Twelve Days of Fruk

Day Three: Enchanted Woods AU

You know that age-old rule of "don't wander into the forest at night"? Well, Francis Bonnefoy didn't listen.

"'Allo?" He called out, slinking over fallen logs and overgrown weeds. His blue eyes were wide, trying to see in the darkness of the dense trees. His movements were slow but frantic as he tried to hush his yelling heart, the blood pumping through his body loud in the dead silence of the wood. Honestly, he could hardly remember how or why he came here, only remembering the sinking fear of being lost at night in a foreign place. The woods of England were rare, and Francis was sure that it would be hard to get too lost in them.

Francis seemed to have a knack for being wrong about important things.

A noise sounded from behind him, causing him to startle, tripping over an exposed root of a willow. This was the moment he decided that it would be a smart idea to stay still, and wait for the sound to disappear.

But it didn't, only getting closer, leaves rustling and what sounded like little bells jingling. The judged that it wasn't a dog, no, too light for that, not even a Bichon Frise puppy could trod so lightly! He looked toward the source of the sounds, and noticed a very faint blue glow emanating from behind the old willow tree. He watched intently as the petite glows floated out from behind the trunk, trying to hide a gasp at he saw the humanoid shaped illuminations. They held what looked like a matchstick with blue flames atop it, the luminescence of the stick reflecting on wings appearing to be made of fine Chinese silks. Suddenly they stopped, their wings beating slowly as they looked around. Their voices were so hushed it was near impossible to hear, but Francis could make out what seemed like English in their little voices. His ears strained to hear them, but to no avail, he was too far, and they too hushed. But suddenly, they turned toward him, and started gliding downward in his direction. The Frenchman felt his stomach drop, as he had not expected to be found by the- what he assumed were- sprites.

They sank down to his place on the forest floor, little blue flames lighting their dainty faces. They could've only been about two and a half inches, their wings extending maybe three inches long.

"Are you lost?" The little man, a heavy Italian accent mixed with his high tone. He looked friendly enough, but it was the two other men next to him that worried him. One was blond, and built with muscle covering his little body. The other was eastern-looking, raven hair and pale skin, a tiny sword strapped to his side. Even if they were completely itsy, Francis couldn't help but be fearful of the witchcraft they may yield. Who knows what could happen when dealing with magicmen?

"O-oui," Francis replied, despite his fear.

"There is no need to be scared, sir," the oriental man replied with a thick accent, maybe Japanese? "We wish you no harm," he added, bowing slightly.

"Ja," the last fairy spoke. "Since you are lost, we should take you to our village, there will be a place for you to rest," his accent was easily identifiable as one of a German's, and he held out his little hand, his matchstick in the other.

"Ve~" the Italian smiled, his eyes remaining strangely closed, "you look like a mess! I'm-a sure our giant can fix you up!"

"Feli-san," the Japanese sprite scolded. "You should not be rude to a stranger."

"Rude?"

"Non, non, it is okay," Bonnefoy replied. "So, who is this giant?" His question wasn't answered.

Beginning to walk deep into the forest, the German began to explain things to the confused Frenchman.

"So, giant," he started. "We are the fairies of this forest, and you are in our realm." Francis swallowed hard at that- whatever the German said sounded like a threat. "No need to be worried, we have no qualms with lost giants, as long as they come in peace," he added the last comment threateningly, his blue flames lighting up his tiny face ominously. Francis gulped.