A/N: The Folk of the Air has absolutely consumed me. Apologies to anyone waiting for my other fic to update.

This is possibly the first of a series of one shots that will explore different moments and alternatives that verge on non-canon, but could just as easily slip between the lines and the scenes of what we know as canon.

I attempted to keep the style of series, which diverges drastically from my own style, so sorry in advance for any inconsistencies.


The taxi smelled of cigarettes and those cheap tree-shaped air fresheners, the ones that dangle from rear-view mirrors. The unfamiliar and unnatural smells had been irritating my nose the whole ride, but I was far too upset - far too angry - to care.

"I hereafter exile Jude Duarte to the mortal world until such time as she is pardoned by the crown."

Rage fuelled the fire in my belly that eliminated any hint of sadness, or any possibility that I may cry. Not now, not here.

The driver pulled the car to the side of the road at the address I'd given him; parking in front of Vivi's apartment and the only address I knew.

"I'll have to get my sister to pay. I… lost my wallet last night." I lie while I open the car door to get Vivi.

"Hold on I can't let you leave just yet. That was nearly a two hour ride, I can't have you disappearing on me now." The taxi driver grumbled, looking at me through the rear-view mirror. "Can't you call her?" He asks.

I sigh, my patience already at an all-time low. "I would have already if I had my phone." I say through clenched teeth, ready to leave the taxi without paying at all and stiff the driver with the egregious bill. He should be glad that I'm not one of the Folk with powers to glamour him silent and content with nothing but the privilege of driving me.

The driver passed back a small cellphone, the dark front of the phone illuminating at my touch. The rate that technology has been advancing while I've spent the last 11 years in Elfhame is startling. I certainly didn't grow up with screens that responded by touch or really any aspect of what the internet was or became.

I managed my way to the dial screen, silently hoping I remembered Vivi's phone number correctly. I lightly tapped the numbers and put the phone to my ear, waiting for Vivi's voice to answer on the other end.

"Hello?" A hoarse voice answered, clearly having been woken up by the call.

"Vivi?" My voice began to crack and a rush of emotions tried to spill out, but I cleared my throat and pushed them back down. "I'm outside. I, uh, lost my wallet and need you to pay the taxi."

"Of course." She answers and ends the call.

I pass the phone back to the driver and watch the lights flicker on in Vivi's apartment windows. Not long after, Vivi emerges from the building, still wearing her pajamas with a jacket hastily thrown on over top. As she approached the car the driver rolled down the window.

"How much does she owe?" Vivi asks.

"$257.63." The driver quotes, gesturing to the dimly lit meter on the dashboard."

Vivi's eyes widened and her jaw nearly hit the floor. I bet she didn't expect quite the bill. She opened her wallet and pulled out three dollar bills from within. "Thanks for bringing her back." The glamour was thick in her voice. "Here's three hundred. An extra tip for the trouble." She passed him the dollar bills which he graciously accepted, and reset the meter without a second thought. I stepped out of the car and the driver tip his hat to Vivi before driving off.

Before Vivi had the chance to ask anything, I walked - nearly ran - to the apartment door, trying to beat the tears I could feel beginning to surface, but I didn't make it. Tears began streaming down my face, and when I looked back to Vivi, through the blur of my tears I could see the panic in her eyes suddenly worsen. She ran up to meet me at the door, her arms flying around me in a hug. "I missed you too sis." She said in a half-joking manner trying to lighten the situation.

I clenched my teeth again, trying to suppress the ugly sounds that accompanied the tears that were falling. My breaths shallow, then heavy, and shallow again, I looked to Vivi pleading her to go inside, for her help, for anything.

"Okay, okay." Vivi quickly opened the door and escorted me into the living room and on the couch before leaving to go into the kitchen, probably to get us drinks. Once I sat down I couldn't hold back any more. I sobbed ugly sobs as the tears stained my cheeks, unable to control myself any longer.

Vivi quickly came back empty handed when she heard me. Sitting on the couch beside me and gently rubbing circles on my back.

"It's okay. You're safe here. Don't worry." Her words soothed. They were free of glamour, yet somehow still effective. "What happened? Why did you come back all of a sudden? I would have come to get you if you told me." She asks.

I took an irregular breath and began to tell her everything. I told her about my place as Cardan's seneschal. I told her that I was held captive for a month by the Undersea. That I killed Balekin to fulfill a bargain, and that Cardan then exiled me. Though I left out the details of how I controlled Cardan for nearly six months after he became High King, and how only last night in the secluded King's chambers we secretly exchanged vows and I renounced my control over him in favour of our marriage. Leaving out the now inescapable detail that I am now the High Queen of Elfhame, yet exiled to the human world and no one was the wiser of my position or my recent marriage to Cardan.

Without asking anything else, Vivi held me and I cried until my tears ran dry and until my voice was hoarse from sobbing. It was only when the dawn sun was finally illuminating the sky that a calm silence started to fill the air. A silence that lasted until Oak woke up for school, wearily rubbing his eyes as he stumbled into the kitchen, still in his pajamas and doing a double take before realizing it was me on the couch with Vivi.

"Jude?" He called, voice in a half-whisper, still waking up. "Why are you here? Were you crying?" He came closer and without an answer he wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed. I didn't want to show Oak this weakness. I was supposed to be a role model for him. I was keeping his place on the throne ready for him until he was older. His future depended on me . Yet here I was a failed conspirator crying on his guardian's couch, exiled from the place I am meant to rule. I can't let him see me like this and think any worse of me than he already might.

I wiped what few tears were left from my eyes and plastered a smile across my face so fake anyone should be able to see though - assuming, that is, that they were familiar with lies and the ability to do so. "I'm going to spend some time here with you and Vivi. What do you think?" I ask.

Suddenly Oak's mood changed completely and he threw his hands in the air with excitement. "I have so many things to show you!" Oak looked between the living room and the kitchen frantically before running to the kitchen to pour a bowl of colourful cereal and milk, then sat on the floor in front of the TV.

"Oak!" Vivi tried to scold him, but he didn't listen and turned the TV on. The screen flicked on to show a frenzy of colours across the screen with sudden sound roaring in our ears, breaking the silence for good this time.

"This is my favourite show!" Oak enthusiastically pointed to the television as he looked back to make sure I was paying attention. "It's about this kid who got these epic super powers, even though he wasn't supposed to have any, and now he goes to superhero school!" Oak explained, his eyes glued to the television as he spilled the spoonful of cereal back into the bowl that was supposed to go into his mouth. I couldn't help but laugh at him. He was already completely different front he boy I'd sent away to keep safe. All that remained was the childlike wonder and, his pointed ears and horns.

It was only now, when I was around those I loved that I felt some kind of relief; some release front he hell of a night, and some happiness - thanks to Oak.

As Oak and Vivi got ready for the day ahead of them, I could feel the weight of my eyelids weigh down as another reminder of the changes in my life. Gone would be the schedule where everyone wakes up just before dusk and goes to sleep before dawn. Dinner no longer at midnight, and clocks to tell time instead of by the slant of the moonlight. I wouldn't be long until I succumb to my body's need for sleep while Oak and Vivi start their days around me, while I sleep on the couch in the living room of Vivi's apartment.

I woke up startled to the sound of the door slamming shut. I reached under my pillow for the knife I keep hidden, but it's missing. The pillow itself is missing. My heart races. Did I sleep so soundly that someone was able to steal the pillow from under my head?

I look around and fail to see the familiar furniture of my room in the palace, nor the rooms where the Court of Shadows meets, not even Cardan's rooms look like this. My heart races faster as thoughts of kidnapping flood my mind along with memories of my imprisonment in the Undersea that intrude into my thoughts.

"Vivi! I have something for you to sign!"

That voice sounds familiar; nostalgic almost. Who was that? My eyes dart around the room looking for the source before the land on a potential suspect: A young fairy - but he's in human clothes?

"Jude?"

He calls to me, but suddenly my head aches and I shut my eyes to reduce the pain and fall back to where I had woken up.

"Vivi! Jude needs you, come quick!"

The voice calls again, this time more desperate than before.

"Jude?"

I open my eyes again and squint to find Vivi in front of me and my heart rate slows slightly.

"Jude it's okay, you're safe. It's just us and Oak, remember?" She asks, concern laced in her tone.

I think back to yesterday when I was exiled from Elfhame and dropped off in a random city to fend for myself. The memories are painful and hurt more than my headache, and more than my heart's uncomfortably quick rhythm which slows back to normal from it's out of control state. After a few deep breaths I've regained my sense and give Oak a hug as an apology for scaring him.

"I need some fresh air to clear my head. I'm going to go out for a walk." I tell them.

"Are you sure you're okay to do that? Maybe I should come with you." Vivi suggested.

I shake my head. "I want to go alone ."

Without any more debate, I leave the apartment and walk down the street aimlessly. I look up to the sky where the sun was still far from setting: At least a few hours from my calculations based on the angle it's at, though that is an estimate since I'm not used to telling time from the sun.

I sigh at the prospect of having to completely reverse my sleep schedule - although perhaps I wouldn't need to change it completely. Possible scenarios play out in my head as I weigh the options available to me. Though I shouldn't, there's a small part of me that hopes Cardan will pardon my exile and I'll be able to return to Elfhame. I don't care if he renounces my position as High Queen and divorces me. Elfhame is my home and to be separated from it forever would be torture. Until I'm pardoned, I'll work here for the Folk doing odd jobs for them. I have little faith in my ability to assimilate to human culture now, nor do I want to.

Upon returning to Vivi's apartment I made a decision; I'll live here with one foot in the world of the Folk, and one in the human world. I'll earn real money and buy things like any other human, but I'll do it by working for and with the Folk. Sleeping a schedule that allowed me to do both. I would be a difficult transition nonetheless, but the only way I could see myself living here. Not just surviving, but actually living.

"Vivi?" I call into the apartment. "I'm going to need you to show me where you keep your coffee. I've got a sleep schedule to attempt to make."