Fairy Born

chapter 2

The run home was a long one, for her feet hurt and her legs were tired. She made it home in time for supper. She burst into her house to find her mother sitting at the table. The rest of the family was nowhere to be seen. 

“Molly, thank god, I was worried sick.”

“I was in the forest. I saw some people-”

“Who did you meet?” Molly stared as her mother took on a desperate look. Her mother grabbed Molly’s skirt and wiped at some powder that seemed to glitter in the candlelight.

“I do not know.”

“I do.”

“You know who they were?”

“You met your father and the fair folk.”

“You must be a joking mum, fairies do not exist,” Molly said as she shook her head. “You always told me that.”

“You are a liar! Did they ask about me? Did they recognize you?” Molly’s mother reached out and grabbed at her daughter’s arm and Molly tried to pull away, afraid now.

“Mum, I do not know what you are talking about.” Fear found its way into Molly’s mind. What was wrong with her mother? Why was she behaving this way? Molly backed away, her eyes went wide. 

“What is going on?” Molly’s Uncle stood in the doorway, flanked by his son and nephew. 

“She has met them. She saw them. She is lying! I know it!” Molly’s brother raised his eyebrows at his mother’s words. He knew something. Her uncle stepped towards her mother but stopped a few feet away and turned to Molly.  

“Molly, what have you done?” Her Uncle’s words were harsh and they sparked something inside of her.

“I did nothing! I was in the forest and came to a party. They were dressed strangely. They were foreigners, that I am sure of.”

“They are and they are not. Did you meet them then? I was afraid this might happen if she came in contact with them again.” Her Uncle mumbled.

“With who? You knew my father?”

“Of course I knew. You are a scandal. You separated her from her true love and husband. He knew of you and sent her away. You are the reason she has had to move in with me in an area where no one knew her. You ruined her utopia.” Molly looked at her brother and saw that he would not look her in the eyes...so he knew as well what her birth meant, but did he know her father?

“Molly, no. You were borne of love. Yours was a noble birth.” Her mother tried to get it across to her daughter that it wasn’t her fault. 

“Kelly, did, did you know my father?”

“No Molly, I do not, but I know what your birth meant. What it did to us.’” Molly strode from the house, she did not want to be this, this monstrosity, the reason her family was torn apart. She did not know where to go besides back to the forest to find what family she had left and try to reconcile with her father. 

She delved deeper into the woods but she could not find her way there. She no longer felt the pull that drove her there. She wandered and roamed but still could not find the clearing. The moon was rising before she gave up and slumped down beside a tree. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wept. She had nothing now. No family, no home, nowhere to go. She stayed by that tree for what seemed like hours before she started to doze off. It was the sound of hoofbeats that woke her. She looked up to see floating lights swaying in the gentle breeze but stayed in a line. The lights were different colors and as Molly stood she stared into the darkness to try to find her father, though she knew not what he looked like. 

“H-Hello?”

“Hello.”  A man’s voice answered. The voice was soothing, calm, and quiet. His words came as if he were in no hurry to say them. 

“Please, I need to find, I need to find my father.”

“Where is he? Do you know his name?” 

“No sir, I know nothing of him. He stayed to hear my name but left soon after. That was eighteen years ago. The horses stopped. 

“What is your name?”

“Molly.”

“Molly?”

“Yes, sir.” She could hear the horses start to walk once more and she could now make out their shapes in the shadows. 

“Do you have any other family? Where is your mother?”

“With her brother. I had to leave there, I separated my family. I caused my mother’s husband to leave her.”

“I have heard this tale before. I know how it ends. Many women mate with the fair folk. Why would your father want to know you?”

“Please. He must know of me. He loved my mother. He stayed with her until my birth. He must care... a little.” Finally, the riders came into view.

“Molly.” He seemed to whisper it as if he were just thinking aloud, mulling it over in his head. “That is not your name.” His voice was soft, so soft that she almost did not catch his words. 

“What?”

“Come, come sit with me.” The man dismounted and walked over to her and held out his hand. She rose with his help and he led her to a table and two chairs that she swore were not there before. The table housed two cups and a pitcher. He poured a clear liquid into the silver chalices and handed one to Molly before he sat down across from her.

“Start at the beginning of your story and tell it to me.”

“I was born eighteen years ago, today.” If she expected a happy birthday from him she was to be mistaken. “I do not know where besides here on the isle. My mother moved in with her brother after I was born for her husband left her. It is me, my brother, my mother, her brother and his son. They do not like us. My uncle said that it was my fault. My mother tried to teach me to bake and sew but i am hopeless at both.” Here she gave him a rueful smile. He acknowledged her smile with one of his own. 

“I never was good at cooking either.”

“I tried. I just never could figure it out. I was out this morning by the sea.”

“Why? You look like a lowborn family, but not one who lives by the water.” A small amount of shame hit her when he mentioned how poor she looked. 

“We are serfs, this is true. We farm the land for those who have more. I was at the sea looking for a ship.”

“Are you waiting for something to come?”

“In a way. I was-” Did she want this man to know of her obsession with finding her father? Did it matter now? 

“I was looking for my father.”

“Where is he?”

“I do not know. I never got to meet him.”

“Then how would you know if you did meet him?”

“I feel like I would know.” A small smile crossed his face, if only for a moment. “I wanted him to come. I feel like he is searching for me. He must be. I am his child.”

“Where is he from?”

“I do not even know anymore.”

“What does that mean?”

“Mother told me he came from far away. That he came from another kingdom.”

“And now?” He prompted. He refilled their cups and motioned for her to continue. 

“MY uncle said he was with the fair folk.”

“You do not believe?”

“My mother taught me that the fairy folk do not exist. I do not believe, for if they were real, then where are they?”

“Well, I can tell you that the fair folk are real. And I am sure your father misses you.” 

“How do you know?”

“I am Morphael, and I am your father. Your name is Maille. It means perfect one in my native tongue.” He stood and squatted next to her, bringing them level with each other. His black hair hung down his back, the tips brushing the earth, gathering bits of leaves and twigs. He was well built, mostly muscle, and his body was clothed in green material. He, unlike her, wore shoes. 

 Molly who expected to feel relief felt rage build inside of her. She lashed out and pushed him away, angry for the years without him. He landed on his backside and had a look of shock on his face. Two sets of hands reached out and grabbed Maille and forced her to the ground. They twisted her arms behind her and she cried out in pain. 

“You put your hands on the king. The punishment is death.” A man explained as Morphael rose. He brushed the dirt off of his pants and hair, which seemed to float in some places behind him. 

“Let her go.”

“Sire?”

“I said, let her go. She is my daughter. Let her go.” The men released her and Maille stood, defiant.

“Why?”Her voice was firm, though it was pitched low. 

“Why what Maille?” He sounded tired and confused. 

“Why did you abandon us? Why did you not come for me? I waited. I watched. I longed for you. Why did you leave us with nothing?” Something like pain, almost physical pain surged through her veins. All those years of hoping and now, when she finally found him, she felt her heart slowly breaking. 

“That is difficult. At first, we reached a time where we were at war. My people were rebelling and I had to quiet their fears. When I came back for you, I found that your mother moved you. I told her to stay put, that I would return for you but she took you and ran. I figured you or she had died, but I kept the hope alive by spending the week of your birthday here. Each year we picked a new location. I was trying to find you. I sent out my men but all leads had come back empty.”

“We moved in with my Uncle. He does not like me. Says it is my fault that. I made her husband leave her.”

“What?!?!” His raised voice scared Maille and she flinched, expecting an attack.