Cinderella vs. Happily Ever After

Chapter 27

            They’d followed the same road northwest for two days, seeing nothing more than exciting than a wannabe sheepdog trying to herd some very placid cart horses. Their ignoring of him had no effect on the dog’s enthusiasm, making them all smile as they passed.

            The weather had gotten chillier in the mornings, making Valerie reluctant to leave her sleeping bag in the morning. The ground was getting more and more covered in leaves as the wind began stripping the trees bare. Everyday seemed to bring more and more brown leaves fluttering down among their brighter cousins.

            They reached the edge of the forest by the end of the second day, camping at the edge of the true forest. Before them lay softly rolling hills that were spotted with trees and gold with dying grass. The ground rose in the distance, getting darker as it rose, finally becoming the deep purple and grey of mountains.

            As they broke camp, Valerie couldn’t help but smile at the beauty before her. The sun was only half over the horizon, sending shafts of gold through the trees behind them to illuminate pieces of the hills. The mountains beyond were wreathed in mist, the white vapour twining around them like some weird cross between snake and cat.

            They walked in silence for a time, all three of them still half-asleep as all around birds began greeting the new day. The day passed as the last many had, with them walking and passing various travellers, the only difference being the slow lessening of the trees.

            When they stopped at noonish for lunch, the trees only spotted the countryside, huddling in small stands between hills, the rare brave one poking out of a hilltop. The hill they stopped beside had a stream running around its base one way and a path leading the other.

            When they sat beside the stream, they noticed the vision in the water. Valerie bit back a curse and flushes, Miette doing the same but gasping in place of cursing and Isaac, eyes wide for a moment, began to chuckle. Her back to them until she heard the curse, brushing out her long black hair, was a naked woman.

            She turned to stare at them, her comb dropping into the water as her huge brown eyes went even bigger. A delicate mouth shaped a small o as she looked at them. Then she caught sight of Isaac and smiled, the curtain of her hair parting slightly to reveal the very tip of one of her breasts. “Oh brave travellers,” she purred. “Is there anything you desire?” As she spoke, she raised her chin, revealing a slender neck and more of her chest.

            Valerie looked at the woman, whose beauty was making her suspect some things, then at Isaac. The woman was fluttering her lashes at him and leaning towards him. She fought laughter down.

            He didn’t bother. “No, we’re good,” he said, chuckling.

            Her eyes went wide again before she shifted nearer, revealing more of her slender limbs and perfect skin. “Is there nothing I can do for you, good sir? Nothing at all?”

            Isaac looked her over, slowly, making a lazy smile appear on her face. Then he met her eyes and shook his head. “Sorry sweetheart, but I prefer the elephant to the clam.”

            She stared at him, one head cocking to its side in confusion. Then she thought what he had said through. The laughter that burst from her was not the delicate ring of giggles or the sensual chuckle Valerie expected. It was a bunch of loud guffaws. After a minute of laughing, her form began to ripple then flicker. In the flickers, Val could see another version of her, a slightly older, clothed one.

            When her tears began to fall, her other form finally burst into sparkling gold specks which fell gently around her like mini-fireworks. They all stared at the woman, who was still beautiful, in the pink dress. “Oh…oh my…In all of my years I have never…that was by far the most interesting response I have received. Who are you travellers?” she said once her laughter slowed.

            Valerie held her hand up before the other two could answer. “You’re a fairy.”

            The woman nodded, wiping the tears from her face. “My name is Naava. I am the guardian of Valley of Rocks.”

            “Yeah? Well we’re from Armith.”

            “Ah. That explains your wariness. Justified wariness. One of my cousins, silly thing, is a godmother. I had heard that there is war between them,” she said as she stood, shaking out her skirts.

            “I am Lady Miette of Lacclair. This is Sir Isaac of Roosterreach and…Miss Ash,” the lady said, standing and curtseying to the fairy.

            She nodded her acceptance. “You have learned your manners well, young one. However, you,” she said turning to Isaac and Valerie who’d made no move to get up. “You are not from this realm, are you?”

            “What gave it away? Was it the hair? It was the hair, wasn’t it?” Isaac said, face eager though his lips kept twitching into a smile.

            She chuckled at that. “No it was not. May I ask what it is you seek?”

            “We’re looking for allies. So we can free the palace,” Valerie said. “Know where we can find an army?”

            One dark brow rose as she looked at them. “Interestingly enough, I do know where an army may be found. It is not an army in training but there are many fine young knights and warriors who lay bespelled, not far from here.”

            “How do we break the spell? And will they follow us?”

            “They will. They are bound to whoever frees them. They all failed the same task.”

            Valerie snorted. “So they’re morons then. Fine. We can work with that.”

            Naava laughed again. “Most did not listen to my advice. Or found it too difficult to do so.”

            “So why are you helping us?”

            The fairy smiled. “Because I have not laughed this much in many centuries, mortal. And even I tire of sending fools to join those already bespelled.”

            Val returned the expression. “Well then how do we free them?”