Guardian of the Hills

The Mission

Walking back to the mushroom portal alone in the dark gave me time to think.

I wasn't sure what had possessed me to kiss Skeeter. Perhaps it was the sensation of her body so close to me while we were riding, or the fact that I was quite sure the saddle had caused some type of pleasure for her as she lay against me. I had fought my own arousal the entire ride to the portal. After seeing her in a safe place, I just wanted to put my lips on her at least once. I wanted to taste her. Beyond all of that, my heart somehow felt like a hole had been ripped in it.

How is that possible? I've known her all of one day!

Whatever kind of hold she still held on me, it was still obvious. Even with the heartache, my arousal was evident. I pushed on to my hill house and tied Gloriana up outside to a tree. I went in and washed my face. The cold water did nothing to relieve me. In my mind, I imagined that kiss deepening. I reached up and touched my own lips. I pulled my shirt over my head and started to lie down, hoping to rid myself of my madness. When I drew back the curtain, there in the corner beside the basin was the dress that I had found Skeeter in. I picked it up and realized I could smell her. Whatever sweet scent she had been wearing was mixed with her bodily scents all over the dress. I stuck it to my face and inhaled her. My arousal immediately deepened, and I dropped the dress and lay back on the bed and pulled off my pants. I could not take any more of her. I reached down and grabbed myself. I was so hard. It didn't take long. One more thought of her lips on mine, and I was over the edge. The pleasure caused by just the thought of her was my complete undoing. I lay there afterward panting. I cleaned myself off and turned over toward the wall. I could not help the tears that sprang from my eyes. I let them fall and sniffed a few times before I fell into a deep sleep.

I awoke just before dawn and dressed. I had my morning breakfast of mashed oats with apples. I thought about Skeeter. This morning, however, I no longer felt a feeling of passion. It was more of a longing of the heart. I smiled at the thought of her and then let it go. Today, I intended to find out more info on the missing females.

I went out and got on Gloriana and made my way back to court. After dropping her off at the stables, I made my way to see my mother. She was in the garden tending to her prized flowers.

"Did the human make it back alright?" she asked.

"Yes, mother, she did. Also, yes, before you ask, I erased her memories before I returned."

"Very good. There is news from Elderwood. Another female has gone missing. I have scouts out looking for any trace of her, but so far, there is no sign."

"We should attack the Unseelie kingdom. We know they are behind this."

"Perhaps, but I'm not ready to start a war just yet. I have a spy in place."

I felt my stomach lurch.

"Which spy?" I asked. I knew before the name was even out of her mouth.

"Helda."

Helda had been my best friend growing up. Then, when we were older, she became more. She was the first female I ever kissed. I made sure I kissed her every chance I got, too. I had dreams of marrying her. She was a beauty to me. She had chestnut colored locks of curls that always hung around her face. I had loved her. Her dream had been to become a member of the Lightfoot, a group of soldiers strategically chosen for their ability to go undetected and blended in easily with their surroundings.

My mother had taken a special liking to Helda. So much so that while I was away at warrior training in Elderwood, my mother sent Helda to train with one of the Lightfood as his apprentice. They spent all their waking hours together. When I returned home from training, I walked up on the two of them locked in a very passionate embrace in the woods. I was angry, but Seelie law prevented me from doing anything. So I just turned and left the two of them there. I sent word to her the next day that warrior training had made me realize I wished to live a solitary life and that I was sorry, but I thought it was best if we went our separate ways. I made my hill house in the hillside and have lived there ever since. Of course, over the years, I had seen Helda. Since she was a member of the court, sometimes I would see her in meetings or on missions. Today, my heartstrings didn't pluck at the mention of her name. Instead, I felt annoyed. Skeeter's face flashed in my mind for a brief second, and I quickly put the thought of her away. I needed to use my head and not my heart today.

"I have a mission for you too. It's quite fortunate you were the one who found the human girl. I think that trap was set to deliberately catch a human."

"Why would they want humans here?" I asked.

"That remains a mystery for now. I'm hoping it will all come to light when we have more information. In the meantime, I'm sending you to the Earthside to talk to the Seelie, who chose to stay there. See if they have heard anything."

The thought intrigued me. Perhaps I would see Skeeter again even if she didn't know who I was. That did tug on my heart strings.

"I will do what I can," I said. My mother went back to her gardening. I turned and left. I had some provisions I needed to get. I needed human clothing and money. Our treasury held the money, but the clothing I would have to buy once I reached Earthside. I did own a leather jacket, a grey t-shirt, and a pair of jeans. I had gotten them once when I had to go Earthside before to do some work. I kept them in a box under my bed just for such occasions.

On the way back to my house, I thought about Skeeter. I had already made up my mind. I would find her and talk to her. If I was pretending to be human for a little while, maybe I could befriend her without jeopardizing my mission.

Her time it would have been three days already by the time I came through the portal. I wondered what had happened to that skeez that had broken her heart?

Would she take him back? I hoped not. She seemed like a level-headed girl. I felt like she had better sense than to let someone hurt her like that, and then still stay with them. I arrived back at my house and redressed. I couldn't walk around with my sword, so I locked it away in a magically hidden cabinet I had and packed my knife in my boot. Hopefully, I wouldn't use it.

I arrived at the Dark Woods portal just as the moon rose in the sky. I watched it as it became activated, and then I stepped through. I walked in the direction I had led Skeeter out of the woods and directly out onto the grounds of a big building. There was no one around. I remembered Skeeter talking about the docks. I had been in this place before and knew where they were. I decided I would go there first and see if I could find her. If I couldn't, then I would set out to the local underground fae club and see if anybody felt like a chit-chat. As I made it to the docks, I heard music coming from one of the boats. I decided to hang back and watch the docks. There weren't many people out. There was an older looking man washing down a boat and a woman standing on the dock, taking pictures. I waited for a few minutes. As I was about to leave, I heard her voice.

"Dad, I promise. I'm ok," said Skeeter.

"The doctor said you need to take it easy the next few days. You must have hit your head pretty hard to be knocked unconscious like that," said a man's voice.

"I'm fine. I promise."

"I still can't get over Dade. He should have gone after you," said the man.

"I don't want to talk about him."

"I know, honey. I'm sorry."

"Let's get this bait basket thrown and then go get us a bite to eat. I'm starving," said Skeeter.

I could see her. They were three boats down from where I was standing next to the building by the dock. My heart raced.

I waited on them to leave and then watched as she and her dad got inside an old beat up looking pickup truck and drove away. I followed on foot. I was stealthy, and they were going slow. They stopped at a cafe a few streets down. I watched her walk inside and sit down in a booth. I wanted to rush inside and grab her in a bear hug. I kept my composure, however, and waited patiently. As they walked back to the truck, Skeeter turned toward the tree I was standing under and looked right at me. I thought I saw her smirk and then she got in the truck and drove away. I followed them once more. I watched her get out and go inside a small cottage house. I looked at the number on the house and committed it to memory. She suddenly opened her window and I could see her inside. She sat down on her bed with books all around her. She was studying. I decided to leave her be for now and head to the closest city. I hated to do it, but it looked like I was flying tonight. I unfurled my wings and took off.