Folk Lore

by Joanne Ellis

  She caught Keelor’s arrival out the corner of her eye and decided ignorance would be the best course of action. When he came to stand beside her, she realised it would be harder than she anticipated.

  “Sera, I would very much like to talk to you,” he told her in a hushed tone.

  “I don’t want to talk to you, this is hard enough.”

  “It is not want you assume.”

  Kalar called for attention and Sera was saved from further discussion for the moment.

  “Thank you all for returning again, we hope this will be out last meeting for a while. We considered a vote regarding a new regime in light of recent events. However as we all wholeheartedly agreed we have come to the decision ourselves. A document or treaty has been drafted which allows all banished folk to return to the lands if they so wish. They will be required to sign the peace treaty which contains one law. Peace is to be upheld at all times. If this is not obeyed the culprit will be incarcerated. The shield will be lowered and will remain down unless it is deemed necessary to be raised again. Protectors will continue to guard their Princess to ensure their continued safety. Word has already been dispatched to the banished lands and folk will be entitled to return post haste.”

  During Kalar’s speech, Sera could feel Keelor’s eyes on her back, as though waiting for the proceedings to be over so he could talk to her. She decided to prevent this from happening. She needed to be alone for a while and it hurt way too much to be around him. Barely managing to concentrate on Kalar’s words, as his scrutiny of her was so intense, Sera pulsed her hands behind her shoving him back a step. A quiet chuckle followed and this only confused her further. When Kalar finished Sera didn’t notice.

  “I knew you were special,” Keelor whispered, appeared at her side again.

  Confused by his tone she turned to frown at him, to be greeted with a dazzling smile. She turned away and waited for the meeting to conclude.

  Within hours folk would be returning to the lands, to their home. As Sera thought about the connotations, Nermo rushed to her, his face excited. It was then she realised Kalar had finished her address. Moving away from Keelor she bridged the gap, to not only give them privacy but to distance herself from Keelor.

  “My sister will be returning home,” Nermo told her.

  Initially she was happy for him, knowing how much he missed his sister until she realised exactly what this would mean. Keelor’s love, the one he remembered, would be back.

  “Nermo, I’m really happy for you. I know how much you miss her.”

  “She is no longer interested in the elfin.”

  “How did you know that’s what I was thinking?”

  “I can feel it.”

  “Oh, of course.”

  “Everything will work out, you will see,” Nermo said as he stroked her face.

  “Thanks, Nermo. I’m going to ...” she broke off and walked away.

  Hiding and wallowing in her hut was all she wanted to do. Within seconds, Keelor appeared next to her and she wondered what he could possibly want. Her heart couldn’t take anymore of his rejection. If he was to resume his relationship with Hallow, this would be all she could endure. Nermo might have been sure but she wasn’t.

  “Sera, may I talk with you for a moment?” he asked after staying mute beside her until they’d reached her door.

  “No, I have nothing to say,” she said realising her tone sounded a little childish. She didn’t care.

  “I do.”

  “Look, Keelor, I know you can’t remember and I’m trying to accept it and move on. I accept your apology for kissing me, your conscience is clear.”

  “Did you not want me to kiss you?”

  He was standing close to her now, the door at her back. Love and desire surged through her body and she did all she could to push them aside.

  “No,” she lied.

  “Why, because of the pixie?”

  “No, I want you to kiss me because you remember, because you love me. What does it matter? You don’t and your pixie girlfriend will be back, who you do remember.”

  She didn’t want to hear anymore. Sera spoke the words she assumed he’d come to say. Opening the door she stepped backwards and heard his voice as she closed the door.

  “Sera, I ...”

  She couldn’t bear the thought of the words which preceded those. Crawling into her hammock bed, she curled into her heartache.

  “Sera, I remember,” he said as she closed the door.

  Had she heard? Keelor waited for a several moments for a response. When it wasn’t forthcoming, he knocked with the same answer, nothing. Stubborn human. Even using her preferred name, the endearment, rather than her full name, hadn’t indicated to her he remembered. He contemplated using a grand gesture and climbing in through the window but he didn’t want the wind knocked out of him again either. Knowing her mood it would be best to wait. His annoyance rose at the predicament. Two simple words ‘I remember’ would have her in his arms again, her lips on his. He missed her, more than he ever anticipated.

  He stood rooted to the spot, indecision clouding this mind, when Jeremiah approached.

  “What are you doing here, Keelor?”

  “Attempting to speak with the obstinate Seraphina. She is not a willing participant.”

  “She is upset, you should leave. I don’t think you hanging around is making it any easier for her.”

  “This is not your concern.”

  “Yes it is. I am her protector and at the moment she needs protecting from you.”

  Keelor forgot his role was reassigned to the boy standing before him.

  “How do you know what she needs?” The boy was annoying him.

  “I can sense it, it is our human connection. I feel her abilities stronger than anyone else and from a fair distance too. I didn’t realise it until they’d been bound and I felt nothing. Now I feel as though my heart has been torn from my chest and that is because she is feeling this way.”

  “I can make it all disappear.”

  “I doubt that. Go away.”

  Anger and frustration won out and he strode towards the river to find Hallow sitting with Nermo. Guilt threatened to suffocate him as he walked over to them. One enormous apology was required here. He loved her once, not as much as Sera, but cared for her deeply and allowed her to take the blame for something they’d both felt, both had been involved in.

  As he strode towards them, Hallow looked up and her pretty face offered a smile, something he hadn’t been prepared for. Nermo turned and glared.

  “We need to talk,” he told her.

  “No you do not, elf,” Nermo spat.

  “It is alright, Nermo,” she told him as she placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “There are things which need to be said.”

  48

  Friendship

  As the sun descending behind the horizon Sera realised how long she’d been wallowing. Her stomach growled in discontent over its emptiness so she unfolded herself from her hammock and located a jacket. She decided it was time to face the world again and move forward, even if it was only a few steps.

  Her thoughts drifted to the new treaty and what his would entail for the lands as she walked towards the re-built canteen. What did one do here when they weren’t fighting evil? This thought barely crossed her mind when Jeremiah fell into step beside her.

  “Are you feeling better, Seraphina?”

  “A bit, no use sitting around thinking about him. I need to move on.”

  “He did appear to want to talk to you.”

  “I really don’t want to talk about it. I’m just going to get some dinner. Do you want to join me?”

  “No, I ate already. I did only leave you for a short while. I was coming back when I saw you leave.”

  “Jeremiah, you don’t have to spend every minute with me.”

  “I know but I can sense when you are in trouble. There doesn’t appear to be much else to do around here anyway. Now all the trouble has gone, I’m not sure w
hat to do.”

  “I was thinking the same thing before. I guess it will be a chance for us to all hang out. There hasn’t been any time to get to know the other princesses and it would be nice to.”

  “Yeah I guess.”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I would have been happier to go home. I never expected to become your protector even though I was training for it. I didn’t anticipate anything happening to Sam.”

  “Me neither. I’m not sure what I want to do yet either.”

  They’d arrived at the canteen so Jeremiah showed Sera to a table, ordered her a salad and left her to it. She was picking at it when a now familiar draft blew up her hair.

  “Hi, Sam,” she said as he appeared before her.

  “Sorry, I really shouldn’t sneak up on you like that. I need to learn to walk slow again.”

  “It’s OK. I’m getting used to it.” She smiled.

  “I miss you, you know. I was really worried about you when ...”

  “I know, I miss you too. I sometimes wish it could go back to the way it was before.”

  “Really?”

  “Sort of. If Keelor is going to be stubborn and so ... indifferent then maybe it’s time for me to go home. Be normal again.”

  “You were never normal, Sera. Stay for a while you might like it.” She shrugged. “Angel and I are leaving, going back to the coven we joined before we came back here.”

  “Why, Sam? I just got you back.”

  “Feeding is ... difficult here.”

  “Don’t they have blood supplies at the hazer village?”

  “Yes.”

  “So?”

  “So I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I’m invincible, remember?”

  “This isn’t how I want you to see me, feeding on blood ... thirsting for you.”

  “Sam, I would rather have this you then no you at all. What does Angel want?”

  “She wants to stay here with the coven of returning vampires. Sebastian is back now and he was like family to her.”

  “Then stay, she would only be going because you were. You can make us all happy by staying. If you stay, I will.”

  “OK, Angel will be happy. Is your Mum staying?”

  “I guess so if Sebastian is.”

  “I know it’s weird seeing your Mum with a vampire but you will get used to it.”

  “Nothing is weird anymore.”

  “Are you going to talk to Keelor?”

  “I don’t know. Hallow will be back now, he’ll want to be with her.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “He kissed me before.”

  “This is good, isn’t it?”

  “Yes but I don’t know why, he still doesn’t remember. Then he apologised, I think he realised his mistake.”

  “He looked pretty interested this afternoon at the meeting.”

  “He’s just in awe because I’m the chosen one. He’s all about the book.” Sam shrugged. “He did try and talk to me again. I suppose I could hear him out. Try and move on, work out what I’m supposed to do around here.”

  “Might be a good idea.”

  Sera placed her hands on Sam’s and as he went to pull away she grabbed tighter.

  “You are going to have to get used to me touching you again. Find a way to be close, Sam, you’re my best friend.”

  “My skin is cold. I don’t want you to be ... repulsed.”

  “Sam that will never happen. You will always be the same to me.”

  “Please stop apologising,” she said. Hallow took his hands in hers. “It was a long time ago, we both made mistakes. I’m really happy now with Artius.”

  “Who would have thought I would fall in love and break the law again?”

  “Me.” She smiled. “You are passionate and loyal. She is everything which you fight for, live for, she is the ‘one’. It does not surprise me at all.”

  “She will not talk to me.”

  “Give her some time. The impassive you is a little difficult to endure.”

  “I am not that bad.”

  “Yes you are.” She smiled. “I cannot believe all that has happened since I have left. That I am home again.”

  “It makes me happy to see you happy again.”

  “Now you need to be happy again. Go talk to her.”

  “I will, however I think I should wait till morning. I do not think my ribs could take her wraith again.”

  Hallow laughed before bringing her hands to his face and placing a brief affectionate kiss on his lips. “Everything will work out.”

  “I do hope so,” he said and pulled her in for a hug, relieved by her forgiveness and happy their friendship would remain.

  49

  Broken

  Feeling calmer now and ready to find out exactly what Keelor wanted to say, Sera first went to his hut to find no answer. The only other place she thought to look would be by the river. As she approached she heard voices and recognised the deep tone. For a moment she wondered who he may be talking with and assumed it would be one of his old friends, one of the banished folk.

  When she saw them together her heart stopped and she halted. Their backs were to her although they faced inwards, towards each other, their knees almost touching.

  The girl’s hair was very dark, a blue black and long, to her waist. Hallow. Sera watched as she brought her hands to Keelor’s face before kissing him. Her ears fell deaf as she saw their mouths move and then embrace. Sera tried to stop the overload of emotions coursing through her veins. She didn’t want them to know she was there. The humiliation would be too much.

  Turning, she ran blindly through the forest and back towards her hut. Once inside she allowed her emotions to overcome her and the warm pulses to surround her.

  Her assumption was correct, he only remembered his first love. Now they were reunited and it was because of her. How ironic? She screamed out her frustration and hurt before pulling out her bag and throwing her belongings inside. Jeremiah would get his wish, they were going home.

  Suddenly disappointed at the thought of leaving what she now considered her new home, she decided to stay one more night and leave in the morning. At first light she would seek out Jeremiah, tell her mother of her plans and then they could leave.

  Picking up her bag, she left her hut and strode towards her mother’s quarters. Why put off telling Anna till the morning? She needed comfort and wanted to avoid Keelor and his need to speak with her. Finding Anna’s hut empty only increased her despondency. She curled up on the couch and let the tears flow for what seemed like the endless time. So much happiness and sadness had occurred since she’d discovered The Mystic Lands.

  This is where Anna found her daughter, a few hours later, asleep. Not wanting to disturb her she laid a blanket over her sleeping form. Noticing Sera’s bag, Anna wondered why her tempestuous daughter was leaving this time. A small smile touched her lips, how alike mother and daughter were. How innocent and young she looked while sleeping. Anna brushed back the hair which fell across her face to find swollen eyes and tear stained cheeks. A broken heart, an all too familiar feeling for Anna.

  When Sebastian left after unintentionally killing Sera’s father all those years ago, Anna’s life became empty. If not for Sera she would have given up. She wished she could take away all Sera’s hurt but only time would heal her wounds. Anna realised though, even after nearly twenty years, her feelings for Sebastian had never gone away. Seeing him again brought them all back. Being with him again, even after all this time, was the same, like they’d never been apart.

  A quiet knock on the door startled Anna and she strode to answer it so as not to wake Sera. Nermo greeted her, she stepped outside and shut the door.

  “Is Seraphina alright?” he asked her.

  “No, I think she plans to leave.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m not sure, she’s asleep but I think we can guess.”

  “The elf, he is proficient at driving folk away.”


  “Sera is very stubborn too.”

  “Yes she is. I will return in the morning. Goodnight, Elder Annaphina.”

  “It’s Anna, Nermo.” He flashed a smile before leaving.

  Nermo left fuming and headed directly to his village and his hut, hoping his sister was there. She was staying with him temporarily until she could acquire a new house with Artius. He still wasn’t entirely sure Hallow chose well with her mate. Her past choice in folk definitely fuelled his suspicion. Artius had been banished for using magic to attempt to divert Hallow’s attention from Keelor therefore only being banished weeks before her. Personal gain magic was against the law, or had been. Nermo did a similar thing with Sera a few times with the dust but only used a temporary affect. Artius used a long term spell. Well tried to, but had been caught. Nermo hoped Artius learned his lesson.

  Hallow was home and alone which Nermo was thankful for, he didn’t want to talk with her while Artius was present. She lay along a seat under the window reading a book from his collection. Affection for his little sister flooded his heart and he realised just how happy he was she was home.

  “Nermo, I have been waiting for you.”

  “Sorry, I went to see Seraphina.”

  “Has Keelor spoken with her?”

  “I hope not.”

  “Nermo, I really wish you would forgive him. I have.”

  “His cold manner continues to hurt folk I care about.”

  “He loves Sera.”

  “He doesn’t remember.”

  “Yes he does.”

  “Pardon?”

  “He remembered today when he kissed her.”

  “Did he tell her that?”

  “Not yet. She would not talk to him because as always his few words were misconstrued.”

  “I do not think he has. Anna believes she may be leaving.”

  “Someone should tell Keelor.”

  “Be my guest.”

  With his heart heavy with resentment, Nermo walked to the window and glanced out. His thoughts divided. Nermo certainly didn’t want Sera to leave, he cared about her deeply and would miss her. If staying entailed her being with Keelor, he wasn’t sure he still wanted her to. Would he crush her generous heart all over again? He gripped the window sill and stared up into the sky as he contemplated his next move.