Chapter 3
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Cellendria was lost. Not only was she completely and utterly lost, but she was completely and utterly lost in the worst place possible: in Nightwood forest where even fairies feared what lurked in the shadows.
Cellendria didn't care.
She hadn't cared about anything for a long time. Her family was dead; she had nothing left in the world. She was nothing… just a pathetic, worthless child-fairy who couldn't do magic to save her life.
And why should she try? Her Aunt Melinda had often said that one must have faith in their magic for it to work wonders, but magic had not saved Aunt Melinda. The magic of four adult fairies hadn't been enough to save her family's lives why would it do any good? Magic had destroyed her home and killed all those she had loved. Magic could lead to nothing good. Magic was worthless - just like everything else in this world. Nothing in life was worth anything anymore; why bother fighting for it?
So she wandered aimlessly through the perpetually dark forest, not seeing the eyes that watched form the inky black depths of the woods. Not until it was too late. The weight of a living body hit her from behind, long, sharp claws dug into her shoulder, and the stench of death assaulted her senses. A fire in her burned, a voice telling her that she didn't *want* to die. It urged her to reach for her magic that she possessed, but it was a very small voice and the flame was drowned in a sea of apathy and depression. She collapsed under the pressure of nothingness and did not try to reach for her magic, not even to save her own life.
She did, however let out a piercing scream as the pain in her shoulders increased.
A light appeared suddenly and the pain vanished. Maybe I'm dead. Thought Cellendria, *Maybe Mama is standing there waiting for me, along with Papa, and Melinda, and Saki. Maybe we'll be a family again. Maybe…*
She blinked and the figure standing in front of her came into focus. It was a young human female with russet hair and green-grey eyes. Freckles dotted her face and she was about a foot and a quarter taller than the fairy. She was obviously *not* Mama.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice thick with disappointment.
The girl was too astonished to notice the bitterness in the fairy's tone.
"I'm Marie, and you are…?"
"Cellendria" replied the fairy.
"Cellen-ed-a - can I just call you Elle?" Marie asked. Elle was a pretty name and a lot easier to pronounce.
"Sure" said Elle. What did it matter what this strange girl called her?
There was an awkward pause in the conversation which Cellendria, now "Elle", made no attempt to fill.
"Are you lost?" Marie asked awkwardly. Silence answered. "…because if you are I have a map. I know the way out… if you want to travel with me?"
The word 'no' was on the tip of Elle's tongue, but one look at Marie's hopeful face and she hesitated. This girl really wanted company and… Elle really didn't feel like walking alone in this dark forest anymore. She allowed a small smile to show through.
"I *would* like to." She said almost but not quite reluctantly. Marie's grin of relief rewarded her.
"Follow me."
So Elle and Marie traveled through the Dark wood forest towards Lord Majre and Marie's parents. During that time Marie told Elle about her life, of the beauty of the countryside, of the warmth of her mother and father's hugs, and of the glass slippers. She talked about her dreams, hopes and fears: how she wished for adventure, how she wished to make a name for herself where people didn't know her father, how much she worried for her parents safety.
Elle, much to her surprise, found herself listening with great interest and (even more to her surprise), she found herself telling her own tales in turn. She talked about unicorns, crystal waterfalls, the lack of her magic, and the grief she held for her dead family.
Days past, neither of them knew how many. When they finally reached the border of the forest, both of them squinted in the glare of the sun that they had become unaccustomed to in the perpetual darkness of Nightwood forest.
"Well… good bye then." Marie said awkwardly. She shouldered her pack and left Elle standing alone.
"Wait!" Elle ran after Marie. She didn't know why she wanted to help Marie so much; all she knew was that she was tired of being alone. "…Could I come with you, please. To um… help find your parents."
These words were said awkwardly and in a hesitant burst and were met immediately with a brilliant smile and Marie's hand offered in companionship.
.-._.-:*:-._.-.
It would have seemed that during her travels Marie had forgotten the glass slippers and her captured parents. Except every night she would look at the stars fingering her father's dagger and her mother's handkerchief. Elle would tactfully busy herself them while Marie prayed for her parents.
They traveled for many days till they found Lord Majre's palace. By now Marie had given up any notion she ever had to becoming a wanderer. Traveling was nice and romantic when one talked about it but she had spent one night too many wet and grumpy. She'd prefer to stick to glassblowing. Lord Majre's palace hadn't been hard to find (because everyone knew of the Majre nobleness, wealthines and pride) but getting there was a long and hard journey (at least through Marie's opinion).
Marie and Cellendria stared at the gigantic palace before them. It gave a new meaning to the word grand. It was made entirely of the purest marble and was so tall that Marie had trouble seeing the flags that proudly proclaimed this palace belonged to the Majres'.
It was then that Marie began to be afraid. She never had any plans of what to do after she actually made it to Lord Majre's house. She was so insignificant next to this grandeur. Did she actually think that the Lord Majre would even think of listening to her. She was just a peasant with a pair of shoes.
Elle looked over at Marie and realized the girl was about to walk right back down the path. Elle realized how much this meant to her and was struck by the oddness of it. She didn't even know Marie's parents.
"If it's that important to Marie then it's important to me to." She told herself firmly. She surprised herself with the intensity of her thought. She hadn't cared about anything ever since her family had died.
Elle grabbed Marie by shoulder and looked in the eyes. "No." she said firmly, "You can't turn back. Not now. You're almost there." -then seeing the hesitation in her eyes, "Please. You *can* do it, Marie. I know you can. I have faith in you"
.
To Be Continued
Author's Notes: Thanks to GlitzyDancingShoes, Sendirella who reviewed chapter 2 and a special thanks to Elen Dumir, and MapleRose who reviewed both chapters.
.
Cellendria was lost. Not only was she completely and utterly lost, but she was completely and utterly lost in the worst place possible: in Nightwood forest where even fairies feared what lurked in the shadows.
Cellendria didn't care.
She hadn't cared about anything for a long time. Her family was dead; she had nothing left in the world. She was nothing… just a pathetic, worthless child-fairy who couldn't do magic to save her life.
And why should she try? Her Aunt Melinda had often said that one must have faith in their magic for it to work wonders, but magic had not saved Aunt Melinda. The magic of four adult fairies hadn't been enough to save her family's lives why would it do any good? Magic had destroyed her home and killed all those she had loved. Magic could lead to nothing good. Magic was worthless - just like everything else in this world. Nothing in life was worth anything anymore; why bother fighting for it?
So she wandered aimlessly through the perpetually dark forest, not seeing the eyes that watched form the inky black depths of the woods. Not until it was too late. The weight of a living body hit her from behind, long, sharp claws dug into her shoulder, and the stench of death assaulted her senses. A fire in her burned, a voice telling her that she didn't *want* to die. It urged her to reach for her magic that she possessed, but it was a very small voice and the flame was drowned in a sea of apathy and depression. She collapsed under the pressure of nothingness and did not try to reach for her magic, not even to save her own life.
She did, however let out a piercing scream as the pain in her shoulders increased.
A light appeared suddenly and the pain vanished. Maybe I'm dead. Thought Cellendria, *Maybe Mama is standing there waiting for me, along with Papa, and Melinda, and Saki. Maybe we'll be a family again. Maybe…*
She blinked and the figure standing in front of her came into focus. It was a young human female with russet hair and green-grey eyes. Freckles dotted her face and she was about a foot and a quarter taller than the fairy. She was obviously *not* Mama.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice thick with disappointment.
The girl was too astonished to notice the bitterness in the fairy's tone.
"I'm Marie, and you are…?"
"Cellendria" replied the fairy.
"Cellen-ed-a - can I just call you Elle?" Marie asked. Elle was a pretty name and a lot easier to pronounce.
"Sure" said Elle. What did it matter what this strange girl called her?
There was an awkward pause in the conversation which Cellendria, now "Elle", made no attempt to fill.
"Are you lost?" Marie asked awkwardly. Silence answered. "…because if you are I have a map. I know the way out… if you want to travel with me?"
The word 'no' was on the tip of Elle's tongue, but one look at Marie's hopeful face and she hesitated. This girl really wanted company and… Elle really didn't feel like walking alone in this dark forest anymore. She allowed a small smile to show through.
"I *would* like to." She said almost but not quite reluctantly. Marie's grin of relief rewarded her.
"Follow me."
So Elle and Marie traveled through the Dark wood forest towards Lord Majre and Marie's parents. During that time Marie told Elle about her life, of the beauty of the countryside, of the warmth of her mother and father's hugs, and of the glass slippers. She talked about her dreams, hopes and fears: how she wished for adventure, how she wished to make a name for herself where people didn't know her father, how much she worried for her parents safety.
Elle, much to her surprise, found herself listening with great interest and (even more to her surprise), she found herself telling her own tales in turn. She talked about unicorns, crystal waterfalls, the lack of her magic, and the grief she held for her dead family.
Days past, neither of them knew how many. When they finally reached the border of the forest, both of them squinted in the glare of the sun that they had become unaccustomed to in the perpetual darkness of Nightwood forest.
"Well… good bye then." Marie said awkwardly. She shouldered her pack and left Elle standing alone.
"Wait!" Elle ran after Marie. She didn't know why she wanted to help Marie so much; all she knew was that she was tired of being alone. "…Could I come with you, please. To um… help find your parents."
These words were said awkwardly and in a hesitant burst and were met immediately with a brilliant smile and Marie's hand offered in companionship.
.-._.-:*:-._.-.
It would have seemed that during her travels Marie had forgotten the glass slippers and her captured parents. Except every night she would look at the stars fingering her father's dagger and her mother's handkerchief. Elle would tactfully busy herself them while Marie prayed for her parents.
They traveled for many days till they found Lord Majre's palace. By now Marie had given up any notion she ever had to becoming a wanderer. Traveling was nice and romantic when one talked about it but she had spent one night too many wet and grumpy. She'd prefer to stick to glassblowing. Lord Majre's palace hadn't been hard to find (because everyone knew of the Majre nobleness, wealthines and pride) but getting there was a long and hard journey (at least through Marie's opinion).
Marie and Cellendria stared at the gigantic palace before them. It gave a new meaning to the word grand. It was made entirely of the purest marble and was so tall that Marie had trouble seeing the flags that proudly proclaimed this palace belonged to the Majres'.
It was then that Marie began to be afraid. She never had any plans of what to do after she actually made it to Lord Majre's house. She was so insignificant next to this grandeur. Did she actually think that the Lord Majre would even think of listening to her. She was just a peasant with a pair of shoes.
Elle looked over at Marie and realized the girl was about to walk right back down the path. Elle realized how much this meant to her and was struck by the oddness of it. She didn't even know Marie's parents.
"If it's that important to Marie then it's important to me to." She told herself firmly. She surprised herself with the intensity of her thought. She hadn't cared about anything ever since her family had died.
Elle grabbed Marie by shoulder and looked in the eyes. "No." she said firmly, "You can't turn back. Not now. You're almost there." -then seeing the hesitation in her eyes, "Please. You *can* do it, Marie. I know you can. I have faith in you"
.
To Be Continued
Author's Notes: Thanks to GlitzyDancingShoes, Sendirella who reviewed chapter 2 and a special thanks to Elen Dumir, and MapleRose who reviewed both chapters.