Tania is a Mary Sue. You've been warned.
This story is undergoing an intense editing process. I am warning you now: things will not make sense in the later chapters. Thank you!
FAIRY BLOOD
Prologue
Mandy closed her eyes in attempt to prevent her tears from spilling. But, like a gentle river trickling through a broken dam, they slowly streamed down her pale cheeks and suspended under her chin before falling to the ground. She was a complete mess, but was either oblivious to it or didn't care.
It can't be, she thought hopelessly as she tightened her fists. This wasn't supposed to happen! Faelin was supposed to be a dwelling of peace, to be filled with happiness for all eternity. A haven for the fairies…
But all that was long gone. Her race, which was once strong and powerful, had fallen, like a crisp autumn leaf soon to be buried by a thick and frozen blanket of snow.
No more unity.
"It's the Saeryl's fault!" Mandy cried angrily. "The damn Saeryl."
The wind rippled suddenly, and a sweet scent of lilacs wafted in the air. A woman stood before Mandy, with a grim expression on her thin face. Grey curls grazed her weak shoulders, and she had deep lines at the corners of her eyes. She looked exhausted and ready to collapse.
"Mandy, do not blame on the Saeryl," she said softly, but with a harshness in her voice. "It was our own fault. We fairies were foolish enough to depend on it. Hence, our current state: lost, helpless, and desperate."
Mandy frowned. "I..."
"Now everyone's leaving Faelin," her companion cut in. "It may not be so hard on you since you already have a place outside of Faelin, but the others are not so fortunate. Many are lost, even furious at the fact that they have to find jobs and hide their identities in the kingdoms dominated by humans. We have to help them, Mandy."
"It isn't so hard for them to find jobs, Lucinda," said Mandy dismissively. "They can be cooks, shoemakers, blacksmiths, or servants. The possibilities are endless. Plus, small magic will aid them."
Lucinda's tired eyes widened. "How can you be so heartless?" she said disbelievingly. "Some of these fairies are nobles! Going from a duchess to a handmaiden! An earl to a silversmith! There are many who are actually soaring up to Noewyn in a day or two!"
"This wouldn't have happened if we fairies hadn't relied so much on the Saeryl!" Mandy retorted angrily.
"It was a mistake, I admit," Lucinda countered, "but we have to stay strong. We have to, Mandy." Her eyes watered, and she shook her head desperately. "We cannot let ourselves fall..."
The last line was barely a whisper as Lucinda's voice trailed off to nothingness. Mandy paused and gazed fixedly at her friend, a calculating shrewdness in her eye. Lucinda, after brushing off her tears childishly with the back of her hand, looked up and met Mandy's sharp gaze.
"Well...?" she whispered.
Mandy's expression darkened. She broke off the gaze and turned her back abruptly. "We have already fallen," she replied frostily. "It's too late, Lucinda."
There was a gasp. Lucinda, mother of mistakes, stared incredulously at the broken fairy. How could this happen? Mandy used to have the highest spirit! She used to show the greatest wisdom and strength! Now, she was replaced by this…this…stranger.
"I can't believe you," she said softly.
Mandy sighed. "Let them go to Noewyn. Is something wrong with that?"
When Lucinda scowled, the lines on her face deepened. "If they all go to Noewyn, what happens when peace is brought back? Think, Mandy!" she said angrily. "There will be no fairies to witness that restoration." She released a sigh, a sigh which held a mixture of misery, anger, fear, and bitterness…
She continued very quietly, with her eyes cast down. "The lineages of fairies will end. Our very existence in this world will be forgotten. There are some who are aware of that, which is why they are not going to Noewyn, even though they are aching to."
Mandy gave her companion an impatient look. "What makes you think that peace for Faelin and the fairies will ever be returned?" she challenged.
"We cannot lose hope," Lucinda interjected. "Plus, there is still the Queen. Her royal blood has the power to use big magic."
Mandy let out a cold, bitter laugh at this. "Do you not know, Lucinda?"
Lucinda frowned. "Know what?" she said suspiciously.
"Our wonderful Queen is gone."
Lucinda gasped. "What makes you think that?" she demanded. "You are jesting!"
Mandy shook her head. "I assure you that I am not. Why would I jest about something like that? She is now in Noewyn. There are witnesses of her ascension." She smiled sardonically. "It is quite funny, actually. Here you are, talking about staying strong, while the Queen herself had shown surrender."
"B-but...what about her sister?" Lucinda whispered, still in shock.
"Gone," Mandy said bluntly. "Also went up. There are witnesses of her ascension as well. The royal bloodline is at its end, Lucinda. Accept that."
Lucinda shook her head vigorously. "B-but…the Queen seemed so strong!"
"Well, you were obviously wrong," Mandy replied curtly.
Lucinda flinched. "How cruel of you to act this way, Mandy! Our race is suffering!"
Mandy could not bear to look at Lucinda's teary gaze. She cast her eyes down as her own tears threatened to let loose once more. She vaguely heard Lucinda sigh loudly, but she ignored it.
For a while, no one spoke. Both were in their own thoughts. Both were worried, wondering about what was to become of Faelin and its people, now that the Saeryl and their ruler were gone.
Finally, Mandy spoke. Her voice was very quiet and hesitant. "Forgive me, Lucinda, for being so cold, but the pain...it's just too much...one hundred and eighty-three years in this world, and I have just recently experienced the greatest torment of my life."
Lucinda softened. "I understand," she whispered. "I'm sorry for my anger."
Mandy nodded and sniffed quietly. "I'm sorry as well. And don't worry," she said shakily, "I will help. Who knows? Maybe you areright about this whole thing. Maybe peace will someday be returned."
Lucinda smiled. "Thank you."
Mandy nodded and said, "I have to leave now. My godchild is waiting for me."
"How is Queen Ella?"
Mandy chuckled. "Impatient. But she should be delivering any day now."
"I give her my best wishes. Good night."
Mandy's smile was filled with deep sorrow. "Good night."
That cold winter night was historical, a dark story to be passed down from generation to generation. Thousands of fairies shared the same pain as their bond broke and their spirits shattered. There was naught but a thin sliver of hope in their hearts. Nevertheless, it was a tiny portion that miraculously never weakened, as ten years went passing by with no signs of redemption...
"Tania, Tania
Leave and go to Kyrria
Away, away, don't come near
What you need is a kick in the rear
Beware, she'll cast a spell on you
She's strange, abnormal, and creepy too
Stay away from this odd lass,
She's the Witch of Déoras!"
An eight-year-old girl with wavy chestnut-brown hair, teary eyes, and a trembling bottom lip quickened her pace. She hated that song. She hated it, loathed it, despised it, abhorred it! She was at the verge of tears, but would rather die than let the other children see her cry like some...pathetic weakling.
"No human has your eyes!" a girl shouted. "You are not one of us!"
Tania, for that was the girl's name, ignored the remark as she hurried towards home. She chanted to herself repeatedly, telling herself not to cry.
Why was she considered strange? There were plenty of reasons, her eyes being one of them. While other human beings had either brown, blue, grey, or green eyes, she had purple ones, which was, of course, considered unnatural. Humorously enough, some foolish, pathetic, narrow-minded ones (Georgia's words) believed that if they looked into her eyes, they would get hypnotized.
Another reason was because of all the bizarre incidents that had always occurred whenever she was around. A perfect example was during the 24th of May, when she was only six years old…
"Why are we going to the marketplace, Mother?" six-year-old Tania asked.
"We need to help the servants, sweet," her mother replied. "A very special banquet is occurring in two days and we have to help as much as we can."
After a few minutes, the mother and daughter reached the busy marketplace. Tania's eyes widened as she stared at the astonishing sight. She had never been in a marketplace before, and the loud chatter and laughter amazed her. The wooden carts, fruit and vegetable stands, loud vendors, and bad-tempered buyers aroused her curious nature.
"We need fruits for the banquet," her mother said. "Come, Tania." She held on to her daughter's hand tightly and weaved through the massive crowd.
Soon, they reached a stand filled with oranges, apples, and pears.
"Ah, here we are," Tania's mother said. "Hun, just hold on to my skirts while I pick some fruits. Is that clear? You mustn't get lost in a place like this."
Tania nodded.
"Good." Her mother turned towards the fruits and started to pick the best ones.
Tania's small hand grasped her mother's skirt, while her curious eyes followed the movements of various buyers and sellers.
All of a sudden, there was a loud shout. "RUNAWAY CART!"
Tania turned immediately. Her eyes widened with horror as she saw a heavy wooden cart head right towards her and her mother. Her legs felt like lead as she froze on the spot. She shut her eyes out of impulse, bracing herself.
She waited...
Waited...
Waited...
She felt nothing.
Slowly, very slowly, she opened her eyes. She blinked in confusion as she suddenly became aware of the deadly silence that engulfed the marketplace. Even the pigeons were silent. She looked around and found that all the eyes of every being in the marketplace were fixed on her. Each pair of steady orbs showed different expressions: shock, bewilderment, and to her puzzlement, terror.
A frowned crossed her features. Then she turned her head to look at the runaway cart.
That was when she gasped out loud.
The cart was there, just two feet away from her. There was absolutely nothing and no one that was in its way. It just…stopped. Just like that…
It was her mother's voice that broke the silence. "Let's go, dear."
Tania, completely dazed, didn't feel her mother take her trembling hand. She only snapped back to reality when she felt herself being pulled away gently from the blasted spot…
And the moment she stepped out of the way, the cart reacted. It ran forward...and crashed into the fruit stand.
Stories of the "cart girl" quickly spread around after that incident. That was the very first public incident that centered on Tania's strangeness. Unfortunately for her, it was not the last. More incidents came, and each and every one of them helped with the forming of her poor reputation.
The kids were now on the fourth verse of the offensive song. Tania picked up her pace. She didn't want to hear those awful words. She hummed a tune softly to herself and mentally chanted: Ignore them, Ignore them, Ignore them.
Finally, she reached her manor. It was the one place where she felt safe, despite the fact that there were some gossipy servants in there who talked about her peculiarity. It was a good thing that such conversations were secret.
Her mother, who was at the drawing room, greeted her. "How is Dame Leslie, Tania?" she asked pleasantly
Tania's eyes lit up. "She's just fine, Mother," she said with a grin. "Here is roly-poly pudding from her." She held up a covered dish. "I helped her make it."
"Then I can't wait to try it."
"Will you try it now?"
"We must wait for your father, Tania," her mother reminded gently.
Tania pouted, but said nothing. Lady Evelyn handed the dish to a passing scullery maid, who nodded and took it silently.
"Now," said the mistress of the manor as she turned to her daughter, "shall we review your Ayorthaian?"
Tania shook her head. "I already know it, Mother."
"What about your Kyrrian?"
"I know it as well."
"Then what about your Gnomic?"
".lornfiv misturel uf veln plurvaN"
"And your Elfian?"
"Emcko lurs puveni."
"Abdegi?"
"Heenvii (screech) onns loobru fiil."
"Tania, I am certainly impressed!" her mother praised. "You are indeed following my footsteps. When you grow up, you will be the best linguist in Geldrin."
Tania plopped down on the couch and rested her elbows on armrest. "What is it like to be Court Linguist, Mother?" she asked curiously.
Lady Evelyn's jade eyes twinkled. "Well, a Court Linguist translates languages for the people in court," she explained. "It is a very honourable job."
"Do the king and queen know how to speak Abdegi or Gnomic?"
Tania's mother laughed. "No, sweet. That is why my presence is required whenever there is a visitor who does not speak our tongue."
A deep, cheerful voice suddenly interrupted the conversation. "I'm home!" At this, the mother and daughter turned simultaneously. Their faces broke into large grins when they saw a tall man with dark brown hair and a tidy beard standing near the doorway. He was dressed in traveller's clothes, his black boots filled with dry, brown mud.
"Father!" Tania shrieked happily. She rose quickly and ran to his arms.
The man lifted her and swung her in the air. He did this effortlessly, as if he had been doing it for a long time. His grey eyes twinkled merrily as he beamed at his daughter. "How are you, my dear?"
"Happy," Tania replied. "I brought home roly-poly pudding. It's from Dame Leslie."
"Wonderful! Tell Dame Leslie that we all thank her graciously." Sir James tweaked her nose affectionately, then turned to his wife. He smiled. "Still as beautiful as ever…"
Lady Evelyn chuckled. "And you still haven't lost your charm after three weeks," she said, leaning over and giving her husband a quick kiss on the lips.
"Well," Sir James said while he put his daughter down, "I don't know about the two of you, but I'm starving."
"I'm hungry too!" Tania piped up.
Lady Evelyn grinned. "Lead the way, hun," she said to her daughter.
Tania, whose face was brightened with joy, led the way, while her parents followed behind.
On the way to the dining room, Lady Evelyn talked to her husband. "So, how was the trip, James? Did you make any good trades?"
"Yes, I sure did," Sir James replied with a pleased grin. "I made a very fair trade with the sculpture by that elf from Kyrria…Agulen, I think…"
"Hello, Mandy," a voice greeted cheerfully as that someone entered the palace kitchen.
Mandy looked up from her work and smiled brightly when she saw Ella. "Hello, sweet," she said in return.
Ella, wife to King Charmont of Kyrria, was still as beautiful as ever, but changed as well. Her eyes were still green, but they contained more knowledge on life and love. She still had that playfulness in her, but also the gentle radiance of a queen. She had blossomed throughout the years, and was still doing so.
"What are you doing here?" Mandy asked.
Ella shrugged. "Char is in the menagerie with Jayden and Eileen, so I thought I would help you out. What do you want me to do?"
"Well," Mandy said thoughtfully, "I'm actually going to make chocolate cake after this carrot soup, so why don't you prepare the ingredients?"
Ella nodded. "All right." She walked over to the cabinets and began to bring out the ingredients. Finding them was no hard work since she always spent a lot of time in the kitchen.
As she was setting the bag of flour on the table, she began to laugh.
Mandy looked at her, her lips fixed into an amused smile. "What's so funny?"
"Oh," Ella said with a chuckle, "it's just something that Jayden did this morning. He broke a vase with his slingshot and tried to pin it on Eileen."
Mandy raised an eyebrow. "And you find that amusing?"
"No, no." Ella shook her head vigorously. "It's just the way he did it that made it amusing. You should have seen him, Mandy. He's quite the troublemaker." She sighed. "I'm afraid he will influence Eileen in a not-so-good way."
Mandy chuckled. "He's just like you when you were his age."
Loud peals of laughter suddenly interrupted the silence of the palace kitchen. Three figures walked in: a man and two children. The man was handsome and tall, with tawny curls and swarthy skin. He brought with him a charming and kingly presence. He was carrying a six-year-old girl on his back, one with long, beautiful curls and the brown eyes of her father, but the complexion of her mother. The young boy beside him had most of Ella's features: straight, jet-black hair and the greenest eyes. His strong bone structure, however, came from his father.
The little girl squirmed out of her father's hold, and when released, ran and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist. The mother hugged back laughingly.
"Hello, Eileen," Ella greeted. Then she turned to her ten-year-old son and playfully ruffled his hair. "How is the old parrot, Jayden?"
A sweet, toothy grin appeared on Jayden's face. "Keech is just fine," he replied. "He learned a new phrase today."
"Oh? And what phrase is that?"
Jayden paused and furrowed his eyebrows as he desperately tried to remember. "Well," he said afterwards, "I remember what it is, but I can't really say it, Mother. It's in another language."
Ella chuckled. Her son did not inherit her remarkable skill with tongues.
"Abdegi," Char offered to his wife.
Ella smiled, in return to her husband's affectionate grin.
The love that these two shared was remarkable. It was so great that many Kyrrians believed that it was unbreakable. Of course, they had their little quarrels now and then, but that was a normal part of marriage life. The truth was, and many believed it so, that their love was still growing stronger and stronger everyday despite many years of being married.
Char smiled as he watched his wife spend time with their two children. A third one was on the way, and he was extremely joyful about that. He had never thought ten years ago that this whole thing was possible.
But it was. And he was extremely grateful. The night when he unintentionally ordered her to marry him, the night when she confronted her curse to save him and Kyrria, would forever linger in his memory.
Snapping out of his thoughts and putting on a smile, he said, "Did Stephan come by?"
Ella shook her head. "No, but Sir Bertram did."
"What did he say?"
"Something about the thieves in Bast."
"I'll get to it."
Ella turned to her son. "Jayden, I want you to take a bath. We are going to eat soon. I trust that there won't be any trouble from you?" She raised an eyebrow and looked at him questionably.
Jayden smiled and nodded his head innocently (too innocently). "Yes, Mother."
"Good. Remember your word." She looked her sternest. "If you need me, I shall be in Eileen's room. Now, let's go upstairs." She turned to the palace cook (known to her family as the fairy godmother). "We'll see you later, Mandy."
Mandy nodded. Then she turned to the prince and princess, the sly grin on her lips making the royal family suspicious. "Jayden and Eileen," she said amusedly, "don't worry. I won't forget to give you Tonic."
Jayden groaned, while Eileen whined.
"You too, Ella and Char."
Ella and Char groaned.
"Tonic is very good for you," Mandy reminded.
"We know that, Mandy," Jayden whined, "but I don't like the feel of it when it slides down my throat."
"Mandy means well," Ella said to her family as she put an arm around her son's shoulders. "Now, let's go. Suppertime is near."
The four monarchs of Kyrria, like any normal family, left to prepare for supper.
Well…maybe except Jayden. That boy would never just prepare for supper.
It made the castle servants wonder exactly what he would be like when he is all grown up.