“Make way!” shouted Careen.
The tiny group got a bit of a lift to see the princess arrive.
“You have all been brave,” said Lustre doing his best to rally spirits. “And you know there are thousands more that feel as we do but just weren’t brave enough to join us. Yet. We must bide our time and fly strong. They will join us in time and then we will make the park our own!”
There were just a few scattered cheers.
“Come! We’ll roost across the river for now.”
Lustre took lift over the water and his tiny army followed suit. Careen followed close by his side.
The princess struggled to keep up with the heights. Looking back, she could see thousands of crows circling the roost in the distance.
“I can’t do it,” she said. She veered back towards the park.
Careen and Lustre looked back to see her slipping away in the dimming light.
“Go with the princess,” ordered Lustre.
“But—” protested Careen, feeling hurt.
It’s a new world with new rules. I don’t need a mate. I need a mole. “We need someone on the inside. I found the keychain. Await my message.”
Careen fought back tears, but turned back dutifully.
Stupid girl, he thought.
The further Lustre flew from the park, the more he wanted it back.
Elsa and Claire stood in the field in the golden light.
Crows danced above them in the trees in their thousands. Elsa looked over at Claire.
“I’m surprised you’re encouraging this.”
Claire smirked and gave a little shrug. Elsa watched the crows for a while until she couldn’t contain it anymore.
“Every one thinks I’m crazy, too, don’t they?”
“I don’t, Elsa,” said Claire, looking into her eyes. Then she turned back, staring at the crows in their evening ritual, listening to their din. “This world is full of crazy things…and you just have to do your best to stay…human.”
I love her. “I’m sorry I made more trouble for you,” said Elsa.
Claire looked at her with that wistful smile. “I love you, Elsa. And you can stay with me forever if that’s how it needs to be, okay?”
I LOVE HER! Elsa gave a little nod, so happy to have an answer at last.
They hugged each other in a way they had never been hugged.
Claire smiled a mischievous grin. “I’ve got something for you.” She ran to the car and returned with a long, billowy, black-winged cloak. Sticks were sewn into the arms, extending the material out into great powerful wings that could be controlled by the wearer.
Elsa’s jaw dropped as she pulled it on and tried it out. Her eyes filled with glee when Claire placed the crow’s-head-shaped headdress on her head like a crown.
“Claire, this is incredible!” beamed Elsa.
Claire’s eyes twinkled with delight as Elsa danced around her in the field, extending the wings of the costume, billowing in the wind.
“Caw! Caw!” called out Elsa joyously as she whirled.
Claire beamed, too.
Elsa stopped in front of her and removed the headdress crown. She placed it on Claire’s head.
“You’re the real queen.”
“You can be my princess,” said Claire, receiving the crown with a giggle.
“Nah,” said Elsa picking up two branches, “Mum’s the princess.”
“Then who are you?”
Elsa handed her the two branches to be her wings. “I’m the jester,” she smiled.
Claire laughed and extended the branches out to her sides.
They danced together happily beneath the crows, flowing and swaying in the golden light, supported by the wind.
Special thanks to Jason Rogerson, Vince and Kim Black, Htoo K’mu Paw, Wendy Poirier, Penelope Jackson, Laurie Brinklow, Terrilee Bulger, the cast and crew of the short film and of course...the crows.
Harmony Wagner is a writer, director and award-winning filmmaker based in Prince Edward Island, Canada. She has written for web, gaming, film and television including several episodes of The Big Comfy Couch. Her short film Queen of the Crows broadcast on CBC and screened at numerous festivals including Telefilm Canada’s Shorts program at the Cannes Film Festival. She has directed two feature films, Kooperman and Singing to Myself. Queen of the Crows is her first novel.
Queen of the Crows Page 13
