Witch Of The White Wood

Your obedient servant

There was a cold biting wind brushing through the trees today, the forests seemed unsettled. There were no creatures as of yet, desolation reigned over the familiar woodlands. But although there was neither creature or person the sun shone happily. I felt warm under its embrace, it was sweet and tenderly familiar. I clutched the tattered brown bag closer to me as my fingers dug deep into the straps, turning pink from the winds nipping at them whenever the sun would disappear into the over-head foliage. Biting the inside of my mouth I kept my eyes forward, onto the brambled path in front of me. I gave a sigh and saw a small plume of smoke leave my mouth as the hot air escaped. I giggled slightly remembering the childish days of pretending to be a mighty winged beast who blew fire from their mouth. There wasn't much time for that now, however.

The path thinned and the brambles thickened greatly, it was a struggle not getting pricked. The Fairies made sure the brambles that covered their perimeter were this aggressive in their expansion, there was no chance for intruders that way. The magicians among them maintained this primary line of defence, letting in whoever the queen allowed and allowing people to leave as they pleased. I looked up to the white wooded trees and saw the Fairy guards in their towers, giving them a quick wave and a nervous smile I prayed they would let me in. (Y/N) could be temperamental at times, only allowed people to see her when she felt like socialising with the outside, it could be very disheartening sometimes being sent back home after the two days journey. Giving a breath of relief as the brambles slowly but surely retreated into themselves granting me passage I gave another cheery smile to the guards, they looked tired. they must have been due a shift change. With a bound in my step, I bounded down the gravel path, admiring the red flowers that grew alongside the river. They were sacred, once I considered picking one for (Y/N) only to be scolded by some old lady passing by. Deciding it to be safer to pick a different variant of flower I rushed over into the entrance to the Fairies valiant kingdom. I filled my lungs with the fresh air and crisp smell of bread and other pastries flooding from the steps. The fires were lit here, it was warm and busy as children bustled through the streets and women with their baskets haggled for bargains at the open market, bright coloured fabrics lined the tops of the market stalls and lanterns were lit and strung across the walkway. I grinned at the life exhibition in front of me, there was always peace and light in this kingdom, the queen kept it this way. A small waft of freshness drifted my way and I slowly threw my head over to see an elderly man with ginormous ears selling the most beautiful flowers. An idea overtook me and my boot-clad feet pounded on the wood beneath me as I rushed over to get a closer look.

I felt knowing looks on my form as I walked over happily, I was well known in this kingdom. (Y/N) often invited me here and I often came whenever she called, even when she didn't call I was here. I smiled at a few young women ganged in the doorway of a bakery as they tittered to themselves with rosy cheeks and matching vibrant green eyes, a familiar hue. They giggled at my shy gaze, noticing their intense stares before rubbing the back of my head and averting my gaze from them to examine the stall. The man was clearly happy to see me as soon as I approached he began babbling. I nodded and listened intently eyes stuck on the lavender and lily sprigs wrapped neatly in a white fabric placed with a purple ribbon complementing the flowers perfectly. The man catching my eyes grew large at the sight of them. His tanned but wrinkled skin stretched into a cheeky smile, his pearly teeth showing and freckles glowing.

"They're for her majesty aren't they?" he gave me a knowing look and I felt heat rush up to my ears and neck, with a quick motion to protest he chuckled "They are perfect for 'er. Purple is the colour for royalty you know! Lavenders also show devotion and beauty" he gave me a wink and offered me a price, I accepted. Holding the flowers firmly in the right hand and the brown bag which held my worldly possessions in the left I marched up to the tower, happy singing of nursery rhymes catching my flamed ears. I couldn't stop thinking of her, it wasn't unusual. Since I met her I never stopped thinking about her, there is so much a man could tell about her but never say to her, there was a fear. A deep phobia of being rejected by her. To know her was to love her.

I lowered my gaze to the flowers in my hand and felt something rising in my stomach, a fluttering feeling. I felt I sprouted wings and flew into the skies, holding clouds and skimming the water, as that children's tale described the couple riding on a magical carpet through the skies had felt. I wanted to cry but laugh at the same time. Raising my hand up to the towering castle gates plated with gold I felt I was on the doorstep to heaven, the air was thinner up here, not enough to feel lightheaded but enough to give me a sense of mild dizziness and giddiness. As I was about to signal a guard with the most courage I could muster I heard heels behind me.

"Butters, how lovely to see you again!" her voice. I clutched everything closer to me with a heavy hand as my heart began racing. Just her voice could send a grown man to his knees. It wasn't natural, my king said she had placed everyman who graces her under a spell, but I never wanted to get out when it felt so good. Whipping around I saw her, surrounded by light, an ethereal being so true but so ordinary at the same time. "My Queen!" I knelt, shoving my face low so she couldn't see the red tint as my voice broke horrendously. She giggled, it was a strange sound, it began as a bell would but slowly rose to that of a gong. Loud and hearty but still somehow endearing. It added something human about her, although she wasn't. She ushered me upwards and began to walk towards the gates, me in tow. "You don't have to greet me so formally everytime Leo." she smirked at me "But my queen, I have the honour to be your obedient servant" I spoke nervously but with the honour of a knight, Wendy said that would impress her. With a sidewards glance, her eyes met mine and I watched the sun envelop her, it would have been a perfect moment between a queen and her knight in shining armour if her eyes hadn't hit the flowers in my hand which I gripped strongly. "Goodness, what did those ever do to you?" she japed and I then noticed I was crushing the stems with how much pressure I had applied. I muttered a small 'oops' before offering them to her with a shy smile. Her (e/c) eyes lit up and she gracefully took the bouquet from my fingers, brushing them ever so slightly and sending me spiralling at the heat that radiated off her fingers, she shoved her face into the flowers, smelling them and swooning lightly as her face rose back up. I suddenly had a magnitude of doubts and insecurities filling my bloodstream as she handed them off to a maid nearby.

"Oh jeez, do you not like them?" I questioned, fiddling with my fingers and she turned back to me with a sad expression. "Butters, I love them. But they would look much better being displayed for everyone to see in the sun rather than just in my hands!" I disagreed but I didn't speak a word, instead smiling that she wanted to show off the gift I gave her. Her smile faded as she stared out of one of the stained glass windows onto the Elven kingdom in our direct sight. We stared into the forests and onto the kingdom together in silence, her thoughts were clearly far away. We could have stared into the light for hours if it were not for a sharp pained moan filling the openly planned hall. Her head whipped into an archway filled with wounded soldiers and her eyes softened, straight eyebrows furrowing. "Fancy testing your healing skills like I taught you?" she nudged my side, a weary look in her beautiful eyes hidden under her dense eyelashes. I nodded with a cheery smile and we retired into the ambulance room together to start on our work.

(MORE BUTTERS! Thank the wheel I spun to decide whom this chapter was going to be about. Merry (late) Christmas <3 also, I was considering doing a small book of one-shots or a longer story on fractured but whole but idk. )