The gift of Fae

Queen Liana

Waiting around in front of the stone guards at the front of this magnificent jewel encrusted Palace, I get more and more nervous the longer it takes... Why don't I ever wear a watch? At least then I would have some idea on how much time is passing. 

I'm sure it has been about an hour when I hear the scurry of the butler coming towards me.

"The Queen will see you now" he states towards me in his monotone voice.

"Where is my Mum?" I ask hesitantly before moving anywhere.

"The Queen has spoken to your mother and now she wishes to see you" is all I got in response.

Tensing up my body and taking a deep breathe, I know she went in and hasn't come out so the best way forward is for me to follow the butler.  Walking closer to the Palace and seeing the sparkling walls up close I am now one hundred percent sure it is made of diamonds, unbelievable.  Through a long corridor into the left side of the Palace I enter a huge domed room, magnificent artworks cover the walls and ceilings, all depicting nature scenes with fairies, wings out flying freely between the paintings. Truly a beautiful sight. 

Staring around the empty room with my eyes diverted from painting to painting, my train of thought is interrupted by a loud sigh about 10 meters in front of me. Then the butler nudges me and begins to bow to the figure ahead "Your majesty" he says while giving me a side glance. Whoops that my cue I think, giving a curtsy I say "your majesty" as well and the butler gives me a look of approval, phew. 

We then continue to walk towards what is obviously now the Queen, the closer I get the more glamorous she becomes. She radiates strong colors of purple and pink, indicating bliss and happiness, but there is also a deep red around the edges like anger or strength, I'm not quite sure. The Queen rises from her throne that appears to be laced with rubies, and I can see she is quite tall, long cascading blonde hair, crown of diamonds atop her head. A strong mature woman's face but elegant and soft at the same time, the epitome of a beauty.  She starts taking steps in my direction and her long flowing light blue gown follows her as it unfolds into something I thought people only wore at weddings. 

Getting closer and closer to her, I look around anxiously and I can't see my Mum anywhere in the room, just me, the Queen, butler and two guards dressing in black armor at the sides of the throne. I want out, I have this deep dark feeling that I can't explain telling me to run. 

The Queen is getting closer and it seems like she is picking up the pace with intent. 

Reaching each other, I stop breathing out of fear. 

Looking up to this fierce woman leader who is just staring down at me wide eyed, a few seconds pass in awkward silence as I am not breathing. The Queen seems pleased in her efforts to belittle me it seems. 

Taking a deep breath in and trying to relax "Hi" is all I manage to squeak out. 

The Queen just lets out a little laugh to herself as she takes a step to my left and begins to walk around me in a circle. "So your a fairy are we now young girl?" She asks in a tone of authority. 

"Uhmm yes... I mean I think I am, I'm not actually sure" I answer.

"I can sense that you are young one, you need not worry here, we are all fairies, you are with your own kind now" the Queen says in a more relaxed tone like she is trying to somewhat offer me some comfort. "So you wish to join my established Fae community here?" She questions with a raised eyebrow. 

"Well... yes me and my mum would like to live here... away from the werewolves" I add on quietly, I can see that she is intrigued. "Where did my mum go?"

"Hmm you see, there is a rather large bounty on both you and your mothers heads to be returned back to the Edon Pack.. and well I can't resist a payout when its this easy" the Queen says with a smirk turning to face me front on. Her eyes staring into mine. 

Taking a step back, I am in shock, my heart starts racing.. She is going to send me back to the pack, I am going to be killed, so is my mother... What can I do... I'm going to have to try and make a run for it..

Taking a couple of steps back while still facing the Queen, I go to turn and run, but two large guards grab both my arms. 

"Stop, get off me... What are you doing!!" I yell at both the guards and the Queen. The Queen standing there looking quite content with her choices just turns her back to me and returns to her throne, while yelling out to the guards "Take her to the dungeon, I'll deal with her later."

Deal with me later? 

Kicking and screaming the whole way down into the dark depths of the Palace, to a place that resembles nothing like the higher grounds of the castle. It is stinky, wet and murky... Dark and cold... 

I'm thrown into a cell down a corridor of cells, some that house other people but they are cowering away from the guards and I can barely see them in the dark. 

Tossed onto the hard wet ground I can feel my hands and knees getting grazed along the way, the stinging sensation puts me over the edge and my tears begin to flow... How did all this happen? Why does the Queen of fairies have a dungeon and why was she so mean and black hearted? 

All I know as the tears soak my cheeks in the dark of this dungeon is that I want my mum back and I want as far away as possible from here and the Queen.