A Cautionary Tale
by Raven

Once upon a time there used to be a manchild, with the heart of a poet,
who imagined himself to be a great lover.  Unfortunately, the world did not
agree with him.  He was a lover without anyone to love.

However, the universe is a funny thing.  Chance tends to draw together
two souls that are compatible.  So it was that one day, a girl named Ariel
came into Trystyn's life.

For awhile they, were together as one.  Trystyn felt as if he had found his
reson de etre'.

However, just as chance draws two comptatible souls together, it will also
test the strength and purity of that bond by attempting to tear them
asunder.  Thus, one day chance came for Trystyn and Ariel.

Instead of reaching for Ariel, Trystyn looked away for but one second in
doubt.  Then she was gone.

Trystyn never felt such pain, or such despair, in all of his life.  And so, he
swore to the Heavens above, and the Hells down below, that he would
never feel such pain again.

He reasoned that the source of his pain was his lack of understanding
about the nature of love.  Had he understood its texture, its many colors,
and its very components then Ariel would have not been taken from him.
He vowed to learn all there is of love.

Trystyn set about his quest.  His time with Ariel had given to him insight on
how to interact with women.  It made it easier for him to find another.

Nevertheless, he never again felt the passion or the joie de vivre that he
felt with Ariel.  He moved from woman to woman, learning with each new
relationship something of the nature of what made a relationship work.  It
became easier still to find the companionship of a woman.

Still, Trystyn felt that something was missing.  He consulted a magician,
seeking the ultimate bit of knowledge.  Through the course of his affairs,
he had aquired a keen insight into women.  However, in order to
understand a woman completely, how the felt, how they loved, he would
have to become one.

The magician granted his wish, transfering Trystyn's consiousness into a
womanchild named Daphne.  As Daphne, he felt all there was to feel as
a woman.  He loved as they loved.  He understood through Daphne's
memories what it was to grow up as a girl.

One year did Tyrstyn spend as Daphne.  In the end, he possessed more
information on the interaction between men and women than any person
in the world.  Love to him became little more than a mathematical equation
to be solved.  It was merely a construct to be erected.

Trystyn knew how to move any woman, and how to melt any heart.  Yet
he felt nothing himself.  Never again did he feel what he had felt with Ariel.

Then one day, he saw two carefree children kissing underneath a tree.  It
occured to him all at once.  The true nature of love is innocence.  It is the
ability to give of one's self without restraint, never fearing the
consequences.  Love is innocent trust.

The sad thing was that the quest for knowledge into the nature of love had
placed it ever beyond his grasp.  It would have better had he simply
believed in love, that it is there . . . somewhere.  Then, the magic of love
would have still been within his grasp.

Moral: Believe in love.  Do not seek to question it or to understand it.  The
magic comes from what is unknown!