Land of the Faery

Chapter 5 - The Stranger in the Woods

Recap: I then saw something I had not expected to see. It was a shadow but not just any shadow. This shadow was in the shape of a person, a man actually.

"W-who's there?" I called out as a shiver crawled up my spine causing my voice to shake uncontrollably. My breath hung in the air until it was carried away by a slight breeze. A shape stepped out from the dark cover of the trees. Snow fell from the branches and onto the blanketed snow-covered ground.

I could barely make out his features in the dim moonlight. His hair was black as night, his jaw was chiseled, and his frame was lean but strong. He was dressed all in black which contrasted against his pale skin.

"You know it's pretty dangerous to be out here alone," he said as he sauntered closer to me. His voice was smooth and carried an air of nonchalance.

"You're out here alone," I quipped back. He didn't seem to care much for my sassy tone.

"Well, that's because I am pretty dangerous," he said as he took a step towards me. "So, why are you out here alone so late at night?"

I took a step back managing to step on the hem of my dress and fall back on my butt into the snow. How did I always manage to embarrass myself in the most serious situations? I quickly stood up and dusted myself off. He gave me a sly smirk.

"Not that its any of your business but I am on an adventure," I said turning my nose up in the air.

"Oh?" he said with mock sarcasm "and what adventure would that be?"

I shot him a look "Like I said its none of your business." He rolled his eyes at me.

"Well, I can't leave a defenseless little girl like you out here all alone."

"Okay, first of all, I am not defenseless or little, and I was doing just fine before you came along." After giving a slight huff of irritation I started trudging through the snow again but was cut short as the man came closer to me. I could now see that he was young. Close to my age, most likely a couple of years older.

"You have quite the temper," he said with that knowing smirk on his face.

"It is what I'm known for, excuse me," I said as I stepped around him. "I only have a short amount of time before someone figures out that I am gone."

"So you snuck out, you must be pretty important if people will be looking for you." He had an amused look on his face and one eyebrow was raised as he looked me up and down. I still had not occurred to me until just now that I was a princess. People would be watching my every move and be wondering where I was. I was an important person now, and that is a weird concept to get used to.

"I guess I am pretty important," I said more to myself than to him.

"So," he said the tone of his voice raised a little as he continued with his question. "Who are you then?"

"Why should I tell you? As you said, you are pretty dangerous," the tone of my voice was more playful than accusing. "Also why do you even care? I am just some random girl on the top of a mountain you happened to run into."

"Winter court gets pretty boring, I am just looking for a little amusement." There was a playful look in his eyes but behind that, there was also something more sinister.

"Amusement," I said in a sarcastic tone. I was wondering what he meant by amusement. Was he going to turn me into a frog and watch me freeze in the snow or did he mean something more intimate?

"How could winter court be boring. What with all the human Popsicle's and Queen Arabella's tantrums," I said with a snarky tone.

"That is true, Mother can be quite entertaining when she is in one of her moods." His voice suddenly sounded exasperated and tired. Like all the life had immediately been drained from him. I was guessing that his relationship with his mother was a rather difficult one. I was actually quite surprised to find out that the man in front of me was, in fact, a prince. Though he did have a very princely look to him. All fey were either very beautiful or some kind of ugly creature.