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.

A Fairy's Tale - Chapter 2

So Chapter 2, the introduction of a mysterious hooded figure and lots and lots of perilous fun! Not much to say about this chapter, it's a new addition, all written recently. I had to think of a way for Arine to escape, in my original notes she was mysteriously just let off. Just a "Oh, you killed someone? That's bad. Death!" Then a moment later "Wait, hang on a mo', exile!" The theory was that there's this old fairy who knows best and she needed Arine so she saved Arine in the hopes something would happen to the younger fairy...Or something? Bah, it's getting rewritten anyways!


Chapter 2:


A scream echoed throughout the land, loud and ear piercing. Blood pumped all over the weathered boards but the blood was not from Arine, no the blood and screams of pain came from the executioner as his hand fell limp and the sword clattered down. An arrow had shot straight and true through the executioner's wrist, shattering bones and ripping the skin apart. The arrow was now embedded in the big wooden door, quivering slightly from the impact. 

The Captain's head shot up towards where the arrow had come from, an angered look of pure fury spreading across his face. He then began to bark orders to guards; some disappeared behind the now open wooden doors, others drew their swords. The few that had held Arine down were now scrambling to their feet as a few more arrows embedded them selves within the wood of the tree. The Captain pointed sharply to where the arrows were coming from and barked for some guards to get up there.

Within moments three guards flew high into the thicket of branches and leaves while more guards pored onto the platform from all around, some flying in, some storming through the door. The Council members were given cover and escorted away, deep into the tree to be protected. 

While all this was going on Arine had managed to shuffle her way to her knees, but the wretched Captain kept a short leash on her neck rope, wrapping it twice around his fisted hand. The young female fairy was furiously working her bonds though, pulling and tugging her feet to free her ankles. With all the commotion no one was paying her any attention, not even the Captain. He was just sending more and more guards up into the tree tops with sharp tongued barks. 

Then there was a creak, a snap and the top of the tree gave way, sending it plummeting along with the unconscious bodies of the many guards the Captain had sent up there, all of them knocked out clean, swords in their hands still. The weight of them all piling up had broken the branches and sent them all plummeting. In the action of it all no one saw a shadow leap from the falling branches, bounce of some intact branches and land down onto the platform before rolling out of the way of an unconscious guard. 

It was a cloaked man, with no wings that could be seen, who kept his hood tight about his face. As soon as the dust settled from the fallen branches as many as forty guards began to rush this man. He had no sword, no daggers and no arrows left within his quiver; instead he used his wooden bow and a short thick pole. He took each guard as they came, taking a blow and giving three back. But he was never fatal; it was as if he merely wanted to knock the men unconscious than to kill. 

Arine had little time to catch a glimpse at her rescuer, she was squealing in frustration as she worked at her wrist bonds, rubbing her hands and stretching her wrists as hard as she could. As the branch fell the Captain had dived away, dropping her leash. Arine had rolled twice, faltering both times, bashing her shoulder each time, but as her leash fell so did the sleeping guards, on top of it. She had tried pulling with her neck, using all her winged power would give but the rope wouldn't be freed. So she needed her hands back.

She glanced around every so often to see what was happening, the cloaked man was fending him self very well, he seemed to be enjoying himself almost. And the Captain had recovered, he made eye contact with Arine, her tear filled brown eyes connecting with his hate filled green. The world seemed to stop for a moment for Arine, she could see the Captain gathering to his feet, grabbing a weapon and taking flight, ready to shoot towards her. It was then Arine saw a sword in a guards grasp sticking out from the pile.

The fairy turned, lined her arms up and sliced her bonds away with a cry as the blade sliced her skin too. She didn't have enough time to undo the noose from her neck but she flew to safety from the Captain's fatal blow. Using some very precious time Arine slipped the rope from her neck but felt no relief as the Captain was at her again. He flew into her middle, sending her sprawling out on her back. 

Just as Arine made it to her shaky hands and knees he sent his boot hard into her stomach. She felt sick as he did that, bile coated the back of her throat. Then a kick to the face and another to the side had her down, on her stomach, clawing at the wood, scratching it. 

"You're nothing more than a traitor." He spat violently, grabbing a fistful of her hair. "Killing your own kind," He spat again. "Traitor." He dragged Arine by her hair, her arms flew up, trying to claw him off but he dragged her still, towards the edge. "You'll still die a traitor's death!" He pushed Arine so she was facing him and her bare feet balanced on the edge of the boards. He held her throat in a death like grip and readied himself to plunge his blade deep inside her chest. 

In the rush of it all and the way her mind was rushing Arine didn't see behind the Captain, she didn't see the piles of bodies, some clutching wounds, other out cold, she didn't see the dark cloaked shadow quickly work it's way towards the pair or see the glint of a blade within it's hand. But the Captain did out of the corner of his eye, he heard the silence and had become suspicious and he had reason to. 

But before the Captain had any chance to make a move the shadow's blade was cool against his throat. The Captain made no move of retreat, he still held Arine by her throat, tightening his grip by the second. The shadow upped it's game and bit the blade harder into his neck, forcing some blood to trickle down the metal. When again the Captain made no offer to free Arine the shadow, quick as lightening, stabbed the Captain in the shoulder with an arrow. It was a dirty move but necessary. Howling with pain the Captain released Arine immediately but the shadow held onto him with it's blade. 

Then all three heard heavy foot steps and roars of the cavalry guards that had been called. Again, some were flying in and others climbing the tree. The Captain smiled menacingly and chuckled a little to himself, but the shadow twisted the arrow and it put an end to his laughter. The shadow lifted his head quickly, and nodded to Arine. He had the most beautiful blue eyes she'd ever set eyes on, sharp and bright but tinged with so many emotions. 

Arine went to say her thank you-s but he silenced her with a gruff "Go. Now." Arine stopped, nodded and jumped from the platform, plummeting down into the shadows of the undergrowth.

A Fairy's Tale - Prologue

After tinkering with it a a bit, I've re worked the "Epic Tale" prologue and worked on it a little more. And given it a name! 
And I realized the other day that this story has been a work in progress for ten years now...That's a little scary!


An introduction to all things. 
Elves are not graceful, beautiful creatures; fairies are not small dainty beings. They are like you, or I, with good qualities and bad ones too. 

It is written that once, long ago, there were five Kings, rulers of the land and rulers of the Elements Fire, Wood, Sand, Water and Air.
Now these Kings had ruled their lands well and kept their people in order, but one year decided to seek out the Goddess and ask of her a wish to make them better Kings. 

They travelled on for many thousands of miles before reaching the highest point of a mountain. There they waited for a week and day before she appeared before them.  
"Kings of Land, what wish do you wish?"
"I am King of Fire and I ask for beasts of flame, winged beasts that my people may tame." 
"I am King of Wood and I ask for eyes to see what cannot be seen and ears that are sharp and keen."
"I am King of Sand and I ask for better feet to run upon my land."
"I am King of Water and I ask for an under water ability so that my people may live in the sea."
"I am King of Air and I ask for balance and wing so up in the skies your praises we may sing." 

The Goddess obliged them; she gave the King of Fire his beasts and named them "Dragon." She gave King of Wood his sight and his ears and named him "Elf Kind." For King of Sand she mounted his body upon the body of a horse and named him "Centaur." For King of Water she gave him a promise that underwater he would transform into what she called "Merpeople." And finally for King of Air she gave him strong thick wings and perfect balance with the name "Fair Kind."

The Kings went back to their Lands to share their gifts and all was well for many, many years. But squabbles began to break out amongst the races. Differences began to appear and land was being taken from all around. Wars began to start, battles to the death. The Five Kings were no better and would continually fight with one another, just to prove who had the better gift. 

The Goddess looked on at her World, bodies lay piled up as a Great Battle happened throughout all of the races. The Lands were scorched, the water polluted, woods chopped, sands kicked and the air filled with awful smog. She ceased the fighting and created great boundaries of the lands, The Goddess, angry and scorned, then told the Kings that their gifts would be taken and their world destroyed unless a peace treaty was signed there and then. The Kings accepted this offer gratefully and went back to their lands, separate ways, never to live in peace together ever again.

So the King of Fire took his beasts and riders to the North, across the seas, where there were many high mountains to rule over. The King of the Sands also went across the seas, but to the East, where he ruled over the sandy countries, riding the dunes and rocks with his hooved kind. Then the seas were ruled by the mighty Mer-King, building a vast and beautiful city beneath the blue oceans where 
He and his Mer-Kind swam free. 

Then we have the Kings of the Forest Elf Kind and of the Air, Fair Kind. There was no land to west and only icy coldness to the south, the Elves and Fairies would have to share the largest spread of land together. 

A large border wall was put in place, laws decreed and both kindred kinds each went their separate ways once more. 

The elves were fast in building sprawling cities, vast in size and height as well as technologies. There was very little of elvish land that wasn't made of woodland or forest and their cities adapted to this, winding around the natural, building their buildings around the trees and roots. The elves too adapted and from a young age an elf could swing freely from branch to branch without a moments thought or pause. 

The Fairies however took their time; their cities were small in comparison and the way of living a little more rustic. But they nurtured the growing of the tallest trees, some so tall that the tops were sometimes lost in the clouds. And within these nurtured trees they lived, some preferred tree houses nestled among the branches and others lived within the tree itself, hollowed out and made into a home. 

Over time the fairies began to evolve, separating into two kinds; the Woodland fairies with their shimmering green leaf like wings, councils and democracy and the Flower Field Fairies with their colourful petal shaped wings and a more liberal way of living.

And this is how we find our selves now, many hundreds of years from the first Kings of kinds to one forest fairy named Arine.