9 February 2013
PROLOGUE Once upon a time There was a girl Who couldn't care less About herself. Days went by And she grew up. How nice 'd be to know What she did lack. Once, in a bar There was a man. He saw the girl And asked about her To his friends. But nobody knew The gracious damsel. He began to dream About her... To see her face everywhere. Curiosity took over him And he got up and went to her. Her face, her voice Reminded him of something Or maybe somewhere Far away. A land where he was a king and had a queen Very beautiful indeed. Maybe some strange dream, or some forgotten memory of a past life Perhaps another enchanted dimension... One thing he knew for sure. He had finally met his lost queen. Only a brief glance at him and she knew why all that time she didn't care about herself at all. She was waiting for someone she had knew a long time ago, but she couldn't remember his features clearly before. Now everything changed. They remembered about their past in the very instant their eyes met.
Chapter I
Once upon a time, in a land where magic was common, a young prince met a witch. She was a beautiful woman with black hair and violet eyes. While she was picking flowers, she heard a noise coming from the bush near the first trees of the forest. There was a little boy peeking from it. She called him, inviting to reach her. Shyly, he approached her. Then, he introduced himself, as the well mannered boy he was. But he didn't reveal the woman he was the son of the king of that land. She decided to invite him to taste the pie she was going to cook with the flowers in her basket. She didn't look like a bad person, and the boy, sick of the loneliness he suffered at the palace, decided to put his trust in her. William, that was the boy's name, had lost his mother a long time ago and his father had always treated him coldly. He had always kept his troubles to himself. They arrived at the woman's home through a secret path. In front of the house, there was a large field covered in grass, and with a small pond. On the river of the pond, a gracile girl, maybe 12 or 13 years old( or at least this is the age William thought she had) was playing with the water. Her hair had the same colour of her mother's, but her eyes were of a shiny green and she had a great, lovely smile. As soon as she saw her mother coming, she got up and she began to run in her direction waving at her and calling out loud -Mother! Welcome home! I really would like to show you something! Please, come with me!!! Hurry, hurry!!!- Finally she saw the boy standing behind the mother. He was a little bit taller than her, maybe sixteen or seventeen, with blond-reddish hair and blue eyes, his skin was pale and he was wearing clothes too good for a village boy. She gazed at him and then she blushed. She had never dreamt of seeing a so handsome boy near her house; moreover she was very shy with strangers. The mother invited her to introduce herself properly, as she had been taught. She used a much lower tone of voice this time, almost whispering -I'm Cornelia, but everyone calls me simply Lia. Nice to meet you. -William, and everyone calls me so, but you can call me in whatever way you prefer, little mademoiselle. -Could I call you "Will"? -Your voice would make every name sound good. I allow you to call me Will, he grinned. He was obviously treating Cornelia as he would have treated any other child. He thought that she was too young to be pretty, even if he had to admit to himself that her traits were vaguely intriguing. Her lips seemed soft and she had got a pretty sharp look, but also tender, her nose in a perfect line, and her black long and wild hair fitted perfectly with her smooth and pale skin. He was still lost in his thoughts about her features, when she ran back to the pond. She took something. William saw a small thing flying between her hands. It was sparkling. She came back to her mother and let her see the tiny thing, with a sincere enthusiasm. -Very good, Lia! I'm proud of you!- And addressing to William-You know, this is her first spell. The thing you are seeing is her water fairy. She has been trying to evoke her personal fairy for a very long time, but you have to find the right element. She has tried leaves, trees, mushrooms, grass, earth, fire and the same air, but she had avoided water because she thinks that water is scary. When she was 4, she fell in a lake and she almost drowned, but she managed to escape thanks a boy that as soon as he saw her, without hesitation, dove in the cold water and saved her life.She fainted just some instants before the boy reached her, so she doesn't remember him clearly. When she woke up, she was already alone, but safe. William listened and he remembered of that time, when, with a spell, his best friend let him become five or six years older than he was. It was a joke, a way to spend another boring afternoon. They were contemplating the effects of the spell. The royal wizard had a son, Dereck was his name. He was his father's apprentice and used to try to amuse the little prince every day with a new trick or a new spell. -p...pl... Please!!! Someone... Cough cough...someone help me... A child was screaming desperately with all the air in her lungs. William began to run in the direction of the lake. She was drowning. Fortunately he had learned swimming the past year, despite the young age. But now he had not only the ability, but also the strength thanks to the spell. It was an easy job to pull her out of the water. She was very small and the dress not too thick. But the spell wasn't permanent. As soon as he got out of the water, he became an 8 years old child again. He had to return to the wizard and get changed. It was very late, so he couldn't wait until the girl regained consciousness. But before leaving her he checked on her heart beating and she seemed fine. So he rushed through the bushes to return as soon as possible to the meadow where Dereck was waiting for him to return.
William was still lost in his thoughts. - What a strange coincidence he mumbled to himself. However he decided to keep his mouth shout. He didn't love to grab attention to himself and he didn't want to be thanked. Moreover it would have been long to explain. She was still playing with her fairy. He decided to exchange some words with Lia, to make sure she didn't remember anything about that day. In the meanwhile the witch had gone inside the house. -Lia, uhm, you and your mother live alone? He didn't want to be rude going to the point directly. - Yeah, we have always lived by our own. -And your father? -I've never met him. -Oh, sorry! I didn't know... -I don't mind. All I know about him is that he is a knight and he lives in some far away land. He left my mother as soon as he knew she was pregnant. I prefer to avoid speaking about him when my mother is around. She did really love him. Sometimes I feel a little guilty... Maybe it was my fault... She couldn't understand why, but this was the first time she talked to a stranger so openly. She felt like she had always known him. She looked away, hiding a tear on her cheek. -please, turn this way, Lia. Said William -you don't have to feel guilty, nor trying to be strong. You can cry in front of me. I would like to be your friend and it would be wonderful if you could count on me when you feel down. William skipped a beat when she turned her face, watching him directly in the eyes. Blushing, she said -Thank you, Will. You would be my first friend. Nobody wants to speak to a witch's daughter. You see, my mother isn't really a witch. She says so to keep dangerous people away from our home. It's not easy to live alone with a little girl to protect. She smiled timidly at her last words. People says we are witches because my grandmother knew magic. However it was white magic. Not dangerous, but only to help people feel better through potions or fairy dust. We can evoke fairies... Well, my mom can't actually. I think that magic has skipped a generation. - I believe that dark magic exists, but it's obvious you don't know anything about it. Your eyes are so sincere! Don't worry! I won't say anyone what you've just told me. Now I think it's better I get going. It's late and someone could be worried. I promise you that I will come here tomorrow, and the tomorrow after. I'll come everyday if you want. I'll play with you. Is it okay,little Lia? -It would be wonderful! Said her with a huge smile. -Please, say goodbye to your mother. I have to hurry back. See you tomorrow, my new friend! Will and his gentleman smile touched Lia's heart. She greeted him and then, excited, she ran back home to say her mother about her new friendship.
The Crystal Tear • Opuss № I