A full moon was the only light given to the open glade within the dense thickness of the trees. Below a high ridge off to one side a clear pool lay, at the base of a soft waterfall. Strangely enchanted the pool was warm instantly to the touch and the sound of the falls made no more noise than a soft whisper of water trickling down a wall. The bed of the glade was laden with thick heavy moss, as gentle as a pillow to lay on. The surrounding woods showed an eternity of trees between it and whatever darkness laid beyond, though it was a sight that comforted those who sought privacy rather than strike fear in them.
It is within this glade that the Fairy Mistress dwelt, it was her private domain, not for the likes of any other being. It was her private realm, a place for her to escape the harshness of the duties her role as Fairy Mistress endured. She often sought solace there, returning whenever she could escape. Alone she dreamed and hoped for better things, yet love, love she hadn't known in so long. Hurt by so many and betrayed by so much deceit, her heart turned icy, and she forgot it, thinking it would never thaw again. As testament to her unkind past, she swore unto herself nobody would ever know of her realm, it would be her escape, for nobody could ever come here, no-one would ever bother her here.
As fate would intervene and spoil all promises destined to be shattered, it did. Walking amidst the courtyard of the ShadowKeep from which she ruled, she noticed upon the grounds a stranger. The stranger was an enigma, a forgotten entity, a long-since gone race. The Fairy Mistress could not identify him as any of a slew of races she had known to exist. His features were unlike any she was familiar with, but they were soft, and had the look of youth upon them, yet the eyes, deep pools of knowledge from which she could tell contained no lack of ingenuity.
Though she may have noticed him, and studied him, he took no notice of her. Going about his buisness, of what seemed to be nothing more than aimless wandering, he took little notice of anything around him. Full of curiousity the Fairy Mistress approached and whispered in his ear a greeting. He turned quickly, though whether he was surprised or not, she didn't have enough time to study his expression. He smiled joyfully at her, a great deal of curiousity swelling in his eyes. Almost captivated by his gaze, she managed to escape long enough to ask his name. He lacked no sincerity in his answer, telling her he was a shadow chaser. He was captured light of the stars, a testament of night's infinity, he told her that he was sent forth to monitor the shadows.
Whether at first she didn't understand or not, the Shadow Chaser soon made it clear. He was made to keep the shadows away. As is their nature, the dark silhouttes plotted infinitely to drive forth the emptiness, to create shells of their owners so they could occupy them. The role of the Shadow Chaser was to drive back the shadows, to prevent the emptiness from consuming and driving away all spirit.
As she listened to the Shadow Chaser tell his story she felt very comfortable yet also marvelled at his tale. He was a beacon of light, Kaivu, she thought, and to her surprise thought it aloud. The Shadow Chaser stopped and stared, politely, but then nodded and told her that his name was Kaivu, and his Duty was love. Whether she realized it at that moment or not, the Fairy Mistress' Heart did melt, and began to beat once more.
"I am Clairva, as my powers call me, and I control the shadows here." Replied the Fairy Mistress. Kaivu just smiled, obviously he knew her far better than she expected. He told her that he had dreamt of her, and many nights his dreams would form in his mind that of a woman, of surpassing beauty, which to his eyes the Fairy Mistress held, who sought escape far off from the world around. Her eyes opened in wonder. he knew what she needed, what she wanted. Almost as if admitting a great secret reluctantly, she told in return that all she had dreamt about was the need to be wanted. Obviously to her surprise, yet not entirely to his, he told her that was why he had come, to keep the shadows from overwhelming her.
Many more nights after that they spoke, and grew closer and spent every moment they could together. He often spoke to her of how he understood the feelings she had, and that he could console her. After such a time, she asked him how he thought he could help her, part from immense skepticism, and part from a deep hopefulness. He smiled politely, and then quite seductively at her and almost to her surprise, yet also to her immense joy he leaned forth and kissed her full upon the lips. The feeling was like a shock of lightning, a powerful surge drew her to him, and her kiss deepened as her body plunged itself into his arms. She was hungry, oh so very hungry for the taste his lips gave, and at that moment the sound of his voice was no more heavenly than a choir of angels would have been. By filling the emptiness with love, the shadows cannot succeed. Kaivu had told her exactly how, though without so much as a word.
After that kiss the truth came to her with a sudden shock of revelation. She felt love again, she felt her heart, the part of her she long thought dead and never to revive again was beating, if not fluttering. Her spirit felt invigorated, and it swelled her entirely. Lust and Desire consumed her, and she knew that she was no longer empty. Drawn from deep within her, she gave a smile, not forced, but a smile of happiness and excitement. Knowing that she had found something she had so long sought for, fulfillment.