The Castle in the Mist (closed)

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9

Eric moved along to the stables and watched as his brother Alan, slid on top of his horse and left the stable to ride over the land that surrounded their shrouded castle. Alan had a love for horses one of the few things that he and his brother shared, that and now the desire to have the same woman. The brothers had always been interested in some of the same woman but it had never mattered to either one of them who the woman preferred. Now as Eric watched his brother take his horse over the different jumps he feels the first stab of jealousy at having been born 3 minutes after his brother, thus making Alan the heir to the kingdom and Desi.

Turning away Eric didn't see the large animal hurl itself from the forest and leap at his brother, but he did hear the scream of the horse. Turning around he took in the site before him. The beast had thrown his brother to the ground and was proceeding to mangle his shoulder. Its teeth dug deep into Alan as he tried to beat it with his free hand. Jasmine, the black war horse had moved like lightning across the yard and screamed in fear. Eric quickly grabbed the sword that was resting by the fence and charged towards his brother. Out of the corner of his eye he saw another beast leap from the woods and head towards him. He swiped the head of the charging animal and continued to barrel down on towards his brother, finally reaching him he killed the final blow to the mauling animal. He dropped quickly to his brothers side and cradled his head in his lap.

His eyes raked over his mangled brother as other members of the castle ran to assist him. "Damn, quavers!" the stable master shouted as he helped lift Alan from his brother's arms. The two men hurried to the cart that had been quickly heading towards them. Loading his brother into the cart Eric moved to join in the ride back to the castle and watched as the poison from the deadly quaver ate at the life of his twin. The quavers had been one of the few animals that the people had to fear. They would stalk their prey and then take them down poisoning them with the saliva from their mouths. All the able men including Alan and himself had spent countless hours hunting the deadly animals and he knew that now with the death of his brother closely approaching the final two quavers lay dead behind him. His brothers life will mark the end of the poisonous rage of the beast and would be thought of as a hero. "Ahhh... my brother. You always wanted to be remembered for something big. Didn't you?" Bending down he closed his brothers glassy eyes and felt his body wrack with anguish as the tears of his brothers death poured out from him.

Arriving at the castle he looked up to Desiree's window, seeing her eyes lock with his, he felt his heart harden against himself. He feared that the love he had for this woman had somehow caused this accident. He had wanted her, he had wished to be the eldest, had his jealousy fueled the curse of his people. Eric pushed all those thoughts back as he lifted his brother's body and moved into the castle. He met Maggie and heard her wail as he passed by her. Stopping a few feet behind her he saw Desiree running towards him. He looked into her eyes and saw the shock as they took in his dead brothers bloody body. "You won't have to marry him now will you. I'll return you to your world and restore the memories we erased and you can go on about your happy life." With those words he moved past her and into private chambers of his brother, he heard the door close behind him and layed his brother on the bed. Moving away he allowed the staff to prepare his twin's body for buriel.
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10

Desiree felt the anguish of Eric's words tear through her heart. She pulled Maggie to her and comforted the old woman. The servants, who had not yet even been formally introduced to Desiree, turned to look at her for guidance. She signaled to the eldest woman and pressed Maggie into her arms, instructing her to take her fragile friend back to her chambers.

Desiree managed to have all the other servants return to their stations and she waited outside the door that Eric had entered. She pressed her back against the wall and heard his angry shouting as the physician and his helpers worked at preparing Alan for his final resting place. She tried not to think of what would happen to her now. Obviously the chosen one was not her. She had been plucked from her family and taken to a place she had not known existed. Pushing the thoughts of her future away she turned to the door as Eric walked out.

"Come with me," he demanded. His steely glare dared her to question him. She obeyed, blocking her usual snippy remark from escaping. She'd let him have his anger unless he pushed it to far. Quickly she followed him down the hall and through several doors and past several rooms. She watched as shoulders that she had just moments ago laid her head, that seemed soft and inviting, now were ridged and hard. They approached a chamber, walking inside she gazed at the beautiful etchings carved into the wall. The benches were lined with velvet and silk. At the front of the room stood a man. Desiree followed Eric as he moved his way to the head of the room.

"She's here. Let's get on with this." Eric's voice was hard and edgy. His fist curled, his fingers digging into his skin.

"Your highness. We only must do this because your parents are traveling and Alan is no longer here to wed the girl," the man in the long blue robe shook as he spoke quietly to Eric.

Desiree's attention moved from each man and her mind tried to focus on what was taking place.

"I don't want to hear it. Let's get on with it. She's here, she's the chosen one. Let's proceed all ready."

"As you wish. You will have to hold her hands," nodding to Desiree the old man took her hands and passed them to Eric's.

Her mind was spinning. She saw all of this happening as if she was suspended above the couple at the alter. Her mouth was shut as if something clamped it closed. As Desiree dazed through what she knew was a rushed wedding ceremony she felt her world spin. Her eyes locked with Eric's as she heard a voice from her own lips answer the promises to remain true to him for all time.

"It is done."

The priests, as Desiree now saw him, brought her back to the moment with those three words. 'It is done' she thought to herself. In a matter of hours she had been taken from her home, and now she is married. She felt the heat rise to her face and the anger bubbling inside her begin to erupt. She pressed herself deep against Eric and spit in his face before turning quickly to exit the room.

His hand snaked out and grabbed her. Bending down he mashed his lips against hers. "Your belongings will be moved to my chambers."

"To hell they will!" Wretching her arm from his grasp she ran from the room.

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https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=347990

1

A lonely girl sits on the beach, the air caressing her skin. She ponders walking in and never coming back, to reach the island that she sees so far away has always been her wish. Now after many years she has begun to dream of the island. She knows noone else can see it out there, everyone laughed at her years ago when she first pointed it out to her parents. They can not see it she realized months later and so she kept her island to herself.

Another year goes by and her Island is still there, she is now 18 and longs to travel. Her family doesn't ever leave their little beach town but she wishes to, she only wants to go to one place.... her island. So she sits and waits. Unsure of what will get her there but knowing something will. She tried a boat this year but she never got closer to the island, it was as if it moved further away or she never moved closer.

She is now 23 and sits on her beach staring out into the ocean. The sun sits low and the moon begins its rise up into the sky. It appears different to her, brighter and larger. The wind stirs up the sand beside her and she feels a heavy presence weighing down on her. A voice on the wind carries itself to her. "Do you think it is time?" she hears the voice say and then another voice joins in. "Yes she is ready."

She feels her eyes close and her body slide to the sand. Her mind and her soul fall into a deep sleep. She doesn't feel the hands lift her up and cradle her close nor does she feel the warm breath against her head or the strong chest holding her close.

"I have loved her forever."

"I know but you have been patient. Soon you will know her and she you."

The figures were never seen by anyone here in this world and the girl was removed from everyone's memory as if she never existed in this time or place. They moved across the water skimming slowly towards the island that they had watched her from for so many years. They never made a footprint on the sand as they walked into the dense forest. The elder one waved his hand and the island was no longer there but had become a room of rich colors and beautiful silk and lace.

"You must let her rest."

"But I long to hold her, she is more beautiful then I had ever imagined."

"You must let her rest. She is here now and soon you will know her but she will have many questions and she will be frightened to awaken with a strange man in her room."

"Ahh brother, you know that I am not a typical man. But she will never have reason to fear me."

He laid her on the bed and pressed a kiss to her hair, "Sleep my love and dream of a world where all have awaited your arrival."

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2

She stired against the bed, her eyes remaining closed as she rolled her body over and pressed her head against her pillow. She breathed in deep enjoying the scent of sweet flowers in the air. 'Hmmm..' she sighed wondering what new scent that was and how come flowers were even allowed in the home, her father being allergic to everything. She stretched her body and felt the smooth satin sheets under her skin and the soft lacy gown she was wearing. Opening her eyes she felt her skin pale as she realized she was not where she belonged.

"Where am I?" Her panicked voice called out to herself. "Where am I?" again she asked out loud hearing the fear and confusion in her voice.

"Shhh.. little one." a voice from the corner called to her.

Turning she looked and saw a small old woman walk towards her. "Shhh... all is well and all is as it should be."

The old woman was frail but had a calming affect on the girl, "What is your name?" she asked the woman.

"Maggie, my princess and I am your humble servent."

"Princess? What are you saying? I am Desiree not a princess. Where am I and who has brought me here?" Anger was beginning to form in her mind she felt fear no longer but a desire to know her answers to her questions.

"All I can tell you is the two princes brought you here from the other side and you are the chosen one. I am here to assit you in your morning absolutions and take you to the great dining hall for your hunger to be satisfied."

Desiree opened her mouth to say more but was stopped when the old woman continued, "Please do not ask more of me, for I will not be allowed to answer it is not my place."

Desiree closed her mouth and felt her jaw tighten, she would allow this woman to help her and then she would find those two princes and get her answers. Moving from the bed she slipped her feet into the soft white slippers that Maggie had brought her. She followed the old woman noting her slight limp and her long braided white hair. Desiree chastised herself for taking her anger towards the woman, "I'm sorry I snapped at you Maggie."

"It is fine princess, I understand. Think no more of it and let me dress you and ready you for breakfast." Maggie moved to a huge door and opened it, the hinges creaked from the pulling and a small light emitted from inside the small room. She pulled from its contents a long yellow gown of what Desiree could only image to be more silk and guaze.

Desiree moved over to the bowl of water and towel. She washed her face and cleansed her arms and body quickly with the soap and water, later she would find out where she could take a proper bath. She turned as Maggie approached her with the dress and matching slippers.

Desiree was somewhat embarrassed as she lifted her lace nightgown from her naked body and eased, with Maggie's help, her legs then arms into the gown. It rested on her body loose until Maggie was able to button the many small pearl buttons in the back. They began at the small of her back and continued up to her neck. Desiree sliped her feet from the white bedroom slippers and placed them in the yellow ones that Maggie had laid on the floor.

Moving to the mirrow Desiree looked at a woman transformed. A woman in a long yellow gown that hugged her breast and moved down to cover her stomach and gently flared out over her hips to fall straight down to the floor. Lifting her foot she inspected the fine slipper and noticed its intricate stitching and designed truely matched the ones on her dress. Tiny seed pearls and crystals sparkled as light shimmered against each one when she swayed side to side. "Your hair miss." Maggie's voice interrupted her thoughts, turning she walked to the chair that the old woman was waiting at.

Desiree had not had anyone brush her hair since she was a young girl and even then it was brief, quick and painful. Maggie worked the brush over her long flowing hair and she felt her scalp relax and she did not fear any tugs from the lovely caresses of Maggie's touch. She closed her eyes and let the old woman care for her. She thought of the time she asked her mother to brush her hair and her mother telling her to do it herself and not to bother her with such nonsence, it was at that time that Desiree realized that many things she asked her parents to do were seen as nonsence so she eventually stopped asking for anything.

The sound of the brush being sat on the table brought her out of memories. "It is time, my lady." With that said Maggie led Desiree to the great doors of her room and opened them.

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3

Desiree followed the old woman down a long hall, mirrors hung along one side from end to end and tapestries of fairies, trolls, castles and dragons ran along the other. "What is this place?" She asked the old woman, hurrying to walk beside her.

Maggie didn't answer her question but only told her that all would be explained in time. Reaching another set of double doors Maggie ushered her into a room full of tables and benches. Desiree breathed deep the aroma of one table's contents. She followed her only friend in this new place to the bounty of food and sat herself on the edge of one of the wooden benches. "Please eat your fill miss and I will let the princes know that you are here. Rest assured they will not interrupt your meal."

Maggie motioned to a small serving girl who was perched upon a high stool and then left Desiree to her breakfast.

"Hello." she said to the small child who poured her water from a clay jug. The young girl nodded hello and motioned Desiree to eat her food. She slowly moved back to the stool and rested herself upon it never taking her eyes off of the glass Desiree was drinking from.

Desiree ate a variety of things all looked vaguely familiar but was different in color and slightly different in taste. She picked up a few grapes or at least they resembled them in size and texture yet in color they were white with pink swirls. Popping them in her mouth she closed her eyes and absorbed the sweet necter of their juice then felt the skin of the fruit melt against her tongue. She filled her plate with items that reminded her of home, banana shaped rainbows and rose colored oranges. Desiree didn't realize how hungry she was until she looked down at her plate and blinked as she was about to fill if for the third time. "Oh my!" she said. "If I continue to eat like this I will not fit this dress by the end of the day." She winked up at the little girl who giggled at her statement.

The young girls face quickly became serious and she jumped from the stool, set her jug on the floor and dropped into a deep curtsy. Desiree realized that the only reason any person would curtsy was if royalty had come into the room. "Well it is about time." she said in a scornful tone as she stood up from the bench and moved away from the table. She dropped the napkin from her hand as she turned and looked into the blue eyes of who one could only assume was one of the princes that Maggie had spoke of.

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4

She had never seen a man like this before. She guessed his height to be around 6'6" though she wasn't entirely sure, she herself was very small barely seeing 5'2". His body she noted was covered in a tunic of leather with no sleeves. His slacks she could only describe as suede, it looked soft and it seem to cover huge legs that Desiree knew without even touching were strong and powerful. Upon his feet she noticed shoes similar in style to her own but obviously made of sturdier material. She refused to allow this big person to intimidate her, pulling herself to her full height she opened her mouth to speak, "Where am I?"

"Usually one bows in my presence, but for now I will allow that to slide." He ran his gaze down her body, "You chose a lovely gown it compliments you and the room. Alan will be pleased with your selection."

"Alan? Who is he and for that matter who are you?" her temper was beginning to rise and she felt her face redden with anger. "I also asked you where I was. Do you plan on answering me?"

"You are rather snappy this morning. One would think you hadn't slept well but I know for a fact that you did, so maybe you are more disagreeable by nature then we first thought."

"So you still refuse to answer my questions?" Desiree was steaming now. She moved quickly up to the big man, swallowing her fear which then settled deep into her gut. She pointed her finger into his chest, "Look here buddy, I demand to...." She paled as he grabbed her wrist and pulled him against her.

"You will demand nothing of me ever. Do I make myself clear?" His eyes bore into hers. "I will answer all your questions and all your fears if you will just be quiet!" His voice was loud and echoed around the room. Closing his eyes he breathed deep calming his mind. He realized his mistake in breathing so deeply with her against his body. He smelled her scent, the scent of a woman ready to be mated with her chosen one. He felt his body responding to hers and could all ready see her naked upon his brothers bed. Shaking the thoughts from his bed he released her and pushed her away.

"I'm sorry. I'm scared and concerned." Desiree apologized to the man and blushed over the knowledge that she had felt his body react to her closeness. She also realized that her blush was also, because she herself had reacted to the feel of his body.

"Please sit princess and I will tell you everything." He motioned for the serving girl to leave them and then sat down across from the bench Desiree had been occupying, he waited patiently before beginning the tale that had been handed down for hundreds of years to every prince born to the kingdom.
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5

Desiree stopped herself from telling him she was not a princess. Sitting down on the bench she rested her hands on her lap and waited for this tale to begin.

"500 years ago a war started out between two groups of people. The group of fairies and the group of trolls." He raised his hand to stop her questions and proceeded with the tale. "Now for thousands of years before this the three groups worked peacefully beside each other. The trolls harvested food for the fairy folk and the fairy folk harvested small seeds from the food to return back to the trolls. My group of people, our group, provided a place for each race to live. We own most of the land and most of the drinking water that is not poisioned with the sulfer that spills forth from the ground."

"Sulfer from the ground?" Desiree's eyes widened with humor, "Your kidding me. This whole "world" you speak of, has fairies and trolls and sulfer lakes." She could hear her own sarcasm and could tell that this brute of a man didn't like it. She covered her giggle with her hand and put on a serious expression, "Please continue."

He rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath he went on, "As I said, everyone worked and co-existed together. One night a violent storm erupted over the land and the fairies and trolls came here to the castle. They were welcomed and allowed to stay as long as was needed. And stay they did, many nights and days the storm raged on, bringing flooding to the rivers and lakes. Many became polluted and soon animals and fields were either killed or destroyed. The fairies and trolls started to bicker over little things but soon little greviences became large ones. The king and queen begged the two groups to find piece inside the castle walls. The two leaders of each race refused. Finally after the storm had passed and many months of repairs to villiages and traveling to distant lands to replace livestock the two groups left the castle. Upon arriving home the fairies discovered that all of their magical dust had been stolen. As you can guess they just knew that the trolls had somehow taken it, so they immediately set out to attack the trolls." He paused from his story to take a drink from Desiree's glass of water.

She waited impatiently for him to continue so caught up in the fairy tale she found herself wishing it were true.

"Now the trolls denied the knowledge of where the fairy dust was kept. Everyone knew about fairy dust but they swore they had not stolen it. So they only protected themselves, so they say when one night a band of fairies descended on the troll prince and lifted him. They held the prince high above the ground and swore to all that if the dust was not returned to them before the final leaf from the willow fell for its winter's nap they would bring the prince back here to drop him against the rocks below. The trolls were frightened so together the King and Queen came to my people and asked for their help in finding the dust. They conceded and looked everywhere for the precious magic dust. At that same time the fairies worked with all the time they could spare to increase the new stores of fairy dust. At last the day came when the trolls had to admit they couldn't find the dust and they watched as their prince was dropped to his death." He looked up into Desiree's eyes and saw a tear glide down her cheek. "You are the chosen one." He heard himself whisper and felt his heart open and the weight of hundreds of years lift from his shoulder.

"What?" she asked unsure of what he had whispered. "What happened next?" She wiped the tear from her eye and waited for the end of his tale.

He pulled himself back from her and settled back to finish the story. "Next, you ask? Well, next the trolls retaliated as any group would. The King ordered every fairy that was found outside of the fairy lands executed. At night the fairies could not travel because of the glow from their dust, so during the day the worked to find food on their own land. But soon they had no more and needed to replenish their stock. The strongest fairies gathered together to plan a night time raid against the troll fields. They secretly covered their bodies and wings with coal dust from the soot of the castle chimneys. Making their way into the trolls fields they gathered as much food as they could. This raid was a success so they continued to raid the troll gardens every night for many months. Of course the trolls realized what was happening so they took knives to every other plant and slowly slit the skin and milked into each plant the poisionous sulfer water. The plants fruits drank in the water and though it didn't kill the plants as it may have on most worlds it did alter their color and flavor."

"Oh no. The fairies ate the poisioned food and they all died!" Desiree heard the anguish cry and sorrow as she felt the words of the story fill her soul. Something was happening to her body and her mind, it absorbed the words that this prince this man continued to pour out to her and as she listened she felt in her heart that all he spoke had happened and was real.

"Not all of the fairies died but almost the whole population had been vanquished. Sorrow rolled across the land as hundreds of butterflies came and lifted the fairies and carried them to the hill of dispair to be laid to rest. The King and Queen Fairy cried for days over the loss of their precious children all dead from eating the poisioned fruit. A being came down over our world, they didn't know who or what it was. But soon it was revealed to the people of that time that it was a troll but not the ones everyone was familiar with. This troll was huge, bigger then any man in the castle and by his side was the most beautiful woman. Upon closer inspection everyone noticed that she was a fairy, a tall thin fairy that stood almost the same height as the man. 'Look what you have done. You have destroyed friends and neighbors and wrongly killed and punished people.' The fairy folk and trolls tried to tell their sides, but the woman shouted out to them, 'STOP! We know who took your dust. It was no one from the troll villiage. It was him!' Everyone turned to where her long thin finger was pointing and they saw the King of my race standing with a look of fear and guilt. 'He took your dust. He is the one you should have dealt with! Now we have to. We have to intervene in your lives because you will destroy each other if we don't!' With those words the woman raised her hand and the Queen of the people was seen floating in her palm. 'I will erase this woman from your minds and only allow her husband her memory. She will live with us until her death and her husband will rule his castle till his, alone and miserable they will be, for she knew of his crime and encouraged him in it. After the castle is ruled by a strong and honest man only then will his true love be shown to him. Only her tears from the story will give him the true knowledge that she is his mate. When he sees the first tear fall he will know that she is the chosen one and then this race will once again be restored to its proper place in this world.' After she finished her mate took a club and raised it high, a great wind was brought over the castle and it became shrouded in a mist so thick that it could not be seen from any point of land. And so our castle was hidden from all, fairy folk and trolls made piece and my relatives traveled to distant worlds for food, clothing and searched high and low for the woman to break the curse. Many marriages took place because men thought they had the right lady many children were born and raised some loved some not. Then one day 23 years ago in your time, a young child was born." He paused and again quenched his thirst waiting for her to pick up the story seeing in her eyes she thought she understood.

"A girl," she slowly began somehow knowing the words were true. "A girl who would rescue your people from this curse. Who would sit on a beach and dream of being needed and wanted. A girl who felt as if she never belonged but had known something waited for her, someone waited for her. A girl who became a woman and this woman still felt the urge to leave her world behind. I am that woman, that is what you think. Isn't it? Because I shed a tear at a story you believe I am the women that you are to wed and lift this curse from your people so the fog or mist lifts itself and all is restored to you. Correct?" Holding her breath she waited for his answer.

"Mostly yes. My brother is who you are to wed he rules the castle not I. He is the one that found you on the beach. I had told him of a place where people would sit and look at the water. He went there to paint and saw you. He told me that he felt a pull, an energy and he asked if I would travel back and tell him what I felt. I agreed and I felt the same thing." Here he paused and asked the heavens to forgive him for not telling all he felt. "I saw in my brother's eyes that he had all ready fallen in love with you, but you were still young so he waited. Finally we both agreed that you were old enough and wise enough to be taken away so we did. Your activities on your world no longer exist in the memories of the people you interacted with in some way. We used some of the stolen fairy dust to bring that change and to bring you back with us. You are the chosen one but it is not I you will marry but Alan." That last statement tore at his chest and he pushed back the reason why.

Desiree stood before him and looked down into his eyes. "I believe your story, but I do not believe I am your chosen one, nor do I wish to marry a man I don't know nor love. Please use your stolen magic and return me home and restore my aquaintences memories." She turned to leave and was stopped short by a strong grasp on her wrist.

"You can never leave. You will wed Alan. If you aren't the chosen one you will still live here and die here. You will birth your husbands offspring and heirs to the crown so that one day they may find the chosen one. I know you are it is written and passed down from generation to generation. In time you will see and when you do you will aplogize to me for your insolent tone. You will be my brother's wife and you will like it." He pulled her to him and put his finger under her chin. "If you make this difficult, you will suffer. I promise you that." He pushed her from him again but didn't release her wrist. "Maggie!" he bellowed. "Maggie!" he shouted again. The old woman scurried into the room. "Take her to Alan, I've had enough of her tongue." He released her wrist and left the room not saying anything else to her.

"Oh my dear," Maggie whispered. "You've gone and upset poor Eric. Now the wee children will be unable to hear a story from him. He never can tell a good story when he is angry. Come along child your prince awaits." Maggie lead the way for Desiree and somehow she pushed the heavy door open. "Come on now. We can't keep him waiting forever."

Desiree moved slowly, feeling tears in her eyes as she moved through the doors into another large room. She followed the red path that Maggie was taking, her eyes downcast as she made her way blindly behind her friend. When Maggie curtsied Desiree felt herself do so to. She had yet to lift her eyes afraid of what it might mean. Knowing that when she did she would know that she was here and would have to accept what the man Eric had claimed.

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6

"Leave us." She watched as Maggie quickly responded and moved away from the room. Desiree kept her head bowed and her curtsy low as she heard the door open and close. Though she had not looked at the room she sensed that she and this man was alone. Alan was his name and she was supposed to marry him. Thoughts ran through her head as she saw feet move to stop in front of her. She imagined a man big and resembling the fierce man she had just felt her body react to with rage, fear and desire. She clenched her eyes shut as she felt his hand press against the top of her head. "Rise." his voice commanded her and she felt the stir of her temper again, bottling it up she obeyed him and stood as tall as her short stature would allow.

Desiree's eye's focused on a button on the man's shirt and slowly her head lifted up to gaze into blue eyes that were identical to his brothers. A look of confusion crossed her face as she took in the same features and the same body shape. "Twins?" her dumbfounded expression amused the prince as she heard his chuckle pass through his lips. "Well it doesn't matter if you both look the same or not. I wish to go home and as soon as you grab your stolen magic you can take me back." She crossed her arms across her chest and tapped her slipper covered foot along the floor. Waiting with a look of determination on her face she readied her verbal attack if he chose to refuse her.

Laughing Alan moved back to his chair. He rested his feet upon the large wooden table that Desiree assumed was his desk noting all the legal papers and inkwells that rested upon it. "Sit Desi, and let us talk."

"How did you know my name?" she asked. Only one person had called her that, a young man she had met one day as she was just making her way to the beach. She had spoken to him briefly and introduced herself, hoping that maybe he would be her friend. 'You will always be my Desi', he had said to her as he left her alone on the beach. She looked for him for many days before beginning to wonder if he to was a figment like her island. "The island! Your villiage, your castle is the island! Isn't it?"

"Yes. In your world it appears as an island, in others a ship or a planet sometimes we are stars that fall from the sky. Once Eric decided to be a flower that was funny, watching people try to pick us but they never could reach us."

"Well I'm glad you find humor in other people's anguish." Her tone was snappy and she knew it nor did she care.

"Careful brother she has a mouth on her that doesn't know how to quit."

Desiree turned to see the mirror image of Alan walk into the room, she moved away from where she had been standing and sat in the chair on the left front side of the desk. Glowering at Eric she turned her face back to Alan.

"You know, that is the second time you haven't bowed to me. Be careful or I'll have to punish you if you do it a third time." He moved to the empty chair beside her and he too propped his feet on the desk. "So has she told you that she wishes to return home?"

"Oh yes! We were just about to talk about that." Alan smiled over at Desiree and let his eyes roam over her body, he felt his arousal to mate with her beginning to grow. He could smell her scent and though she did not know it her own body was becoming aroused by the need to have him. He wonders to himself why he hadn't felt it when she first entered the room, it had always been there when he was able to be close to her. It was there last night when he and Eric brought her to their world and it had stayed with him until he and Eric left her. Shrugging the thought from his mind he lowers his feet and slides his chair and legs under the table.

"Desi." he begins only to be interrrupted by her once again.

"I never said you could call me that."

"No, neither did I." Eric looked over at his brother, reading the humor in his eyes but knowing that anger showed in his own.

"I will call her what I like." Alan smiled at his brother, "Eric is the man you met that day on the beach, the one who called you Desi. He told me of how he had been to a world of water and sand and where people would sit and look at the waves. I asked if he had met anyone and he said a girl named Desi. That is all he told me so I returned and found the beach and sat and painted the waves and then I saw this girl and I knew it had to be the Desi my brother had spoken of. So I painted you also."

Desiree looked over at Eric and tried to subtract years from his face and his body, slowly she saw the young man who she had spent such a lovely time talking with. Her eyes lit up and her smile became wider as she realized that she had found her other friend, just as quickly her face hardened as she remembered her situation. "Neither one of you may call me Desi."

"As you wish." Eric replied giving Alan a firm nod knowing that he would agree."

Alan began to tell Desiree of all the times he had spent watching her and feeling the pull that told him she was to be the one that was to come to their world and save it. He told her that they would wed and at the moment of the first kiss of man and wife the mist would lift and all three communities would live in harmony together. Desiree looked back and forth at the two brothers and saw firm belief and unmoving conviction. Rising from her chair she waited as both men stood in her presence. "I'd like to go back to my room now." She stated in a cold voice, void of emotion.

"I'll lead you back." Alan offered.

"No." I remember my way and with those words she parted from the room and moved back through the doors to the great dining hall. She failed to notice the room now clean of her breakfast and she failed to sense the presence of the man following her, watching over her as she moved herself slowly down the mirrored hall and into her room.

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7

Desiree closed the door to her room and made her way to the bed. Lying across her stomach she began to feel the first wrenching pains move through her body. Her tears coursed down her face as she yelled and screamed into the pillow. "They had no right!" she yelled into the silk covering, muffling her screams and cries of anguish. Her body shaked as tears soaked her cheeks and slid down them to splash and land on the fabric, it too becoming soaked. Moving her body down from the bed she leaned against it, resting her elbows on the mattress she did something she had not done since she was a small child. She prayed.

She prayed with all of her being that she would open her eyes and see her bed. She prayed that she would sit on her beach and see her island and know that it was only an island. Her mind continued to plead with her god as she tried to form the words she herself couldn't understand. She felt her body heave as more tears fell from her eyes. This time she prayed for strength and acceptance. Acceptance for the story and for the part that she felt she played in it. Strength to continue to move about her life in a place where she is a stranger to one and all including the man she will call husband.

Finishing her prayer she thought of her home and said a private goodbye. She turned to see if there was a way to contact Maggie, knowing that surely a rope or a bell would be around to locate the old woman. She wondered along the room looking for some kind of device seeing none she moved back to the bed and slipped her slippers from her feet. She slid herself on top of the covers and closed her eyes. She rested there in her shimmering yellow gown and pictured her husband to be. She saw his large body and blue eyes but suddenly she saw something else. To tired to worry or focus on her imagination she slipped off to sleep and dream.

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Eric slipped into Desi's room. He had followed her back to her room and had heard her weeping as he waited outside her door. Knowing she was safe, he had left her to her tears, his own need to comfort her strong and powerful. His body ached to hold her and feel her beneath him but his mind always won the battle. She was the chosen one, she was Alan's woman, Alan's mate.

He closed the door softly behind him, hearing the latch click. He moved quietly only wishing to see to her safety at least that is what he tells himself. He sits in the chair by her bed and watches her sleep. For as many years that Alan had watch Desiree on the beach he had watched her slumber. From the first moment his eyes had rested on her he had felt the magical pull that was told to be part of the legend. The "pull" was what was felt when a being from another world was found sutible for their planet. Eric watched her chest rise and fall and let his eyes move up to her face. He took in her fine features, skin the color of a softly suntouched porcelian. He moved a small group of copper curls from her face and rubbed his fingers around them. 'All of you is still so soft,' he thought to himself as he slowly moved his finger across her brows. Sighing he stood to leave and noticed the pinched expression on her face.

It was then Eric actually let his mind register what she was wearing. 'Good god,' he thought. 'What the hell was she sleeping in that for' he noticed that her breathing was heavier then he realized and he soon saw that she her air was coming in quick gasps. He knew she was in not in danger of sufficating in the tight gown but he could tell she was not as comfortable as she could have been. He moved to pull the bell wondering why the foolish girl had not simply rung it. Pausing his hand against the rope he realized that the hour was extremely late and Maggie very old in her age would have to be roused from her deep sleep to care for the princess.

Steading himself he walked back over to the bed. "Desi," he whispered. "Desi." his voiced said her name again this time louder. Resigning to the fact that he was going to have to touch her to wake her. He took a deep breath and poked her arm with his finger. "Wake up." he commanded in a louder whisper. Groaning he moved closer to her ear, he felt a heady feeling come over him as the scent of her hair and her body moved into his lungs. "Desi. Wake up. You can not rest in this gown. Wake up." He slowly pushed her shoulder with his hand. Sighing and thinking to himself, 'This woman must she make everything difficult.' Enough he told himself and placed both hands on her shoulders and lifted her upper body from the bed. "Desi, you will wake up now." he commanded as he dropped his hands from her shoulders and let her land on the bed.

"What?" She opened her eyes and looked into the eyes of her husband. She started to tell him to leave her room immediately but then paused. "Eric?"

Eric looked at her, how had she known it was him, she shouldn't have really. He had changed clothes from this morning and she had been sleeping so she had not see what he or his brother were wearing. He watched intently as her eyes acknowledge by the silence of his words, that she was correct. "How did you know it was me and not Alan."

She thought of telling him she guessed, but felt that bitter taste of dishonesty everytime she ever attempted to lie. Rolling her eyes she slid up to sit on the edge of the bed and motioned for Eric to sit beside her. She felt at ease with him, now that she had known she knew him before. "It was your eyes."

"Oh? Explain please." Eric had felt the change in her seconds before she said his name and he did not want to bring back the uneasy feelings he knew she still had but for some reason chose to push them back.

Taking a deep breath and shugging her shoulders she looked back at him. "Well it isn't just your eyes there are other small things. Your eyes are the first difference I noticed. Looking into Alan's I saw the same blue as your's but that was all. Just blue, granted it is a lovely shade of blue as deep as the ocean I have sat before back on my world. It is as deep as the blue sky and deeper even then the leggings he had been wearing. His eyes were so bl...."

"Enough, I get it he has blue eyes." Rolling his eyes he looked back at Desi and saw her wink up at him. "Ahhhh, teasing me were you. Careful that to shall get you punished. Now tell me about my eyes." He batted them at her playfully, waiting for her words of flattery while he chuckled at the slap she handed him across his arm.

"Your eyes are blue, yes. However, you may not see what I see." Staring deep into his eyes she descriped to him what she saw. "Your eyes though as deeply blue as your brother's has one distinct difference. Your eyes Sir Eric have a fine silver fleck in each one. I didn't notice it when you went into your tongue lashing in the dining hall but it was when you looked at me in Alan's office. At that moment I saw the silver flecks of the man I had met on the beach and those same flecks were in your eyes. Therefore you are Eric." She proudly smiled up at him and saw his own astonishment of her knowledge relfect in his features.

"Congratulations my lady. You have discovered the only difference between my brother and I." His chuckle filled the air as he shook his head back and forth. 'Again she had amazed him,' he thought to himself.

"Eric, you underestimate me." Desiree was enjoying the friendly banter and an opportunity to enjoy her friend from long agos presence. "I said the eyes were one thing, do you really not know the rest?" She could see his confusion so she asked him to stand and she too stood. Placing her body infront of his she held our her hands. "Come down here. I am to short to come up to you," noticing his hesitation she rolled her eyes at him, "I will not bite you."

Eric bent low and let Desiree touch his face. He quickly steadied the hard feeling of power that surged through him as her hands touched his cheeks. "Desi, what are you doing?" He recognized the first signs of hunger beginning to form deep in his throat. He knew he should leave her and walk away but he longed to spend more time with her and longed to take this stolen moment so he waited for her answer.
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8

Desiree really couldn't ask him if she wanted to, she had been going to tell him about how one eybrow was slightly angled differently then his brother's but the moment her hands touched his face she felt an incredible sense of hunger in her body. Not knowing why she was experiencing this she stared into Eric's eyes.

Eric looked back into her's, reading the signs of need and desire. His mind told him not to do what he knew his body would do anyway. Slipping his hands to Desiree's waist he pulled her close to him. He felt her hands move up and circle around his neck and her fingers curled into his hair. "Desi, I really shouldn't do this." His words were out seconds before his lips covered hers.

Desiree felt her body tingle. She had never been kissed before, her body learning a new emotion that had been buried waiting for its chance to come out. Pressing her closed lips closer to his she curled her fingers more into his hair. Sensing her newly discovered emotion Eric allowed his lips just to remain closed on hers. He slowly moved his hands to her waist and held her for a moment, before letting his tongue trace the seam of her closed lips.

She felt his tongue on her lips and was curious as to why he would do that, she kept her eyes closed as her mouth relaxed and let his tongue slowly slide between her lips. Angleing her head Desiree felt his tongue touch hers and a small moan escaped her throat. She pressed herself closer and moved one hand from his hair to rest on his shoulder. She felt her breast pressed against his chest and felt as if they were heavy. Her nipples had hardened and itched through the fabric of her clothing as her pelvis pressed into his.

Eric groaned as he felt her innocent thrust against his pelvis and knew that his cock would soon makes its full presence known if she continued to move as she was. He held her waist away from his body as he let his tongue slowly slide along the side of hers. Keeping one hand on her hip he brought his other to her cheek and slowly caressed it. He closed his own eyes and enjoyed the feel of her tongue slowly begin to answer the kiss back with his.

Desiree felt as if an electric tremor had begun to charge through her body. As Eric's tongue slid along with hers she felt her nipples become even harder and her body took control of itself by rubbing her chest slowly up and down his. She moved her hand from his shoulder down to his arm and felt the muscles tensing underneath her touch. "Eric," she moaned as she slowly moved her lips from his and opened her eyes. She looked into his and saw the silver lining had darkened and she felt her mouth move back to his, this time her tongue knew what it wanted. She thrust her tongue deep into his mouth and pushed his head deep against her mouth. She felt a power course through her body as her tongue continued to sweep and swirl with his.

Eric could feel her new found passion and took his time savoring it. His mind was no longer telling him what to do as his hand moved in her hair and the slid back and pressed her pelvis back against him. He felt her body tense at the contact of his hard, firm cock pressed deep against her. His hand dug into the fabric of her dress gathering it as he slowly moved her pelvis slowly back and forth along his erection. Her body melted against his as he deepened their kiss. He felt her hands moving along his arms and down his waist as they pulled him closer to her. "Desi." he heard the growl of hunger in his voice as he moved his mouth to her ear. Licking the curve of it he slowly slid his tongue inside and then sucked gently on the lobe.

"Oh god." she heard herself whisper enjoying the touch of his mouth against her skin. She opened her eyes and lowered her mouth to his shoulder and pressing a kiss on his shirt before sliding to suck softly on his neck.

Eric heard it seconds before Desiree did and immediately he stepped away from her. Turning he looked at the heavy door opening and saw Maggie walk in carrying a tray of fresh fruit and a glass of wine. "Hello your highness." Maggie said as she slowly glanced around the room taking in the fact that the young people were alone. Quickly her eyes returned to the prince and she immediatly saw his arousal, her eyes moved just as fast to the princess and she saw her blush and red cheeks. Maggie knew that it was Eric and not Alan in the room, having raised the boys after the queen had died in childbirth. She had always known each boy and now she could see a large problem heading their way.

"Maggie." Eric nodded to her and turned away from Desiree. He walked to the door and took the tray from the old woman, his eyes telling her that what she had seen was not to be mentioned. Moving away he set the tray on the bedside table, nodded his head to the princess and left the room closing the door behind him. He leaned back against the door and faced the wall of mirrors. "What have I done?" he said outloud hearing the sound of raw passion still in his voice. Moving away from Desiree's door he walked off in search of something to take his mind away from the sin he had wanted to commit with his brother's mate.

"What time is it Maggie?" Desiree heard her nervousness as she moved towards the closet to change from her rumbled gown. She heard the old woman shuffling around the room and smoothing down the sheets and blanket that Desiree had rumbled as she napped.

"It is just after the midday meal. Your intended," Maggie emphised that word before continuing, "said you were to be left to rest and I would bring you something to eat later. It is now an hour or so after the end of the meal. I have fresh fruit and cheese for you and a glass of our tropical wine. Is that the dress you would like to wear now?" Maggie walked towards Desiree and began to undo the buttons from behind her.

Desiree dismissed Maggie and removed her yellow gown and slippers. Moving naked to stand infront of a mirror she looked at her body. She saw her reflection and noticed how her skin still looked flush and felt hot to her touch. She ran her palms over her nipples and felt them harden again and she felt a small tingle in them, similar but different then when they had been pressed against Eric. She moved one hand down to the light red thatch of curls and let one finger slip along the folds of her lips. Feeling the wetness of her sex she let her finger slip further up along the folds. Her body shivered and Desiree ran her finger down then up again. Again her body moved and she felt her womanhood tighten. She slid her hand away and looked at the moisture on her finger slowly and with some sense of embarrassment she tasted the moisture from her body. The salty bitter taste was not unpleasant so she slid her finger deeper into her mouth closing her eyes and imaging it was Eric's tongue inside her mouth. She cleansed it and swirled her tongue around her finger feeling more liquid slip from her body. Desiree moved her eyes back to the mirror seeing herself again and knowing that she could not marry Alan.

Moving away she picked up the short white dress and slipped it over her head. It feel down her body and rested just below her knees. The silver threaded straps rested on her shoulders and her breast felt snug but not confined as she moved around the room enjoying the taste of the fruit and wine. She noticed a stack of books along a small dresser, grabbing one she moved out to the balcony of the room and rested herself on a small white couch. Sliding her legs under her butt she began to read a story of a family who had lost all they had possessed and had to begin anew.

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I'll add more as soon as I can.. sometime later. I hope you are all enjoying it. I am having alot of fun..

Working..

Working at home with this now! I'll either submitt it to Novel/Novelettes or eventually post the entire thing here... I hope you'll forgive.. but to give this story the attention I want to give it, home is where I need to continue it. Thanks RH&F