The Market

Nathaniel, Katy and I scanned the goods laid out in nice arrangements along the sides of the road. I was well known in the market and people called and waved when I passed by. I smiled and waved back. This was another reason I loved the market so much. The people there were like another family.

"So what's it gonna be this year?" Dominic, a fruit salesman, was asking Nathaniel.

"Well Dom, my strawberries didn't turn out last season. I'm thinking you sold me a bunch of duds." He replied.

I smiled and moved on as they started to argue. Katy moved along with me. We came to my favorite display. Every year more and more wizards came to show off their magic. Each one trying to sell more original and unique items. There was one magician however who had sold at the market from the first year I began buying. His name was Merlin. I guess he was famous in some of the neighboring countries.

Merlin always had things that fascinated me more than any other shop. Today there were jars of every kind lined on a table. Inside, colored clouds swirled.

"Well if it isn't the beautiful Cinderella." He smiled with crooked teeth as I came into view.

"Hello Merl, what do you have to show me today?" I winked at him.

I never bought anything, to my dismay. But every year I'd try and charm my way into getting a free gift. So far I hadn't missed a year. I picked up a jar with pink dust swirling inside.

"Ah, I see your eyes have caught my favorite treasure of the year." He laughed. "This is the extract of a very rare red rose. If you let this out in your garden, your flowers will blossom with more color and last through the fall season."

"It's a pity I have no use for flowers." I frowned.

"I do!" Katy chimed and grabbed the bottle from my hands.

I noticed a jar in the back of the table that flickered with light. I reached for it quickly and pulled it close to my face. There was something floating inside. It was a tiny fairy. It's wings were a deep blue. It did not have clothes on which made it quite easy for me to determine that it was a female. I'd only seen two fairies in my lifetime. They were mesmerizing creatures.

I jumped back when suddenly the fairy rammed herself into the glass. She flew around in a great furry.

"I got her from the Enchanted Forest." Merlin bragged.

I looked up with wide eyes.

"The Enchanted Forest?" I repeated in awe.

"She's a feisty one too." He added.

"Well of course she is!" I agreed. "You have her displayed like an animal and she's not even covered up! Fairies should never be held captive. They are free spirits."

Merlin looked to the ground. He over acted being ashamed and looked up with a little smile.

"You're right. I'll give her to ya for a single gold piece." He offered.

I shook my head.

"You know I don't have that kind of money." I said desperately. "What if I promise you a quarter of my eggplant crop once it's harvested."

"Bleh. I hate eggplant." He spit.

I slumped my shoulders. I really wanted the fairy. No one else would release such a treasure and I just felt wrong about her being stuck in a little bottle.

A hand swept passed me holding a gold coin. I looked up to see that it was Nathaniel. He smiled widely at me. He looked at Merlin.

"One gold coin for one naked fairy." He nodded.

I smacked him in the chest for the naked comment. Inside I melted a little more. He was so sweet. He had to like me to do something like give up a gold piece!

"What are you doing?!" I gasped. "You can't afford to give up that money!"

"I insist. I'll do anything for my other little sister." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

It took all my strength in that moment not to fall to the ground in total despair. To be honest, this was not the first time he'd called me sister. Each time it hurt more and more, and yet I kept hope that he didn't mean it. I convinced myself every time that he was just saying it to hide his true feelings. If he really thought of me as a sister then he wouldn't flirt with me.

I didn't have the composure to argue with him. Merlin saw the distraction in my eyes and tried to take my mind off of it. Sometimes I wondered if he could read my mind.

"Thanks laddie!" He said to Nathaniel. "Now, let's see what we have for your free gift."

He nodded at me and started rummaging through a bag he had behind the table.

"Thank you." I said to Nathaniel.

"No problem. Dominic finally gave in and refunded my money. So I had some extra." He winked at me again.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force the tears back into their ducts.

"You ok?" Katy whispered low enough that Nathaniel couldn't hear.

I nodded. Katy was all to aware of my obsession with her brother. When she first found out, she was very supportive. She actually jumped at the idea of having me be her best friend and sister in law. She attempted to be matchmaker, but her idea of matchmaking was just to invite him everywhere we went.

Merlin finished his searching and pulled out a round, white object. It was smooth, milky, and sparkled.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's a pearl from the Black Sea." He said in an ominous tone. "Some say it has a special ability, but none knows what it is."

He winked at me and added.

"You may just be the person to find out."

I smiled and we said our goodbyes. I had a large pouch strung over my shoulder. I brought the fairy to my face and, very loudly, spoke to her.

"Don't worry little friend." I enunciated every word carefully. "I'll get you home."

Katy and Nathaniel looked at me with warning eyes.

"Oh calm down." I said. "I'm not going into the Enchanted Forest, I'll just point the way."

They seemed satisfied with my answer. I wouldn't be so dumb as to chance walking into a place like that. Anything can happen and most people who came out were not the most sane people. I wondered how Merlin had made it through, but I guessed it was probably because he was a wizard. It was legend that the first wizards came from the Enchanted Forest, so I don't see why they would have a problem going in there. Occasionally creatures who lived in the Enchanted Forest would make there way into town for supplies from the blacksmith. I'd seen a few in my day. BollyWogs, Fizzles and Whomps were the most common to show themselves.

"Hey Gavindt. I'll take the usual." I said to my crop salesman when we reached his section.

"How'd you do last year?" Gavindt asked me as he scooped up my order.

"Better than the previous." I smiled and leaned in closer. "I added a bit of lemon juice to my sunflower seeds. Gave 'em lots of flavor."

He laughed and looked around playfully, making sure no one heard my secret.

"Now, unfortunately we're out of peas already." He said mournfully. "If you'd come sooner, instead of hanging out with old Merl, you could've gotten the last of them."

I gave him an apologetic look.

"You're still my favorite." I told him. "I promise next year to buy two packs from you."

After that, I found Katy and Nathaniel who had gone wondering. The three of us yelled out our goodbyes as we left. Walking back into town, as we passed our neighbors, a few stopped and chatted with us.

"Ooh. I thought I'd give you some chili powder to try on your sunflower seeds this year." A friend who lived down the road from me offered.

I crinkled my nose and turned her down. We reached Katy's house and we walked inside. The smell of pastries filled my nose. Katy's and Nathaniel's mother was the town baker. She made the best fruit filled puffs on the continent, at least I assumed. Walking to the kitchen, Mrs. Tremmond greeted me.

"Hello El dear. How is your mother?" She asked.

"Very well Mrs. Tremmond, thank you. She sends her hello and wishes to have you guys over for dinner on Ana's birthday." I responded.

"I already have my special cake planned." She smiled excitedly.

Mrs. Tremmond's special cakes were always exquisite. It boggled my mind that she wasn't offered a job at the castle's kitchen. Then again, the king paid so little attention to us poor peasants, he probably had never heard of her. I didn't mind. The more for me to enjoy.

I visited for a bit and then decided it was time for me to leave. Nathaniel offered to walk me home but I declined his offer. I did let Katy accompany me.

We walked to my house slowly, enjoying the warmth of the day.

"The first day of summer is the best." Katy said, breathing deeply through her nostrils. "All the dew from Spring is dried leaving the air crisp and sweet."

"Yes, but unfortunately, it only last until the second day." I frowned. "You're still coming over to help me plow the field right?"

"Yeah," She sighed. "Although plowing is more a job for big, strapping men, like Nate!"

"No, I don't want him to come." I pouted.

"Still mad about the sister comment?" She guessed.

I didn't answer and so she put her arm around my shoulder.

"Come now, he'll realize what's in front of him eventually. You have to remember, men are really stupid." She stated.

The look on her face made me bust up laughing.

"They are stupid aren't they. I bet Prince Charming is the worst of them." I said his name while feigning a love-struck tone. "You sure were taken aback by him this morning."

She put a hand to her throat and scoffed.

"You know I only have eyes for Jerold." She said.

"Uh hmm." I agreed.

We were almost to my house. The sun was starting to go down. I was always amazed at how long I stayed in the market.

"So," I said seductively, "Is that where you're headed now?"

She smiled sheepishly and nodded.

"Tell Jerold hi for me." I requested.

She agreed and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. She turned down another road, heading in the direction for her boyfriends house. I sighed with envy as I watched her go.