The Moon Spirit
-
Fantasy/Fable Short Story
Fantasy/Fable Short Story
When the Earth was once green and full of magical spirits, the path of an Angel crossed that of a Moon Spirit, and no life knew a purer love. But as the Angel's duty to protect the Earth is once more called upon, will their love survive?
Written by Mélodie Rivers; first draft November 20 2013
Edited by Aura Dawn & Breagha "BreaghaDerryth" Derryth
Picture Credit: "Isil, The Moon Spirit" by Valentina "NocturnaHX" Veschi
Written by Mélodie Rivers; first draft November 20 2013
Edited by Aura Dawn & Breagha "BreaghaDerryth" Derryth
Picture Credit: "Isil, The Moon Spirit" by Valentina "NocturnaHX" Veschi
It is said, when the Earth was still young, and the forest was still green, that Spirits were ruling and revered by all things. Everything in existence had it's own spirit, such as the Spirit of Air, Spirit of the Sea, as well as the Spirit of the Forest, just to name a few. Of all the Spirits, the Moon was considered the fairest of them all. Her steps were lighter than those of bluebirds, her skin was paler than the winter shade of the hermin as her eyes were far bluer than the purest river, and their gleam glowed more than the most precious stones. Long black hair flowed from her head, darker than a raven's feathers; her crown was made of the finest silver, and bore three swan feathers. She was adorned in moon beams themselves while, upon her back, were such delicate wings, whiter than those of the great swan spirit itself. All animals loved her, for she was kinder than a dove, and was always there for any of them; contrary to beliefs, even with her beauty, no Spirits ever envied her, for as the Moon is essential to humans and fauna, she was essential to the Spirits. A great healer and governess of dreams she was; for whom hasn't laid down upon the ground during the Moon's passage, to dream of better and more beautiful days? So it was she would give back life and hope to whomever she touched with her silver hands. Above all, what she loved the most was to dance in the forest under the moonlight, joined by the birds and other creatures of the forest, admired by whomever happened to be present. Which this night, revealed to be an Angel named Sariel.
Sariel was relatively young, according to the Angels' account, only 3112 years old. He had just recently celebrated his birthday, for which his superiors granted him shore leave, in recompense for all his work. Since he once visited Earth and found it beautiful, he asked to live 100 years upon it, a request which they granted. They opened one of the "bridges", tunnels which links Earth and all the other universes together, from which he stepped foot on sand, near the shining sea. During that fateful sunset, he was wandering on the beach, admiring the waves, which seemed to be dancing while they broke upon the glistening sand, all the while listening to the beauty of the Dolphin's singing not far away. Many times he seemed to catch a glimpse of the Ocean Spirit, but never completely. When at last the sun hid itself behind the horizon as its Spirit went to sleep, he adventured in the nearby forest. The moonlight was shining through the canopy of leaves, filling the forest floor with her silver light. Yet, no animals or birds greeted him, as the only squirrel he saw ran excitedly to a hidden trail. Following the black shadow of the scurrying squirrel, he tripped over a tree's root, stumbling into the edge of a forest clearing. There, he saw her, the Moon Spirit, gracefully dancing under the moonlight, all aglow, her feet barely touching the ground. Her eyes were closed, lost in graceful movements of her dance. Some birds were circling her, accompanying her in the delicate twists and turns, while others were watching her from their nests, watching over their eggs. Animals of all size were sitting at the extremities of the clearing, admiring the dance, perhaps mocking a movement or two themselves. Without one second of hesitation or doubt, Sariel fell deeply in love with her. He couldn't imagine passing another night without seeing her dance. Resolved to let her know about his feelings, he watched for a few more minutes, while the Moon Spirit turned and swayed, before finally stepping into the clearing. Immediately, silence fell upon the forest, and all animals fled. The Moon Spirit froze at his sight, then, like a gazelle, she fled into the forest's heart. Desperate to apologize, the Angel Sariel ran after her with every bit of strength he could call upon; but her light steps soon outran him, as she disappeared into the silver glow filling the forest. Feeling a stab of sadness, he returned to the clearing, and laid on the ground, crying until falling asleep. Never did he thought that true love could have come so quickly and so deeply. He resolved to approach the Moon Spirit every night, till she got used to him.
The next morning, he woke up at noon, with the sun's rays right spilling onto his face. While sitting up, he caught the movement of the Moon Spirit, walking and dancing toward a small river. Keeping himself hidden this time, he followed her, watching her graceful movements, till she sat at the edge of that river, her feet dipping into the pure water. Most alluring, her body leaned forward, letting her long black hair dip into the flowing water. Every movement was as graceful as the last, as the slow current caressed each and every strand. The Angel longed to aid the current, but instead, retreated to a crossroad he knew she would pass, and waited there till she appeared.
"Hi! I'm Sariel. I'm very sorry if yesterday I..."
But before he could end his apology, the Moon Spirit was running away from him, once more. This time Sariel didn't gave up as quickly, but still she out-distanced him.
The next day, he bargained with the Flower Spirit to get the most beautiful bouquet, and in the evening, laid it upon the ground where the Moon would dance. †Hidden, from inside the shadows, he watched as she sprightly entered the clearing, watching, hoping she would noticed the bouquet. He smiled inwardly when she picked it up, inhaling it's beautiful scent, before smiling from the fragrance. Unknowing that he was watching her, she picked from the bouquet a rose, and placed it in her hair.
For nearly a month, Sariel continued a similar routine, every day giving a flower bouquet, altering the flowers slightly. Everyday, she would pick it up, smile, placing one of its flowers in her hair.
One day, the Angel was walking down the usual forest corridor, when a woman's scream assaulted him. He ran toward that desperate cry, arriving silently at the edge of the forest's clearing, and saw the Moon Spirit on the ground, encircled by four demons, their wings of fire creating a barrier forbidding the Spirit to flee.
"She would make a rather fine bride for The One, right?" one of the foreboding demons asked another.
"Yeah... If only she would be less flashy... It hurts my eyes!" complained the other.
The demon who spoke first made a snort, and grabbed the Spirit by her arms, forcefully lifting her on her feet. Of course, this was like another day at the office for Sariel, whose entire job was to extinguish the fires of demons. He concentrated very hard, imagining himself as an immense shining white light, and stepped into the clearing towards the four demons. The Angel's light blinded the demons, causing them to shield their eyes from the extreme brightness. Demons were adapted to underground life, so any intense source of light was feared by them, which explained why the demons fled as fast as possible, without a fight, dropping the frightened Moon Spirit. Crumpling from fear, her light dimmed, she laid near the center of the clearing. Extinguishing his intense light, Sariel returned his exterior appearance to normality, approaching the sobbing Spirit.
"Hey, are you alright?" he asked her softly, stopping a couple of feet before her.
The Moon Spirit lifted her head, and her blue eyes met his for the first time, and recognizing the kindness in their stare, she smiled weakly.
"Yes, I think..." Realizing how close she had been of being kidnapped by demons, against which she had no defense, she found it near impossible to keep the tears from falling.
"Hey, hey, it's alright, they're gone for a long time," Sariel comforted her, kneeling down beside her, taking her hands and giving them a reassuring squeeze.
Slowly the corners of her lips turned upward as a small smile formed upon her reddened face. With his help, she pulled herself to her feet, not taking her eyes off his kind face. "Sariel, you said?" she asked him.
"Yes. And you are?" he returned.
"Isil, the Moon Spirit"
"Isil," Sariel began, bowing before her, making a gesture as though removing a make believe hat, "you are the most beautiful creature I have ever set eyes upon in all my existence; and I would be honoured if you would grant me a walk on the beach with me."
Isil smiled broadly, and wiped her tears.
"So you're the one who gave me these beautiful flowers," a soft smile lightening up her face, touching a dahlia in her hair.
"Yes, my lady." Sariel answered shyly, smiling too.
She took his hand, moving closer to him. "So, a walk on the beach, you said?" she teased him, taking his two hands. As in a dream, her delicate wings began to beat, lifting both of them into the air, high above the forest. That sunset, they walked for hours on the beach, talking, laughing. Isil stopped for a moment and looked deep into Sariel's eyes. Gently, she brought her hands to frame his beautiful face and slowly, she brought her delicate lips to his, taking in the love he felt for her within that kiss. For the first time since her existence, the Moon Spirit fell in love, and with the stranger who always gave her flowers. Now that she had actually taken the time to see the purity within the Angel, feeling his love toward her, she knew herself that she had been falling in love since the first rose was put in her hair.
Almost a century passed since their first night, and Isil the Moon Spirit and Sariel the Angel were still in love, if not even more since that first kiss. Each full moon she danced for him under the moonlight, as they were happy together; only, Sariel couldn't stay. As a sad day it would be when he had to leave, and being a creature of purity, Sariel could not bring himself to tell her, for then she would live in dread of that approaching day. He did not wish her one moment of sadness more than his parting would cause her. He himself knew his own heart would break.
Sariel was relatively young, according to the Angels' account, only 3112 years old. He had just recently celebrated his birthday, for which his superiors granted him shore leave, in recompense for all his work. Since he once visited Earth and found it beautiful, he asked to live 100 years upon it, a request which they granted. They opened one of the "bridges", tunnels which links Earth and all the other universes together, from which he stepped foot on sand, near the shining sea. During that fateful sunset, he was wandering on the beach, admiring the waves, which seemed to be dancing while they broke upon the glistening sand, all the while listening to the beauty of the Dolphin's singing not far away. Many times he seemed to catch a glimpse of the Ocean Spirit, but never completely. When at last the sun hid itself behind the horizon as its Spirit went to sleep, he adventured in the nearby forest. The moonlight was shining through the canopy of leaves, filling the forest floor with her silver light. Yet, no animals or birds greeted him, as the only squirrel he saw ran excitedly to a hidden trail. Following the black shadow of the scurrying squirrel, he tripped over a tree's root, stumbling into the edge of a forest clearing. There, he saw her, the Moon Spirit, gracefully dancing under the moonlight, all aglow, her feet barely touching the ground. Her eyes were closed, lost in graceful movements of her dance. Some birds were circling her, accompanying her in the delicate twists and turns, while others were watching her from their nests, watching over their eggs. Animals of all size were sitting at the extremities of the clearing, admiring the dance, perhaps mocking a movement or two themselves. Without one second of hesitation or doubt, Sariel fell deeply in love with her. He couldn't imagine passing another night without seeing her dance. Resolved to let her know about his feelings, he watched for a few more minutes, while the Moon Spirit turned and swayed, before finally stepping into the clearing. Immediately, silence fell upon the forest, and all animals fled. The Moon Spirit froze at his sight, then, like a gazelle, she fled into the forest's heart. Desperate to apologize, the Angel Sariel ran after her with every bit of strength he could call upon; but her light steps soon outran him, as she disappeared into the silver glow filling the forest. Feeling a stab of sadness, he returned to the clearing, and laid on the ground, crying until falling asleep. Never did he thought that true love could have come so quickly and so deeply. He resolved to approach the Moon Spirit every night, till she got used to him.
The next morning, he woke up at noon, with the sun's rays right spilling onto his face. While sitting up, he caught the movement of the Moon Spirit, walking and dancing toward a small river. Keeping himself hidden this time, he followed her, watching her graceful movements, till she sat at the edge of that river, her feet dipping into the pure water. Most alluring, her body leaned forward, letting her long black hair dip into the flowing water. Every movement was as graceful as the last, as the slow current caressed each and every strand. The Angel longed to aid the current, but instead, retreated to a crossroad he knew she would pass, and waited there till she appeared.
"Hi! I'm Sariel. I'm very sorry if yesterday I..."
But before he could end his apology, the Moon Spirit was running away from him, once more. This time Sariel didn't gave up as quickly, but still she out-distanced him.
The next day, he bargained with the Flower Spirit to get the most beautiful bouquet, and in the evening, laid it upon the ground where the Moon would dance. †Hidden, from inside the shadows, he watched as she sprightly entered the clearing, watching, hoping she would noticed the bouquet. He smiled inwardly when she picked it up, inhaling it's beautiful scent, before smiling from the fragrance. Unknowing that he was watching her, she picked from the bouquet a rose, and placed it in her hair.
For nearly a month, Sariel continued a similar routine, every day giving a flower bouquet, altering the flowers slightly. Everyday, she would pick it up, smile, placing one of its flowers in her hair.
One day, the Angel was walking down the usual forest corridor, when a woman's scream assaulted him. He ran toward that desperate cry, arriving silently at the edge of the forest's clearing, and saw the Moon Spirit on the ground, encircled by four demons, their wings of fire creating a barrier forbidding the Spirit to flee.
"She would make a rather fine bride for The One, right?" one of the foreboding demons asked another.
"Yeah... If only she would be less flashy... It hurts my eyes!" complained the other.
The demon who spoke first made a snort, and grabbed the Spirit by her arms, forcefully lifting her on her feet. Of course, this was like another day at the office for Sariel, whose entire job was to extinguish the fires of demons. He concentrated very hard, imagining himself as an immense shining white light, and stepped into the clearing towards the four demons. The Angel's light blinded the demons, causing them to shield their eyes from the extreme brightness. Demons were adapted to underground life, so any intense source of light was feared by them, which explained why the demons fled as fast as possible, without a fight, dropping the frightened Moon Spirit. Crumpling from fear, her light dimmed, she laid near the center of the clearing. Extinguishing his intense light, Sariel returned his exterior appearance to normality, approaching the sobbing Spirit.
"Hey, are you alright?" he asked her softly, stopping a couple of feet before her.
The Moon Spirit lifted her head, and her blue eyes met his for the first time, and recognizing the kindness in their stare, she smiled weakly.
"Yes, I think..." Realizing how close she had been of being kidnapped by demons, against which she had no defense, she found it near impossible to keep the tears from falling.
"Hey, hey, it's alright, they're gone for a long time," Sariel comforted her, kneeling down beside her, taking her hands and giving them a reassuring squeeze.
Slowly the corners of her lips turned upward as a small smile formed upon her reddened face. With his help, she pulled herself to her feet, not taking her eyes off his kind face. "Sariel, you said?" she asked him.
"Yes. And you are?" he returned.
"Isil, the Moon Spirit"
"Isil," Sariel began, bowing before her, making a gesture as though removing a make believe hat, "you are the most beautiful creature I have ever set eyes upon in all my existence; and I would be honoured if you would grant me a walk on the beach with me."
Isil smiled broadly, and wiped her tears.
"So you're the one who gave me these beautiful flowers," a soft smile lightening up her face, touching a dahlia in her hair.
"Yes, my lady." Sariel answered shyly, smiling too.
She took his hand, moving closer to him. "So, a walk on the beach, you said?" she teased him, taking his two hands. As in a dream, her delicate wings began to beat, lifting both of them into the air, high above the forest. That sunset, they walked for hours on the beach, talking, laughing. Isil stopped for a moment and looked deep into Sariel's eyes. Gently, she brought her hands to frame his beautiful face and slowly, she brought her delicate lips to his, taking in the love he felt for her within that kiss. For the first time since her existence, the Moon Spirit fell in love, and with the stranger who always gave her flowers. Now that she had actually taken the time to see the purity within the Angel, feeling his love toward her, she knew herself that she had been falling in love since the first rose was put in her hair.
Almost a century passed since their first night, and Isil the Moon Spirit and Sariel the Angel were still in love, if not even more since that first kiss. Each full moon she danced for him under the moonlight, as they were happy together; only, Sariel couldn't stay. As a sad day it would be when he had to leave, and being a creature of purity, Sariel could not bring himself to tell her, for then she would live in dread of that approaching day. He did not wish her one moment of sadness more than his parting would cause her. He himself knew his own heart would break.
**********************
As he knew it would, the end of his vacation drew near. Laying on a bed of leaves, with Isil wrapped gently in his arms, the Angel saw a red glow emanating from behind a tree to his left. Unfolding himself from the Moon Spirit so as to not wake her, he stood. Silently, he made his way toward the river, putting distance between both of them, knowing the glow was following behind. Once they were out of earshot, it dissolved to reveal another Angel, this one with wings of fire.
"Loskiel, what are you doing here?" Sariel asked his friend.
"We know you still have a year left before the end of your vacation, brother. †If it were not necessary, we would not bother you, but the army need you", Loskiel announced. "Demons are growing in numbers, as well as becoming more bold. We need everyone to contain them, especially you, for it is your light they fear the most."
"Me? But I'm just an Angel; you guys are Cherubim and Seraphs." Something did not seem right to Sariel as suspicion slowly entered his mind. He frowned, realizing what Loskiel was hiding.
"You have to shut down the bridges!"
"Yes", Loskiel sighed. "I'm sorry; that's why I came to bring you back.. The One wants all his subjects in safety. The demons are too numerous to allow functional bridges. The damage they could cause is too unpredictable to let them open."
"But... what about Isil? Would I still be able to visit her?" Sariel asked, in panic of losing the only love of his life.
Loskiel knew that too, and he hesitated before answering.
"No."
Sariel looked up, his face saddened; he knew the answer even before he had asked.
"I'm sorry, Sariel. The bridges stay closed for one thousand year; that is, if the demons are gone in a thousand years. It may be more than that"
Our angel dropped his head in his hands, desperately trying to find a way out. Angels can survive away from Heaven for only 150 years; after that, they fade from existence in less than fifty years. If Sariel didn't leave Earth, he wouldn't survive a thousand year. At most he had another fifty years.
"There's no other way", Loskiel told him, trying to lessen the blow. "Either you stay here and die, or come with me, possibly never setting foot on Earth again."
Sariel turned sharply, wringing his hands in despair. Just when he was about to speak, a soft hand settled around his left arm, and another on his shoulder.
"Sariel, my love, what is wrong?" Isil asked, full of concern, glancing occasionally at Loskiel.
"It's... Oh, Isil, I don't want to leave you!" Sariel sobbed, hugging her tightly.
"What do you mean? Why do you have to leave me?"
"It's the demons! They're growing in numbers. Because of that, we have to shut down the bridges connecting Earth to the other universes, and that includes Heaven!"
"For how long?" she asked, hopeful.
"A thousand years! Perhaps even more!!" Sariel returned, the sadness showing in his voice, hugging the Moon Spirit even more tightly.
Isil gasped, knowing full well what that meant, and she looked up to Loskiel. He shook his head, signaling that there was no other way, then looked away again, leaving the two lovers in privacy.
"I can't!" Sariel decided, freeing Isil from his arms, and gazing sadly at the sea. "I can't go; I won't leave you all alone forever."
"What?!" Isil gasped. "No, Sariel, no, please!! You know what will happen to you if you stay with me!"
"I don't care", replied Sariel, taking her face softly in his hands. "I will willingly die if it means I will still see you longer. You are my life, the only true thing that has brought such love to my heart."
"No, my love. I will live forever, and I cannot bear see you fade and die. I would rather wait for you, and know that up there, you're still thinking about me."
Sariel started to dismiss her words, but Isil put her fingers on his lips, and smiled lovingly. "Please, my love. Go back to your world, and I will wait for you, no matter what happens."
Sariel started to waver, and looked back and forth between the Moon Spirit and Loskiel, who was now staring at him, waiting for his decision.
"You're sure you are not just saying that because you loved me?" he asked hesitantly.
Isil smiled broadly, relieved to see that her love was going to live.
"My words are true, my love. It will be a long wait; but what better proof will you have that I love you?"
Sariel laughed a bit, and looked longingly in her clear eyes, seeing her devotion and her desire to see him live.
"Fine!" he exaggeratedly sighed, making her giggle. "I'll go."
"Very well," Loskiel acknowledged, standing up. "Let's go."
"Hey, hey, wait a bit so I can, you know..."
Loskiel understood, and put some distance between him and the lovers.
"Goodbye, Isil my little Moon Spirit", Sariel said softly, holding her lovingly, and meeting her forehead with his.
"Goodbye, Sariel, my valiant Angel", she answered, bringing her lips to his.
Though neither one wanted it, the embrace ended as Sariel joined Loskiel. Isil waved goodbye, tossing him a kiss. The two Angels vanished from the forest in a wave of light and heat. Once they were gone, the Moon Spirit sank to the earth, and cried, tears raining down her cheeks to moisten the earth below. A white hare moved from the undergrowth, snuggling tight against her, letting Isil's raven black hair fall upon it's own fur, to comfort her. Feeling her sadness, one by one the forest creatures came to her, to bring her comfort, to let her know she was loved by all.
Back in Heaven, Sariel stood emotionless, his face as solid as stone, watching the Seraphs close all bridges; but when he too at last was alone, he too laid down to cry. How long would it be before he could be reunited with the Spirit of the Moon? His anger caused him to rise, and with that anger he moved toward the demon army, to vent it. The sooner he could dispatch the cause for their separation, the sooner they could be together again. In that anger, the bodies of demons laid unmoving. Far more than if not besought by anger and sadness.
**
Years passed, and the bridges still stayed closed. But it didn't stopped true love. For every full moon, Sariel would sit above the spot where the clearing in the forest was, and there, he would see the Moon Spirit dance under the moonlight as she did the night they first met. And after each dance, the Moon Spirit would look up at the sky, and blow a kiss; and Sariel would look down to his shining lover, and return the kiss. Isil would smile as a star would shoot across the heavens, as she knew her love had just returned her kiss.
"Loskiel, what are you doing here?" Sariel asked his friend.
"We know you still have a year left before the end of your vacation, brother. †If it were not necessary, we would not bother you, but the army need you", Loskiel announced. "Demons are growing in numbers, as well as becoming more bold. We need everyone to contain them, especially you, for it is your light they fear the most."
"Me? But I'm just an Angel; you guys are Cherubim and Seraphs." Something did not seem right to Sariel as suspicion slowly entered his mind. He frowned, realizing what Loskiel was hiding.
"You have to shut down the bridges!"
"Yes", Loskiel sighed. "I'm sorry; that's why I came to bring you back.. The One wants all his subjects in safety. The demons are too numerous to allow functional bridges. The damage they could cause is too unpredictable to let them open."
"But... what about Isil? Would I still be able to visit her?" Sariel asked, in panic of losing the only love of his life.
Loskiel knew that too, and he hesitated before answering.
"No."
Sariel looked up, his face saddened; he knew the answer even before he had asked.
"I'm sorry, Sariel. The bridges stay closed for one thousand year; that is, if the demons are gone in a thousand years. It may be more than that"
Our angel dropped his head in his hands, desperately trying to find a way out. Angels can survive away from Heaven for only 150 years; after that, they fade from existence in less than fifty years. If Sariel didn't leave Earth, he wouldn't survive a thousand year. At most he had another fifty years.
"There's no other way", Loskiel told him, trying to lessen the blow. "Either you stay here and die, or come with me, possibly never setting foot on Earth again."
Sariel turned sharply, wringing his hands in despair. Just when he was about to speak, a soft hand settled around his left arm, and another on his shoulder.
"Sariel, my love, what is wrong?" Isil asked, full of concern, glancing occasionally at Loskiel.
"It's... Oh, Isil, I don't want to leave you!" Sariel sobbed, hugging her tightly.
"What do you mean? Why do you have to leave me?"
"It's the demons! They're growing in numbers. Because of that, we have to shut down the bridges connecting Earth to the other universes, and that includes Heaven!"
"For how long?" she asked, hopeful.
"A thousand years! Perhaps even more!!" Sariel returned, the sadness showing in his voice, hugging the Moon Spirit even more tightly.
Isil gasped, knowing full well what that meant, and she looked up to Loskiel. He shook his head, signaling that there was no other way, then looked away again, leaving the two lovers in privacy.
"I can't!" Sariel decided, freeing Isil from his arms, and gazing sadly at the sea. "I can't go; I won't leave you all alone forever."
"What?!" Isil gasped. "No, Sariel, no, please!! You know what will happen to you if you stay with me!"
"I don't care", replied Sariel, taking her face softly in his hands. "I will willingly die if it means I will still see you longer. You are my life, the only true thing that has brought such love to my heart."
"No, my love. I will live forever, and I cannot bear see you fade and die. I would rather wait for you, and know that up there, you're still thinking about me."
Sariel started to dismiss her words, but Isil put her fingers on his lips, and smiled lovingly. "Please, my love. Go back to your world, and I will wait for you, no matter what happens."
Sariel started to waver, and looked back and forth between the Moon Spirit and Loskiel, who was now staring at him, waiting for his decision.
"You're sure you are not just saying that because you loved me?" he asked hesitantly.
Isil smiled broadly, relieved to see that her love was going to live.
"My words are true, my love. It will be a long wait; but what better proof will you have that I love you?"
Sariel laughed a bit, and looked longingly in her clear eyes, seeing her devotion and her desire to see him live.
"Fine!" he exaggeratedly sighed, making her giggle. "I'll go."
"Very well," Loskiel acknowledged, standing up. "Let's go."
"Hey, hey, wait a bit so I can, you know..."
Loskiel understood, and put some distance between him and the lovers.
"Goodbye, Isil my little Moon Spirit", Sariel said softly, holding her lovingly, and meeting her forehead with his.
"Goodbye, Sariel, my valiant Angel", she answered, bringing her lips to his.
Though neither one wanted it, the embrace ended as Sariel joined Loskiel. Isil waved goodbye, tossing him a kiss. The two Angels vanished from the forest in a wave of light and heat. Once they were gone, the Moon Spirit sank to the earth, and cried, tears raining down her cheeks to moisten the earth below. A white hare moved from the undergrowth, snuggling tight against her, letting Isil's raven black hair fall upon it's own fur, to comfort her. Feeling her sadness, one by one the forest creatures came to her, to bring her comfort, to let her know she was loved by all.
Back in Heaven, Sariel stood emotionless, his face as solid as stone, watching the Seraphs close all bridges; but when he too at last was alone, he too laid down to cry. How long would it be before he could be reunited with the Spirit of the Moon? His anger caused him to rise, and with that anger he moved toward the demon army, to vent it. The sooner he could dispatch the cause for their separation, the sooner they could be together again. In that anger, the bodies of demons laid unmoving. Far more than if not besought by anger and sadness.
**
Years passed, and the bridges still stayed closed. But it didn't stopped true love. For every full moon, Sariel would sit above the spot where the clearing in the forest was, and there, he would see the Moon Spirit dance under the moonlight as she did the night they first met. And after each dance, the Moon Spirit would look up at the sky, and blow a kiss; and Sariel would look down to his shining lover, and return the kiss. Isil would smile as a star would shoot across the heavens, as she knew her love had just returned her kiss.
**********************
Two thousands and seventy-five years passed before the bridges were re-opened. And it is said that the world witnessed the biggest hug and the most loving kiss ever, as Sariel and Isil finally met again. Their love never faltered but grew stronger, and Sariel never passed six months away from her. And when the world slowly fades into darkness, they will fade with it, locked in each other's arms. It is said that sometimes when we look up at the full moon, we can see his face within her glow.
That, my friends, is true love.
That, my friends, is true love.