Children Of Myths, Act One: Scotland

Fìor Tobar Beinne

As the sun rose one spring morning, the crowing of the rooster woke a couple of girls with curly red hair, who got up and took their time to wash and dress.

"It's your turn to open the stable," one of the two, slimmer, muttered as she washed her face.

"Okay, but today I'll take the barrels to the tavern." The other, stouter and wrapped in a blue cloak, finished dressing and brushing out her unruly mass of dark red curls, opened the window and climbed down, using the protruding stones of the chimney to descend.

"Good morning, aunt, good morning, uncle." She nodded to the couple, who had already gone out to get their dry laundry, and then headed toward the stable a few meters from their house.

She was greeted by clucking chickens, bleating sheep and goats and lowing cows.

"Good morning, boys and girls."

A goat kid ran up to her happily and got a good share of cuddles.

"Hi, Gigi!" the girl scratched him under the chin and behind the ears, interrupted by the cow's snorting.

"Yes, I'm going to let you all out, be patient."

For fifteen years, Arianna and Brendan Neivers had kept their word, raising their niece as their second child alongside Safie and giving both girls equal love and care so they would grow up like sisters.

Raising a fairy child was not easy: at every whim, fright or sudden embarrassment, small icicles formed at her feet due to the emotions connected to her innate magic, both difficult to control in a child.

Not only that, but another problem came with further growing: the four wings.
Glycen's were much more like insect wings. Artica, on the other hand, had developed membranous ones, covered with soft blue fur that became thicker in the cold months.
They grew over the years until it was no longer possible to hide them under clothes. In addition to the inconvenience of the springtime molt, with the consequent mass of white fur scattered throughout the house.

Arianna had found a solution thanks to her sewing skills: she modified Artica's entire wardrobe so that it could adapt to her wings, that is, by cutting a part of the fabric on the back and using strong leather laces at the base of the neck and abdomen. That way, her niece could move freely and even arrange her wings so that they resembled a shawl and skirt.

They lived in a small town called Fìor Tobar Beinne, or "Pure Mountain Spring" because to be built close a river that came from the mountains scattered throughout the county of Aberdeen.

In these towns, many ancient traditions and stories about the Sidhe, commonly called Fairies or Good Neighbors, were kept alive. Everyone also knew the story of the young Albert Neivers who fell in love and then married one of them, so they saw the fruit of that union as a sort of alliance between mortals and spirits.

Artica grew up and became a tall, strong and slightly robust girl, who mainly helped in the family's apple orchard and sold food at the market and in the local tavern.

All four Neivers participated actively in some way: the two cousins ​​and Brendan took care of the fields and livestock, Arianna took care of the cooking and weaving the wool of their sheep, Brendan of the preparation of the cider made with the apples that they themselves grew.

Artica let the animals out into the meadow outside the house to get some fresh air and graze, then she fed the chickens and finally she could go to have breakfast at home.
Warm bread with jam and butter, a bowl of warm milk and a couple of eggs to start the day.

"We have an errand from Fergus at the inn, who's coming with me?" Brendan asked as he ate his slices of bread.

"I'll come!" Artica exclaimed, while Safie gave her a knowing smile and a friendly nudge