“
Shade, we know you are afraid but we won’t harm you. It could not help that we were away.”
The sisters told her all at once.
“Somehow your magic trapped Darren in the mirror, but it also pushed us out of your aura too. We were unable to communicate with you. You severed our ties. We have worked hard to find you again. Your magic has been shielding you, and now we can only come to you in your dreams.”
Shade pondered it for a moment.
Damn it… Darren!
He had scarred her far worse than she had even imagined. The loss of her spirit guides was like having a chunk of her soul ripped away. She sighed and watched them smile at her. Each sister finished each other’s sentences, she found it intriguing listening to them as they harmonized in one voice.
“So, where am I? I was on some shore, freezing. My arm was probably broken and not in the right place. Am I awake, dead or dreaming now?”
“
You are still asleep. Fear not, dear Shade, we have healed you with our powers. We have been away for too long,”
said the women.
“Now we are unbound.”
“What do you mean? Like… you won’t be in my head anymore? How could I have let this happen?” Shade felt her knees weaken but caught herself before they failed.
“
We are so sorry, and we had no idea this would come to be. We can only believe that any further communication with each other will be only through your dreams.”
Shade nodded at the revelation. No point in trying to undo what was done.
The dream shifted rapidly, the bright warm sunlight faded into a deep grey and cloudy day. Shade spun around, watching the swirling dark grey clouds grow above her.
“What’s happening?” The wind howled around her and whipped the grass across her legs.
“
We must go, your dream is breaking. It’s time to wake up Shade, wake up.”
The clouds came down around in deep, billowing fog that swallowed the spirits, landscape and Shade alike.
*****
“
W
ake up; it’s just a bad dream, wake up now!”
The voice sounded familiar but Shade couldn’t place it. Squeezing her eyes together before she slowly opened them. The room was dim as it came into focus. Her eyes narrowed in at the shadowy figure in front of her. The face was partially covered by a dark, hooded cloak. Only lips shown through with what looked like a beard, the hood covered his eyes.
The figure reached towards her and she pushed back until she was against the wall on the small bed. Her left arm throbbed with a dull ache but she found she could use it just fine. She wrapped her arms around her legs, gripping them while she stared at the stranger. She slowed her breathing as she concentrated on keeping her focus; the room was slightly tilting in a wave of dizziness. She had sat up way too fast.
The figure had stopped advancing and stared at her. Seeing her pull back, he stood up straighter and waited. He spoke softly, with a voice like rich syrup, thick and flowing.
“I apologize, I mean no harm. Please, I only want to help you. My name is Ursad; I am a woodland, pool-dwelling faery. I live here, in the forest by the ocean amd I can control the pools of water around me, near the rivers.” He stood quite still, almost statuesque. “Is there anything I can do? I mean, um, do you need anything, water? Are you hungry? Any pain? You looked like you been through a wringer.” He spoke quickly and seemed eager to help her.
Shade’s face was flushed as her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to frighten you.”
“Where am I?” She relaxed a little, as he did not try to come closer, again.
“You’re here in my house; it’s not a lot but it’s home. I hope you found the bed to your liking. I really don’t have a lot of room but it’s comfy enough, for me at least.” He paused studying her for any kind of reaction, chewing on his smooth, plump lips.
Shade stared at him, he looked pretty harmless but the hood hid too much of his face to read him well enough. She tried to relax more and sat cross-legged on the bed, pulling the soft worn blanket around her. Her body was cozy warm and her aches weren’t as sharp as they had been. She sighed; at least she wasn’t in Blythe’s care. This was definitely the better half of her current situation.
“I’m sorry, my name is Shade. I just wasn’t sure if it was safe here. I was being chased…” She stopped, wondering if she should trust this stranger with anything, especially with her story. Maybe he knew too much already. “I guess I lost them. How did you find me? Was I out of it for long?”
“Shade, well, nice to meet you. I found you on the beach; it shares the shore with a small pool of water that feeds from a small stream that breaks off from one of the great rivers. I live near it and I happened to walk by when I saw you. You passed out after that, I am truly sorry that I hurt you pulling on your shoulder like that. I didn’t know at first that it was dislocated. Somehow it’s not anymore; you must be full of healing magic because you have healed quite rapidly. It’s amazing, if I can say so myself. I would love to know how you do it.” He was smiling but she definitely did not like to have his face hidden away. She felt brave and reached towards him to pull the hood back as he spoke for he was not too far from the bed. It was his turn to pull away and crouch by the door.
“No please!” He shook his head and hid the rest of his face in his arm sleeve. He bounced nervously back and forth on his feet as though the thought of pulling off the hood caused him great anxiety.
“Why not? I don’t feel too comfortable talking to you when I can’t see your face. Let me see. Is there, um, is there something wrong with your face?” She sat back down and blushed with embarrassment. She realized how forward she was being and possibly even being rude. She hadn’t meant to offend him like that, she was just so nervous she reacted without thinking.
Maybe he is badly scarred under there
. She swallowed and shook the thought out of her head.
How bad can it be?
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. But really, you need to take it off, it’s okay, you’ll scare me more with it on.” She waited and watched him bring his arm down and face her.
He seemed to be thinking about what she was saying because he stared at her for a long moment. Unexpectedly then, he nodded. “You’re right, I am what I am but please don’t be afraid, I tend to frighten everyone. I don’t get too many visitors here at all, not even other fey. I’ve got used to solitude because it has been so long since I’ve been around others.” He sighed and lifted his chin. He reached up and pulled the hood down slowly and away from his face.
Shade tried to keep in the gasp that fought to escape her lips; she knew however, her shock was already given away as her eyes widened. She composed herself immediately and hoped that the slip would not anger him. His face was unusual but she couldn’t say it was scary, not with such sad eyes staring back at her.
“It’s okay Ursad. Can I ask you something? What exactly are you?”
I’ve never seen anyone like him,
she thought as she observed his face. Where the facial hair ended, his skin grew like tree bark, all tan and dark with lines trailing through it. His hair was made of darkened green, thin leaves with twigs and small thin vines springing from his head. She could definitely tell he was fey or human but he had been transformed into what appeared to be a tree man. His hands were smooth and human in appearance, but nothing above the neck resembled normal human skin.
“I… don’t normally look this way. I was cursed a long time ago and my face and hair have been affected in this way ever since.” He smiled at her but lowered his eyes to stare down at the floor as he continued.
“I guess I should explain further.” He looked up at her and paused, waiting for her approval.
She studied him and nodded and was eager for his explanation.
“I was a fey prince once, a long time ago. I was very handsome and women threw themselves at my feet and my every whim. I had a choice of any fey or human woman. Well, you could say I was pretty arrogant too, knowing my effect on woman. I thought myself undeniable and irresistible. That is, until one night, I was in a tavern, enjoying the party and drinking a bit too much liquor. I was surrounded by beauties and laughing with the lot of them. It was quite fun.
‘One woman approached me then. She was not the most beautiful woman I had ever seen but definitely not the ugliest. She was quite plain in appearance, flat brown hair, plain brown eyes and nothing amazing in her smile to speak of. It was as if when she was made, she was made without animation or a personality of any kind. I was just not interested… but she had other ideas.
‘I am Elinia, daughter of Talik, the were-stone maker. I am here to offer marriage to you. I love you and would be honored to be your wife,’ she had said without much warmth.
‘Of course, I didn’t know who she was or what she was for that matter. I laughed at her request and snubbed her in front of the whole tavern in my drunken stupor. Everyone laughed at my smart antics and I gave her a quick shove to get her out of my immediate sight. I didn’t know what it was I was doing. I laughed and laughed until she scrambled off the floor and ran out of the tavern crying. To my satisfaction, I was glad not to have to ridicule her anymore. I was glad she was gone.
‘I finished out the night laughing and having a fabulous time. Not once giving a thought to the girl again. When I readied myself to leave, I walked out of the tavern and to the stables where my horse was waiting. When I was untying my horse, she approached me from behind.
‘I curse you Ursad, Prince of the lands of Santire, prince of nothing you will be! Fair as the bark of a tree. I curse you for infinity! Return you to how you are freed, gentle kiss from a queen-to-be!’ I stared at her as she finished her words and started laughing again.
‘You’ll regret this Ursad. You will look back with a heart broken and filled with remorse. I promise you that.’ She disappeared then, as suddenly as she had appeared. I was left alone in the silence of the dark stables. I didn’t feel different but curses are not taken lightly in fey culture. I began to wonder what she meant by her words. I shrugged them off and rode off into that night, back to my kingdom. It was a long journey home, so I had to stop for the night. As I walked to a lodge at the side of a country road, I wiped my face because it was covered in dripping sweat. I felt almost sick then, wondering what was going on. I checked into the lodge and fell into a deep sleep that night, exhausted.
‘The next morning, after I woke, I walked to the mirror hanging in the room to comb my hair. My hair and my face were changed, to my utter disbelief. What I saw, well, I saw what you see now. Horrified, I fled my country, for no one would recognize me looking like such a monster. I haven’t returned since. So here I am, alone.” He looked back up at Shade as their eyes met.
“I am drawn to the forest, the ocean and the pools of water. They pull me like a magnet. They give me solace in my pain and exile. The waters bless me with their favor, leaving bits of the world, and food is easily attainable here on the banks. Now they have brought you and I can’t help but wonder why. You were hurt so, I had to help. I hope you are not afraid of me, I mean no harm, really. I guess you could say, I have been humbled from the years of isolation.” He stared into her eyes, watching her so intensely. He spoke rapidly and it was clear he had been lonely and was excited to be with another other person.
Shade fought to look away. His face was smooth and serious, but his deep green eyes were wrought with sorrow. She looked back up to see him still watching her. “Again, I’m sorry I hope I didn’t insult you,”
“No, you did not,” said Ursad with a kind smile.
It was alarming to look at him, at first, but she could see his handsome features underneath all of it and in a peculiar way, found him striking. Time had not withered this man; he was preserved in the prison he made for himself.
I wonder if he really was a prince, this is so strange,
she thought to herself. He was the prince of the Santiran lands, of all things, the very place she needed to get to.
“Ursad, I am thirsty and hungry too. I could use something to eat, if you have anything to share. “And do you know where my things are?”
He paused as he turned towards the door. “I will get them for you; I left your pack near the fireplace to make sure it dried out a bit, though it seems impervious to water. I could not take out whatever you had in there; it has a personalized lock charm on it, and would not open for me. I do hope your things are not ruined in it.” He ducked out the door and Shade was left staring at it after him.
She suddenly became aware she was not wearing her own tattered muddy clothes from before, but wearing soft cotton drawstring pajama pants and an oversized tunic instead. They were clean and soft but she pulled the blankets even tighter around herself. She tried not to imagine him changing her out of her soaked clothes. She squirmed at the thought, feeling flushed.
Ursad returned with a tray of fruit, a meat sandwich and a cup of juice. Her stomach growled at the sight of food. He set it slowly in front of her, not smiling but extremely serious. She tried to smile and soon forgot her embarrassment; she settled in and started to inhale the meal. Food in Faerie seemed to taste so much better than in her world. She wondered if it was because it really was better or simply because she was ravenous because she hadn’t eaten in hours, not to mention was getting a lot of exercise on this journey. She chewed and ate so fast, she started hiccupping. She guzzled down the juice hoping to stave them off.
As Shade finished, Ursad had stayed and watched her. Realizing she had been gorging herself, her face suddenly flushed, as she slowed her chomping to a slow chew. She swallowed her last bite and stared right back at Ursad. Brilliant green eyes that shined in the dim light of the room, those eyes seem to pierce her. She ran her eyes over his hair of vines and leaves; so long they fell down past his waist like tendrils of flowers. She wondered if it hurt to pluck a leaf off the thin vines that draped him like shroud and dangled over his shoulders. He was dressed in dark brown clothes; they were frayed and reminded her of peasant’s clothing from fairytale stories.