The gift of Fae

The Forest

Tossing and turning all night in bed, I just can't sleep. 

I'm too nervous about the day ahead for both myself and my mother. So many unknowns, so many what if's. I know that we are in danger here, but we could also be in danger in the Fae community if we aren't accepted... 

I decide to have a little look into the Fae Lore book that Madam Prea gave me, might help me get to sleep..

Tapping the book twice to get it to open up to normal readable size, even the smallest bit of magic like this gives me goosebumps, wondering what magic lies within...

Chapter 1 - Fae Lore

Welcome to the Fae world, young fairy, this book is here to guide you on the history of the Fae civilization, our culture, what abilities Fae can have and how to draw on who you are to discover them.

Being a Fairy is all about being at one with nature, or the element that most draws you in, this may be earth, fire, water or the sun. Some Fairy's have the ability to draw from more than one source, while some also develop unique abilities based on their personalities. 

"I wonder if my ability to see colors on people is one of these unique abilities? I don't think it has anything to do with the elements? Hmm"

Each Fae community, as there are a lot around the whole world, has their own Royal Fae family that oversee the continuance of the community. The Royals were made directly from the elements at the beginning of time, and they have always held significantly more power than others. When a Royal bloodline is not carried on in a community, all the Fae within that community become 'lost'. Once you are under the reign of that Royal community you are bound to it for life, only under very rare circumstances does one get rejected from a community they were a part of. 

The more Fae that join the community, the more power the Royal at the throne of that community has. This power usually ripples down into each fairy within, making the community's magic stronger, leading to higher prosperity, happiness and harmony. However, this is not always the case, there has been few instances throughout the times where a Royal has hoarded the power for themselves and left the fairy's under their rule to suffer through poverty and starvation, but these fairy's can not leave the community without the Royal's say so.  In these circumstances another Royal must be able to challenge the Royal gone bad and win to save all of the community, but this has never been reported to have worked, as the Royal gone bad has so much power they are impossible to defeat. There is still belief that if the Royal gone bad had a child, then that child could defeat their parent, but this is also yet to be seen. 

Woah there is like a whole system to this being a fairy thing, wow. I guess it's kind of like being a werewolf in a pack that makes us stronger, but without being as connected? It seems fairies are really connected to one another, I wonder if Madam Prea felt a connection to me being a fairy and being family?

Opening my eyes feeling the warm sun on my skin and the light shining through my curtains, realizing I must have fallen asleep at some stage, at least that's a positive, I did get some sleep before the unknown of today comes. Also realizing it is now five days till my birthday. Do the Fae have any big significance in this birthday like the werewolves do? Probably should have done some speedier reading last night, the book might have had the answers I'm looking for. 

Jumping out of bed, I go for some comfy clothes like Mum had said to, chucking on some jeans and a shirt and a puffy woolen light pink jumper, my absolute favorite, if this really is the last time I see the insides of my bedroom in the castle with all my belongings, then I was definitely taking my pink knit. I tap the Fae Lore book twice and tuck it into my pocket. 

Then comes that melodious knock, oh s**t, what is Nicola doing here... In she comes, catching me frantically stuffing the tiny Fae lore book into my pocket, I feel suspicious. "Hey hey, what is my bestie up to today? I need some distractions my dad is driving me crazy ugh" Nicola says as she comes in closer. 

Keep it cool Felicity, or she will see straight through you. 

"Oh not a lot, was just going to go out with Mum, spend some time with her before my birthday when I might be swept off my feet by my mate" I respond teasingly, trying to seem normal, what even is normal anymore. 

"God if you find your mate as soon as you turn eighteen I may have to end our friendship, I've waited nearly three years!" she giggles. "Yeah I doubt it would happen that fast, but you never know, it's happened before, so I would like to spend some time with Mum just in case" I let her know. 

"I suppose I can't keep my girl from some family time, especially since your Mum wont be around much soon anyway" Nicola says walking towards my door to let herself back out. 

What does she mean she wont be around much? Trying not to show my utter confusion and concern I need to find out what she is talking about. 

"What do you mean by that Nicola? Is my Mum going somewhere? She didn't say anything to me yesterday?" I ask sincerely.

"Oh I thought you knew, Dominic has requested she join him on all his Royal commitments after your eighteenth birthday, makes sense though, she doesn't need to stay here to look after you when your not a child anymore and Dominic must be lonely without his mate on the road all the time" she says back so innocently, because she has no idea that he is actually the worst person in the world. And my Mum is not his mate. 

"Mmm I guess your right, lucky I'll still have you and the girls then so I won't miss her so much" I say with a smile as I wave her out while the panic inside me sets in. Which there really is no need for as we won't even be in the pack anymore after we go to the Fae Queen.  But the fact that Dominic wants to control my Mum's life like this makes me feel so uneasy and yuck. 

Walking out to the gate of the castle, I can see Mum waiting for me, she was probably getting concerned because I'm late from Nicola's surprise visit. 

Taking Mum into an embrace I let her know why I'm late and what Nicola has told me about Dominic wanting her to join him after my birthday with all his travels, her face goes pale and I can tell it makes her feel just as unsettled as it does me. 

"Let's not dwell on things like that at the moment, we need to focus on getting into the hidden Fae community in the forest and finding Queen Liana. I know Dominic is a concern, but if we can hide with the Fae, we wont have to worry about him anymore, so lets not worry until we have to" Mum tells me in her confident, reassuring and calming tone. I instantly feel better about the whole situation.

Making our way through town and out the other side seemed easy, reaching the edge of the forest though seemed a little confronting and daunting. Looking back at the instructions that Madam Prea gave us, we look for an opening in the trees that have two small triangles carved into them on each side. Walking around the edge of the forest for what seemed like forever we finally found them, I was starting to think maybe it was all a joke and there was no such place and Madam Prea was laughing to herself thinking we were crazy.. Ahh if only...

Entering the forest through the marked trees, she had written to continue along the path until you reach the blue mushrooms, then saying "Good fairy folk, Wild and free, Beyond the Veil, Please let me see" while eating a mushroom with our eyes closed, when we open them we will be inside the Fae community apparently. Or poisoned from blue mushrooms.. 

It wasn't a very long walk into the forest when we spotted the mushrooms, maybe it only seemed like a short distance because of the nerves bubbling in my stomach. I could even see that the colors radiating from Mum were all over the place, I couldn't even really pinpoint what she was feeling, which makes even more nervous because she is just as nervous as me. 

Staring at each other as we pick up a blue mushroom each, I inspect mine, its not very big, like a small button mushroom, but it's a very dark blue, you probably wouldn't have even noticed them here if you weren't actively searching for them. 

Nodding at each other we close our eyes, "Good fairy folk, Wild and free, Beyond the Veil, Please let me see" we chant together and in goes the mushroom. Yuck, its so soft and furry feeling, I temporarily forgot I actually hate normal mushrooms, this is going to be a challenge to swallow. I decide to just rush it, take a couple of chews and force it down. Shaking my head and sticking my tongue out in hopes of the flavor disappearing, I open my eyes and wow.