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claudiapincott · 1 year

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The village was always busy, horses and carriages over cobblestone roads and shouting of vendors and bargaining prices, it was the same everyday, only barely changing through colder winters and hotter summers. It was reliable and safe.

The forest however, was constantly changing, wing or rain or sun or shade, and as much as it was tempting, to escape the noise and bustle of the village, lie on soft moss and walk next to clear streams,entering the forest was a death trap.

If you paid attention to gossip and whispers through the village, you would hear about the Fae, immortal magic beings who visit the human realm from their own, tricking people to give up their names and lives, capture you into debt that no one could ever repay

-~_~_~_~_~_~~_~_~~_

THIS IS MY FAE STORY !! All made up n everything but more of my brain fuckers that im obsessed with

Wrote months or maybe uear ago point out inaccuracies and I WILL castrate you

_~_~_<\_<

Wiping away sweat, he slid down the trunk of a tree and lay his head back, trying to slow his panting. There was little chance they would follow him into the forest, especially not when night was coming. He didn’t even get to keep the fucking bread. Thomas sighed and put his face into his hands.

If he waited much longer, the coming sunset wouldn’t be the best time to be finding his way through the forest, but going back now would still warrant glares from the vendor. No doubt they wouldn’t let him buy anything for a while. He didn’t often steal, but money was short and he hadnt eaten all day, and helping someone carry bricks for hours on end wasn’t exactly easy.

When he opened his eyes the sun was lowering slowly under the trees, spilling gold and he groaned again, standing up and heading forwards, then he froze.

In front of the tree, almost invisible amongst the flowers, was a clear circle of mushrooms.

He turned to look at the tree again, old and gnarled and the only one in the clearing he hadn’t noticed he was in, the shade of the tree covering the ring and the flowers around it.

*shit.*

He hadn’t stepped in the ring he didn’t think, or at least he hoped. He stepped backwards slowly, turning towards the village to leave, and got about four steps until he heard it.

“Where are you going?”

He froze again, turning back to the clearing.

There was someone standing in the centre ring, and she looked human, until he could see her properly. She was not human.

She was tall, taller than him and taller than the women at the village. Her eyes seemed to glow between shades of amber and brown, her hair was the colour of oak and tumbled down in waves, with loose braids and even fine gold chains woven through. She had a gold circles resting on her forehead, and- *her ears* they were dripping in gold as well, and long and pointed. He didn’t doubt she was fae as soon as he saw her in the faerie ring, but a part of him hoped he could avoid what he knew would happen.

He was still frozen, and the fae tilted her head to the side, smiling wide. Her teeth were sharp, nails sharper. He gulped, wanting to move away but offending a car was nearly as bad as stepping in a faerie ring.

*what were the other rules???*

Never give them your name, they couldn’t lie so they twisted their words to trap you, and they can’t be trusted. He didn’t pay too much attention to what everyone spoke of them, faeries were something they avoided at all costs, looking at the forest in fear and only informing children how to avoid debt or intrapment.

He realised he was still staring with his mouth slightly open, and he dropped his eyes to the mushrooms at her feet, his head spinning slightly, and he was sure looking directly at her eyes would have some sort of magic. Had he already fucked up?

“Hello?” He blinked hard, dizziness fading and he looked back to her. Her voice was slightly inhumane, almost echoing, and she still had that slightly chilling smile.

“I’m- I was just heading home.”

She nodded slowly, still smiling and he took another slow step backwards.

“You could stay. The forest is dangerous at night.”

He didn’t answer, heart pounding and praying to whatever gods he could name that he would walk away alive.

“What’s your name?”

It felt like an instinct, to introduce himself, but he forced himself to keep his mouth shut, simply shaking his head.

Her smile didn’t falter, but it seemed more amused. He finally managed work his jaw and respond to her.

“I didn’t step in the ring.”

He didn’t sound sure of himself, but she nodded.

“Correct.”

“So I owe you nothing?”

She nodded again.

“You owe me nothing.”

He paused, not quite sure what to do next.

“I’m- im going to go now.”

“You haven’t moved.” Her smile was more amused now, less of an eerie thing.

He still didn’t move, although he was still horrified, a part of him was more curious. He wasn’t sure he fully believed in fae until today, it seemed like the kind of thing to keep children out if the forest, a scary story about beautiful but evil beings who steal children away and trick people into giving their lives away.

She was beautiful, but at the same time terrifying. Nails and teeth too sharp, behind the warm honey and chocolate brown eyes there was cold, she moved so silently, almost as if she wasn’t there at all. Her head tilted more, and the gold on her ears clinked together.

“You’re fae.” He blurted out, and she seemed more amused.

“You’re Human.”

He stared at her longer, and it was a moment until she spoke again, seemingly content to stand there.

“You can stay here. Sit in the ring with me, it’ll be safer to go through the forest in daylight.” her voice was warm and comforting, but the words were a trap.

Alarm bells were screeching in his head, and he shook his head again, trying to remain polite as not to offend the fae, but wanting to turn and run.

“I’m leaving now.” He repeated, taking further steps backwards.

“Until next time.”

He felt her eyes on him as he turned, moving away from the ring and back towards the village. As he reached the edge of the clearing, he dared to look back.

The faerie ring was empty, he didn’t see or hear her leave, she just wasn’t there anymore.

He could feel eyes on him the entire time he walked back to the village.

—!//&’_£{+~€]+]+

He was restless the whole night, tossing and turning and unable to get the encounter with the faerie out of his head. Each time he closed his eyes he saw a smile of razor sharp teeth, unblinking emotionless eyes, the smooth voice asking for his name.

He sighed, no way would he get sleep tonight, so he got up and moved to the door. He needed to clear his head.

It was quiet at night. The only things he could hear was rustles from bushes and trees and the barking of a dog nearby. He followed the sound, seeing the bakers dog that he usually passed heading out to help around the village for food or money. The windows of the house were dark as he tried to hush the growling dog, apparently he was the only one woken by it. He squat down on the wet grass and patted its head until the barks faded to growls, and the growls faded to rest.

The dog didn’t look away from the forest, and without the noise, he could hear a melodic singing echoing from the trees.

He knew it was the fae he met earlier that day.

-@:&:-&:@:$/

He tried to avoid going into the forest after that, asking around for information on the fae, and ignoring the dark looks as he mentioned the creatures.

He found out more, don’t thank the fae, they see it as you turning a gift they gave freely into a debt. Don’t enter a faerie ring or disrupt it, don’t be rude or offend the fae, you don’t want to incur their wraith. He had probably done so many things wrong at that point, and as much as it should be easy to avoid the forest no one enters, being chased down for trying to get himself a meal had him ducking around trees, trying not to slip on the moss that crept over rocks and up tree trunks.

A few chased after him, but once the forest got denser, they resorted to shouting as he disappeared from view.

He was trying to avoid the clearing, split between wanting to see the faerie again and having any common sense.

He didn’t mean to end up there, but it wasn’t long before he realised he was back at the gnarled old tree that stretched over part of the faerie ring. He stood cautiously at the edge of the clearing, and when the faerie hadn’t appeared, he let himself go back to sink against the tree trunk.

“Hello little one.”

He jumped a little, but puffed up scowling.

“I’m not little.” He grumbled, wrapping his arms around himself.

She had the same unblinking eyes and eerie smile, and he shrunk back.

“Don’t be scared, I won’t hurt you.”

He looked at her warily, and she sat down in the fairy ring, meeting him eye to eye.

“But fae are bad-” he clapped his hand over his mouth, not meaning to blurt it out but she didn’t look offended, she laugued, and it was a sound that sent warmth through him, and he smiled sheepishly.

“Whatever gives you that idea?”

He shrugs, picking at the grass in front of him.

“People in the village say stuff so we don’t get stolen.”

She tilted her head to the side, still smiling.

“And what do they say?”

He picked a flower, messing with the soft petals.

“Don’t step in a faerie ring, stuff like that.”

She laughed again.

“Seems you’ve been taught our tricks. So I imagine you still won’t give me your name?”

He shook his head sharply but she didn’t seem bothered, instead nodding.

“You’re quite smart for a child.”

He scowled at her.

“I’m not a child.”

“How old are you?”

He puffed out his chest

“I’m ten, so I’m not a child, I can take care of myself.”

She nodded slowly, clasping her hands in her lap and her rings clinked together.

“Well, if you won’t give me your name, what will I call you?”

He shrugged, pulling a petal out of the yellow flower.

“Little one it is.”

He huffed again, shaking his head glaring at the fae but she was simply amused.

“Well what do others call you?”

*dirty thief. Stupid child, little shit, boy.*

“Um, nothing really.”

“Your parents?”

She shrugged again.

“I don’t have parents.”

He looked up at the fae, and she looked either confused or concerned, if fae were able to show emotion he thought that would be it.

“Why not?”

He looked at her in confusion, flower petals crushed in his hand

“What do you mean?”

Her smile wasn’t there but she didn’t look dangerous, despite her unblinking eyes.

“You are a child. Children need their parents to look after them.”

He glared at her, head spinning a little from

“I look after myself.”

She nodded, clearly not believing it.

“Daisy.”

He scowled again.

“That’s a girls name!”

“The flower. It’s called a daisy.”

He looked at the crushed petals in his lap, a little sad. He liked the flower.

“I’m sorry I ruined it.”

She lifted her hand, and another daisy sprouted from the ground. He dropped open his mouth and leant down to squint at the little blossom. The faerie stood up, her pomegranate red and gold fabric rustling as she moved.

“Until next time little one.”

Thomas ignored the nickname, peering at the little flower as it swayed slightly in the wind, brighter yellow than the ones around it, and he gently pulled it from the roots to plant next to his makeshift bed in the shed he called home.

-&:&;@-$:&;

He wasn’t scared of the fae that time. He didn’t like being called a child, but it was nice to sit under the tree instead of dealing with the shouts and calamity of the village square. Maybe he would go back tomorrow. Maybe the fae would too.

He looked proudly at the daisy he managed to plant into the old jug he filled with dirt, and sat on the edge of the bed staring at it for a little, then paused.

Did he mess up by taking it? He ruined the first flower, and when she grew another, he stole it.

Shit.

Did he owe a debt now, had that been a trick he fell for? He had let himself relax, almost forgetting that the fae was- well, fae. His guard was down, and now he was in a debt. The one thing he wanted to avoid.

Was it stealing? It he only picked a flower- had he messed up already? Would the fae take him and he would be trapped forever? He wanted to cry a little, but waking up others almost always ended in dirty glares and slaps upside the head.

*he had to put it back.*

Thomas grabbed the water jug with the little yellow flower, almost sprinting to get to the forest, and not overly surprised as others watched him go, no one cared about him enough to keep him safe from the forest, and though they told him warnings, he had no parents to enforce the rules, looking for his safety.

The path to the clearing and the gnarled tree was becoming familiar, and he knew the way he had to go, hoping and praying that the faerie hadn’t noticed him stealing.

*DROP IT BOY! Filthy thieving child! useless.*

No one was ever kind when Thomas was caught stealing, it never ended well, and the ghost ache in his ribs made him want to cry more. If the bakers and blacksmiths beat him for theft- he could only imagine what an angry fae would do, and he covered his mouth as he ran with the jug under one arm, trying not to panic.

He could see the clearing ahead, and his haste to reach it, he missed the tree root that caught under his foot, and he cried out as he hit the ground hard, clutching the flower to his chest, and wincing as the ceramic jug broke. His knee was bleeding and he tried to keep his breathing silent, as he squeezed his eyes shut to avoid tears of pain.

“What’s wrong little one?”

He looked up, seeing the now familiar fae in the faerie ring, concern in her eyes as she looked down to the crushed flower and broken pot in his lap.

“Oh.”

He couldn’t help but cry after that, hugging his knees to his chest and holding the flower to his fist.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin it- I’m so sorry.” He sobbed, burying his face in his knees. He didn’t want to be stuck in a fae debt, he didn’t want to be beat for stealing again. He sniffed and lifted his head a bit, seeing the fae crouching barely two feet away, he didn’t realise how close he was to the edge of the faerie ring, and moved back a little in surprise, ignoring the smell of strawberries that seemed to linger in the air around her. She lifted her hand, and he flinched, scrambling backwards, so she put it down again

“Please don’t hit me, I didn’t mean to.”

She looked concerned when he lifted his head again but she didn’t move any closer.

“Little one, you’re not in trouble for picking a flower.”

He ignored the sobs bubbling up in his throat, wiping his eyes with his hands, still hugging his knees.

“I didn’t meant to steal it. I came to put it back, but now I’ve ruined it.”

She smiled at him, shaking her head.

“It’s only a flower, there are thousands more.”

Her smile wasn’t the eerie unsettling thing it was the first time he saw her. It was warm, and he felt a little better.

“I’m not in trouble?”

“Of course not.”

“And… and I’m not trapped in debt?”

“You owe me nothing.”

He sniffed, resting his chin on his knees as the faerie settled herself to sit comfortably inside the ring.

“You look a mess little one.”

He glanced down at himself, seeing shards of ceramic and the entire jug of dirt spilt down his front, his knees scuffed and bleeding, and tear tracks down his cheeks. Next to the glowing fae draped in gold and red fabrics, he had never felt smaller.

He shrugged, trying to brush off the dirt and broken pottery from his shirt, and cheeks flushing red a little.

“I’m sorry.” He repeated, then remembered the crushed blossom still in his fist. He held it out to show her, looking for anger in her eyes, but her smile didn’t falter.

“It’s alright, we can grow another.”

He swallowed, looking at the sad excuse of a flower in his hand.

“Can you fix it?”

She laughed, and it was a joyful sound, musical and warm, and he couldn’t help but feel a little better, a small smile coming to his face. He wasn’t in trouble, she wasn’t going to punish him- she wasn’t even angry. He would be okay.

“Of course I can.”

She held her hands out to take the crumpled blossom, not moving past the barrier of the ring.

He held it out to her, careful not to go inside the faerie ring, then moved backwards again, watching closely.

The faerie closed her hands around the flower, and when she opened them, it sat perfect in her palms once again. He gaped and she laughed again, sending warmth buzzing through him.

“All better.”

He nodded, resting his head back on his knees with a small smile on his face

/$:&/$:@;&

He visited the forest often after that, either at the request of others in the village, looking to get mushrooms or herbs, and sending Thomas to find them. He had no parents, and if the fae were to steal him away- Well, he was expendable.

He didn’t mind. He ended up in the clearing each time, sometimes not intending to, but more and more often than not he seeked out the shade of the twisted oak tree, seeing the fae smiling in the ring, waiting for him.

He liked going to talk to her. She was always nice, and hadn’t tried to trick him since he first saw her. She listened to his ramblings, warmth in her eyes, and he liked her musical laugh. It made him feel like he was cared for, and even though he knew that ae didn’t care for humans, especially not a dirty orphan, but he felt better when he spoke to her, and left the forest each time with a smile on his face and his arms full of whatever the village had sent him to get, not caring about the disgruntled stares as he returned hours after he left.

She would grow him more daisies, and he had a shelf full of the yellow flowers in various pots and mugs on the windowsill, taking care to keep them as pristine as he could, though be was never able to make them as perfect as the fae did. But he kept trying.

One morning he woke up, and the flower had grown another bud, so he rushed to show the fae with a wide smile on his face.

He ran into the clearing, hugging the pot as not to drop it again, and the fae was once again sitting in the middle of the circle, waiting for him.

“Look! I grew another flower! All by myself!”

She smiled with pride and moved closer to the edge of the ring to look at the tiny flower bud that sprouted out.

“Well done little one.”

He beamed, the praise making him warm inside. He didn’t get it from anyone at the village, and he was starting to realise the fae was becoming his favourite person in the world.

“I brought something for you.” She said, holding out her hand for him. He stared in awe at the fine golden necklace, a single white crystal hanging from the end.

She moved her hair to the side to show the same white crystal hanging from her pointed ears.

“Now we match.”

He didn’t answer, staring with his mouth open at the gift now in his hands. It was beautiful, and no doubt worth more than everything he owned put together, and he couldn’t understand why she would give such a precious thing to him.

“Why would you give me this?” He said quietly, still in awe.

“What do you mean?”

He looked up to her, eyes wide in shock.

“It’s too valuable- why would you give me this?”

She smiled softly.

“I want you to have it. Now wherever you go, a part of me will be with you.”

He looked closer at the crystal, it seemed to have swirling within, small lines of pale grey breaking the crystal white.

“Are you going away?” He whispered softly, and she shook her head.

“Of course not.”

He felt his eyes burn a little. No one had ever given him a gift, not since before he could remember. Sometimes people used to take pity on him, giving him an apple or half a loaf of bread, but once he had grown a little older, he had to work to earn himself clothes or a little more food, but the fae had given him something so precious he was afraid he would break it simply because of how fine it was. And he didn’t do anything to deserve it, she just gave it to him so that he could have it.

He sniffed and shoved his hand across his eyes. He didn’t want to cry just because she gave him something pretty, from the finery of the clothes she wore and the multitudes of gold woven through her hair, it was clearly something she could afford to lose.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

He wiped his nose, shrugging.

“No one’s given me a gift before.” He muttered, looking up to see sorrow in her shining eyes, but she still smiled at him.

“Now you have one.”

Thomas nodded, looking again at the thin necklace, and struggling to put it on. The crystal hung low on his chest, and he smiled at her.

-&;@;&/$

He didn’t take the necklace off after that, too afraid to lose it, and when he walked back to his shed, flowerpot in hand and the crystal warm under his shirt, he felt happier than he had in a long time.

He continued to help around the village to earn himself a meal, carrying sacks of flour for the baker or cutting vegetables for the lady in the tavern. They were some of the kinder ones to him, never as much as the fae, but they didn’t glare at him, or call him names or dirty when he hadn’t washed his face.

No one had asked him for help that day, and he hadn’t eaten, so he shuffled through the markets, hoping to see someone distracted enough that he could take a roll of bread, or some fruit.

He found someone, she was deep in conversation with the bakers wife, and her cart was full of apples- surely she wouldn’t miss one.

He grabbed one, trying to walk away quickly, but he heard someone shout after him.

“Hey! That kid stole from my cart!”

His heart leapt and he started running, ignoring more angry shouts as he ran into someone, the stopping abruptly when the collar of his shirt was yanked backwards.

“Hold him! Dirty thief stole from my wife!”

He looked up in fear to see a man scowling, charging up to him followed my the woman from the apple cart and the bakers wife. He tried to free himself, but whoever was holding his shirt pulled again, and he cried out as it tugged against his neck. He was kicked to the floor and his ribs ached, but he curled around himself, holding the apple desperately.

“Please, I just wanted some food!”

There was a small crowd around his now, the man glared at him, and he saw the blacksmiths standing next to him, staring down.

“If you can’t pay for it boy, give it back.” He said sternly, but Thomas shook his head wildly

“No- I just wanted something to eat!”

A harsh slap across his face had him crumpled against the floor, and he looked up the see the man ready to hit him again, he tried to scramble backwards but he grabbed Thomas wrist, no doubt leaving bruises and trying to wrench the apple away, still scowling as others started shouting at him as well. He fought to get out of the man’s grip, trying to keep his hold on the only food he had today, but he was unsuccessful, and as he handed the apple back to his wife, she looked in disgust at the now bruises fruit.

“I hope your going to pay for that thief. You can’t steal from my wife and expect to get away.”

He looked desperately to the blacksmiths, who had turned his back and was pointedly ignoring him, then a fistful of his shirt had him lifted to meet the angry face again, and he flinched back, shutting his eyes and waiting for another hit. It didn’t come.

“What the hell is this?”

He opened his eyes and shouted as the faes necklace was ripped from his neck.

“Stop! That’s mine!”

He fought as hard as he could, trying to take back the one treasured thing that he owned.

The man scoffed, and the others around him looked in disgust as well.

“I’m not stupid boy, who did you take this from!”

He kept reaching, desperately fighting for his necklace back, but he was kicked backwards again, and cried out, curling onto a ball with his ribs aching.

“It’s mine- I didn’t steal it.” He choked out, pushing himself up but he was knocked down again.

“Do you think I’m an idiot! You have no parents, your a dirty orphan, who the fuck would give you this?”

The next time a hand came up, he tried to push it away, lunging towards the shiny crystal dangling from its golden chain clenched in his fist, but he felt someone else kick him in the stomach, and he curled up again.

“It’s mine.” He coughed out, and the man growled in anger, yanking him up by his hair.

“You are a thief and a liar.” He spat, dropping Thomas again and kicking at his face, but he he shielded his head behind his arms, still trying to reach out for his necklace whenever the man moved back.

“Give it back.” He pleaded, eyes filling with tears and body bruised.

The man looked even more disgusted, shoving him back and handing the necklace- *his* necklace to the woman from the apple cart, who took it greedily.

“Please give it back!” He cried out, struggling to get to his feet to get it, but he was kicked again, and crumpled back to the ground, struggling to breathe through pain radiating through him.

“Nothing to see here.” The man muttered, taking his wife by the elbow and walking away with the faes necklace. He curled up more, tears streaming down his face. The townspeople around him walked off, clearly the show was over, and no one wanted to see the whimpering boy curled on the floor.

It took him a while to struggle to his feet, his hand going to clutch his necklace for comfort, but it wasn’t there.

He ran as much as he could to the forest, his entire body aching and one hand pressed to his side, the other covering his mouth to muffle broken cries.

The clearing was empty when he finally reached it, and he collapsed in front of the mushrooms, crying harder than he had in a long time.

“What happened little one?”

He looked up sniffling, seeing the fae crouched in front of him, as close to him as she could get without leaving the ring, hand against an invisible barrier and concern and sorrow in her honey coloured eyes.

He couldn’t help but cry more, curling in on himself and sobbing into his knees and he lay in a ball on the soft grass.

The only noise for a moment for his broken cries, until she spoke again.

“Come into the ring.”

He blinked open his eyes in shock, staring at her with a mix of horror and betrayal, but she shook her head before he could answer.

“I am not tricking you. You will not owe me anything, you can leave at any time. I won’t trap you. I promise.”

His breath was short as he tried to hold back more tears. Fae couldn’t lie, if she said she wasn’t trapping him, she was telling the truth. She held out her arms, and when he crawled over the mushrooms, he was instantly wrapped in a hug, his face against soft fabric and her arms tight around him, running her hand through his hair and his head tucked under her chin as he cried into her shoulder.

He cried longer than he thought he ever had, but he couldn’t stop. He cried because his ribs hurt., he cried because the townspeople were so mean to him. He cried because he lost her necklace, he cried because the fae was *so nice,* and he cried because no one had treated him with such care before, because no one had ever hugged him and told him he did well, no one had held him when he cried before.

After a while he quietened down a little, still sniffling every now and again with his face buried in her shirt. He could feel her chest buzzing as she hummed softly, fingers drifting through his dirty hair and the smell of roses surrounding him. He blinked open his eyes, puffy from crying the the fae lifted his chin, smiling softly and gently wiping tears from his cheeks. Her sharp nails didn’t scratch him at all, and the cold eyes were full if warmth.

“Are you feeling better little one?”

He nodded, and she continued her soft humming, the sound calming him to no end and his eyes drooped.

“What happened?”

He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head and she held him closer, breathing deeply for him to copy.

“They took our necklace.” He whispered, and her hand paused in his hair. He moved back to look at her and saw her eyes flick over his face, seeing the slowly growing black eye and cheeks red from slaps.

“Who did.” Her voice was sharp, inhumane and he wanted to flinch back, but he knew it wasn’t directed at him. She noticed his hesitation, and her gaze softened, and he was held tight in a hug again.

“The people in my village. They said I stole it.” He mumbled, and though her hand continued through his hair, her chest was still, not breathing.

“I’m so sorry little one.”

He shook his head, shrugging.

“It’s okay.”

She sighed, and held his face with both hands, wiping away his tears and looking into his plain eyes with glowing amber.

She kissed his head softly and whispered to him.

“My name is Athena.”

Thomas snapped back in shock, staring at her with his eyes wide open.

*Athena.*

*he knew the faeries name*

She smiled at him, and he was still frozen. Giving a faerie your name gave them full power over you. He had never heard of a faerie giving their own name, and she had.

“What?”

She pulled him close again, continuing her soft humming and kissed the top of his head.

“Athena.”

“But- why would you tell me your name?”

He had known the fae for almost months now, had never once even considered asking her name, yet she had given it freely.

“I want you to have it. If you ever need me, all you have to do is say my name, and I’ll come. I’m not bound to the ring if summoned by name, and I’ll always hear if you call for me.”

He was still in shock, turning the name over in his head. *Athena.* Like the goddess.

He nodded slowly, a smile growing on his face.

“Okay.”

She laughed, the familiar musical sound that echoed through the air, and he smiled wider, despite the aching pain throughout his body.

He sat there longer, curled against her side as she started to sing quietly, lulling him to sleep.

He woke up slowly, his eye swollen and body stiff. He didn’t see his shelf of flowerpots, instead there was soft grass and moss, multicoloured flowers and the line of mushrooms he knew so well.

He shut his eyes again. Curled agains the faeries side with a flowers swaying next to him made heading back to the village almost unbearable, so he may there a little longer.

“You’re awake.”

He nodded, and the arms around his middle tightened and she kissed the top of his head again.

“How are you feeling?”

He sat up, rubbing his eyes and shrugged.

“Better.”

She hummed softly, tracing her thumb over the bruise on his eye, and the pain faded. He shut his eyes and leaned I to her hand, and he knew she was smiling.

“I don’t want to go back yet.” He whispered, and she pulled him into a hug again.

“You can stay as long as you want. I’ll always be here.”

He didn’t cry again, but he wanted to. It wasn’t fair that he didn’t get affection like this where he lived, that people hit and beat him and took his necklace, but if the fae-*athena*- promised she would be there, then he knew that she would.

He almost forgot she had told him her name.

Going back to the village was difficult, but he wanted to water his yellow daisies, and after more tight hugs and kisses on the head, he walked out of the forest feeling a thousand time better than when he walked in.

Whenever he saw her after that, he didn’t hesitate before crossing the mushrooms into the faerie ring, and would sit for hours as she played with his hair, braiding in flowers and he sat against her side, listening as she told stories, or sang, or simply sat with him, wrapping her arms around him just because she could.

It wasn’t fair that he grew up without this kind of care and attention, he had only known the fae a few months and he had received more from her than he had anyone in his life.

He didn’t stay in the village much. He looked after his row of daisies, watching with pride as the flower bud had slowly opened to a slightly wilted daisy, and he had rushed into the clearing to show Athena, who held it as if it was of diamond and glass, smiling at him and he beamed.

The markets had gone back to normal, they still glared at him if he stood around too long, and he did everything he could to avoid the lady with the apple cart and her husband, he knew if he saw the faes necklace on her, it wouldn’t end well. So he went to the faerie ring almost everyday, sometimes running into the forest at night if he had nightmares, or simply because sleeping on a solid bed seemed so much worse when he could be wrapped in a hug, waking up surrounded by flowers and dappled sunlight.

It hadn’t gone unnoticed where he went all day, but aside from a few hushed whispers about the dangers, about keeping away from the fae and how he would get trapped to never return, but he ignored it. Being trapped in the faerie ring forever sounded more peaceful than anything.

He left early morning if he returned to the village at all, and came back in the afternoon or even the next day, cheeks rosy and smile wide.

He had taken another loaf of bread. The baker wasn’t as harsh when he was caught, so he didn’t feel as much rising panic as they called after him, he just ran into the forest, following the trail he knew like the back of his hand to the faerie ring, waiting for her to appear, arms open for him to join.

They followed him though. And as fast as he ran over shallow streams and avoided patches of mushrooms, they went after him shouting.

He didn’t know what to do. No one ever followed him into the forest, the townspeople were terrified, but he headed to the clearing anyway, hoping to lose them in the terrain he knew so well.

He finally came to a stop just in front if the ring, panting with the burning loaf of bread in his hand, waiting for the fae to appear as she always did.

“How many bloody time do we go over this.”

They hadn’t gotten lost amongst the trees, and panic started to rise now. He backed up slowly, and then one of the men froze.

“Don’t move-”

As much as the village disliked him, they didn’t want to see a child disappear into the clutches of the fae, and they had clearly spotted the ring of mushrooms behind him. She wasn’t here yet. She would be though, she always was.

Apparently, the ring wasn’t enough to stop them, and after a moment of silence, one of them stepped forwards again, looking ready to hit him as he held onto the loaf of bread, but before he was struck, he felt himself pulled back further, the smell of roses and warmth of the fae surrounding him. All the men froze after that, staring open mouthed and horrified.

He would be safe, because she would keep him safe. They wouldn’t follow him into a faerie ring, even less so when a faerie was standing behind him. They clearly weren’t too sure what to do, the younger man who had warned him upon seeing the ring looked conflicted, eyes flicking between thomas and tha tall faerie behind him, while the man in front looked more than ready to sprint the opposite way.

“*Leave.*”

Her eyes were focussed on the man in front, emotionless face with daggers from her eyes. He gaped a moment, then fumbled backwards, glaring at Thomas until the fae stepped in front of him, blocking him from view.

“Now.”

They didn’t hesitate, dropping their heads and backing away, with the icy glare of the fae watching as they disappeared.

Her gaze immediately softened, and looked over him with care.

“Are you alright little one?” He nodded.

“I didn’t know they would follow me.”

Her smile was back, and the motioned for him to sit with her, and he didn’t hesitate.

“They would never follow you in here.”

He started braiding the flowers in front of him, and she put her arm around his shoulder, pulling him against her side.

“I love you little one.”

He looked up in shock, the fae was smiling, not a thing of sharp teeth and trickery, a soft smile full of care and love.

*someone loved him*

Athena loved him.

He wanted to cry, no one had ever told Thomas that they loved him, but Athena loved him. He sniffed and she noticed, not hesitating to pull him into her lap and tuck his head under her chin as he tried not to cry again. She was humming again, and once he was calmer, he moved back and smile at her.

“I love you too.” He beamed and she laughed her musical laugh, kissing his head and leaning back so they were both lying in the grass.

He lay with the fae a while after that, reluctantly going back to the village, maybe apologising to the baker- but he wasn’t all that sorry, his stomach was full and his smile was brighter than usual.

It was different this time. There were dirty look, but people kept a wide berth, glaring at him as though he had killed someone, and just giving him a look of horror.

“There!”

He opened his mouth to respond, but his arms were grabbed roughly, and he was pulled across the roads to the one who had shouted

He shrunk back, the three men who had followed him to the forest glaring in front of him, while the rest of the townspeople were silent in shock.

“What?”

The man glared at him.

“He was dragged into the faerie ring, that’s where he disappears to every day. Foul child is trying to bring us all down.” He spat, and Thomas flinched away, shaking his head

“No im not-”

“Don’t try cover it boy, we saw you! Sitting in the ring next the the creature itself!”

Aside from the few who stared down with disgust, no one seemed to know what to do.

“I’m not trying to do anything- she’s my friend!”

Someone else scoffed.

“Don’t be an idiot boy, the fae doesn’t care for you, it’s a trick and you’ve fallen for it, now we’re all in trouble!”

That wasn’t true. Athena said she loved him, and fae couldn’t lie.

He shook his head more, and slowly more of the people crowded around him started looking between him and the forest, clearly agreeing on the same thing. He shrunk back further, wanting to grip the necklace for comfort but he saw it hanging around the neck of the lady from the apple cart, whose husband now stood in front of him, looking at him with a kind of sinister smile.

“You’ve screwed us all over, useless child.”

He shook his head again.

“She’s my friend.” He said softer, and more people clearly were agreeing with the first man, shaking their heads and staring down at him.

“Call off the deal.”

“What?” A few people echoed his statement, but he stooped down to grip his hair, pulling hard and Thomas tried not to yelp.

“That’s not how the fae work.” He heard another call, but the sinister grin grew sickly.

“Any other ideas?”

Silence followed. People began nodding and he tried to move away again, but the hand in his hair held tight.

“I didn’t make any deal.” He tried to reason, but it was no use. They were shouting now, yelling and calling names, telling him to make leave his debt away from them, some shouting for him to be forced into the faerie ring and left him to be stolen away, until someone stepped forwards.

“We can make him give himself up instead of us.”

“I didn’t make any deal! I promise-” a firm kick to the ribs had his pleading cut short, wheezing for breath.

It was silent for a moment longer, but the shouts started up again.

“*TAKE HIS LIFE INSTEAD!*”

“WE DID NOTHINF TO DESERVE THE FAES WRAITH!”

“He’s been conspiring against us the whole time!”

“He’s probably a changeling!”

The last shout had more frenzy, people screaming down at him, asking whose life he stole, who he replaced and what he did to the real child, but no matter how many times he shook his head, everyone was against him.

The first blow was unexpected, a boot to his back, and he gasped in pain, then the shouting got louder

“Call off the debt!”

“Fae, take him instead!”

“We don’t want the fae here, get out!”

He didn’t know what was happening. Everything hurt, people all around were kicking, hitting or punching, his nose cracked and he felt blood dribble onto the cracked cobblestone under his face. He pleaded and choked but nothing helped. He lay there in pain, too tired to fight back anymore, trying to civer his head as the beating came from all sides, sobbing.

He wanted to leave this stupid place. He wanted to go back to the gnarled tree in the clearing, he wanted to sit in the faerie ring with flowers in his hair. He couldn’t hear the forest over the shouting, he would hear the awful noise of his own self being hit, coughing and choking from cries and blood, screaming of the people he grew up around demanding he give up and end a deal he didn’t make.

He thought he might be dying. He wanted to sit in the faerie ring, lying back in the grass and listening to the soft voice painting pictures of landscapes and stories in his head. Would she worry when he didn’t come back to the ring?

*”my name is Athena.”*

*”If you ever need me, all you have to do is say my name, and I’ll come. I’m not bound to the ring if summoned by name, and I’ll always hear if you call for me.”*

Would she come to help? But then what?

“Help me.” He croaked out, trying to focus on the blue sky as his body was beaten and bruised

“Athena, please help me,”

His head yanked up again, scalp stinging and he screwed his eyes shut tightly. Everything had gone silent, there were gasps and someone let go of his hair, leaving him to crumple back to the floor, two men barely holding him up again.

“*what the hell are you doing to my child.*”

Her voice was cold, snarling and animalistic, but he knew it anywhere, even the sharper tones brought him comfort.

*She had come to save him.*

He opened his eyes blearily, seeing the familiar tall figure at the end of the path, magic swirling around her, everyone frozen in spot staring.

“Fae, we have done nothing to be taken down by this child and his debt.”

He laughed. It wasn’t beautiful, it was nails on chalk, the screaming of animals. Too many sharp teeth in her smile, nails like razors as her eyes cold with fury met the one who spoke.

“Nothing? You torture my child and expect me to believe that you’ve done nothing to deserve a faes anger?”

A few people seemed to shuffle backwards, slowly looking more horrified, and when athena walked towards him, they scrambled to get out of the way of the angry fae.

She crouched in front of him, and Thomas launched into her arms, bones aching and bruised, curling up as the lifted him up, holding him close to his chest as he sobbed.

“It’s alright little one.” She whispered into his hair, then looked back at the crowd around her.

“He had no debt, made no deal. But your village will pay for the damage you’ve done.” Her voice was ice, but her hold as warm as always.

“Wait, we just wanted to be left alone! We didn’t do anything!”

Her icy glare flicked to the man who spoke, eyes unblinking, and he started choking, clawing at his neck and dropping to the floor.

“You have incurred the faes wrath today. I am taking my child, and I am leaving you this.”

Thomas shut his eyes, hiding his face in her shoulder. He didn’t want to know what she was doing. She would keep him safe.

There were screams, the sound of vomiting and the sick stench of blood. They were pleading, but she didn’t acknowledge it.

She turned to leave, before looking back once more, and he dared to open his eyes, seeing people on the ground, still or crying, blood spilt in the cobblestone.

“You.”

The apple cart woman’s eyes went wide, and she tried to back away, but she too started choking, and invisible force gripping her throat. The necklace snapped off, and Athena looked into her hand at the white crystal, before up again.

“You have stolen a gift from the fae.”

The apple cart woman pleaded, but she joined her husband on the floor, and Thomas shut his eyes again. The sounds grew distant, and when the smell of moss and the shade of leaves covered him, he opened his eyes.

They were going back to the faerie ring, athena humming softly and running her hand through his hair and over his arms, wake and glowing hands soothing the pain and calming the angry bruises painting over him.

“I’m so sorry they did this little one.” She said to him, holding him tight and he shook his head tiredly.

“It’s okay, you came to save me.” He mumbled, and she nodded.

“I always will. I’m so proud of you for trusting me, and I promise they are paying for what they did.” She hummed, soothing pain rising from the villagers beating, and wiping a drop of blood running down from his forehead.

“I dont want to go back.”

She kissed his forehead again, hugging him tight.

“You won’t. You never have to go there again.” She promised and Thomas nodded, blinking hard as she wiped tears from under his eyes.

“You could come home with me.”

He stared in shock.

“What?”

Athena smiled, still calming his hurt and cleaning his face.

“You could come and live with me. In the fae realm.”

He stared with his mouth slightly open in shock.

She had told stories of the fae realm, but it was a faraway place he knew he could never reach. This orphaned little boy with bruises on his face and dirt in his hair wasn’t meant for a place like the fae court, where the air sparkled and shimmered with magick and the beautiful beings lived together for eons.

“But… how?”

She tucked his hair behind his ear, and pulled him into her arms again.

“You can stay there with me, you never have to go to the village again. Eventually you’ll have absorbed the magic there, you would end up fae yourself.”

He was in shock, eyes shining.

“I could be a faerie?” He whispered, and she nodded, lifting her hands to put the crystal necklace around his neck once more, and putting her own hair behind her ears to show the matching one.

“You could.”

“But why?”

She tilted her head sideways in confusion

“What do you mean.”

He shrugged, pain fading in his body with each healing touch.

“Why would you want me to live with you?”

She smiled, kissing his head and he clutched the white crystal around his neck once more.

“I love you little one. As much as I love my own family, and I want you to be a part of it.”

He was going to cry again, and was wrapped in a hug, necklace warm against his heart. She wanted him to be her family.

His chest hurt, but not from the beating, he felt like his heart would burst.

“I want you to be my family too.” He smiled, eyes still puffy from the earlier crying. Her smile was bright, her laugh was loud and wonderful, and he felt warmer than ever. He put his head onto her shoulder, letting her soothe the pain as she drifted her fingers through his hair, untangling knots and growing little flowers for him to try and weave, until he didn’t hurt anymore, and he was calm and content against her chest.

“My name is Thomas.”

Her hand froze in his hair, and he moved back to smile at her. Her eyes were glistening slightly, and she kissed his forehead again. He wanted her to have his name. She wouldn’t use it against him, and he trusted her with it.

“Thomas. Let’s go home.”

He smiled wider, resting his head against her chest again as she lifted them both up, hugging him tightly.

He went into the forest, against all warning. And just as the people had said, he would step into the ring to never return, and he couldn’t be happier about it.

No one went after him. There were few survivors from the faes anger, and they watched the forest more wary than before. Sometimes they could hear a child’s laughter, a magical singing, but all that was left of the orphan boy in the human world were the little yellow daisies that sprouted around the village. The children were warned, that if they were ever to step into the faerie ring, they would be stolen away forever, like the little boy with the daisies.

#writing #own characters #faerie #short story

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