Through the Vail

by Kinya1987

A Mischievous puck: an adventurous prince named Richard Grayson is enthralled by the dark forest: through the forest lies the Vail- and Elfin Warrior is dragged along sworn to protect the prince will they make it out of the dead Woods and avoid the dangers that dwell within. with the help of a reluctant Howler: a large wolf whose pack was torn apart by (The Sleepers)

1. Chapter 1

In the luscious meadows: sunlight danced amongst the treetops as tiny voices trickled in the summer's breeze hidden far from prying eyes and those who were tempted to do them harm- caught between lucid fantasy and harsh reality of the human world lived the kingdom of the fae- there were many types of fairies ranging from the majestic and noble elves who were blessed with agility and great intellect who wielded impressive healing powers- and were hailed for their remarkable marksmanship- to the cunning mischief makers who exceled at shapeshifting the dubious tricksters were known as bauchailleen from the teetering will-o whisps to the hidden brownies: small fae with naked bodies and flesh the color of bark and sandalwood curious creatures by nature their narrow faces and wide childlike their nimble fingers made it easier to climb-to the heinous spunkies who have never been seen, unfriendly- they were known to steal unprotected children replacing them with a twisted an ugly version of their own- and finely the sylphs very small winged creatures who appear vaguely human light in color and body their wings translucent, buyout and seemingly to defy gravity. The kingdom was ruled by King Oberon and Queen Raelyn and their court bloomed and prospered under their rule-

It was a spacious land as far as the eye could see, the view from the mountain tops were breathtaking: there were blue morning bells and fiery snapdragons that they used to decorate the thrones made out of the finest silks while beaming sunflowers that loved to soak up the sun swayed lavishly in the wind. And seemingly endless towering waterfalls that cascaded: roaring with thundering white rapids that supplied every living being with food and water could be heard off in the distance. Large ruins of old building: rustic and withering: abandoned homes that lay deserted were easy pray for the household spirits that dwell within the dark recess of the houses scattered across the forest edge. Open reminders to the elders that human's hadn't been story-time tales that mothers told their younglings. The elves who had remained to King Oberon and his Queen lived in a hillside village with stone structures, pristine halls and elegant banquets. The elfin warriors took great pride in their job for it was their sole duty to protect and serve the royal line- it had been them that King Oberon had formed and leaned on during the great fairy wars- and it would continue to be them who the future king would rely on. It had been the conclusion of the fairy wars when King Oberon decreed that all younglings stay away from the dark and treacherous forest: that hid many dark and terrible secrets as well as the vail to the outside world.

There were already a few incidents were a child was snatched from his/her mother's side by the sinister ones that lurked there. The sleepers, the dark ones and the heinous fae had made the dead woods their home. The name in itself speaks of what truly lives there. It was a dangerous if not deadly place, King Oberon had many children with his Queen but none as so curious and friendly with childlike exuberance as their youngest son. Prince Richard whom had the tendency to disappear and was currently missing, the sound of cackling laughter echoed everywhere- the chamber maidens were in a frenzy it was well past their young master's bedtime. Night was swiftly approaching and the curfew that the King had set for his Kingdom had been broken.