Happily Ever After: Fractured Fairy Tale Anthology

by Dana Piazzi

  I, flustering and searching for a way out of this horrible idea, was left standing there, wondering what the heck I’d gotten myself in for. It was clear Humphrey was now my long term boyfriend. Whether I liked it or not.

  Which I did.

  He wasn’t taking no for an answer. Not after I’d blatantly waved my white flag and surrendered my entire being to him after one hot kiss. But hey, worse things had happened in my life. And Humphrey was by far the best thing to ever happen to me.

  Love

  Needless to say, Humphrey and I are still together after a year. We went horseback riding that afternoon, I stayed for dinner and met his family, and within a week, we were spending nearly every day together. If we weren’t at the farm, we were cooped up in my apartment. Heathcliffe and Humph’s Dogue de Bordeaux, Dixon, get on like a house on fire and have since the day they met.

  It barely took a few days before Humph and I ended up locked in my apartment instead of going to dinner. As much as Humph, the hover board, thinks this is TMI, I disagree. This is my blog, for my readers and fans. So Humphrey can go jump in a lake and appreciate that what I’m telling you is only to his credit. Trust me on that. *wink wink*

  Now, after a year, we’re married. We got hitched just a few weeks after Humph’s thirty-third birthday, which caused quite a stir with our families. I’ve never been so happy before, and no, my writing has not been hampered by a real life romance. In fact, my imagination has never been more active, even my style and speed have improved. I’ve turned out four books this last year alone. Every day there’s something new and exciting for me to write and appreciate about life and love.

  We live on Humphrey’s parents’ farm, now ours legally, which is just an hour’s drive from my father. Not only do I get next to no time to write in private, but our lives are so full of happiness and family that I barely know what to do with myself when I do have free time. Humph and I work the farm together while his parents enjoy their retirement. Jayla is finishing school and about to head off to college in the city.

  And I found out what was wrong with Ellie. She’s a stubborn girl and she’s flighty for sure, but her real problem with Dillon was so stupid that it only took half an hour for me to talk her into changing her mind. You see, she was afraid of settling down. Too many years spent being a party girl. So I told her the truth; if she didn’t step up and claim Dillon, then someone else would and he might just move on. It only took a week before she called and asked him to forgive her. I think that sealed the deal, and they’re now happy together, but Ellie still refuses to call it what it is: love.

  The minute Humph and I spent a week together, with no mishaps and I got told off by my editor for being late with my latest edits, I broke the news to my girls. They squealed and laughed and wouldn’t shut up about it for weeks. And since my plan backfired, I got to spend the next six months hearing nothing but questions about my new relationship, instead of being browbeaten about being single. The girls are insufferable gossips, but I do love them.

  So I guess I can say that blind dating was a total success for me. Although Humph insists that we would have found a way to each other regardless since we have at least three friends and hobbies in common. I’d like to think that’s true. My life hasn’t turned upside down since meeting him. I’m not a whole different person because of him and he isn’t different because of me. But we are changed. Only, in a way that no other person can see. We’re complete together. Humphrey is the missing part of me, and I’m the missing part of him. Regardless of how we came together, I know that Humphrey is my soul mate and we were meant to be together.

  I’ve got the man I always wanted. We snuggle up in front of the fire with the dogs, we talk, we discuss my work and Jayla’s school. We’re close to both our families, maybe more than before, and we’re planning a family of our own very soon.

  He Who Hovers In The Background Muttering Nonsense is back again. Not hovering this time, but giving me those sexy bedroom eyes from across the room.

  If you can, imagine me writing one of my steamy sex scenes right now. Smiling, biting my lip, and wondering what the next chapter holds. Because, right now, Humph is telling me it’s time to sign off because dinner’s ready. He’s got that smile of his and he’s wearing my favourite apron. The one he wears when there’s nothing on underneath it.

  Good God, I love being married to that man.

  See you next week, bloggers,

  Love you all,

  Khloe xx

  The End

  About the Author: Elaine White

  Elaine White was born and raised in the small town of Haddington, Scotland. She began writing from an early age, experimenting with various writing styles. Fighting cancer in her early teens taught her that life is short and dreams should be pursued. Now, she finds inspiration everywhere, which has led to numerous novels and series in any genre that can involve romance. Elaine currently lives at home in Scotland with her parents and a pack of wolves cleverly disguised as one standard poodle. She is a full-time writer.

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  The Legend of the Ember Bark Tree, By: Vanessa Hancock

  Long ago, when the land belonged to no one and the forests were filled with magic, the queen of the fairies was taken from her secret palace by a band of trolls. But perhaps to truly understand the queen, Aldaina, her story must be told from an earlier time—the only time she allowed herself to love. How does it go? Oh yes, as begins all stories we choose to remember, so shall hers.

  Once upon a time, Aldaina, a Sidhe, or queen of the fairies as she was known, ruled her lands in wisdom and she possessed great beauty. Because she was of the race of Sidhe, she had no wings like regular fairies. She was graced with such beauty that no one dared try to win her love, though she was adored by all. Her magic matched that of her beauty. An enchantress she was, and more powerful than any of her ancestors.

  As with most stories, her story is filled with love. Oh, others knew they had no chance with her, and she accepted her fate of being alone. However, every heart has its weakness.

  One beautiful summer day, a gallant knight rode through the forest scouting the land. No one veered from the path for fear of being taken hostage by the wood fairies. The legends that would come from the forests grew bigger as the years passed, but Aldaina was the cause of this one. A small group of men passed through once and talked of trying to find her. She was out for a walk and overheard their conversation. With a wave of her hand, she created hundreds of little fairies from the bark and leaves that instantly surrounded the men. With weapons fashioned from the trees, the fairies ambushed the men, and they ran screaming from the forest. Aldaina didn’t have the heart to destroy the new creatures that she had made, so she took them to her castle instead. They became the fairies of her garden, but were never allowed back into the woods.

  Getting back to the knight. Yes, there were so many amazing stories that followed Aldaina, but that of her love for her knight was the most astounding. Let me see, where was I? Talk of wood fairies is a bit distracting, don’t you think? Ah, yes, he was taking the path through her forest. His horse, frightened by a large snake upon the path, threw him from the saddle. His head smashed into a rock, and his horse fled in fear. Aldaina heard the horse and heard its rider yell out, trying to calm his steed, and then silence. She ran to see what had caused such commotion and saw the snake slithering closer to the unconscious man. Running to him, she raised her hand and the snake rose up to strike her.

  She laughed, and with a swirl of her hand, the snake spun into a cloud of dust then disappeared. The man groaned, slowly opening his eyes. He tried to speak, but no words would form. Aldaina knelt beside him.

  “I’ll take care of y
ou,” she whispered. She stood, made a whistle, and then she made a reverberating call out through the trees. Immediately, she was surrounded by those that follow her … winged fairies of every fashion, ready to help. They all worked together to carry the man back to her castle. After he was settled in one of the rooms in her home, she found herself not wanting to leave him. Taking the ointment from her pouch, she carefully applied it to his wound.

  Aldaina saw the rising of many suns taking care of the man from the woods. His wounds were healing, and she wanted him to wake and talk to her. Each time she left his room, she could not wait to return to him. The strength of his face mesmerized her. She touched his face as she had so many times before, and his eyes fluttered.

  Aldaina stood, but he grabbed her hand before she could move it away. “Who are you?”

  “I am Aldaina, queen of the fairies. I brought you here after your horse threw you.”

  The man released her hand and held his forehead. “The snake, yes, of course. How long have I been here?”

  “Many days have I watched you, and I have lost count. Your horse is here. We are all fond of him, and he speaks so highly of you,” Aldaina said softly.

  “Forgive me, dear queen, I didn’t introduce myself. I am Cohen, and I serve King Jesheir. I was sent to scout the land north of the woods, for we are to settle here.”

  “And you would be closer to me?” Aldaina said, stepping closer.

  Cohen was uncomfortable with her beauty. “Yes, Queen Aldaina. Close to you.”

  “Please, you will call me Aldaina. No need to be formal with me.”

  “Aye, but if the stories are true about the land of the fairies, I dare not disrespect you for fear of becoming a pitiful worm to live among the dirt in your gardens.” Cohen smiled.

  “I would never turn you into a worm, dear knight. For you, I would choose to give you wings and you would become an eagle to sore through the clouds.” Aldaina laughed, but Cohen studied her to see if she was serious. “Dear Cohen, can you sit?”

  He rose slightly, but the room seemed to spin. He closed his eyes and laid his head back onto the pillow. “Forgive me, Aldaina. My strength has waned.”

  Aldaina rushed to his side and took his hand. “You rest, and we shall talk on the morrow.”

  He squeezed her hand. “No need to leave me to rest. My joy will be in talking with you. You are a beautiful enchantress, and it’s not every day that a man wakes up in such a wonderful dream.”

  They sat and whispered of magic and of men, of enchantment and of towns. Neither noticed that the dark had stolen the light of day and had filled the room with a blue hue from the moon.

  Aldaina stood. “I must retire for the night, dear Cohen. I will return at first light, and we shall have breakfast together.”

  “Then I shall pray the stars steal the darkness from the sky so that the sun can usher you back to me.”

  Aldaina felt heat rise to her face. Cohen was a beautiful man, and with each word, he was taking a little piece of her heart for his own.

  As the days passed, Aldaina knew that Cohen was falling in love with her. Her own heart clung to each moment that they spent together. On the day that he was strong enough to walk in the garden, he told Aldaina that he must be leaving soon.

  “Do you want to go?” Aldaina asked.

  “If it were just me in my world, I would never leave. But, I have a mother and a father that rely on me. They will have become sick with worry that I didn’t return from this journey. I was to be gone for only a few days, and no one would think to look for me here. If any man were to dare penetrate the boundaries of this land, it is to bring certain death, as I was told.”

  “People who have encountered fairies are not always left with the most pleasant stories to tell.” Aldaina smiled. “We are a peaceful people, but there are those that have given in to the evil in their hearts and would try to harm us. Aye, it is best to keep our worlds separate, lest a man forget that magic can outdo strength on any day.”

  Cohen took her hands as they stopped near the tree at the edge of the garden. “My mother is old and frail now and can no longer be left alone. My father, bless his soul, takes care of her night and day. He cannot work except to farm the land for their food, so I took my place in their home once again to bring them food and help them live. Now, they have each other, and my father will be by her side until she can no longer hold onto this world. I will come back to you as soon as possible, but my departure should be in the morning. My world moves quickly with the promise of settling near.”

  “Near. Oh Cohen, you could visit with me every day if you were near.” Aldaina’s heart held on to hope.

  “My beautiful Aldaina, nothing will keep me from you.”

  Neither could sleep with knowing that the light of the new day would separate them for a while. With his belongings in hand and leading his horse, he walked with Aldaina to the edge of the garden.

  “How can I bear to let you go?” she said, hugging him one last time.

  “My heart will not be whole until I hold you in my arms again.” Cohen lifted her face to his and brushed his lips gently to hers. “I love you, my beautiful fairy.”

  “I love you, my gallant knight.” Aldaina held him tight. Their lips met again in the kiss that gave her hope.

  As he released her, he gasped. “Your tree. It grew! Look at the thickness of its leaves above us. It blocks the sun and gives us such a perfect private place.”

  “This tree is like no other. We are one. Whatever I feel, it feels. I am the queen of the fairies. I have no wings, but I’m connected to all things. This tree bears to me extended life and I give it great strength. We are symbiotic, and your love caused great growth. One kiss and it strengthened its boughs. Oh, my beautiful Cohen, your love makes me the strongest among all.”

  As she watched him walk away, she felt more freedom than she had ever known. To be loved was more than she could have hoped for, because in his love, her heart took flight.

  Time passed and she wondered if she would ever see Cohen again. Had it all been some magical dream? She tried to believe that he had not forgotten her, but so much time was passing. Her love grew daily in his absence as did the beauty of her garden.

  One afternoon, a wood fairy flew through the castle, alerting Aldaina of Cohen’s return. Aldaina ran through the castle and down the path to the forest. Seeing her enter the path, Cohen slid off his horse and ran to her. She fell into his embrace as his arms encircled her. They stood holding each other tightly, each not daring to move.

  “How is it that my heart seems to only beat when you are near?” Aldaina whispered.

  “Because my soul only comes alive when I have you in my arms.” Cohen leaned back from her so that her face was close to his. “We’re here to stay. I volunteered my family to be among the first to be in the settlement so I wouldn’t have to leave again. My mother and father are setting up camp, and I’ll be building them a home.”

  “Will you be able to be here with me?” Aldaina asked.

  “My mother grows weaker, and I wanted her to see the joy of beginning something wonderful before she died. My father needed to feel the freedom of the open land before he loses the one person that makes him smile.”

  Aldaina leaned into him, and placed her head on his chest. “How sad it will be for him to let her go.”

  “But they have lived a thousand lifetimes in the way that they have loved.” Cohen held her close. “His being here will give him more to do and greater purpose once she’s gone. She told me today that she wants to be buried just inside the fairy forest and perhaps they’ll let her spirit live on in its magic.”

  “Will you bring her here to my castle?” Aldaina asked.

  “The journey would be too great for her. Would you come meet her?”

  “I dare not leave the forest anymore. The world of men has grown greedy and selfish. I fear being caught for what men know of my power.”

  Cohen whispered, “I have heard men in the camp
talk late at night about the old stories of capturing the queen of the fairies, and if they could but hold her captive, they would possess all her power, and something about a wish she would have to grant them.”

  Aldaina laughed as they walked to the tree. “My captivity transfers my powers from me to my captor, but only if I’m held for a very long time. If I can be held for one hundred years, all of my power would be theirs; all my beauty and strength would be theirs. I would die and instantly become part of the earth, as it should be. As for the wish, the one whom I would kiss shall be granted a desire of the heart. Wishes are easier to believe, but it is written of old that my power can fulfill the desire of a heart.”

  They sat until the sun began to make its way behind the trees. Finally, Cohen stood. “I have to go, but I shall come tomorrow afternoon.”

  Aldaina stood beside him. “Touch the tree.” Cohen put his hand on the tree, and she took his other hand and put it on her heart. He could feel her heart beat through each hand.

  “It’s amazing, Aldaina.”

  She took his hand and put it on her cheek, smiling up at him. “I have never known the tree to absorb me so, as when I’m with you. Farewell, beautiful Cohen.” Aldaina turned to go.

  “The morrow is not near enough.” Cohen smiled as he began his journey along the path with his horse.

  As the months went on, each day Cohen met Aldaina at the tree. Each day he took her in his arms, and she felt as though there was no other place on earth more beautiful. Her power was growing. She could feel it. His love began to ignite something deep within her that she was having to learn to control. She felt it rise within her, and it wasn’t until she took flowers from her garden and threw them in the air, laughing, that she realized she must be more careful. In mid-air, each flower stopped and held fast as if time had stood still. Then with a flash of light around each suspended flower, the petals dropped away and she was surrounded by new fairies; beautiful garden fairies. She was getting stronger. Creating came so easily to her, and she was doing it without wanting to. Power was only for those with control, but her power had surpassed even her own understanding.