Dragged and drenched through the quagmire, a vicious, zealous tangle, a malicious warren, of her own silly delusions and capricious faults, burned and scalded by her own foolish endeavors and flaws, and then quickly, tenderly, assuaged by the Thief (because she’d learned titles didn’t dictate personalities; he’d been the most gentle and beloved of brigands), left her reeling, listless, languid, but content. Soaked in his touch, in his caress, forgiven for her foibles, pardoned and absolved of her limitations, the fairy was permitted to embrace and enjoy the foundation, the roots, of security and havens once more – even as one insecurity slipped into another and she’d been terribly lost in the laments and requiems of the future – he picked up all of her fervent, ardent shards and dusted them off with a grin, ensured they’d never been truly broken. It’d be uncomplicated, effortless, facile, and simple, to merely sink into his existence and feed off of his strength, his diligence, his kindness and compassion, but when he pulled away, she did too, a bright, luminescent spark renewed and pulsing, beating, with the vivacity of unrelenting hearts. The fairy held no intentions, no motivations, of consuming his generosity and claiming it as her own, a succubus, a syphon of the serene; too long had she lived in her own trances and reveries, walked through fire, stood through storms, basked in the glow of her perseverance, and she’d do it all over again, an embedded, entrenched pillar, columns of strength and fortitude. But every ounce of her was grateful, obliged, indebted to his care and assuaging, for all the assurances, her confidence waned and glimmered, emboldened then dimmed, and he’d built a careful wall, threw her a ladder, to climb and siege against. Perhaps one day he’d flee the confines of the Basin, clawed and veiled by shadows, by wicked deceit, by specious regard and the daggered cloaks of iniquitous men, but she’d find him again, race through the sun’s rays and search amongst the riotous heavens until he’d been returned to them, to her. Trust and devotion, adherence and allegiance, dedication and constancy, carved nuances and collected bottles of the brilliant chords of her companions, her friends, her allies, her loved ones, gathered and encouraged her through every thorny, brambled path, and she’d always provide the same for them; tranquil truth, reposed benedictions, honored convictions. Her gaze bounded over his movements, the charismatic wink, the lowered stare, the unbent, swindling decree of promises, and though she’d never imagine he couldn’t keep covenants and augurs, she ducked and tilted her head beneath his, fixing one honeyed eye upon his icy blue one. “If you ever need me, I’ll be right beside you.”

Harmonic vocals were followed by a ruffian smile, charming, magnetic, beguiling, aiming to swindle away his doubts and misgivings. Her pledge was a guarantee, signed and penned by her strength, by her diligence, by her ever-growing, ever-reaching, ever-persistent tenacity, a bloom of adversity and stubbornness – Imogen chirped her own staunch vow across the creek and marsh, united creatures in steadfast, valorous pursuits. Indulging in cheeky, coy smiles thereafter, she winked and brushed her maw along his brow, the softest kiss, a dulcet stroke, a satin caress, an innocent gift of reassurance, passing over the tragic threads and the days of come what may, glancing over the horizon and laughing through the last of summer’s fine, sultry air. “Though right now, I require someone to race back to the Basin with.” She shrugged, narrowed her gaze as if he was the only option, then gave him one final wink, before swiftly churning across the reeds, leaping over the brook, and glancing back behind her to see if he intended to follow. After, like a careening fey, like an exotic laurel brought to life, like a petal in the wind and a thrown seraph tossed back into lavender, into candied fields, into clover and divine interventions, she and her fox chased the horizon, the stars, the auroras, forever enlightened, enchanted by golden knights clad in pirate armor.

@[Roland]