Hello, hello fellow adventurers. Sorry this took a bit longer to get out than I wanted it too. I got into a fight with a vegetable peeler and lost. Thus, I had trouble typing. However, the chapter is now done and I had delicious carrot cake cupcakes for my cohort and I to enjoy.

This is the second to last challenge, and here Kit learns more about Cinderella's curse. I named it after one of the most romantic fairy tale songs ever.

Disclaimer: Disney owns Cinderella, I just admired the Grimm brothers for taking the original folk tales and making them more kid friendly (maybe their name should have been Gloss brothers since they glossed over the darker aspects).

Still, I hope my version has a bit more to it than pure fluff.

Whether lavender is green or blue, please leave a review!

Chapter 12: Let Me Be Your Wings

Cinderella decided she would be a bird today, a nightingale. It was so nice a day, she wanted to fly in the blue sky and feel free.

It was close to the time for her to visit the spring. She had to visit it four times a year at the least, once for each changing of the seasons.
She could visit it other times of the year, if there was a natural disaster or if she felt the land needed encouragement.
The spring could even be used to improve the kingdom's mood.
She just had to be careful and avoid her stepmother before she could open it.

Still, she didn't want to think about her stepmother on such a lovely day.

The sky was the same color as Kit's eyes, she noticed trilling out a few notes.

Perhaps she would see him again today, Cinderella hoped for that more than she had let herself hope in years.

Her hope of being truly free had never died but her whipping might have done her in were it not for her encounter with Kit.

Indeed, the first time she met him, she had despaired of ever having a human friend or being seen as anything but a cursed freak, half breed or bastard.

The other nymphs while not overly cruel made no secret that her human heritage had polluted her somewhat. Not enough to disenchant her but enough to isolate her from their coven, to make her feel lesser.

Her stepmother's curse had worsened matters by taking away her freedom to choose when to be human and when to be an animal. She couldn't keep up her friendships in the village and had been alone every since.

She just wanted to be Cinderella, and with Kit, she almost felt she could.

He had come close to learning about her curse...very close. She'd have to tell him soon, it was only fair.

Hopefully, he would still accept her as she was.

Cinderella continued to fly and trill out some notes as the sun rose higher in the sky.

When Kit woke up in the morning, he smiled, still a bit lost in the memory of his dreams. He stayed in his drowsy dream state until he tripped over the trunk at the end of his bed.

He hadn't opened that trunk in years. It was full of his childhood treasures. Feeling nostalgic (and a bit sore), he opened it.

He found some old toys, his first practice wooden sword, his old hawking gloves, a scrap of leather from his first saddle, and some books.

He found dried flowers from his mother's garden in one, his old invention sketches in another.

The last book was one of fairy tales, his favorite.

He idly flipped through the book till he saw a swan feather. The swan feather marked the page on wood nymphs. He remembered the day he got the feather, he had saved a baby swan from his brothers and earned his simpleton nickname.

His thoughts turned back to the book and he read a bit of it. His eyes widened, could it be possible?

"Kit?" Alistair called out.

Kit dropped the book back in the trunk and closed it quickly. "Nothing, I mean, ahem, coming, just a minute."

Kit scrambled to get dressed, his thoughts racing with possibilities. It couldn't be...yet it seemed to fit so well.

No time to wonder about her now, he had to make it outside for the next challenge.

Kit tried to stand behind his brothers to avoid their elbows and feet.

Unfortunately, Kane and Kurt were still angry that Kit had showed them up at the previous challenge. They turned and each grabbed an arm.

Just as they were about to start beating him up, the herald sounded his trumpet

They immediately changed their faces to smiles and linked arms with Kit as if it had been their intention all along.

Kit was essentially trapped between them but it was better than getting punched in the gut or face.

The king announced the next challenge. "Fate guided you my sons, to find strength from the land, a weapon to defend your kingdom and your claim. For the next challenge, you must find the riches this land has to offer. I want each of you to follow the feathers and find the most beautiful ring in the kingdom."

Julius added with a disgruntled look on his face, "No money must change hands, the ring must be freely given or found as per your king's wishes." He had hoped to help Kane buy a ring in the market.

The king tossed the feathers in the air.

A playful breeze blew the about before one blew to the east, the other to the west, and the third into the woods.

Kane once again claimed the east road, Kurt the west road and Kit was sent to into the woods.

Kane walked along the road, he had lost sight of his feather almost as soon as he started his journey.

He was too angry at yet another challenge to bother to follow its path. He couldn't believe his father was making him do this, he was the rightful heir. As firstborn, he shouldn't have to compete.

However, Julius had managed to convince his father of Kit's "mistakes" in each challenge so the simpleton hadn't made any progress toward the throne.

Still, the court had started to talk about him, and they weren't all laughing at Kit's expense either. It bothered Kane, and made him uneasy for reasons he refused to acknowledge.

Most still called him simpleton but now they wondered if he had grown up.

Kane had actually started to have to work at getting their attention.

With these thoughts in his mind, he looked around for anything that resembled a ring.

He finally spotted a sailor's gold earring, still in the sailor's ear.

He marched up and demanded "I require your ring for service of the crown."

"What?" the sailor was confused.

"Your earring, sailor, your earring. Your prince demands it! Now!" Kane thrust his hand out imperiously.

The sailor still stared at Kane but recognized him as the eldest prince. He jumped when Kane yelled now and took out his earring.

Kane snatched it from his hand. "Be off with you now."

The sailor scoffed and spat at his retreating back. He was nothing like Kit, everyone had heard of Kit's interaction with the Romans. Kit would a be a king a sailor could trust for a fair deal and good handshake.

Kurt also lost sight of his feather. He was distracted by the smell of the roast pig in the tavern and stopped there for lunch.

He totally forgot about the task until he was back in the castle after a boxing match (brawl in the town square) and target practice (darts at the other villagers in the tavern).

He looked around in a panic and grabbed a curtain ring from the nearest window.

He had his deal with Kane anyways so it didn't really matter to him how he did in the competition so long as Kane won and he got to be head of the army.

Kit had wondered into the woods still in a daze from his earlier discovery of his fairytale book.

He had believed in wood nymphs when he was younger...but it still impossible.

He couldn't discount the evidence though. He had seen the same horse and girl in close proximity twice, always at sunset.

The first time, he had chased the horse and found the girl. The second time, he had found the horse and then saw the girl. Both had been out of breath the first time and both had been whipped recently the second time.

There was more too it though. He had seen her brown eyes in a cat and a dog too, and those animals had seemed unusually intelligent. Each had seemed to understand him when he talked and had helped him when he asked.

Beyond what his eyes saw, he had felt something different about those animals from the start. His heart had always warmed when they were near.

Perhaps...it could be. That would have to be his answer until he saw her again.

For now, he had to master another challenge, finding a ring in the woods.

Fate had been very kind to him thus far so, Kit continued to follow his feather as it danced in front of him.

It took him deep into the woods again, this time to a cave.
He hesitated only for a moment but then followed the feather into the cave.
It landed on a box half buried in the back.

Kit took the box out of the cave and sat down to open it.
Before he could, he was distracted by the loveliest bird song he had ever heard.

Enchanted, he set the box down gently and walked toward the song.

He came upon a nightingale, sitting on a branch not to high above him, singing out the beautiful melody.

Kit stood there as quietly as he could, not wanted to disturb the bird for fear it would stop singing.

The bird had yet to take notice of him. Cinderella was singing a song her mother used to sing to help her fall asleep.

It made her happy to think of her mother and her song reflected her mood.

She flew of the branch and did a circle around until she saw him. Her song abruptly cut off. She flew to a branch just out of his reach.

Cinderella was shocked at seeing him here again. Her heart wouldn't settle down.

Kit met her eyes and smiled. "Hello, I am sorry to have startled you." He didn't move from his spot.

Timidly, Cinderella crept closer to the edge of the branch. Kit continued to stand quietly and smiled gently at her.

"I was hoping to see you today."

Cinderella sing out a questioning chirp. Surely he didn't know it was her, as a nightingale.

"Yes, I know who you are." Kit answered in a playful tone. "But before I tell you, will you sing once more for me?"

Kit's eyes twinkled at her. "For your songs are almost as lovely as you are, milady."

Cinderella ducked her head, if she was human, she would've blushed.

She started singing another song, one that she sang to keep herself going, about dreams and wishes.

Kit's face changed from playful to adoring as she continued. At one point, he held out his arm, his eyes asking a question.

She answered and flew down to rest on his arm and continued her song.

Once she finished she flew around and the landed back on his arm and chirped out a question.

"You're wondering what I'm doing out here?" Kit guessed.

She chirped again.

"I am out here on another quest by my ...master's wishes. The rocks I found in the woods last time aided me with drawing strength from the land. This next challenges is to find the riches the land offers in the form of a ring."

She flew around in a lazy loop and chirped happily.

Kit laughed. "I know it all seems a bit silly, finding a ring by following a feather...but it worked the last time. Besides, my master is doing his best to be fair. He is trying to decide whom to leave the practice to when he retires."

Cinderella chirped out a question.

"It's between me and my brothers. I was surprised when he started the competition. I had just figured he would go with what was done and pick the eldest. Fortunately, he thought differently and now I have a chance." Kit smiled brightly and clapped his hands.

"Shall we see if Fate once again on my side today? I followed the feather and it lead me to this box." Kit walked over and grabbed the box.

Cinderella chirped very loudly and flew around the box in small circles before landing on top.

Kit was a bit confused. "Do you know something about this box? He asked tentatively.

Cinderella ruffled her feathers and hopped around the top of the box.

"It's your box?" Kit guessed.

She trilled out a few notes, Kit had been able to figure out what she was doing.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to touch your things." Kit fingered the feather.

Cinderella sang a few sad notes.

Kit smiled, "No, it's fine, I can look elsewhere for a ring."

Cinderella was touched by his kindness in accepting that bird owned a box. He didn't try to take it from her and he actually listened to her.

She decided that she should help him, her mother would have wanted her to be kind.

She flew off the box, back to his arm and then back to the box.

Kit still looked confused so Cinderella repeated the process and trilled out a command.

"You want me to...open the box?"

Cinderella chirped happily.

"Alright then." Kit opened the box.

Its contents looked similar to the contents of his trunk. It was full of odds and ends, but odds and ends that had been cherished.

There was a paper butterfly, two handkerchiefs, part of a cherry tree branch and blossom, a journal and two wedding bands.

Kit's hand reached to the journal before he realized that it was private information. He withdrew his hand quickly. "Sorry, milady."

Cinderella ruffled her feathers and was quiet for a moment. Then she flew at him and chirped happily as she went just over his head.

Kit laughed at her teasing antics. He saw the rings next and pulled them out of the box.

The first band was a band of gold with a series of very small diamonds shaped like a sun burst. But the details engraved in the ring were amazing, it looked like musical notes were dancing all around, to create a beautiful harmony.

And the melody to its harmony was the other ring. This ring had a diamond that sparkled in the light, it was almost like a rose with its cut. Swirling stems of ivy were engraved in the band. It was truly lovely.

"Wow" Kit breathed out in amazement. "These surely must be the most beautiful rings in the kingdom. They must have been made by fair folk or magic."

Cinderella chirped in agreement.

"Did they belong to your parents?" Kit asked.

Cinderella chirped agan.

"That's wonderful that you could save them. I wish I had something more of my mothers."

"She used to always play with me and read to me and sing to me. She was the reason I have my best friend today , and the reason I started going the village in the first place and caring about the people. She and you have taught me how to live my life well, with courage and kindness and love." Kit face grew sad.

Cinderella started to sing again, the lullaby her mother sang.

Kit closed his eyes, lost in the song and the memory of his mother.

While she was singing, the sun set and soon the bird's notes changed to words.

"Lavender's green, dilly dilly, lavender's blue dilly dilly. If you love me, dilly dilly, I will love you."

She stopped when Kit put his hand on hers. She hadn't realized she had changed forms.

She looked up at him, eyes wide with fear.

Kit had opened his eyes as the chirps had changed to words. He had found Cinderella again.

His heart jumped to his throat and for one minute, he just let her sing.

Then, the word resonated in his heart and he had to touch her, to make sure this angel was real.

He smiled, to reassure her fear. "So you were the bird?"

Cinderella took a deep breath. "Yes, I was."

"And the horse?" Kit's heart raced, waiting to hear her answer.

"Yes."

"And the dog and the cat and the swan?" Kit had to be sure.

"Yes." She smiled a bit at the question.

"Are you...are you a wood nymph?" Kit asked, almost reverently.

Cinderella blushed at his tone, and let her hair fall over her face. "I am half a nymph. My father was human, a traveling musician and my mother was a wood nymph."

Kit nodded. "So you can change into any animals? Can you change into plants too? "

Cinderella shook her head. "Any animal I want but no plants. True wood nymphs change into plants. And I can only change for half of the day. At sunset, I become human again, until sunrise."

"Why?"

"I was cursed by a witch, my stepmother. She was furious when I didn't reveal the location of the enchanted spring. So she cursed me and took away my freedom to change at will."

"So it's true then, the spring?" Kit's eyes were wide, with excitement and awe.

"Yes, it's true." Cinderella shifted nervously. "I will visit it soon, for May Day."

"My mother always told me stories, and I wanted them to be true. How wondrous." Kit exclaimed.

He caught look at her face then. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. We wouldn't want the spring to fall into the wrong hands."

"Thank you." Cinderella bowed her head and let out a breath.

"Was that why you were whipped, the other day?" Kit asked, concern all over his face.

"My stepmother didn't like it that I refused to let her know where the spring was." Cinderella looked down. "She'd have come back to make sure I was fine in a few hours, I'm sure. She didn't hit me very hard."

"You don't deserve that treatment!" Kit declared passionately. "You are doing a brave and noble thing, and she should respect that."

"Thank you, Kit." Cinderella put her hand on his to soothe him. "But I am alright now, thanks to your care."

"You mentioned that you needed a ring?" Kit nodded. Cinderella held out her her mother's ring. "Take this, please. It's the least I can do, after how kind you have been."

"No, I couldn't take it away from you." Kit gently pushed her hand away. "You have helped me so much more."

"You should take it." Cinderella insisted, her brown eyes determined and her chin firm.

"No, I shouldn't." Kit was just as stubborn.

"Yes you should." Cinderella dropped it into his palm, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

"No, I shouldn't".

"Yes, you should."

"I will." Kit's fist closed over it. "Thank you." His eyes were full of such amazement and adoration, that Cinderella blushed to the roots of her hair.

Just then, Cinderella heard toads croaking.

"Oh, you should go, and I should too." She grabbed the box quickly.

"Why?" Kit asked.

"Lizards and pumpkins and things...its hard to explain but my stepmother won't be happy to see you here." Cinderella was just lucky that Kit wasn't a prince or he wouldn't live to see the sunrise. Her stepmother couldn't kill humans but she had turned a few into lizards or pumpkins. The lizards, she would sometimes change back into humans, as slaves unless Cinderella could help them leave the woods. But the pumpkins she would smash or explode. Cinderella shuddered at the other things the witch's magic had done.

"Come with me, I can protect you. You could stay at the...with the priest again." Kit pleaded.

"No, it's better if she doesn't suspect anything. Besides, I need to protect the woods and be here in case the spring does need to be found."

"Now please go or we'll both be in trouble."

Kit looked like he would refuse but at her pleading look, he relented. "Only if I can see you again soon."

He needed to win this last challenge for the kingdom, for himself, and for her.

"Yes, very well." Cinderella was very happy but scared too that her stepmother was close enough to hear.

Kit kissed her hand. "Thank you for the ring and for the song. You are truly the loveliest creature I have ever met."

He then turned and started running back to the castle. If he won this challenge, he could return the ring to her in a different way.

Cinderella sighed with relief as he started to run and blushed at his compliment.

Not five minutes later, her stepmother and stepsisters came to her cave.

Cinderella tried to help them but the witch was in no mood to be gentle or patient. Her daughters had become almost completely like toads and she herself had found a gray hair and some wrinkle lines.

She tied her up tightly. "The whipping must not have been enough of a lesson. Now, you can't walk to the village for help." The witch sneered. "No more friends for you. I will see who it is that has changed you, made you sing more, smile more." The witch spit out the word sing as if it was disgusting.

"I will be back tomorrow, and I expect you will answer me, or I will finally make you the slave you should have always been."
She whispered in a conspiratorial tone, "I know you have to go to the spring soon for May Day."

Cinderella watched as she disappeared. Her animal friends tried to help her. They got her back to a tree and brought her some water and her box.

She smiled at them, "Thank you, my dear friends."

Cinderella fell asleep, dreaming of Kit's smile.

We are almost to the end. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this story. I hope you guys have enjoyed it. Review if you can :)