And so I am back again with a chapter.
The next day
"You do not need to worry," Wendy said as they wandered through the trees.
"My dearest, you do not know what fire you are playing with." Her grandmother huffed as she hobbled after she younger woman.
"But you have never spoken to the fairies as I do…" Wendy said over her shoulder.
The older woman stopped for a moment and took in quick, sharp breaths.
"Wendy, I followed you out here to help you see the truth. These folk are beautiful, but they are dangerous…"
Wendy did not answer but stopped in front of a bush and picked the rib berries and let them fall into the basket hanging on her arm.
Her grandmother caught up with her and leaned on her walking stick in silent relief.
As little green children appeared around Wendy's feet smiling and giggling at her.
Wendy smiled down at them as they pulled at her skirt. She could feel her grandmother's confused stare.
What are you doing…? One asked and grabbed hold of the edge of the basket to look inside.
"I am picking berries," Wendy smiled at the green creatures.
Why…? A voice echoed around her. You could just eat them…
"They are for my family," Wendy explained still smiling. "My mother will make jam and such out of them."
The children seemed confused but started to pick the berries and put them in Wendy's basket.
"Wendy…"
Wendy turned to her grandmother with a knowing smile.
The old woman was staring at her with her mouth open and eyes wide.
The little green children looked at the woman perplexed.
One of them stepped closer and looked up at her.
Who might you be… its voice echoed all around and the grandmother nearly stumbled backward, as she looked around to find the source of the voice.
"There is nothing to be afraid of," Wendy said gently and stepped closer to her grandmother when she saw her scared expression. "They are not going to hurt you.
The old woman's hands had a tight grip on her staff, and she leaned against it without taking her eyes off the green creature.
The green child tilted its head in confusion. I do not find her scary…
Wendy was about to explain when a burst of clear laughter rang out through the trees.
The elven queen appeared in between the trees still laughing.
Forgive them… her voice echoed. They are blissful … and unaware of themselves…
The green children ran to her giggling and pulled at her dress and pointed to Wendy and her grandmother.
The elven queen turned her blue, pupilless eyes towards them and smiled.
"Your majesty," Wendy greeted with a nod and gestured to her grandmother. "This is my grandmother."
Yes… the elven queen's feet were so graceful it seemed like she floated toward them. The little hunter has spoken of you… she smiled warmly as she stood before them. She holds you in high regard…
The old woman silently stared. The elven queen did not seem to mind and stood perfectly still as the grandmother looked her up and down.
"You are the fairy queen?" She finally whispered in shock. "You are even more beautiful than the stories say…"
The elven queen's eyes glittered at the compliment.
The little hunter was spoken of your stories before…
The grandmother snapped out of whatever trance she had been in and stood in front of Wendy.
"I … ask that you keep away from my granddaughter from now on."
Wendy was about to say something, but the elven queen came first.
I understand your request … though I will not agree…
The old woman lifted the staff with a trembling hand. "I beg you. Wendy is a good child and her family needs her."
The pale beautiful woman tilted her head, and her eyes became a tint darker. You should not be alarmed … she is precious … as she is to you ... to me… The elven queen lifted a hand and caressed the grandmother's cheek. You can rest your worries here … no harm from here comes to your family…
The grandmother still seemed fearful.
Wendy put a hand on her grandmother's arm.
Her grandmother looked at her like she had forgotten she was there.
"It is alright grandmother," Wendy said softly. "She is my friend."
Elenora eyed the fairytale creature sitting beside her, as Wendy picked berries with others beings in the forest.
The fairy queen turned her hollow blue eyes toward her.
"You are terrifying in your beauty." She said and turned her head to look at her granddaughter happily chatting to the creatures. Elenora was not completely sure they were real.
Wendy seemed so content as she laughed and lightly danced around on bare feet. She could not help but smile.
As much of a dreamer as that girl was, she was also responsible and wise for her age.
She was sure the girl could tell, though they would have to get out of the forest for her to be sure.
Your beauty is saddening… the being said. And yet … it is the most beautiful thing I ever see in a human…
The older woman pulled back a little. "What can you see … that I do not know?"
The beautiful creature turned to the young girl eating berries and playing a bit away from them.
There is saddening beauty … and beauty is sadness … no one wishes it … yet every human must see it… She turned back to Elenora. If you do not see a sundown … you love the sunrise less…
Eight months later.
Wendy smiled as she kicked Temper into a gallop.
She felt a rush as they passed through the trees.
It was April, spring was in full bloom and she could not be happier.
The other girls in the village said she was wild and 'with the fairies' – they had no idea how right they were.
She did not care though, and she did not care that Miss Elizabeth thought she was unladylike and would never find a husband.
She could see a world that they never would. Why would she care about their silly ideas?
Small, winged creatures fluttered around her and easily kept up with the galloping horse.
She smiled.
Her father had begun Edward's training to hunt, but as Temper would not let him ride him, he was not going to hunt any time soon.
She shrugged to herself, as Temper slowed down.
She looked around at the light green trees.
Not that, that would be so bad … maybe she could spend more time with the elven folk then…
Temper stopped as they approached the lake.
This was where that man in the lake lived. Or at least that was what she thought.
She got down from Temper and pulled her fiddle out of the saddlebag.
Wendy had been terrified of the lake, since what happened with Edward, but her majesty had insisted on her going there.
She stepped closer to the edge of the water and placed the fiddle in between her chin and shoulder.
The other elven folk always appeared when she played it, so he might come too.
She let the bow glide over the string creating a light and fast melody. She smiled to herself and moved her feet in circles to match the melody.
She had so much fun playing and dancing that it took her a while to hear the other fiddle assisting her in her play.
She stopped and stared into the water.
A thin man stood in the lake.
The water went up to his hip.
He was boney and naked and had long muddy hair sticking to his body and glowing yellow eyes that bore into hers. And he was holding a fiddle ready to play it.
Despite his appearance, the fiddle was quite beautiful.
The moment Wendy stopped playing, he had stopped too. Now he just still and stared at her, as if he waited for her to continue.
Wendy tryingly put the bow on the string.
The man matched every note.
They stood like that for a while, she played something, and he mimicked her until Wendy sat down on the grass exhausted.
The man began to sink down into the water.
"Do not go, yet," Wendy called after him and he stopped and looked at her confused.
The man did not seem like he would harm her, and she was a bit curious about him.
When she did not say anything after a few moments, he leaned his head to one side.
"The queen has blessed you, so I cannot take you with me…" his voice sounded like he was standing in front of her, but it did not sound like the other elvens.
He then continued to sink into the water.
As his eyes disappeared under the water, she heard his in her ears. "But please, come with the fiddle again."
One week later
"Why did you want me to go to the lake?" Wendy asked.
She was sitting under a tree at the edge of the forest.
Her siblings were playing in the grass with other children from the village. The elven queen sat beside her.
You should not fear anything within my realm… the queen hummed and leaned against Wendy's shoulder.
"Does the man in the lake not pull people under the water?" Wendy said as she watched the children.
Her grandmother and mother were sitting a little away from them with the twins.
He does… the elven queen acknowledged.
Wendy shook her head.
"He did not hurt me, but he played the fiddle with me." She said.
He always has … even before he became him… Her majesty mumbled.
"What do you mean?" Wendy asked confused.
She did not hear the answer, as her grandmother began to cough.
Wendy frowned, as the elven sat up straight again.
"She has been coughing a lot since winter," Wendy said. "I have asked mother and father why we do not just get the doctor, but they just say that the elderly sometimes cough a lot."
Worry is never something you should do before the worry comes…
Wendy smiled at the queen. "So, you are saying there is nothing to worry about?"
The elvens endless blue eyes glittered in the sunlight. The truth is hard to hear but even harder to speak...
Wendy sighed.
"You know sometimes it is really frustrating to talk to you."
The elven queen did not say anything or smile but then turned toward the group of children.
Wendy followed her gaze and froze.
She had noticed that Sarah, Maya, Lily, and Mathilda had come with the other kids to play. Though she had not noticed them coming toward her and now they were staring at her.
"Wendy, are you all right?" Maya asked.
Wendy was confused about what she meant.
Poor children… the elven echoed beside her. They cannot see me…
"Wendy nodded.
"Everything is fine…" she said to Maya and got up.
"You have not gone mad from being alone in the forest, have you?" Mathilda's little sister suddenly came running towards them.
When the other girls gave her looks, the younger girl shrugged. "What? That is what Miss Elizabeth said."
The other girls laughed nervously and looked at Wendy apologetically.
Wendy smiled warmly, knowing that they could never understand what she saw in the forest.
"I go out in the forest to practice my playing … and I dance sometimes too."
"Playing?" Sarah asked.
"Yes," Wendy said. "The musician from last year gave me his fiddle and I have been practicing. I am really good at it. And it is so much fun to dance to."
The girl's eyes lit up.
"Do you think we can come to the inn and dance while you play?" Lily asked.
Wendy smiled. She had never played for anyone apart from the elvens and her siblings.
"Oh, how fun it would be…" Mathilda said and did a twirl. "It would not be like the balls Miss Elizabeth told us about, but I can just imagine the romance.
Wendy joined the others in a giggle, though she did not think anyone romantic would come to the inn.
So, please tell me what you think.
Hopefully, I see you next week.