A Fae Tale for Growing Children

[Ishsa Nestra]

To see Mana bent over the water, not yet standing, initiated flames of agitation within the Fae. Tender yet nefarious obsessions flared all the more hotly in her thoughts and through her blood. She would dance upon the waters! She would sing with all her soul a song of gratitude to the vibrant World! But not yet. Not yet… almost. Her eyes narrowed. Almost! It was easy to move near the girl; Ishsa’s thighs slid through the water as smoothly and gracefully as if she walked upon the land. Neither the Lake’s affectionate currents nor the undulating tug of the saturated dress could hold back the Fae and her intentions.

Reassuring and warm, Ishsa’s hand settled upon Mana’s back. The girl carried a chill that could be felt through the clothes she wore. A small, hidden smile formed upon sweet lips as Ishsa’s face drew close, her voice pitched softly, as if to console a young child from a minor hurt. Strands of untamed white brushed against Mana’s cheek. [ishsa]You see a girl that does not yet belong. But this, Ishsa will change… you will be accepted. [/ishsa] The smell of wild flowers floated near, only to dissipate a moment later in the light breeze.

One hand pointed to the shadowy water, [ishsa]Look, once more. I am with you, see there? Frightened? No, no… it cannot be, Ishsa has promised to care for you. Always! There is nothing to be scared of… A vow cannot be broken. [/ishsa] The Fae was serious, never would she lie! She would care for Mana forever and always - she had promised. And as they looked, their reflections shone brightly, but with a flutter of Ishsa’s hand the image swirled and transformed. A mirror copy of what there was before remained, except the Mana and Ishsa that now gazed back upon them were happier and more carefree in expression. No worry lay upon their faces; they were all the sweeter for Ishsa’s magicks and Glamour. And the castle loomed ever present behind them.

Ishsa’s hand lifted from where it lay upon Mana’s back and daintily removed the battered tennis shoes that lay draped across her own shoulder. Quickly before Mana looked upward once more, the Fae pulled the laces taunt. So tightly they were tied, as if they were knotted. [ishsa]Do you see how happy you will be…?[/ishsa] she asked, voice barely above a whisper, though her emotions were an inferno of elation. Fast as blazes her hands moved and brought the laces around to encircle Mana’s small neck. With a pull and a twisting of the shoes, Ishsa hoped to close the loop quickly and cut the vital air from Mana’s breath and lungs. The Fae was strong for her size and the girl weary and tired, with a chill upon her skin. [ishsa]Easy little one… do not disappoint your Ishsa, [/ishsa] Her voice sing-songed and was unnaturally calm for the violent act that took place at her hands. She did not wish to see a struggle. [ishsa]You will like it here, it will suit you. Forever you will stay. You will not leave to tell stories of Endride! There is no escape. Ishsa loves you… Ishsa loves you…[/ishsa] And with a forceful shove, the Fae attempted to thrust Mana’s head down into the cold, dark waters of the Lake as she choked the girl with her own tennis shoes.  

[Mana Aizawa]

"You see a girl that does not yet belong. But this, Ishsa will change… you will be accepted. "   Mana was so cold and so tired she felt . . . despair . . . the kind that simply overtakes one and leaves one feeling like life isn't worth living.  This was not, no not, what she had expected.  The words from Ishsa's syrupy sweet mouth were confusing Mana.  Mana saw Ishsa stretch out a hand and point, and Mana looked, looked to see what Ishsa was pointing at.  But her thoughts were of her father, who had always been so strict with her,  She was thinking about what he would think of this?  Of Mana freezing to death on a chilly April night wading in some Central Park lake?  No, her father preferred Mana to stay indoors--safely indoors surrounded by books (not to mention nearby so as to be at his beckoning whenever he needed something).   

 

 

 "Look, once more. I am with you, see there? Frightened? No, no… it cannot be, Ishsa has promised to care for you. Always! There is nothing to be scared of… A vow cannot be broken." Mana didn't want to look any more.  There was nothing there--only dark, cold water.  Mana felt more than despair. She felt an empty, hopelessness, and  she felt utterly forlorn.  This was not what she had expected and certainly not what she had expected from Ishsa.  Maybe it was the cold--Mana was so very, very cold, but the hypnotic affect that Ishsa had had on Mana wasn't there any longer--or its hold was less than it had been.  Mana stopped looking at the water and she was about to turn and leave her new friend, this teacher-friend.  But Ishsa spoke again . . . 

 

 "Do you see how happy you will be…?"     "Easy little one… do not disappoint your Ishsa, " Mana wanted to say, "NO, I won't be happy, I will be freezing cold."  But Mana didn't speak, though her teeth were chattering loudly now.  Mana, despite all these feelings, still didn't want to disappoint Ishsa--it was Mana's fatal flaw: a never-ending need to not disappoint.  When Mana's own shoelace was wrapped about her slender neck, she didn't register what was happening.  It wasn't until she couldn't breath that she started to feel real panic.  

 

 "You will like it here, it will suit you. Forever you will stay. You will not leave to tell stories of Endride! There is no escape. Ishsa loves you… Ishsa loves you…"  Mana began struggling in earnest.  She tried to push her fingers under the shoelaces, but Ishsa was pulling too hard.  And then when Ishsa pushed her down, she felt utter despair that was distinctly different than what she had just felt moments before.  This despair was mixed with pain.  There were no thoughts of Ishsa, the sweet girl who was going to save Mana from loneliness, and there were no thoughts of that tree.  There were thoughts of a blackness engulfing her entity and ending . . . just meaningless, stupid ending.  It was something that Mana didn't really understand.  

 

Had Mana been older she might have pondered the ways that death can come.  In fact, she might have done what many elderly do--wonder a lot about the different ways a person can die and wonder whether her death was going to be long and hard and painful or relatively fast.  Had Mana been older, she might have thought this: in a few billion years the Sun will explode and the Earth will vanish with all the people and animals on it--just like that.  And then what?  What would have been the purpose? Mana thought about Ishsa as she died and she wanted to say this to Ishsa: "I would have been a good friend."   And sometime after Mana had died, Mana's brain no longer really functioning, Mana maybe thought this: "Endride I am coming."  It was a funny name for a tree:  END RIDE.  Maybe that was it--it was Mana's last ride.  

[Ishsa Nestra]

Beneath her hands, Mana struggled to be free. It was no use! No use at all! Ishsa had run the girl and pushed her continuously throughout the night. Too long! Too far for such a slight human! Endurance had limits, especially when led by the Fae’s hypnotic Song and embraced by the Lake’s chill. Mana’s strength was gone, the fight short lived. Though the slight body had bucked and twisted in the most fascinating way. Deep into the cold, unforgiving water Ishsa felt the girl’s hold on life begin to loosen and her body relax into death; it was inevitable. Ishsa’s wishes were paramount.

From above, the Fae chirped, [ishsa]“It is wise to let go. No use, those struggles! I cannot free you now. The Wood has laid claim upon you…[/ishsa] The Fae spoke as if the girl could still hear, and then listened with rapt intent for a reply. None came to the Fae’s ears. After a time, Ishsa released the shoe laces, and Mana’s body rose buoyant, unaided. The water was impatient for its prize. It lapped and lapped upon the Fae’s skin, and urged with unseen currents and silent subtleties for her to release the girl; it spoke its possessiveness against Ishsa’s skin.

With an almost reflective and melancholy air, the Fae gave the girl a push. Towards the Lake center Mana drifted now. A promise made. A promise kept. Her play-thing was gone… yet how pleased Mana would be to belong here! So small she looked, light and buoyant in the night, with black hair fanned outward into the equally dark water. Ishsa could not help but to clap her hands, and the sound rang out in quick staccato into the night. She called, [ishsa]Taste this freedom! Is it not better?[/ishsa]” The Fae spun about in the water, a giddy, self-satisfied frolic.

As she turned, her fingers touched up a loose and bedraggled flower. It was from the crown she had made. Gently she pushed the flower away, towards where Mana floated serenely. The Fae hummed, but to the lonely flower or to Mana, it was uncertain. Like the water currents that rose in a sudden spring rain, a poem grew from rhythm, and built upon the Fae’s words and thoughts and melodies.

Little Flower, Beauty one
Your Binding’s come undone.
What was Bound now is Free
No longer tightly wound.
Blossoms fade and wither
Love will stay Forever
Within the Wood and field.

With the last word still upon her lips, and love overfilled within her quickly beating Fae heart, Ishsa turned away and stepped slowly to shore, unconcerned by the wet or the cold, or the sacrifice. Back to the trees she went and to her home with Endride, who would certainly wish to know all that had transpired this night.



~Fini~