artwork: "What is the fascination that makes her so adorable and so terrible?" (The Queen)

The Fairy Queen (aka "Green Fairy"). Click to ENLARGE.

 

 

 

"Ah! the Green Goddess! What is the fascination that makes her so adorable and so terrible?”—Aleister Crowley

Gelding in the Fairlands: page 9- Finale!

 

(Click to ENLARGE. Gelding in the Fairlands, Final Page!)

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 Prelude, One,Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

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Gelding in the Fairlands: page 4 (click to Enlarge)

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Page 5 on its way...!

have some concept art! (to hold you over 'til Wednesday)

fairy king concept sketch

fairy queen concept sketch

Gelding anatomy study

more Gelding

crappy Puck concept art

Goblin King character concept and color studies

Profane Tales: Melancholy & Magic (part 2 of 2)

4-unicorn & siren
THE UNICORN found welcomed silence among the Fairy forest. He found a tree to lean against, for he was bone-weary and ready to sleep without waking.
Solitude was cut short by the sound of a woeful song. The voice was one the Unicorn thought he knew, female and too enchanting to be mortal. It may have worked to weary a mortal traveler into lying down to weep. But he was not mortal. Instead he was filled with curiosity.
"Your ha ho has. So full of joy.
words you pass make me a toy.
My wings are soaked,
my bones already dried.
So build you hungry fire.
So build it high.
Your painted lies, your this and thats

Your torchlight cries with sharpened flats
My wings are broken, so throw your spears
You delay my defeat
‘for cries are music to your ears."
A sob broke the ballad’s end and by then the Unicorn found the Siren beneath a tree, knees hugged to her chest. A veil half-concealed her countenance but he knew there was only one siren with a veil. That of their oracle.
"You sing when it does you no good, siren. Tamryn, dry your ears and fly from this world. It is not for you. You are demon and they are fae."
"I belong in no world now. I am the last of my kind," she sighed and lowered her head, dark hair falling in a curtain.
The Unicorn saw no wings but he knew it was an illusion to make her seem harmless. He kept his distance, for though they dined on men, sirens were unpredictable.
"If you are the last then a decision should be made whether you wish to perish or live on. Action must be taken. Passivity is nothing and will lead to nothing."
"And so you are here to mock me, too?" the Siren asked.
"I find few things funny, Siren. Our melancholy is as one. They have all broken my horn."
This captured the creature's ear and she lifted her head. "I see your horn, Unicorn."
"And I still see your wings beneath the glamor."
There was a faint smile behind the veil. "We are of opposing natures. You protect innocence and purity."
"Sirens eat the tempted mortal. I do not see how this makes us very different."
"I..." she told him with a sharp gesture "eat virgins."
"I see." The Unicorn lowered his horn. It was not something he wished to do, to slay this pitiful creature. Likewise, she rose to his challenge. As his horn let out a ghostly light, her disguise as an ordinary woman melted. She spread her arms, her veil going black and feathers appearing where her white dress had been. Great, magnificent black wings unfolded before the Unicorn and where had sat a demur creature a fearsome Siren with midnight-black wings awaited the white creature's next move.
The Unicorn backed. "I do not wish to fight you."
"I do not wish to fight you," the Siren returned.
"Lower your wings and I shall lower my horn."
The Siren was afraid, this was clear in the way her feathers ruffled. But she lowered her wings. For this show of trust, the Unicorn lowered his horn. He also set his head down and began to walk away. The demoness followed, at first in silence but then "May I join you? I promise I will not touch you."
"Yes, you may come along. I am leaving this world. I must return to the mortal one, where demons and men have free reign."
"I must, too."
"Then walk by my side."
Tamryn obeyed. The veiled Siren walked with the unicorn, neither touching but each smiling slightly.

5-the Unicorn lives
IN THE mortal kingdom, the executioner still waited with an assembly of guards. All hung their head when they saw the white creature approaching. The Unicorn was luminous at night, like a beam of moonlight. His own head was not hung as low as earlier but he approached his certain death with a steady gaze.
"I had hoped...he would not come," spoke one man, echoing the thoughts of all.
Of all the heads hung, the executioner's was the heaviest. He was now to behead a unicorn.
The Unicorn knelt before the tree stump where he was to place his head. "I have known so much time that Death appears like dawn light and tomorrow sounds like Nothing."
A long silence stretched over them all as the unicorn offered his neck to cut.
But a voice glided through the quiet. It was a feminine voice, its words difficult to discern.
Yet the Unicorn knew enchantment when he heard it. Of all the men about to witness this execution, it was the executioner who stirred at the sound of the voice.
"She is calling me..." he whispered.
"Do not listen to it!" one of the men warned him.
"I have no choice..." he told the others. Then, with his axe in hand, he followed the voice. “It is the Angel of Death.
Deeper into the forest, the voice was singing. Beckoning the innocent and the pure to an embrace.

Only the bravest guards chased after him in an attempt to break his trance.

By the castle, the Unicorn stood. He had begun to trot into the forest after the Executioner. But fanfare announced the return of someone of the the princess Amethyst.

The Unicorn turned as lift of gloom could be seen on the way he ran. While the other men were discovering the Executioner's axe, the virgin and the Unicorn were reunited. Somewhere in the shadows of the forest, the siren watched, humming a merry tune.

Profane Tales: Melancholy & Magic (part 1 of 2)

1
SOMEWHERE IN the Kingdom of a mortal King, a Princess was away and visiting her relatives. In her long absence, the Unicorn who was her protector and friend would lie in the king's garden and sleep. When he woke he stared into the sky and wished for an end to his memories. Time for him had become heavy. He bowed his head and stood that way as hours passed. Every mortal man, woman and child who crossed his path would bow their heads as well and begin to weep. The Unicorn's sorrow touched every mortal who saw him.

"Look at the Unicorn," they would say, but instead of the joy or wonder that usually followed, a melancholy of deepest black settled on them.

It became so dark in their hearts that the mortal King had to make a decision. "Every time my daughter is gone for more than a few days this happens. We cannot keep living this way. Nor will the Unicorn go to hang his head elsewhere, no matter how we shoo or threaten him. Something must be done."

With a weeping heart the King ordered that the ancient creature at last be put to rest. As the guards arrived to tell the Unicorn this news, he lifted his head, white fur shining in the moonlight. He nodded and let his head drop again. The creature made no move to run or fight.

"Have you nothing to say?" the Guard asked.

"What difference shall it make if I am quiet or I speak? In eternity, all paths lead back to an end."

The guards stepped away and gave the Unicorn some time before they would return with the axe to do the deed. Unseen, all of this was watched by the keen eye of Puck. Or as some mortals knew him, "Robin Goodfellow." 

He lamented, "No! That is almost the last Unicorn there is. Noble and powerful creature! My King will not hear of this creature of night perishing in such an anti-climatic way! I must tell him!"
And so Puck did.

2
SOMEWHERE IN the Other World, the one of Fae and fantastical things, the Queen of Fae had ordered the execution of a dangerous being. The Queen stood surrounded by her guards and with axe in hand. In front of her knelt a she-creature with black wings and a veil over her face. As the Queen lifted her axe, the sun began to set. The scarlet-haired beauty looked at her shadow beside the siren and sighed.
"Here. Let my husband deal with the bloody part of this ritual. I retire, it is his time," she told the guards.

Some of them gaped but the older ones merely shook heads for the familiar order. The Queen, more accustomed to the diplomatic daytime duties, left on the back of her fantastical flying creature. The trembling siren lifted her head, a look of perplexity visible beneath her veil.

When night fell there was a clap of thunder and gust of wind. The King of Fae appeared in a grand sweep of splendor and the guards announced him. His voice was the terror of nightfall, cut and scratched from years of warring " WHAT IS THIS MY WIFE LEAVES ME? AN AXE AND A HARPY?"

"A siren, actually, your majesty," Puck appeared in time for the King's entrance. "The last of her kind, I believe. She ate most anything she could lure to her path."

"But is that not the nature of the beast? Why are we executing her?" he rasped.

"Particularly, she ate virgins. Whom your wife protects."

"She is the very last. And we have no war against these particular demons. They mind their own. One must eat to live!" the King announced, voice still a cascade of power.

Puck cleared his throat, his floppy ears lying flat. He was used to his King's overwhelming presence. But the siren clearly was not. She had curled up on the ground in a tight ball of whimpers and feathers.

"Perhaps we could convince Her Majesty to spare the poor thing if she heard her sing. Such a song is a treasure, especially if this is the last."

Oberon nodded. His bronze eyes lit. "Yes. SING, SIREN!"

The little veiled siren lifted her head up, entire body shivering. She opened her mouth, took in a breath of night air and sang. But it was a frightened squeak, something a mouse might have topped in a contest.

Puck winced. "Not a show-stopper."

"Sing if you WISH TO LIVE, CREATURE!"

"Your Majesty, that may not be the way to go about coaxing a song out of a frightened siren. And on that topic. I have news for you about our favored Unicorn."

Oberon turned to meet Puck's gaze with his own, curious. "What news have you?"

"The King who keeps him plans to execute him. The poor creature is melancholic and a Unicorn's sorrow spreads to all mortals in the area. Quite a tear-jerker."

"And so they should make the thing glad! Killing it fixes nothing, for then they have unicorn blood on their hands and nothing cures such regret! SHOULD I SPEAK TO THEM?" he belted.

"I do not favor that idea either, Your Highness," Puck gave an innocent smile. "But I do have an idea."

"You have my ear."

"I believe these pathetic creatures could help one another. This siren is an immortal maiden. The unicorn is an immortal friend. Both probably the last of their kind. He may stir the song in her once again and that will stir him to smile, for her song is balm to the soul. It is too bad she cannot sing right now. You should hear the kind of notes these creatures can hit--"

"Done! We shall show them to one another. But first we must take the Unicorn from the mortal king's court."

"You cannot drive a unicorn where it does not want to be..." Puck sang-song.

"Mortals cannot drive unicorns. We shall see what an immortal King can do!" the tall fairy exclaimed, lifting from the ground with his large wings.


3
WHERE THE Unicorn sulked by the castle fountain there was no sign of other life around him. But in his own reflection, he could see the moon become clouded. He recognized the outline of the Fairy King on the Moon and his eyes opened wider, delicate ears set to twitching. From the water of the fountain several water sprites jumped. They seized the Unicorn with expert hands and pulled him face first into the water.

That water was deeper. Deeper than any man-made fountain, for it led into the Other World.

The Unicorn emerged from the deep and found himself in a pond far, far from the kingdom where he had been. He jumped from the pond and skittered about like a newborn deer.

"I apologize on behalf of the King," came a familiar voice.

"Robin! What is this meaning of this!" the disgruntled, wet unicorn commanded. "Has the King lost his already hole-ridden mind?"

"Shhh..." Puck shushed him and laughed. "We wanted you safe from the axe."

"Out of the boiling pot and into the fire. I know where I am, fae. I have been here before and it is as dull as the mortal demon-haunted world."

Puck's ears drooped, large brown eyes reflecting true hurt. "Now, Unicorn, why be so harsh. We only want to see you happy again."

"I have not been happy. I have not known happiness for longer than you, your King, your Queen or any of the beings here have lived. I am older than this very realm."

"We thought we might have found a kindred spirit for you. If you want to be difficult then do so." Puck folded his arms and shook his head. "But you will have my King to answer to."

"I have a King to answer to in your world and in another world. I am tired of kings. Let them question me, let the axe fall. I do not care."

The Unicorn shook himself off and began to walk in the opposite direction of Puck. His head was turned upward while little droplets of water fell from his body. Never had a Unicorn looked so mournful.

---
A/N: Not sure why blogspot isn't letting me space this story properly or not publishing it on time. I'm working on remedying this. Part 2 shall be up Sunday. As always, feedback is welcome and let me know you like by sharing. <3, LB

Profane Tales Comics: "Rainbows"

Click to Enlarge Comics!
First in the new series of shorts. Expect more of Gelding the Unicorn, Tamryn the Siren and company soon! And Happy Holidays!

short story- Gelding & Other Profanities: "A Disgruntled Unicorn"

1

The unicorn was resting a weary head in the royal garden. Though it seemed no matter how much he slept he could not truly rest. He was dreaming of an open valley when the horns of the palace woke him.

"Gelding! Wake! You shiftless beast!"

The creature started, a low grumble sounding in his throat. Large, violet eyes glared at the royal guard who had dared to wake him.

"The Princess is missing! Get your posterior up. Or I will spear you and tell the King it was your fault."

After a yawn, the unicorn's head darted at the mention of the princess. He was not a large animal. Built like a slender deer with long legs and large ears that flicked. He was almost finicky in demeanor. Only a subtle majesty about him made him impressive. There  was snow-white fur and a horn-- so sharp at the end it was a match for a blade-- was imposing. Otherwise, this was a creature built for delicate, aesthetic beauty, all glowing with flowing mane, a long, thin beard and a lion-like tail.

"What did you say of Princess Amethyst?" Gelding demanded of the guard. "Speak up, buffoon. And do so without yelling. My ears are sensitive."

"She is amiss!" the surly, red-bearded guard exclaimed into one of those aforementioned ears. "Amiss on your watch!"

"Err from blaming games and focus will on aiding me to find the girl," Gelding's voice was aged and rich, with a certain chilled detachment.

"A search party forms as we speak!"

"You still yell," the unicorn told the man.

"I give orders! This is a captain's voice!"

"Dulcet. I suppose you expect I join your troupe on its travels." The unicorn gestured to the gathering party before the gates.

"Yes! File in line!"

"I am unworthy of that honor, Captain."

The unicorn bowed on his front legs to the captain, horn swooshing dangerously close to the man's nether regions.

"Careful, beast!"

"Perhaps I am too senile to parade about with your hunting hounds. My horn may turn and render one of your men half-blind, Captain. Nay, I should remain here and tell tales of early greatness to children who pass by."

"Your speaking is nonsensical."

"That I speak at all makes sense?" Gelding asked.

Already, he was turning around without fear. The long tail hit the captain's face once before the unicorn began to trot away.

"You are not dismissed, Gelding!"

"What was that? There is a knot in the abyss?..."

The unicorn was not impaired in hearing. Rather he simply refused to work alongside the King's men. His trot quickened to a gallop. When he reached the gate, he bounded over it and avoided the spikes. He jumped it often because he could not be held captive, even if he was owned by the King.

2

DEEP IN the forest's shadows, a gnarled oak tree shaded a tiny cottage. Within there was said to be a witch.

Our unicorn traveler knew of her, so when he came to the cottage's door he had merely to touch the lock and melt her magic with his own horn.

The witch was at her loom and spinning, humming a somber tune. The hood that cloaked her was up. Perhaps she had known the unicorn was coming.

"Do you know where Princess Amethyst has gone to?" he asked the witch without introduction.

"Nay," the witch replied without looking up. "Why do you ask me?"

"She is amiss. You know the forests, all under your spell."

The Witch lifted her face from her work. "How many times has the maiden been rescued by the unicorn?"

"Numbers mean little to me. You cannot evade me with your parlor tricks. I know you."

"But you ask my help in finding her."

"Amethyst is kind to you. Some people are known to return kindness. If she were in trouble I would think you could care."

She shrugged and lowered her hood to reveal a younger countenance than Gelding had last seen on her.

"A new glamor you wear today. But not a new temperament."

"I can help you," the Witch offered, suppressing a yawn. "For a small token."

"Let me gander at what."

Her eyes fell upon his horn, which was luminous in the dark of the Witch's cottage. Its light sent spiders fleeing.

The unicron's expression was something unamused. He pawed at the floor and turned from the Witch.

"You are not willing to bargain with me? If not your horn then something else."

"I do not trade with anyone who has traded their soul. Clearly poor judgement skills on your behalf," Gelding spoke.

"It would only be your second castration!" the Witch hissed at him.

The unicorn's head hung and his posture slumped but he did not entertain her further. At the corner of her cottage, he squatted and relieved himself on her garden and across the wall.

3

IF THE witch would not aid him, he had the forest itself to turn to. Not the spirits, for demon and fairy folk were devious, but the beasts. Birds and squirrels were good for news, after all.

But none Gelding came upon happened to have seen Princess Amethyst. Until he met a gathering of chattering squirrels. When he asked them where the Princess had gone to, they answered all at once.

"Each his piece and with some semblance of peace, please," Gelding asked them.

They mentioned to Gelding that the Princess had been by, walking alongside a curious animal.

"What did this animal look like?"

Squirrels were not known for their wit, and it took nearly six of them to collaborate and explain how the animal appeared. It had more than four legs and it "crept" rather than walked.

"A skulker or a crawler?"

"Fast! Very fast!" one exclaimed.

"Black! Very black!" another added.

"Are you sure it was Amethyst who accompanied it?"

"Who?" one asked.

The unicorn bowed his head and shook it. These rodents were hopeless. That was when he heard them chittering and snickering to one another about the Princess' penchant for trouble. One looked at Gelding and and whispered to the other "No! Really?"

The unicorn turned his horn on the squirrel to threaten it, purely for amusement. They scattered and the beast smiled to himself.

4

BASED ON the direction that the animals had indicated and his own powers, he found and smelt the maiden's trail at last.

He was on a steady trot when a sharp agony pulsed through his tail. In the shadows someone was hidden, with bow and arrow in hand. She had managed to pin the poor beast's tail to a tree.

He let out a manly scream. Its echo through the forest frightened all who heard. The Witch revealed herself and lowered weapon to her side. "You defecated on my house! Now you will hear my offer! I come with an idea!"

"You might have called my attention in a more pragmatic manner, spittle-pool," the unicorn growled, tears streaming.

"You do not listen to proposed ideas," the Witch scolded him.

"Perhaps because their grounding is unsound. Unpin me."

"Not until you hear my idea."

"All that stands between my path of antipathy is gone. Speak, woman."

"The Princess' tears!" the Witch exclaimed, brandishing a vial. "If you fill this with them then I will unpin your tail. Give me your oath."

Gelding thought that Amethyst would have given this to the Witch for free. But the Witch was daft and he knew that this would somehow hurt the Princess if she felt it must be bargained for.

"You drive a hard bargain."

She smiled, newly youthful features lighting up.

"But I shall not lie to you. I see that this is still a bargain riddled with pitfalls. A maiden's tears are not taken for harmless purposes by shady figures. I will not bargain. But you will release my tail."

"I most certainly will not! You haughty bitch of a unicorn! If you will not bargain with me, you will stay pinned to that tree!"

The horn on his head was aglow again and the unicorn stood on hind legs. This time when he spoke there was something powerful in the voice. It was the very thing poets attempted to capture about the unicorn. As he shone the light, the Witch fell to her knees, weakened. She youth began to melt.

"Release me or I will melt the glamor fully, stripping you to your gnarled truth."

The Witch was set to panicking. She already appeared older.

"I will! Stop! I will!"

She unpinned the bleeding tail and the unicorn kicked, whinnied and bolted from the scene.

5

A CAVE at the forest's edge is where Gelding found the Princess. When his horn lit up the darkness, he saw that it was netted with webs that glistened. But there was no sign of a spider until he found it sleeping. It was tucked into a corner, the giant insect cuddled with with Amethyst.

The maiden herself was curled into a sleeping pose, long black tresses touching the spider. She appeared at peace and unharmed. The unicorn had only to nuzzle her and she woke.

"Gelding?" she yawned. "What time is it?"

"Time to go home..."

He knelt to allow the girl to climb on his back and sit.

"I made friends with a spider."

"Evidently."

"She's friendly."

"Your father is looking for you."

"Oh no! I overslept!" she exclaimed as they exited the cave.

"Only a little."

"How many hours, Gelding?"

"I do not count such things. Those are mortal concerns," he reminded her and carried her home, where he hoped to have a long, uninterrupted rest.

End