Monday, 11 June 2012

A Fairy's Tale - Chapter 3

Logically the guards probably would have been hot on her heels, but logic plays no part in a fantasy tale! They were either a) fighting off the cloaked man, b)re-grouping, c) Finding her address in the Fairy equivalent of the Yellow Pages or d) A mix of all three that bought her her five minutes. I'm also a little bit in love with that tiny last bit of text.


The fairy had little time to dwell on the moments past, on the man who saved her life, and the other man who'd been intent on taking it. She heard the largest horn bellow out, it shook through the trees, dragged birds from their nests and forced all necks to crane towards the skies. Straightening herself out, arms by her side, she rocketed past gaping mouths and wide eyes. Arine knew she didn't have long, by rights she didn't even have a minute, but flapping her wings with all her strength she flew straight to the first place they'd probably look for her. 

Of course she didn't have the key to her own home; it was with her belongings in the Council tree, so the fairy broke into her own home. She smashed the glass of her bedroom window, using a branch from the tree she lived in. Arine was lucky to have a carved out home within a large circular tree, it was expensive but very much worth the luxury. Luxury she'd have to leave, she thought sadly as she scraped her way into her own home. 

Arine didn't have a bag, that too was gone, so she grabbed a pillow case and very quickly began to throw belongings into it. It was dark within her home, the light from the few windows filtered in, but normally she kept the door open and candles lit to bring a warmth of light. Now in the dark everything looked cold and twisted. Flying down from her living quarters Arine stuffed her feet into her sturdiest boots and gave a quick glance to the window. The guards were no where in sight yet, she could hear distant yelling though. 

She grabbed a few precious items that were scattered about her home, jewels, a few books and a pen. Arine then skidded into the kitchen and began to raid her cupboards, everything was off. She managed to salvage some salted ham and a couple of stale bread rolls. Better than nothing she mused for a moment until she felt a blade at her throat. 

All sane thoughts scattered from her brain and she was left with fuzziness again, the very same fuzziness the Captain had given her. It quickly parted when she heard louder shouts. The guards were nearly upon her home. She'd come to far just t be beaten, so using the very little strength she had left Arine swung her pillow case hard and wide behind her and connected with the fleshy body of her attacker.

The blade clattered down and Arine turned to face her opponent, bag raised high, ready for another blow. "Arine?" A voice asked. Arine knew that voice, she'd known it all her life. The fuzziness nearly clouded her vision again but she shook it clear.

"Beaun?" Arine asked back to her younger brother. It was him, same brown inquisitive eyes, dark brown hair flopping over his face making him look silly yet lovable.

"You're alive!" He squealed and ran over to hug his sister, but then quickly held her at arms length. "I thought you were dead! You're supposed to be dead! I came here to protect your home! I thought you were here to steal!" He spoke quickly and loudly, Arine hushed him down and glanced out the window again. She could see the guards now; she had minutes, if not seconds. 

"I escaped, I'm leaving Beaun, I'm going to head south, to the sea." She said, feeling sad that she was lying to her own brother. Of course she was heading north, but of course the Council would ask Beaun questions and she knew he couldn't lie. She looked back at him, wetting her lips, "how are Mother and Father?" Even as she asked she knew the answer, and Beaun's face said it all.

"They still don't believe you," he took a small pause, "You're dead to them Arine." It was a hard blow to take but she nodded curtly. "I want to ask you one last time. Did you kill her Arine?" Arine ground her teeth together, setting her jaw hard and flared her nostrils at the question. 

"I did not murder Lady Lily Beaun, I don't care if anyone else believes me or not but I need to know, do you believe me?" Arine looked out the window; the guards were descending, the Captain leading the way. So much for her heroic rescuer she thought, gathering her pillow case up again. She flew up to the bedroom and made for the window, she had one foot on the windowsill when Beaun caught her up. He grabbed her hand in his and pressed their foreheads together.

"I believe you," Beaun then shoved her out the window just as her front door was broken in to. Arine thought Beaun aged beyond his years in that moment, the floppy haired boy she knew was replaced with the man she'd never know.

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