Thorns & Roses

4.

On the next day, the young man left the house like in any other day. The damages of the storm were still visible, but everything was going to be alright. He went to the forest but stopped at its beginning, a palm of distance from the magical haze, and picked a shy flower that bloomed between worlds. Like in any other day, the welcoming black bird was waiting for him and hoped from the granite rock, but instead of flying through the mystical mist, he landed on the hunter's shoulder, giving the permission to pass the barrier that separated his reality from hers. He walked through the fog and, on the other side, he found the now familiar queer forest where he first met Briar Rose. Everything was exactly the same, even the soft melody she sang the other day. At the clearing, she was sat at its center, on the green and white grassy floor. She was wearing the same outfit, but somehow looked more radiant than the last time. He couldn't explain it.

- Good morning - she saluted him, never facing him.

- Good morning - he replied, entering the clearing and sitting next to her.

On the floor that separated them, a small ring of red toadstools and she had her right hand above it with a soft golden light coming from her fingers. She whispered some words that he could not understand, and the circle began to gleam, matching with her magic. A couple minutes later, a tiny bright light appeared, and the spell stopped. The light flew up and down, straight and in circles and, at last, it landed on the hands of the maiden.

- She's a Pixie - she explained to him with a smile, even before he asked - It's a type of fairy, they're tiny but very hardworking and loyal. They are a friend for life.

He stayed silent, while she smiled and played with the fairy. It looked like they were also talking, but instead of a voice with clear words, the pixie only emitted a sound like a little bell. Face to his silence, she continued the talk:

- She just born. Do you want to give her a name?

- Me? - she nodded - Why not?

He took some time to come up with a name. He didn't know anything about magic, fairies nor their preferences. The little round light was of a gradient of multiple shades of grey and was floating up and down in expectation.

- Silver Bell... I think her name should be Silver Bell.

- Why? - asked Briar Rose, a little bit confused.

- Because her light looks like silver - he explained - And she just sounds like a tiny bell.

She laughed of his reasons, but she thought it was a good name for the new-born pixie. She passed the magical being to Edric's hands and got up.

- What... Where are you going?

- I'm not going anywhere.

- But... What about Silver Bell?

- She is free. She can come and go - she said, with joy and sadness on her eyes - She's my present to you. From now on, you're the one who's responsible for Silver Bell. Please, take good care of her.

The pixie floated around him, landing inside of one of his coat's pockets on the chest area and falling asleep a little latter. It was her new home. He too stood up and both walked to the lake, stopping at its shore. They were both silent, until she talked again:

- Why do you want to spend time with me?

- I want to know you better, know your world and its inhabitants. Call it... curiosity.

- Because of curiosity, the cat died - her expression was serious, she wasn't kidding - What you want to know?

- Silver Bell is a Pixie, but you called yourself a Seelie - she nodded - What is it? Another kind of fairy?