Sample Chapter

This is a version of Chapter One of my first book Now renamed Once Again: Tales of Destiny that didn’t make it into the real thing. I loved it but so many Beta readers kept wanting me to change different parts of it that I finally just scrapped it.

Foreword


Selfish! Vain and simply prideful! That’s what they are. Please don’t get me wrong, I admire the Fair Folk as much as the next creature, but really, they can be so infuriating at times. Now, I know I am getting ahead of myself. Let me begin again. 

My name is Bronwyn of clan MacIntash, originally from the Green Isle herself. Now, obviously, I have made the move to the New World. I am reminded to keep my ranting short, so let me get to the point. I am the Official Historian for Prince Aerrvin ap Rosewin, first and only son of Her Royal Highness, Queen Laurel ap Rose and Her King Consort, Jasper ap Rosewin. In fact, my assignment is to document Prince Aerrvin’s life;  given to me from the very day he was born – May 23rd, 1819,  what a beautiful spring day that was too.

Now, I fear that I do tend to run on quite a bit, so let me tell you: This book is not about his birth and growing up. No, no those are already written, and copies were spirited to each of the Royal Libraries around the world. Some Fairies do love reading about themselves and their competition, don’t you know? Competition being merely other Fair Ones, of course. “Mirror, mirror on the wall” etcetera does have some truth to it after all. This volume concerns his long-awaited engagement.

Be that as it may, other versions can be had, written from other perspectives. What follows is my interpretation. 
        ~ Bronwyn of Clan MacIntash


Prologue

It wasn’t as if he’d meant to sound petulant. Aerrvin couldn’t have asked for a more faithful servant as found in Bronwyn MacIntash. Making a scene on the beach showed a petulance not often revealed. Most days he was his own Purple self. He loved the qualities of being a Purple Fairy; it allowed him to be more playful and carefree. In his opinion, it was better than being Yellow, like his sister.

Ah, Harmony, he thought as he lounged upon the shore, she’s the one at fault. Without her demands, I would not have yelled at Bronwyn at all.

***

“I am not selfish! I simply want to do as I please, is that so hard to understand?”
“No, Aerrvin, I understand you. I do. It is just – hmm, you are turning one hundred and ninety years old next month, and you have yet to find a bride. Your parents are beginning to despair, and for them that is saying something! You know how patient they are,” the broad Brownie sighed, but kept a steady eye on his charge. 
“I know, I know! If tha’ sister o’ mine had waited a pint-size longer t’marry, they would not be ever fretful!” In his frustration, his Irish accent grew thick. “Aye, she be t’cause of all me woes!”

Splashing his foot in the tide pool, Aerrvin appreciated the musical sound as he witnessed the sun catching the liquid diamonds before they rejoined the small impression in the sand. Becalmed he continued, “Just because tradition says the oldest must have a child first, doesn’t mean it must be so. Does it?” 

“Well, sir if I may say so, such a thing has never been done. Do you wish to break tradition, just to see what happens?”

Bronwyn had a point, so Aerrvin agreed to think upon it. The Brownie removed himself a respectful distance away. Each appeared in his natural state, being roughly six inches in height. Bronwyn climbed onto a piece of driftwood and settled down to whittle some delicate whimsy. 

Situated between the two starfish in the tide pool, Aerrvin wriggled to find the most comfortable position. He visualized how he looked as his golden hair swirled in the ripples. His vanity showed on his face at the thought. Though truth be told, Bronwyn sat busily carving that very scene from the driftwood upon which he perched. The rendering would attest to the beauty of the fair Prince as his hair danced in unison with the sea urchins and anemones. 

The tide was rising, so Aerrvin dared himself to come to a decision before the pool became a part of the ocean herself. Stroking the nubby surface of the purple starfish on his right soothed his anxiety over having yelled at Bronwyn. Not only was he Aerrvin’s personal servant, but he was also his royal historian and advisor. Brownies are brilliant at most any task they are given and make excellent writers. Aerrvin allowed it was quite disrespectful to lash out against him. Here, here!
The truth of the matter was that Aerrvin was also partially White in his genetic make-up, causing him to cycle out of his happy-go-lucky moods from time to time. Being in a White Fairy mood meant that Aerrvin felt a need to withdraw from social contact. Sometimes he hid away for days, other times months. During these cycles, all beings learn that he is best left alone. Even so, being in a White frame of mind meant he could ponder more clearly, and make wiser decisions. It was deemed a good trait for a future King to have.

Entering The Land of Dreams within the Void, Aerrvin chose to visit long-past memories – events, dear reader, which he chooses to keep to himself at present. Suffice it to say he pondered upon each fair maiden he had known up to this point.
As the tide neared its highest mark, the delightful Wind Sprite, Mirri Sihee – Aerrvin’s constant and invisible-to-most companion – advised, “My Lord, I do agree, tis time for you to put aside your childhood. If I could wed thee, I surely would, as well you know. But go, make a legend of your search worthy of the bards in olden times.”

 Delight warmed his soul causing a small fit of joy to bubble out. “Ha! Mirri you are the light that cheers my soul. How could I find anyone who could compare?”
Aerrvin hugged his precious companion and nodded; his chin tapped softly against her iridescently sheer shoulder. Then lying back down upon the starfish whereon they lay he continued, “But yes, you are correct: Tis time and time enough to be sure.”
Mirri Sihee ran her feather soft fingers through his golden locks; breathing sweet songs of peace into his soul. 
With a mental sigh, Aerrvin rose up out of the tide pool. The young Fairy Prince squared his shoulders as he prepared to upsize to full Human proportions and proclaim his willingness to comply. 



Once Again
A Modern Fairy Tale


Chapter 1 
Picture Perfect

And if our dreams should go awry, what then my sweet, what then?
                                                        ~ Morvayne ap Stewart

May 7, 2009
Oblivious to the traffic and the bicyclist who cussed her out as she crossed the road, the dark haired girl seemed to meander aimlessly. Mara walked each weekday to the bus stop, either for work or school. Currently, she needed to get to work at the retirement center, but her thoughts kept returning to her photography class. Her final project was due in three weeks, and she had not yet solidified her theme. 
“Well, hmm, the assignment said it should be unique and representative of nature in the city,” she spoke out loud with a clear, whispery voice. “Nature in the City – nature, natural, hmm.” She sighed. A display of overgrown gardens and weed infested empty lots were her only ideas.

At the old Laundromat, her mood brightened. The activity and renovation brought new life to this section of the neighborhood. The young college student perched on a nearby bench to watch the workmen carry boxes into the building. “Oooh, I wonder what kind of store this will be?”

Pulling out her camera, she took a few pictures; something she often did to document her day. No one could blame her for staring; slim, tightly-muscled, attractive guys are sure to draw the eye. They wore khakis and navy t-shirts. One with long, flowing hair that shone like silky waves on a black sea, caused Mara to interpret it as a banner signaling, “look at me!” The second workers’ hair brushed a smidgeon past his shoulders. She loved the angle of the early afternoon sun; the way it hit on his golden hair gave him an angelic aura. 

Soon enough the bus arrived. From the window, Mara gazed at the scene one last time, the one she dubbed “Mr. Sunshine” glanced up at her and smiled – rakishly.

May 8, 2009
“Friday,” Mara said, as she smoothed her curls in front of the mirror. “Today I must turn in my idea for photography, and I have a math test. I hate math!” 
Hastily, she applied a pale pink blush and then a light skiff of brown eye shadow to accentuate her blue eyes. “No time for mascara, I might miss the bus,” she murmured, as she rushed out of her room. 

“Are you talking to yourself again?” Jill quipped. 

Jill rented the bedroom suite across the hall. They shared the house that Mara inherited from her beloved great aunt.

“Not any more than usual,” Mara replied as the two went downstairs for breakfast. “What are we doing tonight?” 

 “A block party to welcome our new neighbors!” Jill answered.

She shimmied and danced down the steps in a vain effort to get Mara to loosen up. Jill reminded many of Lucille Ball. She often tried to match Mara up with the guys in the neighborhood but failed with nearly the same comedic effect as Lucy. Mara was simply not interested.

“I didn’t know we had new neighbors, but it sounds fun,” Mara responded, grabbing an orange and a granola bar.

Jill rolled her eyes.

With a shrug, Mara went out the door. It was half a block to the bus stop on the corner, but she was earlier than she let on, so she walked down the street to where the old laundromat was. “Just to check on their progress,” she mused. 

A small, twisty smile pulled at her mouth. She was lying to herself but wasn’t ready to admit it. The smile from Mr. Sunshine, as the bus pulled away the day before, still played vibrantly in her mind.

***
 
“Hey, Aerrvin, she is out there again,” Gareth called. “She has her camera too. Why do you think she is The One?” He raised his hands gracefully for dramatic effect.
“Magic,” Aerrvin replied in a rich Irish accent. 

“Oh, no that is not fair, nor allowed,” Gareth said. “Compulsion is strictly forbidden. Is that not right, Jaera?”

“Yes, but I doubt he used Compulsion. Did you?” Balancing with decided poise on the topmost step, red-haired Jaera hung chimes on hooks attached to the ceiling. She turned to face Aerrvin with a laughing smile – one more suitable for an imp – awaiting his reply.

“No, of course not. I am high-born and well-schooled. I used an old spell learned from my Great Grandfather before he Faded, great is his memory,  it simply lets one know when someone is thinking of them, as well as what their emotions are. Quite useful among, say – friends and enemies,” Aerrvin paused to glower meaningfully at Jaera. 

He held no real grudge against her, but as younglings, Jaera had tried several times to get Aerrvin in trouble with their teachers, especially Master Groban. 
“It only works on those in whom I have an interest, be they friend or foe, and they must be within twenty spans of me.” 

“Limited, but useful,” Gareth said. “Will you teach me?”

“Later. The girl is thinking pleasant thoughts about me.”
 
The golden-haired Fairy Prince smiled, then, picking up a wind chime, he went outside to hang it on the new post installed for that very purpose. Above the post, a bronze plaque advertised the name and nature of the young businessman’s new venture. 

***

Mara rejoiced when she saw the craft supplies in the window displays. “The Craftsman’s Majick. Perfect, precisely what we need! Now I can pick up supplies for work here, instead of the mall.” 

Thinking in silence for a change, she wondered if her angelic Mr. Sunshine worked there, or if he was merely a delivery guy. Then to her surprise and delight, he walked out, glanced at her with a secretive smile, and hung up a wooden wind chime. The wind blew his golden locks up off his collar and danced through the pipes causing the chimes to sound; sweet and mellow. 

“Beautiful,” she marveled as the bus arrived. 

With reluctance, she boarded and took her customary seat halfway back.

“Now, why didn’t I take a picture?!” Mara whispered on the crowded bus. “Oh, I’ve got it! My final project will be about the effects of wind in the city. I’m glad I only have two classes today. I can’t wait to begin!” 

Her seatmate nodded absently. She’d sat with Mara before.