Infinitum

Emberly Willowstone


Jasper




Meredith Parsons


Leo

Emberly was crying and sniffling as she was chasing her tiny little shoe down the stream. "No no no." she sniffled and stumbled into the crystal clear water. Her little child legs where not carrying her fast enough to catch her shoe as the creek carried it farther into the woods. Emberly knew she shouldn't have gone into the woods. Mama said that is where all the fairies where that would take her and never let her come home. She stood the water dripping off her little pink dress that was soaked through. Emberly looked up seeing her shoe was floating farther and farther away. Her mama would be furious that she had lost her only shoes, one to the water and the other lost at the base of the forest hidden somewhere by the bushes with the plump black berries.

Emberly crawled up out of the water and across the soft grass over to a range of trees. She sniffed and whipped her nose on her sleeve before she buried her face in her knees as she hugged herself sobbing. She was lost and cold and she lost her shoes. Her mom was going to be so angry with her and she was going to be in so much trouble. Her little green eyes where shinny as she lifted her head hearing something tryin to get her attention. She looked around and frowned. "W-Who is there?" she asked and then looked down. It was then she saw a little boy that was as tiny as a thimble. The little silver wings fluttered behind him and in his hands was her shoe. "My shoe!" she gasped and scrambled up moving so her face was closer to him and her fiery red hair created a curtain around them. "Thank you for getting my shoe..." Emberly bit her tiny pink lip. "Who are you?" She asked then frowned. "B-but aren't you a... a fairy?" she whispered and looked around like some monsters going to reach out and snatch them up.

@ Jinx...

Jasper huffed a little as he strained to carry the little shoe, looking up at the little girl as she leaned down to look at him, his wings fluttering a little. "I don't know where the other one is.. but maybe you only need this one?" He said, climbing up to sit on the shoe so he could look at her better, studying her with curious eyes.

"I am a fairy." He confirmed, gazing up at her. "What are you?" He asked curiously, reaching out to give a little tug on one of her strands of hair. "Are you a troll? Or a witch? Or a dryad?" He laughed a little at the thought, covering his face with his hands to hide his giggles. He didn't look like he could be much older than she was, although he was actually probably a few hundred years old. "Why are you crying in the forest? Did something happen to you?" He asked as he tugged on her hair a little again, frowning a little.

---

Meredith had been playing hide and seek with her friend Emberly, but when she couldn't find her friend she'd run back to the little village crying to find Emberly's mother and let her know what had happened, and was now leading the grownups through the forest to where she'd last seen her friend. When they found Emberly's other shoe she only began to cry more, convinced her friend had been stolen by fairies. Her mother lifted the little girl into her arms to carry her through the forest while they looked for Emberly. A few times Meredith was convinced that she saw wings fluttering through the grass and trees, which only scared her more, as she feared that the fairies that had taken her friend would take her too.

@ katahdin
Emberly smiled as he told her he was a fairy. "You're kind of small for a fairy aren't you?" she poked his shoe and giggled as he tugged on a few strands of her hair. He asked silly questions and she laughed rubbing her eyes one at a time. "No I am a person." she said and smiled at his laugh. It was musical and she felt like she could listen to it all day.

As the little boy asked why she was crying and tugged on her hair again. She rubbed her eyes again as they started to swim with unshed tear. "I had lost my only pair of shoes and then I can into the forest and mama will be furious. She told me the fairies will snatch me but you don't seem mean." she said and smiled softly back at him with sad eyes. Luckily her dress was starting to dry in the dim sunlight of the forest. "Mommy will come to get me!" she said and pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes rubbing the tears away grinning more at him. "I was playing when my shoe fell into the river but now I have it and I can play again." she said and sat up looking around. She didn't see her friend who she had been playing with. Emberly looked back at the boy wondering if he would play. "Do you know tag?" she asked him.

@ Jinx...

"I'm not small! I'm nearly three inches tall! Mama says that I'll be full grown in no time!" He boasted, grinning a little as he tugged at her hair again. "How tall are you? You're like a giant.. Are you full grown, or will you get bigger too?" He asked with a little tilt of his head. He was absolutely taken with the little girl, which seemed silly considering he was a child, but he already felt a connection to her, even if interactions between humans and faeries were banned.

Jasper frowned as she began to cry again, wings fluttering as he flew closer to her face, wiping at her eyes a little with his own hand, trying to comfort her. "Don't cry.. Crying is sad. I'll take care of you, I promise." He smiled a little, wings fluttering some more as be perched back down on her shoe, tilting his head curiously as she mentioned tag. "No, what's that?" He asked curiously, wings fluttering.

@ katahdin
Emberly grinned as he asked how tall she was. She shrugged not really knowing. "Mama says I have to eat my greens to grow real big and tall like her." she said. She was comforted with his soothing voice and his tiny hands touching her face. He told her that he would take care of her and she believed it.

Emberly giggled as he said he didn't know what tag was. "It's a game silly." she said and explained how to play then popped up real quick and poked his belly giggling as she ran. "Come and get me!" she yelled and looked back to make sure he was following her.

That was how they spent almost all day. When it was time for food they sat at a berry bush and ate berries together. They talked and laughed like little kids do. Emberly was yawning by the time they returned tot he little ring of trees with her shoe. She held it to her chest and looked down at him frowning before looking back at the sky. It was golden like that bright light that made you believe the sun refused to stop shinning before the darkness won out again. With Jasper sitting on her knee and them whispering as the light started to get lower the more worried Emberly became her little eyes shinning with moisture she held at bay.

Then off in the distance Emberly looked up hearing her mama call. "Mama! Over here!" she yelled and looked at Jasper. As she did a little flutter of wings with a lantern came out of the trees towards Jasper.

"Where have you been?" Leo asked his brother. He had been hunting for him all day to bring him to mother's classes. It had just about become an all out hunt for the little fairy but Leo knowing his brother like he did knew he could find him eventually so Jasper was safe for now from the consequences though mother would still be furious that Jasper missed all his classes today. "Mother has been looking for you..." he trailed off and tuned slowly letting out a squeal. "A human... Jasper..." he pulled on his brother.

Emberly frowned and then looked up as her mother entered into her view. "Mama!" she shuffled to her feet and ran towards her mama who scooped her up in her arms and kissed her all over holding the hand of little Meredith. "Let's go girls." she said and Emberly looked back then at where she had left her little fairy friend and frowned. He was gone. She was scooped into her mothers arm and Emberly thought she saw a flicker of wings and she waved her shoe in her hand in a goodbye.

There would be many times over the years she would try to go visit him again, many times she would go looking for the little fairy boy but then she never saw him again.

@ Jinx...

For the next 12 years, Jasper didn't think of much else other than Emberly. Sure, his mother had been furious when she'd found out what he'd been doing, and had banned him from leaving the tree without supervision, but every chance he got he'd sneak away or drag his brother out to go to the little grotto where he'd met his love, or to the edge of the forest to watch her play in the village. He'd never spoken to her again because his brother always prevented him, but tonight, at Midsummer, he'd finally convinced Leo to let him attend the festival the humans were throwing in their village, on the condition that Leo accompany him, of course. But he had to have his Emberly, even if it meant dragging his brother along with him.

"I can't thank you enough, Leo. I really owe you one." Jasper said as he finished getting ready, the Crown Prince of the Fae looking a bit ridiculous in one of the costumes the humans wore at these festivals. "Who knows, maybe you'll enjoy yourself too." He teased, knowing his brother wasn't as fond of humans as he was.

His attention was drawn away from his brother when their friend, Artemis entered with the potions for them. The elixirs had been made by Artemis herself, who was arguably the best potion-brewer in their kingdom, although she was a bit eccentric and hard to get to know. But she'd make a potion for anything for anyone, if you paid her enough. "Alright, your highnesses. Here are your potions. Make sure you take them at the edge of the forest in sight of the village, that way you'll get the most use out of them. Remember, you'll only have six hours before it wears off. Oh, and if you need any shrinking potions for any reason, I've included them in your bags." She explained as she passed a satchel to each of the fairies, pausing to look at Jasper. "That stuff you asked for is in your bag, boss." She said, winking at the prince before wishing them luck as she departed.

Once Jasper had finished adjusting his costume and made sure everything he wanted was in his bag, he looked at his brother, hardly able to contain his excitement. "Ready?"

---

While the adults were busy preparing for the festival, which would begin shortly, Meredith had been put in charge of watching the children and making sure they didn't get into any trouble until their parents returned for them. That included helping them put the finishing touches on their costumes, whether it be adding more glitter and sequins, or painting little designs on their cheeks and arms, and finding sticks for them to use as wands. She had made her own costume by hand, and was rather proud of it this year, hoping that she might win the costume contest this year, although she doubted it, as she was a bit shy, and the girls who always won were the ones who flirted with the judges.

Once the festivities begun and she was freed of her children watching duties she found herself a pastry and found a spot that was out of the way of those who were milling about with their friends and spouses or partners. In the years since Emberly had been lost in the forest the two girls had grown apart, not that there was any animosity between them, but they just weren't close anymore. And because Meredith had a hard time making friends, she usually spend Midsummer on her own, eating pastries and watching the dancers, occasionally helping one of the elders with something that no one else wanted to do. She didn't mind though, even if it hurt a little watching most of the other girls her age dancing with their boyfriends or spouses, feeling a bit sad that no boy had ever taken any interest in her.

@ katahdin
Emberly stood in the little room in her mother's hut braiding her hair. She looked up into the mirror looking at the reflection of her outfit. It was a bold choice this year with the pink but she had gotten tired of the same old green and brown outfit that was decorated with twigs and twill. Emberly knew better. She had told her mother that fairies didn't dress like the earth and her mother had smacked her little cheek that year telling her never to let the others in the village know that the fairies had visited her. Her mother was still scared that the fairies would come back and take Emberly but she knew better. As a child she had ventured into the woods calling for the little fairy boy she had imagined that day. Emberly knew her mind had created a little friend for her during that scary time. Now though she had to grow up and stop wishing on stars. It was time for her to try to fit into the village again, wasn't it?

Emberly looked up as her mother came into her room and smiled picking up her golden butterfly mask moving behind Emberly. She smiled and tied her hair off as her mother placed the mask over her eyes securing it into place. Emberly held still as her mother tied the ribbon together. Emberly looked back at her mother in the mirror. "You are ready." her mother said. This was the one night a year that all the rules went out the windows because legend had said that humans where safe on the midsummers eve as long as they dressed up but Emberly knew better. Something inside of her just knew.

It was nearly nine when Emberly slipped into the crowd of people joining every adult as they filed towards the dancing clearing. Parents with their little children fought the current to take their children home and to bed. The singles dance was just about to start and Emberly smiled. It was the best dance of the year. All the single or widowed women of the village would join together in one dance to celebrate the coming year and the possible changes it could bring.

---

Leo didn't know how all these years he had let his older brother talk him into chasing the ghost of a little girl. Even now he didn't know why he was tagging a long. The traditional coming of age Midsummers eve experience was not something he had ever wanted to do, and yet here he was letting his brother drag him out into it just to be safe that he didn't try to reveal too much to this human girl.

He took the potions bag and nodded as Artemis gave him the bag and a sympathetic look. She might charge the rest of the kingdom for the extra potions they wanted but she had a soft spot for the prince and their future king in training. He knew she was considered to be the most strange of Fae maybe it was because of her radical belief that humans and Fae really weren't that different. He didn't really focus on it he was always just grateful for the friendship of someone that didn't want more from him than his friendship in return.

"Don't get your hopes up Jasper. I am not doing this to have fun and enjoy myself. This is a favor yet again but not for you because you have used those up, for mother." he said and looked at his brother who at least had the decency to flinch as he spoke about their mother.

He and his older brother trekked out to the edge of the forest and clinked little glass bottles before downing the most fowl liquid. Leo looked at the human cloths laid out for them hidden there in the bushes. He frowned wondering how they would fit into them undressing as Artemis had told them too. He had just set his pack down when he suddenly sprouted up his entered body growing in size. Leo gasped and leaned against the tree probably no bigger than a raccoon. It happened again then again before he was suddenly a full grown man. Leo looked over at his brother who looked about as tall as he did. Leo grabbed the pants quickly tugging them on. This all suddenly seemed like a very bad idea.

@ Jinx...

When Jasper was suddenly over six feet tall instead of only a few inches, and was staring at his brother who was the same height he grinned, quickly pulling on his human clothes before hurrying off toward the village, excited to see his love. He desperately needed to find her and convince her that they were in love, and to come back with him to his kingdom as his wife. If he couldn't convince her, he would be forced to marry his mother's choice of bride, which he wasn't looking forward to at all. He only had eyes for his Emberly, and he desperately needed her to love him in return.

He didn't care whether Leo was following him or not, instead just making his way into the festival, taking in the sights with wide eyes as he looked for his love. When he spotted her fiery red hair in the distance he hurried through the crowd toward her, not noticing the glares that people cast his way as he bumped into people. He stood at at the edge of the dance floor as he watched her, mesmerized by her beauty as he watched her dance.

"Wow.." He breathed, beaming when her eyes met his.

---

After some insistence from one of the elders Meredith reluctantly joined the other single women on the dance floor, figuring it would be better to just dance and get it over with than have to listen to her mother complaining about her having not found a husband yet. She enjoyed dancing with everyone, laughing and having a good time, although when it was time for the single women to choose dance partners from the crowd she managed to slip away from the group without much trouble, although when her mother spotted her not dancing and started to come scold her she hurried through the crowd, managing to lose the older woman quickly, deciding to go sit out of the way of the crowd.

Watching everyone dance was fun, and as much as she wished someone would take interest in her romantically, the village healer thought that she had promise and had taken her under her wing mentoring her, and she really loved it. But healers were not allowed to marry, and even though no boy had ever paid her any attention, she was reluctant to give up her ability to marry, on the off chance that someone would come along and take interest in her.

@ katahdin
Emberly weaved in and out of the other women as they dance moving the the very familiar and rhythmic dance that put a smile on her face her hair bouncing against her shoulder as she laughed and kept up with the fast pace music. It was the one time of year she felt like she kind of fit into the town and despite how she wore nothing close to what anyone else did or how basic her cloths where in comparison.

As the dance ended she slipped off to the sides. She never asked anyone to dance and they never asked her either after all she was the black lamb of the town. The one people whispered about. 'She was never the same after the day she went missing in the forest.' They would say about her and they where right because she knew magic existed and this one day a year she chose instead of mocking the fae, that she would actually pay her respects. She might have made it all up but a part of her believed and honored the Fae.

Emberly was heading away from the dance floor when she saw him and her eyes met his. She stopped the breath leaving her. Did she know him? He seemed familiar but she had never known him before. It was a distant and foggy memory in her mind but only the gypsies and traders did not stay in the village and the traders where old and the gypsies never returned. Emberly bit her lip and tilted her head slightly. She had noticed him because as she was leaving he turned watching her like he wanted to say something, to dance or to be closer to her. She wasn't sure which.

---

Leo was just re situating the pack at his waist when his brother all but ran from the trees. "Jasper." he hissed and followed him out instantly overwhelmed with the people sound and lights. It was a strange joining of people looking silly dressed in twigs and plants and other items from the forest floor. Leo looked around seeing his brother being swallowed by aggressive looking humans as Leo tried to head in the general direction but finding a way through the crowds was more complicated than anticipated. He hadn't been expecting them to part like the Fae people did for royalty but he hadn't expected to be tossed around like in a bull pin. Leo decided he would have to just stay out of the crowd and watch his brother from the outside near the forest. As long as he made sure he didn't bring the girl into the forest they should be alright.

Leo was heading back out of the crowd and stopped someone bumping into him as he stopped. Leo muttered an apology his eyes captivated. A distant memory faded into his mind of a nest of golden hair holding the hand of a human as hey walked out of the forest. He frowned and approached her slowly having no idea what would come out of his mouth once he stood there in front of her.

Leo watched her look up at him, her deep blue eyes making a lump form in his throat he tried his best to swallow down. He cleared his throat. "Valorous evening. Forgive me for leering but it is thine beauty that has ensnared me." he bowed softly realizing suddenly how all his royal training had magnified and come spilling out making him sound completely ridiculous. He stood again and looked at her. "If you where inclined to speak my name you might then call me Leo." he said and his ears turned a shade of red showing his nerves and embarrassment. He couldn't seem to stop being over the top at all. What was she going to think of him. He looked over at the dance floor and back at her. He could do one thing well that didn't require to much thinking. "Would you oblige me with a dance?" he asked and offered her his hand.

@ Jinx...

As Emberly began to move from the crowd Jasper hurried after her, quickly catching up to her, grabbing her hand lightly to stop her. "Hello, Emberly.. Would.. Would you like to dance with me?" He asked, his nerves evident, but she was so beautiful, and he needed to be close to her.

He noticed the look she was giving him and released her hand, clearing his throat awkwardly. "I apologize for my suddenness... You're just... so beautiful." He smiled sheepishly, looking over her pretty dress before meeting her eyes again. "I'm Jasper, by the way.. So, how about that dance?" He asked nervously, hoping that she'd agree to dance with him, even though he was sure he was making a fool out of himself.

---

Meredith looked up in surprise when she bumped into someone she'd never seen before, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks as he began to speak, sounding a bit crazy. A bright blush heated up her cheeks when he began to compliment her, glancing around a bit nervously, half expecting it to be some sort of joke.

"O-Oh.. Um.." She stuttered, looking up at him nervously, blushing brightly. "I'm Meredith.. Why are you talking like that? What village are you from?" She asked curiously, wondering if maybe he'd come from a different village. She knew that travelers sometimes came through the village, and that they sometimes stayed for the Midsummer festival.

When he asked her to dance her eyes widened more, gaping up at him silently as a her cheeks turned the same red as his ears. It was nice knowing that he was also embarrassed, but she worried that maybe it was because he'd been put up to this and that he didn't really want to dance with her.

"Um... Um... I-I don't know how to dance." She lied quickly, panicking a bit when someone from the crowd bumped into her, causing her to stumble forward into his arms. "S-Sorry.."

@ katahdin
Emberly blushed as someone grabbed her hand and she turned towards them. It was the same guy who's eyes she had just met. She bit her lip. How did he know her name? She for the life of her couldn't remember him but there was a gnawing in her stomach saying she could and the electricity in his touch made her shudder. It all seemed like she was a part of something bigger than she could imagine but that was foolishness wasn't it?

Emberly looked up at him as he dropped their hands realizing she hadn't said anything and smiled softly at him. He was sweet as he was stuttering out a compliment. He was so nervous by why? If he knew her then he knew she was the town reject. Even Meredith had a place here more than she. Emberly's eyes snaked over the crowd like she would be able to spot her then back to the man as he introduced himself. She smiled. "Nice to meet you Jasper." she said and bit her lip. That name sounded familiar on her lips. She looked over at the dancing crowd. She loved to dance but she didn't know this man and he was a bit odd... but maybe he would warm up as the night went on.

Emberly held out her hand. "A dance sounds like fun Jasper." she said and wasn't quite ready for the lightning to shoot through her fingertips as the touch of his hand again. She looked down at their hands wondering what it could be. "Have we met?" she asked randomly as they weaved through the throng of people on the way to the dance floor.

---

Leo had not been prepared for all the questioning and felt instantly defensive. He rubbed the back of his neck with the rejected hand. "Apologies. I am from a near village. Dialog is often tough to the young children so in moments of nerves it seems to appear more strongly." he admitted. "Your name it is lovely, meaning great ruler, or sometimes protector of the sea." he smiled softly. Language was a hobby of his. He looked up meanings of things to pass the time around the palace.

Leo frowned as she was starting to turn him down but then someone bumped her into his arms and he held her close to him. "Not need to fret. Please just one dance. I am quite good at it and you might be surprise what difference a good partner can make." he said and righted her on her feet stepping closer as he did so so that no one else would be able to bump her again.

Leo looked her over in that silly little dress and thought how lovely she looked anyways. He could not imagine suddenly what his brother had done through all these years. A moment in Meredith's prescience and he felt like a pile of jumbled nerves. He hoped that he was seeming more calm now though his insides where flipping and he didn't know for sure which way was up and which was down.

@ Jinx...

Jasper beamed as she agreed to dance with him, squeezing her hand a bit as they began to move through the crowd toward the dancefloor. He was absolutely thrilled that she'd agreed to dance with him, and while she didn't seem to remember him just yet, he was sure she would given enough time.

"Yes, we've met before.. Although it was a long time ago, and I was much smaller." He admitted softly as they finally managed to get to the dancefloor, turning to her and bowing politely as he took her hands to get ready to dance. "You've grown a lot since then. But you're just as beautiful."

---

A bright blush crept up her cheeks as he caught her, looking up at him shyly as she nodded, agreeing to the dance. "A-Alright.. One dance shouldn't be too bad.." she murmured, offering him a faint smile as he led her over to the dancefloor.

"What village are you from? Why do you know so much about names?" She asked curiously as she looked up at him. She'd always been curious and asked a lot of questions, which usually bothered people, but the healer appreciated her questions, which was what made her think that Meredith would be a good choice for becoming a healer's apprentice.

@ katahdin
Emberly was about to ask more questions but they got to the dance floor and he turned to her bowing and she blushed finding herself reacting with a curtsy. She stood and stepped into his embrace. He complimented her again and Emberly blushed looking down at their feet as the music started. "Thank you." she said wishing she remembered him like he seemed to remember her but it was hazy at best and nothing she thought she remembered made sense.

As the music swept them away she found herself relaxing not thinking so hard about this. She was just going to try to enjoy this. After all it was the midsummers eve festival where magic was possible, even romance for someone as off as her.

---

Leo grinned as she agreed to the dance. He took her hand as they navigated the throng of people that didn't seem so hostile now but curious as they watched him and Meredith. He looked over his shoulder as she questioned him. He of course had prepared for it but was nervous for it all the same. He spun her until she was facing him on the dance floor and smiled down at her bowing slightly. "I am from a near village though not many people know about it and I get bored a lot so I use the books in the massive library in my home to study the meaning of words and names. The way words are put together often will tell you their meaning and names are all about the history of people, where they came from, what was important to them." he shrugged.

Leo smiled at her as he lead her into the dance and wondered if she even realized they where already dancing and had been the entire time he had been talking. He was sure at some point she would realize it and stutter in her movement before trusting him in leading her again.

@ Jinx...

Jasper grinned down at her as they began to dance to the music along with everyone else, holding her tight in his arms. He'd dreamed for years of being able to see her again for longer than the little glimpses he'd sneak when he could, to talk to her for hours like they had when they were little so he could listen to her perfect voice, to hold her in his arms just like this and never let her go. Realistically he knew he'd have to let her go occasionally, but she'd be his wife, his Queen, and they'd live together happily for the rest of time.

Despite wanting to tell her all this, to pull her close and kiss her, and take her back to his kingdom, he knew that that wasn't a good idea. Leo was here to make sure he didn't bring her back to their kingdom, and he didn't want to scare her, so he'd keep quiet for as long as he could, and hopefully she'd remember him and willingly go with him when the time came. But for now he was happy to spend his time dancing with her, as it was nice to just be close to her again.

---

Meredith held onto his hand as he led her through the crowd, doing her best to ignore the stares of the village people. Everyone assumed that she would be the next healer, which made it odd for her to be dancing with anyone, let alone a young man who wasn't from the village. She looked up at him as he began to explain, nodding a bit, and by the time she was about to answer she realized that they'd already started dancing, a blush heating up her cheeks. She managed to keep her footing, however and not mess up, although her heart was hammering nervously in her chest.

"Oh.. I've never left the village, and there are only a few in the village, and they're all about healing and medicine.. You must be very wealthy to have a whole library.. How many books do you think you've read?" She asked curiously as she looked up at him.

@ katahdin
Emberly looked up at him. He stared her her not speaking for a while before she couldn't take the silence anymore. He was caught up in his head she could tell at least because his eyes moved with his thoughts. She bit her lip. "So... Jasper right?" Emberly looked down at his feet. He was a great dancer with was amazing because she wasn't struggling at all like she did with some partners. "Where did you learn to dance?" she looked up at him. She was hopping to spark some kind of a conversation because the silence even for the short song 5 minutes max was too much for her to stand.

Emberly looked over his cloths realizing it wasn't as fancy as some of the other costume. It kind of looked thrown together and she wondered if he had done it himself but wouldn't dare ask. She had no idea what he was thinking but with how his eyes landed on her it seemed pretty intense and she was worried about it honestly in some ways and others kind of flattered. If she let herself think about it Jasper was the kind of man she had pictured for herself as a young girl when she still believed there had to be someone out there for her.

---

"Healer, protector..." Leo shrugged. "Close enough." he teased grinning mischievously. She mentioned his library and he chuckled nervously forgetting that knowledge was not shared with people like it was with the Fae. "Well I am training hard so assess to books is important. I have read probably over a dozen or so." he shrugged."We are a close village and everyone is very open with me about the knowledge they hold." he said and smiled at her.

"You said you are in study to become a healer? What made you interested in doing that?" he asked curiously. He would think potion making would be a very similar trade in the Fae kingdom. The potion makers made potions to heal but so much more as well. There where even potions for fun and he could see Meredith enjoying that and he frowned feeling embarrassed for thinking that. There was no way he should be thinking anything close to that. A human, even a turned human in the Fae community would cause an uproar to say the least.

@ Jinx...

Jasper smiled sheepishly when she spoke, chuckling a little. "Sorry for staring.. You're just so beautiful... And yes, I'm Jasper." He reminded her with a smile, twirling her as they continued to dance. "My mother taught me how to dance. She says that every young man should know how to dance." He explained with a smile. "Where did you learn to dance? You're an excellent partner."

He hoped that she'd open up to him, as he hoped that he'd be able to woo her and convince her to come back to his kingdom with him before midnight, instead of having to figure out some way to trick her into coming with him. He wanted her to come willingly, but this was his only chance to bring her back.

---

Meredith looked up at him as he spoke, offering him a shy smile as he spoke about his village. "That sounds nice.. I wish we had more books here, but no one is really interested in reading here.." She said with a little shrug as they danced.

She shrugged again when he asked her why she was studying to be a healer, looking up at him. "I don't really know... I've always liked learning about things, and the healer was always nice and answered all of my questions.. Plus, I've been old enough to marry for a few years now, and no one has ever shown any interest, so I figure it's better to become a healer and not marry willingly rather than just not marrying because no one ever wanted me to.." She said with a little sigh, looking up at him. "What about you? What do you do?"

@ katahdin
Emberly blushed as he complimented her again. She bit her lip not going to say anything and was grateful for the twirl before he pulled her sloe again answering her question. "Well your mom was right." she teased. "Me? Oh well I had a lot of time on my hands as a kid and learned to dance in the forest. The trees and river and flowers taught me." she smiled half expecting him to falter like most men did at this point with her open honesty. She had never been shy about her oddities. she believed if someone was going to like her then they where going to like her despite her oddities.

Emberly still couldn't determine what his goal in all this was yet. He seemed genuinely interested in her and though he said they had met before when she was young she still couldn't place his face. Whatever he remembered she was sure she was different. One day lost in the forest had changed her entire life and she would probably have remembered him and his kindness after the forest.

---

Leo frowned. "A shame. Books are amazing." he said. As much as Leo loved to read and learn though he also loved to actually do things, to explore. Of course nothing like his brother did but then again Leo was still young maybe with some room and time he would be a little more wild like his brother who was he to say?

Leo frowned a little at her explanation. It sounded to him like she didn't belong here and she was just taking whatever position society opened for her on the outside that they deemed acceptable. Leo looked down at her wishing he had more to say on it really but he might say too much if he really told her how he believed. "Well perhaps there is an adventure just waiting for you to say yes to just around the corner." he said and smiled softly. She asked about him and he grinned his mind racing. He didn't know human jobs. "Well it's kind of complicated you see my brother is in line to become leader of the village so I am kind of his support. They don't really have a title for it that makes any sense here." He said thinking that was close enough to the truth and yet not to detailed.

Leo spun her out then brought her back so her back was pressed to him. "What do you want to do with your life? If you could choose anything no matter how crazy it sounds?" he asked curiously.

@ Jinx...

Jasper nodded a little as she explained who had taught her to dance, keeping her close. "The river is an excellent teacher, as are the trees. But the flowers can be tricksters, so you shouldnt be too trusting with them." He advised with a smile, spinning her around again before dipping her expertly. He hoped that she was impressed by his dancing, and that she'd open up more to him, but he was frustrated that she hadn't remembered him yet.

"Are you sure you don't remember me? We were friends a long time ago." He tried to remind her as they danced, pulling her a bit closer so their conversation could be a bit more private. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted his brother dancing with some girl from the village, and suddenly felt relieved that Leo was distracted, as it meant it would be easier for him to get Emberly back to the forest.

---

Meredith gave a little shrug when he mentioned an adventure, shaking her head. "If I'm not a healer then I'm a farmer's wife or a spinster.. No one ever goes on adventures here." She said with a little sigh, about to say that she was done dancing when he suddenly spun her around before pulling her back to his chest, a bright blush heating up her cheeks as she looked up at him in surprise. She thought his questions were odd, but then again everything about him was odd, and even though she worried he might be crazy, she couldn't seem to get herself to leave.

"I... I don't know.." she answered with a frown, looking up at him. No one had ever asked her anything like that before. Her opinion and what she wanted never mattered before, so it was odd to suddenly be asked what she wanted to do with her life. "You're very strange... You ask odd questions."

@ katahdin
Emberly laughed as he agreed with her. Her eyes danced with joy at his response and she giggled as he spun her and dipped her. She bit her lip as he asked if she was sure she didn't remember. "I still don't I am sorry most my childhood is a blank." She said looking up at him as he pulled her closer. She blushed at the nearness. She was pretty sure the closeness was not required for this dance. The music came t a stop and she stopped dancing stepping back. Emberly bit her lip and looked up at him again. "It was really nice to meet you again Jasper." she said and started to head off the dance floor.

As much as Emberly had enjoyed him he was getting a little weird insisting on him remembering her. She didn't think trying to explain to him how she made up a fairy friend and gotten lost as a child had changed her and set her as an outcast in the town. It would be sad to see the realization dawn on him that he should steer clear to another woman. Honestly Emberly just wanted to leave the magic of the night as it currently was because she was afraid it would burst.

---

Leo hoped that she would have an adventure perhaps tonight he could show her an adventure. He grinned as she went to answer him and he heard her mind racing with the thoughts. When he told her he asked odd questions he laughed. "Who wants to be normal if all the beautiful people are pushed tot he outside of society to be given the last instead of the best like they deserve." he said and spun her back to him and smiled at her. "Is it so bad to be odd?" he asked her and tilted his head. The music came to an end and he frowned. "It seems my one dance trial is over unless you where willing to dance again or perhaps you could show me the best the festival has to offer. I have never been to the midsummers eve festival before." Leo said hoping she would be curious enough about him to let him stick around and maybe to spend some time with him as well.

Leo thought Meredith the most stunning woman he had ever met. He knew fairies were only allowed one visit to the midsummer even festival with the humans in their lifetime but Leo knew a particular fairy who enjoyed breaking the rules that would give him the potions he needed if he asked for them back in the tree. He knew it was reckless and stupid but Meredith was the most interesting woman he had ever met and her beauty was rivaled by none.