Finding Bliss

by Rosetta Bloom

  Finding Bliss

  A Dream Trysts short story

  By Rosetta Bloom

  Copyright Rosetta Bloom 2016

  All Rights Reserved

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Finding Bliss: A Dream Trysts Story (Passion-Filled Fairy Tales, #5)

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Version: V160829FB

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my friend Samantha, who found true love in college, knew it immediately, married, and had twenty-one years of bliss. You will be missed, Samantha, but your personal love story remains an inspiration to me and lovers everywhere.

  Chapter 1

  Blissa wanted a moment to herself. It had been a draining day. She’d been helping her father with visiting dignitaries, reading their moods and offering advice on who was most receptive to the accords they were negotiating. The issue at contention was her father’s ban on human-fairy mating. While this fairy realm outlawed it, the neighboring realm found human-fairy relations to be quite normal.

  The dignitaries wanted free passage for their citizens who wished to move here, and her father was inclined to give it. Blissa wasn’t sure, though. She still remembered the terror of the night her aunt had died. She remembered the horrific sounds of the swords slicing into her aunt’s body, the jovial cries of the human men as they fled the little house and stormed the castle with plans to murder her, her father, and her cousin, the only remaining fairies with a claim to the throne.

  She could tell from the delegation members’ feelings that they believed every word they said. They truly thought that not all men were unjust and that it was wrong to paint them all with such a broad brush. Blissa supposed it made sense, on the most basic level. But allowing Radella and Errol to mate had caused great anguish.

  Blissa sighed as she walked the castle grounds. They were beautiful this time of year, as most of the flowers were in bloom.

  “Blissa!” a voice called out.

  She smiled, recognizing instantly who it was. She turned and watched her cousin Maurelle run toward her. She was dressed in green today, a pretty, billowy dress that Blissa had made for her. The dress suited Maurelle, and her long black hair swung carefree behind her. A rare, broad smile was on Maurelle’s lips as she ran barefoot toward her cousin. Blissa’s grin widened at Maurelle’s approach and she could feel the joy coming off of her. “What has you so happy, cousin?”

  Maurelle giggled, and shook her head. “Not here,” she whispered, grabbing Blissa’s arm and tugging her away from the castle, into the lovely forest that surrounded it. They walked in silence, Maurelle a glorious bundle of happiness pulling her along. Finally, they reached a secluded clearing, and Maurelle sat in the grass, bidding Blissa to do the same.

  She did. A crow flew down, landing beside Maurelle, who stroked its feathery back and cooed at it. The crow cooed back and then flew away.

  “What did it want?” Blissa asked.

  “Just wanted to tell me that his wife’s eggs hatched today. I shall go visit them when we’re done.”

  Blissa nodded. Maurelle was an animal fairy, and she could speak to them and help them. It was a wonderful power to possess, and she was beloved by the forest creatures. Though sometimes Blissa thought Maurelle related better to the animals than the people. Having balance with both would be better. “So, what is it that you wanted to tell me?” Blissa asked.

  Maurelle’s cheeks flushed and she leaned in. “Eldred,” she whispered. “We were, um. We were walking down by the Crystal Pond and we were talking about prophecy and his studies, and I was saying that the birds are wonderful harbingers of weather events, and he, well, he kissed me.”

  Of course he did. Eldred was completely in love with her. Blissa had no idea why he hadn’t done it sooner. His adoration of her cousin had been plain to anyone who looked at the two of them together. If Radella had been around, she could have helped Maurelle see it earlier.

  Maurelle’s mother, like many in the royal line, had been blessed with two fairy gifts. She had the wonderful elemental power of fire, but she was also a love fairy. When her brother had assumed the throne, Radella had focused mostly on her duties with love. If Maurelle’s mother were still alive, she would be the first to have seen the signs of Eldred’s affection. Blissa had been sensing Eldred’s warmth toward her cousin for quite some time, but even without her ability with emotions, she thought she would have seen it. “I’m happy for you,” Blissa told her cousin.

  “Really?” she asked. “I mean, it doesn’t bother you that Eldred is, you know, a Halfling?”

  Blissa raised an eyebrow. She supposed somewhere in her own mind she’d known of Eldred’s parents, but she’d not even thought of it. She shook her head. “No. I mean, his father died when he was young. He’s been a member of the realm since a babe and raised by the kindest fairy ever. Whatever wicked traits of men he could have had must have been stomped out by all that, right?”

  Maurelle breathed out, bit her lower lip, and finally nodded, but she didn’t seem entirely sure. “Do you think your father would allow us to be together?”

  Blissa, again, hadn’t thought about it much. Yes, the union of the fairies and humans was strictly forbidden, but Halflings weren’t really human. Partially, she supposed, but not really. “I don’t see why he wouldn’t. He’s talking to the delegation from the Southern Realm; they’d like him to lift his human-fairy ban, anyway.”

  “And will he?” Radella asked, her tone uncertain.

  “I don’t know,” Blissa admitted.

  “He shouldn’t,” Maurelle said, her mind now settled. Blissa could feel the waves of anger radiating from her. “Men ruin all that is good.”

  The harshness of the statement put Blissa off. Yes, the men who had attacked the castle had been bad. But Eldred was good. And there was no indication that his father had been bad. Perhaps the Southern Realm delegation was correct.

  “Listen,” Maurelle said, standing up. “I’m going to go speak to Uncle Roldan, and then go visit the baby crows.”

  Blissa stood, too, a little taken aback by the abrupt change in mood of her cousin. It had shifted slightly, from anger to vengeance. They were similar emotions, but they were perceptibly different. Blissa touched her cousin's arm and sent a wave of calm to her. “You should relax,” she said. “And enjoy the afterglow of Eldred’s kiss. He’s a good fairy, and I’m glad he kissed you. I think you might find bliss with him.”

  Maurelle’s mood tempered slightly, her face shifting from a grimace to a ghost of a smile. “If your name were hope, would you find every opportunity to use adages about hope?”

  Blissa chuckled. “Perhaps I would, but I think finding bliss would be a favorite expression even if it weren’t similar to my name. We all want that peace and contentment that comes when we find the right mate. You deserve that, Maurelle.”

  Her cousin nodded and tried to look happy, but she was still troubled by the earlier part of their conversation. There was still an undercurrent of anger, and perhaps even vengeance, about Maurelle. “It was good talking to you, Blissa. I’ll see you later.”

  She watched Maurelle head back to the castle, her gait not as carefree as it had been when she’d come.

  Blissa sighed, wondering how to get her cousin back on track. Then she had an epiphany. The answer was simple. Eldred.

  Maurelle said the two of them
had been at the Crystal Pond when they kissed. Perhaps he was still down that way. They were wonderful places to cool, and oracles tended to like their clear blue waters. Swimming in them was said to connect an oracle more closely to the seas of time, which it was their job to read. She’d head that way, and perhaps find him there or run into him as he returned to the castle.

  Chapter 2

  As Blissa arrived at the Crystal Pond, she looked for signs of Eldred but saw none. Looking out at the pond, she marveled at just how spectacular it was. Crystal clear blue water, cool and refreshing.

  “Eldred,” she called out, checking to make sure he wasn’t still there. She’d come to talk to him, but now, reminded of the beauty of the pool, decided to take a dip. She walked toward the water’s edge, removed her sandals, and waded in to her ankles. She was about to take off the feathery light green dress she wore and step deeper into the water when she heard the rustling of leaves behind her.

  She turned and saw a young man walk in. He was tall and handsome, with dark brown hair, a handsome chin and fit body. He was wearing some type of human garb — long pants, a shirt that had a slight opening at the top, and most notably, a sword hooked to some type of belt. She frowned as he entered.

  He did the opposite. He smiled, big and bright, showing off his pearly white teeth. “Hello, milady,” he said amiably.

  Blissa knew humans were dangerous if one got too close, but she didn’t intend on doing that. However, they’d not been seen in the realm, not even at Crystal Ponds, since the time of Errol. Crystal ponds served as a gateway from the fairy realm to the human world. They were places where both could enter freely and perhaps meet. But humans could rarely find the divine pools. Usually only the most kindhearted found them, or so the legends went. Some fairies said, though, that crystal ponds were reserved for fairies or lovers, hinting that humans in love would stumble upon crystal ponds. But whose hearts were most kind, if not lovers?

  She stared at the young man before her, wondering how he’d gotten here. Was he goodhearted?

  “Are you alright, milady?” he asked, taking a few steps closer to her.

  Blissa stepped back, inadvertently going deeper into the pond. She somehow lost her footing and fell, landing completely in the water. It was cold and wet and her dress was drenched. Her bottom, which she fell directly on, hurt, too. As she was surveying the damage done by her inattentiveness, the man had run toward her, splashing in the water, and reached out a hand to help her up.

  She looked at it tentatively, but realized he must, in fact, be goodhearted to offer help. She placed her hand in his, preparing simply to accept his help, but the moment she took it, she felt a surge of calm, peace and happiness. It was startling and overwhelming. Her eyes widened as she looked at him with more scrutiny. It was usually she who could send a wave of emotion over someone, so to feel it with his touch was more than odd. She wondered momentarily if he was fairy, but she knew he wasn’t. Though humans couldn’t see it, fairies tended to have a faint aura of magic about them. He clearly didn’t, so she was intrigued.

  This man was handsome, with high cheekbones and a dimple in his chin. His brown eyes reminded her of the dark crystals she sometimes saw on mountainsides. They had an instant kindness to them. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice genuine. “I didn’t mean to startle you so you fell.”

  Blissa stood with his assistance and waved him off. “No, it’s fine. I wasn’t paying attention.” The water dripped from her dress as she stood there staring at him for a moment too long. He tugged her hand gently, urging her toward the shore where she could get dry. She smiled and followed along. They reached a nearby boulder that was tall enough to sit on, like a chair. Blissa sat.

  “I’m sorry about your dress,” the man said. “I’d gladly buy you another one, if the silt from the water has ruined it.”

  Blissa shook her head. “No, the dress will be fine. It’s masterly woven,” she said. She’d spun the fabric herself. It would endure all nature had. She was still curious about him, though. She looked him in the eye and asked, “How did you find this place?”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure. I’d come for a walk. And frankly, I’ve walked this are tons of times and never seen this place. But today, for some reason, things looked different. The foliage looked different, and I decided to follow this strange little path I hadn’t noticed before. It led here, to you.” He glanced around at the pond in the clearing, and smiled. “I’m glad I came.”

  Blissa felt glad he came, too, but she didn’t want to say that.

  It was an odd thing to think. She’d never been this near a human before. Even as a child, when men had attacked, she’d not actually seen them. Just heard the murmurs of their wicked words. This human seemed nothing like she imagined. He seemed kind. He was kind. She could sense it. There was nothing but curiosity and kindness coming from him.

  Well, there was attraction, too. He was attracted to her. She could feel it because that was her gift. But she could also see it in the way he stood, tall and straight, as if trying to impress. He smiled, friendly, but also a silent offer. A request to consider him.

  She needed to leave, but part of her wanted to stay and ask more questions. She ignored that urge and said, “I need to be getting home.”

  “I can walk you,” he said. “I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen. I’ve heard there are bears in these woods.”

  Blissa stared at him. He was worried a bear would hurt her. A bear would never hurt a fairy. But his reaction reminded her why men were so dangerous. She asked, “And what would you do to a bear?” Probably kill it. These men were so violent.

  He paused to consider for a moment. “Well, I suppose it would depend on what the bear did. People frighten them often and then the bears attack. But, if you leave them be and keep your distance, they won’t hurt you. So, I would try to help you walk securely and safely so you didn’t scare it into defending itself.”

  She couldn’t hide her surprise. It wasn’t a human answer. Not at all.

  “I can see you didn’t expect me to say that.”

  She nodded.

  “I don’t give answers like most men,” he said. “I don’t seek to make war with anyone or anything unnecessarily. My family has learned the hard way that peace is the best way to live a happy life.”

  Blissa swallowed as she stared at him. It was the same kind of thing her father would say. This man intrigued her greatly.

  “May I walk you home? I wouldn’t feel right leaving a maiden alone as it got near dark.”

  Blissa shook her head. “You can’t walk me, and I’m perfectly safe. I, too, like bears.”

  “Something in common,” he said.

  “I have to go.” Blissa stood and started to walk away.

  “Wait,” the man called after her. “Can you come here tomorrow? Perhaps we could talk again?”

  Tomorrow. At the Crystal Pond, with a man. It seemed absurd and wrong — yet Blissa opened her mouth and said the unthinkable. “Alright, tomorrow at midday.”

  The man smiled. “Yes,” he said, a grin stretching the width of his face. “I’m Edmund. And I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’m Blissa,” she called back before running through the foliage on the fairy side of the pond. Her brain kept saying she had made a horrible mistake, but her heart murmured she had just made the best decision of her life.

  Chapter 3

  Edmund felt like he was walking on air, as light as a cloud. That girl had been absolutely enchanting and beautiful. The most gorgeous creature he’d ever seen. Long red hair that curled in ringlets as it billowed down her back, ivory skin, the most gorgeous green eyes, green as foliage or trees, and the face of an angel.

  Fira, his aunt, talked of things like love at first sight. Saying she’d seen people struck by it and there was nothing they could do about it. He’d thought it was all poppycock. It was the single area where his aunt, who was no nonsense about everything else in life, was, well,
for lack of a better phrase, full of nonsense.

  But that wasn’t the case. This wasn’t a time when she was mistaken. No, as in everything else about life, she had been right about this. He returned to the castle, met by greetings of “Highness” and “Prince” and many bows. It was both comforting and disturbing. The bows meant he was treated with respect, but did they actually respect him? There was no way to know for certain.

  His father some respected, but more feared. And after he died, his aunt had taken over the kingdom and ruled with a fair and even hand. She was really a placeholder, as the kingdom was really his. She was the elder stateswoman tasked with running things until he came of age, which was this winter. Part of him longed for the change, while part of him simply longed to be a person who came and went as he pleased, a guy who could stumble into a clearing and find a beautiful maiden on any given day. Yet, he didn’t eschew responsibility. He felt an obligation to Fira, to his people, not to let slide away the work had been done repairing the kingdom after Errol’s demise.

  He arrived late in the day, too late for him to hear whatever matters his aunt was overseeing at court. His hope was to slip into his chambers, change out of his clothes, which had gotten muddy on the journey home, and then have a meal. Only when he arrived in his chambers, he found his aunt sitting in a chair at his dressing table.

  “Aunt Fira,” he said, forcing a smile. “I’m surprised to find you here.”

  She sighed, her white hair piled in a fancy knot atop her head. “Edmund,” she said, exasperation in her voice. “I know you love the outdoors, and I know I have encouraged that love in you, but at some point you must perform some of your duties. I’d hoped you’d stay and overhear disputes.”

  Disputes were an unpleasant matter, one he didn’t care for. He detested people fighting. His father had done nothing but fight, and what had it gotten the great King Errol? Decapitation; his lifeless head returned to the castle with the message, “He will trouble kingdoms no more.”