The Dark Realm - Harlequin (King)

Chapter 19

What he found devastated him. Gerheade had led an attack and was beginning to burn down the forest.

"What are you doing?!" Harlequin shouted at Gerheade.

"I'm doing what is right! Destroying the barbarians and saving you!" Gerheade replied.

"Get out of here." Harlequin growled. His eyes glowed a brighter yellow and he shot off the ground to meet Gerheade in the air, "You will leave my kingdom and never return."

"I will do no such thing. Not until you decide to come back and touch the Sacred Tree." Gerheade countered.

"Fine. I will forcefully remove you and your people out of this kingdom." Harlequin decided. Gerheade did not plan on getting attacked by Harlequin himself and Harlequin saw the look on her face and he smiled coyly.

"Why the smile?" Gerheade asked.

"Black Vines."

Gerheade barely had time to scream before thick and thorny black vines ensnared her, keeping her from moving.

"Why?" Gerheade asked.

"Because I have the power." Harlequin replied simply. When the thorns released her a single black dot appeared on her forearm.

"When I'm through that mark will keep you from ever coming back from this kingdom and anybody who you try to enter with will also be stopped from coming in." Harlequin said, explaining the mark on her arm.

"You are my king. Why would you choose to suffer like this?" Gerheade asked.

"It's not suffering. I actually like it here. The libraries, the lake, the restaurants, the shops, the market. You Fairies have nothing like that. This is special." Harlequin answered. Gerheade had no answer for him. What she saw as barbarians were actually dignified and civilized Fairies that had a complex system.

"Why are you being so prejejuce about the Fae?" Harlequin asked.

"I never stopped to think about what they could have accomplished but instead focused on how they acted. Perhaps I was wrong to believe the Fae were simply crazy and heartless." Gerheade admitted. Harlequin felt slightly relieved to hear Gerheade admit she was slightly wrong. He knew though, it would never be enough to make her truly believe that the Fae were good. She would always believe that the Fae would be slightly crazy and heartless. Harlequin sighed, put out the fires with Gerheade watching and removed the spell on Gerheade for fear of a bad rap being filed against him.

When Gerheade left he went back to the library and checked out the books he had selected. He went back to the palace and holed himself up in his room. He didn't want to speak to others about Artemis, he didn't want to discuss Diane, he just wanted to read his books and think about his life.

"Harlequin." A voice called from the other side of his door.

"Come in." Harlequin answered. Asra came in and she sat on the sofa.

"I didn't want to bother you. After seeing Gerheade you were slightly upset." Asra began. "I just wanted to see if you are okay." Asra's eyes went to the ground in a guilty way.

"What's wrong?" Harlequin asked.

"Gerheade sent me a letter telling her Diane was furious at you and Diane demanded a meeting with you." Asra replied.

"I don't really want to see Diane." Harlequin admitted.

"You should." Asra insisted. Harlequin nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

"Fine. When does she want to see me?" Harlequin asked.

"In five minutes." Asra responded. Harlequin looked truly flustered and started running around trying to make himself presentable. When he was done Asra showed him to a lounge room where Diane was waiting. She shot out of her seat, hugged Harlequin and began crying.

"Why would you worry me like this?" Diane asked tearfully.

"I was afraid of Gerheade and her opinions of me so I didn't come visit." Harlequin answered.

"You still could've snuck in. With your new powers clearly nothing is too hard for you." Diane said.

"I just didn't want to be caught by Gerheade. The other Fairies would've sensed my presence as disturbing. It would've been too risky." Harlequin said.

"Gerheade told me you're dating someone else. Would you really break my heart like that?" Diane asked. The tears came back and Harlequin rushed to console her.

"She was a friend. Besides, the odds of Gerheade knowing the full story were slim." Harlequin said.

"No, Asra told me you had gone out with Artemis." Diane said.

"I-I-" Harlequin stuttered. He couldn't find the words. He ran a hand through his black hair and tried to find the words to explain that he had just been having fun. Maybe he could bluff and say he had had a little too much ale, but she knew he'd have lied.

"I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry you're mad, but Gerheade would hate me if I brought you into the feud between us Fae and the Fairies. Diane had a very disbelieving look on her face and was ready to yell in his face when a maid came in with some tea and snacks. Diane kept herself composed until the maid left. Once she left Diane unleashed a whirlwind of fury on Harlequin.

"You have me, Sorrel, and Liana worried sick. Gerheade leaves to inspect the situation and when she gets back says she heard word of you dating someone else. Are you really just going to abandon me and your kids like that?" Diane asked furiously.

"I didn't mean for it to look like that. I simply just wanted to have a night of fun. I never meant to worry you. I just didn't want Gerheades suspicion, hate, and anger get in the way of us. And no, I will not abandon you like that." Harlequin said, defending himself.

"Just tell me you want to move on and forget your life as the Fairy King Harlequin and maybe I'll believe what you said." Diane countered. Harlequin was taken aback. Not once had he said he wanted to give up his title of Fairy King, but he had been hinting at it with his devotion and time spent in the Dark Realm. He had also been dubbed the Fae King so it would be kind of hard to say he wasn't the king.

"Fine, I've moved on. The Fairy Realm isn't my home anymore and I'm not the Fairy King anymore. So leave and take Sorrel and Liana with you!" Harlequin shouted in a wave of fury. Diane was shocked.

"Harlequin." Diane said. Her voice quavered with uncertainty. She looked down as tears filled her eyes.

"I didn't mean for it to come out so harshly. I'm sorry." Harlequin apologized. He looked at the ground and instantly felt ashamed of himself. Diane looked up and hugged Harlequin for no particular reason.

"It's okay." Diane whispered. Harlequin sighed in relief and kept talking to Diane for a while longer before she had to go back to the Fairy King's Forest.

After she left he found Artemis waiting at his doorstep.

"I thought we could go for a walk." Artemis said.

"Uh, I guess." Harlequin responded. He walked with Artemis and she led him to a secluded lake with a few miles of white sand beaches.

"It's one of the only colorful places here. I've been fighting for it's preservation." Artemis explained. Harlequin believed there was a whole other world under the surface of the water so now he just had to figure out how to get to it.

"What's down there?" Harlequin asked.

"A world of oceanic creatures. No one has found a way to unveil the world." Artemis replied.

"There's gotta be some way down there." Harlequin insisted.

"Unless you can hold your breath for that long it's unlikely." Artemis answered. Harlequin sighed and ran his fingers through the still water. It was warm to the touch and Harlequin was thinking about taking a swim right there, but it would be a bad idea with Artemis watching him. Instead he got up, wiped the water off his hands and walked into the forest.