The last train of the day arrived at this lodge called "The Docter's Inn". It was smaller and more rustic than the lodge we stayed at last night, but I didn't mind; it was nice to have someone not so elegant and extravagant for once. We put my things in our room- one bed again, yippy- then headed downstairs for some dinner. This server with dark grey hair greeted us at the entrance, glancing anxiously at Challe.
"I'm sorry, ma'am; no fairies in the dining area, I'm afraid," ugh, of course not. Why am I not surprised? Running my hand over top of my tired face, I merely shook my head. "Then can we have two meals to go, please?" We'll eat upstairs in my room, in that case.
There was a much older man, probably in his mid-forties, sitting at one of the tables inside. He and his human male friend were the one other patrons in the restaurant. He grinned and waved his hand up in the air to grab the waiter's attention. "Uh, actually, we don't mind if they eat in here." We all looked at them, and the server's eyes narrowed. "You don't have to do that, sir." "Really, it's no trouble. Come on in here, you two; take a seat," he motioned for us to come forward with his still-raised hand. Challe and I glanced to one another before going over to a two-person table. The man with brown hair watched us curiously, resting his chin on the back of his folded hand. He grinned at us, or rather me intently.
"Well now, this is unusual. I've never seen such a lovely young lady traveling by herself with her fairy before. What brings you to this side of the country, my dear?" "We're going to Lewiston," I shyly answered and his gaze lowered. "That's quite a way. What're you going for?" "For the Royal Candy Fair." "Oh? So you're interested in sugar sculpting, then? Going to look at this year's entries?" "Erm, sort of. I'm competing this year," I admitted. Both he and his friend chuckled, with his silver-haired friend shaking his head, wearing a smirk.
"Women can't be sugar artisans. Not professionally anyway." "Heh, Salim's right. You've got a lot to prove if you want to play with the big boys, little girl," the brown-haired man smirked and I frowned, turning to Challe and standing up. "Come on, let's go eat in our room." "Haha, wait, wait; I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you; it's just surprising to hear that a woman- and such a young one at that- wants to enter such a prestigious and world-renowned sculpting contest." "I'm not the only woman who wants to enter it, I assure you," I shot back and the one named Salim chuckled under his breath, shutting his eyes. "You're the only one with enough money to enter then," he remarked snidely under his breath and my hands unconsciously balled into fists. That's when the other guy turned to Challe, still grinning amused with himself.
"Is that why you've brought a companion fairy? For moral support?" "Ok, first of all, he's not my fairy, or well…. It's complicated, but we don't have the traditional master-servant dynamic," I clarified and his eyebrow raised a tad. "Oh?" "And second, Challe's not a companion fairy. He's a warrior fairy," my scowl increased and both men blinked to a stoic- and silent up to this point- Challe. After a moment, the brown-haired man smirked again, planting his cheek on his palm.
"A warrior fairy? Heh, I don't buy it. I've never seen such an elegant-looking warrior fairy before. And besides, even if he is a warrior, why on earth would you buy someone like him? Could it be that you were smitten with his beauty?" He gleaned over toward me and my face flushed with embarrassment, my lips pursing together a little. "I would never buy a fairy for something like that! I never wanted to buy one in the first place!" "Mmmmmm, but clearly you did for some reason. If not for love, then what could it be….?" He hummed and I crossed my arms defiantly, not responding. It's not of his business; why should I give him the satisfaction of rallying me up more? His eyes narrowed again as he casually crossed one knee over the other.
"I still don't believe that someone like him could be a warrior fairy. Let's put him to the test, will you Salim," the brown-haired man directed his friend, who immediately got from his chair. Challe too was about to stand up, but I leapt to my feet first, instinctively and impulsively positioning myself between the two, glaring irately up at Salin. "How dare you?! Challe doesn't have to prove anything to you guys! Don't you dare attack him for some stupid, little test!"
All their eyes were enormous, including Challe's. A flabbergasted Salin dropped back into his seat, while I stayed standing; I was getting ready to march right out of there by now, if I'm honest. There was this insanely tense moment of silence before the brown-haired man had the audacity to chuckle, shaking his head gently. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Now don't be mad, and don't take offence. I didn't mean to insult your fairy. Here in fact, let me make it up to you. I'll pay for your stay here tonight….." He paused here to smugly stare at me intently, the edges of his lips tightening up a bit. "On the condition that you make me a sugar confection." "A-A sugar confection? You want me to make you a sugar confection?" My hand rose up to my chest and he nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Prove to me that girls can be sugar artisans. If I have difficultly believing that such a beautiful fairy can be a warrior, I have an even harder time believing that a young woman like yourself can out-compete your male counterparts at such a famous contest."
My mouth shot open to respond but nothing came out. I couldn't think of what to say before Challe stepped over to me. Everyone watched him incredulously as he gravely shook his head. His black-gloved hand reached down to take hold of mine. That's the first time I'd ever felt how strong, how graceful his fingers were….. They fit mine perfectly, like a custom-made glove. I was left so speechless by this unexpected gesture in fact, that I completely forgot about the brown-haired man's request that I make him a sugar confection; all my thoughts singly centred on Challe and the sensation of his hand protectively holding mine just then….
But Challe didn't forget what the man just told me. Not even bothering to look their way, his eyes stayed locked onto me; his expression revealed his displeasure with the situation currently. "You don't have to prove anything either. If they want to believe that woman can't be Silver Sugar Masters, let them. Don't let them degrade your abilities like that," Challe declared to me, still holding onto my hand. I finally understood why to took hold of me when he finished speaking, as he proceeded to lead me out of the room. The two stunned men watched us go without another word; I think they were too dumbfounded to say anything….. They've probably never heard a fairy talk like that before. Neither have I, for that matter.
I was blushing ear-to-ear as Challe took me out into the hallway, where he finally released my hand. It dashed over to my racing chest; I was dizzy and lightheaded that I feared I might faint…. I didn't speak, I couldn't speak until we were down the hallway where our room was. Halfway through it, my feet ground to a halt; my hand reached sideways to touch the wall, pleading for stability. What just happened? Why'd he do that? Why'd Challe…. stick up for me like that? When he noticed that I was no longer behind him, he also stopped to curiously glance at me from over his shoulder.
"You alright back there?" "W-Why…. Why did you do that?" "Do what?" "You know what! Why did you defend me? Me….. A human?" My lips whimpered. It took Challe a second, but he soon let out a sigh, turning a bit more so to face me directly. "You may be a human, but you know what it's like to be looked down upon….. not for what you do, but for who you are. You wouldn't let them insult me cause I'm a fairy, right?" "W-Well yes! But that's different! I wasn't defending you because I thought you were weak or anything…. I just….. didn't want them to disrespect you. That's all….." My vision cast downwards sadly. Challe watched me a moment longer before sighing again. This is stare softened onto me intently, intimately…
"Fairies don't see the difference between genders like human do. To us, all genders are the same; not physically, but in personal worth and ability. I never understood why some human men see women as lesser than….." There was a pause here before he carried on; his expression growing a tad gentler. "To me, it sounds disrespectful when they question your abilities as a sugar artisan purely because of your gender. It doesn't make sense; you can't help being woman….. Why should that impede your ability to sculpt sugar?" "Just like how you can't help being a fairy….. But there's nothing wrong with being any kind of fairy! Nothing whatsoever. It makes my blood boil when they treat you like that….." I admitted and Challe chuckled, shutting his eyes. "I may hate all humans…. But remember that you're not their property either." "Challe?" My eyes enlarged as my heart skipped another beat. "You may be a scatterbrained scarecrow, but you being a woman should not stop you from doing what want you want with your life.
Even you deserve the same freedom… heh, which you say all us fairies do."