Songs of fire and light

Chapter 3: Spirit of the forest

~3rd pov~

A soft, ruthless veil of snow graced the forest with its blessing. Dark green shades of green glimpsed underneath its cover. Ancient pines stood huge beside a somewhat less fortunate willow. Frozen leaves flickered by the soft breeze. Ever so ruthless as beautiful. A small flock of cardinals sang sweet melodies, high above a cherry tree, a lullaby through winter.

Leon trudged patiently on his own in the forest’s heart. A few feet away stood his faithful pup and monkey. Ezras and Silas rubbed their hands together, fighting the icy cold. The bitter resentment of winter bit through their leathers and furs. Shows the flesh beneath no forgiveness for their distasteful intrusion. 

The mid-winter cold has no mercy, not even for the poor frozen hellwolf. Remained back in camp.

At first, they thought the myths of an ancient spirit residing in a far, distant forbidden forest nothing more than that. A mere myth, a children’s tale, a source of nightmares for wicked children carrying immoral beliefs. However, now, the deeper they traveled between its borders, the more they felt... it... a power they do not know. 

A power, so ancient it was nowhere and everywhere. It hummed from every surrounding tree. Every solid rock. Even the lightness in the air. Dangled like a fine mist in the twilight before the burning sun shatters its cast spell.

Leon gazed up, his breath a raw fog that wedded the unclear sky as the sun rose from its slumber. shards of frozen rain waned around the clearing encircled by ancient trees that tickled the heavens. 

He gritted his teeth, growing restless under his skin at the rivaling power that imperils to dominate his presence.  One he realized was far greater than him. 

His mind raged within its confinement. He had to stay steady, or at least pretend for his vessels prying eyes that he was. His muscles tensed along with a firm grip on his sword hanging from his hip. 

This blasted spirit, I’ll teach her not to mess with a man such as me. He snarled in his own sense. For days he and his men had hunted this labyrinth of a forest without ever stumbling upon their way back. The never-ending shower of snow hid any track possible. from either living creature in these woods inhabited. 

Without the blessing of consuming his outstanding meals for days, his gut clenched in disapproval. An angry growl made way. 

Sudden soft laughter filled the air. Almost a silent reply for his remark. A sudden shift of power stole his breath. His body quivered, not by cold or worry, no, something even he himself did not comprehend. 

She was near. 

An echo filled the air. Soft and quiet... a faint humming graced his ears with its heavenly song. 

Its soft melody had him feel an almost unknown sense of peace. His body relaxed, his vision faltered by his increasing growing heavy eyelids. A gentle coolness of a snowy wind stroked his skin, breaking through its numbness. Picking up its volume each weary moment. 

The soft snow twirled around, faster each passing turn. Fading from a soft caressive breeze into a slight rougher twister. Its large percentage fell just as swift as the clearing was no longer bare to him. 

Through shielded eyes, in the distance, he saw a tall, lithe form.  Near impossible for any ordinary man’s eye to see, but luck stood on Leons’ side as he was far beyond any ordinary human. He was a demon lord. Gifted with endurance, longevity and heightened senses as his main quality.  

A smirk graced his chapped lips when he sensed its power. A she, he was near certain of it. Testing his luck, he stepped forward. One heavy step time. Each one followed by a noticeable upswing of a gust. 

Still, the prince of fools treaded onwards. The closer he treated, the more certain he became, it was chastely female. 

A faint outline of a white hooded cloak, fading into one with the daunting snowstorm. Her long tendrils of silver hair billowed from beneath her concerning hood, shadowing well over her eyes and any features.  Left no wonder men mistook her for a ghost. 

In the distance of his thoughts, he could heed his men’s troubled echoes. Disregard by his intended mark. The prince of fools would be the one to capture his prize. She is mine to claim and use as I desire. 

A soft, delicate chuckle graced his ears. 

“Trespassers are not greeted upon my lands with kindness. I do not find you or the wickedness within your mind anything but tedious and imitative.” Her voice was soft as a blossoming bud in early spring and lilt with the amusement of a sly fox outsmarting its prey. 

Caused his mind to stir once again. Could this creature of nature hear the wickedness within my mind? 

 “I ask of you, my despicable prince of fools, never step foot within my forest again.”  She shifted and hoisted her hood by the blasting wind and took his breath away, not by force but wonder. 

She was perfection. An angel, sent from the gods for his hands to ardor and hold. Or so the fool thought. 

Sharp Elven features that even the most cherished she-elf would envy. Flawless ivory skin that adorned her lithe body and luscious hills. tapered in a white silk gown that he felt grateful left no inch left for his imaginations taunts. It laid elegant against her porcelain skin, much as a useless membrane against the freezing frostiness of this blasted twirling wind. 

But it was her sights he could not bear to ignore. A solid milky lavender shone beneath her long elegant dark lashes that held him captive. He nearly buckled beneath a stare so cold, he deemed it able to freeze even the hottest volcanos in the world. 

Is she blind? He wondered. None of the old ancient myths his nursemaid told, nor the hymns sung in pubs and inns told of such revelation. 

It only made him desire for her more. 

By his selfish desire, he finally gained the ball to address the goddess before him. Standing before him as a Queen and he deemed a mere servant.   

In a deep bravado, his voice thundered across the clearing. Reaching even his subjects frozen ears. “I have searched for you many cycles, spirit. All for the sake to cast but a sole glance upon your glorious existence.”  Yet the spirit never wavered or flinched from her majestic bearings. 

Instead, her rosy plump lips coiled into a snarled smirk. “Do not speak of matters already known. As you have sought for my capture, I have eluded your pestering presence.”  Her voice remained the same. 

As a true royal, he noted. Or elf...

A soft chuckle tickled his patience. She was mere playing with him and winning without contest. He found himself rather baffled by her attitude. She was definitely no mere woman with her brazen and fearless front. He sensed himself losing any claim he never had. What possessed him, a mere third prince to gaze upon this majestic being with the notion of professing her a prize for himself. 

Gathering the last of his courage, Leon stepped forward. A clear challenge for a mighty adversary. How far do her powers reach?

He went to speak but the sudden harsher wind silenced him instant. His vision of her faded in the snow. “I do not rejoice in unwelcoming guests.” Her last image of a wicked smile and a flick of the wrist. 

The clearing burst to life with the turmoil of a violent snowstorm. “Get back, now!!” He warned his men. 

The three men ran as fast away from the biting ice shredding into their flesh. Her melodic voice revered through the air and would stay with him forever. “I do not indulge in the whims other than my own. Never seek me out again, demon lord. I will not have pity upon you again.” 

Leon signed defeated, for this time. But he would return another time, and take what he found belonged to him. 

~

After their defeat, Leon and his men had set camp a close stone throw away from her borders. 

Small tents stood beside the border within its midst, a vaster one. Lavished with everything his highness wished, except for a certain spirit. 

Listening to his vessel’s troubles of their prince resent foolish whim. Seated relaxed in a chaise, carried all from Leones for his royal butt.  His loyal wolf Helios by its master’s feet, enjoying the comfort of layers of pelts spread over the ground. 

His cold steel gaze never wavered from his desire. The image of that little figure fresh in mind. Paying lesser attention to his surroundings and its occupants. 

~

The cardinals chirp around her, filled the silence of her mind with delightful songs. She relaxed under the soft glow of a morning’s sun. She let out a sigh of relief. Soon winter would fade, making room for spring. Her dearest of seasons. As for any of her kin. 

New life will flourish in her now frosted forest. Coloring her forest in its fresh bloomed blossoms. trees will grow green, wildlife crawl from their nest, and their young will rush near soon enough. 

She tilted back her head towards the rising sun and smiled when its warmth touched her skin. Her eyes soon found their path north, as they usual did. Her heart pumped an extra beat in memory of him. How long ago has it been? 

How she longed for him. For his touch. The tips of his fingers dance over her skin. Leave the tickling trail of goosebumps in their wake. 

Her lost thoughts jarred when she felt the same demon lord enter her forest once more. Her eyes narrowed suspicious when more entered, wander past her precious trees. None together, separated, strew out over the thresholds. 

She felt them infiltrate her domain. The audacity of that wretched man, he even brings that wretched dog, much to her dismay. Despite her dislike for men, she felt her heart skip a single beat. How long had it been since one as steadfast as this one entered her precious forest? Most men, elves, and dwarf avoided her tricky nature. Only the occasional pack of orcs and other of those wretched creatures step upon her land for a bare moment. Never gaining over a few steps...  

She caught herself flashing a wicked smile at the memory of the last foolish enough to mess with her and her land. Melting faster than the snow around her by along, guttural howl of a wolf in the distance. 

A chill clasped her heart with it's thunderous call for the hunt. A haunting melody filtered the air as the wolf set out over the forest. Her forest, hunting her. The nerve of that blasted demon lord. I'll have his head if his pooch harms my forest. 

The cardinals flew from fright, high in the pines. Hiding from the trampling paws rushing their direction. 

From the shrubbery his large form leaped landing by her feet. Greeting her with barred teeth, where scraps from his last prey still remained. His breath wanted breaths, felt hot against her face. She never wavered. 

“Are you planning to feast upon me, when there’s an entire forest at your disposal?” She asked softly, her words near drowned out by his labored breath. The only reason he found her was for she granted him release from his eternal chase. Hours had passed since the start, never nearing, never far behind. 

She was curious what his reply would be. Attack her? Call forth his master? Or would he take her up on her offer and go frolic about into the woods for a feast. 

Although her heritage, Aerillysei understood well the whims of nature and the life that resides there. Death and birth were a necessity. No matter the pain it left within her heart. 

She hoped the beast would not take her offer after consideration.

He let out a low growl that ebbed into a whine. His front lowered on the ground, followed by his behind. Submitting to her. A smile broke through her icy features.  “Go now and find your master.” The wolf studied her for a short moment before turning and ran off into the forest depths. 

She remained where she stood for a moment longer before her body succumbed to the wind and drifted through the air. Leisurely following the wolf. Who ran swiftly. 

She noted the sniffling snow fox he ignored. For a moment she pondered over the thought he was a terrible hunter. Wolves love to hunt. The search, she excitement of a good chase, the catch and eventually the enjoyment of the meal. That tastes much better after a good thrill. 

She took pleasure in tinkering with this foolish demon lord and his pooch.

More howling waved their way through the trees. Killing off any other song than their own. Alerting her of his triumph.

She landed back into her mortal form. Her dress bellowed around her as she landed. Her bare feet slipped into the softness of fresh-fallen snow. Without feeling it’s cold, only it’s melting softness. As she walked through the forest, headed direct towards the source of disruption. Sensing his energy a few feet away. 

There he stood, high and mighty beside his wolf. Acting as if he owned the place. 

His arms crossed over his broad chest, dressed in golden armor and red silks. A Golden cloud of a cape bellowed in the slight gust. Leather boots planted firm in the ankle high snow. 

“Pleasant greetings, my resistant sprite.” A toothy smile made its way by the sight of his prize. She, on the other hand, stood vast. Her features, hidden beneath the shadow of her hood, kept her ominous demeanor from a favorable view. 

The snowfall lifted, cleared for the two. Leon took slow and measured steps. Helios left behind in place, ready to pounce. Expecting his target reluctance, a defensive move that to his surprise did not transpire. 

Instead, the spirit remained stiff and unmoving as he crept closer. The hotness of their steady breaths visible when met with the coldness in the air.  

The prince seized his approach a mere foot away. Taking in her delicate features from a closer look. A futile attempt he played beneath her hood. 

“For one, not even blessed runner up for your father’s crown. you do not concede as other, more powerful men have done.” She praised without an ounce of emotion. Never wavering from her stone posture. 

“Are you warming up to me, my little sprite?” He rumbled a deep vibrato that grumbled against the winter stillness. His demeanor melted when the words she had spoken turned inside his mind and secured a new meaning. “Do you know me?” He inquired with a tone of genuine longing to receive an honest answer. His mind in turmoil, trying to place her unique features from memory. 

Have I seen her before this blasted forest? ...I do not recall... The question seemed simple. Her uniqueness would not be something one forgot with ease. This spirit was a stranger, yet she saw straight into his... His eyes widened by a possible answer. Back on their meeting before. Does she really possesses the power to read one’s mind?

Her next words, slow and measured under her soft tone, were unexpected, “in some belief I do.” 

Leon frowned at that, uncertain what to believe anymore. 

First lessons of princehood, never reveal one true thoughts and emotions. His were crystal clear, sprayed out without need to read his mind. “Has the third prince, Leon Kelila, demon lord of Leones, nothing more imprudent to attend than chasing poor lithe spirits around forbidden forests?”

With those words, the prince confidence melted faster than the snow that surrounds them in a few moons time. As she relished in his torn composure.

“After four years, plaguing my forest and paying the toll, has thou not become weary of this foolish game?” 

Leon swallowed hard, forcing back any misgiving he felt back and pressed his royal blood forth. “If you know me so well, know that all acts of a fool are made for me. After all, men do call me the prince of fools.”

“True, only a valid royal in arts of idiocy could ever be proud of such a crown.” She replied coldly. Her jaw clenched, becoming agitated by his overflowing dedication. “Now, tell, what do you wish from me so badly that you endure my terror for years?” 

“I intend to claim you for myself.” He commanded simply.  

Her cold gaze resigned of any pure light emotion, except red. Bitterness and contempt flowed through her veins. 

How dare he? Are woman nothing more than a prize?  An award for his greed. She pushed back the vile taste plaguing her mouth. How I hate humans and their selfish nature. As one of royal blood, he should be a beacon of hope, a glint of light amidst the darkness that threatens them. Yet this one is worse... Colder than the snow that graces my lands. A lust for power identical as a predator’s lust for blood. 

The man dared a smile, smugness defiled the fresh winter air. He was certain he would claim her and perhaps, if deemed worthy, he would ride himself from that abomination back in his castle and crown her instead. Man, that body would look good beneath me in my bed. Screaming my name at the top of her lunges. 

She blinked, hopeful the hindrance before her would vanish. swifter than the snow around. Unfortunately for him more than her, he never did. This foolish demon lord and his mongrel... She felt her powers prickling at her fingertips, rushed by her flaring emotions. Inside her blood boiled, yet her outer image remained calmer than the eye of a hurricane. ...How dare this mortal!

The last thing she saw was his cocky smirk, before her body grew light. The snow around raged, sharing her sentiments on the matter. Helios whined, crutched down, tail between his legs in fright and surrender. At least his mud has some common sense. A wicked smirk spread over her plump lips. 

Leon stepped back when he saw her eyes. Dark turned light and vice-versa, purple spun lavender. As the first time, they’d met. He felt her power coursing from all around them. The trees, the air, the ground, everything trembled beneath her thriving rage. The snow melted as one, circling around, shifting shape. Spears of ice surged through the small clearing. s***h through man flesh without mercy.  Being the only one harmed. 

“Never enter my forest again. No other man, besides, my beloved, can claim me. Now be gone and never return!”  Her voice rumbled, struck him like thunder.