Fairies of Desire

EPISODE 3

Thorn.

A former Bone Clan warrior fairy who lost his wings in the Great Fairy War. After the war was over, he moved to the Sun Clan. My father allowed him in and seemed to always excuse his drunken and sometimes disruptive behaviors.

Thorn was tall with brown curly hair. The hair was long enough to almost cover his eyes. I often had to brush it out of his face so he could see. I often commented on how I should tie his hair up in a bun, but he never allowed me.

Thorn was perhaps my only friend in Sun Clan. Though he was at least 50 years older than me, he only looked like he was a few years older than me.

Despite his drinking and flaws, he was still my best friend, and I had always defended him.

"Thorn!" I said, looking up at him.

He held me with an arm under the crease of my legs and an arm around my back. Looking down at me, he smiled.

"You look nice," Thorn spoke.

I blushed slightly. I remembered the tight, short pink dress I wore.

"Thank you, but.... According to my father, I look improper...." I said, wiping my face.

I then realized, within this cool spring night, Thorn was very warm. It was probably from all the liquor he drank.

My heart and head were still hurting from my father's words, and I wasn't quite ready to talk about my problems with Thorn.

I hesitated but slowly leaned in on Thorn's shoulder. I sighed.

Thorn was quiet and said nothing. He then shuffled and slowly sat down.

"You need a minute more?” He asked finally. I nodded.

I shuffled around and sat in his lap. The skirt of my short dress came up slightly. My bare legs wrapped around Thorn’s waist while I hugged my arms around his neck. My wings, which had been shuddering from the cool air, were now still, relaxed, and folded.

Thorn held onto me by wrapping his arms around my waist and his chin lying on my head. He slowly took out my small ponytail and ran his fingers through my hair.

Though I knew Thorn was only getting the knots out of my hair and trying to coax me, the feeling gave me goosebumps and made me feel…weird.

He had never done this before. Not to me, at least.

Thorn made flirty passes with other female fairies. He was known as a ‘lady’s man’, from what I heard. However, he had never flirted with me.

He continued to run his fingers through my hair, and finally, his fingers landed on the very back of my neck. He traced my neck down until he stopped in the middle of my shoulders. Inches away from where my wings were placed on my back.

I felt embarrassed and too stunned to speak. What was Thorn doing? Was this supposed to be relaxing for me? It made me feel....

I wonder what he looks like with his shirt off....

An intrusive thought entered my mind, and I quickly shut it all down.

I pulled away from Thorn and looked at him. I finally looked at my surroundings. Thorn and I were sitting upon a large dandelion. Directly below us was the festival for those who didn't attend the ball. Multiple fairies below us were singing and dancing. The children of the clan were dancing and cheering.

I pulled myself off his lap and sat down on the dandelion. I fixed my skirt and sat down carefully.

Thorne raised his eyebrows.

"Ready to talk now?" He asked me nonchalantly.

"Helena and her friends were harassing me, and then she poured dandelion wine on me," I told him. I then looked down. "Well, I kind of brought it up on myself."

"Kinda?" He asked.

“I may have made fun of Campbell…” I admitted. The tears slowly came again, and before I realized it, I was telling Thorn the conversation I had with my father. I even repeated the terrible words he had said to me.

When it was all said and over, I was sitting with my hands folded in my lap. A few tears were running down my cheeks.

Thorn stood up and stretched. He ran his hands through his curly hair and then stretched out his hand to me.

"Come on, let's go back up there." He spoke.

"What?"

He smiled. I looked at him, confused, but took his hand. He helped me to my feet.

"You and I are going to go dance." He spoke.

*

"Thorn... Are you sure.... You wanna be up here?" I asked, between grunting and focusing on flying up the Great Tree.

I had Thorn wrapped around my neck and waist. His left leg wrapped around mine. I was also holding onto handfuls of his shirt, anxious that he would accidentally slip.

We had done this type of flying trip before, but it still made me nervous.

Regardless of how many times I've done it, Thorn was heavy, and I wasn't that strong. My silverly, white wings fluttered like mad. Trying to pull myself and Thorn high in the air.

Thorn smiled. "I think it'll be great. Loads of girls and loads of drinks."

Though Thorn had not explained his reasoning on why he wanted to dance with me, I still appreciated the gesture. He was someone who didn't care what his reputation looked like because it was already ruined.

"Thorn...." I scolded. Then turned my focus back up to the throne room. We were almost there.

"Anyone up there you wanna impress or make jealous?" Thorn asked.

"You know I don't have a crush on anyone.”

"I'm not talking about crushes or love interests," Thorn replies. "I'm talking about certain royal fairies up in the throne room. Especially those who have monarch wings."

I thought it over, and my sisters’ words hit me again.

My resolve hardened again. I nodded. "Yes. My sister. More than anyone in there."

"Not your father?"

"He literally wished that I wasn’t born. He said that I do nothing but make everything hard on him.” I spoke. “I’ve never understood what drives him to hate me so much, but I’m not going to risk angering him more.”

Or actually ripping my wings off… I thought.

We landed on the entrance of the throne room once again. Thorn let me go and took the first step.

I felt suddenly nervous again.

The music continued playing, and fairies continued to dance. However, I did notice that the fairy couples closest to the entrance looked over at us.

What if I’m making a mistake coming back up here?

Just as I felt myself aiming my eyes down in shame, a hand grabbed mine.

It was Thorn holding my hand. I looked up at him. Through his curly long hair, his eyes looked at me, and he smiled.

"It's gonna be alright."

I smiled back, gaining confidence again. I didn't know what it was about Thorn, but he always made me feel better around him.

Going to the dance floor, we were immediately surrounded by stares and whispers.

I did my best to ignore them all, but it was hard not to.

"What the heck? Is she dancing with the clan drunk?"

"How did he even get up here?"

"Who are they? They kind of seem to make a good pair."

"The wingless fairy dances with the cursed princess. How fitting."

Despite it all, I kept my eyes fixed on Thorn. Thorn kept a soft smile on his face and kept moving to the rhythm of the music.

"It doesn't bother you?" I asked him quietly.

Thorn shook his head. "I've been dealing with nasty rumors and whispers since I lost my wings. I've heard far worse than this." He spoke.

I gave him a hopeful smile.

Thorn suddenly gave me a twirl. I was caught by surprise but enjoyed it, nevertheless. As the minutes passed by, I found myself actually having a great time. The whispers were lost to my ears, and I eventually found my own peace for once.

Never once had anyone offered to dance with me at these balls. Not even my own father. Thorn, who was usually a party crasher, had stepped up and decided to dance with me. Regardless of his own reasons, I was grateful for Thorn.

As I looked at Thorn again, I felt my heart beating a bit more. As he had danced, his hair moved from his eyes, revealing his smooth, handsome face.

He's actually kind of attractive.... I thought to myself.

I blushed and looked away. Why was I thinking these thoughts now?

No! Thorn was just my friend. He didn't feel this way about me. And I shouldn't either. Besides, even if.... We wouldn't be a good match.

“I believe you have an admirer,” Thorn whispered to me.

I looked over my shoulder and to my surprise, I saw Campbell watching us. His blonde hair was slicked back, and he was holding a glass of dandelion wine. His nice white open-backed shirt was slightly unbuttoned, and he held an awed look in his eyes as he watched me and Thorn.

“Think this might be your chance to get back at your sister,” Thorn said mischievously.