From Changeling Venue

Seeming	Fairest Flowering
Court	Spring Court ••••
Freehold	Heartless Endeavors (North East Ohio)
Player	Vern Utt

Contents 1 Overview 2 Character Information 2.1 Known History 2.2 Motley 2.3 Allies 2.4 Enemies 2.5 Character Inspirations 2.6 Soundtrack 2.7 Quotes 2.8 Rumors

Overview

Alias(es):Chrys Anthony Mum

Real Name:(Forgotten)Chris Anthony Mumpton

Age:30

Concept:Teacher of Limitations

Entitlement:None

Physical description:He is 5ft 9in tall with strawberry blond hair. He is athletic in build, and moves much as a leaf upon the wind. He has flowing muscles that seem to lack the strength that they appear they should have.

Relevant Mechanics:You can always smell the scent of cinnamon and other spices around him. When he becomes intent on one subject his scent increases with his anxiousness.

Character Livejournal:none

Character Information

Known History

Basic Timeline: Abduction: August 1972 Escape: Autumn 1999 Freehold introduction: June 2000

Current Activities: He is working toward strengthening the local Freehold

Merit Details:Striking Looks 4

Background: Chris loved her dearly, although the waiting was going to drive him crazy. Chris and Emily had fallen in love over the summer just after high school. The season was almost over and he would soon be leaving for college. Chris was a young man full of life and desire, just waiting to leave the small town of Farmington in North East Ohio. He had been making plans to marry Emily and take her away from his home town after he finished college. She had her own plans as well, but one thing that they did share was that they were madly in love with each other. People would comment about how the two of them would look at each other, when they would walk down the street holding hands. “Ah young love”, they would say, as the couple would pass. Chris enjoyed the attention; although he was a handsome man he was shy and very inexperienced in matters of love. Though he was 18 years old, he had yet to experience, what he believed the defining moment of manhood, he was still a virgin. It was this fact that was the only difficult part of Chris and Emily’s relationship. She was determined to wait for their marriage to lose her virginity.

Chris was willing to wait for her since he did care about her so very much. Life had been a great adventure since he had met her. They did everything together, from taking long walks in the country to the occasional drive in movie. Chris only took Emily to the drive in occasionally, he found those occasions to be the most frustrating for him. The movie would begin normally and Emily would proceed to cuddle up under his arm. As many young individuals would do, this lead to very stimulating company, but it always ended the same. Chris would always push that little bit too far, and she would end up upset and near tears. She could not understand how a boy could not control himself, why did he always have to try and do something that she wanted to wait for. It was because of Chris’s unyielding desires that he would avoid taking Emily to the drive-in.

Chris thought that someday soon Emily might change her mind about waiting, but he also knew in his heart, that was only a fantasy, or was it?

May 1972

High School was officially over, graduation was only last week. Chris had gone to the local parties, but he never felt that he quite fit in. All the other “guys” were constantly going on about their girlfriends, but Chris was never really able to do that. He didn’t have one; in fact he had never had one. Most of the time this was not a big problem and Chris would just stick his nose into a good book about some far off place. He loved living in the country, and there was no place more country than Farmington, Ohio. Though he still yearned for something to happen, anything to happen. The farms and surrounding country foretold his long and boring life as a farmer. This was something that Chris would not have, he dreamed of great adventure and fame. He worked hard to get himself a scholarship to Ohio State University, and he was proud to be on his way in the fall. His girl problem followed him throughout his high school years but he was certain that once at college he would find a great girlfriend and never be ridiculed by the “guys” again. Chris was smart, smart enough to get himself out of that dead end little town of Farmington. Most of the time he would drive into Warren, a small city nearby and spend hours just driving around there. It was on one of those trips, that his own mind would give out on him. His desire to get out of Farmington, every day, led him to forget one very important thing. His car needed gas. It happens to us all, one way or another, but today it would happen to Chris.

His car sputtered to a stop just off the main road into town and rolled to a stop about 300 feet from a small and inconspicuous flower shop , that was set just off the road enough to make it practically unnoticeable. Chris walked the short distance to the building that read, Meg’s flower shop. He made note that this shop was not as old as it first appeared, but that it was made to look that way on purpose. Perhaps it was to add that “homey” touch he thought. Passing through the door, Chris made note of the bell that rang obnoxiously at him as him came in. The woman behind the counter looked up with a happy expression on her face. “Oh good, a customer.” She said. “How can I help you”. Chris almost didn’t have the heart to tell this sweet woman that he was not here as a customer, but just to use the phone. “Um, I am sorry Ma’am. I am not here to purchase any flowers. My car is out of gas just down the road a bit, could I use your phone, please”. She looked a bit disappointed but her face stayed bright and sunny, “Oh you poor dear”, she exclaimed. “You can certainly use the phone.” Chris picked up the receiver and slowly turned the dial until all the numbers were finished plinking away at the line. Chris’s conversation did not go well, his father was so angry that the shop owner could hear him yelling. “I don’t have time to come get you son, I have to finish planting the fields. The rain has kept me from doing it and this is the first nice day we’ve had in weeks. You’ll have to walk home to get the spare can of gas. Just hope its enough to get you home. I will see you at supper.” With that the line went dead. Chris’s demeanor began to darken. “Man, that’s gonna take me all day to walk back home and get the spare can”, he proclaimed to no one in particular. “There’s a gas station only a mile down the road son, why don’t you just go get a gallon or two. There’s an old gas can out back that you can use,” said the shop owner hoping to cheer him up a bit. “Oh ma’am that would be wonderful, it’s just that I…..” he stuttered a bit unsure of himself, “I don’t have any money with me.” “Oh, well that could be a problem then.” “Hmm, well I tell you what, I have some work around here that needs done. If you help me out a bit I can give you a few dollars. That should give you enough for a full tank of gas. Maybe, then your father won’t be so mad at you for running out of gas in the first place.” Chris’ face lit up like a child at Christmas time, “Oh, ma’am that would be fantastic, I….”She cut him off short, “The name is Meg, young man. And don’t thank me yet. The work is not easy. I have an entire back storeroom to clean”.“I don’t mind hard work Ms Meg, after all I did grow up on a farm. I pretty good at chores even if I look a little scrawny, like Pa always says.”

Chris worked for about four hours cleaning the storeroom for Meg. He did a wonderful job and even mopped the dust covered floor, when he was done. During that time he talked to Meg about her shop and how he had never noticed it there before. She told him that she had been meaning to put out a new sign near the road. She did a fair amount of business for such a small flower shop. Apparently she had gotten lucky, when she chose her location. People around there were always buying flowers for their lovers it seemed. By the end of four hours Meg was so impressed with this young man’s drive to do the best job possible that she offered him a job at her flower shop. Chris, without a steady source of income decided that some extra cash before heading off to college would be useful. He returned home later that afternoon to his father’s surprise, which became proud words of acclaim when he found out that Chris not only managed to get a full tank of gas out of his ordeal, but also a decent job as well.

Late May 1972

It had been almost two weeks since Chris had started his job at Meg’s shop. It was Friday and he was just about to head out the door, with a pocket full of money for his weeks pay. Just before he reached the door the phone rang. Chris was not sure why he stopped and waited, perhaps it was only to say goodnight to Meg. He stood there waiting for Meg to finish her conversation. He saw an unusual look on her face, he knew the look from other people and himself at times, but he had never seen it on her face before. It was the look of someone that was upset. Her face dulled for just a brief moment and a sad expression crossed her mouth. Chris did not like this new look on Meg. Though he had only known her for two weeks, he had a deep connection with her. He had never seen her without a smile. Chris moved to her and asked if there was anything wrong. She explained to him that Mrs. Page had called from Geneva. It seems that Meg had forgotten about a big order that was due in Geneva later today. The order was for a Graduation party that was in two hours. She had finished the arrangements last night and put them into the cooler, but this morning had completely forgotten about them. She normally would have called her delivery person in an hour ago, but the order had slipped her mind. There was no time for her delivery person to get here and then make it to Geneva on time. Chris decided that he could make the delivery for her. He thought to himself also that Geneva was a nice enough little place that many tourist came. He might be able to go into town after the delivery and find something fun to do for a change.

The drive took almost the full two hours to get to the address. Chris pulled up to a beautiful house just outside of Geneva. It was a huge estate that spread outward across the countryside. Chris was no stranger to large properties, but he was a bit awestruck the entirety of the land he viewed was just part of one big yard. There was no field of corn growing or cows grazing, though he did see a few horses off in the distance. There was no doubt that the people he was delivering these flowers to where very well off, when it came to money. Chris drove up to the house when a woman came out quickly and ushered him to move his car around the side of the house. “She will be home any minute and you still have to set up the arrangements,” the woman blurted out with an authority that made Chris wince. He quickly followed her instructions on where the flowers were to be placed. Just as he was finishing, he could here the sound of many feet coming toward the back of the house. It seemed that the guests had arrived, just before he could leave. He thought that now was the best time for him to make his departure. He left the party area through a gate at the side of the house and began walking toward his car. When he arrived though he discovered that his car was blocked in by at least ten others. It seemed that when the guests arrived they all came at one time. He thought that the group must have caravanned from somewhere else. It was only then that he realized that more cars were coming up the drive. He had better do something quick or he would be stuck in his car waiting for the party to end, and by the looks of the guests that would not be anytime soon.

He walked to a side door to the house, and saw the woman that had given him his instructions talking with a man in the kitchen of the home. Chris knocked lightly and the woman waved him into the Kitchen. “You have done a wonderful job young man; I am very pleased with the arrangements. Please tell your employer that I will be recommending her business to all of my friends”, the woman said quickly. Chris was about to speak but a group of young women came giggling into the Kitchen wearing swimsuits. They were obviously on their way to the pool behind the house. “Hi mom,” said a young woman as she approached. “Thanks again for having this party; we’re going to go swimming before everyone else gets here, OK?” She did not even notice Chris standing there, which was a bit of a relief for him. The sight that befell him was magnificent. The young girl was thin and athletic, her hair the color of golden sunlight coming through a window in the early morning. As he looked at her he felt heat flush over his entire body and a deep stirring in places of deep desire. He desperately hoped that nobody would notice him staring at this beautiful girl. Such looks may go unnoticed by young women, but her mother was one of keen social savvy and immediately picked up on the change in Chris’ demeanor, though she did not make others aware of it. The girl spoke again, “Mom, whose car is that in the driveway? Is someone already here?” With that the woman looked away from her daughter and directly at Chris. He stammered for a response in this awkward moment, “It’s my, well I, I mean, its my bosses car, Ms.” Chris felt skewered on the spot, he had at least 12 pairs of young girls eyes on him and he was beginning to blush all over.

The girl’s father and mother exchanged a wry glance and decided to help Chris out a bit. “Emily”, the woman began, “This is the nice young man that delivered the flowers for your party. It seems that you and your friends have blocked him in. I’m afraid that you may have to move all of your cars and let him out so that he can get back to work.” Chris blurted out without thinking, “Oh ma’am, there really is no hurry. This was the last delivery of the day.” He immediately wished he had kept his mouth shut realizing that he sounded like he was try to stay in the company of the beautiful young girls in front of him, which was partly true. He looked away, blushing even more than before. Emily took notice of this almost immediately as did the other girls. A quite giggle came from their mouths just before Emily spoke. “Awww Mom, do we have to. We just got here and we really wanted to go swimming. Can’t he just stay for the party too?” With that Chris felt his stomach tie itself into excited knots and saw Emily’s father’s eyes look him over twice. Emily’s eye’s pleaded innocently to her mother, who was quickly loosing this battle of resolve. “Ok, honey, its your party, but don’t you think you should ask him if he wants to stay?” With that, Emily looked over to Chris and asked, “So do you want to stay?” Chris nearly tongue tied said, “I don’t want to be a bother to you Ms. Though I would not feel right staying at a party for someone I don’t really know.” She smiled at him for his politeness, it was good to see people that were real and genuinely concerned about how others feel. “What is your name,” she said. He told her his name was Chris in a half breath. “Well Chris, I am Emily, it’s nice to meet you, and now that we know each other you can stay and enjoy my Party. Although I think you might not want to join us in the pool since you don’t have a suit.” The other girls giggled again and Chris felt very vulnerable at that moment, realizing that a group of girls were looking at his pants and a rapidly expanding embarrassment for him. Emily smiled at him and quickly left the kitchen with the other girls in tow. Her mother and father laughed to themselves and left toward the front door that was now being knocked upon by other guest arriving. Chris stood there in the kitchen staring out the window at the girls as they jumped into the pool out back. He hoped he would calm his emotions down quickly so that he could find a quiet corner near the pool to become lost in, until the party was over.

The Party

Chris found a quiet corner out of the way near the edge of the party. He sat there quietly, trying to not be noticed by people around him. He had always wished to be the center of the party, though he never felt that he was quite handsome enough or was never really sure enough of himself to be anything more than what he called a wall flower. Many people had told him that he was very handsome, but he never really had the nerve to believe them. Chris suffered from an unprecedented amount of low self esteem. The truth be told, Chris was more than handsome. He was simply out of this world , His body was lean and muscular, from years of work on the farm, his hair a shade of blond with hints of red just barely noticeable. When he walked his body moved with the precision of a dancer. It was not practiced it was simply the way he was. The fact that he did not try to be a young man of such awe inspiring physical beauty made him all the more attractive to anyone that he had met. His low self esteem came from his father, who was insanely jealous of his son. He constantly told Chris that he was scrawny and undeserving. This left Chris with self doubt and a distain for his home and family. Perhaps too it was that Chris’ mother looked at her son in ways that she should only look at her husband, and as Chris became older those looks became more intense, and his father was taking notice of them.

Chris was lost in thought and barely noticed the shadow that approached him along the ground. The shadow moved over him and he felt a presence near him. It was not a foreboding feeling that is usually accompanied by shadows, but a feeling of warmth and happiness near him. He looked up to see Emily smiling down at him. The light of the sun shone behind her. The light erupted in a blinding halo about her and for an instant Chris thought he knew what an angel must look like when it appears to a man. “Hi again,” she smiled at him. “What are you doing hiding over here? Come on out and enjoy the party.” Chris was about to hesitate, but she grabbed his arm and his resolve melted away in an instant. He walked, with her still holding onto his arm. Tiny electric prickles ran the length of his forearm. He muscles tensed with anticipation at every movement between them. Though she never moved her hand from the spot on his arm, he felt tiny fingers of excitement running up and down his skin, wherever she was near to him. He was not sure how long they walked together, but realized that it could have only been for a single moment, because the pool was only about twenty feet from where he had been sitting. As they approached the tables near the pool he felt all eyes were on him. For the first time in his life he did not seem to mind the eyes on him. He had grown up with people always looking at him, but he had always put it off to being so “scrawny”. He did not know what it was that made it different when he had Emily on his arm, but he knew that he liked it. Chris began to stand up more straight and even to smile a bit. The effect was overwhelming. As the new couple walked together everyone grew silent, stunned by the change in the young man when he was with this girl. As the two walked past people, whispers could be heard from the crowd. The air of the party shifted as they walked together and people became more outgoing. After the couples passing people would begin to indulge more in their current endeavors. A few of the party goers began drinking more heavily, while other splashed each other frantically in the pool. The effect was intoxicating, from simple fun to practically lust filled looks. People everywhere were simply awestruck by the couple and their untold and yet innocent interaction with each other. One couple even slipped away into the nearby woods for a lucid affair in the late spring flowers growing near by. Even Emily’s parents left the party for a short while to spend some much needed time alone in each others company. Chris and Emily spent the rest of the afternoon and late into the evening talking and sharing long glances into each others eyes. It was as if they were drinking from a well spring of life from each other. Gathering up the young buds of love and planting them deep within each others soul. Long moments would pass and no sound would come, but their entire past and plans for their future where shared without the use of a single word. Love is glorious and a powerful thing, but a true sharing of souls is beyond comprehension by the mortal mind. A connection can be formed in mere seconds and the longer the sharing occurs the stronger it becomes. There is no limit to what people call True Love and it is also impossible for someone to explain it. It is simply describable as two souls that were meant to be together have finally met, and once together nothing , even death could end that connection. Though many may try, nothing will completely sever that bond, or so it is believed.

July 1972

Chris was madly working to finish his cleaning of Meg’s shop. He had a long drive ahead of him to get to Emily’s house before it got dark. They were going to dinner tonight and Chris did not want to be late. He finished pouring the mop water down the utility drain behind the shop, and began to gather his things for the trip to Geneva. As he was about to leave Meg stopped him and said, “Aren’t you forgetting something, Chris?” With a confused look he stopped in his tracks. She reached from behind the counter and pulled a yellow rose from a vase and presented it to Chris. He always brought Emily a rose from the shop, but today he was in such a hurry he nearly forgot. “Thanks Meg, I can’t believe I nearly forgot, but I think I will have to pay for a rose today.” Meg looked a bit confused not sure what he meant. She always gave a rose a day to Chris, why would he want to pay for it today. With a beaming smile he relieved her curiosity, “I have to pay for one today, because I need a red one today. Because as you know red is the sign of love, and I am truly in love with Emily” Meg’s already bright face shone brighter as if the words he spoke gave her strength. “Here you go Chris, one RED rose for your sweet Emily. I would not dream of you paying for it, your happiness is payment enough.”

Chris quickly left the shop and hopped into his car. In less than two hours he would be with his sweetheart Emily. She was always the brightest part of his day. Anytime he had a moment to be with her he would go to see her. Tonight was going to be a special night. He had his red rose and great adventure for them planed. He arrived at Emily’s home and she was waiting at the doorstep as she usually did. She ran to the car and jumped in excited to see him again. “So where are we going?” she asked curiously. “ It’s a surprise,” he said. He drove the short distance in to Geneva, to a fine Italian restaurant, where he had already made reservations for two. They sat quietly in the restaurant for hours sipping their champagne and simply lost to each others emotions. Finally after an undecernable amount of time, Chris led her to a small patio behind the restaurant. He beckoned for her to follow him down to the dock on Lake Eerie. Waiting by the dock was a small boat that Chris had rented for the evening. They climbed aboard the small ship and Chris unfurled the sail. As the wind filled the sail, Emily smiled at Chris and held onto his arm as the vessel surged outward into the lake. They let the wind carry them for a long while until finally Chris said, “Here we are.” He then lowered the sails and dropped the anchor. Emily could not see the shore anymore and only the horizon was visible. She looked at Chris expectantly and he said to her, “I wanted to show you something that we could share every night even if we are apart.” He sat on the back of the boat and took her into his arms. They held each other closely fending off the cool breeze of the great lake. Slowly the Sun began to set in the sky, and they both sat silently as the huge disk of fire was slowly extinguished by the water of the lake. The sky grew dim and soft hues of color raced across the clouds. The sunset was absolutely perfect and in both Chris’ and Emily’s minds their souls became one forever. As the sun finally disappeared into the water Chris broke their embrace and turned to face Emily. “I want you to know that no matter happens in our futures, no matter where we are, I will always love you. As certain as the Sun rises and sets my soul will be with yours forever.” Emily’s eyes teared up and she could not say a word as her throat emitted a soft sob of absolute joy. This moment was the defining moment of their lives; they would always share it no matter what became of their future. She loved him completely and at that moment gave her soul to him. Their passion erupted in a glorious avalanche of kisses. Their embrace was all encompassing, so tight and unwilling to break, yet gentle as the morning dew upon a spiders web. They spent long moments caressing each others skin, feeling every hill and valley that covered each of their bodies. Heat built up inside of them as the night settled in, and steam rose from their entangled figures. The heat of passion rose and fell with each wave that struck the boat, and it built with each passing moment. Chris was shaking in anticipation as he began to reach for Emily’s undergarment feeling that now was the moment that they would unite their bodies as gloriously as they had their souls.

Emily tensed and her passions flame was snuffed in mere seconds. “NO, she proclaimed in near tears. You know that I wanted to wait until we were married. I can’t…. I can’t believe that you would try to ruin the happiest moment of my life.” She turned away from him curling up into a small ball, much akin to a newborn babe. Chris was mortified by her response. He knew that she loved him, even now, but he did not truly realize until this moment how much it meant to her to be married first. What had he done? He allowed his own desire to push him onward even when he knew the consequences. He let himself push hard and farther until she withdrew from him almost entirely. How could something that they wanted so badly cause them pain and fear of what was to come. Why should they be afraid of being together, how could one act of love change them so much that she feared it?He reached to hold her in his arms and she allowed him to scoop her up much like a child to her mother’s arms. He held her for many long hours after that moment, not saying a word, simply allowing their closeness to heal the damage that he had done. He swore to himself that he would not push her beyond her limits again, because to do so only brought fear of the unknown. This fear was there for a reason, Chris did not know why, but understood now that to deny ones fear is to blindly let danger in.

As the night gave way to dawn, Chris and Emily woke to find their boat still floating where they had anchored so many hours before. As the Sun began to brighten the, morning sky so did it brighten the future outlook of the couple. A wonderful night is what they would remember of their time and the moment of excess was nearly forgotten, burned away in the morning light. Within every dark moment of fear in the night, there will be a dawn that teaches them to farther understand each other and their love for one another. The boats auxiliary motor roared to life as Emily sat on the forward bow feeling the cool morning breeze on her face and fill her golden hair with new life. It would not be long till their time would be over and they would have to return to the world again, and though this saddened them some, they were a stronger couple for being apart from the world for just one night.

August 1972

It would be Saturday night that he would ask her, but first he had to be proper. Chris thought it would be the most terrifying moment of his life. How would he be able to gather the courage to ask Emily’s father for her hand in Marriage. He drove up the long drive at noon on Friday. He knew that Emily would be out running errands for her mother until at least five in the evening. It was the perfect opportunity, so why was he so nervous. Because this could be the end of it all he thought to himself. One wrong word now and her parents will hate you forever, and she will too for messing it up so badly. The driveway seemed to stretch on forever, but as his mind raced with fear, he also discovered that it was not long enough. As the car creeped to a stop he could see movement near the front door of the house. His heart sank and his stomach ached as he realized he had been spotted. He couldn’t just leave now, they would wonder why he was there, when he knew she would not be. He tried to think of possible outcomes for what was to come, but all of them ended badly. He even imagined his body stuffed above Emily’s father’s trophy mantle.

He saw the door open and both Emily’s mother and father come out onto the front steps they had confused and concerned looks upon their faces. They were obviously wondering why Chris had come to the house when Emily would not be here. Chris shut off the car and slowly got out, ensuring to put the car in park. His mind was reeling so fast, that even the simplest task seemed painful to accomplish. His face was pale and his hands were shaking. Emily’s mother looked fearful at his expression at first and rushed him into the house to sit down. Once inside she asked him what was wrong, and Chris barely was able to squeak out that there was nothing wrong. “Then what has you so worked up!” she drilled into him. Just then Emily’s father put his hand on her shoulder and said,” Now Mary let the boy calm down a bit, I believe he has something important to say.” Chris nearly passed out, Mr. Page with a soft voice, this was not normal for him, what does he have planned, he is doomed, he should run now and try to convince Emily to Elope. No, he would not do that; he must get through this moment. Mr. Page walked to his study and shortly emerged with two glasses of brandy. He took a sip of one, and then handed one to Chris and the other to his wife Mary. “But you know I don’t drink,” retorted Mary. “I think you may want to just hang onto it for a moment darling” Mr. page responded softly. She looked at him with greater confusion than ever. Chris took the Brandy and swallowed it in one gulp, and finally began to speak, “Mr. and Mrs. Page, you both know that I care deeply for Emily, more than I have ever cared for anyone in my life. I know that I do not have much, but I do have plans for college and I would like to ask you both…” he paused to take a breath “I would like permission to marry your Daughter.” There it was out, he should be able to breathe now, so why was he still holding his breath? Mrs. Page sat dumbfounded and slowly lifted the glass of Brandy to her mouth, all the while Mr. Page began to smile. “I thought this would be coming soon, I have to hand it to you son, you’ve got a lot of courage asking for such a thing. I guess that I will have no choice but to say…” Oh no here it comes thought Chris the moment of dread, “Yes, you may marry Emily”. What?! Chris’ mind tried to grasp the concept that her father actually approved of the wedding. It was too much for him, blackness came and a soft sleep. It was 10 minutes later when he finally woke back up to both Mr. and Mrs. Page laughing happily. “Gave us quite a scare there young man, just remember to not do that at the alter, ok?”

It was almost six o’clock before Emily got home. She was surprised to see Chris there that early on Saturday. Their date was not supposed to start until seven. She just marked it up to another weird moment. This entire day and all of last night had been weird around the house. Her mother and father had been smiling and even singing sometimes. Chris sat on the couch with a huge smile on his face as she came in the door. She always enjoyed his smile it brought a warmth and comfort to her heart, whenever she would see it. She came over to him and gave him a very public, but polite kiss on the cheek. “Hi Honey, surprised to see me?” Chris beamed. “Its ok I know I am early, but I have something for you, do you want to see?” Emily smiled, “Chris you know I love your surprises.” Chris led her to the study and motioned for her to go in first. She walked into the study but did not notice anything different. “So, what’s my surpri…….” She trailed off as she turned around finding Chris down on one knee holding a small open box in his hands. Chris took a deep breath and mustered all the care and love he had for Emily to be his strength at this moment. “Emily, will you marry me..” She knocked him to the ground in an embrace before he could finish the last word. “YES, yes a hundred times YES!!!” she cried out as they toppled to the floor laughing in tears.

Late August 1972

Chris was packing his things for college, with Emily’s help. She was so proud of him for having gotten his scholarship. Now with their wedding date set for next summer, she was the happiest woman in the world. Though it hurt her to think of their coming time apart she knew that they would have no problems getting through the next few months. They had both remained pure and true to her desire to wait until marriage to consummate their love for each other. Though this did give Chris some discomfort he also knew that it was what she desperately wanted and in some way needed. There was the occasional times that their time together would get very heated, but Chris was always sure to back away before things got to out of control. Sometimes he believed that he did it for his own sanity more than her wishes. So many nights of desire had built within him and never finding any release except for the dreams. His dreams had become so intense, so vivid, lately. Long nights of carnal pleasures, all of which were with Emily at the center of his focus. So many things going on around him, moans of soft pleasure, mixed with the excited screams of intense intercourse would race through his mind. He had been waking up nightly from the intensity of the dreams only to fall asleep and experience a new desire with Emily all over again. He hoped that these dreams would ease once he was away at college. Otherwise he would have to invest in more sheets for his bed as he would sweat so profusely from his dreams, he would soak the bed through each night.

Emily, and Chris had finished packing his things and it was with a heavy heart that she watched him get into his car. She stood for a moment, then broke into a full run and gave him one last embrace, before he would leave. She cried lightly for a moment and he reassured her that he would be back next weekend to visit. As Chris drove off, Emily felt a cold chill blow across the drive, and a sense of dread shook her mind. She knew at that very moment that Chris would never return.

Mariah

Chris drove the long drive to Ohio State University. His heart was heavy leaving Emily behind, but he was also excited about his future at the college. It did not take long for him to unpack and become acquainted with his roommate at the dorm. Two days and nights of exploration ensued, as he became acquainted with his new surroundings. It was on the third day that his became afraid. He received a phone call from Emily, she was terribly lonely without him and desperately needed him to come home, just for a little while she said, and it would put her mind at ease. Chris knew that he would not start classes until Monday, so decided that he had better go see his Fiancé, and ease her heart. He left Columbus late in the evening, much later than he had hoped to, but he was still not used to the traffic of the large city and had a tendency to get lost. The night was clear until he reach the back roads of northeast Ohio. He had to slow to a near crawl to that he would be able to see the road. Fatigue and the shadows began to play tricks on him. When finally he missed a turn and drove off of the road. His car had become stuck in the ditch along side of the road, as he cursed his luck. He sat for a few moments hoping another car would come along, knowing this possibility to be highly unlikely on the road he was on. A moment passed and soon without warning he slept uneasily. He woke bleary eyed and tried to focus on the clock in the car. His eyes were stinging from the long hours on the road and lack of sleep, and failed to make out the numbers before him. He got out of the car and stood for a moment hoping the night air would clear his head. He was about to turn back the car when he heard a noise from a short distance behind him. He turned slowly think an animal had snuck up behind him. His heart leapt as he saw Emily standing near the woods edge. She must have come to find him when he did not arrive on time he thought. She stood there and slowly beckoned for him to come to her. As he moved to her he could begin to make out her clothing. She did not wear her normal cloths tonight. She appeared to be in a thin white nightgown. He looked at her confused as he approached. She continued to call to him with soft sounds and beckoned him deeper into the woods. His car seemed so distant but he could still see the light from the inside shining behind him. Emily stood just before a small grove of trees that seemed to grow up from a single point upon the ground. Around the trees he could see a ring of mushrooms had formed. Odd thing that he thought, but he was quickly re-focused upon Emily. She waited for him just on the other side of the ring which he stepped through to reach her. She stood before him, her body shining in the moonlight and the nightgown grew transparent as the light shone upon it. Chris’ passions leapt as he saw the contours of her body in its entire splendor. He grew flush with red heat as he reached for her and took her in a dire embrace. He did not think of why she would be dressed as she was only of the uncontrollable passions that race through him at this moment. He began to undress her slowly, savoring every wondrous inch of her flesh as it came into view. It was not long until they both stood within the circle of trees and mushroom completely nude and desperately needing a release to their growing passion. She slowly pulled him to the ground, placing him in a position atop of her and wrapped her legs around his waist. She smiled up at him, but this smile was not right he thought. There was no warmth to it that he knew, and he hesitated at the very edge of their union. Her eyes snapped open and her gaze tore into him. “What’s wrong my love, take me I am yours.” She cried. Chris pushed away from her startled and shaken for a moment. “Something’s not right here.” He heard himself say. “No Emily, you wished to wait and I can’t let you break that promise to yourself. I love you too much to let you do that”. Her face turned from a cold smile and began to change. “If I can’t have you willingly in my sister’s form, then I will take you by force.” She screamed in rage. Her figure was still nude and beautiful, but he could she her from shimmer in the moonlight. Something about her was changing and that change terrified him. Chris turned and ran for his car, he could just barely make the light out from where he was. He ran and his legs stung from the exertion. He dared not look back, because he could hear the Emily faced monster coming closer to him. He reached the car and dove for the open door, slamming it shut behind him. As he sat up he realized in terror that in his passion he had let her undress him. His keys were still in the grove of trees outside of the car. He turned his head slowly to the window beside him and he once again saw a ghostly white image of Emily standing at the edge of the clearing beckoning to him. He felt the desire well up inside of him again but he quickly quenched his yearnings and stopped himself from leaving the car. Her face turned from a seductive woman to that of a being full of rage and anger. She screamed into the air about her in furious wrath, “By my name, Mariah, I command you thorns to obey my will. Take this man, that loves my sister and bring him with me to his new keeper, so that I may fulfill part of my bargain.” Chris cried out in ultimate terror as branches of razor sharp thorns erupted from the woods around the one that called herself Mariah and wrapped themselves around his car. In the next moment Chris and even his car was gone, leaving only the echoes of his scream in the night.

HIM

Chris awoke with the sound of his scream still ringing in his ears, although no sound was escaping from his mouth. He felt an odd sensation upon his face. There was liquid warmth that flowed down his face and onto his chest. He could only assume that it was his own blood, and he was slowly becoming aware of a sharp sensation that was inside of his mouth. He tried to move but was met with only mind numbing pain. His entire body ached and each muscle was pinned in place on his bones. The very slightest movement brought wave after wave of tearing pain. Even his eyes were fixed forward pried open by some sharp substance. Darkness was all around him and movement, a movement that seemed everywhere. His eyes focused painfully in the dark and he was soon able to make out images passing before him, no it was he who was passing before the images. Something carried him, something huge and terrible encased his body and that thing moved like a thousand snakes upon fresh earth toward its destination. He could hear the rustling sound of branches moving but was unsure of what kind of monstrosity was moving them. Then from the edge of his vision she was there. It was Emily, she found him somehow and now this nightmare would end, she would find a way to get him out of this prison. He tried to cry out to her but as the sound first tried to emit from him the sharp sensations forced their way into his open mouth and down into his throat. The pain was intense and proceeded to get worse as his body began to convulse and gag from the strange objects rammed cruelly into his body. A voice resounded quietly in the night. He thought he heard Emily speak, but the voice was cold and distant, “Don’t try to struggle Chris, you will only cause yourself more harm. My friend is made from the Hedge and his thorns will tear your very soul apart. You are not of use to me without that soul. HE wants a new present and you will do very nicely, indeed. I expect a large bounty for one as handsome as you.” Time passed and Chris began to loose consciousness once again, he believed that he would bleed to death soon.

Painfully, He opened his eyes the feeling of razors being removed from him, sent pain to every inch of his body. A dim light could be seen about him and his eyes began to focus once more in the twilight. Chris began to move attempting to crawl up to his feet. “Excellent it survived!” a voice with the sound of gravel grinding into a metal machine came forward. “You have done well Mariah, and your reward will be…….”, the voice trailed off for a moment. “What is this, my word I have not seen one of these with so many years upon him before. What a splendid day!” The voice seemed please as the sound of tiny stones breaking upon boulders crushed into Chris’ ear. “You have outdone yourself this time Mariah, you have brought me a true beauty of a mortal and a Virgin at that.” There was a silence for just a moment and Chris understood that unseen looks were being passed. “You did not know?! Oh how absolutely wonderful. I shall double your normal bounty for bringing me such a treasure as this. Your services are always welcome within my lands.”

Mariah took something from the shadow that appeared before Chris and she looked over her shoulder at Chris as she left, “Too bad lover, I have always wanted to have a virgin, especially one that belonged to my sister.” She disappeared into the night and was gone forever from his sight. Chris’ body began to tremble as his muscles flexed to bring him upright. He scanned the area that he was standing in. The light that illuminated the area seemed to emanate from all directions; he could not make out the sky above him, although he knew he was outside. There were trees surrounding the clearing that he stood in, they were leafless and barren, also foreboding in appearance. Small tables of wood, stone, and metal were scattered throughout the clearing. There were other odd machines and tools that Chris did not understand the purpose for, strewn in haphazard fashion nearby as well. In the center of it all stood Chris, shaking in absolute terror at the things around him. The gravel voiced shadow moved toward Chris slowly and his approached heightened Chris’ desire to flee. “Run you fool” cried a part of Chris’ brain, and he did. “Chrys, you cannot leave yet, you have not been properly wrapped as my present to Afinlwyn.” Chrys felt a change in him, something was not right as it should be. His body was running but he was not moving anywhere, more to the point his feet were not moving. Chrys fell forward cutting his body as it fell upon the stones around him. Once again he stood and tried to run but no movement again came from his feet. He looked down and saw that his feet were buried into the stony ground around him, no..not buried, they were rooted. His feet were actually growing roots into the ground around him. What was happening to him, how is this possible, he had thought feverishly. “My name is Chrys!” he said to his captor, “No, I mean Chrys?” why could he not say his name correctly anymore? Somehow the shadowed man had changed the I in his name to Y. It sounded the same but yet there was a subtle difference. Somehow that difference meant more than a subtle physical change to him. His feet, how could his feet be growing? What else can this man do just by talking to him?

“You may call me Azarieth” the shadowed man spoke. “It is not my true name, but it is the name I have used for the past century, and now that you know my name we have a lot of work to do Chrys. I need you to be ready before the end of this century.”

Wrapping

Chrys Anthony Mum, looked about his bed, he was pleased that Azarieth had his fae servants remove the stones that had been choking him. It was difficult to grow tall for his Keeper when he had to fight at the stones in his bed. He knew today would be a big day for him, perhaps he may be allowed to uproot for a bit and move about Azarieth’s dreary meadow. All sorts of creatures inhabited the meadow, but Chrys had only met a few of them. The shovel and spade were his new friends in this strange world as they were the ones that tended to him the most. Chrys was the newest and grandest addition to the meadow. He had been told by the dull tipped spade that he was to be the finest present, ever, to Afinlwyn, a Fae of great beauty that Azarieth had longed to have swear loyalty to him.

Azarieth entered the meadow and behind him came all sorts of creatures. They ranged from the utmost beautiful to most vial things imaginable. Azarieth took a seat some twenty yards from Chrys. He was positioned directly in front of the budding young man. Slowly he raised his arm and five maidens of great beauty entered into the view of Chrys. “Let us begin with the basics.” The maidens descended upon Chrys and a moment of panic struck him as they toppled him to the ground. He at first feared that they would tear him from his roots in such a violent way that he would be killed. Though instead of pain upon his flesh he felt warmth, it was a soft warm breeze that flowed from the maidens mouths. It crossed over his body causing his skin to tighten at first and the release its tensions outward. Chrys responded to these maidens with great emotion and softly caressed them, as he would have done to Emily. “Emily, so far away now, and there is no sun here for me to share with you.” He thought. He may not have been able to have the woman that he loved but he could place the image of his love upon these maidens as if she were standing before him. Chrys took the nearest maiden into his arms, feeling her soft body press against his own hard muscles. She cooed softly in response to his sudden and rather unexpected compliance to their advances. She was a creature that had done this task for many of the Fae in the past, but this new creature was different somehow. She knew he was inexperienced but her body arched and twisted with each of his touches. There was something inside of him that she had never felt before.

Chrys spent long moments exploring every hill and valley of their bodies allowing their soft sighs to escape into his lips. Slowly he would return the very breath that they had given, each time compounded it with his love for Emily. He felt their muscles weaken each time he would give them more of himself, and somehow that giving, gave him some kind of strength back. Soon the group was a torrent of passion each moment passing as if time had ground to a slow boil. Chrys felt their skin growing hot and could see a small glow begin within each of them, as he would touch their heavily breathing bodies. The moment had come for him at last. In one glorious moment Chrys was now a man, and the maidens were now consumed into darkness. Their bodies had felt the glow of true desire and true emotions. They had followed that desire to its utmost peak and beyond, they had given all of themselves to Chrys and with that strength he grew as all flowers did. Their light had been spent and taken into him in one moment of ultimate release. Chrys now saw a power in desire and also a danger in it as well. Chrys had many more experiences each day. All sorts of knowledge of carnal desires was given to him, all of which he soaked up into his roots. He was becoming more than he had ever dreamed possible and knew that there was nothing he would not do to learn more. These thoughts would be tested in the not so distant future, when Azarieth would change his teachings from pure passion to that of pain. Chrys was beaten and tortured to near death but somehow always managed to survive. So many times he would lose consciousness, only to awaken refreshed and eager for more teachings. He would remember small parts of a dream during his time unconscious and somehow he would be reminded of his lovely Emily. Her eyes would always look upon him, and no matter how much she would hide it from him, he would always see the kindness within them. His skin would split open as the thorn whips cut his back and buttocks. His soul was being slowly torn from him with each swing of the lash, and he found that it allowed him to experience the pleasure even more greatly than before. It was this realization that gave him his fear. Fear…this was his answer to his desires. He would cultivate his Fear, make it grow and it would guide him. He must not let it consume him as his Fear is double edged sword. It is not the blunt instrument of Wrath, but a finely honed scalpel that could cut the mind consuming crescendo of Desire. Desire, this is what made the Fae what they were. He learned that they were concerned only with the whims of Desire, and the thought of consequences would never cross their minds. Fear would show the consequences to the deserving before it was too late and their Desire consumed them, as he had consumed hundreds of creatures through releasing their desires.

Years past and no form of carnal pleasure was kept from Chrys, he felt the elation of soft skin upon his own and his enter into its warm recesses, or surround it with his own warmth. He discovered ways to push creatures toward any desire that he chose, be it pain, pleasure, lust or an uncountable number of others. Many times he would allow those desires to consume the creatures. He would feel their bodies reach the pinnacle of ecstasy and simply refuse to continue further, as their bodies knew that they would never again feel as they did at that moment. He could kill with desire and learned that if he showed those creatures how their desire would consume them, he could save them with that fearful knowledge. Fear could save them. How ironic, that ones desire could kill and fear could save. He would remember hazy moments of his past, and how fear could have saved him from his fate now. Had he not followed his desire and listened to his fear he would not be here now. But his fear was also his salvation; it kept him from indulging in his own pleasures to far. Even when the pleasures were beyond belief, his experiences with beasts and other oddities taught him that pleasure can lead to desire, and that desire would lead to death. His fear of overindulgence grew and he tempered his lust and used it as a tool for his own gains.

Idden

It was a rare experience for a distraction to occur, but on occasion Chrys would be gifted with a visitor. It seemed that at times other Keepers would send their servants to see Azarieth, or on some other mission that allowed the servant to wander near to Chrys. One such individual happened by one day. Chrys could not place the time or year as he had lost all concept of time in his environment. This creature that lumbered toward him was hunched over and malformed. He was a short but extraordinarily broad creature and was obviously muscularly powerful. This man thing walked into the field that Chrys was standing. He seemed to seek out another of Azarieth’s servants. Chrys was being tended to in the normal fashion that he had become accustom. So many years of being trained had passed that Chrys was growing bored with the constant attention of the lesser fae or other servants. He needed other forms of stimulation to keep his mind from going mad. Physical pleasure and mental manipulations became tedious when he was subject to them nonstop. Chrys saw an opportunity to speak with another mortal like himself, yet this man was of no beauty in design. Hunched over and walking toward him this man came to Chrys. He spoke with a gruff and unpleasant voice and asked, “Why do you not walk about?” Chrys was almost speechless at first. How could this man look at him and not see that he was rooted to the ground. Chrys responded, “I have been told to stay and learn what my Keeper wishes me to learn. I am to be a gift for another.” Chrys realized that his words made him sound weak and insignificant. That he had no will or desire of his own. Chrys did have a desire, and that was to return home. He knew that there was someone waiting for him there, one that he loved deeply. His life here had changed him in ways that he would have thought unimaginable, but he still held onto that one connection to the mortal world so far away. The man thing said that his name was Idden and Chrys responded with his own name. Idden said to Chrys, “You have no purpose or will to survive, why should I waste my time with you, what is it, that drives your life”.

Chrys found himself hurt and partially angered by this statement. How could one that was given such a gift as to walk free amongst the Fae, be so cruel. It was not Chrys choice to stay here; he would run if he could. His feet were affixed to the very earth that he stood in. With anger in his eyes and a cold heart he looked upon Idden, “ Do you want to know what I am about. I know Fear, I know Desire. Desire is a power that kills and Fear is that which controls it. If I had been wise and listened to my fear I would not be here, I would not have been a fool. Fear is a guide and all should learn from it. I have been trained in ways of flesh and mind to bring desire to anything that I touch. I use my tools to guide those that I touch to learn Temperance of their own desires, and I use Fear to do it. How much is too much, at what point do you let yourself be controlled by your own whims of desire. That is the whimsical nature of the Others, how do you let yourself be like They are?” Chrys and Idden spoke for long hours when given the opportunity, but it always was not long before Idden had to return to his Keeper. Idden began to understand Chrys to some degree, and knew that Chrys did desire to escape, but he was waiting and planning. The right moment would come and Chrys knew he would have only one chance for escape.

The Gift

Many years had passed for Chrys, but now Azarieth came to him in his beautiful bed of flowers that had grown up over time. They would have spill beyond the banks of his bed had Azarieth allowed it. Chrys’ training was far beyond that of a normal changeling and for those reasons Azarieth found that he had to make a conscious effort to keep Chrys’ influence on his lands in check. Chrys had become a potent changeling for his keeper, but now it was time to fulfill his Keepers ultimate plan. He was to be given to Afinlwyn as a gift, and it was Chrys’ purpose to please her in hopes that she would pledge her Loyalty to Azarieth. The two beings entered into the domain of Afinlwyn, it was her will to have the sun shine upon the fields and meadows that they past. It was this moment that Chrys felt his greatest desire since coming to Fairie, he actually was considering the possibility of wanting to stay there. Finally, they approached the center of these bright lands, and Azarieth stepped forward to make his presence known. His voice was cut short by a powerful and cruel female voice, “Why have you darkened my lands once again Azarieth, you dare come to me with some trinket to offer?” He spoke while he bowed, “ I give more than a trinket to one so fair as yourself. I give you this mortal soul that has been trained by all the greatest fae in all the lands. He has learned every art of sensuality, and carnal knowledge known to man or fae. This flower that I present to you is a token of my good will toward you and if you so find it pleasing, I ask that you swear your Loyalty to me.” She scoffed in disbelief, “I shall be the judge of such ability, and understand that if he does not please me, I shall rend his soul in twain.” With those words a soft breeze billowed forth and the ground shifted into a large bedroom upon which Chrys found himself in arms length of the Fae Afinlwyn. His petals fluffed in the breeze and his scent traveled slowly across the distance into Afinlwyn. She smelled the spices and scent of flowers and raw sexual appetite. She knew that Azarieth was renowned for his craftsmanship, and his unyielding determination to reach perfection. It was his desire for perfection that brought him to her; she was the epitome of physical beauty’s perfection. She knew that his creation would be the absolute complete and unmatched courtier for pleasures of the flesh and mind. No mortal would ever match him in his skills. She lifted her hand in anticipation, and Chrys began his dance of skill and desire. His very presence exuded sexuality, she could see that there was nothing that he could not conceive and bring her desire to bear on those idea. Their lovemaking continued unabated for the passing of three Sun’s and Moons, and it was on the final day that Christopher began the ultimate test of himself. His efforts of skill had revealed to him Afinlwyn’s desire. Fae he had discovered do not feel as mortals do, but if you are skilled enough, then perhaps you may even be able to place a desire into the blank canvas of their soulless forms. It was this moment that Chris had existed for, it was this moment that his desire to give this Fae a true emotion, began to consume him. He did not believe that he would survive this encounter and so he gave himself full to his work and desire, knowing it to be his end. Their forms intertwined and became one being, and at this moment Chris took a piece of himself and fused it with Afinlwyn. He took the smallest piece of his soul and forced a single emotion into it, The strongest emotion of all Love. He then breathed this part of himself into her, and she reached a pinnacle of ecstasy that had never been experience before by this Fae. She felt love, and it made her afraid. She had been given the greatest gift of all, a piece of a soul and in that moment she experienced everything as a mortal would feel it. A tear fell from her eye and she looked upon Chrys and the words came as quiet as a tidal wave crashing upon the shore, “ I love you Chrys.” Azarieth heard this and stood for just a moment unsure of what he heard. The gift he gave her did in fact please her, but he did not want this, he wanted her loyalty and now she pledged LOVE to a mortal, and nothing to him. I gave her the greatest thing of my creation and this is my repayment. Something grew inside of him and he too felt for the first time in his existence, as he looked up he could see Chrys looking at him, and then he knew. Somehow Chrys had grown so powerful he was even able to affect the Fae in some way. He was able to infuse his emotions into them. “I will kill you for this betrayal Chrys”, bellowed Azarieth. He began to move across the bright glen to where Chrys and Afinlwyn lay together.

Chrys was almost ready, for he new that his moment was nearly hear, he had a choice to make, feel the true love of someone that has never felt emotion before, or listen to his Fear. His soul was still connected to Emily, which was far away and in a different time. He would not allow his light to be extinguish, he must return to his True Love. He let his Fear erupt forward and spoke to Afinlwyn to guide his Fear into her. “I do not love you, I love Emily, and now I take back my gift to you and He” Chrys breathed in and the lost fragments of his soul rejoined with him. An unfillable void cascaded down around the two Fae near him. And his life would be saved for the very Fear he had invoked. Fear of the desires and the emotions that fueled them. These were the things of mortals and not meant for Fae to withstand. A resonance remained, and though it would fade in time, that resonance controlled the Fae’s actions as if they still retained that small shred of a soul. She picked up Chrys like a rag doll, “ No, No you little insignificant creature. You dare taint me with you soul, I feel for you and now you reject me. I Love you and now you say I can not have you?! I will change you and make you mine, I will………” her voice trailed off because she saw Azarieth, his face full of rage and bloodlust, “ I will rend my creation for this outrage, you were to love me not him.” She shielded Chrys from Azarieth, “I don’t just love, I Love and you feel the Rage of that union. I should destroy this creature but my being aches to take such action. I cannot let you destroy him either. Though I Fear what he has done to us I must have more and he is the key to this.” With those words she pulled Chrys high above her head and hurled him with the strength of a god from her lands and even all the lands of Arcadia itself, His body collapsed torn and battered as the door erupted outward. Pain stuck Chrys and he felt different somehow, He crawled to his feet and his cloudy eyes looked about him. The fall leaves were covering the ground and at his feet there was a rusted and beaten old metal door. He recognized the door it was all that was left of his car. It had been nearly consumed by the wilderness. All that remained was this door whose hinges had been slammed into a tree. It was only from years of growth that the door actually was able to swing on the old rusted hinges. The tree acted as a base and the door the portal. He was back, and this frightened him terribly. The thought of returning entered his mind, “I could go back and beg for forgiveness’……and then die……..” He knew this was not an option, but yet he still yearned for the world he had just come from. He lifted an arm toward the door which quickly collapsed into a pile of twisted and rusted metal before him. It seems that fate wanted him to stay in the mortal world, at least for a little while longer.

Autumn 1999

Chrys stood there for a moment looking at the twisted metal door before him. He had tears in his eyes and a deep longing in his heart. He was free. The cool wind of Autumn blew across his body, and he became more aware of the dull reality of where he was. He stood naked at the edge of a row of trees, there were small pieces of rusted metal laying encased in the surrounding foliage and half buried in the dirt. He could only assume that it was what was left of his car after the Hedge consumed it, but why was it so rusted? How long had he been gone? Thoughts ran through his mind, but his senses were overwhelmed attempting to process all of the cruel reality of his situation. Chrys stumbled away from the trees that he had been pulled into so many years ago and saw light coming toward him from the road ahead. He heard screeching tires as the car skidded to a stop just inches from him. He shielded his eyes from the blinding light before him and cowered before the car, on hand supporting his weight on the asphalt. He looked as if he were some injured wild beast cornered by a hunter. His body was covered in deep cuts and a mixture of blood and mud covered his beautiful skin. He heard the sounds of a car door open and a voice call to him. “Mr. are you ok?” The question was a foolish one but the young couple that looked at him were a bit in shock from the situation. They had nearly killed Chrys as he collapsed into the road. The young man rushed to Chrys’ side and covered him with his coat. “C’mon mister we had better get you to a hospital.”

Chrys awoke in an uncomfortable but clean white bed. He had been washed and his wounds dressed. He must be in the hospital he thought to himself. There was little pain now when he moved. He looked about him and tried to gage his surroundings. After a few moments the door to his room opened and a young nurse entered the room. “Oh good, you’re awake. The doctor will want to talk to you. Can you tell me your name?” asked the nurse. “I am Chrys”, he responded still groggy from his ordeal. “Chrys Anthony Mum.” She looked at him quizzically , “That’s a strange name, but it suits you somehow. Alright Chrys I have a few questions for you. They are just simple papers that need filled out for the hospital, are you feeling up to it?” Chrys was feeling better but soon discovered that he was unable to answer many of the questions that she asked. A concerned look came across her face and she quickly got the doctor. The doctor asked all kinds of questions all of which Chrys tried to answer honestly, but he did keep his experience in Fairie a secret. He knew they would not understand. After some time the doctor and many strange tests, the doctor decided to tell Chrys his situation.

The doctor felt that Chrys had suffered some kind of brain trauma and he believed him a victim of some sort of attack. The police had scoured the area in which he had been found but found nothing. They assumed that he had been thrown out of the car at that location. It seems that his memories were not completely in tact, in fact it almost appeared as if he had the memories of some one else. The doctor had the nurse keep the police in formed of what Chrys remembered. It was later that day that the police arrived again to talk to Chrys. Apparently the information he had given them coincided with a missing persons case from 1972. They believed that some how Chrys had been taught the history of Chris Mumpton, an eighteen year old boy that had come up missing 27 years ago. In fact they believed that Chrys may even be his son. The names were so similar and photographs of the missing boy and this man were abnormally similar.

Chrys took advantage of there willingness to help him find out more about what happen to him. After some time he was able to construct a story of how his “father” Chris had once told him about his past. He created an elaborate story of Chris being kidnapped by people and forced to do all sorts of heinous things for them. It was only by accident that Chrys was conceived. It seemed that Chrys was suffering from some sort of post traumatic stress and he was blocking out most if not all of his own past. He apparently was reliving the stories that his father had told him as his past, as this was the only thing that he could remember of happiness in his life. Chrys was a master at manipulation and was skilled at playing with the emotions of others. The police and doctors quickly came to believe him and even helped him begin his life as Chrys Mum, son of Chris Mumpton. Apparently Chrys’ family had passed on many years ago and his childhood home and land were empty. It did not take Chrys very long to manipulate his way into his new life and obtain the remnants of his family’s estate, as meager as it was.

June 2000

Chrys had dreamt of Emily many times but he was not sure how to approach her or her family. It had been 27 years since they last had seen each other and though he only looked twelve years older than when he had left he knew that Emily would be a woman in her mid forties. He did not care about her age but he also did not want to hurt her more than his disappearance had already. Now his mind had no more distractions he had finished obtaining all of his families finances. He had even done some minor repairs upon his home with the help of his neighbors. It was almost too easy for him to acquire anything he needed or wanted in this world with nothing more than a smile or small favor. He was rapidly becoming “the local secret”, many times the young married women would come calling while their husbands were away at work. On the rare occasions a few young gentlemen would stop buy for “guidance” in their own budding romantic lives. Though many people would call on him he was still alone, for beyond his lust filled outer appearance people could sense something Fearful. Something in him was not to be spoken of and it kept everyone at bay, never asking too many questions of him.

Now with his mortal life partially in order he could not escape the dreams of Emily. He had to see her, he had to know what had become of her life. He knew how he must go to her. He drove into Warren looking for an old building that he remembered from his past. He hoped that the flower shop was still there. The building still stood just where he remembered it, but now it truly was an old structure, instead of just being made to look that way. He walked in to the building and immediately he noticed a change in the atmosphere around him. Most of the flowers in his presence shrunk away from him, except for the few out of season fall flowers. They seemed to grow stronger with his very presence. The change in atmosphere did not go unnoticed though. A movement from behind the counter caught his eye and he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight before him. An old woman stood looking back at him with an almost angry glare, a woman that seem familiar but changed somehow from his memories. It was Meg, he realized, but there was more to her than he remembered. Her hair was a tangle of long vines covered in bountiful flowers, and her face was covered in the fine dew of a morning sunrise. She looked like the embodiment of Spring in every way. He saw her and knew instantly that she was somehow like him and yet different. He knew his reflection in the mirror was to look upon the beauty of the crimson leaves and dark colored flowers of Autumn and beneath that beauty was his trusted Fear. She was as far removed from him in form and pure Desire than any mortal, but yet she was still like him. Bewilderment crossed his face and confusion.

“You dare bring Autumn into my shop, my home.” she wailed in absolute beauty. “We may be of the same Kith but we are obviously not of the same Court………” She paused for a moment. “Do I know you…..,” she trailed off. “Chrys is that you? Oh no, how could this happen, now I know what happened to you so long ago. We had all thought you were dead. Perhaps it would have been better that way.”

Meg and Chrys spent many long hours speaking of their situation. She encouraged him to let Emily go and kept his mind busy so that he would not think of her. She would even help his dreams avoid thought of his lovely Emily. She kept the secret from him that his beautiful Emily had been replaced by her sister Mariah. Meg knew that if Chrys discovered that Mariah had been given her freedom for his enslavement he would find a way to kill her. No one cared for the Privateer and many had tried to kill her, but her power was great and all those that confronted her ended up either dead or returned to their Keepers. She taught him of the Great Courts and introduced him to the members of the local Freehold. Chrys spent long days and nights learning and honing his skills of manipulation and learning new magicks, that the others like him called Contracts. He had returned from Fairie an unusually strong Changeling. He contributed this to the fact that part of him had not really wanted to leave at all, and this gave him a greater connection to his inner power which he learned was called the Wyrd. Meg was a passionate mentor but her Desire controlled her and Chrys pitied her for it. She wanted to be so much apart form the Fae that had captured her, but her giving in to Desire made her more like the Others than she could have imagined. Chrys tried to explain this too her but she refused to listen. He even shared her desires with her, feeding them back into themselves and finally just as she reached a point of ecstasy released his Fear into her. He had learned a great Contract from others of the Autumn Court and became for an instant her greatest fear. Meg’s heart had become old and weak from age, and this confrontation with her greatest fear hospitalized her for two weeks. She did not hate Chrys for this for she knew it was his way to show her that he cared. He had become the embodiment of Fear he turned a person’s Desires upon them and used their very own want to scare them into Temperance of themselves. She knew that others of the Spring Court would not see it this way but her age gave her wisdom. Chrys had saved her life by bringing her to near death. He had done so before her heart became too weak and she would have allowed herself to follow her own desires to death. Now, although she still chased her Desire, she would know her limitations and would live a much longer and fulfilling life.

She gave him a gift of the Spring Court, a Contract that would allow him to know a person’s desire. She knew that he could take a person beyond their very desire to a point of Fear of themselves, but the trip up would be fulfilling her Courts needs and the end would fulfill the Autumn Courts goals. She knew a great balance was needed by the seasons to maintain its strength and in some way Chrys had found that balance.

December 2005

Much time had passed and Chrys had grown strong among the changelings of his Freehold and had taken his place among them. He was known to be strong with the Mantle of Autumn, but many of the changelings did not understand why. He would share his Fear with only those he saw deserving, for using Fear too much would lessen its effects on the mind. He would many times act much as the Spring Court would, secretly despising all but a few of them. Their ideal was far too much like the Fae for his likening. At great parties he would occasionally hand a flower to a young Changeling and those who knew him would see his dance begin. The holder of the Flower was his target for the night, and this target would experience the very ultimate of all nights. They would be taken beyond the very limitations of their own desire to a point that would consume them, but just before their life would end in a Glorious finality, He would release them though his Fear. Fear would teach them their limitation and it would keep them safe from going too far. It was Fear that kept them all safe, fear of the mortal world, fear of the Gentry, and fear of loneliness.

It was loneliness that Chrys could not avoid, though he had the other Changeling to keep him occupied and busy, there was something always missing. He would occasionally read the news paper and see the wedding announcements inside. His heart would fill with such sorrow that cold frost would enter the world around him. Even his own flowers upon his Mien would recoil from the sudden cold. Although he did not dream of her often, he always remembered Emily. Anytime he considered going to see her though there would be some sort of distraction that came in his way.

He entered his home, shaking off the cold and snow of the winter day. He walked to the fireplace and shook the flakes from him. He did not mind the snow it was a season much akin to his own though it did affect him to a small degree. He missed the fall, the bright colors glowing in the waning light of the Autumn sun. The last of the flowers in their orange and deep yellows. Winter was quiet and gave him time to think, too much time. Emily was always on his mind during this season. He sat at his old chair in front of the soft fire and began to read the wedding announcements.

He read it a second time, thinking that his eyes were tricking him. Ms. Emily Page to wed Hank. Hank? What the hell is a Hank? His eyes burned and for an instant the room warmed and he felt the fire of Summer enter him. Then it cooled to the familiar feeling of Autumn. “I will meet this Hank fellow, and I will teach him.” He said aloud to his home. The Page home loomed above the snow-covered landscape. There was always large amounts of snow near Geneva, and today was no exception. Chrys drove his van up the back road and parked a distance away from the estate. Quietly he moved in the night up toward the house and peered inside.Chrys saw the Hank sitting next to Emily, and could witness him trying to kiss her. He kept making advances toward her with her continually pushing him away. Finally after a great deal of rejection he got up and stormed out of the house, and headed for his oversized truck. Emily collected their drinking glasses and headed off toward the kitchen. Chrys moved around to the kitchen door and watched Emily intently. He could see something different about her that he had not noticed before. His vision had been clouded by blind rage and now that he could see her more clearly, he could make out the features of a Changeling. He was stunned to see Emily with a Mien. She stood at the sink and cried ever so slightly and small droplets of ice fell into the sink. On her head appear to be two horns but they were not of bone, they seemed to be made of glass with something inside of them. Emily left the kitchen and headed back into the den, where she turned on some soft music. Chrys opened the door slowly and entered into the house. He walked to a corner of the kitchen and waited. Emily feeling the cold air rush into the house moved back to the kitchen. She approached the door pausing a moment to soak up the luxury of the winter air. She noticed the smell of apples and cinnamon and knew someone was there in the kitchen with her. She turned to see Chrys standing there. She knew him from her time in Fairie but did not recognize him as her lost love. Emily thought that all changelings were as her sister was, simply here to take her away. But she also knew that this changeling was the reason for her being released. It was her job to torment this creature and never allow him to take her completely. Chrys saw Emily and spoke to her of Hank and asked why she would forget their love for each other? Love? She thought. Why would this creature of spring love her? She could not love him, he was far to opposite a creature for her to understand. Time passed and their conversation continued. Chrys learned of how Mariah had taken Emily’s place, but it was also that act that doomed Mariah. She had been allowed her freedom but she was to never take the place of Emily. When Emily was released as a temptation and torment for Chrys, Mariah was found because she still maintained a connection to Emily. It was this connection that allowed her Keepers to find and pull her back to Fairie, where her soul had been unraveled forever.

He found that Emily had tended to him at times during his training, and he remembered those eyes so many times when here was near death. She had been there to create new things for Azarieth, so that He may use those creations to further train Chrys. While there she did not know who he was and it seemed now that she could barely remember their time together. Afinlwyn had been tainted for a time by Chrys’ soul and that taint led her to jealousy and revenge. She sent Emily back to the mortal world to tempt Chrys but never allow him to take her fully. She insured this in a most terrible of ways. Emily had been made to sew her body to near closure, so that no man would ever be able to enter into her womanhood. A cruel joke to have his love so close to him but never truly be able to join with her. Chrys had been trained and had truly become a tool of ultimate carnal pleasure and Afinlwyn believed this a fitting punishment for him.

Emily shunned Chrys not allowing him to express his emotion for her, and said that she was soon to marry Hank, apparently an arrangement that Mariah had made and now Emily was using simply to torment and find Chrys. Chrys’ heart bellowed in agony and he swore that Hank would not marry her. He told her that she was mistaken about him and that he was more than she remembered. He must prove it to her, so he convinced her to take him to Hank.

The small house was thick with the smell of beer and grease. Hank opened the door to find Emily standing there. “Change you mind darling,” Hank quipped. “No my friend she wanted me to meet you.” said Chrys stepping out from behind the door and moved into the room behind Hank. “Whoa buddy who do you think….you…are” his voice trailed off as the smells of cinnamon and apples flooded his nose. He felt light headed by the scent and his demeanor softened. Chrys began his dance upon Hank, hours went by and he discovered that Hank had only two real fears, the first was to die on his motorcycle and the second was hidden even to himself. He feared that he really did want to feel the man in the jail inside of him. Hank was almost raped while in jail and somewhere deep inside he had been curious about what it must have felt like, though he hid this reality even to himself. Chrys pushed on farther and proceeded to fill Hank with even more desire than before. Slowly he broke down Hank’s defenses and worked to become the object of his desire. Hank was not the brightest of individuals which in some way made Chrys’ dance more difficult. There were times that Hank just would miss the innuendos and sit looking dumbfounded. At one point Chrys had Hank to a point of excitement and Emily was becoming annoyed and irritated. She thought that Chrys was of the Spring Court and was pushing this upon her. Chrys told her to wait as she headed for the door, “There is more to me than you know, you must see it to the end.” She paused and continued to watch the gruesome display. Finally Chrys took Hank to the garage and placed him nude upon the seat of his motorcycle. Chrys sat behind him and slowly talked Hank to the verge of orgasm. He spoke of the beauty of driving the bike down the road and feeling the pulse of the huge engine vibrating beneath him. He continued his dance add to it, combining Hanks two pleasure into one and at the moment that Hank would achieve release, Chrys took the form of the man that tried to rape him while Hank was in jail. Hank screamed in Fear as Chrys grabbed him, pushing the running motorcycle to the floor. Chrys then thrust Hanks manhood deep into the sizzling hot tailpipe of the bike. Hank howled in agony as Emily grabbed Chrys throwing him like a rag doll off of Hank. Emily tended to Hank’s wound and realized she could see Chrys feeding off of Hanks Fear. That fear slowly turned to sorrow as Hank realized his situation and that he may never feel his most private of parts again. This fed Emily in turn and she dressed his wound. Chrys left the sight of Hank and waited for Emily to come to him. “Why did you hurt him.” She asked. Chrys smiled and responded, “ He will live and I doubt the damage is fully permanent, but now he has learned to listen to his Fears and is all the wiser for it. Come with me Emily I have one last thing to show you tonight.” Chris drove north with Emily and found an old dock on the shore of Lake Eerie. He remembered it well; it was the same place that he first told Emily that he loved her. He walked with her as far out as the ice would let them go and sat with her until the sun came up. As the sun came over the horizon he turned to her and whispered into her ear, “I love you, I always have and always will. Your memory was what gave me strength while in Arcadia and now we are together again.” He slowly moved closer to her and softly kissed her cold lips. A small flicker of light shone in her eyes and then was quickly hidden away, and memory came to her. She now knew who he really was and how they were together again.

Motley

Allies

• Flake Eerie
• Idden
• Jin

Enemies

Character Inspirations

A combination of The Fool and Puck from the book "Faerie Tale" by Raymond E. Feist

Soundtrack

Quotes

"Show me your desires and I shall teach you to Fear them"

Rumors

Chrys is truely Spring Court that has gone mad.

His Hollow has hidden rooms, that are devoted to strange experiments.

He once loved someone, but she was lost to him, so now he looks to find it in anyone or anything that he touches.