"What happened to you?" the green-eyed boy asked, looking at the beautiful broken man before him.
"I was left in the darkness, so darkness is what I became."
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—Zayn, Louis, Dylan and the dwarves are asleep. Flowers have grown around them, as if they've been asleep for months. Coll and Duir sleep sitting up, back to back, at the ready. Muir, awake and smiling, sits against the log, his hand rubbing his son's sleeping head.
Harry sits amazed, drinking in the sights and sounds. Animals emerge from the forest—squirrels, beavers, foxes, birds. Slowly they make their way towards the ruins, gazing at him. The night shimmers with fairy light as they observe him. Harry feels the light on his face and to his surprise, he sees the two magpies who watched over him at the castle. Two beautiful fairies with the deer eyes slip out of the magpies' bodies, beaming at him. As Harry sits up, they direct him to the woods where a dazzling light shines through a tree. As he walks animals fall in alongside him.
A little way away, Gus snores in his sleep. The golden light crosses his face and he wakes up. As he opens his eyes, he stares in wonder, then quickly wakes the other dwarves and Louis. They all stare in amazement now, even the blind Muir. Zayn and Dylan are the last to wake up, wondering what the fuss is all about. They rise and follow to a tree.
Harry stands beneath the giant tree, facing a majestic white hart. The air around the mystical creature shimmers with a golden light.
Beith stares in awe, "No one's ever seen it before."
The excited Muir grabs his son Quert by the arm. "The white hart bows before the prince, father." Quert says.
Sure enough, the hart lowers its head before Harry. Muir's face is lit up in the golden light, his blind eyes shining.
"It's blessing him." Muir says excitedly.
Zayn and Dylan look on confused. "What are you talking about?" Zayn asked.
Muir turns, "You have eyes, huntsman, but do not see. You who have been with him the longest." Neither of the two still don't understand. "He is life itself. He will heal the land. He is the one."
Gort huffs, "So you're saying he is destined?"
"No one listens to me," Muir can only shake his head. "Can't you feel it? Are you ailments not gone? Gold or no gold, where he leads I follow."
"Aye!" Gus agreed.
The other dwarves trade looks. Nion, the last, shrugs.
As Harry strokes the hart's neck, the golden light brightens, engulfing him.
"Aren't you pretty?" Harry cooed, looking into the creature's sparkling eyes. "Thank you for not being afraid of me. I'm Harry!"
Zayn smiles as he watches Harry talk to the hart. This boy was going to be the death of him.
All was good when suddenly an arrow flies through the air and pierces the white hart's flank. Harry's eye become watery with tears and he backs up slowly. He screams and falls to his knees. The hart roars in pain and bolts. The fairies and animals scatter in all directions now, their sanctuary violated.
