Originally written: 04/09/17

Note: This is a fictional, fantasy story I’ve been working on in spare moments. Feedback appreciated.

 

This is a story of wizards and dragons, fair maidens and heroes. Fairy Tales untold that perhaps should not be told.

 

“What are you doing, idiot?!” The young lady struggled against the princely looking lad that carried her.

 

“Rescuing you, of course,” he retorted back. “Isn’t that what princes are supposed to do?”

 

“Perhaps where you come from, but I don’t need rescuing, thank-you-very-much.” She glared, the last words having heavy emphasis.

 

He laughed in frustration. “Looks like it to me, seeing you were captured by a warlock and all.”

 

“Just so you know, I am trained in the fighting arts of swordsmanship.” She paused slightly. “And self defense.”

 

“Hm,” he thought, blue eyes gleaming. “And who fought off said warlock and his goons?”

 

She got quiet, annoyed at him pointing out the obvious.

 

“You should be more grateful,” he added. “Most maidens would be thrilled to be rescued by a prince, especially me.”

 

“If they wanted an ego inflated twit, sure.” She glared at him. “I could had rescued myself if I wasn’t chained up,” she mumbled.

 

“Stop being so hard on yourself, Tessa.”

 

She pouted a bit. “Well, would you put me down at least? I can walk myself.”

 

The prince plopped Tessa to the ground on a pile of grass. “There, happy?”

 

“Yes,” she responded, dusting off the awful, prissy dress that was required of her station. She normally wore riding breeches and a tunic, especially when training. However, being a princess required official duties and part of that way the uniform, which consisted of an a-line dress. She preferred the more loose, flowing Greek style dresses, but her tutor told her those were not acceptable for a lady of her rank in society. Not even bribing the woman worked with getting her out of the gaudy, bright sequenced pink dress. “When I am Queen,” she thought, “I will ban this uniform requirement and wear what is practical.”

 

Tessa never thought herself to be pretty. She had brown, straight hair and almond honey brown eyes to match. Her frame was wiry, with curves in the right places. All of her training had left her with a lean, muscle body, strong. One typically of a warrior, not a princess.

 

Anyways, it was yesterday when she was forced to wear her royal uniform for official duties. There was a knighting at the royal court. Just so happens when said knight is to be knighted, one of the guests transformed himself into the local warlock and whisked Tessa away in a cloud of smoke. The ladies of the court were wide eyed, mouths gaping as soldiers and knights had drawn their swords. One said visiting prince volunteered himself for the challenge of rescuing Tessa, despite the objections.

 

“Let the boy go,” said the boy’s father, a visiting King.

 

It was well known where the warlock’s lair was located, just beyond the wood in a small, craggy castle.

 

The prince rode his white stallion, Bruce, alone, to rescue Tessa. This prince looked to be carved of marble: perfect features, a walking god among men. High cheekbones, tan skin, and blonde, short cut hair framed his face, with sky blue eyes that pierced people’s personal bubbles, drawing you in, and getting you to listen to him (usually).

 

After riding for several hours, fighting a few ogres and trolls, he broke his way into the warlock’s keep, making his way towards where he thought Tessa was kept. First going into the dungeon, where he did not find her (which troubled said prince as that is where ladies, especially princesses, are kept). Instead, he heard music and was drawn into the direction of it, where he saw a sight that puzzled him.

 

The warlock was chatting to a very disgruntled princess, who was bound in chains. He sat looking at her as a few gnomes played various instruments and were quite off key.

 

If looks could kill, Tessa would had defeated them at once. The warlock was facing Tessa, back turned to where Luke was standing. When she saw the prince, her glare lightened a bit and then deepened. Of all of the people, HE had to rescue her.

 

…

 

After an awkward battle of defeating the surprised warlock and his band, the last part was Luke grabbing Tessa and heading out.

 

Which brings us to our current situation.

 

“You know,” Luke, the prince said, “you should act like an OOD: object of desire, seeing your a princess and all.”

 

Tessa puffed “Aren’t I already?”

 

He laughed and said nothing.

 

Tessa got quiet for a few moments, as they walked in silence. The prince led his horse on a short lead, stopping now and then to let the beast graze and get water from a stream nearby.

 

“Thanks Luke,” Tessa said quietly.

 

“You’re welcome, Tess.”

 

She had known Luke for several years, meeting him through their mutual friend, a young knight by the name of Jacob the Honorable. Unfortunately, Jacob had a horrible curse put upon him, causing him to pass away.

 

The two had grown close then, writing each other letters and going out riding together occasionally. They would make jokes and cry over the loss of their mutual friend. Tessa was never prince crazy, but she had allowed her heart to wander into the idea of an ever after with this prince.

 

However, she found out through the royal court’s grapevine that Luke had become engaged to another princess of a nearby kingdom.

 

Tessa’s heart fell at the news, as she thought that she had found someone who saw her as more than a princess, more than a girl. She knew of said princess that Luke was engaged to. She ascribed to the typical princess look: blonde, thin and beautiful. Rumor has it that her thoughts were air headed and quick to temper over ridiculous things.

 

Tessa was no saint in that regard, but she had the armor up on protecting her heart in regards to princes. All of the princes that tried to court her only cared about her title, her parent’s land and that’s about it.

 

“What did you mean by what you said earlier?” Tessa asked, unsure.

 

“Hmm?” Luke looked away from his horse and toward her.

 

“You know, OOD.” Tessa said back.

 

Luke thought a moment, petting his horse’s’ white muzzle. “Well, for starters, smile more. Princesses are supposed to be irresistible to princes. Make the good ones compete for you by being so charming and that sort of thing. They will come bounding to rescue you then.”

 

Tessa thought about what he said. She didn’t like being referred to as an object, but she did see where he was coming from.

 

“Thanks,” she said softly.

 

They walked in silence a few more minutes.

 

“So how is Julia?” Tessa asked.

 

Luke sighed. “ I haven’t been able to see her for awhile now. She had to go to some sort of thing with her parents — politics and the sort. I do miss her and I can’t wait to see her again.”

 

Tessa tried to hide her annoyance. She really did want Luke to be happy. “Well, I hope when you two are reunited and that things are swell.” She did mean what she said.

 

“Thanks.”

 

After several hours, Luke stopped suddenly.

 

“What‘s wrong?” Tessa asked.

 

“Well…” he looked at the path. There was a fork in the road, with two trees. “The marks I left along the way to get back seemed to have disappeared.”

 

“What do you mean disappeared?!”

 

He looked at one of the trees closely, the bark not showing the hint of a mark. “Someone must have hid my marks” he mumbled.

 

“Or you forgot to make one?”

 

“I never forget” he fumed at her.

 

Tessa thought to herself. The whole kidnapping thing with the warlock seemed weird. It was almost too ridiculous. Why was it so easy for Luke to come riding in on his steed to save the day? Why had the warlock entertained her, or at least try to, with the awful music and conversation? Why get two future heirs away from everyone else? Suddenly, she realized something.

 

“Luke” she tapped his shoulder.

 

“What? I’m thinking!”

 

She whispered in his ear “I think we walked into a trap. Don’t react…”

 

Luke tried to seem stoic, narrowing his eyes. They looked around. The forest seemed eerily quiet. The horse’s’ ears were twitching back and forth, its eyes wide, sensing the danger.

 

Luke turned to Tessa. “Do you remember your magic 101 skills?” he asked, teasingly.

 

She smiled “Of course.”

 

He drew his blade. “Let’s see what we are up against.”

 

Tessa had already started casting a ward of protection spell when the fireball shot out of the woods, straight at them. Putting her hands out in time, the shield protected her, Luke and the horse, the ball of flames ricocheting into a nearby shrub, which instantly caught aflame with green fire. Only one kind of magic produced green flames, and it was not good.

 

“This is evil’s magic.” Tessa exclaimed.

 

Luke and Tessa made a dash onto the horse, climbing up and sinking onto his back. They calmed the steed and rode of into the woods, being chased by green fireballs, which Tessa deflected with magic. Writhing shadows came after them, snaking their way faster towards them. When one got too close, Luke hacked at it, which seemed to slow it down, but did not stop it.

 

More and more shadowy creatures came from the wood. Where Luke hacked away one, three more seemed to show up.  “There are too many of them!” Tessa exclaimed. Luke grunted in frustrated agreement. The odds were not looking in their favor.

 

The forest cleared a bit ahead, a stream running in the middle. The horse slowed a bit as they approached the water, trying to not slip on slick stones with his hooves and bulky form.

 

“Come on Bruce.” Luke urged the horse. Bruce the stallion waded into the water and swam across the stream as fast as he could with two people on his back.

 

Finally, they got across.

 

A voice called out to them, bells chiming. “Quick! Follow me!”

 

Tess and Luke looked confused. Who or what had said that? Should they trust the voice? It seems like little choice as they finally saw what changed them, huge shadowy demons with glowing green eyes and wolf teeth dripping with thick drool and chunks of dry blood.

 

They followed as fast as they could the direction of the tinkling voice. Ahead, there was a large golden tree.

 

“Charge for the tree.” The voice cried.

 

“What!?” Luke exclaimed. The tree looked solid. If they charged it, his horse would be injured.

 

“Just do it!” Tessa exclaimed back.

 

Luke dug his heels deeper into his horse’s flanks, urging the animal to gallop towards the tree. They both braced for impact and instead were charging forward into a forest unlike the one they had just been in.

 

This forest was full of trees of flowers of different colors, sparkling. Tiny orbs of light floated in the air as if they were dancing.

 

“Where are we?” Luke asked, confused.

 

Tessa had remembered reading about this place in her studies. She had apparently gleaned some knowledge after all. “Faerie. We’re in Faerie.”

 

…