liar liar pants on fire

Image Source:  Bing.com

   As Thal and Lyri disappeared into the crowds, Kael was left fuming in the background.  He hadn't expected Thal to be bold enough to stand up to him, or Lyri to go along with him.  This was really going to create a problem with his plan to marry Lyri and assume control of the forest. 

  Lyri was breathless from laughter by the time Thal finally stopped pulling her through the crowd to a quiet corner just inside the entrance to the ballroom.

  "Did.  You.  See. His. Face, Thal?"

  "No, but I can imagine he wasn't very thrilled that you came along willingly.  Why did you?"

  Lyri looked at him closely.  "Elder Elowen."

  "What?  I don't understand."

  "She came to see me several weeks ago, shortly after Kael began courting me with my parents' blessings.  She said that there was an ancient prophecy about the forest, and she needed me to understand what was at stake if I married him as he intended.  Elder Elowen said that our union would end all wood elf life, and I needed to be careful that I saw him for who he truly was."

  "Which is?"

  "I'm not sure.  She said that I just needed to trust my heart, and there would come a time when I would be faced with a choice.  When you said that Kael needed to take dance lessons from her, I thought that she had also said something to you.  That you were the choice I needed to make.  Between him and you."

  Thal shook his head.  "No.  In fact, I don't think I've ever spoken directly to her in my life.  I don't even know why I said her name to him.  It just sprung into my head at that moment."

  "Oh."

  "Oh?  You seem disappointed."

  "Well, I just thought.... I thought.... I think I need some water.  Can we get some water then go outside to talk?  The melody that they are playing is giving me a headache."

  Thal, still holding Lyri's hand, went with her to the refreshment table and got them both mugs of spring water.  They walked into the forest together, out of earshot of the music and other elves' eavesdropping on their conversation.

  "Lyri, I don't know what Kael told your parents to get their blessing, but I know he lied to them.  He may have promised to always take care of you, and of them, but the only elf Kael is interested in caring for is himself.  Whatever his plans are, he would have hurt you.  I just couldn't stand back and watch him do that to you."

  "Oh."

  "Oh again?"

  Lyri turned away from Thal.  Her mind was racing with so many thoughts.  She had watched Thal from afar, secretly admiring his independence, strength and commitment to the forest.  Kael, on the other hand, always seemed to know what to say to get what he wanted from others, including her parents.  He had never seemed interested in giving back to the forest, only taking from it.  He made it seem as if their life together would be filled with riches, she'd only dreamed of having.  A life with him would be easy, and a life with Thal could be difficult as he didn't have as much to offer in material things as Kael did.  Was this the choice Elder Elowen had told her of?

  With tears in her eyes, Lyrielle turned back to face Thal and whispered fiercely, "Kael deserves a medal for being such a smooth speaker that he could deceive so many people with his words, but right now I really wish I could cut his vocal cords so that he could never hurt anyone with his words again."

  Thalion was stunned by the anger on her face and wondered what Kaelthas had said to her to cause her to be so uncharacteristically violent in her words.

  She continued, looking down at her feet now, ashamed to realize how much he had tricked her into believing that the paper he had written his false love on meant something.  The letters he had given to her, professing his love, promising her things he could never give to her without taking them from someone else ... letters she had wrapped in yellow silk and read over and over again ... were just lies to hurt her and everyone else in the forest.

~*~*~

Participating again this week in Words for Wednesday, found here.

sunday's selections ...

 a selection of random photos from the start of this year...

the view from my desk this morning and "my" mountain.
Winter Storm Cora dropped another 3ish inches on top of the 5 we got from Winter Storm Blair.

.

a lampshade project in progress I'm calling "full of surprises"
it was going to be just glass beads at first, but then I realized I may not have enough to complete it.
so, I decided rather than ordering more, I would use the "leftovers" from other projects.
one of my goals this year is to stop hoarding craft supplies.
this will be a collection of glass, crystal and stone beads, with some of my accumulated buttons.

I finally got my New Year tree up, but it feels a bit bare.
I'm trying to decide if I should get more ornaments or just be satisfied with what is there.

Charlie after Winter Storm Blair.
He feels somewhat "holy" now since he can technically walk on water.

a sparrow with partial leucism (piebald) visited the seed I put out for the birds

Adding to the list of wildlife that frequents my yard

So you say...

  "So, Thal, when are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?"

  Thalion spun quickly around to face his best friend, Eldrin Sylvaris, easily identified in spite of his mask by his deep green eyes.

  "What are you talking about, El?"

  "You know. Lyrielle.  Over there, busy as a bee dancing with Kaelthas, who looks as happy as a dog with two tails about it.  Don't tell me you hadn't noticed them.  You haven't taken your eyes off her since you came in."

  "Where do you come up with these weird phrases?"

  "Oh, um, well, you know.  That book I found.  Beyond the forest's edge.  Near the humans."

  "What?!  Are you crazy, El?  You know we are forbidden to go beyond the trees!  What if the Elders caught you?"

  "Suddenly you are chicken hearted, now?  Mr. Brave as a lion for Lyri, but secretly terrified to have a real adventure?"

  "That's not the same thing.  You know that if one of us was caught by a human, it could mean the end of all of us.  Lyri does need someone who will protect her from Kael.  He's a wolf in sheep's clothing, and a dangerous!"

  "Ha! Guess I'm rubbing off on you now, Thal!"

  "I'm serious, El.  It's too dangerous for you to venture out that far."

  Eldrin glanced over Thalion's shoulder and whispered loudly before disappearing into the crowd behind him.

  "Incoming!"

For all your Midsummer's ball gowns,
visit Cinderella's Formals
on the corner of Oak and Pine!

  Thal turned to see Kael and Lyri approaching him, but it was too late for him to disappear.  Lyri's eyes were smiling at him even though he couldn't see the smile on her face, and he knew if he left now he'd have to answer to her later about why.

  "Well, well, well.  If it isn't my old pal Thal."  Kael threw an arm around Thal's shoulders in more of a bear hug than a friend hug, and Thal knew that it wasn't meant as a friendly greeting.

  "Hello, Kael.  Lyri."

  "My best girl, Lyri, here was just telling me I should hang out with you more often, Thal.  Seems you might have some character traits she wants to rub off on me.  What do you say to that, buddy?"

  Thalion stood quietly, unsure of how to respond.  If he said what he really wanted to say, he'd likely get punched in the face if not immediately then the next time Kael found him alone in the forest.  But if he said nothing, then he had a feeling that Lyri would be disappointed in him.

  "Cat got your tongue, Thal?"

  Thal slowly turned his head to meet Kael's stare.  So, there it was.  Kael's threat.  He knew El had been leaving the forest, and was threatening to turn him in to the Elders if Thal didn't play along with whatever game this was.

  "Not at all, Kael.  I've just been watching the two of you having a whale of a time out there on the dance floor.  But I don't usually give dance lessons to guys, especially someone as in need of them like yourself.  It's a good thing my mask covered my tears because I was laughing so hard watching you move like you had ants in your pants.  I tell you what I will do, tho.  I see Elder Elowen Sableleaf over there in the corner waiting for someone to ask her to dance.  Why don't I escort Lyri to get some punch, and you can ask Miss Elowen to dance so she can show you how it should be done?"

  With that he quickly grabbed Lyri's hand and pulled her into the crowd by the refreshment tables, leaving Kael standing flabbergasted on the edge of the dancefloor.  He knew he'd have to be extra careful now to avoid Kael in the near, and far, future because he had just guaranteed himself a punch in the face.  But it was so worth it to see the shock in Kael's eyes.

~*~*~

Joining again this week for the fun of Words for Wednesday, found this month on Elephant's Child's blog.

new starts ...

New Start Yellow Lift Flyers
at your service in the new year.
Give them a fly tonight!

  The evening was beginning to look like it was not going to go as planned.  

  First, the Lift flyer dropped him off nearly four trees away from the masquerade ball, and he was forced to run the rest of the way in order to get there at a semi-respectable arrival time without appearing to be one of those wood elves who always arrived "fashionably" late to get attention.  He had never been an elf who wanted attention.

  Then, he was so hot after running, he had to ask the hostess if he might borrow a towel to wipe some of the sweat from beneath his costume collar, which was the most embarrassing thing he had done all year.  Thinking of the look on her face when he asked, and her raised eyebrows, made him grateful that his costume kept her from recognizing his face.  Hopefully, he would not be forced to reveal his identity at the end of the evening and further humiliate himself.

  His entire life had been spent living in the shadow of others, and Thalion Thorne was not about to change that before he was ready to step into the sun's spotlight.

  The ending of the ball and the old year couldn't come soon enough.  He'd made plans for the new year after learning that Lyrielle Windshadow was being courted by Kaelthas Shadowspring.

  Thalion had been in love with Lyrielle since the moment he had seen her at the first Spring Equinox Ball when he was just a mere child.  Tho they were the same age and lived in the same forest, their lives had taken very different paths.

  He had spent an adventurous childhood, learning from the elders and all other living things in the forest everything he could about the forest.  As soon as he had been able to walk and run, his parents let him roam freely.

  Lyrielle on the other hand, had spent her childhood surrounded by the same group of elf girlfriends, daughters of the elders, with no adventures to speak of.  She only foraged beneath the same group of trees that she had known her whole life, never journeying beyond the reach of her father's voice.  Her life seemed almost whimsical compared to his, yet her laughter had sounded like a magical bird song, and it often floated between the trees to find him when he least expected it.

  Her parents had encouraged Kaelthas to court her because they didn't know him as Thalion knew him.  They only saw him as a wood elf who was intelligent, handsome, and charming with aspirations of rising high in the ranks of forest politics.  They wanted the best for their only child and having her marry an elf with so much potential would not only be good for her, but good for them.

  Thalion would have to step out of the shadows and make a name for himself if he was going to stop Kaelthas from ruthlessly manipulating her and her parents for his personal gain.  Kaelthas didn't have the best intentions for the elves or the forest.  He only cared for himself.

~*~

  Stretching my creativity this afternoon by joining in with Words for Wednesday, and the start of a story that I hope to continue throughout the year wherever the words and colors lead me.