Return of the King

Beyond the Mists

A millennia or two had past since the King had set foot on the world of Iota. He sat crossed legged on a small green grassy knoll over looking the emerald forest, the small twinkling stream ran babbling to the left , it's bright childish laughter had always amused him. Surrounding the stream was acres upon acres of flowering meadows, the scent of which lifted his spirits as it always did. His long hair had been braided that morning in the style of the Fair Folk, his blues eyes twinkled as they did when greeted with the beauty of such nature and he smiled. The expression warmed his entire manner and he sang.
The song was sad and remorseful but full of hope and reminiscent of the circle of life, it's patterns like an intricate spiders web caught in the soft light of the morning sun, the dew sparkling with Solar's light. The song reminded him of somewhere. Somewhere in the distant past, somewhere...
As the song began it's final verse Steven's mind tried to find that place , lost beyond the mists, lost for almost an eternity... Forgotten...
"Steven" a soft melodic voice greeted his ears and he turned and smiled. Marial stood before him, her figure tall and slim, her limbs slender, her skin like alabaster. Marial's long honey blonde, braided hair tumbled down far beneath her slender waste, her face was exquisite, her cheekbones seemed carved by the finest of all craftsmen, her lips full and inviting. She stared at him warmly her eyes the colour of the summer's sky. Her voice was light, airy and full of love. She wore a simple white dress that huing to the floor, her feet bare.
" You have been here for two days now, you should eat" there was no concern in her voice, the Isle of mists had no death, no hunger, no starvation.
"I like it here" he replied simply, his smile comforting.
"I know" she said, her expression flickered slightly. Steven felt an emotion, concern? Was that what he felt. Concern was something that reminded him.....reminded him...But of what?
"Marial, perhaps it is you that should sit, the stream it calms, the fragrance it nurtures.." before he could finish the Prayer of the Old Ones she interrupted and Steven frowned. as he did he ran his long fingers across the furrowed brow, worry?....so long, so long had it been, these feelings. He smiled gently amused at his own mood.
"The song... That song. I have never heard you sing it before..." Her soft features contorted slightly, her gentle blue eyes heavy with sorrow.
He stood, almost three foot smaller than her, he raised his arm allowing his soft fingers to caress her silk like skin of her cheek.
"You don't like it?" he replied smiling softly.
"No Steven, it is beautiful...it's just that..." She never finished that sentence, she never told him but she would always remember.
The elfin figure of Tornay Anon, hunter to the Elder Tallern greeted him. The young Fair Folk stood before Steven, his simple green garb splattered with mud, his scent that of the deeps s.
"You must come Steven..." Steven smiled at his friend unsure of the feeling that twisted and contorted his stomach.
"you must come...One has been found upon the beach...One like you.."
Steven smiled simply again and followed Tarnay to the Hallowed place.
Marial, stood and watched him leave. She didn't understand why she felt so heavy, so....Lost? Her delicate fingers touched her cheek, it was not raining but she felt wet. A single crystal droplet of water glistened on the end of her index finger. And then she sobbed for the first time.

To be continued...