The Magic of the Woods

Her name was Lavonia Darc, and she was the most beautiful maiden in the land. Her hair was that of golden silk, and her skin was milk and honey. Her eyes glowed like that of emerald gems. No one could resist her beauty. The only thing that was against this beautiful young lady was that she was not known to many. She was a young lady raised by the creatures of the wood. Nymphs, faeries, even her uncle was not of the human race. He was a dragon by the name of Darrin. He was the one who found the little baby at the edge of the wood crying, her hands grasping for someone to love her. With his large paw he gathered up the little bundle and held her close. His warmth shushed the baby almost immediately, except for a smile and a coo. From that day forth the child was his family.

Now, sixteen years later; Lavonia was an amazing young lady. She was educated in the magic of the wood. She knew the tricks and trades of the faeries and nymphs. She could help the wood grow, and the animals thrive. She had a heart of gold that she shared with her world around her. Her uncle watched her with pride as he did with all his family. For his family was his kingdom. He protected the wood and everything in its depths, including his niece, His princess.

What he did not expect was for her desire to leave one day. The human heart could not be contained in the world of magic. It must thrive in the world of humans. To be shared with the world. The day finally came when Lavonia turned sixteen. The day when a prince got lost in the wood.

Every creature was celebrating Lavonia's special day. They danced, played music, and spun magic in her honor. It was the way of the wood creatures to have such magical events. The prince himself was surprised when he came across the clearing. He heard the bell like sounds and heard the laughter. His curiosity drew him closer. He peered down from his steed and spied the faeries and the nymphs, and the curious girl dancing amongst them. But he did not see the dragon sitting nearby watching the festivities. Darrin did not trust most humans, especially nobleman who rode with swords and shields. They were the kind that slew dragons to impress others. With out knowing the danger the prince dismounted his steed and stepped into the clearing, bowing low to the creatures and to Lavonia.

"May I have this dance?" he asked politely of Lavonia. He was not expecting what came next. A large scaly tail came down between Lavonia and the prince, and a thunderous growl ripped through the clearing.

"I think not noble prince. Your kind are not welcome in this part of the wood." Darrin declared.

The prince drew his sword and thrust it at the dragon. But he was thrown back by the tail lashing at him. He fell back to one knee and got ready to attack again, but Lavonia intervened. She was the one to step between the prince and her uncle. Her arms spread wide she yelled "stop!"

"Why?" the prince demanded. "He is no more than a mindless beast!"

Lavonia was very insulted by the prince's words, but she stood her ground. Her words were that of diplomacy.

"You heard him speak. He rules here, not you. And if you must know my lord, he is my uncle. You slay him and I shall not show much respect to your kind either."

The prince considered her for a minute. He stared up at her, a beauty by all means, but steady with her word. She was not scared of the prince, or her uncle. She was just as brave as any soldier the prince had ever seen; or maybe just defiant.

"Fine then, princess, I am lost and need direction out of your wood. Will your uncle help me? Or shall I let him slay me?" The prince asked while standing.

"You are not far from the path my lord, but the second part is completely your choice to make." Lavonia replied lowering her arms and gesturing to a narrow clearing through the brush.

The prince smiled at Lavonia's reply. She was very brave. He put away his sword and bowed once again. This time kneeling.

"I am Prince Timothy James, and I would prefer it if your uncle spared my life this day. I will leave in peace and never return." The prince replied to Lavonia.

Lavonia smiled at the prince sweetly and offered her hand to him, to the protest of her uncle. The prince took it and stood. Lavonia looked to her uncle with the same sweet smile and beckoned him to come forward. Reluctantly he came forward, standing tall with his chest puffed out in defiance. The prince's smile vanished as Darrin approached. Neither was comfortable.

"Uncle, it is getting dark and I think it best for our guest to stay the night here where it is safe. He should not wonder the woods paths after dark as you well know. Would you not agree?" Lavonia suggested heavily. She knew that the paths had a way of changing after night fall. How they would turn a person about to trick them and play games. The prince would never get home safely.

"And who will show him the right path in the morn?" Darrin asked with a growl. He knew the answer. That the one to offer, would be his niece. She knew the paths better than any other creature.

"I will, of course. Or he will never get home. The faeries and nymphs are just as playful as the paths they have created." Lavonia said. Darrin rolled his eyes in exasperation. He knew it was coming.

"Fine then, sir you may go with the faeries and they will find you a place to rest. The celebrations are ended for the night." And with that, Darrin turned and left. He knew he had to let his niece go. That he had to let her explore the world she had come from. He was just afraid to let his princess leave. He was afraid that she would not be accepted by the humans who feared the kind who raised her. But it had to be done.

The prince went off with the faeries as he was directed and Lavonia watched him as he left. The faeries were plucking at his clothes and staring into his shield at their reflections. She wanted to laugh but was nervous about the coming day. She too knew she had to rest and headed off to her home in the willow tree.

The next morning Lavonia woke early and joined her family in the clearing once again. She had her pack ready with food and anything she might need. She was intending to take her new friend to the edge of the wood. She wasn't expecting to go too far.

When she entered the clearing everyone was waiting, and some were crying. She was confused by the way everyone was acting. As if she was leaving for good. Her uncle stood in the center of the clearing, the prince at the edge near the opening. He too looked uneasy.

"Uncle, what is this all about?" she asked her uncle.

He sighed and smiled down at Lavonia. She smiled back and wiped a tear away from her uncle's large face.

"You will go to the kingdom with the prince. You will explore your world and your kind. It is time for you to discover the magic of the humans." Darrin explained to her.

"But, I..." she tried, but her uncle shushed her.

"You will return one day, we do not expect you to forget your home. But this is something you need to do. Something you will regret if it is not done. If you return in a month or even in fifty years so be it. We will be here waiting. We are your family, but we are not of you." Darrin encouraged her.

Lavonia threw her arms around her uncle and began to sob. She was happy but sad at the same time. She only dreamed of going outside the wood, to see where she came from. But she never expected her uncle to let her go.

"I will miss you and I promise not to stay gone long. This is my home. I love you." lavonia said through her tears.

"Go now and be brave. Explore the lands beyond. And remember how much we all love you our dear little princess." Darrin told her.

Lavonia turned to leave tears still falling from her eyes. She led the prince to the edge of the wood, and he led her rest of the way. To a world she had never known before.

Twenty long years later Darrin sat in his clearing watching over the faeries and the nymphs when a noise caught his attention. Someone was coming into the clearing, followed by two others. They were all cloaked. The one leading the way was small, and the two following were much smaller. They stopped at the entrance and waited. Darrin stood and approached, his large heart skipping a beat. He knew the lady that stood before him. Her face was barely visible, aged with years of wisdom. She lowered her hood and smiled. Lavonia stood before her uncle once again.

"I hope that twenty years is not too little of time, uncle." she said to him. Her voice had aged as well. It was the voice of grown woman.

"Never to long for us, we do not age with time dear little princess." Darrin replied.

With that Lavonia threw here arms around her uncle once again. She did not cry but was joyful. The day went on, and she explained that she could not stay long. She introduced her uncle to her two daughters. Just as beautiful s their mother, but both resemble their father. The prince she had left with, she married. They ruled his kingdom and their daughters will rule after him. Darrin listened to Lavonia's twenty years of stories and reveled in each of her words. He laughed heartily as her daughters danced with the faeries. It was a happy moment that was short lived.

The next morn Lavonia left again and promised to return sooner. The little princess' each hugged Darrin and blew kisses to the other creatures. Lavonia bowed to her family and led her daughters away. After her return she would return each year with her daughters to celebrate with the faeries and nymphs and her uncle. It was her home and she would never forget it. She would pass on the location to her daughters, and her daughters to their descendants. That way they will all return to the magic of the wood. To home.