Betrothed

by Wanda Wiltshire

  ‘My home is there.’

  ‘Will you show me?’

  ‘Soon,’ he said, then flew slowly down the length of the cliff face, hovering at the base where the cascade collided with a roar and a rush of spray and mist. Behind the waterfall was a cave of smooth pale rock, its opening lit with sunlight. Leif took me there and set me on my feet. I looked through the gaps in the rushing water to the beauty of the forest beyond. I glanced at Leif—his wings had vanished and he stood watching me.

  ‘Aren’t you clever?’ I said, smiling.

  ‘I’m glad you think so.’ He pulled me against him and I looked up into his face.

  ‘Can I do that too, Leif—flip wings out of my back and fly?’

  ‘Of course, you are Fae, but it’s not possible with those clothes in the way.’ Any other guy would have added some sleazy comment, but Leif just watched me.

  ‘Um . . . ’

  ‘I will teach you now if you wish.’

  ‘Maybe later.’

  We sat quietly for a while, the sun on our skin, watching the play of colour and light through the waterfall. But Leif was distracted, and when he lifted my hand into his lap, he said, ‘Marla, I have been speaking to my mother and after revealing my relationship with you she told me some things I must confide to you.’

  ‘Go on,’ I said when he didn’t speak after a long moment.

  He took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he began. ‘Faera comprises many kingdoms, each one ruled by a sovereign king and quite separate from the next. When the next prince in line inherits his kingdom, along with the power his new role as king bequeaths him come many obligations. One is that he is expected to quickly provide the next prince. So when his marriage to Finelle did not eventuate, my father was under enormous pressure to find an alternative partner to realise this commitment. Eventually he chose my mother, Atara. They married in haste and soon after she became pregnant with me. The birth of the new prince is a huge celebration, particularly in the kingdom to which he is born and, in all of the festivity, your parents hoped that should they go ahead and conceive a child of their own, the king might show them some leniency.’

  ‘Sounds like a bit of a gamble to me.’

  Leif sighed and wove his fingers with mine, keeping his eyes fixed on the knot our hands created. ‘It was, and after my father learned of your birth, he sent his guard to claim you, but he was too late because your parents had already fled. When eventually they were captured, they refused to tell my father where you were.’

  ‘What did he do?’

  ‘I do not know, my mother has heard nothing of them since. Nor has anyone else I have questioned.’

  My heart sank at the impossibility of it all.

  ‘What do you think he did?’

  After a moment’s hesitation, Leif said, ‘Perhaps he had them imprisoned, or exiled to another kingdom.’ He lifted our joined hands and pressed mine to his lips before adding, ‘I just don’t know.’

  I frowned. ‘How powerful is your father that he can get away with being so horrible?’

  ‘Ah, Marla, my father is more powerful than you can conceive of. He is king of Telophy, an immense kingdom—much larger than most. He has great armies ready to do his bidding and as ruling king possesses many extraordinary gifts.’

  ‘He sounds like a massive bully. I bet everyone hates him.’

  ‘The opposite is true. He is much loved and revered.’

  ‘How could he be when he’s so awful?’

  ‘He is king, Marla. It is reason enough.’

  ‘I get that he’s powerful, Leif, but aren’t you powerful too? Couldn’t you just confront him about all this?’

  ‘My power is but a fragment of my father’s. Even when I inherit my own kingdom—which might not be for hundreds of years or more—the chances of my being equal to him are remote. Of course, had I known of the challenges ahead of me, I would have at least tried to make myself ready.’ He looked away from me and, in a voice that sounded strangely empty, said, ‘I cannot confront my father, Marla. I am nothing next to him, merely the offspring of the great King Telophy.’ He returned his attention to me. His eyes were dark and bordering on tortured. He held my hands tightly in his as he continued, ‘But this situation will be resolved. I will bring you to Faera before you reach immortality. You have my vow on that.’

  I didn’t see how it would be possible under the circumstances. But it hardly mattered—I was only dreaming after all. So I just smiled and lifted my hand to his cheek, watched, fascinated, as he closed his eyes and pressed into my palm.

  ‘Your father’s name is the same as his kingdom?’ I asked, when he opened his eyes again.

  Leif pulled me into his arms. ‘A kingdom is always named for its king.’

  ‘Will you be king of Telophy one day?’

  Leif shook his head. ‘My father is young and driven—the Kingdom of Telophy will never become the Kingdom of Leif.’

  ‘Then how will you get your kingdom?’

  ‘It is impossible to know. My father inherited his when my many times great grandfather, King Mirren, became overwhelmed with it. Often a kingdom is divided when the king has difficulty managing it alone, but Mirren decided to abdicate altogether. It happens—kings occasionally tire of the responsibility. Perhaps, though, I will inherit the kingdom of an old king after he moves on to the next world.’

  ‘What’s the next world?’

  Leif smiled. ‘Heaven, Marla, which we know no more of than a human.’

  ‘But you’re immortal.’

  ‘The term immortal is not entirely accurate. Like humans, we can and do die, just not of disease or old age.’

  ‘How then?’

  ‘Morbid girl,’ he said, but smiled and answered my question anyway. ‘Our bodies heal rapidly, much faster than a human’s, but there are some injuries which the Fae cannot survive—a dagger to the heart for instance, or a lost limb or wing.’

  ‘So as long as your body remains whole, you live forever?’

  ‘That’s not the only way to die. The Fae can also die from a loss of desire to live. Sometimes when a person loses someone close, or even if they are very old and tired of this world, they become sad. When that happens, the person begins to fade. One can fade to the point of no return. Sometimes it is willed, but often not.’

  ‘That’s horrible!’

  ‘Yes. Prolonged sadness is to be avoided when you are Fae.’

  ‘That’s called depression on Earth and we have medication for it.’

  ‘Well, there is no such cure for the Fae. Love perhaps.’

  ‘That’s kind of sweet.’

  Leif smiled and we were quiet for a moment.

  ‘Does your father know you are betrothed to Finelle’s daughter?’

  ‘I’ve been wondering that myself.’

  ‘Maybe he’d accept me if he knew what I was to you.’

  ‘I doubt it. My father is very proud. Remember, too, he has no way to understand the strength of our connection. He would think it nothing for me to choose another.’

  I felt sick at the thought. ‘So what can we do?’

  ‘I have some ideas.’

  ‘What are they?’

  ‘Don’t worry now, my love.’ He smiled suddenly. ‘Anyway, are you ready to learn to fly?’

  ‘I’ve got nothing on under this top,’ I said, squirming a little.

  ‘Why should that matter?’

  I studied his expression. He watched me as he waited, looked too innocent to be anything but sincere.

  ‘I’m shy,’ I told him finally.

  ‘Why should you be? Don’t you wish me to teach you?’

  ‘I do, but . . . Geez, Leif, I can’t imagine what your Fae girls must be like if you expect me to just whip my top off.’

  Leif laughed. ‘You are a Fae girl, Marla.’

  ‘More Earth girl than you realise, obviously.’

  ‘I concede your time in the human world must have had an effect.’

  ‘Do yo
u know anything about my world?’

  ‘I’ve read a little, heard a little, learned a few human languages.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes. Which is yours?’

  ‘English,’ I said, surprised he didn’t know. ‘By the way, how come I know your language?’

  ‘Because I am prince and I willed it so,’ he said, in English. His accent was musical and old world and impossibly charming.

  ‘Oh, that was cute! Say something else.’

  He grinned and in English said, ‘What would you like me to say?’

  ‘Tell me what else you know about Earth?’

  ‘I know it’s a harsh place. I worry for you, Marla; I don’t know how you endure it.’

  ‘It’s not easy.’ I said quietly.

  ‘Tell me,’ Leif said, picking up my hand again and squeezing my fingers in his.

  ‘I’m allergic to nearly everything. The only good thing is I can’t eat meat.’ I screwed up my nose. ‘So revolting.’

  He chuckled. ‘I agree completely.’

  ‘You don’t eat meat either?’

  ‘No Fae do.’

  I sighed. ‘If it were just meat it would be okay, but there are so many other things too.’

  Leif let go my hand and trailed his fingers slowly around my hairline. ‘I will find a way to rescue you, Marla.’

  I caught his eyes with mine and smiled. He returned it with a heart-melting smile of his own and then stood, bringing me to my feet with him.

  ‘Come, you keep changing the subject, but I will not be swayed. Are you ready to learn how to open your wings?’

  ‘Oh, why not,’ I relented. ‘None of this is real anyway. It’s all just a dream. My perfect man, my prince, you exist only in my mind. It’s not like you’re really standing there to see me undress.’ I started to lift my top.

  ‘Stop,’ he said, and took my face between his hands. ‘Do you not believe this, Marla? Do you not accept what I’ve been telling you as truth?’

  ‘I want to—even with the crazy father out to get me. But how can it be? I’m lying in my bed, fast asleep, and if I have any doubt about that now, when I wake the flood of disappointment will confirm it. Besides, you’re too perfect. You’re everything I want. Someone like you couldn’t really exist.’

  ‘I am prince, Marla, and you are my betrothed, that’s what makes this connection possible. It is a meeting of our minds—I called for you and you answered. I thought you understood.’

  ‘Leif, it does feel real, and more than anything I wish it were—’

  ‘I don’t believe what I’m hearing. I need to find another way.’ Leif was watching the ground, but then he lifted his eyes to mine. ‘Marla, I have just realised I know nothing of your life. Tell me of it now.’

  ‘It’s not very interesting.’

  ‘Tell me,’ he insisted.

  ‘Well, in my world—the real world—my name is not Marla, it’s Amy Smith. My father’s name is Lewis. He’s nice, Leif, never angry, but not a pushover either.’

  ‘Pushover?’

  ‘It means you can’t get away with stuff with him. If he says something it pretty much goes. But he has this way of making you want to please him. If he’s upset with Ashleigh or me . . . ’

  ‘Ashleigh?’

  ‘My sister—anyway, if Dad’s not happy with us, he gets this disappointed look and it’s enough to make you want to do the right thing.’ I shook my head, not really understanding my dad’s knack for getting his way. I shrugged. ‘I guess it’s his talent.’

  ‘And your mother?’

  ‘Her name is Karen and she’s the opposite of my father. She’s feisty and everyone knows not to mess with her. She’s nice though. You’d like her.’

  ‘Tell me about your home.’

  ‘We live in a block of apartments in Caringbah. The street is full of them, but there are lots of trees and a huge park across the road, so it’s all right. Our place is on the third floor and I share a room with my sister. We have a spare room but it’s smaller and neither of us will give in and take it.’ I smiled as I recalled the ongoing battle. ‘You should see her half of the room; it’s covered in posters of her latest celebrity crush.’

  ‘Her celebrity crush?’

  ‘The latest famous guy she’s in love with.’

  ‘And you, Marla—do you have a celebrity crush?’ Leif smiled.

  ‘You’re my only crush, Leif. If I could, I would have a poster of you on my wall. But I can’t take a photo of what’s only in my mind.’

  He looked at me strangely for a moment, then carried on. ‘Caringbah—where is that located?’

  ‘It’s in Sydney,’ I said, surprised he didn’t know. He was my dream after all.

  ‘Australia?’

  ‘Of course.’

  He looked satisfied, his expression resolute as he said, ‘This is not working, Marla. I’ll not meet with you like this again.’ He kissed me and as his lips met mine it dawned on me that he was saying goodbye.

  ‘Wait!’ I cried. But it was too late, I was already waking and he was gone. I sat up and burst into tears. I lay in bed sobbing for a good fifteen minutes before Ashleigh woke.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ she murmured.

  ‘I just had the most disturbing dream.’

  ‘Yeah, but it was just a dream. Go back to sleep.’

  I tried but couldn’t, so I wandered out to the lounge room and switched on the TV, turned the volume low. I should have been glad. The idea of some psychotic and powerful Fae king being out to get me, should have terrified me into relief that it was just a dream. But none of that mattered—I wanted Leif so badly that I would have taken anything that went with having him. I had no way of understanding my feelings. I had never felt anything remotely like this for a real guy, so how could I be so totally obsessed with one I’d dreamed up? It made no sense. I had no doubt I was losing my mind.

  I sat in front of the TV, crying on and off, mourning the loss of the man from my dreams.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  While I sat on the lounge lost in misery, the sun rose and with it, my spirits. Eventually I was able to see how ridiculous I was being, getting myself all torn up over some creation of my mind. By the time my father had left for work and my mother was pottering around the kitchen making coffee, I’d decided I wasn’t going to waste another minute pining over Leif. I would put the whole fantasy behind me before I lost my mind entirely. I had a perfectly hot guy interested in me and I knew there were lots of other girls who would be happy to take him off my hands. I was going to make the most of Jason’s interest in me.

  Though I was tired, I needed the half-hour walk to school. As I strolled along, I lifted my face to the sun, drawing it in and feeling more alive as I did so. By the time I arrived at school I felt all right. I could see Hilary by our tree when I walked through the gates, waiting—not so patiently it appeared. I laughed when I saw her.

  ‘What’s funny?’ she asked, frowning.

  ‘Nothing,’ I said, shaking my head.

  She remained tense.

  ‘Relax, Hilary, Kyle’s coming tomorrow night,’ I said, putting her out of her misery. ‘I’m sorry, I should have called you.’

  ‘I am relaxed,’ she said, her forehead transforming from furrowed to smooth as she released the breath she’d been holding.

  ‘You really like him, don’t you? I didn’t even know you knew Kyle that well.’

  ‘Well, he’s in a couple of my classes,’ she said, blushing.

  I smiled. ‘I’m actually looking forward to tomorrow night,’ I said, surprised that I meant it.

  Later that day I was sitting under our tree with Jack and Hilary when I saw Jason and Kyle approach. Hilary sat up straighter, smoothing her skirt, when she noticed.

  ‘Hi girls.’ Jason grinned as he sauntered up, closely followed by Kyle. ‘Jack,’ he added as an afterthought. Jack scowled and turned away. Jason ignored it and sat down beside me, draping an arm around my shoulder. My instinct was to shrug it aw
ay, but after remembering my resolve, I let it be. Jack glared at the arm around my shoulder. I thought the little white blond hairs on Jason’s forearm might start to sizzle and smoke at any moment.

  ‘So, about Saturday night,’ Jason started. ‘I’ve booked Bobby’s for six thirty and I thought after the movie we could go back to mine. The family’s away so we’ll have the place to ourselves.’ The last part of the statement was accompanied by a meaningful waggle of his eyebrows.

  Jack was not happy.

  ‘We have a pool and spa too, so make sure you bring your bikinis,’ Jason added with a smirk.

  ‘I’m allergic to chlorine,’ I said.

  ‘Pity,’ Jason said, looking me up and down.

  Jack looked even less impressed but somehow managed to stay quiet.

  ‘We’ll pick you both up from your place at six?’ Jason said as we all rose to the sound of the bell. Then he slapped me on the bum and strode off with Kyle, leaving Hilary blushing, Jack scowling, and me—well—speechless.

  Saturday passed in the usual blur of activity: shopping with Mum and Ashleigh, cleaning and homework. At four o’clock, Hilary arrived to get ready. I glanced nervously at the make-up stuffed into the top of her bag.

  ‘Don’t you dare get any of that near me,’ I warned. After what happened in the cosmetics department I would never be so blasé again. ‘In fact, why don’t you do your make-up now while I take a shower? Safer that way.’

  I washed slowly to give Hilary time to get ready. When I was finished I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation of the hot water on my skin. As my body relaxed, my mind began to drift. Suddenly I was back in Faera, surrounded by trees and the soothing scents of the forest, the familiar warmth of the leaves beneath my feet. I turned a full circle searching for my prince, then stopped and listened carefully for his voice. But the only sounds were the soft music of the nearby stream and the unusual birdsong. I was all alone with the gentle breeze caressing my bare skin and the heat of the sun pouring into me. The memory of Leif was vibrant and painful, but I had to face the truth: even in this place he was gone. Sorrow swept through my body with an intensity that brought me to my knees. I fell to the ground and cried out to my betrothed. I knew he existed only in my mind but it made no difference. I wanted him. I wanted to lay my face against his chest and feel his heat come into me. I wanted to press my lips to the pulse in his neck to feel it beating in perfect time with mine. I needed the comfort of his strong arms, his heavenly scent. I wanted my fantasy more than my reality and the knowledge that I would never have my prince again, even in my dreams, was too overwhelming. I lay on the forest floor, which I knew somewhere in a corner of my mind was really the floor of the shower, and sobbed stupidly. And then from far away, beyond the darkness of the forest, I heard his voice.