Princess White Flame, so pale that she could scarcely be discerned,
quivered and flickered where the Wind had rudely thrown her. Too weak
to cry out, she only sighed faintly, and sank still lower upon the
ashes.
She knew not that by her entrance into the Borderland the cruel spell
had been broken by which the Earth Fairy had so long compelled her to
flee from Prince Radiance. She only knew that she felt helpless, and
almost without life. And indeed the Princess was now in great danger,
for away from the Fire, no Fire Fairy can live for long.
Over Prince Radiance the Borderland possessed no evil power. He arose
unharmed from the stones and looked anxiously about him for his
Princess. So almost extinguished was her fairy flame that at first
he did not see her, and his heart was rent by fear lest the Wind had
carried her away from him forever.
But presently he descried her lying there, as if unable to proceed
further, and hope rose again in his breast. In haste he took forth the
Veil of Disenchantment--in haste he ran to her holding it securely in
his hand. He reached her, he bent above her, and she did not stir.
“At last my White Flame,” he cried, in an outburst of joy, “at last
you flee from me no more.”
He cast the mystic Veil over the flame of the Princess. Like a web of
gossamer it settled slowly upon her, and the Prince, scarce daring
to breathe as he watched it, saw the Wise One’s promise instantly
fulfilled.
At his feet, visible in her true form, lay a creature so beautiful,
so charming as none had ever seen the like before. The Veil of
Disenchantment, in touching her, had changed to a marvelous robe, soft
and silvery, that swept in shining folds from her head to her feet.
Over her shoulders and down to her knees streamed the silken splendor
of her hair; pale gold it was, and finer than the finest floss. Her
delicate red lips were closed, her eyes fast shut.
Prince Radiance fell on his knees before her and touched her gently.
“White Flame,” he whispered, “dear White Flame, awake and speak.”
The Princess lay there pale and still, giving no sign that she had
heard. The Prince laid his hand on hers, but felt no glow of life.
In wild alarm he cried aloud, “White Flame! White Flame! Awake--awake!”
Still the Princess made no answer, and though he tried by every means
he knew to revive her, his efforts were all in vain.
At length, choked with grief he bowed his head upon her breast. If he
had reached her, and freed her, only to lose her thus, he had no wish
left except to die by her side.
A fierce tug at his arm aroused him. “Do you not know that a Fire
Fairy cannot exist in the Borderland?” demanded an indignant voice.
“Take her back to the Fire at once, and warm her back to life.”
[Illustration: Prince Radiance fell on his knees before her.]
The Prince raised his head, and saw at his elbow a fuzzy little
creature, who clutched and shook him with a pudgy hand. It was an Elf
of the Borderland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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