The candlelight cast long flickering shadows across the room. I sat in the corner, quietly watching the door. After half an hour or so, a tall woman strode into the room. I stood and walked towards her. This woman was Commander Hawthorne, the leader of our resistance to reinstate Queen Iris of Fay. She was carrying a simple wooden chest, about the size of a loaf of bread. I watched as Commander Hawthorne placed the wooden chest into a picnic basket. She thrust it into my outstretched hands.
"Take this to the Cottage," she whispered urgently. "and I forgot to mention… you'll be working with Jack."
"Oh… okay." I felt my face heat up. Jack and I had known each other since we were kids, but I hadn't seen him for a few years. I had always kind of liked him, but then he moved away, and I hadn't seen him since.
"He'll meet you on the edge of the forest in ten minutes," she murmured pushing me to the door, "you had better get going."
I put on the scarlet cloak that I always wore. It was the gift that Jack gave me right before he left. I hung the picnic basket on the crook of my arm and set off. I strolled through the town, enjoying the silence that comes at night. A guard walked the perimeter of the largest mansion in Fay. We acknowledged each other, and continued. Finally, I reached the forest. I stopped and looked around. The Moon blanketed the land in a peaceful, silvery light. I sighed, trying to remember the last time I had been this calm.
"Selene Hemlock. Still have the cloak, I see." said a voice.
I jumped back and drew my silver dagger, which I carried everywhere. A boy stepped out of the shadows. I gasped.
"Jack!"
He laughed, and pushed his black hair out of his face.
"Yep. Surprised to see me?"
"No way. Hemlock told me you would be here. You've just… changed."
He had. Last time we were together, we were only Seventeen. Four years is a long time.
"You have too." He admitted, studying me. He blushed." Anyway, we should probably get going. We have things to do, people to see."
"Yeah," I said, turning towards the forest.
We set off through the woods, making small talk. Eventually, the talk turned to the past four years.
"So where did you go?" I asked, dying to know.
"Oh… I was interning, for this guy…" He said haltingly
"You've never been a good liar," I said, "Come on, tell me."
Suddenly Jack stopped.
"Jack…" I chided.
"That… music." He said dreamily.
I looked around, wondering what he could have possibly been talking about. Then I heard it. The sweetest music I had ever heard, or have ever heard since. I wanted to sit down and listen forever. I knew then that something was wrong.
"No," I yelled, "Jack, cover your ears! Somehow we ended up in the forest of Faerie!"
The Forest of Faerie was known to lure travelers from the path by showing them what they wanted. I looked around in a panic, but I couldn't see Jack. What I could see, was a patch of flowers, the kind my mother and I used to pick. I wondered towards them, all other thoughts vanishing. I was about to pick one, when a large silver wolf stepped out from behind a tree. I gasped and stepped back. It was the most beautiful animal I had ever seen. Its coat shone like the moon, and its eyes shone like the sun. It was clearly magical, so I was not surprised when it spoke.
"Hello," he said in a most soothing voice.
"Wh-What do you want?" I stammered.
"I? I only want something to eat." He said smoothly. "Whatever you have in that basket will suffice"
It took all my willpower not to give him the basket and run away screaming.
"No" I said, sounding calmer than I felt, "I will not give you anything."
He snarled and disappeared. When he disappeared, so did the flowers and the music. A few feet away, I saw Jack sitting on the ground talking to a tree.
"No, I do not want a free chicken cat." He argued. I decided I didn't want to know.
"Jack! Get up!" I ordered.
"What?" He asked sleepily.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.
"I wanna talk to this nice man" He mumbled. I dragged him back to the trail.
"Come on, you." I replied, "We have to get to the Cottage."
The rest of our journey was mainly uneventful. We trekked through the woods, both too embarrassed to speak. Jack finally broke the silence.
"We're here."
Something was wrong. There was the Cottage, but the door was ajar. I sprinted to the door, Jack at my heels, and stepped inside. There was Queen Iris, standing with her back towards me. Her long blonde hair blew around her in the wind.
"Y-Your Majesty?" I started.
She turned around as though in a trance. I gasped. She smiled, but it did not hide the anger and greed on her face.
"Hello Celestia! Please give me the basket." She tittered in a voice most unlike her own.
I began to hand it to her, when I realized her mistake. I withdrew my hand.
"What's wrong?' She asked her smile fading.
"Celestia?" I asked.
Her eyes widened as she realized her mistake.
"Oh… I meant Selene…" She began.
At that moment, I knew she was an imposter. She had grown up with me. She would never forget my name. I drew my dagger and ran towards her, plunging it into her heart. Jack grabbed me and pulled me back.
Iris screamed. I watched as her body began to glow. It got brighter and brighter until it was blinding. Then the light vanished, and the dead wolf lay on the floor.
"But… the Queen." Jack started.
"Here." Said a voice from behind me.
I whipped around. There stood Queen Iris. She pulled me into a hug.
"Selene…" She said.
"Iris… I have to give you this" I said handing her the basket. She pulled out the box and opened it. A faint golden glow illuminated her features. She smiled.
"Thank you." She murmured, closing the box." You may go now. And Selene… come visit?"
"Of course," I smiled. Then I joined Jack outside. He gave me a hug, which made me blush.
"How did you know?" He asked.
"About the wolf? I know Iris well enough to tell. Also… I met the wolf in Faerie."
"Oh." He paused. "Well, I guess I should explain where I was all these years."
"Yes, please" I said, taking his hand.
"Well it started with three magic beans and a cow…"
With that we walked through the forest, off on another adventure.
...
I don't know... Just bored. I had to do this for English class so I figured I'd post it.