Author's note: This story is written in a slightly different style than my other stories. I found my inspiration from a book I read on Scottish

Fairy tales. I am also glad to say that I've written out the basic outline for the whole story, so hopefully no getting stuck with writer's block! I promise I will get

around to finishing all my stories, Blood or fangs, Everett, and Everness.

Hope you enjoy it!

Sliverpen

Chapter 1

"Run, Celeste, run!" a man's voice yelled at her.

She did as she was told, gathering the skirts of her dress. She quickly reached the fringe of the woods next to the road. She looked back, seeing the carriage she had been in just a few moments ago burning, the flames lighting up the night sky. The wood crackling and collapsing. Men were yelling and fighting. Some lay slain.

Just then one of them turned and looked at her. He had long black hair from what she could see, and a face that could be handsome if it was not for the hateful expression on it. He had a sword with him, the blade drawn and covered in what she knew was blood. She shivered and realized with horror that he was coming after her!

She ran into the wood, pulling her skirts free as fingers of hungry trees grabbed at her. She stumbled, but got up quickly, hearing the footfalls coming nearer and a man's voice cursing the wretched trees. Tears streaked her face as she blindly ran further and further into the dark woods, where few travelers ever dared go into, and where many hungry things waited. A sliproot tripped her, so that she tumbled down a slope. When she finally sat up, she stared right into someone's waist. She let out a scream, as she had thought this was her pursuer.

"Keep your voice down!" scolded an old, plump lady. She was dressed in plain clothes, colored gray and green. Her hair was grey and wild. Just then her pursuer came down the slope, sword in hand.

"Not so fast!" bellowed the lady. The man was taken aback by the strength in her voice. The air suddenly felt much colder as she continued to speak.

"As you find your way through the human ways, you shall not remember where you came from. Insignificant you will be, until you learn life's secret. Then you shall be free."

Celeste woke up, still breathing heavily and her heart pounding. "What on earth did all this mean?" she wondered. She's been having the same dreadful dream over an over for many months now. It terrified her. "Who was the man that wanted to kill me?" Every time she dreamt it was in more detail than the time before. "It must be because I'm so worried about Ma," she decided. "She's been working very hard lately so we could have enough to get by."

Winter was almost upon them, and they've lost two chickens and a pig. The pig would have been sold at the market the coming week. Celeste got up, washed her face and dressed. She passed her mom's room as she went downstairs. She was still sleeping. Looking at her, she could see that there was sadness on her face along with the look of someone who is just utterly tired.

"Oh, had da still been with us," Celeste murmured after softly closing the door. Her father had died when she was still but a babe, so her mother had told her. He went out in into the fields one day on horseback, and later the horse returned without rider. Neighboring farmers helped to look for him. They found him, saying he had a heart attack.

Her mom had always looked after her as well as she could. Celeste learnt how to cook, sew, and clean when she was still very young. They used to have a man who helped around the yard and looked after the horses, but later they had to let him go. The horses too. They were sold at the market so that they could have enough to get them through the winter that year, which had been a very hard winter, and to buy food for the remaining animals. They didn't have much left now, but usually had something to sell at the market.

Celeste took a piece of bread with a tiny bit of fig jam. She had been lucky to one day discover a fig tree full of ripe figs. She made jam and they ate them fresh too. It would be several months before the tree would bear any more fruit. She fed the chickens, the two small pigs, Daisy the cow, and Sheila, their cat. Thereafter she went to their vegetable garden, which wasn't in good shape with winter approaching and the rain being reluctant to come down from the clouds. To her amazement there was something in the middle of it. She went closer, and discovered it was a big fat pumpkin sticking out amongst the other small and shriveled ones. This definitely hadn't been here the day before. She felt it and looked to make sure it didn't have any holes made by insects.

"This will be perfect to sell at the market!" Celeste thought happily. She carefully severed the stem and took the pumpkin into the kitchen. It was very heavy. Her mother was busy putting eggs and milk into a basket to sell at the market the next day.

"The good fairies must be looking after us!" Celeste's mom cried out joyfully.

Celeste laughed with her, for there was no way to explain how this wonder happened.

Later Celeste went to gather mushrooms, as she always did the day before going to the market. Mushrooms always got a good price. She'd have to walk quite far, so she took some bread with jam with her. Eventually she found some of the safe ones near a little brook. She'd almost collected all of them when she heard a soft voice. Not far from her, sitting on top of a large rock sat a peculiar looking old lady. She had a big purple floppy hat on her head, and her dress came only up to her knee. She was also wearing black boots that covered the rest of her legs. Celeste was usually wary of strangers, but the woman had a kindly face. She asked her if Celeste could spare her something to eat. Feeling sorry for her, she gave her what she had.

"It is good to see time has not changed your kind nature, child," she said, " I have a small token of thanks to give you."

She gave Celeste a small purple flower.

"Put it under your pillow tonight, and no dream should wake you with fright."

Celeste was surprised at these words. Did she know of her dreams? She thanked her and headed home after finding a few more mushrooms.

That night she did as the lady said, hoping to escape the dreadful dream she'd been having. It took a while before she finally fell asleep, and indeed it was dreamless…

The next morning she stretched out, yawning. Wondering why her mother hadn't woken her yet to go to the market. Then suddenly realized she was not in her bed. She sat up alarmed. "Where am I?"she thought, seeing only gloomy forest around her…

I will get started on "fleshing out" the next chapter soon. Reviews are welcome! :)