By Jenn Moffat

The Lord of Illusions soon learned what the other Lords had done and that the Lord of Fools was home. So he went to visit Fool and brought with him Fool's favourite tea and his favourite cookies (Macadamia nut). He told Fool about the other Lords betrayal and told him to cheer up and go play some tricks on them. But Fool just sighed. "I don't feel like playing tricks anymore," said Fool. "I just want to be with Angel." And he unhappily nibbled on three-dozen cookies. Illusie went away, also feeling sad.

Fool did end up playing tricks on the Lords, but it didn't seem to help. His tricks grew dangerous and filled with anger. Never before had his jokes and tricks been meant to hurt someone. Time passed and still Fool was full of rage and sadness. The other Lords began to wonder if he was losing his sanity.

When he thought at breakfast, he thought about Angel.

When he slept in his bed, he dreamt about Angel.

When he looked at a book, it reminded him of Angel.

And the more he thought, the more obsessed he became. Fool stopped visiting his only friend, the Lord of Illusions, and Illusie became worried about their friendship.

Then one day, while rearranging the books in the Lord of Fact's library, Fool came across a familiar book, the "Mating rituals of the Zaratan". Surprised, he flipped it open to a random page and started reading.
"...however, sometimes when a Male Zaratan can't find a suitable mate, he will steal or kidnap a female Zaratan and hold it hostage in its lair. Overtime the two will start to bond with each other and the Female Zaratan will forget about its home and even her past mate, but only if no offspring were produced from the previous mate. However, sometimes..." Suddenly the Lord of Fools had a wonderful idea. Surely, if he took Angel from the Kingdom of Clouds Angel would also come to love the Lord of Fools. Everything would end happily-ever-after. Fool had hope and he started to plan how he would rescue Angel from the Clouds. He forgot that sometimes fairytales don't end well... but oh well.

He built a chariot made out of weaved shadow and mist which was pulled by a hundred flying peacocks.

While researching Angels and their defenses (in case he had to fight) he came across a curious piece of information that told about Angel magic and how they could escape using their shadows. Not wanting Angel to leave before he fell in love with him, he made a special chain with a flat collar and two cuffs made of solid rock. The rock would bind Angel to the ground and he would not be able to fly off until Fool knew Angel loved him, while the flat collar would constrain Angel's shadow so that he could not escape that way either. Along with this he built a magical net of gold, which he would use to steal Angel.

Telling no one, not even Illusie, Fool flew off in his shadowy chariot armed only with another one of his masks of disguise. When he landed on the edges of the Land of Clouds, he quickly disguised himself as the Angel of the Gate, so that he would not be asked questions. And, hoping beyond hope, he headed for the grove where lavender and holly grow, praying silently that Angel still read there.

When he arrived he was saddened because he didn't see Angel, but after looking around more his heart suddenly felt like a bird about to fly from the cage that was his ribs. For there sat Angel, book in hand, having fallen asleep again, just like the first time.

Moving as silent as a shadow, Fool crept towards Angel. When he was close enough to touch, Fool withheld the urge and with no more thought to cause him to lose his nerve; he tossed the Golden net over Angel and pulled the rope that bound it shut.
"Hey!" shouted Angel. "What's going on? Let me out."
"Don't worry," said Fool, still in disguise. "I am rescuing you from those who would not love you as you should be loved." And with that Fool placed Angel in the golden net over his shoulder and headed for his chariot.

"No," shouted Angel. "Let me go. Help! Help! Somebody help me." But no one came to help Angel as no one saw Angel being taken away. Fool flew off in the chariot with Angel trapped at his feet in the net.

Soon they reached Fool's castle and he gently lowered the struggling Angel to the marble floor. Tossing off the mask, he revealed his true face. Then Fool pulled off the net while being careful not to pull out a single feather from Angel's wings.
"What have you done?" yelled Angel. "I am going home." Angel tried to escape. But before Angel could react, Fool pulled out the Stone chain, grabbed Angel's wrists, bound them, and then swooped down to set the flat collar over the neck of Angel's shadow.
Angel looked in horror because when he and his shadow moved, the flat collar moved too. "What have you done?" Whispered Angel, as it stared at its now collared shadow.
"Oh," said Fool. "I have set you free." He looked at Angel's angry face. "Oh, I know," continued Fool. "It doesn't seem that way right now. But over time, you will come to love me, as I love you. And you will forget about the Land of the Clouds and about the other Angels, for we will love each other. Now come with me," said Fool. "I have hundreds of stories to tell you and now no one will toss me out." And he pulled on the chain to have Angel follow him. But Angel pulled back and refused to move.
"No," said Angel. "You will let me go now!" Fool pulled again, but still Angel refused to move. "Free me!" yelled Angel. Suddenly Fool was angry, and he yanked roughly on the Chain, pulling Angel forward so that he dropped painfully to his knees.
"I am sorry," said Fool. "I didn't want to do that. Please...." He moved to kneel in front of Angel and lifted Angel's shocked face so that he would look Fool directly in the eyes. "Please..." said Fool. "Don't make me do that again."
And then Fool stood and started walking forward. Wordlessly, Angel rubbed his hurting wrists, rose to his feet and followed quietly behind Fool.

Fool brought Angel to his study, selected a book at random from the desk, and sat down on a plush armchair. Fool pulled a large fluffy pillow that was resting beside the chair and laid it on the floor in front of Angel. "Sit," he said. And while Angel hesitated for a moment, Fool just smiled kindly and repeated the command. Without a word Angel sat down at Fool's feet. Fool opened the book and started to read.

The next day the Lord of Fools took Angel around his home. He showed him his giant maze that had walls that would re-grow and move. He showed him his prized daisy garden and the statues of marble fools which would come alive and dance and make merriment. Fool was rather proud of his castle and smiled as he showed Angel around. At times he was lost in his own delight that instead of having to pull Angel by the chain, he grabbed Angel's hand and dragged him off to see the next sight. However, he never took Angel out of his home and never allowed him to be seen by other Lords.

When the sun began to set he took Angel back to the library and without a word Angel went to sit on the pillow near the chair. However, Fool stopped him and said, "I'm very sorry how I acted yesterday." He expected Angel to reply and was surprised by his silence, so he started to talk again. "Please do not think of this as a master and slave relationship. I want to be equals." He looked down at the ring looped around his arm. "I know that I have you chained and it seems that this is unjust. But I am not doing this to harm you and I promise never to yank on your arm again. I just want to be near you and talk to you and see you smile. I know the others probably told you that I am a horrible person who does nothing but cause trouble to others. But I want to show you that... that... okay I do trick people and I know I have been mean to people lately, but I am not really that bad of a guy. And although I should have told you whom I was up in the Kingdom of Clouds, I know that was wrong of me, I just... I just..." Fool glanced at the ceiling for words. "I just... I was scared. I saw you at the masquerade and ... you were so beautiful but you looked so lonely. I thought you might understand me, because... I've been lonely too. But I am the Lord of Fools and nobody trusts me... well Illusie does, but no one trusts him either. How was I to approach you without you running away? So I tricked you and I am sorry."

Angel was speechless at Fool's behaviour. He never expended the Lord of Fools to behave like this and actually apologizes. But he kept his silence and just watched Fool.

The Lord of Fools paused for a moment, smiled an embarrassed smile, and gestured at the books in his study. "How about you pick the book for today and I'll read."

Angel looked passed Fool at the books, noticing the different titles and sizes. He gave a puzzled look and looked at his cuffed hands. "Oh!" said Fool and he walked over to stand beside the books so that Angel could get close. "Take as long as you need."

Angel took a cautionary step towards the shelves and noticed that Fool simply smiled at him. Building up his courage he went to the ladder and climbed up until he could reach the books above his head. Sitting on the shelf in red binding was a book titled "Dance of Lotus: Prince of Hell". Thinking this book looked intriguing Angel took in off the shelf and turned to show it to Fool. But as he turned his wing bumped the shelf above him and books started to rain.

Panicking, Angel let go of the ladder and expecting to fly to a safe distance was surprised when he found himself falling towards the floor. Fool saw this from below and quickly jumped forward and caught the falling Angel. Turning his back to the falling books he tossed Angel at the plush chair and then was buried under books.

"Why?" wondered Angel as he stared down at the unconscious Fool. "Why did he protect me?" Angel reached for the chain pondering whether he could escape, but suddenly Fool moaned painfully and Angel knew he had to help the Lord of Fools instead of making his getaway. He knelt down and quickly unearthed Fool from the collapsed tower of books. Now unburied, Angel touched Fool on the shoulder. Fool moaned again and his eyes fluttered open. He stared up at Angel and moved to sit up. He winced as his left arm flared with pain, but he gently smiled at Angel when he noticed Angel's concern. "I'm okay, but I might need some help reading your book. Could you help me to the sofa?" And he pointed at the sofa across the room.

Angel nodded and helped Fool sit down and then collected the red book when had fallen to the floor when Fool had tossed Angel at the chair. He then went to collect the pillow beside the chair but Fool stopped him. "Please sit beside me." He joined Fool on the sofa and held out the book to Fool. "I am afraid you're going to have to turn the pages for me. Come closer so I can read." Nervously, Angel moved closer. "A little closer, please." Angel moved closer until he was nestled beside Fool with the book on his lap. "Okay, that's better. Now let's read about the exotic adventures of Prince Lotus."

Fool began to read and Angel was very conscious of Fool's presence and nearness. No one had ever got so close to Angel or smiled at him like Fool did. No one had ever protected him before or not yelled at him for getting them hurt or ruining their stuff. The Lord of Fools seemed so odd to Angel. His voice was steady and calm as he read, and it soothed Angel.

The day finished pleasantly enough and Angel went to sleep wondering what the next day would bring.

The next day they read in the daisy garden and Angel couldn't help but be pleasantly reminded of the time they spent together up in the Kingdom of clouds in the grove where lavender and holly grow. However he maintained his silence even when Fool asked him a question. Angel thought that Fool would get angry because of his continuing silence, but he didn't and only sighed, understanding that it was Angel's way of rebelling. Instead he simply requested that Angel nod or shake his head for yes or no questions, which he consented to.

Over the next few days, Angel found himself spending all his waking time with the Lord of Fools. He watched him as he read. He watched him as he made lunch for the two of them. He watched him as he made trick toys and designed gadgets that would cause mayhem and hilarious misfortune to the applicant. And all the while Fool would talk and explain and even have Angel help him by holding down a spring or painting a smiley-face on a wooden ball.

He also noticed that Fool seemed to rise very early, long before Angel awoke, and he would often have dirt on his robe or a smear on his cheek. And so time passed, and it became normal for Angel to listen to Fool's jokes and to hear about all the tricks that he had played on others in the past. However, Angel did not laugh. But at times while Fool sighed in disappointment from Angel's lack of response, he failed to notice that Angel would turn from him slightly so that he could not see his expression or see his smile.

While the company of the Lord of Fools wasn't as bad as Angel had feared, although he tried never to admit that, and it certainly was more interesting than his isolated life before, Angel still missed his home and his freedom. And sometimes when Angel was thinking of home he appeared very sad to the eyes of Fool and he would try to cheer Angel up by giving him a daisy.

Then one morning before they had even broken fast, Fool whispered to Angel, "I've a surprise for you." And he took him by the hand and led him past the daisy garden and into the maze. The walls of the maze reformed around them until they traveled down a single path of green that led to the center. However, before they reached the center Fool stopped and pulling out a red clothe and blindfolded Angel and then leaded him the rest of the way in.

When they reached the center Fool stood behind Angel and whipped off the blindfold revealing a wondrous garden. Every morning while Angel still slept Fool had came down to the garden and planted trees of oak and holly and flowers of lavender so that the garden resembled the grove where they had read together. While the plants were not made of clouds, like the real grove, it was still very beautiful and Angel was very delighted and surprised inside to see it. While he kept a smile off his face, the joy could be seen in his eyes. Angel wandered through the garden touching and smelling the lavender and feeling the oak leaves, so overcome was he that he didn't even notice that Fool had let go of the chain that bound him and it trailed lightly behind him.

Fool watched Angel and was breathless for a moment so overcome was he by how the light played off Angel's wings and hair. When Angel turned back to face him, he suddenly walked forward and grabbed Angel. For a moment Angel was afraid, thinking he had done something wrong, but Fool just pulled him into a hug and kissed him on the forehead. "You are sooo beautiful," he whispered to Angel and hugged him again.

Angel was truly speechless, beyond even his vow of silence. No one had ever kissed him before. Or hugged him. The other angels had never shown such affection to him as Fool did in that moment. His chest hurt but he didn't understand why.

Time passed again and Angel and Fool would now read in the Grove. Angel became more and more conscious of the nearness of Fool. Sometimes the softness of Fool's hair would brush against Angel's arm and he would have to turn slightly so that Fool would not notice the shimmer of a blush that breathed upon Angel's cheeks. "I can't let him notice, it's wrong to do such when one is a captive... isn't it?" thought Angel to himself. More and more often when Angel became distracted, Fool would let go of the chain and a long time period would pass before Angel noticed. And sometimes he would only notice when Fool would pick it up again or it would get catch on a branch.

He also started to notice some of the kindnesses of Fool. For example, birds seemed to follow him around. He would carry a bag of seeds that he would often share with Angel to feed them. Additionally, Fool took particular care when designing his traps and tricks, always testing it out on himself so that no one would be severely hurt. He would put a pinch of sugar on the tomatoes to make them sweet and he always patiently let Angel select the book he would read. He would even carry Angel to bed if he fell asleep when Fool was reading. His life in the kingdom of clouds seemed so different and so far away. But he was a prisoner, even though Fool was kind, and his lack of freedom made him wish for home and wonder if the other angels noticed that he was gone.

Fool also kept an outlook for reports about the missing Angel, but since nothing appeared, he happily kept telling stories.

After a long time, Fool started to wonder. "Does Angel love me yet? Does Angel love only me?" But he would look at Angel's face and was not sure. Finally, Fool gave in and asked Angel. "Do you love me now? I love You" He stared into Angel's eyes, but Angel did not reply. "Don't worry," said Fool. "You will soon. I know it. You just need more time." However, inside Angel did like the Lord of Fools, but he also wanted to go home.

And more time passed and Fool said again. "I love you. Do you love me now?" Angel continued to say not a word, but his chest started to hurt.

The next day, Fool asked again and still Angel said nothing. And the next day... and the next day.... and the next.

As the days went by, Angel started to look sad when he looked at Fool. Finally Fool asked, "Why don't you love me yet? I love you. I love you so very much. Why don't you love me yet?" Angel said nothing, his chest hurting more and more. Fool suddenly grew angry and Angel drew back in fright. "Why wouldn't you answer me!" Yelled Fool.

Fool took a deep breath and tried to say calmly, "I won't know if you love me yet if you don't tell me. Please say something to me. Anything." But Angel said nothing and started to shake. Fool sighed in despair.

In fact, Fool started to sigh more and more often, but he continued to tell Angel wondrous stories and to ask him if he loved him yet.

Then one day, after Angel had fallen asleep during a story, Fool got up, went to his desk and picked up the stolen copy of Mating Rituals of the Zaratan. He paged through the book muttering to himself. "Why isn't it working? It should have worked by now." Suddenly he found the page and started reading again.
"... Overtime the two will start to bond with each other and the Female Zaratan will forget about her home and even her past mate, but only if no offspring were produced from the previous mate. However, sometimes..." Fool flipped over to the next page. "...the Female Zaratan will grow to hate the Male Zaratan so much that the Male Zaratan will never get to produce offspring. In fact, in many cases the Female Zaratan will grow sick and die of loss for her old mate and home. ..."

The book fell out of Fool's trembling hands and landed on the floor, waking up Angel. Startled by the sound, Fool shook his head and hid his still shaking hands behind his back. "It's nothing," said Fool. "Nothing. But I ... I believe it is time for you to be in bed." But as Angel followed Fool down the corridor leading to the bedroom Fool couldn't help but wonder. "What if Angel hates me?"

And so more time passed. Fool watched Angel, who seemed nervous whenever Fool seemed to ask a question. Finally one day, as Fool was making dinner, Fool started to cry in the middle of slicing a tomato. Angel peered at Fool, not knowing what to make of this new development. Even though his chest started to throb, he still said nothing. Suddenly Fool grabbed him by his robes. "Please...Please," begged Fool. "Please love me. Don't hate me. I couldn't bare it if you hated me. Please... Please speak to me to me. Tell me what to do. How can I make you love me? Tell me how!" Fool sobbed onto Angel's robes.

Angel stared down at the crying Fool before shutting his eyes for a moment. Then slowly Angel whispered,
"Let me go."
Fool looked up, tears streaming down his face.
"If I let you go, then will you love me?" Of course, Angel could have been cruel and told him "yes", but seeing that desperate, mournful face and feeling the increasing pressure in his chest, he just could not tell a lie.
"No," said Angel. "Even then I will not love you."
Fool started to howl again. "But I love you so much," moaned Fool through his tears. "What can I do so that you will love me? I would do anything for you. I'd give up anything for you. Tell me what you want and it is yours."
Angel was full of anguish, but out of the blue he was struck with an idea, a wonderful idea that might set him free, perhaps forever, from the company of the Lord of Fools; for surely Fool could never be able to complete Angel's request.
"But," said Angel. "Perhaps if you were to complete my request then I might try to love you."
"You'll love me?" gasped Fool.
"I might ..." said Angel. "... if you complete my request. I want you to free me and give up being the Lord of Fools for one whole year. That means no tricks, no pranks, and no fooling anyone for a whole year. It also means you may not see me for that time. If you do a single trick, fool a single person, or spy on me within the year you may never see me again."
"And if I succeed?" asked Fool.
"Then," said Angel, "I will return to you of my own free will and try to love you."
"I will," said Fool jumping to his feet. "I will promise to do such. I will do no tricks or pranks, I will fool nobody and I will not see you for one year. It will be difficult, but I can do it. Because you told me to... because I love you...because I trust you. I agree. I promise!"
"And so do I," said Angel as he held out his bound wrists. "Now free me."
And though Fool was very sad to set Angel free, he bent down on one knee, took Angel's hands and kissed the stone cuffs. Instantly the cuffs fell from Angel's arms and the flat collar chimed to the floor falling from the shadow that was reflected onto a pillar.
Angel paused for only a moment and then leapt into the air and soared away on his ruby-red wings. Free. Free at last.

Fool stayed where he was for a long time before slowly rising to his feet; the stone chain ring chimed against the floor as it fell from his arm. Fool wiped away the last of his tears and smiled a true smile the first in a long time, for he had seen again the look of delight in Angel's face as he flew away. "I hope I get to see you again," he said out loud to himself. Then he shook his head. "Oh, course I will," he thought. "I will in a year." But now he had to think very carefully about how he would not break his promise. So he went to his workshop and looked around. He saw all the things he normally would use to fool and trick and play pranks on people, but now he looked at them with scorn. And so he went around his castle and picked up all the other things that he didn't need anymore and tossed them into the workshop. He placed all his magical masks in the room. He even placed the shadow and mist-made chariot in the workshop and freed the peacocks, which took to wandering around the castle gardens. He locked up the entranceway to his garden maze. He was making his home completely "fool"-proof. And when the last of his tools were locked up in the full workshop or the storage-room next to it, he gave a happy sigh.

Although the next day was raining quite hard, Fool decided to walk and visit Illusie for tea. So he packed up some rare and special tealeaves, which he had originally saved for Angel. He baked some shortbread cookies (it took Fool much longer than he had first thought to make the cookies, for he had never made them completely lacking in tricks before) and placed everything in a basket that he had found the day before. "Illusie must have forgotten it during his last visit," thought Fool as he picked up his umbrella and walked out into the rain. Later, while Illusie munched on home-made trick-deprived cookies, Fool told him about his time with Angel and about the agreement he had made.
"Oh," said Illusie, "but won't that be very difficult."
"It will," said Fool. "But I have made up my mind." And he handed the keys to his locked rooms over to Illusie for safekeeping.
"You must really love him," whispered the Illusie tucking the keys into his robe.
"Yes," said Fool, "very much."
"Then let me give you some advice," suggested Illusie. "Do not tell anyone else about the promise with Angel, in fact avoid spending time with the other Lords, for they might think you are tricking them. Thus you would end up breaking your promise by tricking others into thinking you were tricking them when really you were not." And then Illusie had an idea. "In fact, if you want to make sure that you don't trick anyone I suggest that you leave the Land of the Lords and find someplace all alone where you will trouble no one and thus trick no one."
"But what about the other Lords?" Asked Fool. "Will they not wonder where I went?"
"Oh, don't worry about them," replied Illusie. "They stopped wondering about you when they noticed that you never came out of your castle anymore. They will likely continue to think that for sometime."
"Oh good," said Fool. "As long as we are not tricking them."
"If all else fails," said Illusie as he watched Fool pack up to leave. "I'll just tell them the truth if they ask. That you went away by yourself for a bit. And mind that you don't tell me where you go."
"Oh course," said Fool and, noticing that the rain had stopped, took his umbrella and wandered down the path.

And he walked and walked and since the rain had only just stopped he did not encounter anyone. And thus, he walked out of the Land of the Lords in search of a place where he could stay for a year. He disappeared and no one, not even the Lord of Illusions, knew where he went.

END VOLUME 2

Continue to Volume 3

Ending Poem
Love is a Fool who is blind to all others,
hopeless and wanting and desired by lovers
Love is an Angel who can forgive any sin,
nameless and smiling to friend and to kin.