Faireborn

In the forest, beyond the realm of humans, there is a community where smaller beings known as fae live. Although territorial, creatures of all races travel through Lindwood to hear tales from their guilds and enrich themselves in what the city provides. One annual event, however, draws in guilds from all over. Today marks the start of that event, when guilds gather at Hillside Tavern to drink and prepare for their journey. It brings in the most business for the tavern, which is always crowded, and the hostels are always full. Aspen can only envision how this will go for her as she prepares to join the others. Dressed in her long skirt with silk fabric wrapped around her chest, she looks at herself in the mirror. Her fingers travel through the knots of her curled hair; each pull and release of the strand makes it spring back to its coiled state. Hazel eyes, holding a slight twinkle from the light that reflects into them, stare back at her. Even though she has all this beauty, she never knew what to do with it. Each time she tried to dress it up, it made her look plain, and when she tried to let it shine through her personality, she was often seen as insufferable. She tries to shake herself free from her doubts and wears a more determined smile. “Aspen.” She jumps at the sound of her father’s voice and steps out of view of the mirror, embarrassed, as if she’s been caught doing something wrong. He raises a quizzical brow, giving a glance over her attire. “Going somewhere?” “Yes,” she says, her tone rising with nerves. He moves over to her desk, picking up a small stick figure of him she made at age ten. “Where to?” She watches him curiously as he rubs his thumb over the hair made from stray and dried mud “The tavern,” she says quickly, hoping her father won’t catch the words fully. The silence that consumes the room and his calm demeanor tell her this was a problem he saw coming. He sets down the stick doll. “No.” “No?” she says incredulously. “Is that the only excuse I’m getting?” “I want you here with me. There’s too much to do to have you go spend your time drinking with a bunch of men,” he says bitterly. “I won’t be doing that. I just want to hear their stories,” she protests. “Do you not trust me?” She was never very good at reading his emotions. Everything he wanted to show came through his actions, never reaching his face. He doesn’t look at her; he’s still eyeing the miniature doll, which resembles more of a creature than her father, despite his sturdy build and peppered hair tied in a bun. “I don’t trust them,” he states. “Why don’t you stay here with me?” Aspen gives her father a look, further emphasizing her distaste. “That crowd is too... dangerous," he says. “But you host it,” she points out. “Because I need to—to prevent the Solas forest from getting out of control. To protect our community.” “You promised I could go this year,” she protests. “I’m almost twenty-four and I’ve never gone.” Even though he supports and greatly benefits from these events, she was never allowed to attend. Eventually, his excuse of her being too young began to fade after she turned eighteen. She knows his reluctance is born of protection, but she needs her independence and to discover these dangers for herself. Even if it doesn’t persuade him, he must know she’s right. “I just want you to make the right choices.” “Have you ever let me make the wrong one?” Calese smiles softly, if not a bit sadly, at how grown she is. His hands cup her face. “Fine. I’m trusting you.” In that moment, she feels a sense of guilt, but she, too, has learned not to show it on her face. She smiles as her father gently kisses her forehead, letting the guilt wash away. “I won’t be long,” she assures him. He nods, showing he understands, and leaves the room. She resets her shoulders and face, turning back to herself in the mirror. Her father would never have agreed to let her go if he knew what she truly intended. But this is her life and her choice. There’s no time left to negotiate. Aspen stands on a branch, watching from the tree as five men dismount their bumblebees. Two girls immediately rush toward the leaner redhead known as Ra, wrapping their arms around him as he chuckles gleefully. In one swoop, he lifts both women into his arms and heads toward the tavern doors. The four others follow behind, each one drawing women in like magnets. Aspen has known Ra since she was thirteen. He was one of the youngest to venture into the Dark Forest at sixteen, and he’s always been arrogant, with a glaring weakness for pretty women. Aspen herself never qualified in his eyes. She jumps down from the tree, excusing herself as she bumps shoulders with someone heading in the same direction, pausing only briefly before following the rest inside. Ra looks smug at his table, balancing two women in his lap, each taking turns feeding him sips of beer between his boisterous chatter. A soft yellow and red glow bathes the tavern, making for a lively, enchanted atmosphere. Aspen keeps a close eye on Ra’s table, so much so that she bumps into Artemis—a tall, handsome man known for his sharp tongue and fondness for drink. He steadies his pint to keep it from spilling. “Oi, watch it,” he scolds, maneuvering past her to sit at Ra’s table with the two women. Aspen watches as the other three riders join them, soon surrounded by eager patrons waiting to hear their stories. If she had their luxury, she wouldn't waste it on women and booze like Ra. She’d use it to serve her community. But there’s always been bias in the realm. She’s royalty—so if she were to bring something back, it would be seen as expected, not earned. What they don’t understand is the kingdom’s wealth isn’t hers—maybe not even her father’s. She did not earn it the way guild members do. She grabs her own drink and observes them from the bar. She notices the man from earlier, reclining in a corner with a cloth draped over his face. Though she saw him arrive with the others, she has no idea who he is. The cloth lifts slightly with each shallow breath. Ra’s loud laughter pulls her attention back to the table, followed by the sound of chairs scraping against the floor. The crowd thins, giving her the chance to approach. His lips are busy pressing against one of the women's necks, so Aspen speaks first. “I need to get into the forest,” she says bluntly. Ra looks up and, upon seeing her determined expression, scoffs. “Oh great, it’s you,” he says, prompting scattered chuckles around the table. “What are you on about?” “I want to go into the forest. With your group.” “And why do you need to go to the forest?” he slurs, brow furrowed in drunken confusion. “Because I do.” Ra laughs. “Oh, childish girl. You have no idea what we go through to get these treasures. You’d be a burden. Better off staying here with your fancy dresses and expensive buffets.” “I’m not a childish girl, Ra,” she snaps. “You were younger than I am when you first entered the forest. You were just a boy. You probably had to rely on older men.” His lip curls as he pushes the pint one of the women offers away and leans closer. “Have you ever seen a siren? A troll? A giant? A witch?” She hesitates. Everyone at the table turns their attention to her. Ra is enjoying the chance to publicly belittle her. “That doesn’t matter,” she says weakly. “It does when you have no training,” he says. “You’re scared to even ride a wasp. How are you going to handle the Dark Forest? It’s otherworldly.” “Well... we could protect each other,” she reasons, but her softer tone only fuels Ra’s confidence. “Aspen, you’re still very much a child. You’d be stupid to think any girl could survive in that forest. Men—trained men—have died. And I’d be an i***t to risk the safety of royalty.” He turns back to the women, clearly thinking the conversation is over. But she’s not done. “Fine. You leave me no choice,” she says with a sigh. “I’ll go myself. I’ll follow you. And I’ll tell my father I went with you. That way, you’re liable.” His drunken expression darkens. “Yeah, you’re definitely not doing that. Don’t be naive, Aspen.” “It’s not about that.” Her confidence returns as she gives him a hardened stare. “Either way, I’m going.” Ra looks agitated. He slips the women off his lap and stands. Aspen doesn’t budge as he approaches, her nose nearly brushing his chest. She glares up at him. “Aspen, don’t make me tell on you,” he warns. Across the bar, even the drunkest patrons have gone quiet. Mugs lift slowly as they watch. The man with the cloth over his face peeks out from the shadows, drawn by the tension. “You don’t understand. You sound childish,” she says, her tone turning sharp. “You haven’t changed, Ra. You just act like a man.” His expression drops. The smugness fades. Calmly, he picks up his pint and tips the beer out over her head. Gasps ripple through the tavern. Aspen stands frozen, mouth slightly open, beer dripping down her curls. Ra gives her a rough shove on the shoulder. “You think you can do better? Then fight me. I’ve fought monsters four times your size. Come on.” He grabs a handful of her hair to lift her face. Panicked, she breaks free and pushes him back. Ra’s expression shifts from rage to something more amused. He chuckles. “I’m just joking, Aspen. You’re always so tense.” He tosses her a cloth. “Seriously, though, clean up and go home. You’ve embarrassed yourself enough.” Her rage boils over. “I don’t care what you say, Ra. I’m not leaving.” “Oh yeah?” he says, a smirk playing on his lips. Before she can react, he sweeps his arms under her knees and lifts her into a tight grip, ignoring her struggle. He marches to the door, followed by his jeering companions, and tosses her into the pond just outside. “There. That’ll clean you off.” Aspen coughs and gasps, water pouring from her mouth as laughter echoes behind her. The tavern door slams shut. She crawls out of the pond and collapses onto the cool grass, trying to catch her breath. Ra is cruel—especially to women who don’t suit his taste—and today he was especially unreasonable. Aspen lies still, humiliated and exhausted. The tavern door creaks open. Someone steps out. She blinks water from her eyes as a shadow looms overhead. A man stands above her. In the pale light, she sees his grey eyes fixed on her. “I think I can get you what you want, miss,” the man says loud enough to cut through the water still buzzing in her ears. She tilts her head to get a better look at him. “And who might you be?”