Written by: Crystal Morgan (cmorgan@mosquitonet.com) *~~~~~~~(\|/)~~~~~~~~* \ / She is unicorn, and she knows it. When she runs, he feet sound like bells upon the road, and her horn glows with the gold of many years of magic, mystery. She is as old as time, as old as the earth, as old as Gargoyles. She walks in the majesty of the moon and the stars sing her praises. And yet, even in the melennium of her existance, there is one thing she remembers above all. HIM. He, the prince who saved her and her kind from the beast who challanged their existance, he who had shown her what it is to feel regret. He is gone now, this she knows, she saw his passing like she saw the passing of many humans, many mortals. But with his death, something of her died too. Now, she wanders the earth, looking for the answer to that which is missing... to that which she has lost. And that was how she had come to be trapped as now, in the cage of iron before the many humans of the huge castle. She neighed loud, trying to frighten them, wanting only to be free of the iron, cold to the touch of all immortals, but found nothing to work. She paced aimlessly about the cage, the chiming of her hooves upon the wood planks beneath her feet near to drive her wild, for no unicorn, no immortal, can stand the chime of those beautious hooves. She reard again, a mighty screaming neigh, like the chiming of so many bells, erupting from her throat. But, though she kicked out her forelegs, it did not help. so, settling down upon the planks, laying down, she rested, as the people milled about her in the dying sunlight. "It has become worse then I knew." she thought to herself, whispering softly. "Unicorns have returned to this world, But now we are the enemy..... It has changed so much." That was when the attack came. There were many humans running about suddenly, and fire flew through the air. She rose and cried in fright, but that only served to attract the attention of one of the brutish humans who had snuck in past the defenses of the good people of this castle. "BLIMY!!! They have a Unicorn!! that horn would be daring valuble!" he cried. He lifted his axe to swing down and break the cage to peices when suddenly from the dark sky above a roar was heard, and stone rained down upon them, he looked up in horror as a gargoyle flew at him, her wings spread, her eyes a fire burning as red as her hair. She lifted the human away and threw him to the ground, then landed, and watched the Unicorn for the longest time, before seeing another human approaching the castle, and taking off to meet the human in fight. She neighed again as the red haired gargoyle left and settled down in the cage on her knees, praying to any God who would listen, that the fighting and noise would just stop... The battle raged only for a while longer, then subsided, dying angrilly. But as she stood again and paced the cae she heard the attackers speaking, they would be back. She neighed loudly as she watched the humans and gargoyles converse, and chaffed her hoof upon the boards beneath her. Again, the red haired female Gargoyle looked at her, then, softly, she spoke to the bearded human at her side. "Why are you keeping that creature locked up? She deserves to be free, as all things do." she said, glancing over at the bars of cold iron. "Because, lass, if she were free, she would be a danger to all of Wyvern.' he said, sharpening his blade upon a whetstone, 'For she is a unicorn, and their magic can cause anything to happen. But, More importantly, she is a healer creature. And we need all the healing aides we can get, with those strange illnesses we find upon the roads of England when we journey to retrieve supplies." He looked at the gargoyle's face, and sighed. "But if you like, I'll let her free tommorrow as you sleep. " the female Gargoyle smiled. Then, suddenly, they were joined by the leader of the gargoyle clan, the one she had heard called by the name of Goliath. He spoke with both warriors, the male human and the Female Gargoyle. the human invited them to the Victory Banquet in the castle, then, the female Gargoyle looked at the male and pointed to her in the cage. "She looks so sad. Do you suppose, we could let her free?" the she-garg said softly, as she walks up to the cage, and, holding onto the bars with one hand, held it out to the unicorn, who, nuzzeled it carefully, watching her every move. "My angel, the humans say these creatures have not been around for many years.. If she was released now, the Vikings would kill her for her horn. It's a vauble commodity among the human world. She would be in danger....." Goliath said, staying away from the cage, watching the one he called his angel. The Unicorn smelled his blood, and she neighed softly, and points her horn, the tip glowinhg at his hand, the Fem garg noticed this, and pulled Goliath Closer, letting the equine touch the tip of her horn to the bandaging of his hand, and they watched as the wound glowed for a moment then was healed. Goliath looked at the unicorn, then at his hand, and made a fist of it. He nodded to his female friend. "We shall see that the humans release her." He said as he spread his wing across her shoulder, and lead her away to talk with the others of his clan. *~~~~~~~(\|/)~~~~~~~* \ / The night passed, and the gargoyles became stone. The Unicorn watched the sun peer above the high walls of the castle as the humans awoke to their day and made ready for another day of life in their existance. She saw, through a hole in the wall, a green meadow, and longed to be there running free, away from the humans about her. She heard the bearded one saddle his horse, and saw him ride away into the morning's light. Things had not gone well at the banquet the night before, The gargoyle Leader and his Second in command, who happened to be ther red haired gargoyle whom had wanted to set her free, had entered the Dining room only to be sent away, and called monsters. She found this saddening, for if they thought the gargoyles to be monsters, then what did they think of her? But, afraid to speak to any of this castle, she sat in silence. She was used to the silence that surrounded her, for even after she had freed those of her kind from the grasp of the mistaken King Haggard, for, yes, in the end, he had not been evil at all, mearly mistaken, to think one could hold all the unicorns of the world in the sea for all time, since she had last seen the great Magician Schmendrik, Oh Schmendrik , she could only hope he couldn't see her from whatever heavenly post he held now.... Ever since that time, she had held her thoughts to herself, and had lived in silence again. But after the passing of the prince,... No.. He had been King after that... After the King Lear had died, she had felt an emptiness. She reflected now upon this emptiness, and sighed softly to herself. she had hardly noticed at all that the day had passed and none had come to set her free. Oh, if only she had a bumbling wizard with pickpocket abilities now..... The sound of the hooves of the horse upon which the captain of the castle's guard had departed upon returning to her ears broke her train of thought, and she shook her head, watching as he rode, once more, into the courtyard, and the great draw bridge was lifted. Shw watched him move across the courtyard in the dying light of the sun, it's pink hues playing upon his armor, making it seem almost to glow of light all it's own. He spoke to one of the men in the courtyard, who took his horse away, then, looking up at one of the towers, started up the stairs to the rooftop of the lone tower. She looked up, her forelock of main falling from between her ears, and her horn brushing lightly against the wooden roof of the cage that held her. Atop the tower where the man was heading, she could see the posed form of the red haired Female gargoyle. The sun had faded, and night, was falling. Suddenly, before her eyes, she saw the transformation, from stone to living body, the roar of the fem garg's breath, the flash of her eyes, and the spread of her wings which sent stones flying at every place. All around her, the same was happening, but, somehow, it was not as spectacular as the transformation of the Female Gargoyle. She watched the man and the firey haired Second Command of the gargoyle clan, talk for a while as they walked down to meet the leader of the clan. To her side, a trio of young gargoyles, roughly the age of teenaged humans, landed upon the soil, and with them, what appeared to be a doggoyle. The smallest of the group watched her, and she neighed to him, hoping maybe, with his blessing, she'd gain her freedom. "Be careful Brother!" the taller of the three spoke laying his hands to the shoulder of the small one who's wings joined his hands like a web of skin spread from his back. "It's a wild creature! it may hurt you!" He said, watching her doubtfully down his beak-like nose. She neighed to him trying to tell him, she wouldn't hurt them, she only wanted free. Only the doggoyle under stood her... or, at least, he made an effort. He barked at her, and his stubby tail wagged lightly. She sighed, and was about to resolve herself to another night of captivity, when the more round of the trio walked up, and broke the lock away, seeming to sense her intent. She reared slightly, and neighed, thanking him as he opened the door and she stepped out onto the dirt. She looked to where the leader and his love, and an older gargoyle stood, speaking to the captain of the uard, and shook her head, she spoke sofdtly to the younger gargoyles. "Thank you for releasing me.... But I do not trust this place fully yet. Do.. you have a safe place, where I could rest?" she said as her horn glowed faintly. They looked at each other, then back at her, and the red one spoke. " You can stay in the rookery, ma'aam... You'll be safe there. Just be careful of the eggs..." he says as he walked to the door leading down into the warm sandy pits below, she nodded, and stepped down the stairs daintily, bowing her head. As she stepped further into the glowing red darkness, she heard them close the door behind her, and knew she was safe. she reached the heated sand of the rookery, and kneeling upon her forehooves, layed down, and curled up there tiredly, head nestled upon her knees. Before her crystal blue eyes closed, she watched one of the eggs there, speckled, light grey.... like the ashes of a dying fire. then, slowly, she fell asleep. *~~~~~~~(\|/)~~~~~~~* \ / Her dreams where peaceful... There were seasides from times long past, glimmers of hope in the image of Lear, and passionate feelings of love for him as a human, she remebered.. and regretted.... she'd never found another like him, not in all the world.. although, there had been one. Once, into her peaceful world of the glade she lived, a unicorn stallion, something rare of her kind, had wnadered in seeking a prize. and they had found each other before her mirrored pool. She had risen to a fight with him, a mighty battle, in which they had used their horns to fend each other off.... and then, they had found all either wanted was just peace. so, they had fallen to a somewhat shakey truce. She saw now, what happened, in her dreams, as she curled up there, upon the heated sand.... She would meet him upon the grassy hill each day as the sun rose high. She knew he would be there, always. and they would greet each other with a small dance, a slight bow of the head, touching their horns together, in a universal agreement, that if they must, they could kill each other, but thy wouldn't. Then, they would run thought the forest, side by side, passing through trees. The, before her mirrored pool they would meet again, and raise high upon their haunches, clapping their hoves together, and finally drank of the water, then, rested near each other, his stormy blue eyes a mirror of what she had been. He often asked her, what it felt like, to regret. Today, however, felt different.... She was edgy, and felt strange, a feeling she had often felt before, but had always put aside. She snorted at the grass beneath her hooves, waitingg the time to return to her friend's side. then, she lifted her long nose to the air and rose back on her haunches with a mighty cry rearing into the air and shaking her head. as her forehooves once again fell to the earth, she looked up, to see him standiung there before her. She shook her head again, and he came close, smelling her over, and Found the difference of this day to be exciting. She was nervouse as to why, and she told him so with a glance, he reassured her, with a gentle nibble to her flank, and nudged her cheek tenderly. "let us run. " he suggested to her ear, in a whisper. And so, they ran together, through the woods, as they had done before. And as before, when they approached her sunlit pool, they met each other in a hooven embrace, then, drank of the water. But, now, instead of laying down, he nudges her flank again, and neighs softly, running his horn along her back lightly. As he does so, she realizes what her feeling is, she is alone.. and so steps aside a bit, walking away from him to a shaded and sheltered place near a huge tree, and stands there,w atching him. he follows, and dances about her, Courting her with his beauty. and then, as if always knowing what to do, she rears back, and neighes loudly to him, horn held high. as she falls to the ground again, he nears once more, and nudges her flank, and then swings his head slightly, tapping her horn with his. They chime in unision, and they know they are correct for each other, so, she raises up again, and neighs once more, a peircing bell like sound that captures the feild, the forest, in it's beauty. as she drops once more, hooves to ground, he nudges her flank, and she lifts her tail aside for him in compliance, and, with one final rub against her back with his horn, he rears up as well, and stepping foreward a bit, lowering his forehooves to her back lightly, he presses himself to her, and they are joined.... They coupled several more times, that day, and two more the next, then, assured that they had done well, they rested together on a grass covered hill, she resting her head on his back, and he protecting her, watching over her, keeping a vidgle over her like a hawk watches it's nest. as the days pass, the animals know what has happened, they watch her from afar, stunned by the growing beauty of a pregnant unicorn. she shrugs this off, and stays at his side gracefully. The moon rises and falls in her dreams faster then it does in the reality that is life, and so, soon, She sees the night. She is walking to join his side at the place they had coupled that first night, and suddenly, she knows, the foal is coming to her...... She cries out loudly, and running, stops only when she reaches her friend's side. She heaves in breathes, but keeps her calm, and soon, has pushed the young creature from her womb.... she is cleaning it when another pain hits her, and she drops to her knees, as another foal slides out to greet it's sibling. she cleans her children, and stands as, ungainly youths they are, they stumble, and finally catch their footing, then, they feed, her mate watches her and his family proudly.... For a while, all was idellyc, sureal, calm and unimagineably peaceful. The twins were healthy, and they capered about the woods like they themselves owned them. But then, one day, danger came to their woods, and a Hunter's knife flashed faster then her horn... He stole their horns from them leaft them cold, on the blood covered ground..... and she was alone again.. and suddenly she knew what she had been missing.. Companionship..... *~~~~~~~(\|/)~~~~~~~* \ / She awoke to the sound of the young gargoyles coming down into the rookery area followed by their dog. They had been sent there as punishment by their leader, they explained, for a fight a human had caused. She nodded, for, she had to admit, humans seemed to cause more touble then they were worth, for all around them.. and certainly most for those who didn't ask for the trouble they got. She watched the trio as they looked at the many eggs that surrounded them in the rookery, their huge doggoyle taking a rest near her. The young gargoyles finally settled about one of the heat ducts, talking to each other, and teeling each other storys and playing games that are meant for young children to keep quiet. Then, just as sudden;y as they had roared to life, they were frozen in stone again. The sounds above started out peacefully. Then, the attack hit. The unicorn could hear the tempest of action from above where she and the stone fellows lay. there was a loud banging of a battering ram, and the sounds of attack everywhere. from the door she could smell the smell of death. suddenly, the door to the rookery opened, and a human stembled down. She sat there, still as the statues of her friends, until he raised his sword, and brought it's hilt smashing down upon one of the eggs, spilling the yolk and a stillborn gargoyle hatcling to the ground. Seeing the dead child there, she rose up and neighed mightily, seeing that the creatures were in trouble. the human stopped, and seeing her, his face froze in fright. she charged him, and peirced him through with her horn, leaving him dead upon the sand. then, she ran up to the door s and shut them with her shoulder, binding them close with her sweet and earthly magic. The doors would not open again until the stone protectors behind it's protection were awake once more. As the sounds of the battle raged on above her, she paced upon the sand over and over again. She had alread raised a hoof, and buried the dead hatckling and it's shell, giving the human a not so proper demise of pushing him into one of the steamy heat cracks full of lava, incinerating his corpse. Above, the sounds of the battle continued on, then slowly died. she was terrified, soon hoever, to hear the sound of many stones falling and knew, the men were smashing the bodies of those gargoyles left in the castle's walls. She rose, rearing up again and screamed out mightily, then, droped to her hooves in the sand, and looked sadly at the four stone figures hiding in the dark with her. soon, the sounds of battle stopped all together, and all that could be heard was the bubble of the lava in the heating vats. she knelt upon the sand, andlaying her head upon her knees, rested, then finally slept again. *~~~~~~~(\|/)~~~~~~~* \ / Her dream this time, was different. Sitting among the eggs on the sand, she dreamed a strange dream, she was inside the egg herself. She could feel the cool wall about her, and was cramped a bit. Somehow, in her thoughts, she knew, she must escape, must break free.... she worked on it, suddenly finding she had four limbs, arms and legs, not hooves, and a pair of perfectly formed wings. her tail too had changed. she used this to press against the wall of the orb in which she rested. Suddenly, there was a cracking sound, and a rush of light, and she was free, only to suddenly be sweat upon by one of the human mauraders, he held a dagger to her throat and then..... She was awakened rudely by the sound of the young gargoyles pushing upon the door, trying to be free. she lifted her head and neighed and the door fell open. she watched the young gargoyles fall tro sad faces when their elders found that there were only seven out of almost 30, left. She neighed sadly, wand watched them, then stepped up behind the young ones. The leader eyes her suspiciously, then, lead them away to counter attack. She followed them through the gates of the plundered Castle, knowing it was the least she could do to help them regain their santity after they had sheltered her. They soon led to the encampment of the barbarians who had attacked their castle. She joined the old gargoyle, and the three youngones and their doggoyle in a fight with the humans, but when one human stepped out and blamed them heavilky, she stepped back and gasped in horror as he froze them in stone. then, from behind him... " Oh Magus! You didn't...." The leader wished to be frozen as where his comrades. she watched the humans provide his wish service. He was frozen in stone in the position of a person in great tomented thought. And now, she was alone again. "We canna thank you much... except by giving you your freedom." the lady said. The unicorn found out her name was Cathrine from the man who had magiced the warriors to stone. "No. ' she whispered. " I wish to be frozen as they are. Maybe, when the spell is broken, I'll awaken to a world who understands Unicorns and gargoyles more. and to a world who appriciates me for who and what I am, and not for the power my horn holds." she said, watching the Magus's face fall sullenly. And so, soon, they stood upon the tower across from the doggoyle. She reared up in a mighty cry, and, the spell was cast. and so... She slept.