12. A Tale For Pixie’s – Elias
A Tale For Pixie’s
ELIAS
A large stone jutted from the ground a few short feet from where we stood, so I ushered Rosemary toward it so she could sit. As tough as she wanted me to view her, her swollen ankle must be throbbing something fierce by now.
I watched her carefully tuck the moonbell petals deeper into her pack, their silver glow still visible through the cloth.
Her hands trembled slightly, aftershocks from the power she'd channeled during the trial.
I'd felt it through our growing bond, that wild magic that had poured out of her like sunlight made manifest. It had been beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.
Queen Mab's warning about power's price echoed in my mind. I'd seen what unchecked magic had done to my mother, how it had twisted love into obsession and protectiveness into cruelty. The thought of Rosemary following that same dark path made my chest tight with fear.
She settled comfortably, her thin skirts draped around her legs, revealing only the tips of her boots.
I felt her gaze on me as I stepped back, focusing entirely on the pixie queen.
I lowered myself into a deep bow, ensuring my most charming grin was in place as I looked up through dark lashes to where she hovered before me.
As I prepared to spin a tale for the pixies, as demanded of me by their queen for payment for our safe passage through their glade, my mind kept drifting to what I'd witnessed while within their territory.
Rosemary hadn't hesitated when faced with an impossible choice.
She'd risked everything—her sister's cure, her own magical reserves, our safe passage—to save a stranger.
It was exactly the kind of selfless heroism that had made me fall in love when we were children, and exactly the kind that would get her killed in my mother's domain.
How could I protect someone whose very nature compelled her to sacrifice herself for others?
"My dearest Queen Mab, I would be honored to hold the attention of one as beautiful as you.
Allow me to share a story, one of adventure, magic, and true love, a story that will make even the stars above sigh with longing," I said, my tone confident as I spoke, my hands gesturing grandly as I held their attention.
Already, the sky had darkened quite a bit since we'd entered this clearing, and the stars above twinkled in the black heavens. A silver glow lit the meadow in an ethereal light, painting a scene that would be the envy of every artist.
At my back, distant howls cried into the early night as those who would hunt us awakened.
If I could not prove our worth with this tale, then at the very least, I would need to tell a story that would stretch through the night.
This meadow would be safe from predators, claimed as it was by the pixies.
"You are too charming," the pixie queen said, her soft voice a song in the evening air.
She waved her delicate hand for me to follow her deeper into the meadow.
I shot a glance to where Rosemary sat, and the queen followed my gaze.
"Well, come along then, both of you. If you are to truly entertain us this evening, then you will do so by the light of our fires. "
Rosemary slid down the edge of the rock, hissing as she put weight on her injured leg.
I saw no fire beyond the pixies, but we followed them into the center of the clearing, walking silently side by side.
At least a dozen of the queen's followers zipped in quick circles near the middle, though I was sure more hid among the meadow grasses.
The dust from their wings fell like a curtain, veiling them and their magic from view.
When they slowed and the dust began to settle, a fire flared skyward, and a large log sat nearby, positioned just out of reach of the flames.
We sat on the log, and the pixies hovered nearby, each of them eager to hear my tale.
I held the queen's gaze for only a moment, long enough for her to give me a nod as if to say we could begin.
I cleared my throat, suddenly nervous. Rosemary and I might be safe this night from the predators beyond, but if I didn't prove us worthy now, we would remain here far longer than either of us could withstand. Far longer than Rosemary’s sister could wait.
"Every good story begins with a princess," I started, my voice tinged with playful mischief.
I couldn't help but smirk as I turned my gaze toward Rosemary.
I watched her long enough to see her roll her eyes at me, and then I continued, "And this one is no different.
There was indeed a princess, a beautiful princess with golden eyes and hair, the softest skin, and a heart too pure for this world.
She was pretty much the perfect princess, except for the curse that clung to her.
One that would prevent her from ever finding her one true love, even if he were standing right before her. "
I felt Rosemary's sharp gaze on me, but I kept my attention on the flames.
They seemed to dance and sway as I spoke, and twice, as I'd been captivated by their flickering light, I could have sworn I could see the princess of whom I spoke.
I glanced toward the pixies, but each of them watched the fire with faraway looks upon their delicate faces.
"A knight in silver armor had become completely enamored by the princess, bringing her gifts while trying to win her heart.
He hadn't known of the curse until they'd stood on the edge of an enchanted pond beneath stars that whispered of fate and destiny.
" I paused, letting the words sink in. "This knight had brought a final gift, one that would surely win her heart, and he knelt to the ground while bioluminescent butterflies with the palest blue wings fluttered around them both. He asked for her hand in marriage.
"She'd cried, unable to accept his offer, and instead, she told him of the curse and the epic journey that would be required to finally break its hold on her.
Of course, he vowed to save the princess from this vile curse that had stolen love from her.
He would seek the ruby hidden atop the tallest tower and break it, freeing her from the evil curse. "
The image of a large ruby twisted in the flame, and I knew I hadn't imagined it this time.
My words painted this story into the flames, holding the pixies spellbound.
Each of them listened to my tale with rapt interest, and as I glanced sideways at Rosemary, I realized even she sat with bated breath, waiting for me to continue.
"So this valiant knight went on this epic quest through an enchanted forest. Talking animals tricked him, turning him about until his journey took twice as long as he expected.
When he finally learned not to trust the talking woodland creatures, he found his path again.
He needed to listen to the jokes of a bridge-guarding troll, who wouldn't accept any price for passage across, insisting instead on an audience for his new comedic act.
None of the jokes hit their mark, but our valiant knight laughed just the same.
He had to use his daring sword skills to fight off a snarling pack of wolves.
"But here, our knight made a choice that would haunt him. Instead of finding another way past the wolves, instead of using his wits or his charm, he chose the path of blood. He slaughtered them all, not wanting to have to deal with them on his return trip to his princess."
I felt Rosemary shift beside me, her attention sharp and focused now. The pixies leaned forward, sensing the darker turn in my tale. Their pristine faces painted with partial grins at the bloodshed and tragedy.
"When he finally found the tallest tower deep within the enchanted wood, he realized he would have to climb the outer stone to reach the top. It took him hours, his every muscle straining against the effort, but he crested the top..."
I paused for dramatic effect, looking at each of my audience.
There were more pixies now than when I had begun this tale.
Even the forest seemed to hold its breath, the leaves rustling softly, as if to hear every word.
I smiled, watching the images dance within the flame, my valiant knight standing atop a stone tower.
"There was no ruby though." Several pixies gasped.
"Not immediately, that is. A wild wind blew his hair in wild tangles around his head.
An unfamiliar sound soon had him brandishing his sword with dread as a massive black dragon flew alongside the tower.
A dragon with sharp, curved teeth almost the same length as him.
A dragon with fire behind its eyes. A dragon," I said, my words loud, "with a red ruby sunken into its forehead, right between its angry gaze.
The ruby he needed to break to free his princess from her curse.
"He wasted no time at all launching himself off the building to land on the back of this dragon, his body hitting the scales hard.
The dragon tried to shake him off, a stream of black smoke flaring from its nostrils, but our valiant knight held on, gaining his feet and racing along the spine, making his way toward the ruby.
The dragon shook its head, and the knight nearly flung free, only remaining on the dragon's head because he sank his sword to the hilt next to the dragon's ear.