Rody crouched near the edge of the forest, his hands brushing against the cool, dew-kissed leaves as he searched for herbs to gather. His neighbor's daughter, Manon, had mentioned that her mother was feeling unwell, and Rody, ever eager to help, had offered to collect herbs from the forest to make a remedy. The sun was starting to dip beyond the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor, but Rody wasn't worried. He knew these woods well.
As he reached for a clump of lavender, a rustling sound caught his attention. He froze, his heart skipping a beat. The forest was known to be safe, but there were always tales-tales of creatures that roamed the woods at dusk, creatures best left undisturbed. Rody stood slowly, his hand instinctively moving to the small knife at his belt, though he doubted it would be much use if the stories were true.
"Can I have your name?"
The voice was soft, almost musical, yet it sent a chill down Rody's spine. He turned to see a figure standing among the trees, illuminated by the soft glow of twilight. The figure was beautiful-too beautiful, with sharp features, pale skin, and eyes that seemed to gleam in the dim light. His dark hair fell in soft waves around his face, and his lips curved into a smile that was both inviting and unsettling. His clothing was strange, an ethereal mix of whites and greys that seemed to shift and shimmer like mist.
Rody's pulse quickened. He knew what this was. A Fae. His grandmother had told him stories of the Fae, dangerous creatures who could charm or curse with a word, who could steal your name and leave you powerless. His grip tightened on his knife, though he knew it wouldn't help him now.
The Fae tilted his head, watching Rody with an amused expression, as if sensing his hesitation. "I only asked for your name, human," he said, his voice like the whisper of leaves in the wind.
Rody swallowed hard, his mind racing. Fae were tricky, and he knew better than to give his name so easily. But he also knew that refusing outright could offend the creature, and the last thing he wanted was to anger a Fae. He had to be smart, careful.
"I'll give you my name," Rody said slowly, his green eyes narrowing slightly, "but first, what's yours?"
The Fae's smile faltered, his eyes widening in surprise. He blinked, as if processing Rody's words, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to hum with tension. Then, to Rody's confusion, the Fae's cheeks flushed a soft pink, and his smile returned-brighter, warmer, almost...giddy?
"You-" The Fae's voice was breathless, and he took a step closer, his gaze never leaving Rody's. "You want my name?"
Rody frowned, not understanding the shift in the Fae's demeanor. "Well, yes. Isn't that how this works?"
The Fae's eyes sparkled with something like delight, and he laughed-a bright, almost childlike sound that echoed through the trees. "Oh, my dear human," he said, stepping even closer, until Rody could smell the faint scent of flowers and something sharp, like citrus. "You've just asked for my hand in marriage."
Rody's heart stopped.
"What?" he stammered, taking a step back, his mind reeling. "I-no, that's not what I-"
The Fae reached out, his hand brushing against Rody's arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Oh, but it is," he said softly, his smile turning mischievous. "Asking a Fae for their name is like a proposal. And since I quite like you, human, I accept."
Rody felt his mouth go dry. His thoughts scrambled to make sense of what had just happened. All he had wanted was to gather herbs for Manon, maybe win her favor, maybe ask her out. And now-now he was engaged to a Fae?
"Wait," he said, his voice rising slightly in panic. "I didn't mean it like that! I don't want-"
The Fae placed a finger against Rody's lips, silencing him with a soft shush. "No need to fret," he said. "It's already done. My name is Vincent, by the way."
