"Unicorn Dreams" which I plan to expand into a full length novel someday. I hope you enjoy it.
Unicorns
Dreams
By: C. L. Collar
“But Father. We
will soon be ushering in the 19th century. I have no desire for marriage.”
Alicia determinedly stepped to the bookshelf and grabbed a book. “This is what
I want to do,” she said waving the book at him. “I want to further my education
and write wonderful magical stories for the rest of my life.” She raised a
finely lined eyebrow as she set the book on his desk. I do not need a man for
that.”
Jason Whitaker
glanced at his irate daughter from his seat behind the large mahogany desk. Her
platinum blond hair was tucked up into a neat bun encased in a stylish net. The
purple gown she had chosen showed off her petite form and amazing violet-blue
eyes. Eyes, now shinning with the intensity of her thoughts. How could anyone
so beautiful be so exasperating? Sighing he removed his spectacles and
rose.
“You are sixteen,
Alicia. Your future with a prominent young man is what you should be thinking
about.” He tossed Alicia’s neatly written manuscript onto his desk. “It is time
to put this silly writing nonsense out of your head and grow up. The Whitaker’s hold a high place in
English society.” He pointed a thick finger at his daughter. “And you, my dear,
will marry a man from a well-established family. It is your duty. Now I have
work to do and you have a suitor to prepare for.” He sat back down and
replaced his spectacles, putting an abrupt end to the discussion.
And with that
Alicia’s dreams were smashed into the ground. Her protest brought her nothing
but a blunt dismissal. Blinking back the tears that threatened to fall, she
squared her shoulders and exited the study.
She made her way to the garden entrance holding her head high and
smiling at the servants as they passed. Finally reaching the door she slipped
out and ran as fast as she could to the back of the garden, and deep into the
forest. A startled rabbit ran between her feet nearly tripping her causing her
to slow her pace.
“I am so sorry Mr.
Rabbit. I did not see you there. Please do not run away.” She said out loud,
but the rabbit was nowhere in sight.
Alicia caught her
breath and settled into a slow thoughtful walk. Leaves filled the sky bursting
with the vibrant colors of fall. She breathed in the crisp autumn air. The
scent of rich luscious apples and sweet peaches delicately teased her nostrils.
Oh yes, she thought, this was the perfect way to start off a glorious new
season. Not trapped in a pallor forcing polite talk about the weather over tea
and cakes.
She slowly walked
in the direction of the scent taking her time to enjoy the forest in its newly
acquired wardrobe. Finally, she reached her secret orchard. Alicia couldn’t
believe no one else in the manor knew of its existence. Of course, she would
never have found it herself if it hadn’t been for her newfound adventurous nature.
It all started with finding that wonderful book in the attic, Alice In Wonderland.
Alicia opened that
book and sat transfixed following Alice on her exciting whimsical journey. She
was left yearning for an adventure of her own. The very next day she donned her
simplest frock, plated her long hair into a braid, and slipped out of the
manor. Sighting a deer she followed it deep into the woods and into her own
secret wonderland. That was four years ago when she was just a child. Now she
was a full-grown woman of sixteen years and soon to start her debutant balls.
Alicia sighed. She
had no desire for balls or boys. Her true passion was writing beautiful,
magical books. She had even written a few short stories in secrecy while
sitting in her magical place. Stories like the one she had just shown her
father. Stories that according to him, were nothing but a child’s silly act of
play. She kicked a rock sending it rolling down the path and causing dust to
fly into the breeze. Oh no, she thought as the dust settled on her gown.
She was so upset
she hadn’t bothered to change. Alicia stopped to examine the beautiful dress.
Thankfully there were no tears in the delicate fabric. She was to have tea with
one of her suitors this afternoon. William had been a friend of hers since
childhood, but she definitely did not want to think of him as a husband.
“I guess those
boys would be called men now,” she mused out loud as she brushed the dust away.
“But I still see them as naughty little boys, pulling my braids and constantly
teasing. I would not give any one of them the satisfaction of calling him a
man.
She eyed the
lovely red apples at the top of the tree. “Why is everything I desire most
always out of my reach?” she asked.
“That is because
you don’t want it bad enough.” The feminine reply floated through the air.
Alicia sucked in her breath and looked around. Her
violet-blue eyes scanned the orchard, she saw no one. My imagination must be
running away with me. Just silly nonsense inside my head, she thought.
“Yes, I am inside
your head, but the thoughts are mine not yours and they are anything but
silly.”
Alicia scanned the
forest again. Nothing. Turning back to the tree she remembered Alice’s
adventure and decided to have some fun. “Miss Tree are you talking to me?” she
asked tilting her head.
“No. I am not a
tree. Now take a step back and listen. Pick the apple you want the most and
concentrate on the branch. Make it bend to your will.”
“That is just
silly. I cannot bend a branch with a thought.”
“I am a very
patient being, Alicia, I can wait as long as you want, but know this, you will
not be allowed to leave my orchard until you try.”
“What do you mean?
Who are you and why would you hold me here?” Alicia swirled around searching
for the voice’s source.
“I am the owner of
this orchard and right now your teacher, so you can do as I say, or just stay.
It matters not to me.”
“That is absurd.
You truly think you can hold me here? I think not.” Alicia turned and with a
defiant look headed back toward her home. As she passed the final tree its soft
vines twisted around her waist. The tree picked her up and placed her gently
back inside. Panicking she ran to the other edge. This time the trees bent to
block her path using their branches to shoo her back in front of the apple tree.
“What kind of
prank is this? Let me go.” Alicia clenched her fists.
“When you try.”
Alicia sat down on
a rock and took a deep breath to steady herself. “Will you at least come out
and let me see your face?” she asked.
“When you do as
you are told, then my form you will behold.”
“Truly?” Alicia
asked, eyebrow raised.
“Truly.”
“Well, I guess it
will not hurt to try.” Alicia shrugged her shoulders, ”But I know it will not
work.”
“You are
absolutely right. If you don’t want to think positive about it then it will not
work. Whichever way is fine with me. But my form you will not see, until you do
this for me.”
“Oh bother! You
are quite rude you know. You do not know me at all and now for some odd reason
you think that you can boss me about.” Alicia jumped up and glared at the tree.
“ I have known
you, child, since you first stepped into my orchard and I am not rude or bossy.
I am giving you an option and an opportunity. Take it or leave it. It is your
choice.”
“I am not a
child,” Alicia squared her shoulders, “and I do not think being trapped in this
orchard forever is any sort of opportunity.”
“Silly girl.” A
musical laugh filled the air. ”The opportunity is to learn how to get what you
desire most. So why not give it a try?”
“Why didn’t you
say so in the beginning?” asked Alicia tucking a stray strand of hair behind
her ear. “There was no reason for you to be so vague.”
“Vague? I think
not. If you would have listened you would have heard the meanings of my every
word.”
“All this talk in
rhyme. It will surely drive me crazy if I am not there already. Fine I will try
and I will try to do it with a positive manner.”
Alicia gazed way
up into the tree and focused her thoughts on a beautiful, rich red apple. Her
eyes followed the curve of the tree branch. With all of her concentration, she
forced her thought into the branch. Bend
branch. She bellowed with her mind at the tree. Give me what I want. Bend and do my bidding. Do it now.
The branch swayed in the breeze as if mocking
Alicia’s demand.
“Talk about rude.
A little bit of gentleness might go along way. That is all that I will say.”
“Again with the
rhyme? Surely you will taunt me with it until I do your biding.”
“Try again,” were
the only words sent back to her mind.
Alicia blew her
bangs out of her eyes and focused again on the tree. She spotted the apple and
slowly worked her way down the branch. I
would really like to taste one of your beautiful red apples. Please bend and
place it in my hand.
The tree shook.
Alicia watched with anticipation. The tree continued to shake, but no branch
bent and no apple fell. Finally a small giggle escaped from the trunk.
Alicia jumped back
startled at the sound. Soon her fear turned into anger as she realized that the
tree was laughing at her.
“You said you were
not a tree! You lied to me and now you have made me look the fool. I am
leaving.” Fist clenched, Alicia turned to leave the forest.
“I did not lie.
I’m not a tree, bend the branch and you will see.”
Alicia turned back
toward the apple tree. “I tried! It did not work.”
“Try Again. Think
about what you really want, Alicia, and why you want it. Use your senses and
your mind, then your treasure you will find.”
Alicia again
looked at the apple of her eye. As she focused this time, she thought about the
fruit she desired. She let her mouth taste the sweetness; her eyes take in the
rich red color and her nose smell the delicate fragrance. Her mouth began to
water with anticipation of what was to come. Come to me. Bend and let me have a taste of your fruit so sweet.
The
tree branch slowly arched downward. Alicia watched the fruit’s leisurely
descent with delight. The other branches gracefully gave way as the luscious
fruit slipped into her hand. Grabbing the apple, Alicia held it out in front of
her amazed at the feat she had just accomplished.
“I did it! Did you
see that? I did it! I made the tree branch bend with a simple thought. I cannot
believe it.” She swirled around then sat down on a log and began eagerly
munching on the tasty morsel.
“Now that wasn’t
so hard was it?”
Alicia stopped
munching. Mouth and eyes wide open she sat transfixed by the sight before her.
Floating through the air a flowing main and tail appeared. Next came a
glittering iridescent spiral horn with a deep purple base and gorgeous amethyst
eyes. Finally the body filled in and before her stood a glorious white unicorn.
“The Cheshire cat
is not the only one who knows how to make a memorable appearance, or I guess in
his case it would be disappearance.” The musical laugh again filled the
orchard. “Now, close your mouth. You look quite silly.”
“But…but… you are
a unicorn. But you cannot be a unicorn. There is no such thing.” Alicia laid
the apple on the log suddenly not sure of anything. Slowly getting to her feet
she again surveyed her surroundings. “First the trees block my exit. Next I
hear a tree laughing at me then it bends it’s branch and gives me my apple. Now
a unicorn is talking to me. This cannot be. I know. I have fallen and bumped my
head. That is it. You are a figment of my imagination but oh how I wish you
were real.”
“Okay. I will
play. What would you do if I were real?”
“I do not know? I
have never really had the thought before. I guess I would want to know why you
would hide. Why you would not want anyone to know of your existence?”
The unicorn tossed
her glorious mane. “I do not hide from anyone. Humans choose not to see me
because they choose not to believe. Not very many people believe in magic
anymore, but you, dear one, do way down deep inside of you. That is why you
heard the tree and that is why you can see me. Now that we have established the
fact that I am real, what will you do?”
“I did not say
that I believe you are real. Remember, I am unconscious and you are a figment
of my imagination.”
The unicorn
swished her lavish tail. “Well, if this is truly your belief, then I have a
question for you.”
“And what might
that be?”
“How would you
like to accompany me on an adventure into my world of magic. It will be both
exciting and fun. When you wake up we will be done.”
Alicia’s eyes lit
with excitement. “Oh yes. By all means yes. And there will be no harm done
since I would just be sleeping anyway. When do we start?”
“Right now, but
first stand in front of me and open up your hands.”
“Why?” Alicia’s
eyebrow rose again.
With another swish
of her tail the unicorn said. “Why not? ‘Tis but a dream.”
“Why yes. That is
surely true.” Alicia stood in front of the beautiful beast and held out her
hands.
“They call me
Wishteria. I am pleased to welcome you as my pupil. Semper
simul, forever together. I
seal our fate.”
Wishteria pointed
her shimmering horn at Alicia’s hands. A sparkle of silver stars fell onto her
palms then dissipated into the air. Alicia eyes rounded in amassment as on each
palm a perfect replica of Wishteria formed.
“What does this
mean? What have you done?”
“I have made us as
one.”
“But why? No, no!
You must take it back. It will be the death of me if my father sees this.”
“Remember ‘tis but
a dream, nothing will mean a thing.”
Alicia stared at
her hands as the beautiful pictures vanished before her eyes. She picked up her
apple and sat back down on the log. “I do not know if I can trust you,” she
said eyeing Wishteria. “I think you are playing in my head.”
“Maybe so, maybe
not, but I will bring you what you have sought. Unicorn dreams to take you
away, to countless adventures in the land of Fey.”
“Like Alice?”
“Much better than
that silly book, for our adventures will bring out the true magical soul that
lives deep down inside of you. ”
“Marvelous!”
“Good, now follow
me. We begin our journey in the heart of the land of the dragons.”
Alicia jumped up
from her log. “Dragons are real too?”
“Very real and
very powerful.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.” Wishteria
nodded and turned to leave.
“Amazing! Alicia
grabbed another apple from the tree. “I have one more question before we
begin.”
Wishteria looked back at Alicia. “Yes?”
Are you going to talk in rhyme, all of the time?”
“Are you?”
Wishteria smiled, and with a swish of her tail she turned and headed down the
path.
