The Changeling's Journey

by Christine Spoors

  I spotted Lachlann and Alasdair looking amused as they collected their own flowers. King Ferchar had tried to insist that his servants did not take part in the festival. However, Aelwen had been so furious he had had no choice but to allow them.

  It was disrespectful enough to not honour the festival, but refusing to allow your subjects to celebrate was a sure way to anger the Others.

  People began making their way back to the castle whilst Aelwen, our guards, Tormod and I had to ride out to where the cattle and sheep were being moved to new summer fields. Many torches were lit to draw the attention of the Others and ensure that they protected our livestock. Bonfires would be lit later in the evening.

  We oversaw the movement of the animals and had to talk to the farmers. I always felt unsure about what to say but thankfully everyone was in good spirits and so the conversation flowed.

  By the time we returned to the castle, preparations for the feast were in full swing. Huge tables had been brought out behind the castle to the large space used for events. There was a grassy moor which lay between the back of the castle and the mountains in the distance. It did not need to be protected, which meant that even the guards could enjoy the festivities.

  Not that anyone would risk committing crimes today. Not with the Otherworld watching us so closely.

  We wandered leisurely through the preparations, complementing servants on their work and wishing everyone well. Luckily, Aelwen no longer wanted to spend as long doing that as she had when we were first crowned. Now she was eager to help her children get ready for the festival.

  I was glad to return to my chambers and have a few moments peace before my maids arrived, full of laughter and excitement to help me get ready.

  I picked a dress of dark blue. My dark hair was then plaited at the top, so the yellow flowers could be added, and the rest left cascading down my back.

  Aelwen looked beautiful. She wore a white dress that matched her hair, which was plaited up intricately and looked like she wore a crown of flowers. Her girls looked equally as beautiful in their matching dresses and I assumed that Elath was with Ronan, dressing in matching kilts.

  Tormod was eager to get to the feast and I found myself feeling guilty that he had waited for me. We headed out early and I could not help but keep adjusting my dress and fretting over my hair.

  I wanted to make a good impression to Lachlann tonight. I was not ugly by any stretch of the imagination, but the sight of my sister had made me feel somewhat underwhelming.

  “He would be a fool not to think you beautiful, my Queen,” Tormod commented after noticing my uncharacteristic fretting.

  “Let’s hope so. Go enjoy your evening Tormod,” I dismissed him with a smile, whilst cursing how observant he was.

  As I walked through the crowds of people I was reminded why I loved our kingdom so much.

  Norbroch has always been a kingdom of hardworking and friendly fairies. It warmed my heart to see so many of them together. It made me happy to think of the fairies, all over this kingdom, celebrating together and offering thanks to the Others without fear, unlike in Culhuinn.

  It would be clear that we deserved their protection and I hoped that the next year would see our livestock growing fat and our crops growing tall.

  After meandering my way through the crowds, I took my seat at the table, which was on a slightly raised wooden platform. The platform had been hastily constructed so we royals could watch over the celebrations as we ate. I think the people liked to see us there enjoying ourselves and I hoped that they viewed us in a good light.

  Much to my surprise, Aelwen had not asked for the platform to be extended to fit King Ferchar and his family. Instead they had a table amongst the Lairds, Ladies and servants. The King could not refuse our hospitality, but I had a feeling that he would be leaving the festival once the feast was over.

  The feast was exquisite and I found myself eating an obscenely large amount. I was so full that I doubted I would ever need to eat again.

  When I was sure I could not manage another bite, I watched fondly as my nieces and nephew ate and vowed to spend more time with them. They were the future rulers of our kingdom and they deserved more of my attention. Aelwen caught me watching and beamed in response.

  Festivals were always a time for making promises and vows. This was probably because of the large volume of drink consumed, but also because everyone was so happy.

  I could imagine people up and down the land making wild promises and vows with their neighbours and family, only to wake hungover in the morning or forget every single one.

  I wanted to promise the kingdom that they would have a good year, the best in generations, but this was not the time for grand speeches and so I kept my thoughts to myself.

  Once the main meal of the feast was over, we headed to the two huge bonfires which had been constructed over the last few days.

  Aelwen and I took heavy torches, and with a nod, ignited the bonfires. Everyone stood back and there was a sense of awe as we watched the flames destroy the pile.

  It was humbling to witness such a powerful force, more powerful than any of us could ever hope to be. Tomorrow the ash from the bonfires would be scattered throughout the fields that grew crops, and around the fields in which the livestock were kept. This would protect them throughout the year, if the Others were pleased with us.

  After the excitement over the lighting of the bonfires was over, I decided to have a wander around the festivities. I did not plan on staying out all night but it was good for the people to have a chance to speak with me and see me enjoying the festival.

  I headed over to a table giving out cups of a thick drink made with uncooked oats, whisky, cream and what I assumed was honey. It was warm and sweet and so, despite being full after the feast, I forced myself to have one whilst I spoke with the stall owners and then paid coin for another to take away with me.

  Aelwen’s favourite drummers, pipers and fiddlers began playing out on the field and the dancing began. It was always interesting to watch the movements made by some of the drunkest, or simply most daring, dancers. I was not a dancer, not unless it was required. I loved the music but I simply did not feel the need to twirl and jump like some people.

  Aelwen was twirling and laughing with her children. I took another sip of the warm drink as I watched, and felt content. That feeling doubled when I felt warmth at my back and noticed Lachlann standing there.

  “Enjoying your first Queen’s Light?” I asked.

  “It has been the best night of my life,” he admitted truthfully. “Even better now that I am in the company of such a beautiful fairy.” he reached up to touch the flowers in my hair.

  Deciding that I did not care about the consequences, I turned and kissed him before he could speak again. His surprise made me laugh.

  It was strange to be able to kiss him in public and as I closed my eyes, I imagined that we were simply two lovers enjoying the festival, rather than a fairy Queen and the servant of another King.

  We broke apart after what felt like too long, and not long enough. It would not do for too many people to notice us. Not everyone would be too drunk to remember and, though the King had retired early, not all of his servants had gone inside.

  “Come back to my rooms?” I did not want to leave his company so soon.

  Lachlann grinned mischievously, “I’ll meet you there,” and with that he slipped away, disappearing into the crowd.

  I was sure that by this time no one would miss me when I left the festivities, but I made a show of saying goodbye to a few people and announcing how tired I was after such a long and joyful day.

  Then, once I was sure no one would care, I hurried off into the castle and up to my chambers. The halls were deserted as everyone was out, either enjoying the dancing or hiding away somewhere with their own lovers.

  Lachlann was already waiting outside my door when I arrived so I grabbed him and quickly pulled him inside, locking the door behind us.

 
; Our kiss resumed once we were away from curious eyes, and I felt a twinge of nerves in my stomach at the thought of finally bedding a man. This could be our only ever opportunity, and I was suddenly worried that I would ruin it with my lack of experience.

  “We don’t have to do this Euna,” Lachlann noticed my hesitation.

  “I want to,” I mumbled feeling foolish.

  I was the Queen of Norbroch. I should not be falling prey to my nerves like this.

  “We have all night, there’s no rush,” he said with a comforting smile as he started to pick the yellow flowers out of my hair.

  PRESENT DAY

  I cursed myself for allowing my mind to wander back to that perfect night as I wiped the tears from my face. My bed felt empty and cold in comparison to that night when it had been full of laughter and love. I stared at the space beside me and tried to remember everything about him, every last freckle.

  We had woken the next morning to Tormod knocking the door, curious as to why I had slept in and checking to see if I had been murdered whilst he enjoyed his evening.

  Lachlann had blushed furiously when I made him answer the door, refusing to move from under the warm blankets. Tormod had simply laughed at Lachlann’s embarrassment and said that he was glad we had a good night.

  Now though, Lachlann was gone and I was left alone here in the cold with nothing but my memories to torment me.

  I wanted to hate him for leaving me.

  Everything would be easier if I did not long for him to return to me.

  I felt as if the path was going to continue winding through the trees forever. Never again would either of us see the sky or the loch or our families. I cursed the old lady back in Tirwood for not giving us more information about navigating our way through this forest.

  This path must end somewhere. I tried to reason with myself, but my aching feet and the weariness in my bones weren’t making me feel very reasonable. Glen felt the same and our conversations had stopped what felt like a whole forest ago.

  It was difficult to think of anything to say when all you could see were trees. All you could hear was the wind blowing through the leaves and the faint chirping of birds. All you could smell was that damp smell of leaves and rich soil, a smell you only find deep inside a forest.

  I decided that if I never saw another tree in my life I would be very happy about it. I hated trees.

  Rustling in front of us startled me out of my tree related thoughts. I thought perhaps it was another will o’the wisp, come to try and trick us off the path again. I would have some very harsh words to say if it was.

  Instead a girl, who looked to be the same age as Glen and I, stepped out from between the trees.

  She wore a dress made of a fabric I had never seen before, which seemed to float around her skin and move with the rhythm of the forest. Her long auburn hair had been allowed to grow down to her knees and she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life.

  I realised that we’d stopped walking and simply stood, mesmerised, watching her approach us. The Others had truly blessed us with this sight. She made all the walking worthwhile.

  “Are you lost?” the girl asked, her voice seeming to float on the wind.

  It was like a song I had been waiting my whole life to hear, and hoped to listen to forever.

  “We are.” Glen and I replied at the exact same time which made her smile.

  “I can show you the way. Follow me.”

  With that she turned on her heel and seemed to float off in amongst the trees, leaving the path behind.

  Glen and I hurried after her with a lot less elegance. I didn’t want her to leave me. I felt quite sure that my life would end if she left us here alone in the forest. I had to stay with her. Forever.

  As we hurried along, stray branches scratched at my face and arms, but I didn’t care. Nothing would stop me following her. Nothing. Every so often she would stop and smile over her shoulder at us, making the sting of my scratches and the aching in my legs fade.

  Her happiness was more important.

  At once we were back on the path and, a few steps later, we had broken out from underneath the cover of the trees. She had helped us escape the forest, just as she had promised. Now we were free.

  A refreshing wind picked up and her hair drifted around her head, adding to her startling wild beauty. I was never sure if I would ever fall in love with a girl, although I always thought I might, and finally here I was. I doubted I would ever have room in my heart for anyone else ever again.

  “Come along now,” she called as she drifted towards a small stone cottage I had not noticed before.

  It had a large strange smelling garden, in which herbs and plants I had never seen before grew. The thatched roof was covered in grass and had beautiful flowers growing in it as if it were alive.

  Our rescuer kind enough to invite us into her home. It was warm and cosy, and there was a pleasant herbal smell drifting around the rooms from the plants she was burning in wooden bowls scattered around the house. I couldn’t quite recall where we had been planning to go before we arrived here. I just knew that I would be happy to stay in her cottage.

  After feeding us a hearty stew, she told us about the problems she had been having recently, trying to complete all of the household chores. I felt tears welling in my eyes at the very thought of such a beautiful, perfect being struggling so much. Glen and I jumped at the opportunity to prove our usefulness and be of assistance to her.

  I was quickly given the task of sweeping the floors in the cottage, whilst Glen was sent off to wash various oddly shaped bowls and plates.

  Once I had completed my work I was rewarded with a smile. The most beautiful smile I had ever seen. Her smile made me feel like my chest would burst from all the love I felt.

  She hasn’t smiled at Glen like that, I thought to myself smugly.

  Time passed as Glen and I continued to help our breath-taking saviour. She often referred to us as her humans and so I concluded that she must be a fairy, which made sense considering we were in the fairy kingdoms. Not that it mattered.

  She could turn into a fish at this very moment and I would still care for her until the day that I died. Thinking about my death sparked a flicker of anger in the back of my mind, yet I had no idea why I would be so angry at the thought of dying. I supposed that before the fairy came into my life, things like that must have been important to me.

  Thankfully, I was now free from that burden.

  Although Glen and I often worked together to complete chores and spent almost all our time with each other, there was a growing tension between us which was becoming impossible to ignore.

  He seemed to follow me everywhere I went and his desperate attempts to gain the fairy’s affection sickened me. It was clear that I was her favourite.

  I could barely think of any reasons why he needed to be here, other than to reach the high shelves and lift heavy things.

  As the days passed by the animosity between us built and soon we were pushing and shoving each other. Doing our best to make things difficult for our rival. The fairy, bless her, didn’t seem to notice any problems and so we were free to let our hatred grow.

  Soon I had lost track of the time and days. Not that it mattered, not whilst I was here with the fairy.

  My fairy.

  One morning, or afternoon, Glen and I had been tasked with cutting up a strange leafy vegetable which grew in the garden. It was a deep purple colour, like a new bruise, and seemed to fight against us as we tried to cut it.

  My eyes burned with tears and my head began to pound as we chopped. I hoped I wouldn’t have to eat it, something told me that I wouldn’t survive the meal. The tension between the two of us was now at its worst and, with the addition of this ridiculous vegetable, we both snapped.

  I snorted with malicious laughter as Glen hacked at the vegetable, cutting all kinds of mismatched shapes from it. The fairy wouldn’t be pleased with his work, maybe now she would finally realise
how useless he was and send him away.

  I couldn’t recall where he had come from, but I hoped to see him out of the door and on his way back there very soon. Angered by my laughter, and talent, Glen slammed the knife down on the table, narrowly missing my fingers.

  “Get away from me,” I hissed, wanting nothing more than for him to disappear.

  “Feel free to leave,” he replied.

  “I can’t,” I said smugly, “the fairy loves me.”

  Glen let out a bark of laughter so loud it hurt my ears.

  “She loves me the most and I can prove it,” he stepped close enough that I could feel his breath on my face.

  “Fight me for her then.” I shouted, pushing him hard enough to make him step away.

  “If you want a fight, I’ll give you a fight.”

  “Good.” I screeched.

  I knew the fairy wouldn’t be angry if I hurt or even killed him. She would understand that he deserved it. That he didn’t love her. Not like me.

  I stormed away from him and threw open the kitchen door. We wouldn’t disrespect her by fighting and breaking anything in her cottage. Not after everything she had done for us.

  I didn’t bother to look back and see if Glen was following me because I could hear his loud angry footsteps behind me.

  He was going to be so sorry he ever made me angry. I would show him and then she would love me the most. I doubted she would even notice that he was gone.

  We exited the garden and stormed out into the moors, where our fight wouldn’t risk breaking anything my fairy owned.

  My anger began to dwindle as we walked and I struggled to get it back. I had to fight Glen. I had to, but... but why?

  I wasn’t sure I could remember why we were fighting anymore. I knew it was important. That’s right, I had to fight for her.

  The little voice in my mind telling me that I shouldn’t fight grew louder and louder as we walked. When it became impossible to ignore I stopped suddenly to turn and look at Glen. His expression of confusion showed that he felt the exact same way as me.