … tell me this is not a dream." He said without taking his eyes off the queen.

Wendy couldn't help but giggle at his reaction. She had forgotten what it was like to see the creatures of the forest for the very first time.

"It is not a dream." She said and gestured to the smiling woman. "This is the Elven Queen."

Elias smiled dreamingly. "The queen of fairies all." He mumbled and bowed from the chest.

And once again … I have come to call… The elven queen rhythmed.

"I did not call you." Wendy smiled.

The beautiful woman stepped forward and put a gentle, pale hand on Wendy's shoulder. My little hunter … I was called … by the beautiful scene… She gestured around them.

"You find this scene beautiful?" Elias sounded both surprised and honored.

The blue, endless eyes glittered in his direction. Indeed … my little hunter is more beautiful … than I have seen her in a time…

Elias looked like he was ready to faint.

Wendy laughed again. "You should see some of his other paintings. They are breathtaking."

She felt the elven queen run a hand through her hair.

"You two are as well," Elias said, absentmindedly, and looked at them with dreamy, childlike eyes.

His smile became wider. "Can I paint the two of you, as you're standing here?"

Wendy looked up at the tall, beautiful creature, expectedly.

The Elven Queen leaned her head to one side. I cannot remember … The last time I saw my image … through the mortal's eyes…

Wendy envied her friend.

Her Majesty could stand completely still for hours, but Wendy needed to move ever so often. And every time she did, Elias commented that this position was better than the last.

All the other times Elias had drawn her, he had been able to complete the painting from memory, after just observing her for a few hours, but now he looked up every few seconds to be sure he captured everything right.

Despite that, he still moved swiftly.

There was a fire in his eyes as he darted down every detail with his pencil.

Wendy smiled at his passion. She wished that Eric would show her the same passion. She wondered if he had the same passion when he worked into the long hours.

"To think that I would ever see such a scene." Elias breathed. "A wanderer of the forest and an otherworldly beauty. And I will immortalize them both in a painting." He shook his head with pure joy. "How will I ever go back to painting portraits of high society women again?"

The afternoon went with them, talking softly, as Elias' pace slowed down to elegant, careful strokes with a brush and Wendy stretched her limps as ladylike as possible.

She silently wondered why the elven queen had shown herself. Sure, Elias had talked about wanting to see the creatures of the forest many times, but she had not once made her presence known to Eric.

When he was done, Elias waved his hands in front of the canvas to make it dry.

"I wish I could leave it here to dry, but it might rain tonight, so…"

If that is what troubles you … I can keep the skies dry … for the night and the day… the elven queen echoed.

"You would do that?" He asked.

The Elven Queen moved closer to him to look at the painting. Child … you have given me a gift then few have ever given me … this will be a reward…

"Thank you, Your Majesty." He sat and bowed.

The elven lifted her skirt slightly in a greeting and then slowly disappeared.

Elias looked around - as if he was trying to find her. "Is she still here?" He asked Wendy.

"I do not believe so," Wendy said with a smile and started helping him collect the rest of his things,

"I do not believe I can thank you enough, my muse." Insert tenderly as he helped her up onto her horse. "One of my childhood dreams came true today."

"It was her who chose to show herself to you," Wendy said as got onto his own horse. "She must have seen your worth as a painter."

Elias looked at her with soft eyes. "I hope that is true." He was silent for a moment until he spoke again. "How did the young master react when he first met her?"

His voice was soft, with no hint of malice, but it still caught Wendy off guard.

She sighed heavily. "He has never seen her. Not that I think he would ever believe his eyes if he did."

There was quiet as the horses slowly moved through the trees.

"Yes, the young master is quite rooted in reality," Elias said and smiled at her apologeticly.

"Wendy…"

She looked up at him in surprise. Elias rarely used her name, most of the time he just referred to her as his muse.

"My proposal? It still stands."

Wendy gave him a tired smile. "I'm already engaged, Elias. Maybe not officially, but he has asked for my hand, and I said yes."

"But you would not be happy in high society. You would be like a plucked flower, slowly dying in beautiful surroundings." Elias said.

It felt like every sentence was followed by an eternity of silence.

Wendy continued to smile. "How do you know I would be happy with you?"

A smile glided over Elias' beautiful face and his brown eyes twinkled at her. "Are you not already?"

Wendy felt her heart flutter, and she had to turn away from him as her cheeks began to blush.

She heard him laugh.

"Now," he said in a much more cheerful tone. "There's still a ways to go before we're back in the courtyard - and the horses have been standing still most of the day."

Wendy turned back to him with a mischievous smile, knowing what he meant.

She kicked at Starlight's side and the two horses sat off in a race toward the estate.

And, sorry for being late. This fanfic just seems to be getting longer and longer, but I will finish it.

But Please tell me what you think.

And we will see each other in a weeks time, I hope