The Seelie Queen

Chapter 3

The Fairy Realm was everything I imagined it would be, and more. It was an instant change, from day to night as I stepped from one world into another. It felt as if I stepped through a doorway, but the wind was pulling at me, pushing me towards the Fairy Realm. If I was one who believed in signs I would have thought that was a sign in itself, but I ignored it, taking in the wonders of the Fairy Realm. It was very bright, for being nighttime. They had a moon, a big glorious moon that seemed like it was closer to the Earth here in this realm. I had never seen the Moon so close before, and wondered if the Sun was the same way. Despite the light of the moon shining down, the plants were shining. We emerged into the forest, and the moment the portal faded behind us, the nightlife came alive in front of us. The trees were towering over us, taller than ever, making me feel like I was a child all over again. Woven through the grass and around the trees were different kinds of flowers, all glowing with a soft light green, light purple, and light blue color. They were luminescent, beautiful, and I found myself brushing my fingers against them as I followed my mother. She was tense, looking around at everything, and I noticed Jareth was as well. It was weird, as if they were uncomfortable being here, and all I wanted to do was brush my face against the soft leaves and breathe in the fresh air. I felt completely in my element here, as if for the first time, I was home.

It startled me, and I realized this was the first time I've ever left my room where I was content outside of its small four walls. I followed after them faster, wanting to get this over with, but at the same time, I wanted it to never end. I knew, deep down, that when I had to leave, I’d feel sad and empty. Was this fairy magic? I was restless, scared, wanting to push down my fairy side even more, but at the same time, the music inside of me was pushing at me, wanting me to come forth, to be as I was meant to be. I pushed at it, shoving it down, suffocating it, even as I felt saddened doing so. I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise up and I paused, turning around, looking behind me. There was nothing there, but it felt like I was being...watched. I shivered, running to my mother again, sliding my hand into the crook of her elbow. It was silly, she was so delicate now that if something were to happen I’d be the one to protect her, but even still I clung to her like a child afraid of the unknown.

We came to the edge of a cliff and looked down, wonder in my eyes. It was so strange, so very strange. It was like the realm was divided. There was a lighter area, where the flowers were plentiful to the left, and a giant castle was built, plenty of houses around it, shaped strangely, like teardrops. Trees were scattered all through the kingdom, some even woven with the houses, as if the fairies lived in the branches or in hollowed-out trees. It was beautiful, strings of lights woven throughout the kingdom. But to the right, it was dark. There was an immense forest in between the two kingdoms, and the other kingdom was dark. The trees were twisted, creepily, giving an eerie feel to them. I felt cold looking at them, at the dark kingdom with barely any flowers to shine the way. I clung to my mother even more, shivering. “What is this? Why is it....separate?” Jareth asked, confusion in his voice.

My mother sighed, a saddened sigh, as she turned us to the side, guiding us down to the lighter, brighter area of the realm. “That is not my story to tell. I don’t know much about it either, to be honest. My mother, your grandmother, came to me when you both were twelve. She was panicked, that night.” She said. I gasped, remembering. The night she met my mother in the kitchen, and handed her an object. “She didn’t explain much, but I have a feeling she will now. I haven’t been very close to my mother since…” She said, turning to look at me. Her eyes were hard for a moment, making me shiver. “Well, for a while now.” She finished, silence taking over as we walked through the woods to the warm kingdom.

I frowned, biting my lip. Was it my fault? Did I do something to upset their friendship when I...when I killed the fairy boy? My heart hurt just thinking about it, thinking about that night, and everything that went wrong. I wished, for the millionth time in my life it seemed, that I never followed her that night. That I never followed her any of the other nights either. I wished for so many changes, so much that could have been done differently. And that poor boy, the one I barely could see, whose voice was soft and full of pain, as he spoke to me. The boy named Nothing.

I tried not to think about it, and chose instead to listen to Jareth grumble about how weird it felt here, the air feeling different, the trees different. He was right, in a sense. It did feel different, except it felt more real, to me. More alive, it made me feel like I was happy, content. I didn’t say this, since my brother and mother were visibly uncomfortable here, and I wondered faintly if that had to do with them being werewolves. I had the werewolf blood in me as well, but not enough, apparently. More fairy, my mother had said. More fairy in me than any of us. I shivered, watching the animals running in the forest. Jareth was noticing how soft and docile they were, how calm and friendly they were. I wondered if Fairies hunted here, or if they created their food in other ways. These animals, they walked right up to us, sniffing us for food, licking our fingers, they were too friendly. These animals didn’t know of hunters, they didn’t know fear. It startled me, seeing Jareth contemplating making a bow and arrows and shooting a few before we left. I could tell he was alarmed when I screamed no at him, making the deer beside him run away, but it felt wrong. His words felt wrong, horrible. I never had problems with him hunting in the past, and I was forced to go along enough times to know how to do it myself. Even still, something about this forest, these creatures, I couldn’t let it happen. I wouldn’t let him harm them, they were too innocent. This wasn’t his world. This wasn’t our world, I should say, even if it felt like I belonged here more than anywhere else.

Despite the dark, indicating it must be a late hour here, we were welcomed by what seemed to be all of the Fairies, at least in this kingdom. They lined the path we walked on the moment we emerged through the tall forest, and I couldn’t help but smile as little ones came out to greet us. They were beautiful, their appearance so different, so startling. Their ears were pointed at the tips, making me widen my eyes in surprise. My ears were pointed as well, but not as much as theirs were. Enough for me to tell it was different from my family, but not like this. More fairy, my mother had said. I was more fairy than the rest. I shivered as the little ones placed necklaces of flowers around our necks, kissing our cheeks and welcoming us. Everyone we passed by bowed to us, the royal family line, even if our line wasn’t as important as my Aunt’s. I realized, with a gasp, that I’d be meeting my aunt today as well, and wondered if she was married, or had children. I couldn’t help but smile, wondering if I had cousins. Cousins that were more like me, perhaps.

It wasn’t hard to figure out where to go, even if my mom didn’t already seem to know. I assumed she’s been this way before, most likely many times in the past, even if she seemed uncomfortable here. We walked along the path of the fairies, looking around at their houses in wonder. They were beautiful, sparkling, as if they had lights of their own despite the lights hanging around them. The girls all wore dresses, though it didn’t seem like it was forced. There were a few girls wearing pants, but it seemed like most of them preferred dresses. Most likely because of the dancing, the dresses made it easier. Most of the fairies were barefoot, but some had soft flats on their feet, hugging around their feet as if it was a part of them. All of them with long hair had it free, none seemed bound back, flowers braided into their hair.

Once we had gotten to the castle, the fairies on the path seemed to disperse, dancing away to their homes as a man stood before us. He was beautiful, just like the others. He had black hair, beautiful and straight. It was short, resting against his forehead, his bangs falling into his green eyes. His smile was wonderful as he held out a hand. I stared at it in wonder as my mother placed her hand in his, allowing him to lift her hand to his mouth to kiss. “Princess Ana, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” He said formally, before turning to me. He held out his hand to me, a soft smile on his eyes as I blushed, placing my hand in his. It felt strange, a gorgeous man I've never met before lifting my hand to his lips, kissing it in greeting. “Princess Jaelyn, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He said, his voice soft as he stared into my eyes.

My brother cleared his throat and I blushed, pulling my hand out of his as I held my arms stiffly at my side, embarrassed. It was common here, though. Mother had taught us all this before. Women were higher than men, for Fairies. Princesses and Queens, they were more important than Kings and princes. We were greeted first, it was custom. Of course, we weren’t used to this. Even after Queen Aislyn turned the tide with the war, making it easier for women to wear pants and to marry for love, it only really happened in her kingdom, and in her brother’s. The werewolves and the Vampires, they were mostly still the same as before, looking down on women as always. It was very common in our world for the man to be greeted first, and for the woman to walk quietly behind, her eyes lowered until addressed. “Prince Jareth, it’s a pleasure to meet you as well.” The boy said, his hand held out for Jareth. I wasn’t sure if he was going to shake it, or kiss it, but my brother cringed, backing up and nodding at him, looking to the side. “My name is Rhett. Queen Zahra wanted me to meet you, and welcome you to her. She’s waiting in the welcoming room, King Ronald is with her.” He said with a smile.

Mother nodded at him, taking a deep breath as she walked forward. He nodded, turning around and following her. My mother wanted to take the lead, since she knew the way, and she was a princess. There was no telling a princess no. My brother stepped behind her, his eyes shifting everywhere, looking at everything as if he was more and more uncomfortable the further he walked inside the castle. Rhett turned to look at me, a warm smile in his eyes as he held out his arm to me. I smiled, thanking him as I placed my fingers on the crook of his elbow, allowing him to lead me into the castle. He was sweet, and I was blushing, excitement billowing through me as we walked into the castle. It was beautiful, every part of it. I couldn’t exactly tell what it was made from, the material was different than any I've seen before, and I realized that much of this realm was in fact magic, and the objects and buildings inside of it must be magic as well. I wondered if I had my own magic inside me, but I shook my head away from those thoughts, lifting my hand to my face and pulling the strands out of my eyes. I wasn’t magical, and once this was finished I’d be back in the human world where I belong. I needed to stop dwelling on this beautiful place, even if it did feel like I belonged here.