The Faerie Within

Ryan

Chapter 2- Ryan

My father and I have been discussing my future responsibilities of late. He wants me to settle down, have a family, and when the time is right to become king of my people. To unite the Western and Eastern Kingdom of the Fay into one strong unified front is what he says our people need. The last time my family started talking about their sons settling down it didn't turn out so well.

My twin brother, Bryan, and I were to have a meeting with the family of our long- time political rival. We set out to meet members of the royal family of the Eastern Kingdom. At that meeting we were to be introduced to the daughter of King Aodh. Her name was Princess Orla. My brother, Bryan, and I had agreed amongst ourselves that he would marry the princess. Bryan was a brave warrior, but he also had a keen interest in medicine. He spent much of his time healing people who needed help in our kingdom. Bryan was the more settled, leveled headed choice for a new king. On the other hand, I was a bit of a rambler. I didn't like being cooped up inside. I was born with a warrior spirit and yearned to be on the battlefield. Since I had no desire to be king, Bryan agreed to the marriage. I agreed to be at his side as his adviser and leader of our army. If anything were to happen, before a male heir was born, I would take his place as king.

We only saw her briefly across the room, before chaos broke out. She was very beautiful with long, red hair from what I could tell. She was short in stature, I would call her petite. We didn't have the pleasure of talking before the dark faeries snuck their way into the city and began attacking. The dark faeries are previous members of the light faeries who have turned into vile, evil creatures. Most people think they are possessed by a demon, while others believe it is a disease which causes them to crave blood in order to survive. Either way they are a plague to our people and have been our foes for thousands of years.

Dark faeries are said to be cursed, but no one actually knows what started it. The knowledge has been lost over thousands of years. They have been banished to the human world. When a faerie is turned into a member of the dark fae they lose the magic that gives them access to the faerie realm. So, they lurk in shadows preying on the blood of humans to survive. They use their tricks of beauty and cunning to lure people to them. They should not have been able to gain access to the realm, but they did. It took us a long time to figure out how they were able to enter. It seems that when they consume the blood of faeries they temporarily can pass as light fay and enter in. They also possess their magical skills for a short period of time. It must have taken years to orchestrate their plan.

My father, King Angus, sent the troops we had with us to help protect the people, but tragedy had hit them hard. That night King Aodh and his wife, Queen Heather, lost their only daughter to the battle. Princess Orla was taken away by the evil creatures never to be seen again. We searched the countryside day and night for several months with no trace of Princess Orla. We all mourn her loss. We lost soldiers of our own as well, including my twin brother Bryan. We searched far and wide but we never found Princess Orla or my brother, Bryan. We have no way of knowing if they were later killed or turned into dark fay. Honestly, I don't think I've been the same since it happened over twenty years ago.

My father and King Aodh decided to put their differences aside and agreed to a peace treaty amongst themselves. With suffering the loss of a child on each side, they recognized the greater threat was that of the dark faeries that plagued the lands. Princess Orla, I am told, was a very kind lady and loved by her people. Twenty-two years later, with political tensions increasing, my father thinks it best for me to choose a bride of royal lineage from the Eastern Kingdom to unite us. King Aodh has a niece who will be of marrying age in a few more years. So, it is my understanding that she is my prospective bride to be. With that in mind I have decided to enjoy the next few years of freedom I have left. If I can only get my father to agree to my plan.