Fairy Catching

Falling in Love with the Queen

I was flying around the open air, dancing with my friends, with the fireflies, with myself. This was the time of day that us fairies loved for it was not dark, but it was not light. The sun was fleeting quickly, leaving behind trails of blues, purples, pinks, and oranges. The clouds were accumulating in castle-like shapes and we all wished for a moment that we could inhabit their fluffy interiors, soft and light as a feather.

"Dew! Dew Drop! Come quickly!" Clairissa yelled to me from a distance away.

I groaned. Whatever Clairissa had to tell me was probably just gossip and rumors, untrue stories being passed around about one of the other fairies, but I had to go and see what she wanted anyways. She was, after all, my twin, and twins had to stick together in this world. Since us, fairies, are only a couple inches tall, people don't realize that we're there and sometimes step on us or squish us with their tools and sports equipment. We've learned to be very careful and always look where we're going.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. Just give me a second!" I yelled back, scribbling down my reference number for a cute pixie that was dancing with me. "Here. Call me any time." I gave them a wink and flew away and towards my sister.

"Dew Drop! Guess what!"

"Wh-"

One thing that I hate about my conversations with Clairissa is that she doesn't wait for a response. Ever. I had barely spoken a single word when she popped back in with her commentary.

"I heard from Joanhana, who heard from Nina, who heard from one of the Queen's servants, who heard it from the Queen herself, that the Queen is looking for you!" She grabbed my hands and spun us around very quickly.

When we stopped spinning, I grabbed my head and landed on a nearby branch. My vision was blurred and it seemed like my brain had turned into a puddle of mush.

"Dew! Dew! Aren't you excited? I would be so excited if I were-" Her voice was muffled due to my hands over her mouth.

"Enough. I don't care for rumors or gossip, and you know that. Especially not stuff about me or the Queen. That's not cool, sis. Not cool." My vision had come back, though my head was spinning just slightly.

"Sorry, I just thought you would want to know since it's about the Queen and you," She winked, then leaned towards me, dropping her voice to a soft and quiet whisper. "You told me about what happened between you and the Queen last night at the party at the castle. Maybe she wants to see you about that!"

I could tell she was excited about this. "So you're saying I should go and see her? But that would be suspicious to everyone else! Not to mention dangerous for me if anyone else found out why I was going."

The thing I like about having a twin like Clairissa is that she gives great advice on topics such as fashion, relationships, and can tell if someone likes you almost immediately, basically a stereotypical girly-girl. Most of the time, she's right, which I would never admit to her in a million years. I would never give her that satisfaction.

"No, it won't! The Queen's guards will escort you-"

"Exactly! Everyone will start rumors that I'm in trouble or getting kicked out of the Fairy Clan of Fitch. I don't want that!"

"Well..." She crossed an arm over her stomach, tapping her chin with the other hand. "Maybe we can sneak you over there!"

I gave her a look of confusion. "And how would we do that? I'm not exactly invisible-"

"But I have the Cloak of Invisibility, remember? Dad gave it to me to use in emergencies only, and this is technically an emergency." She smiled to herself as if remembering her cloak was the best idea ever, which it was.

"True." I paused, thinking this through. It was totally crazy, trying to sneak into the castle to see the Queen who wants to meet with me. "Alright. Let's do it."

Clairissa squealed in delight, clapping her hands together.

"Okie dokie! Come on!" She flew away, fast as a bullet leaving the barrel of a gun.

I had to follow her, but I wasn't nearly as fast as she was.

Roughly two hours later, we had planned down to the worst possible scenario and the best possible scenario. I had my cloak, well, my sister's cloak, and I left my reference with Clairissa. References are basically cell phones, but for us fairies. They don't look exactly alike, nor do they work alike, but we can still get in contact with our friends when they are away from our clan.

"You ready?" She asked me as I put the cloak on, my body disappearing.

I took a deep breath, trying to relax, "Yeah, I am."

"Alright. I'll be at the café until 11, after that I'll be at home. Okay?" She opened her arms for a hug, so I flew closer and wrapped my invisible arms around her.

"Thank you, Clairissa. This means a lot to me."

"No problem, sis. Any time." She gave me a huge grin. "Now go and get her, tiger!" She chuckled.

"Alright. See you soon!" And with that, I flew out of the house made of leaves and rocks, small twigs and bark and towards the castle.

I flew right through the front of the castle gates and ducked down one of the hallways leading to the Queen's room. I took the cloak off and dropped it in one of the few corner room. My palms were sweating and my breathing was staggered. Nervousness flooded my body. What if she kicks me out of the Clan? What if she's not interested in me, even after last night? What if-

My thoughts were interrupted by a dainty hand pulling me into one of the small guest rooms near the Queen's quarters. A thin, lengthy finger was pressed up against my lips. It was The Queen who had pulled me into a side room, but why?

"Shush. I don't want anyone to overhear us. Understand?"

I nodded, relaxing a little. "Yes, my Queen."

"Stop being so formal. Call me Perri, okay?" Again, I nodded. "Okay. On to the real topic: about last night..."

A knot formed in my stomach and a lump in my throat. 'Oh no. It wasn't acceptable. I'm going to get thrown out or have my wings cut off...' I thought to myself.

"It was a party and we were both slightly drunk, but that doesn't negate the fact that I like you, a whole lot. There's never been a Queen who had been involved with anyone before, so I have no clue how this is going to go over with the Counsel or with my subjects, but I want to ask you out."

Her bright blue eyes stared deep into mine, looking for some sort of response. I was in shock. The Queen just asked me out, as in she wants me to be her partner, as in she wants to date. I don't know how I kept my cool, but I did and I was so grateful.

"I really like you, too. So yes. I accept."

She smiled, covering it with her hand, then leaned in and kissed my cheek. Blood rose to my face, turning it into a bright red tomato.

"Th-thanks," A giggle escaped my mouth as I reached my hand up to touch the spot she kissed.

"No problem, Dew." She grabbed my hand and led me out and into the dining hall. "What does my partner want for lunch? We have literally everything." Her lips were in a wide smile.

She was genuinely happy, and so was I. But how was this going to work? How were we going to go through with this?

She sat down across from me and kissed my hand, and in that second, nothing else mattered. It was her and it was me and we were together. I didn't care if everyone found out. I was happy, and so was she.

We could be happy together.