Forget Me Not

Chapter Two

    It has been a few weeks since the ball and honestly, life has been as boring as ever.  I complete my daily lessons, fend off Leo's advances, pester Milli about her new relationship, and read on repeat like an old soundtrack.  Luckily, today I have nothing on my schedule.  Maybe I can have a single day of peace.  My parents are wanting to retire so I've been buried in lessons on running the kingdom here of late.  Starting next week I'll be adding lunches with suitors to my ever-growing hectic schedule.  Why can't I just rule alone until I find true love... I sighed in frustration right as Milli entered my room.

    "Pxy, you look dreadful.  You need a day out."  Milli said with a twinkle in her eye.

    "Milli, I can't go anywhere without a guard or worse Leo.  You know that." I sighed again while thinking about how strict they've become since announcing my parents' pending retirement.  I feel like a bird trapped in a cage.

    "Fret not, for I know how to get you out unnoticed." Milli proclaimed deviously while pulling out a spare maid outfit and hood. "Besides we can't turn down an invitation.  Cheshire invited us to the Fae Wilds." Milli is perfect.  She thought of everything.  I smiled in excitement as I began to change into the outfit and tied my hair around my head so it could hide in the hood.

    "I've never been to the Fae Wilds." I mused.  My parents had meetings with the wild fae but never in the Fae Wilds.  They called it a scary and dangerous place where fae as old as time dwelled.

    "Honestly, neither have I.  Surely, it's not as terrifying as the stories or people wouldn't live there.  Right?" Milli gave me a nervous glance.

    "Surely not.  Besides, Cheshire and I will protect you.  No need to worry." I smiled at her.  Milli had no fae magic.  She was half human and never developed any.  The only proof she has fae blood is her being able to live here and growing at the same rate we do besides that, she is mostly human. She looks at her feet.

    "Princess, I wish I could tell you that.  I'm your maid, I should be able to protect you from harm." She whispered sadly.

    "Nonsense, I am of royal blood.  We are the most powerful of the fae.  I don't need a protector and if I wanted one I wouldn't have chosen you as my handmaid.  I chose you because I like you and you are my best friend.  I need a friend in the palace more than I need a guard."  I assured her and her smile returned. "Now then, shall we go on our devious adventure?" I asked her with a wink.  She nodded and we stuck out of the palace.

    "There are guards at every exit... how shall we pass by them without me being noticed? It was a miracle we got out of the palace." I fretted remembering the close calls with the guards and cook where Milli proclaimed me to be new and shy to keep them from looking at my face.

    "Cheshire told me to go from the river and follow it down.  He said there aren't guards on the river since many of the townspeople do laundry there." Milli smiled reassuringly.  She really had thought of everything.  I'm sad that I put her through so much trouble... "It wasn't any trouble at all Pyx.  Wipe that look off your face." She giggled having seemly read my mind.  Maybe she did have a kind of fae magic.  Maybe she reads minds... No. She would've caught on to Cheshire's feelings long ago if she did.  I giggled to myself as I followed her down the river.  I could tell when we stepped into the Fae Wilds by the shift from calm aura to the eerie aura.  The Fae Wilds truly felt wild.  The vines wrapped around everything as if they had a mind of their own and the trees were crooked and seemed to be watching your every move.  Though there were some pretty things too.  Flowers made of crystal and glowing pink and green mushrooms peeked out from the undergrowth.  What a strange place.  After what felt like forever in this eerie atmosphere, we found Cheshire waiting with his companions Juli and Cori.

    "You guys made it." Cheshire grinned happily.

    "They are lucky a kelpie didn't try to grab them." Cori grumbled and rolled her eyes. 

    "Cori, they are our guests.  Be nice." Cheshire glared at his sister with contempt.  I'm sure if she wasn't his sister she would not be here.  Maybe even dead with the look Cheshire is giving her... "Why are you here anyway? I didn't invite you, Corinda." Cheshire growled.

    "Where ever my darling Juli goes, I go to." She said while trying to grab on to Juli.  Juli just rolled his eyes and dodged her attempts leaving her to pout.  Wow, she's as bad as Leo.  Just sad.

    "Let's go." Cheshire smiled at us offering his hand to Milli.  So we continued on into the Fae Wilds.  The deeper into the woods we went, the darker the aura became.  This place gives me the chills.  I shivered from the feeling of eyes everywhere.  We came to a huge tree surrounded by the glowing mushrooms and Cheshire knocked on the trunk three times.  I stared at him in confusion until it opened.  He descended down into the tree with Milli and Cori following after them.  I came closer to the tree and glanced down into it.  There were stairs that seemed to go on forever.

    "First time?" Juli asked from behind me causing me to jump.  I hadn't realized he was still here.

    "Yes," I blushed looking down at my feet. "This whole place is putting me on edge." I admitted.

    "The Fae Wilds do that." He laughed. "I don't understand how Cheshire lives here."

    "Wait, you don't live here?" I asked curiously and his face went blank for a second.

    "On down the stairs, we go." He avoided my question and turned me back towards the stairs pushing me forward slowly.  He closed the door behind us and the path became so dark I could barely see.

    "Here, follow me." He said while stepping around me and taking my hand to lead me down the stairs.  Once we got to the bottom of the stairs he let go of my hand and went into the small room.  I stood in the opening and looked around.  It was a small oval-shaped room that was lit by just the light of the glowing mushrooms growing out of the walls.  Off to the left was a small table pilled with sweet cakes and drinks.  Other than that the room was pretty bare.  A few fabric balls seemed to serve as chairs.

    "Come sit with us Pyx." Cheshire grinned while gesturing to the ball between the one he was sharing with Milli and the one Juli had sat in.  The balls formed a circle with Cori between Juli and them on the other side.  I walked into the room and cautiously sat on the strange chair.  It was soft as if filled with down feathers.  "I hear you've been busy.  Has it at least kept the lion away?" Cheshire asked curiously.

    "Non, dear friend, he's still there every day." I rolled my eyes.  Vines started to move and I jumped but all they did was bring us drinks and cakes.  I continued to stare at them bewildered until I heard Cori snicker.

    "How pathetic.  The vines scared you.  You're supposed to be a princess." Cori taunted and Cheshire glared at her.  I frowned unable to think of a witty comeback.  Wait... I smirked at her.

    "At least, I don't chase someone clearly not interested like a persistent shadow." I challenged. "Hmmm, I suppose you do look shadow like so I guess it fits." I brought my fingers to my lips like I was contemplating and the rest of the group broke into laughter as Cori scowled at me.  I smirked and took a sip of my drink.  It was sweeter than sugar and probably the best thing I've ever tasted.

    "I hate to admit but it is actually quite common for people to chase after Juli like that." Cheshire said while wiping the tears from his eyes that had appeared from laughing so hard.  "He used to get a break hiding here with me until Cori came along." I tilted my head in confusion.  I suppose he is handsome but why would people be so desperate? I felt the temperature in the room drop and Cheshire immediately changed the topic.  The rest of the evening was very peaceful and fun but it was getting dark and we needed to return before people realized I was missing.  If I wasn't there for dinner, all hell would break loose.  Cheshire and Juli offered to escort us to the edge of the Fae Wilds but Cori just left in annoyance calling us weak for needing an escort.  The journey felt quicker.  I guess Cheshire and Juli really did ease my worries from the feel of the Fae Wilds. We were at the border before I even noticed.

    "We should do this again sometime." Cheshire declared.  And thus we parted ways after making plans to come on my free day each week.  

    Once back at home, I swiftly changed into a suitable dress and awaited the call for dinner.  Soon enough my father's personal guard came to collect me for dinner.  I put my arm through his elbow and allowed him to escort me to the dining room.  The dining room is one of my favorite rooms in the castle visually, mentally it is the most draining.  My parents tended to drop bombs on me at our family dinners.  I glanced around the gorgeous room made of crystals and completely surrounded by glass windows as I sat down at my seat at the table.

    "Good even, Mother, Father." I greeted them politely.  "How are you, this fine evening?"  My mother smiled.  Her smile always seemed to brighten a room.  She was the figure of grace and gave off a regal aura.  People always felt calm around her but if you made her angry just the aura of her power would crush you.  Her hair was like an autumn breeze, red with golden leaves weaved into it and seemed to flow like the wind was blowing through it even in a closed room.

    "Darling Pyxidis, we've already scheduled your suitors for the month.  The first one will be here tomorrow and stay a week.  Aren't you excited? Oh, my darling girl is growing up and will soon be in love." She cooed in excitement.  Mother was more excited about my love life than I am.  I don't want suitors, I want to find love naturally.  My father rolled his eyes.  His eyes were like mine where mothers were golden like the leaves in her hair.  He was tall with broad shoulders and rippling muscles.  When he talked, he talked with authority in his voice so strong that most could not bring themselves to disobey him.

    "Now my little button, don't let anyone pressure you.  You find a man you like that will make a wonderful king.  Don't go settling for some scoundrel." He said with concern in his voice.

    "Of course father, I want true love and someone who can lead beside me.  I won't pick someone out of haste." I confirmed.  He smiled and ran one of his big hands through his jet black hair.  Despite being old, Fae hair never turns grey unless you were born with it.  Beautiful for all eternity.

    "Alas, I hope you find someone soon.  It would be best to have someone to help you rule." Mother countered with a pout.

    "She's doing fine with her training without a man, Liliandria." Father shook his head and booped Mother on her nose.  True love, surely Mother wants me to have a beautiful love like hers and not to rush.  Mother just tends to look at things logically while forgetting about others' emotions sometimes.  Dinner arrives and we ate our stew and bread in silence after that... The first suitor arrives tomorrow... I wish this night would last forever so that I wouldn't have to worry about tomorrow.