Chapter VIII - The Adventure Begins

The Legend of Leanna Page: Vol. I

You’re reading The Legend of Leanna Page, the page-turning mythopoetic queer literary fantasy. *Click here for the Table of Contents and start of Volume I*

Previously: The fairy couple and human couple agreed to cohabitate and Leanna and Kennedy both were born. How long will they all be safe hidden in the cave? Read on!

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For many years, the family in the cave lived together in comfort. Esta returned to her post under Princess Isolda, much to the glee of King Madrick who further employed her as his chief conversation partner when she was not otherwise occupied. Byrdon continued to serve Prince Guiomar, relaxing into his duties, as of yet finding them sufficiently lacking in the assistance of wicked plots. Alizren resumed her warrior station, informing her friends and superiors alike, with feigned sadness, that Stoman and herself had found a secluded hovel in the Forest to live and grieve in after the loss of their babe who had not lived more than a few moments before the fates cut her strings. Stoman, still excluded from the Fairy Queen’s army, assumed the post which all the other three secretly envied: he remained in the cavern to look after Leanna and Kennedy.

In the early years, he would feed them each bottles of their mother’s milk, read and sing to them, and rock them to midday sleeps. As they grew, his duties as entertainer quickly dissolved as the two girls spent all their time entertaining one another. They acted out scenes from plots of their creation and used mud to paint warrior marks on each other’s cheeks. Stoman taught them to use a paintbrush and soon after the long tunnel walls were covered with their commendable – if juvenile – works.

In the evenings, all the adults would return. Together they would make a meal, and the six of them would sit around the fire for hours, telling tales, singing songs, and explaining to the children how their world was structured, and why it would be such a danger for Kennedy in particular to leave the caves. Understanding the fear of separation, Leanna swore never to leave Kennedy’s side. Stoman and Alizren, having been taught to read as children in Alquoria, instructed Kennedy and Leanna, and Esta and Byrdon by proximity, on the ways of literature and philosophy, and the children were taught their history. Every night, as they were being put to sleep, Esta would sit by the children’s beds and sing to them softly her mother’s old lullaby.

‘My dear who drifts into the night,
Thy dreams may have no bound nor fright,
For I’ll protect thee with my heart.
My love will find thee where thou art...’

Eleven years passed thus, and all were quite content. Then, one Spring afternoon, as Stoman was out collecting firewood in the Forest of Beasts, Leanna woke from a nap at a sudden and shook Kennedy awake beside her.

“Kennedy, I have just had the most beautiful dream in the world!” she said. Leanna told her friend of a path she had found herself on, surrounded by tall green hedges which were decorated with vibrant yellow flowers in full bloom. At the end of the path was a magnificent castle and, at its base, she saw her own mother entering a small door. “I cannot explain how I know it,” she continued, “but I am almost certain I have seen the very castle in which my mother serves.”

“How can that be? We have never seen its image,” Kennedy replied, and Leanna shrugged. Kennedy thought a moment then, staring Leanna in the eyes, determined “We should go to it.”

“Do not be silly,” Leanna rejoined.

“But if thou hast truly visited the castle of Masor in thy sleep, then thou must have been aided by magic, and if thou ist capable of magical dreaming then we may be even more alike than we knew! Dost thou not burn for the truth?” Kennedy argued.

“I do, but what if we were found? What if thou wert taken!”

“I shall shrink to the size of thy very palm and conceal myself in thy pocket,” she explained. “I will not be seen, and who art thou to attract eyes amongst a city of humans?”

Leanna sighed. “We are not supposed to leave the caves.”

“Nor can we stay in them forever.”

They paused, looking towards each other. Leanna’s logic tried to restrain her imagination as it went off to explore the unknown streets of Masor, but even her most rational fear was incapable of it, and she knew, without long, she would agree to the inadvisable expedition. When Kennedy spoke to her, her very soul gave her no power to ignore. She considered, and then spoke.

“Thy father did fly toward Pavoline in search of wood. It would not be of great difficulty to escape toward Masor.”

Kennedy smiled, and Leanna’s countenance responded in kind. In the next minute, once Leanna had put on her pocketed coat, the two were racing down the Masor-bound tunnel, giggling, running farther from the hollow than they ever had.

Arriving at the bottom of the well, Leanna wondered at how her mother reached the surface each morn. Kennedy flew up and discovered the long rope, wound and secured, at the top. She lowered the bucket to Leanna and dropped her the remaining rope, which she utilized then, stepping in the bucket, to hoist herself up until she could take Kennedy’s hand and clumsily tumble onto the land. The earth was warmed by the sun as she had never felt before. Pulses racing in their clever success, the girls made sure to tie the rope up again, hiding that it had been tampered with.

They heard voices outside the alley, making Kennedy instantly condense and dive into the outer pocket of Leanna’s coat, observing the world through an unclosed buttonhole. Leanna stepped toward the bustling street, full of shouting merchants and a torrential current of villagers, all of a significantly taller height than she, passing to and fro. She hardly dared to enter it. Gazing all around, her eyes caught on the peak tower of the Masorian castle, and she realized, in her vision, she had seen the same exactly. Upon this, her determination increased tenfold and she bounded out into the market, racing, like a guppy, up the wild stream, eyes and mind set on her destination; the castle. She found herself at last before the palace gates but, wary to enter the courtyard, she walked around to the unpopulated side and, to her astonishment, saw, in the distance, a large hedge of yellow roses. She moved towards its beginning and knew not that she was running until she stopped suddenly on a path environed by parallel thickets of flowers.

“It is just as thou hadst said,” Kennedy marveled, peeking her head out of the pocket.

“It is just as I saw,” Leanna replied in even greater amazement. “Kennedy, how can this be?”

The fairy jumped up and, ensuring they were out of sight, flew to sit upon her friend’s shoulder. “Remember my father told us of the visions fairy mothers have before birth,” Kennedy began. “The same magic must be at play here. There is only one explanation, Leanna. Thou art part fairy!”

Leanna was speechless in marveling at the thought; then, suddenly inquisitive, she asked, “Dost thou think I may grow wings?”

Kennedy turned her head. “No,” she rejoined. “Fairies do not have visions of anything except their baby before giving birth. Thou dost not have wings. ‘Tis only fair. Thou cannot have everything, Leanna.”

Leanna laughed, and Kennedy soon followed in kind.

“Come, let us go further,” Kennedy urged, pointing to the servants’ entrance door.

“Hast thou gone mad?” asked Leanna in earnest.

“We have come this far,” Kennedy pleaded.

“We cannot go inside the castle!”

“Art thou not curious? Hast thou never wished to know how the queens live? I certainly have.”

Leanna stared at her friend with bitter adoration, then shook her head with a slight smile. “Thou really art a royal, aren’t thee?”

Kennedy smiled in response and sparks of eagerness flew from her wings.

“Very well, thy majesty,” Leanna submitted, and Kennedy clapped with joy. “But restore thyself to thy pocket,” Leanna ordered. Kennedy hastened to obey.

Leanna crept to the end of the rose bush and examined the terrain before her. When the way was clear of spying eyes, Leanna darted to the door, catching it just as it was closing from its last use. Immediately upon entrance, they found themselves in a musty washroom where royal sheets hung on wires and gossiping maids sat laundering the king’s clothes. Further down the hall was a kitchenette with furnaces and fruit baskets. There was suddenly a jab at Leanna’s abdomen and she looked down, with furrowed brow, to Kennedy who pointed to the far corner, adjacent to the kitchenette, where Leanna now saw her own mother standing, preparing a plate of biscuits and berries for the princess’s lunch. She dove behind a nearby crate, watching from below as Esta turned away and carried the plate through another door. In the brief moment of the door’s opening, Leanna and Kennedy both could see it led to a hallway far more exquisitely decorated than the servant’s hall they now occupied. Leanna’s coat moved as Kennedy flew forward in the pocket, and, knowing it would be worse to argue aloud lest they be heard, Leanna submitted to her own inevitable curiosities and followed the fairy friend’s lead. She crawled along, unseen, and when no barricade continued to hide her from view, she straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and sauntered through the door, undisturbed.

Leanna looked round for her mother, but she was no longer to be seen, and, her attention being now caught by walls of such smooth shine, hung with such tapestries, her feet strolled on aimlessly as she craned her neck to absorb it all. She wandered so for some time, occasionally turning a corner or hesitating before a display of armor at Kennedy’s silent request. Finally, they turned onto a walkway whose inner wall was replaced by an open parapet. Turning towards, and standing before, the banister, Leanna’s eyes reached just underneath the wall’s height, and she rose to her toes in hope of seeing what lay beyond. From her vantage, she could see a hint of the perfectly clear Sky, the vivid cerulean mesmerizing her. Kennedy slumped further into her pocket as, from her buttonhole, she could see nothing. The movement in her coat tugged Leanna’s focus from the Sky and she realized that sounds of the citadel could be heard from below. In an attempt to witness their sources, Leanna held onto the parapet and leapt up, seeing hints of villagers, but falling back again much too soon.

King Madrick wandered onto the balcony to gaze out at his world when he saw the small jumping child. He paused and sought round for to whom she might belong but, finding no one near who was claiming her, approached her gently.

He asked, “Might I help thee with a lift?”

She was startled and looked to him a moment in silence.

“Be not afraid, I will harm thee not,” he comforted. “My name is Madrick.”

“The king!” she exclaimed, eyes widening.

“Only by title, thou needest not think of it. And thy name?” he inquired.

She paused with caution. “My mother says it is not safe for us here.”

“Oh! Us? Is there more of you?”

“No,” she said quickly, correcting herself.

“With all my kingly power, I swear, I shall allow no harm to come to thee. I pray, trust me with thy name.”

Meekly, she responded. “My name is Leanna.”

“Leanna,” he smiled. “Would thou likest me to lift thee onto the parapet?”

She nodded and he did so, keeping a close watch as she leaned outward to see more of the view.

“There is so much of the world!” she cried now, having in her sight the whole of the palace courtyard, much of the market, and miles of green Masorian hills and forests past the citadel walls, the Infinite Trees looming all around. “It is so beautiful. I didn’t know,” she whispered. Kennedy too now could see what appeared as all the world laid bare before them and had much the same sentiments as Leanna.

“Thou dost reside deep in the city then?” Madrick asked her. She looked to him a moment speechless, then simply nodded, returning her gaze to the land beyond the walls.

“Thou wert born here?”

Again, a nod. Invariably curious as to the child’s origins, he pressed further.

“Dost thou have a relative in the castle?”

Unthinking, Leanna revealed, “My mother serves Princess Isolda.”

The king’s eyes widened as he clarified, “Art thou Esta’s child?”

She flinched, realizing her error, but remembered her mother’s better sentiments about the Masorian king and decided to trust him. She nodded again.

“Of course! All those years ago, I thought—” he stopped himself. “Well, no matter now, this is splendid. Thou shouldst know, I am quite fond of thy mother.”

Leanna looked at him daringly. “She says thou art a drunken fool.”

The king’s laugh erupted from his chest and billowed through the halls at both the child’s sentiment and speech.

“And in doing so, she, likewise to thyself, hath earned my further respect.” Madrick took on a more didactic tone. “Although, if thou art to spend time amongst the prissy nobles who haunt the castle, it will be to thy benefit to avoid speaking to the king as though he were of an equally low status as thyself.”

Leanna, fully conscious of her disrespect, replied, “Sorry, your highness. She says you are a drunken fool.”

He smiled, restraining another laugh. “A drastic improvement. Come, if thou wilt allow, I will show thee through the castle; reveal all thy mother’s haunts.”

Leanna thought this quite a wonderful idea and, with a nudge from within her coat, she knew Kennedy agreed. She thus consented and Madrick lifted her from the parapet, returning her to the ground. He brought them first to the nearest place of excitement, the armory, and boasted of their glistening shields and sharp battle swords. Leanna wondered aloud as to their purpose, and he told her of famous battles for land and honor that had been won by Masorian knights of the past. Leanna’s nose wrinkled, with furrowed brow, at the thought of any estimable person utilizing these weapons to strike another. She knew of such things from stories, and Kennedy and herself had passed many an hour pretending it with long spoons in innocent fun; still, when confronted with instruments that had been used for true harm, her sadness cast a dark shadow over her adventurous soul.

Going on, Madrick explained, “We have not fought such a war for some time. Now, Isolda holds the knights ready to defend us from a fairy invasion.”

“The fairies have no intention to attack,” Leanna said sharply.

“So we may hope. Their wickedness has already taken too much from my family – from our kingdom. I have no faith in their passivity.”

“But it was not—” Leanna tried.

“This is not a pleasant subject, let us move on.” Madrick turned to exit the armory, and, out of his sight, Leanna looked down to Kennedy, her sympathetic eyes slightly calming the fairy’s anger.

Next, they toured the full royal kitchen, housed in a wing opposite the washroom the two children had initially entered, and Madrick told Leanna of his childhood when he would sneak around the cook, stealing extra sweets and pastries against his parent’s demand.

“The secret, of course, is my behavior never changed,” he said, guiding Leanna along his stealthy route and obtaining a small, delicious cake for her, which she shared pieces of with Kennedy when Madrick was concentrated elsewhere. They all giggled as they ran from the cook, who saw them now and chased them away with a rag.

“Come, I shall take thee to Isolda’s chambers so thou canst see thy mother’s most frequent place. We shan’t enter upon her highness however for, if she is occupied, we will only be scolded, and if not, she will likely bore thee with superfluous motivational histories. Regardless, we will run outside again either at her command or else to escape the tedium.”

Leanna laughed.

As they walked, Leanna opened up to the conversation and, though telling nothing of her family or circumstances, told much of her love for stories, music, and painting. For her youth, Madrick was impressed by her conversation and rather taken by her childlike wisdom and charm. Leanna noticed in the king the lack of assertiveness her mother spoke of; but, like Esta, she even more recognized the good – if misguided – man whose mind and passion lay hidden beneath the heart of a frightened fool. As the two furthered their acquaintance, Kennedy let her focus wander over the castle walls, her wings often sparking in excitement as they passed regal portraits or lavish landscape tapestries of the Masorian woods. The light in her wings darkened, however, as they started up a grand staircase. Centered upon the wall of the landing was a large, framed case, inside of which was pinned a pair of grand fairy wings, once vibrant, now dulled, showing only hints of the emerald veins that once pulsed with energy. Leanna, engrossed in talk, failed to notice and continued to follow Madrick down the hall, past the display, but Kennedy was struck so strongly, she flew from Leanna’s pocket and hovered in terrific awe before the cruelly trophied wings. Without thought, she grew to full height, standing now on the ground, staring, still, and silent.

“Halt! Thou winged beast!”

Leanna spun at the guard’s call to see Kennedy frozen at the top of the stairs. Checking her pocket in confusion, and now again surveying the scene, she looked to Kennedy in fear but tried to hold her strength when she perceived her friend’s complex countenance of grief, anger, apology, and desperation. The guards, now three, rushed upon the violet child and Leanna thought with such vehemence, Fly, Kennedy, Fly! that she felt as though her friend heard her silent plea. Indeed, as the guards reached out for her, Kennedy constricted her size and flew down the hall, past Leanna. Madrick pulled Leanna to the side just in time for the guards to come stampeding past in pursuit of the young fairy.

Leanna stood stupefied in such extreme distress and, misinterpreting its cause, Madrick placed a sturdy hand on her shoulder, promising, “Worry not, for Masor’s knights are the best in all the land. They will catch it.”

At this, Leanna’s small heart could bear no more, and, leaning against the wall, she fell to the floor, curled her knees to her chest, and cried into her self-embracing arms. Esta rounded the corner now, concerned at the commotion.

“What has happened?” she asked Madrick, not yet noticing Leanna.

“There was a fairy in the castle,” he informed her. The shock in her following countenance was true, but the fear she combined it with was feigned. She looked down to the crying child.

“And who is— Leanna!” she realized, immediately kneeling beside her. “What art thou doing in this place?” Though when Leanna looked to her with such grief, she thought of the escaping fairy and understood the worst of it. Asking no more, she took her daughter in her arms.

“I was merely offering her a tour of the castle,” Madrick said into their embrace.

Drying Leanna’s tears, Esta responded, “Thank you, my liege, that is gracious. I suppose an introduction is then no longer necessary.”

“We have been well introduced,” the king assured her with a kind smile. “In fact, so well introduced I would like to offer her thy place as my chief conversationalist, if she is not already employed. She is a bright child. Isolda has been begging me to acquire a servant for myself; I can think of no one I would rather appease her with. Leanna could become a page in the castle just as thyself!”

“We shall consider it, your highness. Thank you, again.” All of the mother’s focus was on her crying child. The king did not entirely understand their preoccupation.

“Is it no longer considered quite an honor to serve the king? I hope the position would maintain its respectability despite who sits on the throne.”

Esta turned to him now in deep apology, keeping a hand on Leanna’s knee. “Oh, it does, your majesty, it is an immense honor and it is well appreciated. I am simply afraid neither of us are in the mind to decide it just now, please forgive me.”

It was now Madrick’s turn for apology. “No, forgive me, Esta. I should have chosen a more opportune moment to ask. The little one has seen an ordeal, I suppose.”

“Yes,” Esta said, with more meaning than Madrick understood.

“Why dost thou not take her home? I shall cover for thee with Isolda.”

“I should not ask that of you, King.”

“I do not recall any asking. Please, allow me to help.”

Esta met her daughter’s swelling eyes and knew there was really no other way. Grateful, she nodded to the king. “Thank you. Sincerely, thank you,” then graciously bowed and, taking Leanna’s hand, led her from the castle.

Stoman, finding the children missing upon his return, had gone out again in a frenzy, first back to Pavoline then finally to Masor, frantically searching for the children. When Esta and Leanna returned to the caves, they found them empty, save for a new pile of firewood abandoned in the middle of the cavern floor. Leanna told her mother what had all occurred as they journeyed home, crying and apologizing profusely before describing each event. On arriving in their hollow, Leanna, exhausted, fell upon her cot and, after a few more tears, sank directly into sleep.

When Stoman, at length, returned again to the caves, he fell to his knees in relief to see Leanna safe. Esta approached him with delicacy, but he prevented her from revealing the loss of his own child, for his last discovery had been to watch from above as Kennedy, wounded, was lifted from the edge of the Infinite Wood by warriors of the Fairy Queen and taken to their nation’s capital on the Anwansi Pool. Once all events were detailed to him, Stoman merely sat stupefied in terror and shock. Esta wanted to comfort him but could imagine no words that would suffice. Instead, she made a fire and, together, they silently awaited the return of their partners, both watching over the lone resting child.

Deep in a tumultuous repose, Leanna’s mind scoured through infinities of dense forestry, dreaming tree and identical tree, searching, though she knew not what for; she knew only to lose it would be to lose a vital chamber of her heart. She found herself suddenly in a brightly lit grove and lifted her eyes up to find a spot of aquamarine light breaking the cast over clouds of a leaden sky. As she stared upwards, a grand wind blew beneath her feet and, as though her spirit willed it, lifted her up through the vibrant clearing. Thither, all the clouds melted away, erasing the remaining world as they dissolved, leaving Leanna standing in an unknowable expanse of light blue, crystalline sky. More unending than even the Infinite Woods, Leanna thought her new quiet hideaway to be one of simple peace. She remembered then for whom she sought as she now discovered a violet form in the distance.

“Kennedy,” she said, now taking restrained steps, and now running to the figure before her. The figure smiled as she came further into view and, wings emitting sparks of glee, rushed towards Leanna with haste. In mere moments, the two friends, reunited, were locked in each other’s embrace. Remembering all the events now that led to their separation, Leanna stood away from Kennedy with a somber countenance. At Kennedy’s curiosity, she explained, “Thou art but only a vision. I miss thee so, and I lost thee I know not to whither, nor do I know if I shall ever see thee more.”

“Thou seest me now, Leanna,” Kennedy said. “I am no vision; but a moment past I thought thou to be a vision of mine.”

“I don’t understand.” Leanna eyed her strangely.

“If thou thinkest thyself the owner of this dream, and I think myself the same, then perhaps both and neither are the case, but instead we own the dream together.” An idea came to her. “For thy mind alone could not inform thee that I, the far Kennedy, now lay in a medicine bed amidst the Anwansi Pool, surrounded by healers of the Alquorian royal court, and yet such is the truth.”

Forgetting a moment all her doubts as fear overcame her, Leanna asked, “For what dost thou require healers?”

“We will come to it,” the fairy assured. “Tell me now of thyself so I may know thou art not mine own imaginings. Whither art thou?”

Mind still reeling from the possibility, she answered slowly, “The cavern. My mother found me in the castle and we returned together.”

“Then thou art safe?”

Leanna nodded, and Kennedy let loose a held breath in relief.

“Astounding. To think that we have found each other through dream at such a length,” Kennedy marveled.

“I still understand it not. How can this be?”

“It must be thy magic, Leanna! If thou canst travel through mental prowess alone to places thine eyes have never seen, perhaps the minds of others lay similarly within thy reach. I am real, Leanna. I swear to thee.”

Her words soaked into Leanna’s heart and, indeed, she realized, Kennedy and herself shared an essence of realism not found in her usual dreamscape. She looked now to Kennedy, whose wings shone nearly as bright as her exuberant smile. Her eyes, Leanna saw, sparkled as brightly as she remembered, and the hints of lilac which floated in her irises gave them all the beauty of the last time Leanna had gazed upon them. Leanna’s smile grew as she allowed herself to believe Kennedy’s assertions, and, at her sudden initiation, the two were once again caught in a caring embrace.

“What happened to thee?” Leanna begged, holding Kennedy at a short distance. “Thou wert able to escape the castle?”

Kennedy nodded and began to tell her tale. “The guards were swift, but in my small size I managed to evade both their grasp and their weapons.” Leanna’s eyes widened at this, remembering the extent of danger in which she had left her friend. She continued, “I flew out the casement of a turret and kept straight on. I wanted so to halt and seek the well from which I could return home, but flying weapons were set upon me and I feared to slow. I wished so for speed that would hasten me from danger, and in hoping so I grew to my larger height so my wider wings might carry me more swiftly. This, however, was in grave error for though greater in speed, I became also a target of a larger size and within a moment I felt the head of a Masorian arrow drive through my side. Leanna, calm thyself, I am safe, for though I shall say the pain was piercing, I still kept a great alertness; or, so I tried. Though my mind was sharp, I could feel my consciousness slipping. Forgive me, Leanna, but I forgot my search for the well and flew straight for what I saw to be my nearest place of physical safety which, now, was the Infinite Woods. Falling upon the Forest floor, I both feared discovery – for I knew it meant my separation from thee, and failing my parents who always kept me from Anwansi – and I feared not to be discovered, for I had nothing but to hope for the aid of healers, and I knew I had not the strength to carry myself from the Woods. Before long, I saw two warriors of the Fairy Queen fly toward me, and I let my consciousness fade. When I next awoke, I was lying in a healer’s bed, the arrow was gone from my side, the wound cleaned, and leaf bandages were wrapped securely around my waist. Though I grieved at our distance, I will admit, in the moment, I felt nothing but relief.”

“Feel no shame at thy relief,” Leanna said. “I am so thankful for thy safety, for certainly I did nothing to ensure it.” She averted her gaze in self-disappointment. “Still, Kennedy, I worry. What hast thou told them of thy origins? Thy parents could be sent to the dreaded prison under the pool if their crime of raising thee were to be known.”

Kennedy turned from Leanna, explaining, “I know all too well the dangers, and I have spoken of my parents to no one.”

“They have not asked thee?”

“No, they have asked. They have asked nothing but from whence I came. More, due to my color, the questions come from all the highest places. From fear of saying too much, I have said nothing at all. They ceased their questioning on the assumption that I am mute.”

Despite herself, Leanna laughed. “Dost thou mean to say the royal Kennedy, whose endless chatter has kept me from repose of numberless nights, is now thought of by all of Alquoria as being unable to speak at all?”

Kennedy shrugged, and with a bemused smile revealed, “They know not even my name.”

Leanna laughed again. “Then as soon as thou art well, thou shalt fly again home and we shall be safe and happy once more.”

Her smile fading into anticipatory pensiveness, Kennedy’s eyes drifted downward. Leanna immediately noticed the change in countenance and inquired as to its cause.

“Thou dost intend to return to us; or do thee not?” She realized the truth as she spoke but refused to believe it until Kennedy affirmed her fear.

“I will not pretend to feel at home in this place, nor would I dream to ever feel so at peace, so loved, as I do in our family’s arms. I dread to think of how lonely I shall be when night falls and I have thee not beside me, nor my brow warm with the kisses of my mother and father, nor thine own mother singing us to sleep, but in this place I feel a new sense of belonging, a calling, as though I am needed here. I have found my adventure here, Leanna, and I cannot dream to let it go.”

Leanna breathed back a tear, her grief now overcome with both an understanding and a fear of what was to come.

“What am I to do without thee?” she asked.

Kennedy smiled and took her hand. “Thou art to find thine own adventure. I may be some type of royalty, but, Leanna, thou art something special beyond what we can imagine. Today we found only part of the Skies, and already it has proven so grand, and more vast than we had dared to dream! I hope thou wilt not simply return to the caves, now that thou hast seen the world.”

Thinking a moment, Leanna replied, “The king of Masor offered me the position of his servant. Perhaps my adventure begins there.”

Kennedy smiled and joyfully kissed Leanna on the cheek.

“I shall miss thee so,” Leanna said, but Kennedy rejected her lamentation.

“There will be no need,” she said. “I have no doubt our adventures will be much intertwined, and until that comes to be we shall meet every night in our dreams as we do now. This is not goodbye, Leanna. I swear to thee, there will never be a goodbye.”

Leanna suddenly awoke in her cot as her father’s hand felt her forehead for illness. As her mind slowly came out of sleep, she heard Kennedy’s voice whisper in her ears.

I love thee, it said.

Leanna smiled.

The family gathered round the young dreamer as she told them all of her earlier vision and her recent dream. All were amazed, none more so than Byrdon who had yet never been told of Esta’s suspicion of the child’s mystical nature. Esta was indeed amazed at her daughter’s magical abilities, but her surprise was exaggerated for Byrdon and Leanna’s benefit. However, despite this, the four adults were unable to maintain this subject long, for thoughts of Kennedy overpowered their imaginations. Alizren and Stoman grieved at both the gulf that stood between them and their daughter, and that she would choose it. Leanna exerted all efforts towards relating Kennedy’s love for her parents and her conflicting passion which kept her afar. She told of how their familial tie was not yet known outside the confines of their family and emphasized that none of them were in danger. The fairy parents appreciated Leanna’s attempts, but they knew there would be no peace for them now that their only child had been thrust into the system of rank they had so desperately tried to keep her from. They felt the only way to regain what little peace they could was to return to their cottage on the Anwansi Pool and, though at a distance, keep watch as their daughter grew.

That night, Stoman and Alizren took up the bags they had long stowed away and packed their belongings. Embraces and tears were shared between all and, with a final look at the cavern walls, which were covered in the girls’ childhood paintings, the couple took hands and flew out through the tunnels, into the open air, towards Anwansi.

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