Infinitum

@ Jinx...

Jasper pulled her close as the music began, swaying with her under the starlight. He smiled as she rested her head against his chest as they danced, resting his head against hers with a happy sigh. He couldn't wait until he had her at home, and he could dance with her like this every night, and do a thousand other things. After a while he tilted her chin up with one of his fingers, smiling down at her. "You're the most beautiful woman in the world, Emberly.. Any man would be lucky to have you." He wanted to kiss her, but wasn't sure if he should, afraid he'd scare her off.

---

Meredith looked up at him as he spoke, a blush appearing on her cheeks once more. When he spoke about her having captured his heart she thought he was getting a little ahead of himself, but she couldn't deny that she felt the same about him. Her heart belonged to him, even if they did barely know each other. After a moment she stepped forward, moving back into his arms as she looked up at him adoringly. "You have my heart, too." She whispered softly, standing on her toes to press a gentle kiss to the corner of his lips, too afraid to outright kiss him, considering she'd never kissed anyone before.

@ katahdin
Emberly blushed as he complimented her again. It was so odd how he did it though. "Thank you Jasper but I do not need to make a man lucky. I don't need to be owned." she said softly and looked up at him. As she looked at him she could see desire in his eyes and she leaned up on her toes leaning into him and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. "Sometimes you know it's okay just to say something about me without the world." She said softly and then went down on her toes again moving back into the dance with him.

---

Leo ran his hand to the side of her cheek and brushed her skin with his thumb. He leaned down his forehead pressing to hers gently. He leaned in slowly until his lips brushed softly against hers. He waited until she calmed with his lips against hers and then pressed a sweet tender kiss to her lips pulling her so that her body fit snuggly against him. He caressed her softly as he drew her deeper into his kiss. He wanted her and wanted to feel her body meld to his even if only for a moment.

@ Jinx...

Jasper smiled a little at her comment, shaking his head. "No one could tame you, Emberly. I feel bad for the man that tries." He chuckles, knowing that he was the one who was going to try, although he wasn't going to force her into anything, or make her do something that she didn't want to. He grinned a little when she stood up on her toes to kiss her, his arms snaking around her waist to pull her closer, returning her kiss happily. He had dreamed of this moment for years, and it was everything he'd imagined it to be and more. He pulled her closer as she broke the kiss, laying her head on his as they danced. "But it's true. You are the most beautiful woman in the world.."

---

Meredith squeaked a little in surprise when he leaned down to kiss her, leaning her head into his hand as she returned his kiss. Her arms slowly wrapped around him, pressing closer. She practically melted into his arms as they kissed, her heart fluttering happily. She'd never felt anything like this before about anyone, and she was ready to run away with him right then and there if he'd let her come with him.

@ katahdin
Emberly smiled and nodded in approval at that observation. He was right she did not fit into people's ideas about who she should be she was always herself. It was the way that Jasper held her that made her knees weak. It was like his arms told her that he worried if he let go that he would loose her and that would devastate him. She was relaxing back into him as he called her beautiful again and she chuckled. "Thank you Jasper." she looked up at him. He was sweet and was trying to give her everything good. It was sweet.

---

Leo wanted to take her with him and knew that in so many ways it would be bad. "Meredith." he whispered into her hair. "I want you to take a week let your emotions calm down. I want to be sure you are confident in this life change because once you come with me that is it. In the mean time I will do everything I can to prepare for your arrival just in case." he said and stepped back taking her hand. "Come let me show you a good spot." he said stepping off the lit path. She would have to trust him right now and he wondered if she was ready for that.

@ Jinx...

Jasper smiled into her hair as she thanked him, holding her close. He knew it was getting close to midnight, and that they'd have to get going soon. "I promised you a secret... Come, let's go to the forest." He suggested, pulling away slowly to start to lead her toward the trees. He had the potion for her in his bag, all he needed to do was get her to drink it, and she'd pass out and become a Fae like him. Of course, she wouldn't be truly Fae until she ate from the home tree, but he'd get her to do that soon enough.

---

Meredith curled into his arms as he held her, humming a little as he spoke. A week felt like it would be torture, but she knew that he was right. She couldn't just leave with him without thinking it over properly. But deep in her heart she knew what decision she would make, whether she waited a day or a week or a year. "Alright.." She said a bit nervously as he began to lead her off the path, holding onto his hands tightly. The last thing she wanted was to lose him and get lost in the forest.

@ katahdin
Emberly bit her lip and nodded softly. Now that the time had come for her to follow him into the forest she was nervous She bit her lip let him tug her by hand back towards the forest. She was grateful he went on the outside of the party to get to the forest. Just as she was about to step back into the forest she stopped looking up at Jasper and let go of his hand taking her mask off and pulling her hair out of the braid letting it roll in waves down her back. "Slowly I'm not wearing shoes." she said and then stepped into the forest taking his hand again as she tried to stick to the soft patches of moss and leaves avoiding the pine needles and sticks and nuts.

---

Leo smiled as she tentatively went with him. He went slowly and carefully into the forest finding a toad stool ring not to far from he tree but not to close either. He took a ribbon from her dress and tied it around on of the nearby branches. "If you come here and lay a flower in the center I will come to talk the next day, if you come and hand a lantern I will some to take you away from here." he said and looked up at her softly. "If you get lost follow the river." he said pointing it out behind her. "It will lead you back towards the village." he said and cupped her cheek. He smiled gently caressed her cheek. "I must return you to the party now and say my fair wells. I have to head home." he said and cupped her cheek looking down at her his eyes looking into hers. "Lets go." he said and hated that he had to leave her. He walked her back to the village where people where drunk enough that the party was dying down. He stopped at the edge of the forest knowing the time was short. He ha maybe half an hour left. "Would you like to slow dance with me?" he asked her softly.

@ Jinx...

Jasper nodded when she told him to go slow on account of her bare feet, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as he began to lead her through the forest. He took the path that she had run along when she lost her shoe all those years ago, following the curve of the river through the trees. When he finally came to a stop it was where the two of them had first met, under the large tree where she'd say and cried, and where they'd played tag and hide and seek for hours. "Alright, here we are.." he said with a nervous little sigh, fishing the potions out of his bag to offer her one. His was just a decoy, but he figured that she wouldnt drink anything unless he did too. "It was a long walk, you should drink something." He offered with a warm smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Then I'll tell you my secret."

---

Meredith nodded as she listened to his instructions, picking a wildflower and tossing it into the circle before they left, already wanting to see him as soon as she could. She leaned her head into his hand as he spoke, nodding sadly as he led her back toward the village. She happily agreed to dance with him once she was in sight of the village, moving into his arms to rest her head against his chest as they swayed under the moonlight.

@ katahdin
Emberly looked around. Even in the dark the spot tug at her memories and she tired so hard to convince herself of what her mother had told her so long ago. Those memories where just something she made up. It was all her imagination. She turned to him as he stopped and took out some drinks out of his bag. She bit her lip looking up at him with trusting green eyes. She closed her eyes softly as he tucked the hair behind her ear. She took the drink and looked back up at him. "Okay." Emberly drank with him giving him back the pretty little bottle that was now drained of all its amber fluid. "Mmm that was amazing where did you get that from?" she asked never having tried anything like it before.

---

Leo chuckled knowing she had set the flower into the ring and was trying to calculate how soon he could get back to her. When they started to dance he relaxed holding her to him and taking in this moment. He had no idea how this was going to work and his eyes scared for his brother wondering if his brother was up to no good with his own human. He hoped that his brother realized that a human turned Fae would not go over well as a queen. He wasn't sure his brother was thinking straight though and as much as he wanted to go and stop his brother from doing something rash he didn't want to give up his own bad mistake, from taking a moment away from Meredith longer than he had to.

@ Jinx...

Jasper found himself grinning as she drank the potion, downing his with a content sigh, relieved that she had drank it all without much fuss. He chuckled when she asked where he'd gotten it, giving a little shrug as he tucked the bottles back into his bag. "A friend of mine makes it. I'm sure you'll like her." He said, pressing a quick kiss to her lips before letting out a nervous sigh. "Ok, secret time, right?" He asked, looking up at the moon. It had to be only a few minutes to midnight, which meant that by the time he returned to his small Fae self, she'd also be small, and he'd be able to take her back to the tree without any difficulty. "I know you said that you don't remember me, Emberly, but this was where we met.. I know you were little, but you couldn't have forgotten me, could you?" He asked, brushing his fingers against her cheek as he untucked his wings, letting them unfurl and flutter behind him, catching in the moonlight. "It's me, Jasper.."

---

Meredith let out a content little sigh as they danced slowly, happy to just be there in his arms. She knew that she'd run away with him once the week he'd asked for was up, and she hoped that if she were able to see him most of the days in between, he'd give in and let her come away with him sooner than the week. She looked up at him after a moment when she noticed him looking around for something, a little frown on her lips. "Is everything alright..?"

@ katahdin
Emberly was staring to sway slightly when he asked if it was secrete time. She nodded and looked at the moon with him wondering just what that drink was because she was starting to feel all tingly and warm. She bit her bottom lip and looked back at Jasper. She felt like her head was rushing and spinning as his fingers lit flames over her cheek. He was pulling at something under his shirt taking it off and suddenly very large wings shrug from his bag flapping almost tentative. "Jasper..." she said panic and recognition in her voice as she reached out grabbing his arm as her knees went weak and wobbly. His wings where like moon rays that light up over her face like the sparkle of a waterfall at night. She looked up into his eyes her own dazed. "I... I think I need to sit down." she said and collapsed into him her body already starting to shrink as soon as she passed out in his arms.

---

Leo sighed as Meredith asked him if everything was alright and he frowned back at her. "I was suppose to be here to make sure my brother didn't do anything foolish and I think I have failed. But I could not have spent a moment without you this night." He wrapped the robe from he festival around her and looked at the moon. He placed a kiss to her forehead. "I must go Meredith but I will return as soon as it is safe to do so. If I leave a flower crossing yours in the circle that means I was not able to meet with you but I was thinking of you." he said and caressed her cheek. "I must go to prepare a way for you Meredith." he said and pressed his forehead to hers before tearing himself away and retreating into the forest moving swiftly through the trees trying to make it back as close to the tree as he could before the moon hit it's zenith. Before he knew it he was shrinking back and his wings came free to take him up and into he air as he returned to his natural size.

@ Jinx...

Jasper quickly reached out to support her as she slumped forward, holding her securely in his arms as the potion took affect. "It's ok, Emberly. I promised that I'd take care of you, and I don't intend to break that promise." He murmured softly into her hair as he too began to shrink. By the time he was back to his normal size she had shrunk down to the size of a Fae. He easily lifted her into his arms to carry her back to his tree, wings fluttering excitedly once he landed on the branch that led to his room. Artemis was waiting for them with a few potions and Fae clothes that would fit Emberly, and after shooing Jasper out of the room Artemis helped Emberly change into them before tucking her into bed.

"You're a fool for doing this, Jasper." Artemis said when he came back in, the prince beginning to change out of his silly costume and back into his normal attire, ready to go to sleep for the night. "I respect you for it, though. Let's just hope that she isn't pissed when she wakes up. I've left a potion for any headache she may have, as well as one that will fully transform her into a Fae, which should be taken with food." Artemis explained before leaving for the night, exhausted from having to stay up waiting for the princes to return.

---

Meredith frowned as Leo spoke, stepping closer as he wrapped the robe around her shoulders as he talked of leaving, shaking her head a little as her fingers gripped his shirt a little tighter. "No, I don't want you to go.." She frowned, closing her eyes for a moment as he pressed his forehead to hers, although when she opened them again he was gone. She stood there for a few minutes, staring into the trees where he had disappeared, before reluctantly returning back to the village. She skirted the crowd and made her way to her home, the house empty on account of the festival, which meant no one would bother her. Once safely in her room she took off the robe and flower crown and carefully placed them in one of her empty dresser drawers, wanting to keep them safe as a reminder of her time with Leo. Once she was changed out of her costume and had a quick bath she dressed for bed, curling up in the comfort of her bed as she gazed out the window at the moon, wondering where Leo had gone, and if he were thinking of her too.

@ katahdin
Emberly slept through the night unaware of what had happened from the moment she closed her eyes until the morning when she opened them again. As Emberly blink her head was pounding and she blinked several times as her mind tried to recognize the room she was in. This wasn't her room. Where was she? She sat up suddenly and gasped a pain searing through her back. She looked around the room full of sunshine and bit her lip. It was strange, a room that looked like the wild had been brought inside, nature used to its fullest and yet magical. She looked down at the bed and the crumpled sheets made of the softest material she had ever felt. She looked at the gown she wore and could feel the breeze on her back.

Emberly went to touch the silky fabric against her thigh and hissed turning to look at her back. There on her back were two bumps red and swollen under her skin. She stood and moved to the full mirror turning around her bare back revealing the bulbs on her back. She reached back and touched one when suddenly they burst and pain blinded her sending her to her knees. She sat on the floor on her knees a hand on the mirror as she panted her vision slowly returning and she looked up at herself and gasp. Wings! Her panic increased as they unfurled spanning up over her head and down to the floor brilliant red and gold.

Emberly was shaking when the door opened and Jasper walked through. She looked panicked over at him. She saw the wings on his back brilliant reflective and shinning silver like blades that twitched as he stood there. Emberly whimpered feeling like she must have lost her mind. This couldn't be happening right? "Jasper?" she whispered the panic in her voice.

---

Leo got back to the tree and saw his brother's light on knowing he got back tot he tree. He moved to his room and undressed before he laid down his mind wondering to Meredith. His thought drew him into sleep where he dreamed about her. When he woke in the morning he moved to his brother's room and opened the door seeing the human girl there in the bed and his brother stood there on his way out and he frowned and motioned for his brother to come out. Once Jasper stepped out they talked for a long while before Jasper agreed to help his brother only because he had a favor to earn from his brother in return with he didn't mention for now.

Leo moved to the dinning hall where his parents sat eating. They looked up as Leo came in. "Where is your brother?" they asked and Leo flinched his wings beating nervously. "He won't be making it too breakfast." he said and set at the table starting to eat. Word was already spreading and it seems he parents had already heard. They were livid and knew there was no turning back now that she had seen the inside of the tree. This was a permanent problem they only had one hope left if Jasper had not yet bonded to her then they might yet correct at least part of the situation.

@ Jinx...

Jasper had stayed up most of the night making sure that Emberly was alright, and when he finally woke and left the room was relieved when that Leo agreed to help him, and hurried off to the kitchens to find breakfast for him and Emberly. Once he returned he was not only surprised to see that she was awake, but that she was on the floor and that her wings had come in. He had thought that it would have taken at least another day before that happened, but it seemed that she took to being a faerie well.

"Here, let me help." He said as he set the tray of food down on a nearby table, grabbing one of the potions Artemis had left him before moving over to her and kneeling at her side, gently letting his hand rest on the small of her back comfortingly.

"I know it hurts. It always hurts when a fae's wings come in, but my friend left this potion for you, which will help with the pain.. It'll also make you a bit sleepy, but it's probably better for you to rest anyway. But I also have breakfast for you, if you feel up to eating." He said as he offered her the vial, eyes glancing over her in concern. "I'm sorry to have not been here when you woke up.. I know that this is all a lot to take in.."

---

Meredith slept soundly through the night, dreaming of her future life with Leo, and even when she woke in the morning he was the only thing she could think of. She wondered what their life would be like. He said that he was nobility, which must mean that he has a large home and fancy clothes, which she found it hard to picture on herself, but she'd put up with anything if it meant that she could be with Leo. After she had finished her chores and eaten lunch she snuck away from her home to head into the forest, following the river to where he'd brought her last night, recognizing the spot from where he'd tied her sash to one of the branches on the tree. She looked around, hoping that he would be there, or at least leave her a sign that said he couldn't come, but part of her wondered if maybe yesterday had all been a dream or a trick, and if Leo was really real.

@ katahdin
Emberly looked up at him as he knelt down and put a hand on her back. She winced and bit her lip the pain searing through her back. She was much too confused and hurt to argue with him right now. She looked at the potion then at him and bit her lip. "No surprises with this one?" she said not trusting him completely after the last drink he gave her. After he measured her she took a sip of the drink then a small gulp and handed it back to him not wanting to be completely laid out around him right now. Her back looked red around her new wings. She didn't respond to his apology not having the energy.

When Jasper helped her to a chair she sat carefully as to not let her wings brush anything. He placed the food down in front of her and she bit her lip looking at the strange food on the plate. She looked up at Jasper and raised an eyebrow. "What is this?" she asked him at least noticing some fruit but she was pretty sure there was a flower petal on the plate and something else she had no idea what it was.

---

Leo had left a flower crossing Meredith's before he had gone back to the tree knowing his brother would take up his time all day and yet his mind still wondered back to her. He wanted to be with her now instead of her with damage control but he had told her he had gone home to prepare a way for her. He had to set things up so she would be more welcomed when she arrived than the poor human Jasper had brought home. He felt bad for everything Emberly was about to go through. He stopped by Artemis's potions chambers after breakfast. "Hey Artemis." he said and smiled as she looked up from the potion she was messing with. "What?" she asked a frown on her face. "I came to get some of that slave you give to the fae children when their wings sprout." he said and she sighed. "Already thinking of the human girl? What do you have up your sleeve?" she asked knowingly and Leo chuckled. "I promise to tell you more about it later but I want to be sure my brother is taking care of her needs. I am sure he didn't anticipate everything she is going through and how much like a new Fae she is." He said and Artemis dismissed him with a wave and a smile at his thoughtfulness but she knew he had something up, some kind of a plan.

@ Jinx...

Jasper gave her a little smile as she asked about the potion, shaking his head. "Nope, no surprises. It'll just help you feel better." He reassured her as he took the half consumed potion from her before helping her to a chair, making sure she was settled before offering her her plate of breakfast. He looked over at her as he sat down across from her with his own plate of food, giving her an odd look when she asked what it was. "Breakfast.. I know it's a bit different than human food, but I'm sure you'll like it.. There are some fresh berries and nuts, a few edible flowers, and I think maybe even some greens.. If there's something else you'd rather have, I can try to find it for you, but it might be difficult, with Fae food being so different from Human food.."

---

Meredith was upset that Leo wasn't in the clearing when she arrived, but she was relieved to see that he'd left a flower there for her, as it meant that he was real and that she hadn't made the whole thing up. She decided to remain in the clearing for a few hours in case he showed up anyway, even falling asleep in the grass for an hour or two before she left, placing a fresh flower in the circle and taking the one he had left with her back to her home. Her mother was upset for her for running off, and sent her to her room to eat her dinner alone, but she was perfectly fine with that, as she was already planning on running away with Leo when the time came. She just hoped it would be sooner rather than later.

@ katahdin
Emberly shook her head as he said he could try to find something different and she took the fork, or what seemed like a fork and picked up a cut of the peddle taking a bite and stopped her tastebuds delighting in the new taste. She didn't know if it was because of the flower, her new size or that she was becoming a fairy that the peddle tasted so good. She let out a small groan of delight and blushed at the sound. She tucked into her food without further complaint. She looked up as there was a knock on the door. When the door opened she recognized who it was. It was Jasper's brother. He stopped looking over her wings with surprise on his face.

Leo looked over the large wings on Emberly's back. Normally only the royals had wings that would touch the floor other wings where smaller, just on the back stopping at the waist. It was a surprise to him that a humanFae would have such large wings. She looked at him with doe like eyes and he looked at his brother. She was scared to death and he could tell her wings hurt her. "Here is the salve for her back. Remember mom would rub it in two to three times a day when the pain was too much?" he said and handed it to Jasper. "Take it slow Jasper remember she has never experienced everything here." He whispered to his brother before leaving.

Emberly looked over at Jasper eyeing the opaque white cream in the jar. She felt like she was defiantly not dressed and didn't even know where to begin with today. She turned back to her food and finished it standing and crossing her arms over her chest. She was feeling sleepy again but didn't know how she was going to be able to sleep with these things on her back.

@ Jinx...

Jasper was relieved when Emberly began to eat, glad that she seemed to like the food that he'd brought her. While she seemed to like everything, he tried his best to make note of what she seemed to prefer over everything, wanting to know what her favorites were for later if he had to bring her food again in the future. He looked up when Leo entered, giving his brother a smile and a little nod as he brought the salve over.

"Thank you, brother.. Emberly, this is my brother, Leo.. Leo, Emberly." He introduced to two briefly, nodding a bit at his brother's words. He planned to speak with him later about that human girl he had seen him with last night, but he'd wait until Emberly was asleep to do that, not wanting to leave her alone when she was obviously terrified. Once she had finished her meal and stood Jasper stood as well, holding onto the the jar of salve as he looked at her. "It'll make it feel better, I promise.. I know you're tired, and if you want to sleep, I'd suggest sleeping on your stomach for now.. Once you get used to having the wings you'll learn how to tuck them in at night so that you can sleep on your back without crushing them, but for now it's probably best if you force yourself to sleep on your back." He explained, taking a little step closer, not wanting to scare her. "If you lay down, I'll rub this on your back and sit with you until you fall asleep.."

@ katahdin
Emberly frowned as he suggested sleeping on her stomach until her wings healed. She shook her head as he said to lay down. "No I rather stand." she said and moved back over to the mirrors. She bit her lip looking at the huge wings like fire on her back. She looked over at Jasper as he came over to put the salve on her back despite her hesitance. She bit her lip and moved her hair over her shoulder. Emberly could feel the warm salve as he spread it over the base of her wings on her back. His fingers where tender and Emberly was tiring not to groan with the relief of the salve. Once he had finished she moved over to the bed and did lay down her eyes heavy as she curled into the blankets trying not to touch her wings. Emberly hoped he would come over to her but leave her to get some rest.

---

Leo went up to the highest perch in the tree and took the telescope and looked out over the village thinking of Meredith. He couldn't help himself. He felt terrible for leaving her there but he also knew that there was a lot of work he needed to do here to help Emberly settle in to prepare the way for Meredith. He wondered if a week would be long enough for that. Leo was nervous about all of this and yet he felt lonely like he had never felt before wishing he had Meredith next to him.

@ Jinx...

Jasper nodded a little at her request to stand, moving behind her to gently rub the salve into her skin around her wings. "I know it's a lot to take in, Emberly, but once you're fully rested and healed I'll answer all your questions, I promise." He murmured as he finished, leading her over to the bed. Once she laid down he did his best to tuck the blankets around her in a way to avoid touching her delicate wings, sitting on the bed beside her humming until she was asleep.

Once she was asleep he left her to go find his brother. He found Leo where he himself had spent much of his time growing up, and let out a little chuckle as he moved to sit down beside his brother. "What are you up to, little brother?" He asked, knowing fully well that his brother was likely thinking about that girl he'd seen him with the night before. "You know Ma will kill you if you bring a human home too, right?"

@ katahdin
Leo turned hearing his brother and frowned. "It's not my job to fix all your mistakes for them. I don't want to be king and you know that is in their minds right now." he said and sat back. "Besides this has nothing to do with them." he said and rubbed his neck. "How is Emberly settling in anyways? She looked pretty overwhelmed. I have a feeling though once she is feeling better your going to be in so much trouble." he said and sighed. "You know you really should be talking with Ma and Father right now trying to smooth her transition. The moment Ma get's a second with her she is going to try and destroy everything." he said looking at his brother.