Forest of Mischief

Into the Realm

Freya stirs from a knock at the door. Opening her eyes from her exhaustion as Lilli calls out, “It's me! I have breakfast." She doesn't wait for a reply as she tries the latch, finding it locked. It seems like these people – fairies – don't have much respect for boundaries.

Still, Freya pushes herself out of the comfortable bed and opens the door. Lilli greets with her a warm smile and a tray full ripe berries, elegant pastries, and unfamiliar nuts. A cup of black liquid steams in front of her and the enticing scent of coffee wafts from it. Freya gives her a small, thankful smile as she plucks the mug off of the tray. Lilli walks to the table in front of the fireplace, placing the rest of the food on it, and plops down in one of the oversized chairs.

She starts picking idly at the food while sipping a glass of bubbling liquid. Freya glances around the room, still shrouded in the darkness of night. “I thought it was morning?"

Lilli swallows a bite of fruit, “Technically, it is. But where we are doesn't have sunlight."

“And where is that?" They didn't cover this in last night's conversation, only hinting at a space between the two Realms.

“We're in between the Realms. 'This' is where the portal that connects them. It's been shut for a long time, so it took some effort cleaning this place up for you," she responds. A friendly smile resting on her lips.

“Why go through all the trouble?" Freya says, a bite in her voice that Lilli brushes over.

“We told you Freya, you're important to us – to each of us. We weren't going to let you disappear from our lives that easily," Lilli says. “It'll be easier for you when your memories return. That's something we've been working on, too." A hopeful glint in her eyes.

After they finish breakfast, Lilli rushes Freya into getting ready. She still hasn't said her answer out loud, whether she'll join them of her own free will or not. Deep down, Freya knows the answer. She's just not willing to accept it yet.

Freya ties the last string of the dress, one with similar white linen underdress as the night before. The main difference being the sage bodice that cuts in at her waist and then flows to the floor. She buckles the cherry leather belt around her waist that Lilli hands her, giving her a look of approval. Freya can't fight the smile that tugs at her lips in response.

Flora jumps from the bed, flicking her tail in circles. She struts to the door, and Freya announces, “I guess it's time to go."

They walk through the dim hallways. Freya watches as Flora walks slightly ahead of Lilli, almost guiding them. “Um, how does my cat know where to go?" Freya asks Lilli.

She laughs, “Well, she's been here enough times." Freya raises an eyebrow at her, urging for a further explanation. “She's your familiar. And it seems like she's been keeping an eye on you ever since you left the Realm. When you vanished, and then we couldn't find her...we thought you were –" she stops herself, unable to say the word out loud.

Freya says it for her, “You thought I was dead." Lilli nods her head. “How'd you know I wasn't?"

She gives her a smile, “We didn't. Not until Flora slipped through the portal years ago. That was enough confirmation we needed, and after that we started searching for a way to cross over, too. We had tried to follow her the first time, but familiars' magic is different from ours. And with her owner linked to the human and Fae realm, she was able to use the portals. That's how we knew where to find you, and that you were safe."

Freya eyes her chunky cat skeptically. Well, that answers what she's been up to every time she leaped out her window. They reach the same room they were in last night, the arched doors slightly ajar. Freya feels the nerves rise inside of her, her palms clamming at the anticipation.

Lilli arches an eyebrow at her, “Ready?"

It takes everything in Freya to hold back the strong 'No!' at her lips. Instead, she grinds her teeth and pushes the doors open. The first thing her eyes lock onto are glowing amethyst eyes covered slightly by midnight hair. He has no allure in place, and a misty glow surrounds him. His beauty overwhelms her, and she quickly flicks her eyes away. Don't get distracted.

Freya adjusts herself, putting on a facade of confidence and apathy. She looks to Rory, who is studying her from one of the wooden chairs. His eyes quickly meet hers, a playful smile on his lips. “Good morning, Freya. I take it you slept well?"

His tone tests her, luring her to bring up her late night stroll through the castle. “Not really, considering the situation that both of you," she glares between the two handsome men, “put me in."

The dark haired one hasn't even said a word, not even a flicker expression on his face. Rory smirks, “You'll forgive us, eventually." Freya snorts at the notion.

She juts her chin to the mysterious man, who has yet to introduce herself, “And, what's your name?"

His expression doesn't change, and in a cool tone says, “It's been a long time, Freya. My name's Merlyn."

Merlyn. Rory. Lilli. The people – fairies, she reminds herself – that ripped her from her life. The ones offering her a new one, a more dangerous one. She knows her decision.

_______

They stand in a cold room, the chill making Freya wrap her arms around herself. Although it doesn't seem to bother them. In front of them, a solid wall of stone with a circular wreath of branches, leaves, moss, and drooping flowers large enough for a singular person to walk through. For the first time, Rory seems antsy as his eyes intently stare at the portal.

“It should be any moment now," he breathes. As the last word escapes his mouth, a pearly haze appears in the middle of the circle. Pulsating as it begins to consume the circle, the haze thickening into a milky curtain of silvery specks that call out to her. A rush fills Freya.

Rory looks at her, his emerald eyes burning, “We don't have much time before it closes. Freya, this is your last chance. Once it closes, you won't be able to come back." They all wait, the tension tangible in the air. Freya looks at each of their faces, even Merlyn's apathetic expression has a tinge of emotion.

“I'll go," she says, making her voice hard. “But, I want to be clear. No lies. No tricks. And," she stares at Rory and then Merlyn, “never use magic on me again."

They hold her gaze before looking at each other, a silent conversation in their eyes. A grin spreads across Rory's face, “We'll agree, as long as you agree to the terms as well."

She nods, “Deal." A truce, however thin, settles between them.

The dense mist of the portal wraps around them, and Lilli walks through first. Turning her head to smile. Flora quickly follows behind. Merlyn then steps through, lazy in his approach. Just Rory and her are left. The mist lacing around Freya as she nears the threshold. A deep whisper lingers in her ear as she steps through and the portal envelops her, “I won't let anyone hurt you."

It feels like all of her senses drain from her in that one short step. And then suddenly rush back to her, stronger than before, as her footsteps on solid ground. The wispy tendrils of the portal delicately guide her. She takes a few steps toward Lilli and Merlyn, noticing the softness of the earth under her feet.

Mere seconds later, Rory pops out of the portal. As soon as both of his feet hit the ground the portal folds in on itself and then vanishes in thin air. Rory saunters to her, placing an arm around her shoulder. She quickly brushes it off, and he chuckles. “Impressive, right?"

Freya takes in the ethereal meadow. The limitless green swallows her up, making her feel small amongst the towering oaks and willow trees swaying in the soft summer breeze. A welcome change to the drafty castle that she was just in. The sun reflects off the vegetation, clusters of mushrooms and knee-high flower beds. Amplifying the vivid colors, more magnificent than the gardens back home. Home, she thinks. A place she might never see again. She pushes the thought out of her mind.

She realizes they're all waiting for an answer, even Flora c***s her head at her. “I…," Freya looks around, then points her gaze toward Rory, “I've seen better." She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of being impressed.

“I thought you agreed not to lie," Rory challenges her.

“Who says I am?" Freya responds.

He eyes her, and Lilli chimes in, “Enough bickering between the two of you. Let's head to Anwen." She looks to Freya, “The main city of the Realm."

“There's a few things we have to cover first," Rory says. His devilish grin on Freya, and she braces herself for whatever he's about to say. “You need a disguise. Merlyn, will you do the honors?

Merlyn nods, his face still in a mask of apathy. Unreadable. His eyes fall upon her and Freya feels her skin pricking as a light amethyst glow blooms around her. If she reaches out, she could touch it. But, Freya keeps her hand at her side, too mesmerized by the sensation that brushes her cheeks and tingles her ears.

“That's better," Rory says. Freya touches her ears, feeling a phantom of the elvish ears they dawned.

Her eyes widen and Merlyn speaks for the first time since he introduced her. “It's an allure, so that the other fairies won't recognize you. You still look the same to us – and yourself."

“Why do I need it?" Freya asks.

Merlyn's glowing eyes narrow, “We don't know who cursed you to the human realm. And, we don't want them finding out we brought you back." Protection for her or them, Freya isn't sure.

“Secondly," Rory says, as if Merlyn didn't just say an ominous threat. “Freya, I've asked you before, and I'll ask you again." He bends a knee, a playful smile countered with the seriousness in his voice, “Will you marry me? And, before you answer, know that it's in your best interest. The Realm isn't kind to those who break an oath."

Her mind recoils to the conversation she overheard in the corridor of the castle. They talked about an oath. She didn't realize this is what they were referring to.

“I never made an oath," Freya says, fully prepared to reject his offer.

He stays on his knee, “Well, actually you did. Before you disappeared."

“You tricked me."

“We don't need to get into the semantics of it," Rory says. Rage flows freely through Freya. Her cheeks pink at his offer, and the stares of Merlyn and Lilli.

“No," Freya says through gritted teeth. “I, the person I am now, didn't make that promise."

Rory casually stands up, his lips in a straight line but a twinkle still in his eye, “Let's hope the Realm thinks the same."