As Blissa arrived at the Crystal Pond, she looked for signs of Eldred but saw none. Looking out at the pond, she marveled at just how spectacular it was. Crystal clear blue water, cool and refreshing.
“Eldred,” she called out, checking to make sure he wasn’t still there. She’d come to talk to him, but now, reminded of the beauty of the pool, decided to take a dip. She walked toward the water’s edge, removed her sandals, and waded in to her ankles. She was about to take off the feathery light green dress she wore and step deeper into the water when she heard the rustling of leaves behind her.
She turned and saw a young man walk in. He was tall and handsome, with dark brown hair, a handsome chin and fit body. He was wearing some type of human garb — long pants, a shirt that had a slight opening at the top, and most notably, a sword hooked to some type of belt. She frowned as he entered.
He did the opposite. He smiled, big and bright, showing off his pearly white teeth. “Hello, milady,” he said amiably.
Blissa knew humans were dangerous if one got too close, but she didn’t intend on doing that. However, they’d not been seen in the realm, not even at Crystal Ponds, since the time of Errol. Crystal ponds served as a gateway from the fairy realm to the human world. They were places where both could enter freely and perhaps meet. But humans could rarely find the divine pools. Usually only the most kindhearted found them, or so the legends went. Some fairies said, though, that crystal ponds were reserved for fairies or lovers, hinting that humans in love would stumble upon crystal ponds. But whose hearts were most kind, if not lovers?
She stared at the young man before her, wondering how he’d gotten here. Was he goodhearted?
“Are you alright, milady?” he asked, taking a few steps closer to her.
Blissa stepped back, inadvertently going deeper into the pond. She somehow lost her footing and fell, landing completely in the water. It was cold and wet and her dress was drenched. Her bottom, which she fell directly on, hurt, too. As she was surveying the damage done by her inattentiveness, the man had run toward her, splashing in the water, and reached out a hand to help her up.
She looked at it tentatively, but realized he must, in fact, be goodhearted to offer help. She placed her hand in his, preparing simply to accept his help, but the moment she took it, she felt a surge of calm, peace and happiness. It was startling and overwhelming. Her eyes widened as she looked at him with more scrutiny. It was usually she who could send a wave of emotion over someone, so to feel it with his touch was more than odd. She wondered momentarily if he was fairy, but she knew he wasn’t. Though humans couldn’t see it, fairies tended to have a faint aura of magic about them. He clearly didn’t, so she was intrigued.
This man was handsome, with high cheekbones and a dimple in his chin. His brown eyes reminded her of the dark crystals she sometimes saw on mountainsides. They had an instant kindness to them. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice genuine. “I didn’t mean to startle you so you fell.”
Blissa stood with his assistance and waved him off. “No, it’s fine. I wasn’t paying attention.” The water dripped from her dress as she stood there staring at him for a moment too long. He tugged her hand gently, urging her toward the shore where she could get dry. She smiled and followed along. They reached a nearby boulder that was tall enough to sit on, like a chair. Blissa sat.
“I’m sorry about your dress,” the man said. “I’d gladly buy you another one, if the silt from the water has ruined it.”
Blissa shook her head. “No, the dress will be fine. It’s masterly woven,” she said. She’d spun the fabric herself. It would endure all nature had. She was still curious about him, though. She looked him in the eye and asked, “How did you find this place?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure. I’d come for a walk. And frankly, I’ve walked this are tons of times and never seen this place. But today, for some reason, things looked different. The foliage looked different, and I decided to follow this strange little path I hadn’t noticed before. It led here, to you.” He glanced around at the pond in the clearing, and smiled. “I’m glad I came.”
Blissa felt glad he came, too, but she didn’t want to say that.
It was an odd thing to think. She’d never been this near a human before. Even as a child, when men had attacked, she’d not actually seen them. Just heard the murmurs of their wicked words. This human seemed nothing like she imagined. He seemed kind. He was kind. She could sense it. There was nothing but curiosity and kindness coming from him.
Well, there was attraction, too. He was attracted to her. She could feel it because that was her gift. But she could also see it in the way he stood, tall and straight, as if trying to impress. He smiled, friendly, but also a silent offer. A request to consider him.
She needed to leave, but part of her wanted to stay and ask more questions. She ignored that urge and said, “I need to be getting home.”
“I can walk you,” he said. “I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen. I’ve heard there are bears in these woods.”
Blissa stared at him. He was worried a bear would hurt her. A bear would never hurt a fairy. But his reaction reminded her why men were so dangerous. She asked, “And what would you do to a bear?” Probably kill it. These men were so violent.
He paused to consider for a moment. “Well, I suppose it would depend on what the bear did. People frighten them often and then the bears attack. But, if you leave them be and keep your distance, they won’t hurt you. So, I would try to help you walk securely and safely so you didn’t scare it into defending itself.”
She couldn’t hide her surprise. It wasn’t a human answer. Not at all.
“I can see you didn’t expect me to say that.”
She nodded.
“I don’t give answers like most men,” he said. “I don’t seek to make war with anyone or anything unnecessarily. My family has learned the hard way that peace is the best way to live a happy life.”
Blissa swallowed as she stared at him. It was the same kind of thing her father would say. This man intrigued her greatly.
“May I walk you home? I wouldn’t feel right leaving a maiden alone as it got near dark.”
Blissa shook her head. “You can’t walk me, and I’m perfectly safe. I, too, like bears.”
“Something in common,” he said.
“I have to go.” Blissa stood and started to walk away.
“Wait,” the man called after her. “Can you come here tomorrow? Perhaps we could talk again?”
Tomorrow. At the Crystal Pond, with a man. It seemed absurd and wrong — yet Blissa opened her mouth and said the unthinkable. “Alright, tomorrow at midday.”
The man smiled. “Yes,” he said, a grin stretching the width of his face. “I’m Edmund. And I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’m Blissa,” she called back before running through the foliage on the fairy side of the pond. Her brain kept saying she had made a horrible mistake, but her heart murmured she had just made the best decision of her life.