not a love story

The faerie wore a

Smile and a crown

To the meeting with

The pretty little

Princess,

His eyes older than

Her kingdom.

Her dress reminded him

Of dew covered leaves

In the spring;

Her eyes,

Of sun covered petals -

But they hid a

Trap for the faerie

Prince.

For deep in the forest

Where they met

That day,

A ring of iron stood

Hidden in the ferns.

The faerie appeared

In the shadows

And walked

Into the clearing.

The princess cleared her

Throat

And SNAP!

Went the soldiers’ lances

As they came to attention

In a circle

Around him,

Iron tips gleaming

In the sun

Like water in the

Moonlight -

Beautiful but deadly.

“What are you doing?”

Asked the prince,

Sometimes a liar himself,

But not to this girl

Who had ensnared his heart.

“Controlling the one

Who might control me,”

She answered,

Flicking her fingers once.

Thirteen iron lances

Moved forward;

One touched his arm

And the pain was the

Agony of a broken heart.

“I do not know

What I might do for you,”

She said.

“Love is foolish,

And I will not be made

A fool by you.”

The faerie was made

To follow behind her,

Head bowed,

Crown slipping,

Smile already slipped.

A tear escaped,

Just one drop of

Pure grief.

And his prayer was

Answered;

The queen of the faeries

Came for him,

Her sweet son.

“What have you done

To my little boy?”

She thundered,

Stopping the princess

In her tracks.

“Never will humans

And faeries exist

Together,”

The princess replied.

“Your son was a fool

To believe that, and he

Almost made a fool of

Me, too.”

The queen’s glare sundered

Trees that day;

The soldiers and princess

Became naught but dust

In the wind.

“You became a fool

When you believed

You were stronger

Than love,”

The queen cooed to

The dust.

Her son heaved one

Great sob,

Collapsing into her

Arms.

“Why?”

He moaned,

Lost.

The great faerie queen

Sighed deeply.

“My dear son,”

She began.

“Sometimes, people become

Scared when something

Wonderful happens.

They believe they must be

Stronger than

Anything else,

Even their own

Feelings.

They push them down,

Away,

Out of sight.

And with them,

Anyone and

Anything

Who makes them feel

That way.

You are old but

Still young -

You have never known

A love like this

But you have suffered

For it.

Do not become

Frightened.

You can love again.

Everyone in the world

Is not the same.

You can try again

And someday,

You will meet the one

Who is also

Not scared.

When that happens,

Keep them close

And hold on forever.”