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Jonah and the Fairy Ch. 02

By: markelly



(I'm hoping my e-mail inbox will get some peace now that I have posted this addition to what I thought would be a one off story. I do have one final chapter in mind. Just hang in there its coming along nicely. My personal thanks Sanidia for editing this for me.)

It was still another hour before Mom shimmered back into the clearing holding one of the Bodyguard's hands. She stepped away then turned and thanked her before the bodyguard nodded smiled and left. Dad and Jacob came into the clearing seconds later so neither Robin nor I got to talk to her about her time away. I did however check her back as she passed us and was relieved to see no wings attached. Robin caught me looking and couldn't help laugh, after realizing what she was doing she tried to hide it faking a cough. I'm sure Mom knew something was going on but she didn't raise the subject.

Jacob waved and then turned and left leaving Mom to hug Dad whilst Dad was going into enthusiastic mode about the wonders that Jacob had taken him to see. Both Robin and I watched Mom as she sat patiently listening to her husband as though every word that left him meant everything to her and I held Robin so tight realizing just how much she truly loved him. It was when she looked up at us both I think she finally understood. 

As the keeper, I had this secret and with Robin by my side it was easy to keep, she knew she could never talk to Dad about her time with Marise but her pressure valve was always both of us and her visit's to the mountain. My parent's stayed for the weekend and even held off leaving until the Monday morning such was there reluctance to return home. We both had opportunities to talk to Mom about her time with Marise and what they did together but I figured since she didn't tell us it was not our place to pry.

Life for all of us settled into a routine, both my folks would visit every six weeks and Jacob would always find something that kept Dad's interest, Mom's visits with Marise had increased as well and I started to wonder if a strange bond had developed between the two. I brought the subject up with Robin and she seemed to agree, when she talked with the other Bodyguards they always said that there Queen and Mom always found something to talk about.

The months folded into each other and Christmas was coming I had of course asked Marise if I could take Robin to see my folks and have a Christmas at our house away from the mountain. She readily agreed and Robin came back with stories that kept the all the fairies amused for days. Spring was now looming and with it the snow on the top of the mountain started to melt, the river started to rise but not as far as before and we all breathed a sigh of relief. But the spring also brought something unexpected to the mountain that changed everything.

******* 

It was the scream that made me sit up in bed that sunny spring morning and the sound of Robin being sick that sent my whole world into free fall. By the time I was out of bed she had pushed passed me and ran naked out into the clearing. I immediately followed her, I found her kneeling in the middle of the clearing, as I approached she turned her head, it wasn't Robin staring back but a stranger.

Her eyes were glowing red, her mouth always smiling was now a sneer and it got worse when I got closer, the face of the woman I love was nothing more than a hate filled mask. I opened my mouth to speak and her arm extended palm towards me. A red glow formed around her hand and from nowhere it felt like I had been punched in the stomach the force lifting me off my feet away from Robin landing at the edge of the clearing some fifteen feet away.

Something was terribly wrong with Robin and I felt so helpless there was nothing I could do, I tried again to walk towards her, again she held out her arm and this time the only thing that stopped my travel was the tree I had first found her under that stormy night. With the wind knocked out of me, all I could do was sit and count the stars. It hurt so much to get up now but I had to, my Robin was in trouble and I needed to help her, to know she was safe. Again I approached her and again she held out her arm, all I remember this time was being lifted off my feet before slamming into another tree I was too damaged to do anything but watch the scene unfold in front of me.

Robin stopped looking at me her arms now out straight, her hands flat, moments later two birds sat on her hands and at first I thought it was just the birds singing then I realized that she was talking to them both, after a few minutes both birds fluttered there wings and flew off in separate directions. Seconds later she lowered her arms and placed her hands on her thighs I passed out for a while, when I came to Robin had a red glow around her I could see her lips move but in the state I was in I couldn't be sure if she was saying anything.

Passing out seemed to be a habit now, the pain telling me she had broken some bones this time. For a few moments my eyes would open long enough to see Robin still in her red cocoon, her lips still moving and whatever she was saying was to herself, since I could hear the birds singing in the branches above me. It was Jacob holding my head still, while he tried to pour some vile tasting liquid down my throat that woke me the next time.

My first thoughts being that my eyes were failing along with the other parts of my body until I realized that it was now dusk. Jacob lifted me into his arms and carried me back across to the cabin; he seemed to be avoiding Robin as he did. His foot was on the first step when the roar of a car was heard then skidded into the clearing Mom rushed out leaving the door open and the engine running. 

Before either Jacob or I could warn her she was knelt in front of Robin. The red cocoon that surrounded Robin now extended to Mom, Robin held out her hands and I feared the worst, instead Mom held them and both closed their eyes, not a word was spoken between them. Jacob placed me on a chair and we both watched and waited.

Two shimmers in the clearing put Robin on the alert until both fairies simply sat either side of her facing outwards before shimmering into human form. The red cocoon surrounding Mom and Robin moved back from a deep red to a lighter red again and as Robin started to look back towards Mom her stare stopped at Jacob and me on the porch. For just a fraction of a second I thought I saw my Robin in there but I simply couldn't be sure.

"You need to rest. I have sent for a healer but it's going to take a while to fix you up again."

"I don't understand Jacob. She was fine last night and then this today. What is going on?"

Before he could answer, the red cocoon around Robin shifted enough to let Mom out and then adjusted itself again. She opened her eyes and came to me switching the car engine off as she did.

"Jacob you must warn the bodyguards not to get any closer, it's important this is emphasized to them. I must ask you to go to your Queen, tell her that either I see her or she comes here. Please impress upon her I am not ordering her but there is a time issue involved and I wouldn't ask such a thing of her if I didn't feel it was important." 

He nodded his head and left to speak to both bodyguards, both nodded and stayed seated as Jacob took two further steps back and shimmered away. Mom simply looked at me sighed.

"She beat you up pretty badly and she is sorry but you simply wouldn't leave her alone."

I choked back a laugh only because it hurt too much to do anything else, at least I found the funny side of it even if no one else ever would. Before I could speak I noticed a shimmer on the porch which brought a grey haired old woman walking towards us with the aid of a stick, the limp was of age and the lines on her face told me she felt like she had seen it all and know doubt done most of it. She sat next to me, prodded all the areas I wish she wouldn't and pocked the areas I cried when she did, it was then I truly wish she hadn't. 

"Bodyguard worked you over real good. Just wait until the rest find out keeper."

"Am I now camp fire talk amongst all of you healer?"

The old woman cackled some more.

"You have been since Bodyguard mated with you. Tell me keeper what do you have that would keep her from mating with her own kind?"

"Charm, whit and personality the list simply goes on and on healer."

That brought another cackle from the old lady and even as she filled a leather beaker with some weird looking black goo, then held my nose until I opened my mouth so she could pour it in she was still cackling to herself. 

"You only had to ask healer I would have opened my mouth."

"I know keeper but it's more fun for me when I do it my way."

Another shimmer on the porch brought Marise closely followed by two more shimmers and her Bodyguards stood behind her. Robin had obviously sensed her Queens presence because the red glow just got redder now almost a blood red. The healer went to kneel but Marise cut her short with a wave of her hand the look of concern on her face as she turned to me was genuine.

"Crystal did this to you?"

All I could do was nod; the black goo taking it's time to crawl down my throat had now made my breathing sound even worse than before. Mom stood before her and knelt, Marise followed her to her knees and held out her hands, Mom took them and both closed their eyes. It was just a few moment later when Marise suddenly opened her eyes and looked closely at Mom and then across to Robin.

"That's not possible." 

Was all she said before she stood and walked towards Robin, both Bodyguards held their place on the porch the two bodyguards by Robin stood and walked away, joining the others by the porch steps. As Marise closed the gap between the two of them her own blue aura glowed more intensely until it seemed to crackle. 

Marise was now stood in front of Robin both the red and blue glow crackled and sparks seemed to fly in all directions. Marise knelt across from Robin and the glows finally touched. I went to stand but the healer pushed me back into the seat shaking her head as I winced and tried again to settle yet seeing the blues and reds dance across my eyes made them hurt even more now. 

Suddenly Marise lurched forward through the red glow and grabbed Robin's shoulders. The scream of pain from Robin seared itself to my heart like a branding iron. We all closed our eyes as a deep blue light emanated outwards from the center of the clearing through the cabin and beyond. As the dust settled we looked on as Marise held onto Robin as she cried into her shoulder, they shimmered and then both were gone.

All but one of the Bodyguards left next. Mom stood, kissed my forehead and went to stand alongside the remaining Bodyguard before she held her hand and both shimmered away.

"Well keeper you mentioned this charm, do you plan on using it on me?"

"If it meant you not trying to pour any more of that black stuff down my throat I'm sure I could find some for you healer."

The healer cackled once again, stuck her hand into a pouch, pulled out a flower I had never seen before, she squeezed the back of the flower and pollen covered my face, I tried to cough but it only made my head spin.

"You need the rest, goodnight keeper."

I made the mistake of opening my eyes, the stabbing pain that shot through to my brain thought it best not to do that again. The cooling wet cloth that followed a minute later came as a pleasant relief.

"Does that help?"

Mom's voice was a comfort to me, but I would have rather have heard Robin's. Even saying thank you took some effort but my Mom brought up a gentleman so pain or no pain I did say just that and then the fog of sleep took me once more. It was the sound of voices that stirred me from my sleep, it seemed I was also being closely watched because as soon as I heard the voices they stopped and all I could hear next was footsteps.

The first sight that greeted me when I woke was Mom sat in a chair by the bed, Mom noticed the disappointment when my eyes took in the room and she was the only one there.

"Robin's not here son, there is a lot to tell you I just hope you're well enough to take it all in."

Mom called Jacob and between them I was pulled up the bed and rested on pillows, my ribs felt better and the pain in my head had all but gone now. As Jacob moved away I spotted Marise standing by the door.

"Is it wise for a Queen to be seen in the keeper's bedroom?"

Even Jacob laughed, then bowed to his Queen and left the room. Marise sat on the edge of the bed and smiled. 

"I believe every fifty human years or so a Queen can cast caution to the winds."

Marise became more serious now.

"She could have killed you."

I shook my head.

"No she couldn't my Robin was in there, wherever there is. She wanted me away from her but not at any cost."

"After seeing the damage she inflicted on you and the healer telling me what damage I couldn't see I would imagine one more attempt to get near Crystal and we would now be looking for another Jonah to become the keeper."

"Where is she Marise?"

Both women looked at each other and I wondered who got the short straw to break whatever bad news there was to me. Marise looked down onto the bed and took a deep breath and I understood, she was after all the Queen and she had decided it was up to her to tell me.

"I would much rather tell you this when you are more healed Jonah. But Crystal is your mate so you have a right to know."

Even now both women looked at each other wishing there was a better way.

"With Crystal being in human form almost all the time now and still at such a young age for a fairy, her body could not adapt to the changes."

I had stopped breathing, even now fearing the worst. Marise notice my anxiety and smiled.

"She's alive Jonah, but Mother Earth has placed such a harsh punishment on her. Crystal's transition into an adult cycle has come early, that and her being with child have placed such a burden on her."

I smiled at the thought I was going to be a father, that smile faded when I watched both women, there was still sadness in the room. Marise had yet to get to the important part of this conversation, but what could be more important than being a father.

"There are complications Jonah. If Crystal's cycle had already happened before she was with child. Then the events of ten days ago would not have come to pass."

The shock stopped me from hearing anything else. I had been out for ten days, just how much damage had my Robin done.

"Oh she was very thorough Jonah she systematically took your body to pieces using the tree's to break as many bones in your body as she could. Even the healer cannot figure out how you got up the second time let alone survived the third." 

Again Marise was reading my mind, and I simply let her, it was easier to think than speak.

"Both of you need to talk Jonah, you both have some harsh choices to make, I will help with what little I can do but Mother Earth holds all the power here and she simply leaves us with two choices and both are going to hurt you and Crystal so much."

Both women stood and left the room, I had spent so much time thinking about the conversation I had with Marise I didn't see Robin sat on the end of the bed. Her wings looked slightly bigger than the last time I had seen her in fairy form. It was as she stood and walked up the bed I noticed the slight bump in her belly.

Robin came to a stop on my thigh and sat down facing me. She looked so sad and I felt so helpless to do anything.

"I'm so very sorry I hurt you. It was not my intention but too much was going on within me and I had to care for our child."

"Why did you think I would hurt either of you?"

"There was such a rage within me I couldn't take the chance until my cycle was finished. I did what I could but I was fighting too many battles and when you wouldn't stay down I had but one choice, kill you or let you kill our child."

Robin sat and recounted that morning. She had woken with a headache and just made it to the toilet to be sick. It was when she looked into the mirror she noticed the red mist in her eyes. She knew this did not bode well; the women folk all go blue for their cycle. Her senses told her she was with child and the scream of delight was soon chocked when she was again sick. Robin knew she wasn't safe in the cabin but the noise had woken me.

The clearing afforded her good all round sight but I came out and the first wave of her cycle tripped in. All her efforts were put into protecting our child from her cycle but I was now a distraction so she used what magic she could to push me away. Her cycle added to the power she used and I flew across the clearing. Things got worse now, Robin was distracted and her cycle attacked our child just at the time I stood and walked back towards her.

She was using magic against a gift that Mother Earth had given to all the fairies. She again pushed me away and her cycle added to her push tenfold. Robin held our child in its own cocoon as she also fought to let her cycle wash over her, wave after wave of pulses pushed at her body dragging it to adulthood. Had I stayed on the ground the red would have soon changed to blue and her need to protect our child would have stopped. 

But then Robin had seen me get up once again and with her magic waning she had no choice, every time she tried to use just a little magic to push me away her cycle added to it, fear had also crept in now. Fear that what little magic she had left would run out leaving our child defenseless against her cycle.

By now Robin was in tears as she told me the awful choices she had to make while a ritual that is greeted with such joy threatened to kill our child. After a pause she continued her story of the events of that day, she closed her eyes and prayed that Mother Earth would find a place for me on the mountain and then with what little magic she could spare she pushed me high and straight into the middle of a tree hoping to kill me quickly and as painlessly as possible.

Her cycle had now chosen to seek its dominance and bring Robin to adult hood. She protected our child with everything she could but it wasn't enough. Robin used a pause in the ritual to call the birds to help her but only two were brave enough to come to her, she sent one to my Mom and one to her friends hoping against hope that if I was still alive they could keep me away. She managed to get them away just before the cocoon engulfed her. 

I lifted Robin into my hand and held her gently to my shoulder taking care to hold her by her legs so I didn't damage her wings. Both of us in tears, my own ignorance and my own need to protect the women I love had cost me so much. I just held Robin until she was ready to continue, I knew the rest just as I knew she also had a need to tell me, so I put her back down, She once again sat on my thigh and wiped the tears from her eyes before blowing me a kiss.

Robin had sensed Jacob approach and finding her cocooned went looking for me. She wanted to look but that would have meant using precious magic and that wasn't hers to spare any longer. She did see Jacob lift me and carry me back to the porch. It was with a great sense of relief when Mom arrived and allowing Mom to enter the cocoon used up so much magic that she genuinely feared harm would come to our child but she needed her Queen to bring her out of this cycle and she needed her to know she was with child.

"I had to make so many choices with so little magic there just wasn't enough to go round. I'm sorry Jonah I did the best I could please forgive me."

Using a finger I gently brushed away her tears. She held onto it and kissed it before she let go. Both Marise and Mom had come back into the bedroom, Mom already in tears Marise being the Queen couldn't but her eyes gave her away and I knew she would when she was alone.


Jonah and the Fairy Ch. 02



"You said there are only two options. What are they?"

Marise again sat on the edge of the bed, looked at my Robin and drew a deep breath Robin nodded to Marise to tell me.

"While Crystal is with child she cannot assume human form, it would kill the child."

Robin looked at Marise and Marise noticed she wished to say something and stopped to allow her to speak.

"It's a girl Jonah we will have a daughter."

Looking at Marise again I asked what the second option was. Even Robin looked down at the bed and went quiet when I asked.

"I told you once our time is not human time, when the child is born she will go to our nursery until she is five of our years old, by then her body will be able to handle the stresses of changing to human form. It is forbidden to try before this age."

Mentally I had already done the maths. I would be forty seven years old, just then another conversation I had with Marise came to mind and I simply couldn't help but smile.

"It seems you will have to find a use for my first born after all Marise."

Marise winced as she herself remembered the comment that was meant to have been light and off the cuff had now come back to haunt her. Placing my palm on my Robin's lap and she in turn placing both hands over it I had choices to make none of them would be easy but then again aren't all the Jonah's cursed and isn't this just one of those moments when someone up there smiles and says "Get out of that then."

Looking down to Robin I told her I needed to leave and get myself checked out in a hospital. She knew it made sense she also knew that Marise would not allow her off the mountain to follow me this time. Marise left soon after, Mom put some things into a bag for me and Robin and I talked about my return. She was determined to stay with me until the last moment before she gave birth.

The next morning Jacob wished us both a pleasant journey and I said my goodbyes and cried along with Robin. The journey home was quiet for some time, Mom tried to broach a conversation and I think she regretted even starting it.

"You're very quiet you know your Dad will pick up on that."

"I doubt it I don't think his picked up how much Marise changed you over the last year."

The car swerved slightly. I had played a hunch and now I was proved right, it didn't matter anymore nothing seemed to matter anymore.

"What are you talking about? Marise has done nothing, when I go with her we simply talk."

"You know Mom I was quite the ignorant sap wasn't I. I was supposed to be the keeper and look what happened Mom comes along and all of a sudden she can talk to the birds, she can communicate with all the fairies on the mountain and do you want to know what makes it even more funny, do you Mom, well do you?"

Although I didn't shout I knew I wasn't that far off. Marise and Robin gave themselves away. Robin because she had no choice she needed Mom, Marise because she needed to keep an eye on me when I was off the mountain and with my folks. The silence still heavy in the air, she wouldn't ask because she was too scared of the answer, even when we pulled into the drive and Dad came out to greet us. But I just had to drive the nail all the way in and as Mom pulled up the hand break I turned to her and said.

"Robin knew all along what you and Marise were doing and my own mate kept it from me because she didn't want me to know. Kind of makes you wonder what else all three of you kept from me doesn't it Mom."

With that I got out of the car and hugged Dad. I told him I had a fall on the mountain and was just back for a medical and to make sure everything was ok. For the rest of the evening I made sure Dad was around when Mom was. I simply couldn't be bothered listening to her fall back story, even when I went to bed I locked the door, probably the first time I had done that since Becky Summers and I played I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

I woke early and heard Dad leave for work a few moments later Mom went out the back and I left my bed and watched her stand in the middle of the lawn holding out her hand a bird sat on it and Mom's lips were moving. Looks like I was being ratted out by my own Mom. The appointment with the doctor was very thorough and the hospital checks that same afternoon showed bones knitting nicely and the muscles healing, so other than some physiotherapy there wasn't much my doctor could suggest, other than don't do it again.

When I left the hospital I made a call to an old friend of mine and pulled in a favor for his spare room for a few days. Mom wasn't in when I got back so packing a few things I simply left and bunked in with my friend, we talked about old times and even hit a bar that night, the first time I got drunk in close to two years and although I was waiting for it, not once did I get that feeling I was being watched. I guess they just wanted me to be left alone for a while.

My week with my friend was a great distraction for me and just what I had needed. Mom had tried my cell every day and always ended up leaving a message to call her back, I never did I couldn't see the point anymore because I really didn't know who I would be talking to from now on. There was never any doubt I would return to the mountain after all my daughter was there, not that I would ever see her for another twenty plus years but I still had to hold out for that small ray of hope.

*******

Making the choice to hire a car rather than let Mom take me back was easier for me, we both needed time away from each other and I really didn't know who she was anymore. The hire company was happy to let me drop it off at their same company in town for collection, for a small fee of course but let's face it, that was the least of my worries and they just seemed to accumulate when I got home.

I hit the store for supplies first and Henry was still sat on the porch watching the world drift by when I pulled up. 

"You've not been around much son."

"No I had to go home I left Jacob in charge of the cabin while I was gone."

The look on his face told me I had just tripped a memory in his head.

"Son you may want to see the sheriff, they found that old hermit Jacob two days ago, bears had got to him and there ain't much left, so you may want to say your goodbyes to him over the casket rather than look inside." 

The rest of the day was spent on paperwork, since Jacob had no known relatives I was elected and the sheriff let me take the body back onto the mountain with me. Once back at the cabin it took less than an hour for Robin to arrive and I could tell she wanted to talk I simply waved her request away telling her to leave and return with two Bodyguards. Still not sure why but she did anyway only Marise came back with them.

"Jacob is dead, the sheriff doesn't have a cause of death so they put it down to old age, his casket is in the car please don't open it the bears got to him before the townsfolk found him."

Marise nodded and looked towards her Bodyguards who nodded and between them removed the casket and shimmered away. Marise and Robin stayed I was prepared for this I had a week to decide what to do it just saddened me that I had to do it.

"We have things that need to be said."

"Yes Marise we do. How about I start for a change, I'm the keeper that's both my job and curse, I also have a daughter and I plan to stay here until you corrupt her just as you have Robin and my Mom, when the day comes that you do corrupt my daughter it's also the day you go looking for another keeper."

Both women looked open mouthed; I think Marise wanted this conversation to take a different path although I really couldn't think how.

"Good, now I see I have no objections to my plan I suggest you both leave and attend to Jacob."

Not to be outdone on the point's board I returned to the cabin and slammed the door shut. I needed to rest, it had been a long day and finding the only friend I had up here now dead can take its toll on a keeper. It took me another two hours to realize I had left my supplies in the car Robin was sat on the hood waiting for me.

"I thought our conversation covered everything what do you want?"

"No you talked and left slamming the door behind you, had I been in human form I would have kicked the door in to get to you but now I'm in fairy form, your taking advantage of that fact and you know I can't open doors, especially one that has my mate the other side of it."

I shrugged my shoulders and I knew I shouldn't have said it but I was still hurting over so many things.

"You raise some good points so I will help you out, were divorced."

Picking up my supplies I walked towards the cabin. Robin took advantage of her flying speed and was already inside before I had even got to the porch steps. She was waiting for me on the kitchen table when I got there, her face telling me to be very grateful that she wasn't in human form.

"Don't you dare use that word on me, we mate for life and I accepted that fact."

For the moment all I wanted to do was make her angrier, so I started putting stuff away, once I had finished I looked towards the table. Robin was stood cross armed and had a look on her face that only meant trouble for me. It still didn't stop me from wanting to make her even madder.

"Ok I accept the fact that we have mated for life. How about changing the word divorce for separated."

Robin used her speed to its full advantage and picked up a spoon and wacked me across the hand with as much force as she could muster, then flew up and wacked me over the head with it before I managed to take it away from her. By now she was totally beyond control and flew into the kitchen coming out seconds later with a knife and with a speed that even surprised me, she slammed the knife straight into the middle of the kitchen table burying half the blade into the wood before her own momentum stopped.

She stood next the knife breathing deeply trying hard to control her temper, finally her hands went to the small bump in her stomach and just running both hands up and down her bump soothed her to the point she could grab control back. 

"We are not divorced, we are not separated we are mated for life. I have to leave to calm down some more and when I return we will make dinner together like we always do."

One moment I was looking at her, the next there was a crash as she flew through a window, bits of glass now scattered across the porch. I did wonder for a while if that would have hurt but the mood she was in I'm sure she didn't feel a thing. Breaking what was left of the window and picking up all the glass I placed a piece of paper on the window above and one on the door and then set about a long overdue cleaning the cabin.

It was almost dark when she returned through the window carrying the piece of paper I had placed on the window above and dropping it onto the table.

"That's not even funny."

It was all bluff I could tell by her face she was trying so hard not to smile. I had written 'Fairies & Mates entrance' on the piece of paper over the window and 'Keepers entrance' on the piece on the cabin door. All through dinner preparation and even dinner itself Robin wanted to bring our conversation back to her and Mom, whenever she tried I would either leave the room on some pretext or simply change the topic all together.

It was later in the evening she told me that Jacob's ceremony was in the morning it was also a time when they would be at their most vulnerable since all would attend. I knew what she meant and knew I wasn't invited. It didn't make a difference; I had already said my goodbyes to Jacob when I brought his casket back from town. By nine the next morning I was walking out the door. Mom was sat in her car next to mine I supposed I should have been surprised.

Mom got out of the car and walked around it to try to intercept me I wasn't interested.

"Hello son."

I turned towards the open cabin door and shouted.

"Robin one of the invited guests is here."

Slid passed her and got into my car and headed for the bridge. I was much calmer than I thought I would be seeing her here. When I reached the bridge I stopped and turned the engine off. A few moments later the bridge disappeared, I knew it was still there if I got out of the car and walked across it, to an outsider it would look like I was walking on thin air. The bridge would stay invisible until after the ceremony. Other than a three day hike over the mountain this was the only route in and I had that covered for the next two hours. 

I had loved this mountain since the day I stepped onto it and Jacob had been an integral part of that, he was my friend and I mourned him my way not in some ceremony. It was close to three hours before I looked at my watch and shocked myself that I had gone over so much of my life both at home and on the mountain in that time, I hadn't even realized that the bridge had reappeared. I suppose if anything I felt more at ease with what I had to do now as well. 

Sometimes I feel like a fortune teller I could work out to the person who would be waiting for me when I got back to the cabin and I was almost right. Marise came forward as I got out of the car and said.

"We have two ways of doing this keeper you either listen to us or I freeze you to the clearing floor and you listen to us. I'm not going to allow this to go on any longer."

"There is actually a third way Marise, my way the first two I wouldn't believe even if you all swore on Mother Earth."

Her cheeks flushed with anger, I'm sure no one has ever been allowed to talk to her the way I was at the moment and to be honest I may have thought differently about saying it if she hadn't sent her Bodyguards away. Mom walked up alongside Marise she knew I could be stubborn and the way this conversation was already going it could only end one way and that was badly. With her voice barely above a whisper Marise said.

"Explain yourself."

"No I won't until I'm sure I know who I'm talking to." I turned to Mom and said.

"Take your t-shirt off."

Mom went white; Robin flew across the porch and landed on my car.

"Jonah please don't do this, why don't we all go inside and we can explain everything to you."

My eyes where still locked on my Mother I wasn't going to back down and no matter what they said it would all be pointless now. Marise had a look about her, her eyes narrowed on me before finally looking to my Mom saying.

"He won't listen to us he plans to sings songs in his head until we are finished and then get on with being the keeper regardless of what we say."

I had still not taken my eyes off my Mom.

"Well Mother what's it to be, do you take your t-shirt off or do I start listening to songs in my head until you all stop speaking and you go home to Dad and continue to feed him lies?"

It was Mom's turn to hit the slow boil towards losing her temper now.

"I have never lied to your father in my life young man."

"So omission of the truth isn't a lie then. I will have to remember that the next time I talk to Dad as well. At least we all know why I lie to him so I suppose I'm the only hypocrite on this mountain."

Mom took a step forward I have never seen her so angry. Robin flew in front of her and stopped a foot from her, warning her not to touch me I was her mate and as such she would defend me to her last breath. Mom stalled she hadn't expected this and to be honest I hadn't either. She then flew in front of Marise and who then held out her hand for Robin to stand on.

Robin explained to her she knew why I wanted Mom to remove her t-shirt and she asked that Marise order Mom to do it. Something passed between them at that moment; I suppose being the Queen's Bodyguard and her most trusted one would allow more than a little trust to develop between them. After a moment Marise nodded her head and she clicked her fingers, a blue glow appeared around Mom's t-shirt and it disappeared from her body and ended up in my hands. 

The stunned look on Mom's face would have been worth paying for and I got it for free, both Robin and I looked at each other and I noticed her brow crease in frustration. Mom was wearing a sports bra, her shoulder sagged she had no choice this would never be resolved until she had asked her Queen one more request.

"My Queen you have trusted me with your life and your friendship and I have kept both close to my heart, today of all days is the time I asked you to return that trust. Please turn the human around to save her modesty and remove her bra."

Without even blinking Marise lifted her arm. Mom opened her mouth to protest, heard a click of fingers and found that protest aimed at our cabin. Mom lifted her hands to cover her bare tits and then found she couldn't turn around again. Marise had frozen her to the spot for good measure. Robin thanked her Queen and flew over and sat on my shoulder as I took a couple of steps closer to mom so I could check.

"She doesn't have the marks you are looking for Jonah because she is human just as you are. There are no scars from her shoulder blades down for her wings to emerge because she was born human we have not changed your Mother any more than she had asked us to."

"You give me my clothes back young man, you're still my son and I can still slap your ass even if I have to go through your mate to do it."

Marise smiled, finally understanding all of Robin and my requests. Clicked her fingers one more time and Mom was now able to turn around fully clothed, Mom sulked for a moment until Marise took her hand and we all went inside the cabin. It was left to Mom to explain, Marise and Robin simply sat and listened, the events of the last few minutes still playing on their minds and occasionally smiled, trying to hide that from Mom at the same time.

"When Marise took me away that first time I was in a daze, she showed me many things most I know you have seen but I've also been allowed and accepted within the Queens domain. They gave me a title; I couldn't warm to it until I realized just how much you are respected amongst the fairies. I'm the Keepers Mother."

She took a deep breath and continued.

"It's true Jonah all I have done with Marise is talk, we have grown to be good friends and I miss her when I'm away. But I also feared for your safety living here without any means to call if you had an emergency, every day I worried and every day I thought the worst until you did call. I was making myself ill son and no matter how your Father tried calming me I could still see the worst."

"You had gone to the long trail to check it out when I came once I was in a bad way, Robin took me to see Marise and I explained my fears, even someone by your side as powerful as Robin is and I still feared the worst. It was decided between us that Marise would give me the power to speak to the birds so if there was ever a need for me to know something had happened to you I would find out."

"I swear Jonah that is all I have and it's the only thing I have asked for, you have to believe that."

Mom was close to tears as she explained all to me her shoulders hung in defeat as she felt the one gift Marise had given her was to be the one gift that would tear her son away from her. Robin again came and sat on my shoulder, swung her leg and dug her heal into my shoulder a clear sigh she was pissed that I had still to say anything. When I looked at Marise all she did was nod her head, confirming all that Mom had told me.

"Marise will Mom's gift ever leave her?"

"No. Unless I remove it, her gift will stay with her until the day she dies."

Mom's head moved between the two of us as we talked, desperately waiting to see where this conversation would lead. 

"Then for my Mom's peace of mind I ask you to let her keep her gift. We both know once Robin has our child her time will be split between here and the nursery and the anxiety will return. If it keeps her happy then I'm happy."




Jonah and the Fairy Ch. 02



Robin just managed to fly off of my shoulder before Mom came and hugged me. Mom's decision to keep the gift that Marise had given her a secret was a choice she made as a Mother. Even at my age she needed to know I was as safe as I could be. The Jonah's tradition of being keepers had finally been accepted by her when Robin first revealed herself to Mom but her maternal need to keep her only child safe was one I had already seen when Robin fought so hard to protect our child from her cycle. 

So I knew the pain I would put her through should her gift be removed. Even in the short time of our disagreement I had missed her and the secrets we held from each other came close to tearing us apart, Robin and I suspect Marise would make sure that would never happen again. Marise left soon after happy that everything had now been resolved, Mom stayed a day more and then left to return to Dad before he forgot what she looked like, that's what she told us anyway. 

*******

The next few weeks gave both of us time to get to grips with the events of the next few months and years. Our child was now in its dormant stage preparing herself for her last cycle of growth and then birth. I had another five months with Robin and then she would leave. I would miss her but I would not place any pressure on her to return. I watched as the days passed and soon noticed that she had already started to place that pressure on herself so I decided to sit her down and talk to her about this.

"A month before you leave I will go into town and return with enough stores to last me six months I don't want you worrying about me."

"Since Jacob died you have had no one to talk to other than me, my Queen and her Bodyguards do you honestly think I'm not going to worry while I'm gone?" 

I could now see this conversation wasn't going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination. So I tried something else.

"Please remove your clothes I want you naked."

I had learned early on to come at Robin from an angle she wouldn't expect, I'm pleased I had always managed to keep her on the back foot and so far won most of our arguments. Taking my shirt off I lay on the couch, the blue glow had gone now and a very naked Robin flew over and knelt on my chest, then laid face first on me taking care to make sure our growing child was comfortable and I watched as her wings spread themselves outwards so even they touch my skin wherever they could.

Her voice sounded warm and content as she said. "You're not fighting fair." 

"It's not a fight Robin we've loved each other for so long now that you have to trust me to be ok about you being away for so long."

"You know that as soon as our daughter is settled I will return and take back what's mine?"

I stifled a laugh even Robin had a way of coming at me from her own angle.

"Just make sure it's not a full moon I'm not sure I can keep up with you after this long of you being a fairy and your need once you give birth."

It was Robin's turn to laugh a little before saying.

"You had better keep up. I've had to suffer no sex because of what you've done to me."

She was gently rubbing her stomach to emphasize her point and we both laughed. My Robin stayed were she was for the rest of the evening, the only time she would move was when we went to bed and even then she stayed naked.

*******

It was time. Robin's birth cycle was close to the end, the healer had come that morning to check her over and announced that she was to leave no later than mid-day. If she stayed any longer she would have the Bodyguards come and drag her away. The vision of that alone made the healer burst into a new round of cackling just before she shimmered away. I held Robin close to me for the next hour, she was reluctant to leave just as much as I was reluctant to see her go but we both knew her time was close.

With one final kiss and Robin reminding me that when she returned she would expect more than just a kiss, without waiting for my answer she flew into the clearing and shimmered away. The folks came several times over the next few months, there company was always welcome but we all skipped around the subject that haunted all our thoughts. I caught Mom talking to the birds a couple of times. None gave her any news, for now life was simply a day at a time.



Jonah and the Fairy Ch. 03



(My thanks go to BONNIEBREA, for her editing. I've had a great deal of fun with all three chapters. I hope you all enjoy your read of this final chapter.) 



The folks had decided to return home. I wished I had some sort of news to tell them, but I couldn't reassure them: if I only knew as much as they did. It still took me a few days in my 'wondering what's happening' state to realize my supplies were running low. Feeding three when the plan was to feed one sure put a dent in that theory. Pulling up outside the store I couldn't help but smile. Henry didn't look like he had moved since the last time I had come here.

"Howdy son, it's sure been awhile."

I couldn't resist sparring with him, so I sat on the porch watching the same dust cloud that seemed to hold his interest.

"Why, Henry, how can you say that? I distinctly remember being here not two months ago."

Henry gave a chuckle, set his chair onto all four legs, and tapped his pipe against the railings.

"And how's that pretty lady of yours? Why I thought you two where joined at the hip. I seemed to recall seeing you two together that much." 

'That man sure knows how to hit home with his comments, even if he isn't sure just how close he really is.' Henry got up and I followed him into the store, and between banter at the store counter it started to look like I would be on the mountain for another two months. 

"I see you're going to be hold up on the mountain for a while son. Is everything alright?"

Perhaps for the first time since I knew him I looked long and hard at Henry. Too many times he had hit home, or was close enough to the mark with an off the cuff remark, that I began to think that there maybe is more to him than meets the eye.

"Everything's fine Henry. The folks are swinging by again next week and you know how I can never get them to go home once they get here."

Henry just smiled and nodded his head. We eventually loaded the truck and made it ready for the journey back. I sat with him on the porch for a while still watching what seemed to be that same dust cloud do nothing but swirl around.

*******

Mom arrived the day before my birthday, and even though I recognized the car it was still a surprise to see her. My confusion was compounded when I noticed that Mom had come alone. We hugged on the porch and she told me that the birds had asked her to come, but she had no idea why. We exchanged pleasantries and I tried desperately to keep the conversation up beat. Even though we hovered around the conversation of Robin neither of us wanted to start it, knowing full well it would hurt us both. 

I could hear Mom moving about the cabin until the early hours. It seemed we were both due a restless night. I awoke early the next morning, with a nagging feeling that something was wrong. Mom heard me rise and followed me to the window. She gasped as she looked out to see all the Bodyguards coming towards the cabin, closely followed by Marise. Mom rushed out and I followed onto the porch. Marise and Mom held each other, both spoke at the same time, and laughed at the humor of it.

With Marise still holding onto Mom's hands she turned to me and said, "As it is your birthday, Keeper, we all thought you deserved a gift."

As if on an invisible signal the bodyguards moved to surround the cabin and sat crossed legged facing inwards. Slowly a blue glow emanated from each of them and spread from one to another. Once the blue glow was complete and surrounded the cabin, the glow started to rise until it met above the cabin, encasing it in its own cocoon, Marise's own aura, now a darker blue.

"We must go into the cabin. We do not have much time,"

Both Mom and I looked at each other. Mom shrugged her shoulders and I knew she wasn't holding anything from me. The inside of the cabin now had its own glow about it, both from the cocoon outside and the aura getting stronger by the second from Marise. Marise pointed to one end of the cabin and then stood in the middle before turning toward the other wall. Marise took one more deep breath and held her arms out, palms towards the wall.

One corner of the cabin started to turn a dark blue, almost looking like it burned with blue flames, I had to blink and blink again unsure what I was seeing. A hole appeared in the wall, and became steadily bigger, revealing more and more detail: Yet instead of seeing daylight and the clearing outside a small bed followed by more detail of the room beyond. Small wooden furniture adorned the room, and a crib came into view. 

My heart missed a beat and tears suddenly obscured my view. Mom gasped as the same realization came to her. Robin's smile was so big on her face, she flew out through the hole and Marise stopped making it any bigger. Now holding her hand out, my Robin flew onto it. Even Robin's voice cracked with the emotions that had started to build within the room.

Then she said, "You are my mate and my true love. This is the only gift that my Queen and I could think to give you."

Robin looked at all three of us before she found it within herself to speak again.

"Please understand Jonah. I am going back so I can bring our daughter to you so you can hold her on your birthday. But the Healer has insisted that she is in a sleep cycle when we do this." 

Robin bowed to her Queen and flew back through the hole. My own thoughts were a mess, yet I could hear Mom ask Marise why the Healer would be so cruel. Marise explained that the Healer had come to her with just one concern when all three had first discussed this gift that the whole fairy community wanted the Keeper to have. She had to be in a sleep cycle, as she felt it is too dangerous for her to be here awake. She would feel like she was in the land of the giants.

Seconds later my Robin emerges holding our daughter in her arms and flew onto Marise's hands once again. She knelt and placed our daughter down, unwrapped her cover, and held her once again to her chest. Robin's own aura now wrapped itself protectively around our daughter. Her wings expanded and my Robin gently flew across the distance between Marise and myself. Holding out my hands Robin landed and knelt on one hand, placing our daughter on my other. 

A little pink bundle, no bigger than an inch long, now rested in the palm of my hand. The warmth that emanated from her as she slept kept me in awe. She had her mother's red hair and every now and then her little legs would kick out. I watched with bated breath as she turned and curled into a fetal position, the same as Robin had done when I first found her and brought her to the cabin so long ago. Slowly the little wonder that I held in my palm moved her hand and her tiny thumb went into her mouth and a content little gurgle emanated from her. 

I could have sworn I saw her smile. My vision blurred again. Tears stung my eyes as I looked both at our daughter and Robin, and my heart felt like it would burst from my chest with pride. Mom came closer. Both Robin and I looked at each other and nodded. She gently lifted our daughter and flew across to Mom who hurriedly rubbed her hands against her hips and then held them together just in time for Robin to land and place our sleeping daughter in her palm. 

Between emotional sobs Mom said, "She has your father's nose, the poor child." 

All three of us laughed. I took the opportunity to wipe a tear from my eye. I needed to sit down, my legs felt so weak, and my emotions were everywhere. I couldn't hold a coherent thought in my head if my life depended on it. I had held our child in my hand. Robin and I had made this beautiful little pink person, and it seemed that every second I held her in my hand I loved her more than the second before. 

How could that be possible? And yet that's how I felt. I was unashamedly crying. I just didn't care that Marise and the others could see. Mom was so enthralled with her new charge she never noticed as Robin's wings once again expanded and she flew across to me and landed on my shoulder.

"My love I need you to agree. If you say no then nothing more will be said of this conversation. I swore I would hold no secret from you so I come to you now for your blessing or refusal."

Marise was now engaging Mom in tearful conversation and gently guiding her a step or two out of earshot of our conversation. It was obvious to me they had planned this much. Robin took the opportunity and flew off of my shoulder and land on my lap, looking up at me so we could be face to face. Then she asked whatever it was she needed to ask.

"The Healer has offered to sit with our child as has every single fairy on the mountain. This is your birthday and I want this day to be more and more special as the day continues. With your permission I would like to ask your Mom to sit with our child so I can return to you."

So many questions flashed across my mind, and even as I pondered one, another would run it over demanding an answer. So much needed to be discussed between us that even when Robin was with me all the way up until her birth we believed there would be time. I needed answers and soon. Robin's voice interrupted my thoughts, and when I looked at her she smiled, shook her head slightly, and repeated herself.

"I said the birth went well. The great Mother may have made things difficult for me to begin with, but she blessed me with a simple birth. The healer has examined me and all is well. I am undamaged, my love, and I bring to you the gift of this body as my mate has every right to." 

Not even realizing I had done it, my hand now rested by her legs. In return, Robin had knelt and placed both of hers on mine. For such a long time I watched Mom with our child. She was talking a hundred words a minute to Marise, and I'm sure Marise just nodded in the appropriate places when she could. A thought struck me, and almost as soon as it grew to fruition I dismissed it, but not before I noticed Marise shift uncomfortably and look toward me.

Looking down at Robin I nodded in agreement, and her smile once again lit up the room. Marise pointed out that time was against us and our daughter's sleep cycle would soon come to an end. Robin once again flew past Marise, who in turn tossed our child's cover into the air; she caught it mid-flight and landed on Mom's hand, wrapping our daughter and holding her close. She waved once more and dashed through the hole before Marise sealed it.

The blue cocoon slowly receded and some very exhausted Bodyguards joined Marise by the porch. One by one, they shimmered away. Soon only two remained, waiting at a discreet distance while Marise asked Mom if she would like to care for the child while Robin came and spent the evening with her mate. The look on Mom's face said so much. Her smile meant everything to me, and I was glad that Marise and Robin had made the suggestion.

Mom turned it into a hug fest before she realized that hugging a Queen, even one with whom you're very friendly is simply not a good idea. Her shock, once she realized, made me stifle a laugh. Mom dropped to her knees in front of Marise who in turn knelt next to her holding out her hands. Mom held her hands and closed her eyes. For a full minute they stayed where they were before both opened there eyes and stood together, Marise letting go as they were standing I noticed the quick look in my direction from Mom, her cheeks flushed, and then I looked back at Marise. 

All three then shimmered away. I made us something to eat and brought it out to the porch. Mom was already sitting, watching the sun warm the clearing and nature sing its day. This was my birthday and to be honest it took my own Mother driving onto the mountain yesterday to remind me of that fact. I was given a gift that I wouldn't have believed possible, at least not for another few years yet anyway. 

I also see that it took all of the Bodyguards and Marise to bring me even those few minutes with my daughter, and someday I would repay them all for their kindness and thought. Later Robin would be here. That thought made me smile. She had said once she would come back and claim what's hers. I could see this evening being quite interesting indeed. But it still left me with an uneasy feeling about Mom.

"Dad will never know from me, and please remember he has always been the innocent in this. If he ever suspects then you stop. He's the one I don't ever want hurt in this." My heart screamed at me to stop, yet my mouth got the better of me and I added, "You're the one that seems to be going into this with your eyes wide open."

Mom never looked away from the clearing. She just said one single word on the matter. "Yes."

To me the subject was closed, although I suspected there would be a time when someone else would bring it up. I couldn't sit any longer on the porch. Mom was already mentally with my daughter and I desperately didn't want jealousy to creep in between us. I had held my little girl in my hand and for now I had to resign myself to hanging onto those precious few minutes with both hands. Try as I might I simply couldn't sit with her as she fidgeted and looked at the sun, waiting for the evening.

The walk up to the river was a great distraction. This mountain always managed to keep my mind at peace. I could never be angry with anyone for long here. I didn't even remember taking my clothes off and sitting in the river or even how long I'd sat there. My mind replayed the events of this morning and the discovery of something I should never have known. 

*******

I heard the hiss just before I sensed it, I had nowhere to run. The hiss was coming from the branch directly above me, and looking up at the snake would have only brought on the inevitable more quickly. It was the faint whistle and thud that took me more by surprise than anything. When I managed to control my breathing and allow my fear to subside a little I looked over to the bank. 

She lowered her bow just long enough to place another arrow into it to be ready. It was the scar across her cheek that caught my attention first. Her eyes defiant, she never seemed to blink. Those brown eyes simply picked their spot and zeroed in. I stood and walked to the tree pulling her arrow out of it, the dead snake still stuck to the arrow. 

"This is yours since you killed it. Thank you."

Her hand left the bow and I placed the arrow into it and then went back to the middle of the river and sat down. By now she had squatted by the bank and with a few cuts had already placed bits of the snake into her bag. 

"You know who I am, Keeper?"

"I don't know who you are, only that you are a Hunter. You took a great risk to show yourself to me."

She shrugged her shoulders before standing. Just before she turned to leave she looked at me once again, a smile on her lips, and I thought in her eyes as well.

"I see now why you are Crystal's mate."

My cheeks flushed yet I held her gaze.

"Is it you I have been sensing these last few weeks?"

Again she shrugged, her shoulders not willing to admit to anything unless I shared more. She was a typical hunter, and although I had never seen one before this one showed herself, Robin had told me of them, or at least as much as she was willing to share. She believed it was their attitude that made them Hunters. 

"You were given a name, Hunter, what is it?"

She had now squatted by the edge of the river washing the blood off of her hands. She knew she had time. By fairy law I owed her. She had saved my life, and as the Keeper it would be up to me to honor that debt.

"The great Mother gave me the name of Shunda."

She shook her hands once more before running them along her legs to finish drying them. Then she stood again. Many fairies, when they assume human form, all seem to be skinny. Shunda seemed to contrast that for some reason, her shoulders where broad, and the tops of her arms muscular, and I wondered if other hunters where the same. She seemed to curve in the right places, and I could see Shunda certainly had hips that you could hang onto in the dark and enjoy. 

It was strange to see Shunda wearing the same type of animal skin clothes that Jacob used to wear. She looked at me and then at her clothes before saying, "What interests you, Keeper, what I wear or what's inside it? I know you humans look on our form differently than we do."

"Your clothes reminded me of Jacob."

What she said next held my attention.

"That's because he was a hunter. We wear this for comfort when in human form. Jacob was one of us before our Queen asked him to step down as a hunter. He never lost the way."

Shunda shouldered her bow and turned to leave.

"You have a debt to pay, Keeper. We will meet again."

Her parting words, just before she shimmered away, left me wondering what she had in store for me. The sun had started on its downturn when I returned to the cabin. A bodyguard stood waiting by the cabin steps. Mom walked back and forth along the porch until she spotted me. Her step faltered and stopped. She looked long and hard at me and then said, "Are you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I suppose in a sense I had. Hunters were the invisible fairies and, other than the Queen's Bodyguard, there was no higher honor than being a hunter, and those that became hunters died being hunters. I walked towards the Bodyguard and she visibly tensed in anticipation.

"There is a hunter called Shunda. What do you know of her?"

Instantly the Bodyguard took a step back. The look on her face told me more than she would ever tell me.

"I am here to bring the keepers Mother to our nursery that is all, Keeper."

I was impressed how she sidestepped the question, so I let it be. I wasn't dumb. I knew where she would go once her task had been completed. Mom went to say something, paused for a second, and then decided better of it. She was standing alongside the Bodyguard, who then took her hand and shimmered away. 

*******

She was here; I could feel her. There seemed no point in looking for her: she was a hunter. I could be standing next to her and I wouldn't realize it unless she let me. Just as quickly I could no longer sense her. Inwardly I smiled and started counting to three. By the time I got to two Robin shimmered into the clearing, her face so angry.

"What have you done?" 

"Why do you assume I have done anything?"

"The hunters are left in peace. You know this because I explained it to you. No one interferes with them. How do you know of Shunda?"

It was easy to counter every question with another question. The trouble was that it simply achieved nothing. So I told her everything that happened at the river. By now Robin was sitting next to me as she listened intently to my tale. Her agitation grew when she asked some questions. I'm not sure she was comfortable with the answers. By now I was becoming annoyed with the whole thing.

"Tell me about Shunda. Why is she held in such high regard amongst you?"

Robin frantically shook her head.

"No, it's not our way to talk of the Hunters."

"Tell him, Bodyguard. He is your mate, and in a way he has a right to know." 

Robin instantly stood looking out into the clearing as Shunda shimmered into view. The tension between them was obvious to see.

"You have no right to be here Shunda. The laws state you cannot be near the Keeper's cabin."

Shunda was in the middle of placing her bow on the clearing floor when Robin spoke. She paused and a smile passed her lips, yet in contrast her eyes narrowed slightly. Her arrows and her bag were now alongside her bow.

"Just as you had no right to be here the night of the storm, Bodyguard."

These two clearly didn't get on, and I didn't mean on a Bodyguard and Hunter level either. This was personal and, knowing the lifespan of these fairies, it could go back a lot of years. Robin's shoulders slumped. It was clear that Shunda had struck home with her accusation, yet I was still struggling to figure anything out. Someone real soon had better start explaining to me what the heck was going on, both in general and between these two.




Jonah and the Fairy Ch. 03



By the time Robin had recovered from Shunda's remark Hunter was now standing on the porch watching, waiting for an answer from Robin. My own interest was peaked as well, but I learned many years ago never to get between two women. And when two fairies were arguing, never. Getting between two fairies with magic and who clearly didn't like each other? Not a chance. Mom didn't raise a fool. 

"The Keeper has a debt that is owed to me, I claim that debt now."

Robin couldn't even look at her when she spoke next. Her voice struggled to keep so many emotions in check. She held the rail so tight her knuckles were white.

"Why do you do this now? You and everyone else knew what our Queen and I had planned for today, yet you insist you do this now."

Silence lay heavily between them. It was obvious that Shunda was not going to explain anything until Robin agreed to honor the debt. With a resigned look on her face Robin nodded her head. Shunda remained silent, extracting every ounce of satisfaction she could from the dilemma she had placed Robin in and from the power she had over me at this moment. 

Just as Robin opened her mouth to speak the cabin shook. There was an ear splitting roar and Marise shimmered into the clearing followed by three Bodyguards, one I knew from earlier this afternoon that had taken Mom to the nursery. Marise instantly pointed towards Shunda, her body lurched sideways and slammed into the cabin wall with a sickening thud. Marise pulled her arm back and Shunda was catapulted over the porch railing and thrown into the clearing, landing at Marise's feet.

"Enough," she shouted.

I had never seen Marise angry. Her blue aura still surrounded her, but her eyes were a glowing red. Now I was worried. This time she pointed towards Robin, and although she in turn raised her hands in defense her body slammed into the cabin wall. As Robin tried to scream her voice choked. Marise cupped her hand, stifling Robin's scream in her throat. With a flip of her hand my Robin left the porch and arced over the rail, bounced once, and landed on her back next to Shunda.

As astonished as I was at what I was seeing with my own eyes I tried to stand. Marise may be the Queen but Robin was also my mate. I moved an inch and then felt something pressed into my chest. I was so busy watching this strange scene unfold in front of my eyes I hadn't noticed two of the Bodyguards shimmer onto the porch, both their spears pointed to my chest and the looks on there faces telling me that it would be wise to stay seated.

The rage that engulfed Marise was still a terrifying sight to behold. Her hands became fists and then she raised her arms above her head. Both Robin and Shunda left the ground their feet now kicking at air a foot above the clearing floor. Both held their throats as though their life's breath was being dragged from there bodies.

"When the great Mother blessed us with two daughters from the same birth mother we all looked on it as a gift. For too many cycles you two have both been at each other to the point you are now threatening the harmony of us and the mountain." said Marise.

I sat totally shocked. Shunda was Robin's sister and yet Robin had never even mentioned that fact to me. 

"You are both to blame for this, so now you shall both suffer as we have, and as we have watched you both try to tear each other apart in the process."

Marise moved her arms farther apart and both the chocking figures in front of her moved away from each other. Just as suddenly Marise clapped her hands and both slammed into each other and fell to the floor gasping for air, desperate to fill their lungs, hoping for some respite. Instinctively both got to their knees hoping to appease Marise's rage.

"Why are you here, Hunter, when the laws clearly forbid you to be here?"

Shunda explained everything that happened by the river, and as she did Marise became more and more concerned. She looked toward me, her gaze mellowed slightly and said, "You have a debt keeper do you wish to honor this debt?"

This time I was allowed to stand, but my access to the steps was still blocked.

"It is the way. I will honor this debt when the Hunter tells me what she is asking of me."

Marise nodded and returned her gaze to both the kneeling and shaking figures before her.

"You have both disgraced us in front of the keeper. You both have no honor and until you both prove otherwise you will be the Keeper's to do with as he will. The Keeper will honor his debt, but I decree that the debt will only be owed after I have finished with both of you. Do either of you object?"

Both frantically shook their heads and, to be honest, I was just about to shake mine as well. Marise angry was not a pretty sight, and I was just glad I wasn't the one in front of her right now. The two Bodyguards on the porch joined Marise and she in turn looked once more towards me. The look she gave me somehow left me thinking that she had made a decision. I think she saw me shiver.

Once more she waved both hands and a blue aura drifted out of both cowering womens' heads and onto the arms of Marise, who then took one more step back and clicked her fingers and the clothes on both women disappeared.

"When my anger over your disgraceful behavior has gone I will return and give you your magic back. Until then you both belong to the Keeper."

She looked once more at me and with a faint smile said, "These two have only begun to suffer, Keeper. They will learn and you will teach them."

Before I could ask what I could teach two fairies that were older than me and would live to almost three times the years I could ever live she was gone and the remaining Bodyguards shimmered away as well. For a good few minutes neither Robin nor Shunda would look anywhere but the clearing floor.

"You can both get up now. Your Queen has gone."

Both heads very slowly looked around and then back to each other. The hate for each other, and the fear of what may happen should that hate fill their hearts and both take action were the only things holding them back. Robin once again looked around and only then did she stand. Shunda followed, and the sight of her naked body made me feel sick.

A gouge of four lines tore into her flesh from just under her left breast and curved down her body, ending just above her right hip. The wound looked recent, although I suspected the Healer's magic would have helped with the healing process. Even then I had doubts about just how old her wound was. The same four deep gouged lines where on her left thigh down to her knee.

"My human form disgusts you, Keeper?"

I had to focus on Shunda's face, and considering the damage to her whole body I was having difficulty holding eye contact with her. 

"It wasn't until now that I realized the high cost of being a hunter."

Shunda snorted at my comment and then sank to one knee, her gaze never leaving mine.

"Our Queen has given us to you. What do you wish of us, Keeper?" 

My mind still tried hard to process everything that had gone on. Shrugging my shoulders I suggested that they both dress. Shunda looked at Robin for a moment and then looked back at me. There seemed a resigned look on her face and she walked onto the porch and pulled a blanket from one of the chairs, wrapping it around herself. The blanket instantly started to smoke. Soon the whole blanket was now smoking and was seconds away from bursting into flames.

I rushed onto the porch and pulled the blanket off of her and threw it into the clearing. No sooner had it hit the clearing floor than it burst into flames.

"What the hell just happened?"

Robin looked once more at the ashes that once had been a blanket and said, "Until our Queen returns our magic this form is all that we are, nothing can cover it. We cannot move farther than the clearing's edge unless you allow it by holding onto us. Once you stop and remove your hand we will cease." 

I turned on Robin, the tone of my voice pulling her gaze from the ashes as they swirled around the clearing in the gentle mountain breeze.

"You knew this yet you didn't tell me. Your sister could have died. Why didn't she tell me what would happen?"

Shunda moved off the porch and joined her sister; both then knelt looking up at me. This was becoming uncomfortable for me. Too many uneasy feelings crept through my mind. I could kill one or both without even realizing I was doing it, and it seems neither of them would tell me I was sending them to their doom until it was happening. I took a deep breath, and held on to that last thought. This is why Marise is the Queen and I'm the Keeper. That is the real balance, not what's happening here.

"Keeper, our Queen gave us both to you. That is everything we are. Just as she holds the power of life and death over us also you have that power over us both until you deem us fit to return to our Queen."

I sat on the clearing floor, uncomfortable with them kneeling in front of me. Robin was my mate, not some slave. Now I find that Shunda is her sister. I shook my head once more and thought that I'm way out of my depth here.

"Stop talking in riddles, both of you. Next to Mother Earth your Queen holds the power here, not me. I'm just the Keeper."

Both fairies quickly looked to their left and right as though expecting some sort of retribution. Finally Robin found her voice.

"My love, our Queen gave us both to you."

"No dammit, your Queen..."

Both sisters fell face first onto the clearing floor, visibly shaking. I was just about to continue my rant when a thought struck me. I paused as my mind replayed what I had seen. My mind was too filled with the bizarre happenings in front of me and the way Marise administered her own justice for me to fully comprehend. I wondered if I could live with what I was about to do.

"Shunda stand."

Instantly she did. I then told Robin to sit up. Just as quickly she did as I had told her.

"Walk beyond the clearing edge."

I heard Robin gasp, yet my gaze never left her sister. Shunda simply looked at me with a look of resignation on her face, a look I had seen already today. I was beginning to suspect I was right. She paused for just a second and then set off towards the clearing edge, with Robin looking. As she got to the middle of the clearing Robin looked at me. Her lips parted.

"Please my love, don't do this."

"Why not? It would solve so many problems. Your endless fights with your sister would cease and I would no longer have to serve my debt."

Another three paces and fear had now crept onto Robin's face, something I thought I would never see. Her eyes started to fill with tears and again she looked at me.

"Killing my sister is not the way."

"Yes it is. Only Marise couldn't see it. She thought both sisters could live in harmony and had a use on the mountain. That has been seen not to have truth. When Shunda walks beyond the clearing all will be well and we can return to our lives."

Another four paces and tears fell from her and she used the back of her hand to wipe them away. Robin's voice had raised a pitch as her eyes darted between me and Shunda.

"Please let me take her place. My sister has suffered enough in this cycle."

"No, you are my mate and if you die my daughter will have no mother. Shunda will not suffer when she steps beyond the clearing. You yourself said that you would cease and you will finally be rid of someone that you have fought with for so long that you can't even remember why you are fighting anymore."

Shunda was now almost three quarters of the way to the edge of the clearing and simply kept the same pace, not even looking back. Robin shifted uneasily on the clearing floor.

"I want her to live."

"No you don't. Your Queen grows weary of continually parting you. The love sisters should have is simply not within either of you. This will finally set you free, Robin."

Another four paces and the speed with which Robin would look at her departing sister and back to me increased. Her fear was now genuine that I would let this happen. I simply sat and stared at her. Robin was now frantic, her eyes wide, and her body shook with suppressed tension that still continued to build within her.

"Jacob was her mate. When he died she died inside. Her spirit wanders this mountain looking for peace. Please Jonah, don't allow this to happen, I beg you. I love her so much but I hold back from her because I fear her more than love her."

Finally, I knew I was right.  

"Then go and tell your sister to return and both of you are to meet me in the cabin. This isn't over Robin."

She was on her feet and running across the clearing so fast she would put an Olympic sprinter to shame. She launched herself across the remaining few feet, crashed into her sister and put her own body over her as she told her that she was to return. I stood and went into to cabin not even looking back.

Dusk would soon steal any light left on the mountain. I made the fire and pulled the rug closer. Their bodies blocked light from the door. It told me all I needed to know. I instructed both of them to enter and sit on the rug. I was happy that the fire would keep them warm. I told both of them that this was their bed until I deemed them fit to return to their Queen. Once I was happy that both could stand, kneel, and lie on the rug without burning the cabin down I left them and had an early night.

This whole day had turned to shit. It's my birthday and I was supposed to get laid tonight. Instead Marise and I have done nothing but pull two sisters apart as though they were in heat for each other. I suspected I knew then why the difficult part now was to get both of them to see it and do something about it. None of this detracted from the fact that my mate was in the other room. 

I could have brought her in and taken the edge of my horniness, but I also suspected that if I ever did something remotely stupid like that, horny or not, I would have to spend the rest of my sleep times with one eye open. Marise may have given me both sisters, but that would end and I would have the repercussions of my actions to deal with: just as I already have with making it look like I was sending Shunda to her death. 

*******

Both seemed so at peace. I was leaning against the bedroom door watching them on the floor. A few embers still burned yet the fire had long since given up its warmth. Robin lay facing the fire, her sister behind her. Both Shaunda's arm and leg draped over Robin. I could clearly see it. Why couldn't they? Their bond went deeper than many simply because in human terms they were twins. Fairies don't look on family as we do. I guess they never realized the bond they had. If they would only admit it to themselves.

To Fairies the gift of two children from the same birth mother was simply a gift from Mother Earth. Both must have sensed me because they woke at the same time and instantly went onto their knees. This I couldn't and wouldn't get used to, so I sat on the floor as I watched these sisters for a moment before I spoke. 

"I see you both slept well."

They nodded in unison as I waited. This bond was plain to see by me, my mind screamed, 'It's there why can't either of you see it?' With a sigh and a feeling I would pay dearly for this later. I slapped Robin hard across the cheek. My poor Robin let out a startled cry, yet held her anger in check. Had this been any other time I would have been a bloodied heap on the cabin floor by now. I swung my arm to hit her again and Shunda caught my wrist in mid-flight.

"Please, Keeper, you harm my sister when she has done you no harm. Strike me since it was me that brought our Queen's wrath to your door."

It was in front of them so close they must be able to taste it by now, yet they still refused to see it. If I weren't so desperate for them to see what I could clearly see, and I didn't even need magic to see it, why couldn't these two fairies see it? I had one choice left to me and I prayed I was right because I didn't even want to think of the consequences if I were wrong. 

"You are right, Hunter. I also believe that we could all do with some air and a walk."

Robin had regained her composure and once again looked at her sister. Both were now deep in thought as we all stood and walked to the clearing edge. Judging by the looks I was getting from Shunda she suspected a trap. Even when I looked towards Robin it was plain to see she had begun to think something was not right. I stopped at the clearing's edge and held out my hands, looking towards one and then the other.

Both hesitated but slid their hands into mine, and with the thought that it was now or never we stepped forward. There was a sound like a bee, and for a second we all turned blue. Just as quickly the glow faded and left us. Robin was right at the clearing edge. Shunda would have ceased if she had gone three more paces before she was thrown to the ground and told to return. We walked along the path leading towards the trail over the mountain. Neither spoke for such a long time, preferring to steal glances at each other, and desperate to figure out what I was up to. 

For nearly twenty minutes we walked until I found the spot I figured would work best: a small clearing of maybe thirty feet that straddled the trail. Now it was all down to timing. They had finally started to relax and even to enjoy the treats that the mountain had to offer. As we approached the centre of the clearing I suddenly stopped. Both sisters walked forward one more pace before they noticed. I brought my hands together and quickly placed Shunda's hand over Robin's. Fear made them grasp each other's hand more firmly, waiting for the inevitable. I took a step back, the physical distance between us now greater. A blue glow suddenly enveloped them both.

"It would be wise not to let go of each other since you are both keeping the other alive."

Robin looked in awe at the glow that surrounded them and said, "I don't understand. Our laws say we should cease now."

Sitting crossed-legged on the ground both sisters followed suit, still clutching each others hands. 

"Although you will not admit it too yourselves, what's keeping you alive is the love you both have for each other. The great Mother gifted you with this ability, even though your Queen removed your magic and gave you both to me."

For such a long time they looked at me and then each other. Every so often one mouth would open but nothing would come out, so it would close again. I sensed her a second before she placed her hand on my shoulder, and I had to fight hard the impulse to look around. Marise wanted me to know she was behind me, and it was her choice that Robin and Shunda weren't to know.

"Our Queen will be angry we have broken the laws."

"Your Queen placed you in my care, Hunter. She gave both of you to me so I may teach you. That is what I am doing. I know she would understand, and in my mind no laws have been broken."

As desperate as I was to press home, I knew that should either of them forget and let go of the other, both would cease before even Marise could do anything about it. I just hoped what I had said so far would be enough to keep them busy until we walked back to the cabin. Standing, I once again held both their hands and headed back toward the cabin. Hopefully I had shown them what I could clearly see, yet they chose not to.

It was Robin who started playing. Firstly it was half a pace, then she was a full pace ahead of me. Shunda, not to be outdone, kept up with her, and I was grateful that I now had hold of their hands so I could rein them back before they became too enthusiastic. The thought that I may lose either of them, so close to their finally seeing it all was not something I wanted to even let into my head. 

As we all stepped into the clearing again that faint glow and the sound of buzzing told me it was safe to let them go. Yet neither of them would. Both still held my hand tightly until we reached the porch and I sat down. This time Shunda took the lead and sat with her back resting against the railings. Robin followed suit, both watching and waiting, and I had to admit I blushed a little because now they expected me to come clean and explain everything. That sense that Marise was close by crept into me and confirmed to me that it was time. 




Jonah and the Fairy Ch. 03



"I'm a human. I don't claim to be smart, and I have yet to grow to be as wise as Jacob was."

Sadness crept across Shunda's face as I mentioned her mate's name.

"What I saw in both of you was something I see when I am at school. We have twins there who fight each other, yet should anyone come between them they instantly join to fight back. It is there way." 

I went on to explain that all through school both girls fought each other in everything: sports, clothes, even their grades at school. One always had to be better than the other. Sadly, one had an accident on the way to school. The damage was bad, and for a while her family believed she would die. The only thing that kept her alive was her sister and even then when her sister needed a transplant it was the same sister that agreed before the doctor had even finished speaking.

It was this bond I see in both of them. The only difference was neither could communicate it to the other. When one became a Bodyguard the other had to be a Hunter. The competition between them would simply go on unchecked until something drastic happened to show them both that they simply loved each other unconditionally and they simply had to live with it, because if they didn't life would simply turn against one or both of them. 

Watching the reaction on their faces showed me I had struck home on so many levels. I couldn't help but notice that while I told my tale of the Baker sisters, Robin and Shunda held hands. After a while Robin turned to her sister and said, "I do not see a destructive end my sister. We are one and I am now at peace with that. This will end because I choose it to."

"As I choose it too. Thank you, my sister."

My relief was tangible. I wanted to leap from my chair, scream, and dance around the clearing. Finally they could see it, just as the looks on their faces and their leaping into a kneeling position told me they could now see Marise as well. The sound of clicking fingers and clothes returned to both of them, just as a blue glow entered both their heads, told me they now had their magic back. Marise didn't stay. No sooner had she come than she was gone. Not a word spoken.

*******

It was also time for me to take the consequences of my actions, and simply looking at Robin's face told me there would be a reckoning. But just as suddenly a questioning look came to her, and that confused me.

"You didn't finish your tale. You have held something back. What happened to the sisters you described?"

"I held nothing back. Both recovered, and until the day I left to become the Keeper both sisters were happy."

Shunda looked at me just as closely as did Robin.

"The Keeper has not lied to us, my sister, but I agree something is missing."

This whole conversation was going downhill fast, and short of telling them everything it could just as easily take both of them back to were we where. With a sigh I sat forward in my chair and watched both sisters closely. They still hadn't moved from their kneeling position, they simply waited, leaving me with no choice but to say, "The sisters became inseparable. When one sister became involved with a guy, marriage was spoken, her parents gave their blessing and a date was set. Just as suddenly the date was off and marriage was never discussed again."

The pause was longer this time and both girls eventually looked at each other rather than at me.

"You have done it again, my love, something in your tale is missing. So tell us or I will repay you for striking me and for allowing my sister to walk to the edge of the clearing knowing she would cease had I not stopped her first."

I fidgeted in my chair, now regretting ever mentioning the Baker sisters. But these two were the fairy version of the Baker sisters. I had noticed that when Shunda looked at Robin seconds before walking onto the porch and wrapping a blanket around herself. She knew the outcome, and she was willing to sacrifice her life so her sister would live and still obey the command that I had unknowingly given. 

"When one sister realized that marriage would mean leaving her sister alone she could not go through with it. She discussed it with her man and a deal was struck that to this day all three have lived by."

There was no choice. The whole thing would either unravel, or they would both see that what I was saying is what happens to humans and not to fairies.

"The marriage was canceled and both sisters moved in with the man and all three have remained exclusive to each other. In their minds they are married to each other."

The look on their faces said it all. Both looked at me for a moment and they shimmered away. I sat for an hour looking out at the clearing, yet seeing nothing. I wanted to show both of them that the competition they had would lead to a destructive end, and I was happy to use parts of the Baker sister's lives to reflect that and hold them up as an example. It seemed Robin could read me too well, and her insistence on knowing the rest of the Baker sister's lives proved to be the undoing.

I had jobs to do. The need to find something to take my mind off of this morning led to me channeling most of my energies into those chores for the rest of the day. I returned to the cabin only as the sun went down and the shadows reclaimed the forest. Mom sat on the porch waiting, I told her I had to have a wash before we did anything else. She sniffed as I passed and agreed, and by the time I had returned Mom had made us both something to eat.

"You told Robin and Shunda about the Baker sisters."

It wasn't an accusation, simply a statement. I just shrugged my shoulders.

"I wanted them to see what their constant feuding would lead to if they kept going. I had to do something, when Marise literally gave me two naked fairies and told me to deal with it. What was I supposed to do?"

I looked at Mom, waiting for an answer.

"Both of them came to me in the nursery and told me the tale you told them I knew you were talking about the Baker sisters. They wanted to know everything about the sisters. I know you had your reasons for using them as an example, but you could have shaved a little off the story, son."

Now I had my Mom bugging me about it.

"How did they react when you told them?"

"I had no choice. You had backed me into a corner, so I told them everything I knew and that was plenty since you know I've been friends with the twin's mom since grade school."

Oh great, this just couldn't get any better, could it?

"What happened when you told them?"

"That's the strange part. Nothing happened. They sat and listened, and said nothing until I had finished. They thanked me and then got up and left."

As Mom once said, 'what's done is done.' On the positive side, Marise won't need to punish them anymore. They did seem to get on better, or was that because they now had a common foe: me? The cabin door opened and both girls entered, stopped me from dwelling too long on that subject. They hugged Mom and both sat at the table. Robin looked at Shunda and then at me.

"We agree. We have talked to our Queen and it is not as unusual as you believe. Since we now have her blessing, nothing more will be said."

Mom and I sat and looked at each other. We both felt like we had walked into a conversation half way through and where playing catch up.

"Robin I haven't got a clue what you just said."

Her eyes looked toward the cabin roof and she gave an exasperated sigh.

"My love, we listened to you explain the lives of the twins you believe our lives mirror. When we talked more to the Keepers, Mom, we fully understood why you kept parts of your explanation to yourself."

Mom looked at me and for a moment. I thought I see a flicker of understanding in her eyes before she seemed to dismiss it. Yet as she shook her head she stopped and said to Shunda, "You understand you will be equals in this mating."

The air left my lungs. I couldn't believe Mom just said something so ridiculous. 

"We are sisters and have given ourselves to the great Mother as well as our Queen. We are one in our choice of mate."

Mom simply nodded and looked towards me; the confusion must have been evident to her.

"Congratulations son, you have two mates now and both are sisters just like the Baker girls. I'm not sure how I'm going to explain this to your Father, but I'll do my best." 

The rush of blood to my head was total. Even Mom asked if I was ok. By now I was pacing the cabin, my mind all over the place. How could all this go so horribly wrong?

"No, I'm not ok. Robin is my mate. The rest flies against everything I was raised to believe."

A small smile danced across Mom's lips before she said, "You weren't raised to believe in fairies yet two sit across the table from you. Have you ever wondered why you see more females than male fairies on the mountain?"

Before I could answer Mom looked at Shunda again and nodded her head.

"The great Mother blesses the mountain with more females. We outnumber the males by many. It means we have harmony here. The females live in harmony with the males and the males do take many mates, but the dominance of the females in every aspect of our society also keeps the balance on the mountain."

Shunda smiled at Mom and then looked back towards her sister before saying, "Yet my sister allows Keeper to dominate her by only taking one mate, and for so many cycles I could never understand why."

Robin held onto her sister's hand, and even though I was totally speechless it seemed all three of them expected me to say something. I eventually lifted my hands to the cabin ceiling hoping for some divine intervention. This was all going so horribly wrong and my mind simply couldn't process fast enough everything that was being said.

"I don't dominate Robin. I never have and never will. We are equals in every aspect."

"But that is not the balance, my love. I have loved you with all my heart for so many cycles, but our harmony is wrong. For some time now I have felt that the great Mother sought to address that balance by giving us our child and so early that I was not yet in my adult cycle and therefore not capable of carrying her in my human form."

Stopping in my tracks as Robin finished her statement made my blood boil. She noticed and quickly left her chair to hold me tightly. But Robin wasn't finished. She needed to press home her argument and hoped holding me would at least make me listen while she did so.

"What you have shown us both is what we should have seen many cycles ago. Now it is our turn to teach you, and the balance of the mountain means that since you took a fairy as a mate you must take another to keep that balance."

Robin barely stopped long enough to draw breath; she didn't want me to interrupt her.

"Please, Jonah, you must listen to me. I will be away for many cycles both in the nursery and with our Queen. You may be human but you're also male and those needs have to be addressed. My sister has no mate and even though she is a Hunter and has duties of her own between both of us your needs will be met."

I held onto Robin for so long, too afraid of saying anything, knowing that if I did it wouldn't sound right. The secrets that the Keepers have kept through the generations had left so many ramifications for the next Keeper that takes their place. None of us get any inkling into what to expect, and times like these I feel that no matter how hard I run to catch up it simply isn't fast enough. In all honesty, I was afraid. Robin was my life, the daughter that snuggled into my palm and gurgled as she sucked her thumb was my life. Could my heart accept another even if it was my love's sister.

When I brought my head away from Robin's shoulder Shunda was just shimmering back into the cabin. Mom was gone from the kitchen and the questioning look toward Shunda as she stood in the middle of the cabin left me confused.

"The Keeper's Mother asked to be returned to the nursery. She said this evening was ours and she felt she would be intruding."

Robin stepped away from me and within a blink of an eye both where naked. Again the scars on Shunda's body left me feeling the job of a Hunter is more dangerous than I imagined. Shunda watched me for a moment and then lowered herself to her knees as Robin stepped away from me and joined her sister. She stood behind her, both hands on her shoulders.

"I must speak and you must listen, Keeper. The scars you see will never heal. They are there to remind me of my failings. When my mate died I went mad with rage and despair and I sought out the bear that killed him and exacted revenge."

Tears flowed down her cheeks and Robin gently squeezed her shoulders, reminding her sister she was there and of her support as she spoke.

"The Heeler cannot bring me to full health, which means, Keeper, that I am barren. The bear took my mate and it took the child I carried in return for its own life. The great Mother had set the cycle of life, and killing the bear in revenge disturbed that balance."

Shunda moved her hands down her body and then held both hands out towards me.

"This is all I have to give to you, Keeper. It is all I have left after the great Mother reset the balance and my cycle of life continues." 

As I looked away from Shunda and at Robin, both of them were in tears and I had to admit I wasn't that far behind either. I was drifting when the Keeper's job was thrust into my hands. Robin and I found each other and the confession Shunda just made started me thinking that perhaps she had now found us, or perhaps the great Mother had taken so much she had decided to give her a gentle shove in our direction and leave the rest up to us. 

I told Shunda to stand, and as I approached I heard a click of fingers. I was now as naked as they were, a clear indication to me that someone in this room wanted us all to enjoy more than just a group hug. On my insistence, however, I wanted the cabin to be a magic free zone, and if magic needed to be used then used wisely. Maybe I'm just an old fashioned type of guy and getting your mate naked simply by taking their clothes off can be more fun than clicking your fingers. 

Robin and I took Shunda to bed and proceeded to fuck her to the point of exhaustion. I must admit other than DVDs I had never seen girl-on-girl action, but these two sisters took to it like they invented it. Robin was the more aggressive of the two and Shunda may have been the more fit of the sisters, but I could tell somewhere in the early hours Robin and I had made Shunda a quivering wreck, far too spent to do anything but back away to the edge of the bed as we came for her one final time.

*******

Was it my imagination or did the birds sing louder this morning? The sound of cups in the kitchen told me Mom was back, since I still had both sisters wrapped around me. My movement woke them and the sounds in the cabin alerted them to someone else being here. I headed for the bathroom. Shunda followed Robin into the kitchen. The sound of laughing told me that they had both forgotten to put on clothes When I joined them all in the kitchen all three looked at me before Mom spoke. 

She said, "Marise is happy you have addressed the balance, and judging by the smell of sex from your room it doesn't take a genius to figure you have accepted the fact that you have your own version of the Baker sisters."

I blushed and all three laughed. My mind would finally accept this. I knew that to be true, but it still didn't feel right, as though I were cheating on Robin, even though she was here and played more than an active part in what we did to her sister. Would it be the same when one or the other was away from the cabin and me? Time would tell, I suppose. Mom made it a point to return to the nursery for the next three nights while Robin and I ripped Shunda's clothes off of her and proceeded to take her every way we could, leaving her a lump of jello that we both held onto as sleep took us.

Shunda finally refused to let Mom return to the nursery on the fourth night, saying she needed the rest far more than Mom did and not even Jacob had exhausted her so much with this amount of joining. It was the first time we had heard her mention Jacob without looking sad, and that showed us all that she had come to terms with her killing the bear in vengeance for her mate and the retribution the great Mother took from her. 

Mom returned home after a week. Even Marise came by to wish her a safe journey. Peace settled back onto the mountain, and I could see in Robin's eyes that she was anxious to return to our daughter for a while before returning to her duties as a Bodyguard. Even the call of the mountain was becoming too much for Shunda, and as we sat one morning on the porch watching nature I told her to magic her bow here and start getting it ready. She would be leaving in the morning.

Her smile and the whispered 'thank you' said everything that needed to be said. I helped with what I could do and she spent the rest of the afternoon making sure everything was ready for an early start. 

*******

I hadn't seen either of them for a couple of weeks now. It was something I had got used to, I suppose. As Keeper my jobs still took me into town and all over the mountain, just as their duties did with Shunda being a Hunter and Robin having our daughter to take care of as well as her Bodyguard duties. Marise had already told me that she was about to ask Shunda to step down as a Hunter to take the place of Jacob, and although it seemed unsaid between us we both knew what that would really entail.

Dad still enjoyed the mountain and came up here at every opportunity. He took badly the news of Jacob's death and although I took over the task of being his guide I was nowhere near Jacob's league and we all knew it. As a first step Marise had ordered Shunda to meet my Dad, and what a first meeting that turned out to be. When Dad was sitting on the porch she came around the corner of the cabin just like Jacob always had and introduced herself. Dad went pale and even though he offered her a seat he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Knowing the short fuse she had I was expecting her to take him to task. Instead she offered to teach him how to use a bow, and for the next hour I couldn't get either of them away from the clearing they had decided to use as a practice field. I went inside and by the time Mom and I came back out both had gone. Mom asked the birds to find them and she was told they were on one of the trails Jacob and Dad always liked to use. It seemed Shunda was Dad's new best friend. 

But time to a fairy is nothing like time to us. I suppose they too easily dismiss our time since they live far longer than any of us. To fairies a decision could take a short while, but in human form that could be six months to a year, and that's a lot of waiting on a human, and hell for a Keeper with a debt to repay. But waking that morning left me feeling that something was going to happen. In a sense the mountain seemed to let me know. I even waited on the porch longer than I normally did, eventually deciding that whatever it was will happen whether I want it to or not. 

Shunda was already seated in the lake when I got there. Her scars were now a part of her I never really took much notice of any more. Stripping and sitting next to her, the warmth of the sun beating down on the mountain contrasted with the cold of the river. My instincts told me that Shunda had chosen her time and place. It was now left to me to listen and agree. I just hoped I could find it within me to live with what she was about to ask.

"You sense it don't you, Keeper?"

"I know it's time, Hunter. Tell me the debt I owe."

Looking at her would have been no good. If she was anything to go by then all the Hunters on the mountain would make great poker players.




Jonah and the Fairy Ch. 03



"I have learned a great deal from my sister and you, Keeper, and many times I have changed the debt I wish from you."

Again she paused, only this time I looked at her. Shunda smiled, and now I was starting to wonder if I should be happy about that or very afraid. Knowing what I had to do and doing it are not always as easy as they seem. When Shunda had finally told me the details of the debt my first instinct was to scream, 'that will never happen.' But I owed a debt, and as the Keeper I was even more obliged to honor it than anyone. 

As the days went by the feeling that perhaps I could talk Shunda out of this became more hopeless, and I was forced to agree. Now it was time to see the only person on this mountain that could make all this possible.

*******

I asked Marise to walk with me. She agreed and her Bodyguards started to take up their positions before I asked Marise if our walk could be between the Queen and the Keeper. Both Bodyguards faltered and looked towards Marise who nodded and took my arm just like she did so long ago. We walked for some time, both lost in our own thoughts. Marise could read my mind but she simply chose not to.

"As the Keeper I have something to ask. This request is between us and only one other knows of it. Please, Marise, let me tell you rather than you finding it in my head."

Marise paused and smiled. She looked back and could see her Bodyguards following at a distance, still not sure what to do. The Keeper was to be trusted, as generations of us have shown, but their training to protect their Queen puts them at odds with seeing her place so much distance between them and her. She sat on a rock and pointed to the mountain floor. This was her domain so I thought it best to sit when she sat.

"This bothers you greatly, Keeper. Ask and if it is within my power I will agree."

"I know what my debt to Shunda is and I will honor it, but it needs your blessing and, when the time comes, your help." 

Marise just sat and waited. She gave nothing away.

"When my life cycle comes to an end, Shunda wishes to follow me."

Even Marise was taken by surprise, and for such a long time simply sat and looked at me.

"I will honor both your requests, but only because I can see in your eyes, Keeper, that you have fought hard to come to terms with what Hunter has asked of you. I also need to talk to Hunter on this."

A smile came to her lips and for a moment I thought her blue aura seemed to get slightly lighter on color. I had been around her long enough to know that was a good sign. 

"We have known each other for such a short time, Keeper, yet it seems that each day our great Mother and the mountain bring new challenges to you. So far I have been impressed with how you have dealt with those challenges."

Marise looked toward one of the bodyguards and she nodded her head and left. Neither of us spoke again. We simply waited. Shunda shimmered to the side of me and knelt, placing her bow on the ground as quickly as she could.

"Hunter, the Keeper has told me of the debt he is to pay. Keeper is willing to pay this debt, yet you have chosen not to tell me why. Explain."

"My Queen, when my mate died I was lost. Seeking revenge simply disturbed the harmony of the mountain and made the great Mother and you angry. I have found peace now and the Keeper and his mate have accepted me. I cannot continue through all of my cycles without them."

Marise paused for a moment to think and then said.

"Yet if the debt is paid then your sister will be alone."

For the first time Shunda looked directly at her Queen.

"My sister has always been stronger than me. She will have her child. Please, my Queen, grant this debt. When the Keeper's cycle has ended let me follow him, protect and care for him until my sister can join us and once again become one with each other."  

For a long time Marise simply sat, her mind elsewhere. Even when she stood and paced we waited. Finally she sat and allowed Shunda to sit rather than kneel.

"The debt is a debt. I cannot change that since you, Keeper, have agreed to it. I am merely a means to an end. I will agree and allow this. Once your cycle has ended, Keeper, Shunda will return to fairy form where her life cycle will cease, and she will be placed in the coffin when you are buried."

Her brow creased as she thought something through, sighed, and turn towards me saying,

"You understand keeper, once you cease and the debt is invoked. You will not be buried amongst the rest of the Jonahs in town. The risk that Hunter is discovered is too great. The mountain will be your burial ground."

"A debt has to be honored, Marise, and it will also mean I will be amongst friends." 

She shook her head.

"I believe you misunderstood me. Your grave will be on the mountain, but there will be no headstone. No human will ever find your grave, and if by chance they ever did the rest of the Hunters will exact retribution and I will not interfere." 

The fact I wouldn't be buried in town surprised me simply because I had never taken it into consideration. Remembering how Dad was furious that his brother never came home, and was buried before he even got a chance to say goodbye, left me feeling that I would have to find another way for Dad to come to terms with me not being buried in town. I would have to decide how later.

Marise leaned forward so her face was less than a couple of feet from Shunda. This was going to be personal, and for now I was ignored.

"You have finally found peace both here and within yourself, Hunter. I agree to this but with one reservation: your sister has to know and agree."

For such a long time Shunda sat, a far away look in her eyes. Eventually she nodded her head and said, "My Queen is wise. I will talk to my sister and beg her to agree."

Marise nodded and left. Both of us stood and walked for a while, neither of us sharing our thoughts. As the cabin loomed ever closer the look of uncertainty etched itself deeper onto her face. Holding her hand as we climbed the steps and walked into the cabin gave Shunda some relief. I just wondered if it would be enough.

*******

The sun had started its slow decent toward dusk. Jonah needed to hurry, getting caught on this part of the mountain at night was never a good idea 

Too many bad stories and rumors of unexplained things from the gossips in town, made him hurry his steps. Caution also made him slow down again. The terrain around here and the weight of his pack was making him tired, and that was dangerous. 

This was the part of the mountain he wasn't looking forward to, yet rain had washed out the other track a week ago, and he had no choice. He had to go through this section of the forest to make it back to the cabin before nightfall. Jonah's back was soaked with the effort, and the temptation to keep his head down as he traveled down this section of the path was all too tempting. Cold enveloped him. Even the birds refused to come here, and on the few times he had passed this area he had never seen any game here either.

Jonah stopped so suddenly his own pack almost tilted him forward, the sight before him was so unexpected that he actually thought he was seeing things. A woman was sitting on a fallen tree looking towards the edge of one of the small clearings within the forest. She seemed so intent on looking at the clearing he almost didn't hear her talking.

"I loved you both and I miss you all the time. No one can replace you and I couldn't even think to look. I'm just thankful that my duties and our daughter both keep me busy."

Taking half steps, Jonah approached the woman as she still spoke to herself. The sound of the dry twig he stood on and broke made the woman turn around. Her startled look told him that she hadn't heard him approach.

"I'm sorry ma'am but this mountain is a conservation site and private property. I'm going to have to ask you to leave with me."

Watching for any reaction, Jonah simply stood his ground. The woman moved off of the tree and walked toward him. As tired as he was Jonah could still feel his loins stir as the red headed woman walked past the tree. Her hips seemed to sway a little.

"I know Jonah. I was just leaving."

It was clear to him that she seemed to wince, when she called him by his name. Ok, so it was Jonah. What was the big deal about his name. Come to think about it, how did she know his name? He suddenly stopped and looked around. The red headed woman was no where to be seen. Dropping his pack on the edge of the path he wandered to the edge of the clearing and looked around, holding his breath so he could listen in the hope of figuring out where she went.

"This whole damned mountain is just plain weird."

Hoisting his pack back on Jonah set his pace again. Searching for the red head had set him back. The sun would be almost down when he got back to the cabin. With the bottom of the path in mind he set off again. 

The hunter shimmered into view twenty paces behind Jonah, her bow at full stretch and aimed at the man's neck, 'an easy target for a hunter and a quick kill' she thought. Robin shimmered next to the hunter.

"Ease your bow, my Daughter. That is the new Keeper. You know our Queen's wishes. We protect your father and our sister from all but the Keeper."