Secrets

Fernand was singing by the light of the moon, his serenade pounding to Tara's heart. With every pluck of the strings he held, Tara sighed heavily inside, thinking of her prince by yonder window.1

'Fernand, your music strikes me with happiness, yet you know you can not stay any longer. Although I do not wish it, i must make you leave before it is too late.'2

'Ah, Tara,' he cried up to her, his music stopping abruptly. 'You need not worry about me, 'tis I who should worry about you. I will leave now, but I have promised to save you and save you I shall!' Without another word, but perhaps a blown kiss from his fingers, he departed. Tara sighed heavily once more, only aloud this time, and looked towards the door of her room. She could not see the door without a tear streaming from her eye, for she hated not being able to look behind it. This night, however, she stepped forward to the door, stroking her hand against its soft oak. She savoured the contact, inhaling the smell of its musky wood.3

A sound echoed slightly through the room. Tara retreated from the door quickly, tripping over the frame of her bed in her haste. She landed hardly on the mattress, scrambling to get to her feet. The heavy door knob turned, and a man walked in.4

'Falcon!' Tara was trembling, unable to move. Sweat stood on her forehead, but Falcon was oblivious to her fear. Well, that is what anyone would say if they saw the two, but truthfully Falcon enjoyed seeing her fear. He just did not like to show his pleasure to the matter, and therefore ignored her. 5

'Tara, child, you seem surprised to see me,' he said in his own droning voice.6

'That can expected, Falcon, you know very well that Fernand has been back.' Falcon gave an evil grimace he usually gave to Tara when she displease him. 7

'That young boy? I don't see what pleasures you with him, Tara, he is a coward and a - '8

'You only say that because you can not find him, Falcon,' she intervened, a triumphant smile on her face. Without warning, Falcon held her at her throat, pinning her against a wall. His face screwed up in anger, his temples throbbing and his teeth bared in intimidation.9

'I have tried to teach you to hold your tongue, but I have clearly not taught you hard enough.' He gripped tighter as he said this, and Tara gasped for breath. 'You will keep quiet about that boy, for I do not want to even hear of his existence.' He snarled once more, and with a fury threw Tara onto her bed, gasping and choking. He turned to the balcony on which Tara had stood not long ago, listening to her Fernand play. Falcon smiled, then turned back to face Tara.10

'I'm sorry,' she whispered, her voice barely heard.11

'I know you are,' he replied. 'But this is one lesson I shall finish by myself.' His smile broadened. Falcon walked out to the barrier of the balcony, grasping to it with his firm and steady hands. 12

'No,' Tara whispered, still regaining her voice. 'No!' She was shouting now. She fell off her bed, running as quickly as she could to catch Falcon's cloak. 'No,' she screeched, as her worst thoughts had become apparent. Falcon sprouted wings of enourmous size from his back, his arms disappearing and his feet turning to talons. He screamed triumphantly, only it was not human now. The screaming came from a bird, the largest falcon a man could and would ever see in his life.13

Tara could not stand, her legs trembled worse than they had before. She collapsed to her knees, and she wept. She could not bear the fate that had been sealed for her. For her and her Fernand. Tara had expected this day to come since she first revealed that Falcon was not hers, and she was not his. She had not left the room she was in at that moment since she told him, and had taken many nights of torture from Falcon. Fernand had come to her when Tara had first entered the room she was in. He had ridden up to the foot of the tower and found beauty in her quiet features, and they had both found love in each other. Suddenly,as Tara began to weep harder, a whistle came from the foot of the building. Tara looked through the bars of the barrier, and wiped her tears away in earnest. There stood Fernand, proud and tall as ever.14

'Fernand!' cried Tara. 'Oh, I have missed you so, but Falcon may find you!'15

'I saw him leave not long ago, and I heard you weeping from this bush.'16

'Oh!' Tara let out a gasp, surprised that even a love-sick Fernand would stay as long as he had, and in such danger.17

'My beloved, you must leave! Falcon is out to search for you, and he is more determined than ever to find you. I could never forgive myself if you were hurt.'18

'Then I shall not get hurt, Tara.' But even at that moment the beating of wings grew ever closer. Tara's breath grew harsh and quick.19

'Fernand, listen to me! Do you love me?' Yes was his reply. 'Then leave, if you wish to express you love.' Fernand stared up at her, his heart torn. Falcon was growing closer, and he knew a bird of that size could rip him in two. The figure was visible from where he stood, and in his quick thinking Fernand crept swiftly behind the bush he had hidden in before.20

Tara looked at the bush she had seen him behind before, unable to move. Falcon returned to his human form on the balcony, looking down at Tara. When he saw clearly that she would not move, he grabbed her hair and pulled her to her feet.21

'Where is he?' he bellowed. 'As a human, my power is limited, but as a bird I can hear everything. You spoke to him.' He shook her violently, her hair still in his hand.22

'I do not know,' she cried, begging him to let her go. He thrust her back to the floor, cursing her. Fernand listened silently in the bushes, tortured mentally as Tara was physically. Every night for the past year he had listened to her screams. Tonight, he would stand no more. Tara had never been so desperate, and Fernand had never once been more in love. As Tara screamed once more, Fernand stood.23

'Falcon!' Fernand yellwed this at the top of his voice. The screaming stopped, and all was silent. Falcon steadily walked to the balcony.24

'Is this - '25

'Yes, it is I, Fernand. Falcon, you wished to find me, and here I am.' Fernand bowed mockingly, his eyes still set on the figure above. In moments, he was being struck to the ground by Falcon's mighty talons. Tara screamed at what she saw, as all she oculd see was her beloved being murdered by a falcon. Fernand was not dead, but he could barely reach to his pocket for his knife. He knew he could kill this beast, but all he needed was his knife and Tara safely up in the tower.26

The knife was secure in his hand! With an almighty plunge, Falcon let out a piercing cry, almost falling on top of Fernand. He rolled away just in time, watching the bird writhe in agony.27

'Fernand!' He looked up again, seeing Tara there with tears down her cheeks. Never had she looked so beautiful, and never would she be disturbed again.