Ethereal

Astrid

The leaves before Serenity and Fae danced, forming a show. It was as if it was showing a recollection of the past. Fae smiled at the child's wonder and blew on the leaves.

"With my breath, you shall hear the voices of the past, just as I did."

The leaves started to hum, and groan. Eventually, they made words form.

"I know, Oliver, I know. Just leave me be for now, okay?" one of the leaves yelled, as it slammed another leaf like a door.

"That is your grandmother, Serenity." Fae whispered. She took her hand and waved it over the leaves. They suddenly became appropriately colored, as if the leaves had become people. The leaf that had shouted suddenly had long red hair and pointed ears. The other leaves had magically formed a stage, which looked like a large stone room with a fireplace and a bed. The newly formed leaf was furiously pacing around the bed. As it paced, the slender limbs of a young woman began to form.

"Astrid, come on. You can not keep doing this. You were promised to me by your father. You are my property." called the leaf on the outside of the door. As he took another step toward the door, the leaf grew very long and muscular arms. The man's face suddenly formed and you could see long, dark locks and pointed ears with a crown which looked to be made of golden ivy leaves.

Astrid stopped in her tracks. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I own you. If you don't oblige, we can always stick with the first plan.."

"You will not touch my sister, you filthy worm!"

"Ouch, how harsh. Why would you say that to your husband-to-be?"

"Because I do not love you at all! I barely tolerate you!"

"You will learn to love me, sweetie. Do not forget, you were promised to me."

"In your dreams, Oliver. I would never love you, even if you were the last person on this world."

"Oh, sure. Bring up the 'end of the world' bit. It won't do you any good Astrid. Just accept it."

Astrid stood quiet. She knew if she refused the marriage, her sister would have to take her place. "Why do I even have to marry someone, especially if that someone is you! You know how I feel about you. I have a general distaste for you and your family. If I would have to pick anyone in your family, it would be your brother Smith."

"That loser? Honey, why get with a nobody like him when you could get with me?"

"Because he is sweet and sensitive for one."

"And I'm not?"

"No! You're not!" Astrid cried out as she threw her arms in the air. The door to the room opened and Oliver stepped inside. He came behind her and grabbed her waist tight. She flinched.

"My dear, sweet Astrid.. have I ever hurt you? Have I ever betrayed you? Have I done anything to you?"

"You are forcing my family into a marriage with threats, and that's enough to strike a nerve with me. I think I have a very valid reason not to care for you." Oliver tightened his grip upon hearing her words.

"Darling, it was not me who had the idea. It was your mother who suggested it."

Astrid tore away from Oliver. "You lie. My mother loves me and would never put me in a position such as this, and you know it."

"Do you really think you know that much about your mother? Well let me give you a little 'fact' about your 'mother'. Your real mom is dead, Astrid."

"Stop lying to me!"

"I'm not lying! What reason would I have for that?"

"My mother is the leader of the *Grevali Tribe. She is Queen Clara. She is my dearest mother."

"Clara was your mother's friend, not your mother."

Astrid sat down on the floor and put her back to the wall. "There's no way my whole life has been a lie." she held her face crying out.

"No, no, no. Don't cry." Oliver rushed to her side and threw himself next to her. "Listen to me, it's okay. I know you didn't want to know, but you needed to. You need to know the truth, Astrid." he put his arm around her and pulled her to his chest. "It'll all be okay." he said, stroking her hair lightly.

Astrid remained motionless, tears pouring down her face. 'Why. Why am I letting someone like this hold me? Why am I letting the man I do not care for caress me?' she thought intently. 'Maybe he's right.. I should just give up..' She let herself be wrapped in his embrace.

"Astrid.. you know that I love you, right?" he said, kissing her head.

She stayed quiet for a while. "..yeah I know." she finally replied.

"Do you love me back though is the question." he said, nuzzling his face into her long red hair.

"I don't know.. I don't even know what that is.. I feel like, if I actually did fall in love, I would kind of notice, you know? Like when I run into a wall, I notice that for sure." Oliver laughed at her. "What? I am being serious!"

"I know, I know, but your example was a pretty good one." he said, smiling down at her. "I'll tell you what. I can't call off the marriage, but I can try to make you happy and make you love me, okay? I'll be the best partner I can."

"Okay.. I don't know what good that will do you though.. I probably won't even know if I love you."

"You will know you love me when you realize it's okay to be marrying me. You won't see it as an 'I'm saving my sister' act anymore. You'll see it as an 'I love this man, I want to be with him' act."

"Alright.." she said, sniffling away the last of her tears.

"Okay.." he said, pulling her closer to him. "I want you to be happy, but I also want you to be happy with me.. I want.. to make you feel loved and accepted.."

Astrid looked up to see his face. A single tear had made its way down his face. "Oliver.." she cupped his face gently in her hands. "Please don't cry.."

He looked at her, confused by her words. "Be careful now, you almost sound like you care about me." he said, forcing a half smile.

"Oh, shut it!" she said, blushing and pushing his face away. He laughed and wiped the tear from his face.

'I'm in for it now. I fell in love with the one woman who could literally make me go from crying to laughing in half of a second.' he thought to himself. "Astrid.."

"Yeah?"

"I really do love you."

"Huh."

"What?"

"Nothing. I just noticed every time you say my name, you smile."

"You give me a reason to smile."

"Huh. With how you were acting half an hour ago, I would have figured my name would make you want to jump to the **Sirens."

"Yeah.. I am so sorry about that.. I thought that I could force you to love me.. I was wrong. I am so sorry. Could you ever forgive me?"

"Yeah, I guess.. but.. you owe me."

"What do I owe you?"

"A race to the Springs, of course!" she said, throwing him off of her and bolting out of the door.

Oliver sat there, dazed and stunned. "Man, do I love this woman." he said as he quickly pulled himself off the ground and dashed after her.

*Grevali Tribe - The main tribe at the time. After Astrid left, the main tribe was renamed by the clan.

**Sirens - mermaids who lure men to their deaths with a melodic song.