The Dragon Prince

Into the Dark Court

 You can call me Ash

“Ash...?” I was abruptly hit with a bout of overwhelming nausea as I looked up at a person that I didn’t recognize.

His features had changed even further than they had the day before. He was still large in stature, but he was slimmer, his muscles more lean. His face had sharpened, giving him a lupine look. His golden eyes remained the same, so did his dark, black hair. But this was nowhere near the man I’d known my entire life.

This was a beautiful young Fae male standing in front of me. A predator. I could feel the fear bubbling up from the pit of my stomach as I took a step back. He looked almost hurt, as he reached out to touch my arm.

“You have no reason to be afraid of me. I know things have changed, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to hurt you.” I let my body relax, realizing that I’d been holding my breath, I let out a sigh of exasperation.

I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed with my face in my hands. I heard footsteps approach, and felt the bed lurch as he sat down beside me. I opened my mouth to speak, pausing as I chose my words carefully.

“So, let me  get this straight.” He gave me a shy smile of encouragement and I went on. “You’re not Josh, you’re Josh’s son. We’re all Fae. I am in a Faerie Court surrounded by darkness, which is apparently full of monsters, and my parents are missing. Is that it? Oh! And let's not forget apparently the Fae can SHAPESHIFT INTO ANIMALS AND MYTHICAL CREATURES!” I let out a laugh that bordered on hysterics.

“We can also change our appearance.” He reminded me, with a heart stopping grin. I groaned out loud at that and flopped backwards on the bed.

“I don’t even know you...” I mused, staring up at the ornately carved ceiling as I was hit with an unrelenting wave of exhaustion. “We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other, Arya.” I was drifting off into sleep, I hadn’t realized how tired I’d been. The last two days had drained every drop of energy from my body. The last thing I heard before falling asleep was the door clicking shut as Ash left.

***********

My sleep was dreamless and deep, thankfully. I hadn’t had a restful night's sleep in days. After everything that had happened, I definitely needed it. I awoke to a strange sound and sat up quickly, my eyes adjusting to the dim lighting slowly. Fluttering all around the room were beautiful, iridescent, white butterflies. They glowed brightly in the gloom, casting long shadows as their wings caught each other's light.

I reached out as one flew close, and it landed lightly on my outstretched hand. It was almost ethereal, with swirling silver patterning across its large white wings.

“Well hello there, little one. How did you get in here?” I asked quietly. The butterfly seemed to look at me before it spread its wings and soared back to the others.

There was a knock at the door, and the butterflies  vanished into thin air. I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

“Arya, are you talking to someone in there?” A voice called through the door. Ash. How had I forgotten. I’m still in the Fae realm, and now there are magical butterflies that disappear. I’m going crazy.

“No, I’m not. You can come in.” I shouted at the still closed door.

“You don’t have to yell; I can hear you just fine.” He said with a smile as he made his way into the room.

“Oh right. Fae hearing, I forgot.” I said sheepishly, giving him an awkward half grin in apology.

“I need you to get dressed. We’ve got plans today.” He threw me a bundle of clothing as he made his way back to the door, flashing a predatory grin over his shoulder. “Where are we going? Are we meeting with the Queen again?” I asked, confused.

“You’ll see!” He said happily as he closed the door behind him with a childlike laugh.

I clambered out of bed in a rush, shrugging out of the nightgown I’d apparently been changed into again while I was sleeping. “These Fae really need to learn boundaries.” I mumbled as I took in the outfit Ash had brought. It was a simple maroon dress, with short sleeves that rested on my upper arms. The skirt reached down to my knees. It reminded me of something people would’ve worn to a renaissance fair in the human world.

After getting dressed, I stopped in to the bathroom to check my reflection, then headed for the door. It opened just as I placed my hand on the intricately carved doorknob.

“Come on! I’m getting impatient. I’m excited to give you a tour.” I blushed as I realized how close we were standing. Looking up at him, I realized that I hadn’t noticed how much taller than me he was. He was at least two heads above me, and twice as wide. I caught myself imagining what it would be like to be held in his strong arms.

Ash cleared his throat, and I realized I was staring. I blushed hard, and went to step around him through the doorway. “Okay, let’s go then.” I said quickly, trying to hide my embarrassment. Gods. What is wrong with me.

He took me down several hallways that led to another enormous set of wooden double doors. The guards on each side nodded to him as they moved to open them for us. As they opened, they revealed a massive courtyard filled with statues of knights fighting various magical creatures I recognized from fantasy novels I’d poured myself over countless times.

It was magnificent. As we reached the center of the courtyard, Ash stopped suddenly and I almost crashed into his back.

“Turn around, Arya. I want to show you this before we head out.” He had a slight smile on his gorgeous face as he said it. I turned around and looked up, taking in a sharp breath as I did.

There was a massive tree growing up from the center of the castle. I could only assume it was the one who’s branches I could glimpse from the window of my room. It was breathtaking, shining almost as bright at the sun.

“Ash it’s beautiful...” my voice hitched in my throat. It felt as though I was caught in a trance.

“It’s called the tree of beginning. It was here long before the Dark Court. Our people settled around it, none of the creatures from the forest will come near it.” He walked up beside me, placing a warm hand on my arm. I shuddered as it broke me out of the spell.

“This isn’t all I wanted to show you, come on.” He took me by the arm, looping his own through mine, and led me out of the courtyard.

********

We walked through the village surrounding the walls of the castle for a while. The cobblestone streets filled with so many different varieties of Fae that I hadn’t had a chance to meet yet. I was awestruck by their differences, and how open and accepting they seemed to be of each other. Everyone mingling together and chatting. Boisterous laughter filled the streets as we continued on our way. The aura was infectious and left me feeling elated.

“We’re almost there. It’s just up around this corner.” Ash said to me as we approached. The din grew louder as we came closer, causing him to have to speak loudly to be heard over it.

We rounded the corner and I audibly gasped. We had reached a market of sorts, filled with stalls lush with various wares. Ominous looking potions bubbled behind a stall, where what could only be a Hob sat in a rickety looking chair wearing a scowl.

There were stalls covered in the most luxurious fabrics, whose patterns seemed to move in the light shining down from the tree. Jewelry lined another, exquisitely made and set with precious gemstones that seemed to have their own inner light.

I looked to Ash in awe as I took it all in, my eyes wide in amazement.

“The Queen asked me to take you shopping. She said she enjoyed your company last night and wanted to give you some comfort in return.” He let out a small chuckle. “She also wanted me to assure you that she’s looking for your parents to her fullest ability, and wanted you to relax.”

I gaped at him, probably looking like a fish out of water. “The Queen sent me on a shopping spree...?” He laughed at my expression and gave me a warm smile. “She did. Choose anything you like, Arya. The market is yours for the taking.” I smiled at that, feeling giddy.

Things were finally looking up. I may have been in a strange world, my parents may be missing, but there was a Faerie Queen with an army at her disposal looking for them.

And what girl in her right mind would turn down a Faerie shopping spree?