Wings of Dawn

Chapter 1

A faerie riding on the back of a bluebird soared past and chortled, "Elinor!"

I laughed as the faerie guided her mount to a nearby tree branch. I was gathering my basket from the doorstep to go foraging for dinner. A few mushrooms and wild onions would certainly prepare a nice, hearty stew tonight.

"Sylvie!" I called to the tiny faerie. She was nearly shining with happiness. Her hair was the color of the rich soil that she guarded over. The dress she wore was made from found leaves and flower petals. Her wings looked like those of a butterfly, brightly colored with shades of pink and orange. Elinor often likened her wings to a sunset.

"Will you be attending the festival tonight?" Sylvie looked hopeful.

I gave her a rueful look as I said, "I don't think so, Syl."

The thought of venturing into town for any reason was petrifying. The pitiful and disapproving looks that would be directed my way would bring back too many memories. I would be a caged animal begging for the release of the festival's end.

Thankfully Sylvia just nodded, knowing my answer even before she had asked. "I shall bring you back a treat." Sylvie winked before ushering her mount back into the sky.

I waved to her as I cleared the doorstep and wondered what she would bring as a treat. Hopefully some of that special faerie wine or the sun cakes prepared by the elves.

It was the summer solstice, which meant that all the realms were preparing food, decorations, wares, and various other things for the celebration. They would all coalesce tonight for a truly spectacular festival. Festive it would truly be with the wine that the faeries have been preparing for several months. I don't know what magic they imbued the drink with, but it crafted a truly potent cocktail.

There was a breeze in the air and it made the heat easier to bare. I hiked my dress up as I wandered through the tall grass. Valoria was brimming with life as the faeries scrambled to finish their work before nightfall. A wood mouse pulling a cart full of flowers almost collided with the toe of my boot. I hollered an apology as the male faerie piloting the mouse cursed.

I opted to live in the cottage in the midst of the faeries as they were a very sweet people. I grew up here around them and after my parents died I just couldn't leave. The cottage reminded me too much of my parents and the faeries reminded me too much of how to make life magical. They were truly some of the best friends I had encountered.

There was no way I could have moved into town after that, though. It would have felt too foreign and lonely. The way the village boys looked at me was like I was some kind of cattle, like I was just to be married and made to push out babies. I couldn't bear that kind of life.

Now, at the ripe age of twenty-six, it was a sin not to be married. Women no longer wanted their sons pining for me. They were to save their eyes for a young brood with plenty of childbearing years ahead of her.

The trees on the outskirts of the meadow sang with the breeze. An aroma of honeysuckle and wild onion pierced my senses. I sought out the onions where I knew them to be and carefully pulled them free of the soil. I grabbed a few handfuls of the tiny things, not wanting to venture back out in this heat once more if I didn't gather enough.

This glen was made of a giant meadow which held my cottage and the giant oak tree that was a city in which the faeries had built their homes. The outskirts of the meadow were dense with trees that traveled up the mountains. Peppered in those mountains were caves that held delectable mushrooms.

I carefully traveled through the thick trees on my way to a cave I knew well. One of my earliest memories was of my mother taking me there to show me how to forage and get my sustenance from Gaia herself. Only being a child, I didn't pay mind to what she was teaching me. I had found a stick outside the cave and was carefully drawing animals in the dirt of the cave.