Hopeless Love

(Confronting the Villain)

by Shauna Houser

A Villain and a Heroine.

A Story old as time.

A hopeless love not meant to be,

cast by Fate's cruel design.

And shattered crystals, brightly gleaming,

hold to fae enchantment's seeming;

and a maiden lays there, Dreaming

deep within her mind…

There's someone that she searches for,

yet whom, she does not know.

Surrounding her instead, she sees

in hazy candle glow,

the Dancers dressed in fine array.

Seductively they spin and sway

like glittering rubies on display

with naught but glass below.

Then through the hoard of colored silks

she finds the one she seeks.

His changeling eyes burn into her

and leave her feeling weak,

and through the hazy, dim-lit room,

his eyes filled with despairing gloom,

he drifts to her, as though to Doom;

she finds she cannot speak…

Such sadness in his haunted gaze!

It tears her soul in two,

and deep inside, her heart cries out,

"Please, tell me what to do.

What dark vision do you see

when e're you turn your gaze to me?

Reveal this awful tragedy

and let me comfort you!"

Into his arms he takes her then,

and into dance they're spun,

and something magic fills his eyes,

for Something has begun…

In velvet voice he sings his song.

They're dancing, dancing all night long.

Her heart cries, "Here's where I belong!

From him, I'll never run."

But something lingers in her mind;

A hidden doubt is there.

Yet when he bends to kiss her

she can’t bring herself to care.

But still, she knows there’s much amiss,

and so turns from his tempting kiss.

Then, from her throat there comes a hiss

of absolute despair.

For Dancers start to press her in

and masked eyes glitter coldly.

On lips are twisted sneers of hate

as rough hands clutch her boldly.

And with a startled, panicked gasp,

she tears herself from hateful grasps

and stumbles through the sea of masks

amid their howling glee.

And yet, no matter where she runs

those eyes she can't escape.

They follow her where e're she goes;

their sorrow she can't shake.

And in their depths lies a command,

a plea for her to understand

the Gift he holds in outstretched hand,

as through glass walls she breaks.

Then screams of horror fill the air

and end the mocking laughter,

and everything begins to fall

as all ends in disaster.

And still, Dancers mechanically

sway to discordant melody,

for even now they are not free;

they'll Dance forever after.

And in this broken spell she stands;

her enemy she faces.

Her Dream is coming to an end

as to an end Time paces.

From 'midst the shadows he appears;

his face has aged a hundred years,

and ancient eyes hold all the fears

of a hundred ancient races.

Now pale mist gathers like a wraith

about his weary form,

and garbs him in a cloak of gray;

a piece of darkness, shorn.

His haunted eyes are begging, pleading,

and his soul is bleeding, bleeding…

Why must this love be so fleeting?

Why is his heart so torn?

An echo of a tolling bell;

the hour is at hand.

Before him comes this Heroine

to make her final stand.

Determination conquers Fear,

and Mercy has no holding here…

Yet in her eye there shines a tear

as states she her demand.

And even as she speaks

the world's foundations start to quake,

and she feels the very air

surrounding them begin to shake

as, with the tolling of the bell,

there comes an end to faerie spell;

her Dream, a fragile, shining shell,

will soon begin to break.

And though she knows the choice is clear

and that he cannot stay,

her heart begins to break

as now he slowly fades away.

The Story comes into its end,

and even True Love cannot bend

the Rules of iron. In the end

the Story has its way.

Upon Awakening she knows

she's lost her greatest chance.

Her dreams had been within her reach;

within his longing glance.

But in her mind she stands before

the threshold of Enchantment's door.

With him she's bound forever more…

Forever shall they Dance.