Chantel's Final Fan Fiction

This is my final piece. 
Stardust Fan Fiction By Chantel Strydom

                                                       A New Light

The eighty-second king of Stormhold, Tristran Thorn, nervously paced the hallway outside his bed chamber. Like every expectant father in the world, this one was a little in over his head. 

Candlelight flickered in their holders casting long shadows on the walls.  

From inside the chamber came the spirited cries of Lady Yvaine, and the odd cuss. She wasn't adverse to using bad words as her husband well knew.

He dragged a shaky hand through his dense brown hair that fell over his face in a dishevelled mess. 

 “How much longer?” He cast agonized nut-brown eyes to his father. Dunstan put a reassuring hand on Tristran’s shoulder.

 “A little while more, son. Your wife is strong, you don’t have to worry.”

 But he did worry. He knew of women who had died in childbirth and couldn't bear to think what he would do if his wife was one of them. But Yvaine wasn't a normal woman. She was a fallen star he had found and fallen in love with. She was spirited and tough and the most beautiful woman in the world. 

 "I feel like I should be in there, with her."

Dunstan laughed. "Trust me when I say you'd rather not be in there. If you want to live another day that is."

 Tristran let go a long suffering sigh. Then he turned at the sound of a door opening. Princess Una was one of the faerie people and had the ears of a cat, deep violet eyes and a tumble of black curly hair. She stepped out of the chamber, eyes damp and face flushed. She reached out her hands for Tristran’s.

 “She wants you, Tristran.”

 He swallowed nervously and entered the bed chamber.

 His wife, his personal star, Yvaine, sat up against the headboard of the grand bed, cradling a little bundle in her arms. Her magnificent white blonde hair was damp with sweat and her pale face was tinged with rose. But despite this, no one could miss the ethereal glowing emanating from her and the child. She’d once told him, ‘the best thing a star does, is Shine.’

 With careful steps Tristran went to her side. She instantly took his hand in hers. She was so warm, which was a wonder since her skin was always so cold.

 “We’re both fine. I'm in no danger.”

  Tristran let out a shaky breath and looked at the baby nestled in her arms.

 “We have a daughter, Tristran,” Yvaine told him with a brilliant smile. Tristran watched his daughter suckling happily at her mother’s breast. Her tiny fist opening and closing to some internal rhythm. Without words, Yvaine gently passed the baby into Tristran’s arms. 

He felt like a clumsy fool, but Tristran embraced his new born daughter with the care of a man holding a fragile glass globe.

The little girl yawned hugely and her lashes fluttered open. Startling summer blue eyes stared at him with open curiosity. Her rosy lips puckered into a plump O. Tristran smiled and traced the shape of her light downy eyebrows. Her little hand instantly reached for his, her little fingers curling over his thumb. He felt his world tilt and steady right then and there and knew what he had to do.

 “We’ll name her Nola.”

 “Nola.” Yvaine nodded and her eyes went misty. She watched her husband carry their daughter to the window. With Nola cradled against his chest, Tristran looked at the moon, and thanked her for his wonderful gift in both Yvaine and Nola.

 “I vow, here and now that I, Tristran Thorn, the eighty-second king of Stormhold, will protect and love this child until the day that I die. I give you, Princess Nola Thorn. Keep her safe and let her light shine bright.”

As if on cue, Nola began to shine. Nola laughed and Tristran felt light of heart for the first time in days.

...

Across the land the people of Stormhold heard the King’s promise. One person in particular found the news delightful. They called her the Hidden Witch. No one knows of her, except in legend, because no one has ever seen her. Her beauty was like no other. Raven black hair with skin so pale you’d think she was a ghost. 

Unlike her unfortunate cousins, the Hidden Witch’s power doesn't come from fallen stars, but from young children with hearts so innocent they hold the most power of all. What no one knows about the Hidden Witch is that she herself is still a child. She will never grow old, but she will eventually waste away which is worse than growing old. She sat in her high backed chair, looking into the mirror that could see all. She saw the child, her light so bright it hurt to look at her. 

Ten years had passed since her birth and she happily played with the carefree innocence of a child in the fields.

 The Witch’s hands went damn with anticipation.

 “I want her,” she said in a child-like voice. Her green eyes glinted with desire.

 “You know the price for leaving the house,” the ominous voice said from the mirror.

 “Growing up,” the Witch said with malice. It came out with so much hatred the room shuddered. “But I can live a very long while with that one’s heart. The Princess of Stormhold.” Even as she said it her voice became animated, and she began to plan.

...

Nola played in the high grass, laughing as she tried to catch the butterflies. She loved being outside. She crept up to the butterfly, slowly reaching out to catch it. But the moment she moved the butterfly flew away.

In its place was a girl with black hair and green eyes. She was very white.

 “Hello. I’m Nola.”

“I’m Selena. Do you want to play?”

“Sure. I’m catching butterflies.” Nola smiled at Selena. Her father told her not to talk to strangers, but this one was a girl her age. She couldn’t hurt her, at least she thought that.

“I saw a few of them fly over there.” Selena pointed to the black forest. It was a forbidden place.

 “I’m not allowed to go there,” Nola said sadly.

“No one will know. Trust me.” Selena put out her hand. Nola hesitated before taking it. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

“Okay. Do you promise?”

 “With all my heart.” Selena’s eyes suddenly went dark and her smile widened. Nola didn’t know what to think of it so she pushed it out of her mind and followed Selena into the forest. She didn’t like the forest but Selena had promised it wouldn’t take long.

 “Come, they are over here.”

The Hidden Witch led the Princess deeper into the forest and resisted doing a happy dance. Tonight she was going to feast…

The End