They had told her not to go there, that it was dangerous. Gwen never really paid attention to all of the warnings though. She had come and gone from the forest for years now, and had even stayed there late into the night many times before. The woman with evergreen hair suspected that the rumours of Elves attacking people, and plants eating cattle and horses, was all drummed up when settlers attempted to over cultivate the land or cut down the sacred trees, and so she assumed she would be alright as long as she respected the area around her.
Gwen had never met any of the Elves, but that was probably for the best. She had heard many stories about them being carnivorous despite their beautiful appearances; birds, rabbits, butterflies, they would eat anything that took their fancy, humans being their favoured snack if it was time for their special moon-harvest festival.
Shaking the thoughts from her mind Gwen examined a few plants that had been growing on the path she took to and from town, the white snowbells dripping with dew. She knew better than to pick any plants in the forest that were white as they belonged to the prince, Ulquiorra. The prince was supposed to be the most beautiful of the Elves, with skin as white as snow and eyes greener than the trees around the forest in the summer.
Many tales about him involved young girls and women being lured away and turned into roses for his secret garden, but Gwen liked to think if she was to meet a fate like that he would turn her into something soft. Roses did not impose innocence onto her, perhaps beauty, but the thorns, for her, seemed to say the girls were hiding an ulterior motive.
Murmuring to herself the woman continued on her way, turning her head from time to time when she thought she saw someone walking through the trees on the other side of the path. Hearing the faint ribbit of frogs Gwen wandered along the path until she came out into the clearing, the small brown creature flinging itself back into the water upon her getting too close.
"Oh, the pond finally has frogs in it." she uttered, leaning over to try look for any just under the surface of the water. Kneeling the young woman peeped her head back over the edge, her head being drawn away swiftly once more when her hair went into the water. "Ribbit." she croaked, trying to lure them out. "Ribbit." she stated again, laughing slightly when one responded.
Leaning further out the woman croaked again before yelping when she fell into the water. Splashing about Gwen gasped and reached for the edge of the water before stopping when she grabbed onto a thin object stood firmly on land. Still spluttering she looked up, a lily pad blocking her view for a moment.
"Frog girl." the thin man spoke, while she flew off of his leg and grabbed her mouth to stop herself shouting. "Calm yourself." he murmured passively, examining her. "The moon harvest is soon, so I am travelling around the forest telling the deity and yokai that there is going to be a celebration." he explained, while she crawled out of the water.
Slightly confused Gwen stood and pulled the plant from the top of her head.
"You're inviting me to a party?" she asked cautiously, putting the lily pad back onto the water's surface.
"Yes. Just remember to bring an offering." he answered plainly.
Quietly Gwen stared at him; his green eyes, his white skin, his long ebony hair. Her head soon lowering to look at his bare chest and the streak of thick fur which lead down the centre of his chest and stomach to meet his fluffy legs, those said furry legs then leading down to a pair of clawed feet. His arms were covered in fur as well, and she could see a tail bound and wrapped several times around his waist and hips like a belt.
"W-What sort of offering?" she enquired nervously, coming to realise who she was in the presence of.
"Fruit or flowers I have never seen." he explained, burning his icy thin pupils into her. He certainly did not look as inviting as the tales foretold.
"You don't want a human?" she asked hesitantly.
"You have been near the mortals too long, frog girl." he uttered, while she merely pouted.
"My name's Gwen, not 'frog girl'." she stated, though drew herself back cautiously when she reminded herself that she was talking to a formidable creature.
"You even refer to yourself by a mortal name?" Ulquiorra asked, examining her bitterly. "I will assume it an insult if you do not attend with a gift far grander than anyone else's." he stated firmly, turning to leave.
"Can't I give you a gift now? I can't go to the festival." Gwen quickly called, knowing full well that a mortal could not find the festival let alone enter it.
"Why would I want it now?" he asked, stopping to look at her.
"A gift of grandeur is far more special if it's given at the wrong time." she explained, peering around the pond for a gift.
To her surprise he remained stood at the spot he had stopped on, and continued to watch her blunder around until he finally came to a stop and rustled around in her soaked pockets.
"Here." she spoke, looking down at her palm that had pocket change in it.
"What use have I for human trinkets?" the ebony haired prince asked, observing the metal sceptically.
"Exactly." Gwen uttered, handing it to him. "It is neither something you want, or will be given. It's special in its own way then, isn't it?" she asked, smiling a little. Ulquiorra did not respond with words, his expression was enough to tell anyone that he was not pleased.
"Are you mocking me?" he asked, tossing it to her as she went to fumble and catch it.
"No, of course not." she protested, steadying her feet. "You don't want a special coin?" she asked, looking down at it.
"It would not even pass through the gates to the realm of immortals." the prince muttered, causing her to pause.
"Then I couldn't come to your party. My clothes would be ruined." she uttered, touching her shirt.
Observing her clothes first Ulquiorra then went to speak.
"Like any sensible demon, or creature, you would come bound in fabrics of the earth, or in the skin you were given. We feel no cold, what use do you have for those material goods?" Ulquiorra asked, raising his hand to point to the purple garment woven around her chest and hip to hang behind her before he gave her baggy pink hakama, that stopped at the knees, a sceptical look.
"I like them." she responded, tugging at her pink scarf.
"That is it?" he questioned.
"I don't feel I need another reason. If I'm happy then that's all that matters." Gwen spoke, crossing her arms. "You don't look for gifts you don't want, do you?" she then asked, hitching her brow. Again he did not reply, though it did give her enough time to think of something to give him.
"Ah, I have it!" she exclaimed, scooping a lily pad back out of the water before producing a bit of string.
After some fumbling she came over and put it on his head, the dripping plant only making his melancholic expression far more prominent.
"What is it?" he asked, peering up for a moment before twitching his eye shut when a droplet of water hit his cheek.
"It's to protect you from the rain." she explained, pointing to the sky. "It's from earth, it's a plant, and I bet no one else will give you that." she chuckled, though he simply took it off and glowered slightly.
"I have no use for hats." he muttered, making her knit her eyebrows together.
"There's no pleasing a prince." she sighed, putting it, yet again, back in the pond. "At this rate the entire forest will have been put before you, and you will have refused all of it." she added, cupping her chin. "When is the party?" she asked.
"At the end of this week." he replied.
"Plenty of time." she soon spoke. "Come to this pond each morning until the night of the festival, and each day I'll present you with a gift fit for a picky prince." she requested.
"I have no time for games." he murmured, turning to leave as we wanted to before.
"Then whatever I bring to the festival you have to smile and accept, whether you like it or not." Gwen protested, turning away for a moment. "Maybe I'll make you some daisy chains and rings for your tail, horns and neck." she chuckled, while he simply paused to look at her for a moment before continuing on his way. The idea of getting daisy chains seemed like troublesome prospect from the look on his face.
Heading home Gwen sat in her kitchen and peered off into the distance in thought, he was not as scary as the stories lead her to believe, but he was not all that handsome either. He was attractive in a weird sort of way, but his stone-esque personality made him out to be a blistering snowstorm. The main thought going through her head however was the question of what she could give him, if he did reappear before her. She certainly was not going to the moon festival in nothing more than a few leaves.
Examining her kitchen she hummed, she could not give him jewellery or clothes, and he did not seem to appreciate plants in the shape of these items either. Tapping her bottom lip Gwen wandered out into the garden with her torch and looked about in the grass, spotting a couple dandelions growing by the wall. When she turned to keep an eye on where she was going Gwen screamed when she came face to face with Ulquiorra.
"Why do you keep jumping out at me?!" she yelled, glaring at him.
"It's morning." he stated, while she stood bent over and clutching her chest.
"It's the middle of the night." Gwen hissed, drawing back some of her composure.
"Which is the cycle for a new day." he spoke, glancing behind her to the house.
"Are the humans asleep?" he asked, watching her turn and mutter.
"I live here." she answered bluntly, wandering inside.
"You live in a house?" he questioned, following her.
Coming inside he attempted to avoid catching the garlic hung from the ceiling on his horns, his head ducking ever so slightly as he walked forward and looked around.
"By this point I assume you know what I am?" Gwen enquired, putting the lantern onto a hook to keep the kitchen illuminated.
"A strange frog." Ulquiorra answered, touching a few of the kitchen implements around him curiously. For a demon prince, that was probably older than the earth he walked on, he was not that quick off the mark.
"I'm a human woman." she stated, feeling as though a continued lie of this calibre may cause her unfortunate fate.
Taking in what she said Ulquiorra stared at her and, as usual, said nothing. His frosty emerald eyes boring into her as she waited for a response.
"A human frog?" he asked, examining her while she tossed a flower at him.
"No!" she grunted, clearly flabbergasted. "A normal human.".
"And you lied to me?" he questioned, narrowing his gaze.
"I'm sure you know what rumours exist about the Elves in that forest. You would lie to." Gwen explained. "But since you came to my house I had no other option but to tell you the truth." she added truthfully, rummaging about in her cupboards.
"Then what were you doing at the pond speaking to those frogs?" he asked, raising his brow only slightly.
"Y-You saw that?" she asked, her cheeks tinting a slight pink. "I was pretending to be a frog." she went on to say, rubbing the back of her head.
Yet again there was an air of silence and tense atmosphere as Gwen pondered what to say and watched him carefully.
"And if I decide to eat you?" he asked.
"Then I guess I'll just have to beat you off with whatever I have laying about." she replied, glancing at both a frying pan and a broom.
"Humans." he spoke bluntly, though he made no effort to really attack her or leave.
"Are you still looking for a gift?" she asked after a small pause.
"You still want to give me one?" he enquired, seemingly a little surprised.
"I said I'd give you one. I can't promise those daisy chains now though." she uttered gently, picking up a weaved crown made of thick dried vines that smelled distinctly of lavender. "Morning one's present, a crown made of vines. Lavender is great for helping you relax and sleep, perfect for any stiff and busy prince." Gwen uttered, showing it to him.
"I have fifty different crowns." he stated, while she simply shook her head and put it on her head instead.
"Then I guess the princess gets to wear the crown." she sighed, sliding a few strands of her green hair through the gaps in the woven crown to keep it in place.
Waiting Ulquiorra watched her fiddle around in the small room expectantly, only speaking when he felt it necessary.
"Is that it?" he asked, while she blinked and turned to look at him.
"One present a day until you're happy." she spoke, clicking her tongue off the roof of her mouth. "Don't be so impatient." Gwen added, sweeping the floor.
"And on the morning before the festival?" he enquired.
"You take what you're given and you like it." she answered firmly, nodding her head once.
"If you do not give me something I will want before the night of the festival I will devour you." he stiffly spoke, causing her to turn and look at him.
"So it is true. The Elves eat the flesh of humans on the day and night of the moon harvest?" she asked.
"No. But that does not mean I wont indulge in such a thing." Ulquiorra explained, causing her to tighten her grip on the handle of her broom.
"What will you do to me? There are so many stories of how the Elves eat other creatures. Some more frightening than others." she mumbled, not quite sure she really did want to know.
"What would your more preferred method be?" he asked, observing her.
"Is there really a 'preferred' option?" Gwen enquired, knitting her eyebrows together before taking a moment to think about it. "I suppose the least messy." she spoke, glancing to the ground. "I don't think any creature, even a human, should be torn apart." she mumbled.
"I will see to it that you are eaten in a fitting way to that of a frog." he stated.
For a moment she examined him, he did not seem capable of really eating someone whole, nor did he seem like he could really cast a powerful spell.
"You'll turn into a herring and swallow me whole?" she asked, examining him.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps I will shrink you and have you served at the festival on my dinner platter." he spoke, pondering it himself. The more they spoke about it the paler and more light-headed she became. "Or maybe I will not shrink you at all and devour you as you are now. Alive and whole." he added, making direct eye contact with her.
"You can do that?" she asked, shuddering at the thought.
"I'm capable of many things. I am not bound by mortal laws." he explained, turning to leave.
"You have five more days to appease me." he spoke before disappearing into the shadows. What was once a casual stroll in the forest had truly turned into something chaotic.
In the morning Gwen had gone to school, her hand leaning onto her jaw as she sighed.
"What's wrong?" one of the girls in her class asked, looking behind her.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just trying to think of a present for a guy I know." she explained, leaning back. "He's really fussy." she added.
"Hm, I'm not sure what guys like." the redhead uttered, peering off for a moment. "Chocolate?" she suggested.
"That might work actually." Gwen stated, smiling a little. "I'll try that, thanks." she thanked her, seeing how much pocket change she had.
After school she jogged out past the gate, dodging and apologising a group of students she almost walked right into. On her way home she went into the Three Forest store, named so due to it having been built beside the road between the three separated forests surrounding it. Drifting around slowly she attempted to pick out a chocolate. Unsure what to really get him she picked up as many as she could, and tried to give the clerk a friendly laugh when he told her that her teeth would fall out.
Stepping out with her new found chocolates in a plastic bag Gwen took a deep breath and began to head home once again, hoping that this would be enough to sedate him. On her way back the green haired woman peered down once in a while to examine a white and orange cat that was following her, though she did not pay it much mind until she got far enough out into the farm lands.
"Are you lost?" she enquired, stopping to examine it. It simply stared at her though, while she looked away from him to her bag and back. "Oh, you're hungry?" she asked, kneeling to rummage about in it. "How about some dried squid?" she suggested, holding it out for him to take.
He did not take long to snatch it from her after that, and began eating it without much interest in whether or not he would choke.
"Frog girl." a voice spoke, making her jump.
"W-What? It's not even midnight." she uttered, turning to look around.
"Midnight?" the cat uttered, causing her to look down at him.
"Ulquiorra?" she asked, examining the small plump creature. He simply meowed at her though, making her sigh and turn to keep going. "I think I need a nap. Goodbye, Mr Cat." she uttered, wandering down the farm path again while the cat watched her leave.
Sighing Gwen stayed up until midnight, waiting at the backdoor until a cold chill tore through her garden and Ulquiorra appeared.
"It is time." he spoke, coming up to her.
"Come in, I think you'll like this." she uttered, letting him go in first before she shut the door. "I got you various assortments of chocolates." she uttered, showing him.
"Chocolate?" he enquired, examining the table littered with them.
"I wasn't sure which one you would like the most, so I got you a whole bunch." she explained, watching him.
One by one he picked up the chocolates, sniffed them, and put them back down.
"I don't like either of them." he spoke, making her frown.
"You haven't tasted them." she stated, picking one up to show him in a demanding way. Observing her he picked one up once again and slowly put it to his mouth, his teeth piercing through the chocolate roll. "Well?" she asked, observing him curiously.
"Too sweet." he stated, putting it down to take another one.
This process repeated until he finally seemed to like one, which, unsurprisingly, was the bitterest of the sweets she had bought for him. "I like this one." he uttered.
"Okay." she spoke, finding the discarded wrapper before she poured a pile of the same sweet down onto the table before him. "Happy moon harvest!" she exclaimed, smiling brightly.
"Your gift is chocolate?" he asked, peering up at her with a scrutinising expression.
"It's a human gift." Gwen uttered, nibbling on some of the other chocolates. "It's a way of expressing kindness, happiness and even love." she explained.
Having another bar of chocolate to himself Ulquiorra observed her quietly as she cleaned up the table once again and put the chocolates away for another time.
"Don't think you're free yet, frog girl." the demon uttered, while she turned to look at him.
"I gave you a gift you liked." she protested.
"You must give me a gift I like everyday up until the night before." he answered, while she just stamped her foot.
"No, the deal was that I got you something you liked and then you wouldn't eat me!" she snapped, crinkling her nose.
"Chocolates don't last forever. I want a gift that I can look at continuously." he responded calmly, standing up as she chased after him.
"You're not being fair!" she yelled, watching him suddenly take off into the air and fly away in between the trees.