Fool Of Hearts

Chapter One

On a sandy shore in Meleager, a young man lay beside a younger-looking woman, holding her hand. They were talking softly, sheilded fom the sun by a large umbrella. Nobody suspected the woman was almost triple the age of the man. They were fae, part of a magical species. The man was new to the world of magic, but he didn't mind
Vivienne grinned as she said, voice soft and melodius, "The troublesome twins are having fun," she nodded to a boy and girl playing by the edge of the sea. The girl was fourteen, a young girl who would probably find love as Carlisle had at her age. Regardless, he still thought of her as little Sapphire. True, she was a tall, slim, pretty maiden, but to him, she'd always be his chubbly baby sister. The boy was sixteen but didn't look much older than Sapphire. He was of medium height, but broad, built with a warrior's stance. He probably could've thrown Sapphire quite far out into the sea if he'd wanted to, but he always handled her gently, never squeezing too hard when holding her hand, knowing he could do serious damage if he did. Macurio cared for Sapphire in a way that Carlise respected and that was one of the only reasons why he let him anywhere near Sapphire. That and his... infatuation with his sister, Vivienne. However, Vivienne felt she was too young to marry, and if she did, she wanted it to be with someone of her own age. It didn't matter if she was almost triple Carlisle's age, she still looked like a teenager, so that's how she saw herself.
To Vivienne, he could never be more than a friend. Carlisle had accepted that -he'd had no choice- but he couldn't help but wish he were more.
"I wish you could spend more time with us." Carlisle sighed as Macurio chased Sapphire down the docks, threatening to throw her in. "Sapphire misses you when you're not here."
"I suspect she misses Macurio more." Vivenne remarked wryly. She'd never been close with Macurio, and even less with Sapphire. It was a mystery as to why the pair liked her so much.
"Macurio's never been much to me, but Sapphire loves him." Carlisle admitted, "but she's fond of you too. She sees you as a sister."
"Sister Vivienne. How... Ridiculous." the lady chuckled, blushing slightly.
"Don't be so stuffy," Carlisle growled, punching her arm playfully. She smiled, running her finger down the scar on his right cheek.
"I partially regret doing that." She said, changing the subject. The man beside her laughed, making sunlight pulse through her.
Macurio heard the laughter- his senses were much sharper than most fae's- and he paused to smile in the direction of the couple. While Macurio studied Carlisle and Vivienne, smiling at his thoughts, Sapphire snuck up behind him and pushed him hard. Macurio yelped, arms flailing, then fell into the salty sea. He came up spluttering, looking for Sapphire, but she'd already fled, knowing how fast faeries could react.
"Hide me!" Sapphire squealed, seeking shelter from the couple.
"If I were in charge, I'd spank you." Vivienne growled as Macurio clambered back onto the dock. "You know water is bad for him! I'll have to dry his hair before anyone notices his ears."
Sapphire's smile faded. She stared at the gowering lady but Vivienne winked and she knew everything was fine. She looked at Macurio, who was shivering. His pointed ears poked out from beneath his wet black hair, signs of his other worldly heritage. He was a halfling, more mortal than faery. She rushed over to his shaking figure and howled in glee as he threw his crush into the sea.
"Men never grow up," Vivienne tutted, but she was smiling. She offered the sandy towell she was sitting onwhen they returned, and helped Macurio dry his hair. She corrects him when he curses Sapphire- gentlemen do not use such crude words- then packed up and began leading them home. Macurio walked arm in arm with Sapphire, careful not to burn her. They stayed ahead of their older siblings.
Sapphire spoke of friends, fashion and books, and Macurio pretended to be interested in such things; it was an excuse to be next to Sapphire. Everyone knew of their love for eachother, except, it seemed, themselves. A soft sunlight pulsed from his skin, symbols of happiness. His court, Summer, thrives on frivilous behaviour, on joy.
He'd already forgiven her for pushing him, he was never one to hold a grudge- especially if it was her.
They were out of sight of Carlisle and Vivienne when a shadowy figure emerged from the shadows.
Macurio bowed deeply, and Sapphire followed his lead, not knowing faery etiquette.
"Tavros... what a pleasant surprise."
The faery she now knew as Tavros chuckled, eyeing Elentiya up and down, making her feel very uncomfortable. He then raised an eyebrorw at Macurio, before smirking and saying crudely, "You've gone soft for her? This is the girl everyone back in Augean is talking about? How displeasing... although, she is rather.... beautiful. She could be Summer. It's throne, maybe.."  he slid towards her, cupping her face in his hands. His eyes were like burnt gold. She felt like if she kept looking into them, she'd come out the otherside.
The other side of what? His soul? In all honestly, she didn't want to know the answer.
Macurio held her hand firmly. "No, Tavros. Elentiya is still pure, she's not of winter, nor summer, nor water or earth, and I bloody hope that come her fifthteenth birthday, she chooses the right court for her, be it Augean, Meleager, Dryad or Nereid." Macurio says the words with a verocity Elentiya had never seen, especially from him. Tavros justs laughs. "Oh, brother. Sometimes I do miss our family. But duty called, and I had no choice but to cliam my rightful place in Meleager. And besides, Augean is so bleak, so dull, so boring. Why would I choose to rule such a place?" Elentiya gasps. This was the brother Macurio refuses to talk about? Now that I think about it, they do like similar...
Then Elentiya remembered.
Macurio let go off her hand and whipped around to face her. "El, you have to believe me, we are not alike. I am nothing like him." Tavros frowned, forgetting about Macurio's abilites to hear thoughts. Not full thoughts, just snipets, little phrases. It was a rare gift, many fae believe it was bestowed to him by Bayona herself, goddess of light.
"Where's your smile brother? You used to be so happy before the fifteenth moon. What happened?" Tavros smiled coyly. "Twins are supposed to stick together." And with that, he turned and ran, leaving both Elentiya and Macurio to contemplate with him very, very brief encounter.
When Macurio told Vivienne, her eyes dilated with shock. "I'll inform the guards immediatley. He is to stay away from Heliotrope and Calydon. The castles will be guarded and I will tell Silenus of this plan."
Vivienne was of Nereid. Her real name was Astraea, she was heir to the water throne. She had hoped Carlisle would choose Nereid at his fifteenth, but alas, he chose Summer.
The system was easy to follow, if you obeyed the Pysch Board. The pysch board was a team, a cult of "guards", who were in charge of the courts and their people.
There was Nereid; calm, collective people of water originate there, and they're known for following the Pysch Board's rules strictly, and ruled by Elena Calydon. And there was Dryad; the people who always put nature first. Of course, there is barely anyone in Dryad after Danae Sange's lovesick rule, where things started to fall apart.
Then there is the two main courts, each of which battle eachother to try and own Cyroneela altogether. Augean; the home of winter, fierce, and often aggressive. Unfortunately, with often makes people undermine the nicer people of the court. And last, but not least, there is Meleager. Meleager lives off frivilous joy, and endless parties. Despite this, their king, Aristophanes Meleager, is quite the opposite...